Farron helps protect stewardship schemes for upland farmers

Local MP Tim Farron, who is Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Hill Farming, has thanked his colleagues for their hard work and said that recent announcements by Defra that all 1,600 Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) schemes will be renewed showed what a small group of MP's can do.

As chair of the APPG, Tim has lobbied the government to protect the vital HLS schemes. HLS is targeted in 110 areas across England. These target areas are where Natural England are seeking the most environmental benefits for wildlife, landscape, the historic environment and resource protection.

At the meeting Tim was also re-elected as the Chair of the APPG.

Commenting Tim said: "For a long time now hill farmers have been massively underappreciated, despite the significant contribution they make to protecting ecosystems; producing food for us to eat and maintaining the countryside. Alongside my colleagues on the hill farming committee, I fight tirelessly to defend local farmers and today's announcement is very welcome news."