North Pennines AONB High Nature Value Farming Research A report for the North Pennines AONB partnership European Forum on Nature Conservation and Pastoralism and Cumulus Consultants Ltd. Mike Quinn, Creative Commons Licence North Pennines AONB High Nature Value Farming Research A report for the North Pennines AONB partnership European Forum on Nature Conservation and Pastoralism and Cumulus Consultants Ltd. December 2013 Report prepared by: Gwyn Jones, EFNCP Paul Silcock, CC Jonathan Brunyee, CC Jeni Pring, CC This report was commissioned by the North Pennines AONB Partnership. Its content is the sole responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the views of the funders. Thanks to Karen MacRae for proof reading, but all mistakes are the authors’. Thanks also to Rebecca Barrett for her enthusiasm and support and to Pat Thompson for help with bird data. European Forum on Nature Conservation and Cumulus Consultants Ltd, Pastoralism, The Palmers, Wormington Grange, 5/8 Ellishadder, Culnancnoc, Wormington, Broadway, Portree IV51 9JE Worcestershire. WR12 7NJ Telephone: +44 (0)788 411 6048 Telephone: +44 (0)1386 584950 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Internet: www.efncp.org Internet: www.cumulus-consultants.co.uk 2 Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 5 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 13 1.1. HNV farming .......................................................................................................................... 13 1.2. HNV farming in the North Pennines AONB ........................................................................... 13 1.3. Research aims ....................................................................................................................... 14 1.4. Research approach ............................................................................................................... 14 2. Study Area ..................................................................................................................................... 14 3. Farming in the North Pennines AONB .......................................................................................... 16 3.1. Land use ................................................................................................................................ 16 3.2. Farms..................................................................................................................................... 17 3.3. Cropping ................................................................................................................................ 19 3.4. Livestock................................................................................................................................ 19 3.5. Agricultural labour ................................................................................................................ 21 3.6. Land tenure ........................................................................................................................... 22 3.7. Agri-environment scheme participation ............................................................................... 22 3.8. Organic production ............................................................................................................... 22 3.9. Farm income ......................................................................................................................... 23 3.10. Agricultural output ................................................................................................................ 26 4. Biodiversity in the Upper Dales ..................................................................................................... 26 4.1. Fell pastures .......................................................................................................................... 26 4.2. Inbye meadows and pastures ............................................................................................... 29 4.3. Woodland.............................................................................................................................. 30 4.4. Fauna ..................................................................................................................................... 30 4.5. Designations .......................................................................................................................... 32 4.6. Site condition ........................................................................................................................ 35 5. Ecosystem services delivered in the North Pennines AONB and study area ................................ 38 5.1. Introduction to ecosystem services ...................................................................................... 38 5.2. Ecosystem services in the North Pennines ........................................................................... 39 5.3. Food and fibre provision ....................................................................................................... 42 5.4. Timber and wood fuel provision ........................................................................................... 42 5.5. Water supply ......................................................................................................................... 42 5.6. Water quality ........................................................................................................................ 43 5.7. Flood control ......................................................................................................................... 45 5.8. Carbon storage and sequestration ....................................................................................... 45 5.9. Soil protection ....................................................................................................................... 47 5.10. Pollination ............................................................................................................................. 48 5.11. Recreation ............................................................................................................................. 48 3 5.12. Biodiversity ........................................................................................................................... 49 6. Farmer survey ............................................................................................................................... 51 6.1. The sample ............................................................................................................................ 51 6.2. The questionnaire ................................................................................................................. 52 6.3. The farms and their farmers ................................................................................................. 52 6.3.1. Holdings and tenure ...................................................................................................... 52 6.3.2. The farmers ................................................................................................................... 55 6.4. The farmland ......................................................................................................................... 57 6.4.1. Introduction to the land use data ................................................................................. 57 6.4.2. Overall agri-environment update ................................................................................. 58 6.4.3. Meadows ....................................................................................................................... 58 6.4.4. Inbye pastures ............................................................................................................... 62 6.4.5. Rough grazings (including common land) ..................................................................... 64 6.4.6. Purchases of fertiliser and lime ..................................................................................... 66 6.5. The livestock ......................................................................................................................... 66 6.5.1. Sheep............................................................................................................................. 66 6.5.2. Cattle ............................................................................................................................. 68 6.5.3. Livestock housing and feeding ...................................................................................... 68 6.6. Farm economics .................................................................................................................... 70 6.6.1. Farm Income ................................................................................................................. 70 6.7. Farming policy and policy delivery ........................................................................................ 76 6.7.1. Agri-environment .......................................................................................................... 76 6.7.2. Direct payments ............................................................................................................ 79 6.7.3. Other