In the shadow of the climate crisis, the management of common land faces its biggest change since World War II. Focusing on the Lake District, this session will address the importance of upland commons for biodiversity, carbon, water storage and access – and for rural communities whose labour has shaped this landscape over millennia, underpinning its World Heritage Site inscription. The current government support scheme for farmers ends in 2024 and, with ELM far from ready, many upland farmers are feeling vulnerable. How can we move forward without losing ancient traditions, rural infrastructure and the balance between culture and nature?

Oxford Real Farming Conference · ORFC2024 On Common Land- Managing Upland Commons In The Lake District