HILL FARMING

PURPOSE OF THE CHARTER

The aims of this project begin with raising the profile of Hill farming, highlighting how invaluable it is and showing the positive impact it has on the cultural landscape of the area.

This is a central place to showcase the range of hill farms there are and present the unique characteristics of each one, showing the diversity that exists. Collecting the farms together in one place, to give an impressive and broader picture of Cumbrian Hill Farming, showing it to be a way of life worth preserving and protecting.
Read more about the aims of the Charter
See the draft Charter Commitment and tell us your thoughts

A RECENT HISTORY OF HILL FARMING

Hill farming can be defined as a farming system which primarily uses grazing animals (sheep and cattle) on land classified as Less Favoured Area. LFA land is divided into Severely Disadvantaged Areas (these areas are often variously described as fells, hills, or moors) and Disadvantaged Areas (generally upland rather than hill areas). The disadvantages referred to are climate, topography, remoteness and to a large extent altitude. In the fells and Dales LFA/SDA farming activity is primarily beef and sheep production. Although dairying was once widespread, there is now very little dairying left in LFA/ SDA parishes in Cumbria.
Read more on the history of Hill Farming