Dartmoor Hill Farming

The heady heights of a hill farm is explored

TV reporter Kenneth Macleod reports from a hill farm on Dartmoor in Devon. Hill farming is extensive farming in upland areas historically grazing cattle and sheep. Fell farming uses uncultivated high ground also known as common ground. Modern hill farming is dependent on government subsidy and receives support from the European Union's Agricultural Policy with the aim of keeping farmers on the land for management and conservation purposes.

Dartmoor has been farmed for centuries and the moors used for grazing for over 3500 years. It is human involvement that has shaped and evolved the upland ecosystems. The Dartmoor Hill Farm Project (DHFP) supports farmers on Dartmoor by increasing vocational skills and aiding local businesses and is hosted by the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA). Over half of Dartmoor comes under the Duchy of Cornwall and with its support a group of farmers have formed the Dartmoor Farmers Association.