How do you farm a protected landscape?

3 hours ago

Ellen Knightin the Shropshire Hills

News image — Rob and Sarah Davies farm sheep and Highland cattle in the Shropshire Hills National Landscape

BBC The couple stood side by side, looking into the camera and smiling. Sarah is wearing a pink and white checked shirt, and Rob is wearing a dark green jumper. They are stood in front of a field, where four Highland cattle are grazing. There are lots of trees along the edges of the field, whilst the centre of the field is a scrubby, wetland habitat. The sky is blue with a few clouds and there is strong sunshine. — Rob and Sarah Davies farm sheep and Highland cattle in the Shropshire Hills National Landscape

Standing in the Shropshire Hills, Rob and Sarah Davies face a challenge familiar to farmers across England's protected landscapes.

They need to run a profitable farm while protecting nature, welcoming visitors and managing land that is often difficult to farm.

For the couple, who keep 35 Highland cattle and 900 sheep at Blackhurst Farm near Longnor, that balancing act has become increasingly important as farmers are asked to produce food, help wildlife recover and adapt to a changing climate.

"It's a difficult time for farmers," Sarah Davies said.

Yet she believes their location in the Shropshire Hills, one of England's National Landscapes, has also brought opportunities.

Much of the farm's land is steep and less productive than lowland farmland, but it is perfectly suited to Highland cattle, which graze rough pasture and help manage habitats that support wildlife.

"They're doing a really good job on the rough grazing, which in turn encourages wildlife," Sarah said.

"But you have to have an end result, and that's where the beef comes in."

Ellen Knight/BBC Photograph of about 20 Highland cattle, standing in the shade provided by trees in a corner of a field. Closest to the camera is a cow with long, pointed horns and a shaggy orange coat. Beyond that, there are cows with their calves, and a large white Shorthorn bull stood behind them. The sky is blue and there is strong sunshine. — Highland cattle graze rough pasture that also provides habitat for wildlife

The family now sell Blackhurst Beef directly to customers from the farm, creating an additional income stream at a time when many farming businesses are looking for new ways to remain viable.

"We've got two or three areas of the business now, and it's adding value," Sarah explained.

Like many farms in protected landscapes, Blackhurst Farm is also shared with the public.

The farm sits beneath The Lawley, a popular walking destination that attracts visitors throughout the year. The family's Highland cattle can often be seen grazing on land crossed by public footpaths.

"The footfall now is unreal," Rob Davies said.

Managing a working farm alongside growing visitor numbers can bring challenges. In the past, the family regularly dealt with sheep being attacked or chased by dogs.

"We were having sheep worrying on a regular basis at one time," he said.

Fortunately, he believes awareness among walkers has improved.

"People seem to have got the message about keeping their dogs on leads."

Ellen Knight/BBC Photograph of a large pond with trees along the edges of it. The trees and blue sky are reflected in the surface of the water. The sky is bright blue and there is strong sunshine. — A restored pond helps retain water and reduce flooding during heavy rain

For farmers in some of England's most visited landscapes, maintaining support from visitors while protecting livestock has become another part of day-to-day life.

Alongside visitor pressures, farmers are increasingly looking for ways to make their businesses more resilient to extreme weather.

At Blackhurst Farm, initiatives have included creating a new borehole to provide water during dry periods and restoring a pond that helps retain water and slow flooding.

The farm has also opened its gates to school groups, allowing pupils to learn more about food production and farming.

"It's educational for local children," Rob said.

Ellen Knight/BBC Photo of Jones looking into the camera and smiling. She is wearing a long-sleeved blue top with a white t-shirt underneath. Jones is stood on the edge of a field, with a number of Highland cattle seen behind her. The field has trees growing along the edges of it - the sky is blue and there is strong sunshine. — Alison Jones works with farmers to develop projects that benefit businesses and nature

The projects have been supported through the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) programme, a government-backed scheme available to farms and land managers in National Landscapes, National Parks and the Norfolk Broads.

The funding supports initiatives linked to nature recovery, climate resilience and public access.

For the Davies family, it has helped fund improvements including a purpose-built sales building for their beef business.

"It looks much more professional," Sarah said.

Rob described the support as "an absolute godsend".

"It's incredible what it's done for the farm," he added.

Finding solutions

Alison Jones, a FiPL adviser for the Shropshire Hills National Landscape, said the programme had helped drive significant changes since it began in 2021.

"We've got over 250 projects going since the programme started," she said.

But she believes one of the biggest benefits has been farmers learning from each other.

"We quite often say, if you're not sure about putting in a borehole or using a solar pump system, talk to so-and-so," she said.

"That peer-to-peer learning works really well."

Jones said Blackhurst Farm demonstrated how environmental improvements and commercial success could go hand in hand.

Their customer base has grown, demand for their beef continues to increase and the farm is hosting visits from local schools, all while managing land in a way that supports wildlife.

For Jones, that combination captures the future of farming in protected landscapes.

"It's just brilliant that people have embraced the principles behind the programme, taking it on board and coming up with innovative ideas," she said.