Farming in the Uplands - ARCHIVE: Defra

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30 Farming in the Uplands management of the uplands in a way that helps the water companies. 164 He described this approach as a “win-win situation” as both flood risk and pollution could be mitigated. 165 73. Defra provided us with details on a number of research projects commissioned by the department into barriers to developing this work. 166 The department also explained that it was considering “whether there are practical and unnecessary barriers to economically justifiable investment in upstream measures as part of the current review of Ofwat, and in developing policy for the Natural Environment White Paper and Water White Paper.” 167 However, the department noted that the economic regulator, Ofwat, will ultimately determine how such issues might be included in the price review process. 168 74. The Environment Agency is involved in several projects investigating the impact of land use change on flood risk management and water quality. For example the Agency is involved in the “slowing the flow” project in Pickering, North Yorkshire, led by Forest Research, which is investigating how land management can help to reduce the potential for flooding. 169 The Environment Agency and water companies are involved in a range of water management projects in the uplands. Hill farmers and upland land owners seem to be more likely to be able to benefit from water management schemes than from a nascent carbon market. Investment in water management schemes is also likely to provide financial returns more quickly than investment in carbon storage schemes. 75. There are a range of water management options that could provide an additional source of income for upland farmers. We recommend that Defra work with the water industry and the economic regulator, Ofwat, to encourage the development of water markets more widely in the uplands. We welcome the inclusion of developing water markets as part of the Ofwat review. 76. There are several examples of water companies working with upland land managers to improve water quality. We encourage the industry, supported by Ofwat, to explore greater use of the natural environment, particularly in the uplands, to improve water quality. EMBARGOED ADVANCE COPY: Not to be published in full, or part, in any form before 00.01am GMT Wednesday 16 February 2011 77. We recommend that Defra work with the Environment Agency to identify ways to encourage local partners and land managers to work together on water sequestration schemes with the goal of reducing flood risk. Tourism 78. The uplands are popular tourist destinations—English Heritage’s evidence referred to the “...concentration of environmental assets – both cultural and natural...” which gave the uplands their “distinctive character”. 170 The combination of those cultural and natural 164 Q 224 165 Q 224 166 Ev 85 167 Ev 86 168 Ev 86 169 Ev w31 170 Ev w16
EMBARGOED ADVANCE COPY: Not to be published in full, or part, in any form before 00.01am GMT Wednesday 16 February 2011 Farming in the Uplands 31 assets attract visitors to the uplands. And as the Minister told us “...the very beauty of the uplands, which attracts the tourism [...] which is of greater economic value to the uplands than farming is, is there because of farmers”. 171 However, hill farmers get relatively little benefit from tourism. 172 According to the Uplands Farm Practice Survey “... a quarter of upland farms had an on-farm diversified enterprise such as a farm shop or Bed & Breakfast. The survey highlighted that over half of upland farmers with no current diversified activity felt there was either no scope or they had no plans to diversify”. 173 79. Tourism makes a substantial contribution to the uplands economy. Each year the 40 million people who visit the seven upland National Parks spend an estimated £1.78 billion. 174 The National Farmers’ Union argued for a mechanism to generate more income from public access to uplands landscapes, noting that less than 30% of visits to the natural environment involve any expenditure. 175 The English National Park Authorities Association told us that several National Parks have voluntary visitor contribution schemes. Dr Stone, Chief Executive, Exmoor National Park, told us that probably the largest such scheme was in the Lake District where it generated around £100,000 a year; but he did not consider such schemes would replace other sources of funding. 176 Under the Lake District scheme, called Nurture Lakeland, tourism related businesses, such as guest houses and hotels, pledge to raise money for conservation projects in the Lake District. Money can be raised a number of ways, including a small additional sum being added to bills, which the customer may ‘opt out’ of paying. 177 80. The Minister appeared to think that tourism could bring more money into the uplands but he said that it was an issue for the Department of Culture Media and Sport and the tourism industry. 178 It is disappointing that the Minister was not more enthusiastic about the opportunities tourism may provide for upland farmers. It could be argued that visitors to upland areas are predominantly drawn to those areas by the natural landscape—a landscape that farmers are largely responsible for maintaining. From the evidence that we have seen it is unlikely that voluntary contribution schemes would generate significant funds, and it is not clear how farmers would benefit directly from any income from such schemes. Tourism has the potential to be an additional source of income for upland farmers. Defra’s upland strategy should set out how the Government will support farmers seeking to diversify into business activities that serve those tourists. 81. Some National Parks contract farmers to carry out specific activities to manage the land, such as maintaining paths and walls. We recommend Defra seek further ways that farmers can generate additional income, for example by being contracted to assist in clearing snow during bad weather. 171 Q 234 172 Ev 71 173 Ev 75 174 High ground, high potential, p 59; Ev 71 175 Ev 63 176 Q 162 177 Ev 90 178 Q 235
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