THE Dartmoor Hill Farm community are yielding benefits thanks to their partnership in a special project with HMP Dartmoor Prison.

For several months the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project has been using the IT suite at the Prison Officers' Association Learning Centre at the prison in Princetown.

It means hill farmers may make effective use of the high speed broadband facilities as well as the IT equipment for their learning needs.

The project, with a small team of staff, is hosted by Dartmoor National Park Authority and funded by Defra, DNPA and the Duchy of Cornwall.

It was first set up in 2003 to ensure a viable future for Dartmoor farmers and to support farmers on the moor to establish and run a wide range of projects to add value to their businesses and to increase vocational skills.

Andy Harding, the POA Learning Centre manager, told the Times: 'There has been a steady realisation that central government expects all members of the farming community to exchange information on cattle movements and the claiming of subsidies etc online.

'That very issue of being able to get online is often taken for granted by those in London who make policy.

'Not all parts of the country have access to broadband and the isolation of Dartmoor National Park is no exception.

'This is where the HMP Dartmoor POA Learning Centre comes to the fore.'

The POA Learning Centre, funded in partnership by Union Learn and the Governor of HMP Dartmoor, has had for many months a productive learning agreement with the Hill Farm Project.

Local members of the agricultural community attend the well equipped learning centre at HMP Dartmoor on a regular basis and use the IT equipment available for both IT training and any other required need.

Mr Harding addedd: 'It is a delight to be able to extend our facilities to the very heart of our farming community.

'Agriculture is at the heart of our community and being able to play a vital role in supporting that specific sector of the community in partnership is not only essential but very rewarding for all concerned.'

Kate Tobin, hill farm project officer, also emphasised how invaluable POA Learning is to the educational and daily practical requirements of the local agricultural community.

She said: 'POA Learning at HMP Dartmoor provides an essential and professional service to the hill farmers.'