Full backing for farm support measures

A detailed report outlining the valuable working relationship between Lake District farmers and the national park authority has today been approved after lengthy discussions at a meeting in Windermere.

Members of the LDNPA’s Strategy and Vision Committee supported - by eight votes to two - a recommendation that both sides should do all they could to "work together to build a mutual understanding and appreciation of what we do."

Director of Park Services Bob Cartwright produced the report after being told that some elements of the farming community thought the national park "was not on their side".

But Bob’s report said this while this was far away from the truth people had to realise that "the structure of farming is changing and its economic viability is unpredictable."

Currently agriculture and farming directly employ about 13,000 people locally and the physical and cultural landscape created by the farming industry acts as a major draw for the 15.8 million visitors to the Lake District each year.

"Our commitment remains to support farmers to adapt to changing circumstances and work closely with farmers to identify and resolve issues affecting farming locally. And to do this by supporting sustainable land management, which brings environmental, social and economic benefits," the report concluded.