Today, Wednesday 9th November, Peakland Environmental Farmers (PEF) has hosted its first Members meeting. In this event, those within the PEF Scoping Group presented on how the PEF will develop as an organisation into the future. A pea and pie supper was followed by talks from Amanda Anderson of the Moorland Association, facilitator Chloe Palmer and Teresa Dent CBE of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust amongst others.
The evening attracted over 70 local farmers and moorland managers who heard about how, as a co-ordinated group, it could be possible to deliver environmental change at scale. The PEF model follows a similar organisation set up in Hampshire called the Environmental Farmers Group which has gathered momentum and begun to build on opportunities from the natural capital market.
It is seen that farmers and land managers hold a key part to the equation of rebuilding landscapes, reducing the impact of pollution, and increasing biodiversity. In the Peak District, the PEF hopes that its momentum can deliver some of this important change through the co-ordination of those who have the ability and drive to deliver.
I live in Plymouth but I have farmed all my life breeding 100 Hereford x Friesian on the bucket twice . My Hxf Cows calved in spring but were outwintered in a protected valley from 600to 1000 ft. 6 miles from the Ceredigion coast.
At a Dartmoor Society meeting Goeff Eyre spoke to the farming community and agreed that SWest water blocking deep gullies running off the peatland would be swept away .
Marion , NE director told us we must reduce the amount of spring calving dry cows on the moor in winter . 25 years ago with 9 herds outwintered from East okement to Meldon and in Gidleigh moor a survey had shown 10 % Molinia . To day it is 90% Molinia mainly owing to lack of cattle outwintered in Winter. Natural England fail to agree with farmers today and decimate beef herd production on Dartmoor.