THE biggest single agri-environment deal ever secured in England has been clinched by the South West NFU, involving more than 11,000 hectares of land on Dartmoor.
Farmers have been signing up in record numbers to maintain traditional farming practices in the most beautiful and environmentally sensitive areas (ESAs) of the South West ? and the Dartmoor agreement brokered by south west regional director Anthony Gibson is the biggest ?green? deal of all.
ESA agreements reward participating farmers for maintaining and enhancing these special areas through traditional techniques of cropping, stocking, boundary maintenance etc. There are now nearly 1,000 ESA agreement holders on Dartmoor.
Anthony Gibson said: ?We have always advocated these excellent agreements, which help protect and enhance natural beauty as well as bird and wildlife populations, to our members.
?It is particularly gratifying to have brought the Dartmoor deal to such a beneficial conclusion for both the landscape and the farmers.?