In October, we appointed the Independent Chair for the Dartmoor Land Use Management Group (DLUMG), Phil Stocker.
The group will develop a land use framework and land use plan for this internationally significant site. It will also provide oversight and steward the delivery of the 25 recommendations put forward in our response to the Independent review of protected site management on Dartmoor.
In this guest post, Phil shares insights into his role, the published terms of reference, membership, and next steps for the group.
I am honoured to have been appointed as the Independent Chair of the Dartmoor Land Use Management Group (DLUMG).
This is a responsibility I take very seriously, as it provides an opportunity to tackle the complex and vital task of managing land use on Dartmoor in a way that benefits both people and nature. Dartmoor is one of England’s most iconic landscapes, valued for its open moorland, wooded valleys, and rich history and culture.
Today we’ve published the group's terms of reference, where you can find information on our purpose, objectives, governance and more. This and all other information related to the DLUMG will be available on our upcoming website.
As Chair, I will be leading this group and its day-to-day running, with the support of Simon Lunniss who has been seconded to the group from the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).
The DLUMG will act as a forum to build strong relationships, creating a culture of open decision making with effective governance. The group brings together farmers, landowners and commoners, Natural England, environmental NGOs and other key stakeholders, including a wider network of specialists.
Purpose of the group
The DLUMG will seek to implement the 25 recommendations attributed to the group in the government response to the Dartmoor Review.
The recommendations include strengthening the governance of Dartmoor’s commons, supporting sustainable land management practices, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders. Read more about the purpose of the group.
Members of the group
The membership of the DLUMG is being carefully structured in collaboration with Defra to ensure balanced representation from key stakeholder groups, including farming, conservation, community, and local governance. The group will also include academic and research interests and relevant government agencies.
I believe this diverse representation is essential to making the right decisions and delivering the best future for Dartmoor.
There will be wider involvement and inclusion via a series of working groups that will work on specific topics relating to the 25 recommendations.
I am in the process of finalising membership of the group in collaboration with Defra, and we will provide a full list of members as soon as they are confirmed. I hope to confirm the members in the new year.
The members of the DLUMG are not formal public appointments, and the DLUMG is not a formal public body. Read more about the terms of membership.
Our First Meeting
The first meeting of the DLUMG will be an important step in setting the tone and direction for the group’s work. This is planned for the second half of January 2025, once all group members have been confirmed.
We will focus on clarifying our shared objectives, understanding the challenges we face, and agreeing on how we can work collaboratively to deliver meaningful outcomes.
During this meeting, we will begin discussing priorities for the Dartmoor Land Use Framework and Landscape Delivery Plan.
This framework will guide the group’s efforts in developing a sustainable and balanced strategy for Dartmoor.
Looking Ahead
Recent years have highlighted the challenges facing Dartmoor. Balancing farming and food production with environmental stewardship has become increasingly difficult, with economics, climate change and biodiversity loss adding further pressures.
We will ensure Dartmoor’s strategy aligns with broader Government objectives for sustainability and environmental improvement by working closely with Defra on forthcoming national initiatives.
The first quarterly report for DLUMG can be expected in March 2025.
The success of the DLUMG will depend on collaboration and consensus.
My goal as Chair is to ensure all voices are heard, and our work reflects the needs of Dartmoor’s farming, environmental, conservation, and local communities.
I look forward to helping to create a sustainable and balanced future for Dartmoor.
Please contact DLUMG@defra.gov.uk if you have any questions or queries.
6 comments
Comment by Dr James Hedger posted on
Can you please clarify the physical area you will be advising on. Will it be just the high moor, above the moorland line, LFA or the whole national park?
To fulfil point 2 of your objectives how will you get to know where the many unmapped ecological niches are..eg. temperate rainforest remnants, wax cap meadows.?
Comment by The Team posted on
Hi Dr Hedger,
Thanks for getting in touch. The DLUMG, in line with the review and government response, will consider the whole of the Dartmoor National Park, with a particular focus on Dartmoor’s protected sites, including SSSIs. They are all different in their geological and ecological features. We are bringing together the widest possible range of interest and experience into the DLUMG, including archaeological and ecological interests and experience, and we will aim to capture these niche environments through a tiered Land Use Framework.
Hope that helps,
The Team
Comment by Richard Watson posted on
Dartmoor would be wonderful if it were not for some hundred and forty thousand sheep eating it away! Our National Parks should be places where there is abundant and diverse wildlife, not just sheep and the few scavenger species which can co-exist alongside them. The DLUMG should have one overarching aim - to reduce sheep numbers by around 70%. All else would follow.
Comment by The Team posted on
Hi Richard,
Thanks for sharing your feedback, I have passed this on to the team. Under-grazing can be as much of a problem as over-grazing. The key is getting the right grazing (in terms of grazing load and species mix) in the right location at the right time of year; a challenge which is compounded by grazing on open moorland with animals straying. Natural England commits to working with the Review’s proposed LUMG, to help stakeholders and farmers come to a shared understanding of how grazing management can be used collaboratively on the moor, to meet the objectives and vision for Dartmoor.
As stated in the groups terms of reference: we are committed to enabling the continuing delivery of environmental, climate and biodiversity focused initiatives, projects and investments within the National Park to meet the objectives of the Partnership Plan, and to implementing the government’s response to the 25 recommendations attributed to it in the official response to the Dartmoor Review.
Best wishes,
The Team
Comment by Neil cole posted on
As farmers in the hills most are producing food in a symbiotic way with nature or trying their best to.
People need food.
So surely it’s better to find ways to produce food we have control of in this country.
Governments trying to hit meet green targets by reducing livestock in the hills but then importing food from countries that are burning rain forest or growing it under plastic using artificial light chemicals and fertiliser so it is cheaper then transporting it around the world .
This is much more environmentally damaging on a global scale surely
We need common sense to prevail.
Comment by The Team posted on
Hi Neil,
Thanks for getting in touch and for your feedback which I have shared with the team. Food security is national security and this Government’s commitment to farmers remains steadfast. Supporting farmers is a priority. The government is committed to developing a trade strategy that will support economic growth and promote the highest standards of food production.
In reference to current levels of livestock, Natural England commits to working with the Review’s proposed LUMG, to help stakeholders and farmers come to a shared understanding of how grazing management can be used collaboratively on the moor, to meet the objectives and vision for Dartmoor.
Best wishes,
The Team