SIX Dartmoor farmers have joined forces to train apprentices in endangered upland farming skills. The farmers were becoming concerned that many of the up and coming generation of farm labourers and contractors did not have the necessary moorland skills required today and any kind of help on farms was becoming harder to find. The Moorskills Farming Project Ltd will provide specialist training for four young apprentices and Duchy College in Stoke Climsland will provide 20 days formal training. In addition, Dartmoor National Park Authority will organise bespoke training courses. The project aims to provide the apprentices with a specialist education that will enable them to work the hills of Dartmoor and help address the skills drain from the upland farming community. This will include the rounding-up and handling of upland stock, controlled burning and knowledge of the importance of Dartmoor's Sites of Special Scientific Interest. The young people have commenced an intensive 12-week course, working on the six farms, as part of an 18-month apprenticeship, and have already completed first aid courses, learnt about health and safety issues and completed an All Terrain Vehicle training course. The farmers involved include Colin Abel from Peter Tavy, Justine Colton of Yelverton, Layland Branfield of Princetown and Philip Coaker from Postbridge. Also involved in the overall Moorskills Project are the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project, the Duchy of Cornwall, Dartmoor Commoners' Council, Natural England, the Ministry of Defence and South Tawton Commoners' Association.