NFU members talked to their MPs about the particular challenges of managing these iconic landscapes, the crucial role farm businesses play in our rural communities and the urgent need to make the SFI (Sustainable Farming Incentive) work for our uplands.
Vision for a prosperous uplands
The groups delivered the recent NFU report setting out the essential foundations of a resilient uplands area and the policies needed to enable this. The report captures the vital role of the uplands in protecting UK food security and their unique position in preserving beloved natural landscapes and wildlife.
Read the full report: The uplands – a vision for prosperity, stewardship and resilience
Members emphasised the importance of balancing environmental goals with sustainable business practices.
“The future of upland farming is under serious threat, so spending the day with decision makers in Westminster has been valuable.”
North Uplands Group Chair Dave Stanners
They set out how their traditions of stewardship were often aligned with government objectives for nature recovery and carbon sequestration, and many raised the irreplaceable heritage of hefted flocks and the breeds that have adapted to landscapes over generations.
Members also highlighted the crucial role of their businesses in supporting upland communities and underpinning the local economy. They sent a clear message: when farms thrive, the uplands thrive.
A fair transition
NFU Deputy President David Exwood highlighted how upland farms have shown exceptional resilience during recent extreme weather events, demonstrating their vital role in the circular economy and in building strong, sustainable rural communities.
Representatives raised the timely issue of ensuring suitable SFI options for upland landscapes and farming methods. Group members set out their decades-long record of delivering public goods through agri-environment schemes, but made it clear that options must be tailored to the conditions on the ground. They invited collaboration with Defra and Natural England to build a shared vision of what good land management looks like in different areas.
Discussion also centred on scheme access. Representatives reasoned that environmental schemes must be accessible to small farmers, not only large operations with dedicated administrative staff. They also stressed the importance of a coherent approach that ensures those in legacy schemes are not unfairly shut out of later opportunities.
Several representatives shared their personal experiences as tenant farmers or commoners. They explained how challenges facing the industry intersect with the particular pressures of tenant farming. They asked that future environmental schemes engage with tenant farmers rather than incentivising fundamental changes to land use.
View from the North
The Group Chairs demonstrated their commitment to a collaborative approach to engaging with MPs and policymakers.
Dave Stanners, North Uplands Chair, gave an overview of the group’s key policy priorities and the steps needed to ensure prosperity within upland areas, both for farmers and the landscapes they manage.
Dave said: “The future of upland farming is under serious threat, so spending the day with decision makers in Westminster has been valuable as we need to work together to ensure farming businesses in the uplands are fully recognised, valued and supported.
“In turn, we can unlock the potential the uplands have to offer so that those farming businesses, of which many are tenants, can become resilient and prosperous and continue to be at the heart of rural communities where people live, work and visit.”
Richard Findlay, NFU North Uplands Group member, said: “The Vision document was very well received by the MPs, Defra and Natural England. It was fantastic to see so many MPs at the drop in. Their enthusiasm, support and commitment to help us was brilliant. Their desire to work together to further our cause, highlight the great environmental work we already do and promote our ambition to do more of the same through the Vision document is, in my opinion, a great outcome from all the effort that has gone into it.
“During our discussions with Defra and Natural England, we demonstrated why we have written the vision document and the ambition that we have to move things forward, be more involved in the development process and ultimately deliver more for mutual benefit.”
View from the South
A wide range of upland voices were represented, including from the South Group Layland Branfield from Dartmoor, Maria Floyd from Exmoor, Phillip Sankey from Herefordshire, and Graham Price from Shropshire.
Both sides agreed to keep the conversation going to ensure policies work in practice for farmers on the ground.
South Uplands Group Chair Mat Cole said: “It was great to meet so many MPs and sit down with civil servants to explain the huge role uplands farms play, including a significant number of tenant farmers and commoners, in producing climate-friendly food and managing our precious landscapes, as well as supporting the UK tourism industry, which is an important part of the rural economy.
“During the meetings, we were able to outline our vision document and set out the importance of government and its departments, farmers and other stakeholders all working together to achieve a sustainable future for farming businesses in the uplands.”
MPs in attendance
We were pleased to welcome:
- Stuart Anderson (Conservative, South Shropshire)
- Markus Campbell-Savours (Labour, Penrith and Solway)
- Ellie Chowns (Green, North Herefordshire)
- Tim Farron (Lib Dem Efra spokesperson, Westmorland and Lonsdale)
- Josh Fenton-Glynn (Labour, Calder Valley)
- Julie Minns (Labour, Carlisle)
- Shadow Farming Minister Robbie Moore (Conservative, Keighley and Ilkley)
- Joe Morris (Labour, Hexham)
- Josh Newbury (Labour, Cannock Chase)
- Jon Pearce (Labour, High Peak)
- Ian Roome (Lib Dem, North Devon)
- Lisa Smart (Labour, Hazel Grove)
- John Whitby (Labour, Derbyshire Dales)
- Rebecca Smith (Conservative, South West Devon)