English National Parks welcome UELS

18th December 2008

England’s National Park Authorities [1] have warmly welcomed the announcement today (Thursday) by the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn, on Upland Entry Level Stewardship [2].

Our uplands provide a wealth of benefits for the nation from havens for wildlife, spectacular landscapes, to recreational opportunities and huge stores of carbon. But we cannot take these for granted. It is essential that those who are pivotal to maintaining these environments are rewarded for the public benefits they deliver.

The English National Park Authorities Association (ENPAA) [3] is particularly pleased to see:

the changes in the timetable to assist farmers with the transition to new schemes;
the additional funding that could enable all upland farmers to participate;
a commitment to “significantly boosting the level of advice that is available to upland farmers to help them enter Uplands ELS” ;
a commitment to monitor the schemes impacts on tenant farmers and commoners; and
a range of detailed amendments in the design of the scheme that will enable more farmers to access and benefit from it.

Nigel Hoskin (Chairman of ENPAA) said:

“It is essential for the future of our upland National Parks and all that they offer that this scheme is a success. Hard times have hit the country – but upland farmers have been experiencing meager incomes for many years. Today’s announcement is a very welcome move before the more fundamental changes that are needed to the Common Agricultural Policy.”

National Park Authorities look forward to working with Defra and Natural England to assist in the early and effective delivery of the scheme, and to ensure that as many upland farmers as possible are rewarded for the public benefits they provide.

Note to Editors:

1. England has nine National Parks. They cover 8% of England by land area. Each has a National Park Authority (NPA) who have two statutory purposes. These are to:

conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of their areas; and
promote opportunities for the public understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of their areas.

In addition, the Broads Authority has an additional statutory purpose to protect the interests of navigation. In furthering these purposes, the NPAs are to seek to foster the social and economic well-being of their local communities.

2. The Upland Entry Level Stewardship (UELS) scheme was promised following the Government’s decision to end the Hill Farm Allowance, and integrate support for farmers into Environmental Stewardship. The Secretary of State, Rt. Hon. Hilary Benn MP made a written Ministerial Statement on UELS today which sets out the framework, timetable and funding of the scheme: See: www.defra.gov.uk/rural/uplands/support.htm

3. ENPAA (the English National Park Authorities Association) is the body that represents the National Park Authorities in England. It is a not for profit company limited by guarantee (company number 6521048, registered in England at First Floor, 2-4 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3NW). ENPAA provides a collective voice for the nine National Park Authorities.

Further information and interview

ENPAA

Paul Hamblin
Director, ENPAA
(work) 020 7655 4812
(mobile) 0796 8760854

National Park Authorities

Each National Park Authority has a Communications Officer/ Press Team who will be available to answer media queries. Media officers for those National Parks covering upland areas are listed below:

Dartmoor National Park Authority

John Weir Communications Officer 01626 832093

Exmoor National Park Authority

Clare O’Conner Communications Manager 01398 322244

Lake District National Park Authority

Mick Casey Communications Manager 01539 792683

North York Moors National Park Authority

Rachel McIntosh Communications Officer 01439 770657

Northumberland National Park Authority

Elaine Rigg Landscape & Recreation Manager 01434 611537

Peak District National Park Authority

John Fern Head of Communications 01629 816356

Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

Nick Oldham Media Officer 01756 751616