THE Exmoor Hill Farming Network came together with the national park authority to draw up a set of proposals in response to Brexit.

Called ‘Exmoor’s Ambition’, it is designed to replace the EU’s schemes with a co-ordinated set of locally delivered and accountable measures to enhance the environment, economy and public wellbeing.

Network chairman Dave Knight said: “Normally, farmers are hesitant to make the sort of changes that Exmoor’s Ambition is proposing.  

“But because this has been a farmer-based approach, backed by the national park authority and the local community, we have got a groundswell of local farming support for this initiative. 

“We were delighted to present our proposals to the Secretary of State, Michael Gove, last summer and to senior civil servants from London this spring and we are now working with them to test our proposals.”

A key priority for EHFN has been to encourage young farmers on Exmoor. It has developed a ‘Next Generation Group’ which gives farmers under 30 greater confidence and enabling them to form their own views.

To read more about the network and Exmoor Ambition, buy tomorrow’s Free Press.