Natural England

Partnership protects Northumberland’s heather moorland

A partnership between farmers, landowners, Natural England and Northumberland National Park Authority is helping ensure Northumberland’s Simonside Hills keep blooming.

Close to the town of Rothbury, the Simonside Hills dominate the skyline forming a dramatic southern backdrop to the middle reaches of the River Coquet.

A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the hills are treasured by local people and conservationists alike for the quality of its upland heather moorland, birdlife and archaeology as well as the stunning landscape of the hills themselves. The area is also popular with walkers, fell runners and climbers and in recognition of its internationally rare upland habitats, Simonside Hills has also recently being awarded a European International Designation as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Now Natural England and Northumberland National Park Authority have joined forces to help local farmers and landowners sign up to the benefits of Defra’s Environmental Stewardship Higher Level Scheme (HLS) in a bid to help preserve and enhance the hills’ unique features.

Three farms covering around 1,720 hectares have already signed up to HLS providing financial support for environmental work to protect and improve the natural landscape and habitats found on the farms.

Farmer Elliot Harrison, whose family has had sheep and cattle at Blue Burn Farm for More than 30 years, said: “In the past as a result of foreign imports a lot of hill farms have declined and fallen derelict.

“Upland farms are very hard to maintain profitably, but through the financial support that HLS offers they can keep going. The support will also enable farmers to continue to preserve and enhance the local landscape.”

Adelle Rowe, West Northumberland Team Leader at Natural England, which runs Environmental Stewardship on behalf of Defra, said: “The benefits of these new agreements to the public are immense in terms of helping preserve the diverse habitats and this beautiful landscape on our doorstep for all to enjoy.

“And we look forward to continuing to work with the National Park Authority and farmers in developing ideas for projects to improve access and enjoyment in the area.”

Mary Gough, Farm and Rural Enterprise Officer with Northumberland National Park Authority, said: “We are delighted that we have been able to assist several farms in the Simonside area and elsewhere within the National Park into the Higher Level Scheme. These schemes are important, not only to assist farmers to maintain and enhance the stunning historic landscape, habitats and wildlife for local people and visitors to enjoy, but also provide much needed income to these upland farms.

“Northumberland National Park Authority will continue to work with Natural England to protect and enhance key sites within the National Park through Higher Level stewardship.”

To find out more about Environmental Stewardship and HLS call your local Natural England office on 0191 229 5500 or see www.naturalengland.org.uk/planning/grants-funding/default.htm.

Ends

Notes to editors

1. Environmental Stewardship is an agri-environment scheme that provides funding to farmers and other land managers in England who deliver effective environmental management of their land. The scheme aims to build on the recognised success of the Environmental Sensitive Areas Scheme and Countryside Stewardship Scheme. Its primary objectives are to:

• Conserve wildlife (biodiversity)
• Maintain and enhance landscape quality and character
• Protect the historic environment and natural resources
• Promote public access and understanding of the countryside
• Natural resource protection

2. Within the primary objectives it also has the secondary objectives of:

• Genetic conservation
• Flood management

3. Environmental Stewardship has three elements:

Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) is a 'whole farm' scheme open to all farmers and land managers with conventional land. Farmers with a mix of conventionally and organically farmed land, or all their land is farmed organically, can apply for OELS (see below).

Organic Entry Level Stewardship (OELS) is a 'whole farm' scheme similar to ELS, open to farmers who manage all or part of their land organically and who are not receiving aid under the Organic Aid Scheme (OAS) or the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS).

Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) , which is combined with ELS or OELS options, aims to deliver significant environmental benefits in high priority situations and areas. HLS is discretionary and concentrates on the more complex types of management, where land managers need advice and support and where agreements need to be tailored to local circumstances.

4. Situated between the cities of Newcastle-Gateshead, Carlisle and Edinburgh, Northumberland National Park is a key environmental, social and economic asset for the surrounding areas of Northumberland, Cumbria and Southern Scotland. Northumberland National Park Authority cares for the landscape and heritage of 405 square miles (105,000 hectares) - over a fifth of Northumberland from Hadrian’s Wall to the Scottish border. Northumberland National Park celebrated its 50th year of designation in 2006. It was also officially designated as the most tranquil place in the country in the CPRE’s Tranquillity Mapping Report. For more information see www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk.

Natural England Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas.

Issued on behalf of Natural England by GNN North East, tel: 0191 202 3603, fax: 0191 202 3599, email: karen.bell@gnn.gsi.gov.uk.