Extracts from Partnership Plan Actions Monitoring Report 22 September 2014 – Actions relevant to Farming and Forestry Task Force

Action / Complete by month/year / Lead Partner / Other Partners / Resources (staff/ funding) / Progress Update August 2014
Status / Supporting information
Prosperous Economy
Partnership Priority 2014-2015: To support and develop profitable farming and forestry businesses whilst delivering sustainable land management, across the National Park
Intention: Profitable and resilient farming and forestry businesses will maintain and enhance the natural environment, delivering a wide range of high quality ecosystem services
1 / Secure for Cumbria and the Lake District National Park a high value and integrated RDPE 2015-2020. (including environmental priorities and alignment with the LEP Growth Strategy) / Dec-14 / CCC / Natural England, Forestry Commission, LDNPA, LEP, Cumbria RDPE LAGS, Farming and Forestry Task Force / Existing partner resources / Amber / Update provided by LDNPA
Good progress with this amongst Cumbrian partners, however uncertainty remains around the final outcome. The work has included a rural stakeholders meeting, run by Defra, in July, to raise awareness and start to coordinate activity around the four areas of RDPE: NELMS; LEADER; Farming and Forestry Productivity Scheme and; LEP activity via Local Growth Programme and European Structural Investment Funded programme. In terms of this activity the following is of particular note -
(a) NELMS: NE/FC led targetting validation event for partners in July.
(b) LEADER: Final Local Development Strategies for Fells and Dales submitted to Defra 5 September, with outcome expected before December.
(c) LEP: an Environmental Sustainability Group is established to lead on programme development.
(d) Farming and Forestry Productivity Scheme: We are awaiting further details from Defra.
2 / Agree a programme of action to increase market payments for farming businesses to manage high quality ecosystem services, including carbon storage, visitor giving, water and renewable energy / Sep-14 / Farming and Forestry Task Force (NFU) / Nurture Lakeland, LDNPA, Natural England, UU, LEP / Staffing and funding to be confirmed (approx. £10k funding required) / Amber / Update provided by LDNPA
RSPB have provided £10,000 funding and led partners in a pilot project to develop an options appraisal of supplying, marketing and selling packages of ecosystem services from the Lake District National Park. The final report was completed in August. The recommendations from this report will be combined with those from the carbon brokering business case (see action 36) and the Farmer Network-led Cumbria Connections Project to produce a draft programme of action for approval by the Farming and Forestry Task Force at its meeting on 8 October 2014.
Recommended to change completion date to October 2014 and to update the resources column, to say: existing partner resources
3 / Develop initiatives which strengthen the market for premium farm products such as the local food and drink project "Lake District on a plate" / Jul-14 / Cumbria Tourism / NFU LDNPA, Farming and Forestry Task Force, LEP, BTF / Funding to be confirmed (approx. £47,500 funding required) / Amber / £50,000 Prince’s Countryside Fund money has been secured for continuation of Herdwick project till April 2016. CT/ Herdwick Breeders Assocation successfully secured Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for Herdwick Lamb. Still no Rural Growth Network funding decision on Lake District on a Plate project and a related proposal will now also be developed for consideration for European Structural Investment Funding (ESIF) in Spring 2015. Recommended to change completion date to June 2015 and to update the resources column, to say: £50k secured for Herdwick project. Funding to be secured for Lake District on a Plate (approx £47.5K)
4 / Agree a business case to increase farm and forestry skills (among young people), including the establishment of 'Knowledge Hubs' and a 'Fell Futures' apprenticeships type model / Dec-14 / Farming and Forestry Task Force (NFU) / Farmer Network, Askham Bryan College, Centre for Uplands, NFU, CCC, NT, UU, EA, FC, LEP,LDNPA / Existing partner resources / Green / Update provided by LDNPA
The Cumbria LEP Strategic Economic Plan, the European Structural Investment Funds Plan and the Cumbria Fells and Dales LEADER Draft Local Development Strategy include proposals for farming and forestry skills support. Newton Rigg College, The Farmer Network and LDNPA are leading on developing a business case along with funding bids for December 2014. LEP now producing a Skills Plan and it is vital for it to reflect rural skills requirement
5 / Develop a pilot project, based in one Distinctive Area of the Lake District, to increase the management of undermanaged woods / Jun-15 / Farming and Forestry Task Force (FC) / NE, NT, Cumbria Woodlands, LDNPA, woodland owners / Existing partner resources / Green / Cumbria and the Lakes Woodland Strategy Group have continued to develop the concept of a Cumbria Woodland Enterprise Zone. The work has been aided by a very successful launch of ‘Roots to Prosperity’, a woodland strategy and action plan for the North of England. Programme expected to be submitted to LEP for various funding streams.
6 / Agree a partnership approach to disease management for larch and ash (highest risk species) in the Lake District / Jun-14 / FC / Farming and Forestry Task Force, NT, LDNPA, NE, Cumbria Woodlands, woodland owners / Existing partner resources / Complete / The Cumbria Tree Health Group (established earlier in the year) now meets at regular intervals. Most recently it has been monitoring the situation regarding Phytophthora ramorum (a fungus-like pathogen which causes extensive damage and mortality to a wide range of trees and other plants). This wider work is ongoing and will be considered within the strategies and actions in the Partnership's Plan 2015-2020.
Spectacular Landscape, Wildlife and Cultural Heritage
Partnership Priority 2014-2015: Develop valley planning, looking at social, economic and environmental needs and opportunities across the National Park
Intention: The National Park Vision interpreted and delivered on the ground in defined localities through the effective engagement, commitment and collaboration of partners and communities.
29 / Agree and commence delivery of priority habitat restoration and creation opportunities between partners and with local communities within the Ullswater valley planning process / Sep-14 / VPLMSG (LDNPA) / Ullswater VP Steering Group, Farming and Forestry Task Force / Existing partner resources / Complete / The NT Woodland Pasture project will see habitat restoration projects delivered at Glencoyne Farm, Mell Fell, Glencoyne Park, Gowbarrow and Glenamara Park during 2014/2015. Further habitat restoration opportunities will be considered by the Ullswater network team as part of the review of the Ullswater plan from September 2014 (see Action 30).
36 / Agree a business case for a carbon brokering service - to promote carbon-friendly farming and forestry practices amongst land managers and potential business donors / Sep-14 / LDNPA / Climate Change Subgroup, Farming and Forestry Task Force, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Peat Partnership / Existing partner resources / Red / Although good progress with this project, a business case will not be agreed by September. The pilot carbon brokering service successfully sold carbon from its first woodland creation project to a private sector investor. Surveys of the additional peatland restoration sites have now been undertaken. These provide the information needed before submission to the Peatland Code, for approval to sell the carbon. Additional woodland creation sites remain in the pipeline. The pilot project has informed the development of a business case for future operation of a Lake District carbon brokering service, and for taking forward pipeline projects. A decision, from the Carbon Landscape Partnership is not expected before the end of 2014. Recommended to change completion date to Dec 2014