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Farming on Dartmoor Factsheet

Prehistoric times to the present day

For over 5,000 years farming has been the Reaves are low, stony, earth covered banks main land use on Dartmoor. Working and which were built around 1200 BC to divide re-working the land, farmers have created all but the highest parts of Dartmoor, and maintained a large part of the Dartmoor first into territories (a little like our present landscape. Today over 90% of the land day parishes), and within those into long, within the National Park boundary is used narrow, parallel fields. Their main function for farming. Much of this area is both open was probably to control the movement of and enclosed where livestock is stock, but there is some evidence that grazed, and the remainder is made up of prehistoric people were also growing fringe enclosed farmland which mainly cereals here. A climatic deterioration and the comprises improved grassland. In addition, spread of peat during the first millennium woods, shelterbelts, wetlands, rough , BC (1000 - 1 BC), both resulting in poorer traditional buildings and archaeological vegetation, contributed to the features all contribute to the character abandonment of the higher part of of the farmed land. Dartmoor during the later prehistoric period.

The well-being of the hill farming community The Medieval Period is fundamental to the future of Dartmoor as a National Park in landscape, cultural, ecological Improvement of the climate in medieval times and enjoyment terms and for the viability and allowed the re-occupation of the moorland sustainability of the local rural community. fringes and river valleys. When this process Employment, care for the landscape and the began is unclear, but it is known that by the environment, tourism, family structure and 10th century AD new fields were being created life, tradition, rural services and businesses from the waste in places such as Holne Moor, are all inter-related. All these elements come and new settlements were being established. together to give us the Dartmoor we In many cases large fields nearest the know . settlement, known as infields, were cultivated collectively by groups of farmers growing mainly oats and rye. The infields were often Farming History divided into narrow strips. On sloping ground these strips would appear as terraces, or strip Prehistory lynchets. Each farmer would work a number More than 8,000 years ago, when most of of dispersed individual strips within the field. Dartmoor was covered with trees, people Beyond the infields lay the outfields, where hunted wild animals. By about 2000 to 1500 the land was usually under pasture but BC most of the tree cover had been cleared cultivated periodically. This system of and Dartmoor had become an important collective farming gradually died out area for the grazing of and . towards the end of the medieval period. People lived either permanently or seasonally Strips, or groups of strips, became enclosed in circular stone huts called round houses. by hedgebanks and were held in single Hut circles, which are the remains of these occupancy. buildings, can be seen on many parts of the moor. Some are arranged in groups, some Most of the central part of the moor was are associated with small, irregular fields, unenclosed grazing land. At its core lay some lie within stone wall and the Forest of Dartmoor, not actually a forest others are in amongst large areas of but an area reserved first for the Kings of rectangular fields known as reave systems. , and later for the ,

Dartmoor National Park Authority Farming on Dartmoor Factsheet July 2005 Page 1 of 6 for hunting deer and other game. By the Late 18th and 19th century mid-13th century a number of , now known as ancient tenements, had been farming established within the Forest. The tenants of these farms had grazing rights over the Forest. During the medieval period, tenants of the Between the Forest and the enclosed lands Duchy of Cornwall (the largest landowner on on the moorland fringes lay the commons. Dartmoor) had been allowed, at the change The commons provided grazing for farms of tenancy, to enclose an area of up to 3.2 within the neighbouring parishes. Areas hectares (8 acres) of the Forest of Dartmoor of common grazing were separated from for private use. These areas were known as enclosed lands by corn ditches comprising newtakes and were often larger than 8 acres a ditch and a vertical stone-faced bank because such enclosing was made exclusive of which discouraged stock from entering bog and rock. In the late 18th century a new fields from the moor. type of newtake emerged. At this time and on into the 19th century there was a strong movement towards enclosing very large areas of central Dartmoor in order to ‘improve’ rough moorland to rich pasture. Between 1820 and 1898 it was estimated that more than 6,070 hectares (15,000 acres) on Dartmoor had become newtakes. The experiment was, on the whole, a failure. Many of these large Open moor Corn ditch Field newtakes, bounded by distinctive granite dry stone walls, are today indistinguishable by their vegetation from the open moor.

Sheep were probably the most numerous Farming today domestic animals in medieval times. The wool industry of was a source of great is just as important today in wealth in the county. Dartmoor, particularly shaping the Dartmoor landscape as it has those areas owned by the great monasteries been in the past. Dartmoor is a marginal of Buckfast, Buckland and Tavistock, was an upland farming area. This means that important provider of the raw material. In profits are low and, sometimes, non-existent. 1789 it was recorded that Dartmoor yielded The physical characteristics of this area - heavy pasture every summer to about 100,000 sheep. rain, low temperature, exposure to winds, Cattle were also kept by medieval farmers. and poor soil - mean that production of From the 12th to the 18th century the typical animals per hectare is low. Some activities, Dartmoor farmhouse was the longhouse, such as horticulture, arable farming and dairy where people and animals lived under a farming, are impossible or very restricted on common roof. much of Dartmoor.

A large number of medieval farms on the The growing season for grass is shorter on higher slopes of the moor were abandoned Dartmoor than in the rest of lowland Devon. in the middle of the 14th century. This was This means that there is less grass, silage and due to a number of factors: first, a worsening produced for stock to eat. Farmers often in the weather around this time made farming have to buy additional forage from farms off on the higher land a hard business; second, the moor, and some farmers move some of the ravages of the Black Death in 1347-8, their livestock to lower land. which reduced the population of Devon by as much as two-thirds, provided a chance Types of farming on Dartmoor for farmers to move away from the harsher climate of the moor to more favourable land lower down. Farming on Dartmoor is almost exclusively livestock breeding based on grass production. Some cattle and sheep are sold to go to milder areas for fattening. On the fertile fringes of the National Park there is some dairy and arable farming.

Dartmoor National Park Authority Farming on Dartmoor Factsheet July 2005 Page 2 of 6 There are three main types of farmland The hedgerows, small woods and rough valley on Dartmoor: bottoms form wildlife corridors connecting biodiversity ‘hotspots’. Amongst these are Moorland areas of the National Park comprise Dartmoor’s 1,100 hectares of Rhôs pasture - heather and rough grassland. Moorland species rich, wet, often heathy, grazing forms the heart of the National Park covering pasture (representing 20% of the English 50% of the total area (approximately 46,000 resource of this fast declining habitat) - and hectares). These areas are very exposed and around 20 hectares of nationally important cold in winter and have for centuries been upland hay meadows. However, it is the used as an extensive grazing ground for farm intimate mix of habitats that makes this stock - cattle, sheep and ponies. Only sheep landscape so rich for wildlife. and tough Dartmoor ponies can survive there without additional winter feeding. The open There are also three types of farm: moors are divided into separate areas called commons where certain local farmers, as High moorland farms (mostly owned by commoners, have rights to graze their the Duchy of Cornwall). These farms have animals. The rights are tied to the newtakes and relatively poor inbye fields, surrounding farmland. and there are common rights attached to each farm. The land usually has thinner, The Dartmoor Commoners’ Council, which poorer soils and colder weather than at was established in 1985 under the Dartmoor lower altitude. These farms are divided Commons Act, governs the exercise of by stone walls. rights, and vegetation management on the commons. Moorland Mid moor farms have common rights but no grazing rights are an essential part of many newtakes. Their inbye land is more productive. hill farm enterprises. All farming is strongly influenced by the regime of grants and Farms on the fringes of the National Park subsidies set within the European Common usually do not have common rights and they Agricultural Policy (CAP). have no newtakes. Their inbye land is even more productive, being at lower altitude and Newtakes are enclosed areas of moorland on having better soils. These farms are divided the edge of . Each newtake is mainly by hedges. part of farm and is not used for shared grazing. Some of these areas have The three types of farms vary in their farming been improved. systems depending on their land resources and environmental conditions. Inbye land is a patchwork of fields and woodland. Most of these fields have been The Animals ‘improved’ by re-seeding and fertilising so that they can grow more grass for making hay All livestock on the open moor is owned by or silage. Inbye land provides more food and individual commoners and each animal shelter for stock than moorland. Some sheep bears its owner’s tag or brand. and cattle are kept on the farm during lambing and calving so that help is at hand if Sheep problems arise, and so that their new-born The Scottish Blackface sheep, bred to lambs and calves are not exposed to the cold withstand rigorous winters, was introduced and wet of the moors. to Dartmoor in the latter part of the 19th century. Exmoor Horn, Cheviot and their The enclosed farmed landscape of can also be seen. Unlike the widely- stretches from the edge of the moorland to roaming ponies, sheep seldom stray far from the borders of the National Park covering some the area, or lear, to which they have been 48,500 hectares. This area is characterised by introduced. Their lambs are sold in early fields, wet valleys and small woods bounded autumn for fattening on lowland . by hedgerows and stone walls. The whole network forms an attractive, distinctive and Cattle often ancient landscape pattern, which provides Most of the cattle are hardy black or a contrast to the wild upland above. Within dun-coloured Galloways. Their calves this detail are areas of great wildlife value. are mainly pure bred or Hereford crosses.

Dartmoor National Park Authority Farming on Dartmoor Factsheet July 2005 Page 3 of 6 Belted Galloways, with a distinctive white A High Dartmoor Farm band round their middles, and Aberdeen Angus can be seen all the year round and in The farm lies within the boundary of the summer South Devon cattle are also turned Forest of Dartmoor. It is an ancient tenement out. The Galloways produce good calves founded before the 13th century. The which, after summering on the moor, are oldest surviving field boundaries are the weaned in autumn and sold for fattening. hedgebanks. Down the centuries the farm would have slowly expanded on to the open Ponies common land. During the 19th century large The ponies roaming apparently freely on the areas of surrounding common land were open moor all belong to different farmers. enclosed to form newtakes, and most of the The foals are born in the spring and early dry stone walls date to this time. Attached to summer. The herds stay on the moor all the the property are common rights whereby the year round, but in autumn they are rounded occupier may use the surrounding common up, the young to be identified and marked by land to graze a fixed number of livestock. their owners. Many are then sold at the pony markets. The first written record of the sturdy Dartmoor breed was in AD 1012. In the early years of the 20th century Dartmoor ponies were crossed with other breeds to make them more suitable for work in mines and for other purposes, so many of those seen on the moor are not traditional Dartmoors. More recently, schemes have been introduced to encourage farmers to breed traditional- type Dartmoor ponies. A High Dartmoor Farm

Dartmoor National Park Authority Farming on Dartmoor Factsheet July 2005 Page 4 of 6 The importance of farming in the National Park today The Dartmoor Hill Farm Project Against a background of changing market requirements and structures in the food The Dartmoor Hill Farm sector, declining profitability in agriculture, Project was set up in international pressures to reform farm support November 2003. It is policy and developing public perceptions of one of the outcomes of the role of farming (which is increasingly seen the State of Farming on as providing environmental ‘goods’ in Dartmoor 2002. This addition to high quality food) hill farming faces a period of considerable uncertainty research report was and change. The recent epidemic of foot-and- commissioned by the mouth disease (2001) caused further damage Dartmoor National Park Authority and to struggling farm and tourism businesses. undertaken by the Centre for Rural Research at the University of Exeter and it examined Dartmoor’s farming economy provides not the current state, future needs and prospects only traditional food and wool resources, and for farming in the National Park. The Project income for farmers, but also a wide range of will implement practical initiatives to help other public goods and services for society as a whole. These include: Dartmoor farmers, such as providing information on access to funding and ● agricultural and other employment marketing opportunities, and facilitating ● food, some distinctive to Dartmoor training. Through co-ordination, enabling ● contributions to the local economy and and partnership, the primary purpose of this to the social fabric of rural communities ● the aesthetic value of the built new initiative is to contribute to the environment and landscape development of a sustainable future for ● recreation and amenity Dartmoor hill farming. Its emphasis is on ● wildlife and biodiversity helping farmers with advice, guidance, ● water accumulation and supply collaborative activities, communication and ● nutrient recycling and fixation funding, all through focused support. ● soil formation ● storm protection and flood control What is it? ● carbon fixing by trees and soils. A project to help Dartmoor farmers, through Thus, in addition to the commercial a variety of methods from focus groups to commodities produced by Dartmoor farmers helping get collaborative work off the for established markets, principally store ground. It can help farmers and their (and some finished) livestock, hill farming businesses by: systems have a key role in maintaining the physical, biological, social and recreational ● providing information on grants and environment of the moor. Government policy funding opportunities development is increasingly directed towards ● developing group activity from marketing providing the necessary economic incentives initiatives to machinery rings to ensure these public goods are provided. ● providing information on training providers and costs The Dartmoor National Park Authority ● maintains close dialogue with the farming developing ideas to help ensure a future community and with relevant Government for Dartmoor farmers. agencies and departments. The Authority The project has got involved with existing favours agri-environmental measures which organisations and groups, taking forward it believes will benefit both farm incomes and facilitating ideas from individuals and and the fabric of the farmed landscape, as well as helping to sustain the farming culture. groups - helping farmers to help themselves. Dartmoor National Park Authority recognises Who to contact the role of farmers in shaping the landscape Dartmoor Hill Farm Project, and understands the pressures they are under when faced with considerable change in the High Moorland Business Centre, Princetown industry. Through National Park Authority Tel: (01626) 836 013 grants, advice about other schemes, practical Fax: (01626) 836001 advice and assistance, the Ranger Service, and E-mail: [email protected] lobbying power, it continues to work together with farmers for the benefit of the Dartmoor landscape and the community.

Dartmoor National Park Authority Farming on Dartmoor Factsheet July 2005 Page 5 of 6 Dartmoor National Park Agricultural Statistics 1, June 2000

No. of Hectares No. of Hectares No. of Hectares holdings holdings holdings Land use Horticulture Sheep Land rented ...... 280 ...... 17157 Peas and beans. . . . *** ...... *** Breeding ewes Land owned ...... 1031 ...... 29502 All other veg (breeding flock) . . . 460 ...... 125947 Total crops and and salad ...... *** ...... *** Lambs under 1 year 437 ...... 108766 fallow (tillage) . . . . 217 ...... 2523 Total vegetables Other sheep ...... 400 ...... 5217 Recent and temporary grassland grown in the open. 21 ...... 16 Total sheep ...... 498 ...... 239930 (< 5 years) ...... 216 ...... 3341 Area under glass Permanent grassland or plastic ...... 11 ...... 1 Goats (> 5 years) ...... 929 ...... 26345 Top fruit ...... 49 ...... 31 All goats ...... 46 ...... 400 Rough grazing Small fruit ...... 9 ...... 1 (sole rights)...... 282 ...... 11622 Total fruit ...... 54 ...... 33 Labour force Woodland ...... 362 ...... 1622 Hardy nursery stock 14 ...... 28 Farmers, spouses, partners and directors Set-Aside...... 34 ...... 30 Bulbs and flowers (full-time) ...... 475 ...... 657 All other land . . . . . 452 ...... 687 grown in the open. *** ...... *** Farmers, spouses, partners and directors (part-time) ...... 567 ...... 779 Holdings by tillage and grass area Cereals Salaried managers area Wheat ...... 27 ...... 586 (full-time) ...... *** ...... *** 0 < 5 hectares...... 404 Spring barley . . . . . 39 ...... 329 Salaried managers 5 < 20 hectares...... 298 Winter barley . . . . . 43 ...... 440 (part-time) ...... *** ...... *** 20 < 50 hectares...... 223 Oats...... 31 ...... 129 Male employees 50 < 100 hectares...... 132 Other cereals (full-time) ...... 67 ...... 113 100+ hectares ...... 78 (excluding maize). . 9 ...... 44 Male employees Total cereals No. of Hectares (part-time) ...... 75 ...... 91 holdings Female employees (excluding maize). . 93 ...... 1529 Cattle (full-time) ...... 14 ...... 16 Dairy herd...... 56 ...... 3173 Female employees , Centre for Rural Research, Exeter University/ Dartmoor National Park Authority (2002). Arable Beef herd ...... 444 ...... 18192 (part-time) ...... 35 ...... 46 Potatoes (early Breeding herd replacements Casual workers . . . . 106 ...... 163 and maincrop) . . . . 22 ...... 32 (cows and heifers over 1 year Total labour ...... 874 ...... 1880 Sugar beet for breeding) . . . . . 409 ...... 6936 (not stockfeed) . . . . 0 ...... 0 Other cattle over Hops and other arable 1 year ...... 442 ...... 9202 Holdings by EC farm type Turnips, Swedes, kale, Cattle and calves (Based on Standard Gross Margins) cabbage, savoy . . . . 6 ...... 44 under 1 year ...... 468 ...... 15396 Cereals ...... *** Kohl rabi and rape. 55 ...... 148 Total cattle General cropping...... *** beet, mangolds and calves...... 547 ...... 52899 Horticulture ...... 38 and other crops . . . 30 ...... 47 Pigs and Poultry ...... 28 The State of Farming on Dartmoor Horticultural crops . 78 ...... 77 Pigs Dairy ...... 41 Field beans ...... *** ...... *** Breeding sows and gilts in pig Cattle and Sheep (LFA) ...... 393 Peas for harvesting (breeding herd) . . . 31 ...... 336 Cattle and Sheep (lowland) ...... 168 dry ...... 9 ...... 59 All other pigs . . . . . 53 ...... 3009 Mixed ...... 38 Maize ...... 18 ...... 121 Total pigs ...... 61 ...... 3345 Other types...... 412 Oilseed rape ...... *** ...... *** To prevent disclosure of information about individual holdings the number of holdings has been Linseed ...... 13 ...... 229 suppressed and the data averaged over a wider area. 1 Table reproduced from: Table Bare fallow ...... 14 ...... 119 Excluding minor holdings. Source: Agricultural and Horticultural Census, Defra

Useful web links for further information: For further information, and a list of other Fact Sheets available, contact the: Other factsheets: Education Service, • Dartmoor Commons Dartmoor National Park Authority, • Prehistoric Archaeology Parke, Bovey Tracey, Newton Abbot, • The Dartmoor ponies Devon TQ13 9JQ • Land Use Issues Tel: (01626) 832093 http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/dnp/factfile/homepage.html E-mail: [email protected] Other publications: Website: www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk • The State of Farming on Dartmoor Centre for Rural Research, Exeter University/Dartmoor National Park Authority (2002). This publication may be photocopied for educational This summary report was commissioned by the Dartmoor National purposes under the Copyright Act 1988. Park Authority to provide base-line information on the state of farming on Dartmoor in the year 2000 to inform policy and decision making, and to recommend future action and underpin resource bids to improve the local hill farming economy. • Dartmoor National Park Management Plan (2001) http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/dnp/planning/mplan.html • Dartmoor National Park Local Plan First Review 1995 - 2011 (Adopted Version) http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/dnp/planning/lplan/localplan2.html • Action for Wildlife: The Dartmoor Biodiversity Action Plan http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/dnp/pubs/bap.html • Swaling Checklist http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/dnp/swaling.html

Dartmoor National Park Authority Farming on Dartmoor Factsheet July 2005 Page 6 of 6 © Dartmoor National Park Authority 2005 104.3/7/05/archivef/farmingondartmoorfactsheet/mac