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 | | Friday, 18 January, 2002, 18:04 GMT Ploughing ban in Peaks  The ban on ploughing covers all moor and heath land Farmers in one of the country's most popular national parks are facing a ban on ploughing for the next year. In a move to protect moor land and heath in the Peak District National Park, the government has called for a year-long halt to ploughing. Environment Minister Michael Meacher announced the ruling under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 on Friday. It follows a previous order made last December covering land at Kirk Edge Brad field near Sheffield. A farmer there was said to have ploughed the land to stop the public from having access to it under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Natural beauty Mr Meacher made the decision after a request from the National Park Authority.
It covers all the moor and heath in the park, except land in Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and land covered by agreements under the Environmentally Sensitive Areas scheme, which is already protected. Mr Meacher said: "This land is enormously important for its natural beauty and wildlife and we must protect it. "I have said before that farmers have nothing to fear from the new right of access to open country which the Countryside and Rights of Way Act will provide. "The act will have little effect on their business activities. "If any landowner believes the Countryside Agency has wrongly shown this land on the draft maps, which are presently open for consultation, he should tell the agency, not put in the plough. "The act has been designed to minimise any impact on land managers." When it is fully implemented in 2005, the Countryside and Rights of Way Act will allow people to walk on open country shown on maps produced by the Countryside Agency. The agency is consulting on draft maps of land in the Peak District and other areas in the north west of England. | |    See also: Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top England stories now:  Links to more England stories are at the foot of the page. | |||||||||||||||||||
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