AN innovative partnership project designed to help teach young apprentices the skills necessary to work in upland farming was launched at Peter Tavy on Monday. Six Dartmoor farmers have joined forces to form the Moorskills Farming Project Limited which will provide specialist training, as part of the pilot Moorskills Project, for four young apprentices. The apprentices will learn a range of upland farming skills that are in danger of being lost, including the rounding up and handling of upland stock, controlled burning, and knowledge of the importance of Dartmoor's Sites of Special Scientific Interest. The farmers are Colin Abel from Peter Tavy, Justine Colton of Yelverton, Layland Branfield of Princetown, Philip Coaker from Postbridge, Roger Hutchings of Holne and Clyde Coaker from Widecombe-in-the-Moor. The Moorskills Project arose through the work of the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project, set up by Dartmoor National Park Authority. It is a partnership of the farmers (Moorskills Farming Project Limited), the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project, the Duchy of Cornwall, Dartmoor Commoners' Council, Duchy College, Natural England, the Ministry of Defence and South Tawton Commoners' Association. The project is partly-funded by the Learning and Skills Council and Devon Renaissance, the rural regeneration partnership organisation for the county. Sandra Dodd of Dartmoor National Park Authority's Hill Farm Project, which is overseeing Moorskills, said: 'This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to learn what is involved in upland farming. ' With the farmers, the apprentices can extended their skills and assist in pony and sheep gathering as well as cattle movement on the moor, where livestock handling and health and welfare are daily routine. Moorskills Farming Project Limited is helping the apprentices gather invaluable evidence for their National Vocational Qualifications and providing the sort of training that cannot be achieved in any other way.' The apprentices have commenced an intensive 12-week course, working on the six farms as part of an 18-month apprenticeship. Duchy College at Stoke Climsland will provide 20 days formal training. In addition, Dartmoor National Park Authority will organise bespoke training courses, in conjunction with the other partners, with funding from the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund. 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. Liz Abell, project co-ordinator of Devon Renaissance, said: 'There is a real need to make sure that upland farming skills are not lost as they help to maintain this important landscape. Moorskills is a pilot project which will give these four young men the opportunity to learn these skills and a chance of a career in the National Park. 'If it is successful we would like to see similar schemes running on Exmoor and other National Parks.'
