On Saturday 18th March, Sarah Dines MP joined Robert Largan MP for a meeting with Peak District farmers. Local farmers, Chloe, John, Geoff, John Wain and Simon are members of the Peakland Environmental Farmers, determined to support the unique challenges that Upland farmers face.
Sarah Dines MP said, ‘I was very pleased to join my Parliamentary colleague, Robert Largan MP meeting members of Peakland Environmental Farmers Group (PEF.) Both Robert’s constituency of High Peak and my constituency of Derbyshire Dales have upland farmers, so we have joined forces to see how we can support them.
Peak District farmers, like others across the English uplands, are facing financial challenges which could result in their demise. The loss of Basic Payment Scheme will hit upland farmers harder than others in the lowlands because evidence shows a greater reliance on these payments to make ends meet and fewer options for generating alternative sources of income, plus inherent lower profitability. The potential income from the components of the Environmental Land Management scheme are harder for upland farmers to benefit from. PEF’s mission, along with working with stakeholders to find viable solutions to financial difficulties for upland farmers, is to address environmental issues, such as restoring and protecting our peatland, maintaining biodiversity and contributing to clean water; aims I am fully in support of.
I look forward to working with the group to see how best we can support our upland farmers.’
