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The upland livestock sector in England is facing potential collapse unless Defras post-Brexit schemes replace the funding lost by direct support cuts, an industry leader has warned.

The upland livestock sector in England is facing potential ‘collapse’ unless Defra’s post-Brexit schemes replace the funding lost by direct support cuts, an industry leader has warned.

The Foundation for Common Land (FCL) has highlighted ongoing concerns about the viability of upland farmers and commoners during the transition away from direct support in England.

Defra’s new Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme must stop the uplands from being destocked and wilded by stealth, says Phil Stocker, chief executive of the National Sheep Association.

NFU Cymru is encouraging farmers in Wales to respond to a survey about the future of the uplands.

A proposal by the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) to sell Glenridding Common has prompted fears that the area could be used as a testbed for rewilding.

Defra non-executive director Ben Goldsmith has called for ‘rewilding’ to be renamed ‘wilder farming’ in order to reassure farmers they are central to the movement.

Many fear nature restoration represents a threat to farming communities in the uplands, but nothing could be further from the truth. ‘Wilder farming’ is a better way to describe the changes needed than ‘rewilding’, says Defra non-executive director Ben Goldsmith.

Removing direct payments before properly testing the new public goods system is reckless and will put hill farmers out of business, says Tim Farron, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP and Lib Dem agriculture spokesman.

Upland farmers are set to lose 94 per cent of farm business income by 2024 due to uncertainty over agri-environment funding, according to Dr Julia Aglionby, chairman of the Uplands Alliance.