EDM: Upland farmers and common land

Upland farmers and common land

Tabled by Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat) 19 signatures

The motion

That this House notes with concern that thousands of upland farmers in England face exclusion from future environment schemes due to the absence of a mechanism for common land to apply to the 2026 Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and Countryside Stewardship Higher Tier (CSHT); recognises that around 4,000 farming businesses with common rights may be adversely affected; further notes that limitations within the Rural Payments Service software prevent applications for commons and shared grazing; regrets the withdrawal of the MOR1 moorland survey action that supported the Land Use Framework’s ambition to make land digital; acknowledges the lack of interim or offline solutions and impact on farm business viability; highlights the importance of common land to nature recovery, peatland restoration and flood management; and calls on the Government urgently to deliver a workable system for commons to apply for SFI and CSHT, which will also ensure sustainable food production, equitable access, fair payment and the full inclusion of commoners.

Signatories (19)