A POTENTIALLY transformative approach to farming that would bring benefits such as improved soil, water and habitats is to be tested out by 25 farmers and foresters on Exmoor.

They are taking part in one of about 50 Defra tests and trials going on around the country to help inform the development of the Government’s future Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELM), due to be rolled out in 2024.

A public consultation on the draft scheme is open until May 5.

During a visit to Exmoor in 2018, then Environment Secretary Michael Gove toured two Exmoor farms and met with representatives from the Exmoor Hill Farming Network CIC (EHFN), Exmoor National Park Authority and consultancy firm Rural Focus, which co-designed the scheme.

Defra has since agreed to fund work on Exmoor to demonstrate the concept in practice, with the trial expected to run from now until early next year.

“The Exmoor farming community has worked extremely hard to get this initiative off the ground,” said EHFN chairman of directors Dave Knight.

“We believe the kind of grassroots approach Defra is trying to create will really benefit Exmoor’s farmed landscape.

“It will better support farmers to deliver environmental benefit alongside traditional farming practices, allowing them to play an even greater part in the delivery of public goods in the national park.”

The full report will be in this week’s Free Press (March 13)