22 May 2007
Prince of Wales Award for Moorskills
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On Friday 18 May, at Devon County Show, Moorskills, the innovative pilot project, designed to help teach young apprentices the skills necessary to work in upland farming on Dartmoor, was presented with the prestigious Prince of Wales Award.
Moorskills 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, Holne Commoners’ Association 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.
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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 six Dartmoor farmers joined forces to form the Moorskills Farming Project Limited which provides specialist training, as part of the pilot Moorskills Project, for four young apprentices. The apprentices are learning 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.
As part of the project, the apprentices have also completed an intensive training course at the Duchy College, Stoke Climsland, giving them paper qualifications to go with their newly acquired practical skills.
Sandra Dodd, Dartmoor Hill Farm Project Officer said:
‘Background research into farmers needs identified 77% of farmers interested in some form of training related to agriculture. It is as a result of this study that the Moorskills Project was initiated. This project is helping get collaborative work off the ground and working towards a sustainable future for upland farming on Dartmoor.'
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For further information from Dartmoor National Park Authority
Sue Eberle, Principal Land Management Officer
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
Caroline 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 Holne Commoners' Association
Patricia Moore, Secretary
Tel: (01364) 652563
E mail:patriciamoore39@onetel.com
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 was carried out and a feasibility study drawn up using funding from the Dartmoor Sustainable Development Fund, Duchy of Cornwall, Dartmoor Commoners' Council and Natural England.
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.
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 22 May 2007
