MP welcomes boost for wildlife friendly farming in the Lake District

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed news that the RSPB has appointed an upland advisor to work with hill farmers in the Lake District to develop and implement wildlife-friendly farming schemes.

Janet Fairclough has been appointed by the organisation as part of a landscape conservation project where the RSPB is working with a range of partners to restore upland habitats in the north east of the Lake District.

She will work with land managers and a range of partners including Natural England, the Environment Agency, the Lake District National Park Authority, and the Forestry Commission; and as part of the Environmental Land Management Service (ELMS).

Tim was recently re-elected as the chairman of the All-party Parliamentary Group on Hill Farming and he is committed to working with the government and other organisations to support hill farmers.

Parliamentary questions tabled by Tim show that average incomes for hill farmers in Cumbria have recovered from a low of £4,800 a year to £12,600 a year between 2008/9 and 2009/10.

Tim said: "I welcome Janet's appointment and the commitment of the RSPB to upland farming. I look forward to working with them and upland farmers. Her work will help farmers protect woodland birds and other wildlife, as well as helping to improve water quality and protect carbon stores."