9May 2009 CUMBRIA FARMER
Bigger National Parks
may push costs higher
BY ANNA BURDETT
A
Cumbrian farmer
whose land could be
absorbed into an
expanded National Park
fears the move could leave him
out of pocket.
Natural England has revived its
plans to expand both the Lake Dis-
trict and Yorkshire Dales National
Parks.
The Orton and northern
Howgill fells would be among 11
new areas included in the extend-
ed Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Stephen Dunning's Raisgill Hall
farm is likely to be one of the
farms to gain National Park sta-
tus.
He farms beef, sheep and dairy
in the Orton fells near Tebay and
is against the expansion.
"It will make planning for agri-
cultural buildings more difficult
so, as a farmer, I'd be against it,"
he said.
"It will be more expensive for
me as a farmer to live in the
National Park and run a business
here."
Work on the expansion project
was halted last year to see what
happened with the South Downs
National Park public inquiry.
National Parks afford greater
protection from developments
such as wind farms, but property
prices are often significantly high-
er within their boundaries.
The Orton fells sit within a
large parcel of land running along
the M6 corridor that was origi-
nally left out of the park to allow
the motorway to be built. It is also
proposed that these fells are des-
ignated an Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty.
Other areas being considered
for inclusion in the expanded
National Parks are Mallerstang,
Wild Boar Fell, parts of the Lune
Valley, Birkbeck Fells to Whinfell,
Helsington Barrows to Sizergh,
and an area around the River
Kent.
The Friends of the Lake District
played a critical role in kick-start-
ing the process for expansion,
with its 2006 study called Cum-
bria's Forgotten Landscape.
Andrew Forsyth, executive
director of the group, said permit-
ted agricultural development that
does not require a planning appli-
cation would not be affected by
the new status.
He said: "They may request
some design features but in our
experience, in neither National
Park has that been the norm."
Mr Forsyth also believes there
could be more access to Higher
Level Stewardship for farmers
within the National Parks.
But Mr Dunning does not think
he would be in line for any extra
support payments.
Will Cockbain, the NFU's
uplands spokesman, said: "These
farmers are going to be eligible
for higher level schemes anyway.
It won't make a great deal of dif-
ference to their payments."
Natural England has not set a
timescale for the expansion of the
parks, but a public consultation
will be conducted before a final
decision is made.
FarmingLife
Farmer's fears
over plans to
extend area
of protection
Affected: The extended boundaries could mean the northern Howgill fells would
be included within the Yorkshire Dales National Park VIVIENNE CROW
Organisers of
two-day event
call for fleeces
SHEEP farmers can submit up
to five fleeces to this year's
Woolfest auction.
Organisers of the two-day fes-
tival at Mitchell's Lakeland Live-
stock Centre in Cockermouth, are
hoping to see a range of fleeces
from rare breeds as well as Herd-
wick and other local breeds.
Under Wool Board rules,
farmers can sell a small number
of fleeces for hand-spinners and
craft use. Last year, 300 fleeces
sold for between �3 and �15.
Jan Hicks, sale organiser, said:
"Our visitors appreciate the
chance to buy fleece direct for
spinning and craft and the sale
is very much in the spirit of the
original ideas behind Woolfest of
adding value to local wool."
For information on submit-
ting fleeces, visit the website at
www.woolfest.co.uk.
A range of workshops and lec-
tures will also be held during
the festival on June 26 and 27.
Visit the website for more infor-
mation and to book a place.
Direct: Jan Hicks, centre, and
colleagues inspecting fleeces

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