ROBERT Cook has made some points for rewilding that differ from George Monbiot’s wolves in the park!

If he agrees that a farmed and grazed landscape on Dartmoor, as it was 25 years ago, would be the way forward perhaps we could agree on some points that have been researched by Dr Fraser, of Ibers Aberystwyth, also North Wyke, and records kept by upland farmers. 

1. New Zealand using genetic data from their cattle have improved exports to China by 460%. The UK imports nearly 50% of its food. Farmers Weekly editorial. 

2. The UK has as many acres in unproductive purple moor grass and carcinogenic bracken than wheat! 

3. Conservation research confirms cattle grazing Molinia hard ( purple moor grass) can reduce Molinia area by 60% 

4. Outwintered cattle can trample and reduce bracken by exposing fronds to frost.

5. Cost of keeping a single suckler native (600 to 700 kilos) spring calving cow on deferred grazing or foggage through the winter costs £100 (on Plynlimon, Wales) — 2.5 kg for 180 days at 20p per kg is about £70 plus crystalix blocks all year round is about £25 per cow.

6. Outwintered cattle can improve habitat and heather to its former condition, 25 years ago. Results from Galloway sucklers winter grazing, Molland Moor, Exmoor.

7.  An upland field in Wales where cattle and sheep has grazed all the year round for 40 years has more than 106 named wild flowers. 

8. Mixed grazing with cattle, sheep and ponies produces more grazing, insects and wildlife. RSPB diagram available.

9. Partial blocking tributaries from uplands will reduce flow to rivers liable to flood — better than digging into 8000- year-old blanket bogs that drain naturally from Dartmoor.

10. North Wyke and Ibers Aberystwyth have bred  Festuca x Lolium deep rooted grass that will absorb more rain than trees.

11 A Cornwall farmer has tripled farm output by mob grazing to produce grass fed meat. 

Fairfax Luxmoore

Stoke Damerel

Plymouth