21 November 2006
Moorskills in Dartmoor National Park
An innovative partnership project designed to help teach young apprentices the skills necessary to work in upland farming will be launched on 4 December 2006.
Six Dartmoor farmers have joined forces to form the Moorskills Farming Project Limited which will provide specialist training, as part of the pilot Moorskills Project, for four young apprentices. The apprentices will learn a range of upland farming skills that are in danger of being lost, including the rounding up and handling of upland stock, controlled burning, and knowledge of the importance of Dartmoor’s Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
The farmers are; Colin Abel from Peter Tavy; Justine Colton of Yelverton; Layland Branfield of Princetown; Philip Coaker from Postbridge; Roger Hutchings of Holne; and Clyde Coaker from Widecombe-in-the-Moor.
The Moorskills Project, arose through the work of the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project, set up by Dartmoor National Park Authority. It is a partnership of the farmers (Moorskills Farming Project Limited), the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project, the Duchy of Cornwall, Dartmoor Commoners’ Council, Duchy College, Natural England, the Ministry of Defence and South Tawton Commoners’ Association. The project is partly-funded by the Learning and Skills Council and Devon Renaissance the rural regeneration partnership organisation for the county.
The apprentices have commenced an intensive 12-week course, working on the six farms as part of an 18-month apprenticeship. Duchy College at Stoke Climsland will provide 20 days formal training. In addition, Dartmoor National Park Authority will organise bespoke training courses, in conjunction with the other partners, with funding from the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund. The project aims to provide the apprentices with a specialist education that will enable them to work the hills of Dartmoor and help address the skills drain from the upland farming community.
Sandra Dodd of Dartmoor National Park Authority’s Hill Farm Project, which is overseeing Moorskills, said: ‘This is a fantastic opportunity for young people to learn what is involved in upland farming. With the farmers, the apprentices can extended their skills and assist in pony and sheep gathering as well as cattle movement on the moor, where livestock handling and health and welfare are daily routine. Moorskills Farming Project Limited is helping the apprentices gather invaluable evidence for their National Vocational Qualifications and providing the sort of training that cannot be achieved in any other way.’
Liz Abell, project co-ordinator of Devon Renaissance, said: ‘There is a real need to make sure that upland farming skills are not lost as they help to maintain this important landscape. Moorskills is a pilot project which will give these four young men the opportunity to learn these skills and a chance of a career in the National Park. If it is successful we would like to see similar schemes running on Exmoor and other National Parks.’
Ends
The Moorskills Project will be launched on 4 December 2006 at Higher Godsworthy Farm, Peter Tavy (Ordnance Survey Grid Reference SX 530 772). Media representatives are invited to attend from 11 am. Please contact Sandra Dodd Dartmoor Hill Farm Project Officer,on (01626) 836013 to confirm attendance for lunch.
The launch programme is detailed below:
11.00 coffee on arrival
11.30 short presentation
11.45 opportunity for questions and photos/ filming
12.30 local produce lunch - (prepared and cooked by MoD staff)
For Further Information from Dartmoor National Park Authority
Sue Eberle, Head of Land Management
Tel: (01626) 832093
E mail: seberledartmoor-npa.gov.uk
Sandra Dodd, Dartmoor Hill Farm Project Officer,
Tel: (01626)836013
E mail; hillfarmproject@dartmoor-npa.gov.uk
For Further Information from Moorskills Farming Project Ltd
Mr Layland Branfield
Tel: (01822) 890642
E Mail: layland@branfield7.freeserve.co.uk
For Further Information from the Duchy of Cornwall
Mr Chris Gregory
Tel: (01822) 890205
For Further Information from Duchy College
Mr Chris Shepherd, Training Agency Operation Manager
Tel: (01579) 372230
E mail: chris.shepherd@duchy.ac.uk
For Further Information from the Dartmoor Commoners’ Council
Mrs C Seage, Secretary to Dartmoor Commoner’s Council
Tel: (01822) 618892
E Mail: caseage@dartmoorcommoners.fsnet.co.uk
For Further Information from Natural England
Ms C Bullock, Dartmoor Team Leader
Tel: (01392) 352042
E mail: Caroline.Bullock@defra.gsi.gov.uk
For Further Information from the Ministry of Defence
Col A Clark (retd.)
Tel: (01837) 650011
E mail: clark.Zeal@btopenworld.com
For Further Information from South Tawton Commoners’ Association
Mr J Mitchell, Secretary
Tel: (01647) 231301
For Further Information from Devon Renaissance
John Taynton, pr dogs, Press Agent for Devon Renaissance,
Tel: (01822) 859294 or 07843 436526 (mobile)
E mail: john.taynton@prdogs.com
Notes to Editors
Dartmoor farmers were becoming concerned that many of the up and coming generation of farm labour/contractors did not have the necessary moorland skills that farmers require on the hills today (such as controlled burning, handling wild stock, understanding of the importance of Dartmoor’s Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), lambing sheep out on the hill). Furthermore, any kind of help on the farm was becoming harder and harder to find.
Background research into farmers needs and a feasibility study were drawn up using funding from the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund, Duchy of Cornwall, Dartmoor Commoners Council and Natural England. This identified that 77% of farmers were interested in some form of training related to agriculture. It is as a result of this study that the Moorskills Project is being initiated.
The Dartmoor Hill Farm Project.is a project to help Dartmoor farmers, through a variety of methods from focus groups to helping get collaborative work off the ground, and works towards a sustainable future for upland farming on Dartmoor.
An induction course lasting three days has already taken place at Duchy College. During the induction all apprentices passed first aid courses, learnt about Health and Safety issues and completed a key skills assessment and introduction to the National Vocational Qualification element of the project. The apprentices have also completed a two day All Terrain Vehicle training course.
Dartmoor National Park Authority is committed to working with and through others to ensure the conservation, sustainable development, understanding and enjoyment of the area.
Devon Renaissance is the rural regeneration partnership organisation for the county. It is a not for profit partnership of the private sector, local authorities and community-based organisations. The organisation is funded by the South West Regional Development Agency and North Devon, Torridge, West Devon and South Hams district and borough councils. Devon Renaissance provides grant funding and works with projects to help create prosperity and jobs and improve access to services in rural areas. It has funding of £7 million over three years which is estimated to be worth £20 million to the Devon economy with match funding.
www.ruraldevon.org (external link, opens new window)
National Parks cover 10 per cent of the land area of England, Wales and Scotland. They are of special value to the whole nation because of their great beauty, their wildlife and cultural interests and the opportunities they offer for quiet enjoyment. However, they are not nationally owned - the land is in the hands of many landowners or occupiers including farmers. Over 33,500 people live inside the Dartmoor National Park and many millions of visits are made to it each year.
Return to Dartmoor National Park Authority Partnership Project News Releases
This page last updated 21 November 2006
