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The Bodmin Moor Hill Farming Project funded by Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) is designed to support farmers and landowners on Bodmin Moor by…
This project is farmer-led, with activities and outcomes shaped by your needs and feedback.
Inspired by the successful Dartmoor Hill Farm Project, we aim to create a similar support structure tailored to Bodmin Moor, focusing on resilience, collaboration, and practical solutions.
Our overall aim is to create a support network for farmers on Bodmin Moor where they can come together to share ideas, develop solutions to location specific problems and learn from one another and develop a resilient farming business.
The project seeks to build better relationships within and between Bodmin Moor farming stakeholder groups, listening to the challenges and needs of these groups and providing support where requested.
We will offer advice, training, and resources via workshops to help you manage your land and maintain a viable farming business.
The project will deliver some practical outcomes including; ecological surveys, heritage conservation, and trials of innovative technologies like virtual fencing. These efforts will aim to deliver environmental and heritage outcomes which could inform future grant scheme delivery.
In order to achieve our goals of building stronger relationships, supporting farmers and running practical projects we have broken this down into 5 distinct and measurable activities. As part of the project we will develop;
Facilitator Role: A dedicated facilitator will be appointed to support the Commoners’ Associations and farmers. Their role is to listen to farmers and landowners to understand their ideas, concerns and future hopes; ensuring that the voices of farmers are central to decision-making processes. Meet your facilitator below.
Workshops and Training: We will organise workshops on topics that matter to you, such as farm profitability and diversification, moorland ecology and purple moor grass management and; the delivery of SFI moorland options. These sessions will provide practical knowledge and tools to enhance your farming operations.
Ecological and Heritage Surveys: The project will conduct ecological surveys of two commons which have been grazed in different ways to understand the impact of the management and consider future funding options
Innovation Trials: We will explore the use of virtual fencing technology, which can improve grazing management and reduce conflicts between farming and conservation objectives.
Archaeology: There will be delivery of some archaeological conservation work on one or more commons following an overall appraisal and finding suitable sites.
David Pett has been appointed as the facilitator for the project. David will lead meetings and listen to your views and concerns. He will actively work to guide discussions towards relationship building and working towards the future of Bodmin Moor. If you’d like to get in touch with David you can email him at: david.p@businessinfopoint.co.uk or phone him at 07572 180691
Land and Heritage will soon be commencing ecological surveys on Blissland Common and East Moor. These surveys aim to assess the habitat conditions, biodiversity and opportunities for ecological enhancement.
The PAL review is soon to be underway. Working with Heritage and Landscape Colleagues, the project team are pleased to have recently appointed Pete Herring, David Atwell and Dan Ratcliffe to lead on this.
The project aims to enhance habitat restoration through targeted grazing. The project is looking to run a trial of virtual fencing collars in order to assess their effectiveness in livestock management and managed grazing.
At one of our opening meetings held at Trethorne, a vote was held to find out what events, training and workshops would be of most interest. Click on the button to find out more about what we’ve got lined up!
Our Primary Purpose is to conserve and enhance Natural Beauty.
Our priority is to lead and support projects which deliver under these four key categories.
The project facilitates workshops, site visits, and stakeholder engagements to enhance community understanding of Bodmin Moor’s landscapes and how significant the farming community is for nature conservation and sustainable land management.
By collaborating with farmers and landowners, the project supports the preservation of Bodmin Moor’s cultural heritage, fostering a sense of ‘place’ within the National Landscape to ensure that the landscape’s unique identity is maintained. The heritage and archaeological works within the project are intended to increase the awareness and importance of the archaeology and heritage of the Bodmin Moor section of Cornwall National Landscape.
Through ecological surveys, the promotion of sustainable land management practices and managed grazing the project aims to increase the area of wildlife-rich habitats, enhance habitat connectivity, and improve biodiversity across Bodmin Moor.
The project contributes to climate resilience by implementing peatland restoration efforts, promoting carbon sequestration through habitat restoration and fostering better understanding among stakeholders about the role of different land uses have in carbon storage and emissions reduction on Bodmin Moor.
The Bodmin Moor Hill Farming Project is supported by Cornwall Council’s Nature Recovery team. You can find out more about some of their other great work by visiting their webpage.