皇家华人

NFU ‘couldn’t disagree more’ with Chris Packham’s views on Dartmoor

16 July 2025

NFU Deputy President David Exwood at his desk at NFU headquarters

皇家华人has expressed frustration at campaigner Chris Packham鈥檚 claims in The Guardian that the uplands are 鈥榙ying鈥� and that sheep are 鈥榙estroying鈥� the Dartmoor National Park.

In a letter to The Guardian in response, uplands south chair Mat Cole said he 鈥榗ouldn鈥檛 disagree more鈥� with Chris Packham鈥檚 views on the land in which he farms.

He also challenged Chris Packham鈥檚 claims that the uplands don鈥檛 support food security, and highlighted the NFU鈥檚 new vision for the uplands which outlines how the sector can continue to work towards a more sustainable future.

It reads:

To the editor,

After a day tending the sheep and cattle on our Dartmoor hill farm, looking over the sphagnum moss in full bloom and the heather starting to turn its regal purple, I couldn鈥檛 disagree more with .听

His image of the uplands overlooks the reality on the ground. For starters, livestock numbers were misrepresented 鈥� during summer, there are only 0.3 animals per hectare, including ponies. More importantly, he ignores the rich biodiversity that exists because of centuries of farming here. Far from being barren, these landscapes are shaped and sustained by the people who live and work on them.

Mr Packham also claims upland farms don鈥檛 support food security, yet 40% of England鈥檚 breeding sheep are kept on upland farms. They are a vital contribution, particularly as we face global uncertainty.

As a member of the Dartmoor Landscape Management Group, I collaborate with environment groups, farmers, and land managers to improve the Moor鈥檚 environment and biodiversity. On my own land, I鈥檝e recently rewetted 500 acres of moorland, not as a box-ticking exercise, but as a meaningful investment in the future of the land and delivering value for taxpayers鈥� money.

That said, Mr Packham is right that it鈥檚 time for change. The NFU鈥檚 new vision for the uplands outlines a sustainable future that values both nature and farming. A key first step is ensuring agri-environment schemes fairly reward the essential work upland farmers deliver beyond providing food - biodiversity, carbon storage, and heritage.

Mat Cole, Dartmoor farmer and NFU Uplands South Chair

Ministerial engagement

皇家华人continues to engage directly with ministers about the value of Britain鈥檚 uplands.

They have heard first-hand from upland farmers about the value of the uplands and how family-run businesses are at the heart of rural communities, supporting our national food security, biodiversity and cultural heritage.

NFU Deputy President David Exwood echoed the sentiment, saying: 鈥淐omments like Chris Packham鈥檚 present a deeply misleading picture of upland farming. One that doesn鈥檛 reflect the realities faced by those working the land.

鈥淯pland farmers play a vital role in supporting food security, enhancing biodiversity, and sustaining rural communities. And as we know livestock grazing has shaped and maintained these landscapes for generations.

鈥淥ur new vision for the uplands sets out clearly how these farms contribute to our environment, food security and the rural economy. It also highlights the policy framework and investment needed to secure their future. We鈥檒l continue working with stakeholders to promote this positive, evidence-based view and challenge outdated narratives like Mr. Packham鈥檚."

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