Creation of approx. 1.4Ha wildflower meadow, as well as laying and casting up 150m of previously flail trimmed hedges and the creation of a ‘gold-plated' hedgerow on western boundary.

12 No Fence Collars to target areas of dense Molinia to break up the thatch and allow smaller dwarf shrubs to thrive, and to exclude cattle from vulnerable areas for protection from grazing. This project includes a baseline ecological survey of the cattle's lear in the East Dartmoor SSSI, and of Thorn Farm itself.

Great Dunstone Ecological Survey

Surveying Permanent Pasture fields on farm to establish species present and diversity present, allowing the farm to understand and improve management of pastures for rare species to benefit.

£1,560

This project is based on a partnership between participating graziers from Harford and Ugborough & Holne Commoners Associations, and was match funded by Our Upland Commons. Working closely with the Dartmoor Hill Farm Project, this project aims to:

• Increase our knowledge of the value of injecting livestock with vitamin B12 to improve sheep performance and welfare out on the Common.
• Look for tick borne diseases (Louping Ill, Tick Borne Fever and Lyme Disease) and find out their abundance on sheep by assessment and laboratory analysis.
• Understand the impact of active ingredients in pour-on pesticides on adult dung beetle populations over a 12-week period monitored in the field.

This study will help to improve animal health and welfare as part of environmental land management methods, and will lead to collective livestock health plans with better biodiversity outcomes across these two Commons.

Creating stockproof enclosed area around existing wildlife pond with new hedge and planting 50 trees to create a wet woodland area. Additionally, planting infield trees in 4 land parcels to increase biodiversity and planting additional trees in an area that is being converted to wood pasture.

To restore four wooden gateways with granite gateposts and install hard bases for 10 water troughs to stop cattle poaching the ground around their existing troughs and damaging the soil. This will also allow a low-input paddock cattle grazing system to be adopted across part of the farm.

The purchase of cattle-handling equipment to pen and handle semi-wild Dartmoor Hill Ponies for use at a new Drift Sale venue. This will help to develop and sustain the annual pony Drift Sale tradition.

To make access improvements to a commonland farm, so that schools and extra-curricular clubs can visit and gain a better understanding of Dartmoor and all that share it.

A project to monitor biodiversity on a selection of Farm Wilder’s Dartmoor farms, using volunteer experts to help farmers engage with and record wildlife themselves.

Improving gateways and supporting less-abled access on an existing footpath. Protecting orchard and trees to enable both the reintroduction of cattle and further establish wood pasture groves and glades.

The Art and Energy collective plan to deliver an education and engagement project in The Green Futures fields of Glastonbury Festival, helping a wider range of people to understand the value of Dartmoor’s peatlands and opportunities for nature-based solutions to benefit society. FiPL supported the delivery of this, enabling them to promote the value of protected landscapes, and how we can respond and mitigate the impacts of climate change.

A collaborative project working with graziers of Holne Common, supporting the purchase of essential fire fighting equipment to be used by the commoners in the case of a wildfire. This project aims to protect habitat on this SSSI site.

A collaborative project working with Chagford Commoners Association, supporting the purchase of essential fire fighting equipment to be used by the commoners to help prevent and manage a wildfire. This project aims to protect habitat on this SSSI site, by carrying out an ecological survey of the Common and by using a weedwipe to control some of the densest bracken.

Moorlands Farm are hosting the English National Sheepdog Trials in August 2024. This project aims to support this event with access improvements and drinking water, providing the general public with with an opportunity to learn about Dartmoor, hill farming and the role of sheep and sheepdogs through the country fair.

Repair of historic Fold Yard including repointing historic wall, fencing and gate and replanting orchard trees to match existing trees. This project will involve hosting a heritage skills 2-day course of Lime-pointing.

Cutting back gorse alongside Ringleshutes Track, clearing ditches, filling in eroded sections with growan and 803 type 1, installing two new small granite clapper bridges, reinstating a section of original track to prevent erosion alongside it and using granite slabs to create cross ditches to divert water off the track.

The creation of a new species rich hedgerow to divide a large grazing paddock into two, allowing  better grazing management and improved habitat for wildlife.  Including a gateway for access and fencing to protect the newly planted hedgerow.

Erosion and access improvements in the Doe Tor Marsh area of Lydford Common. This includes removing debris and overhanging vegetation currently blocking two streams, repairing erosion damage and widening a track, and creating a suitable crossing point over a wet flush.

The creation of an orchard by planting 30 traditional variety apple trees protected by 30 Cactus tree guards, to allow for grazing with native cattle and sheep. Along with repairs to two short sections of stone-faced bank.

This is a collaborative project from the Throwleigh Commoners Association, supporting the purchase of essential fire fighting equipment to be used by the commoners in the case of a wildfire.
Throwleigh common has a significant area covered by archaeological features, and a large part of the area is covered with dense bracken leaving the archaeological features hidden in the landscape. By carrying out an ecological survey of the Common and by using a weedwipe to control some of the densest bracken, the project also aims to open up these areas and protect habitat on this SSSI site.

To provide a small collective with the equipment to make their own small bale hay without relying on contractors and gather it in. The purpose of this collective is to give them independence to make their own hay when a weather window opens.

A collaborative project working with graziers of Cornwood Common, supporting the purchase of essential fire fighting equipment to be used by the commoners in the case of a wildfire, to be used alongside the fire service.

This project aims to improve the supply and value of venison produced from Dartmoor by Devon Venison. It involves investment in a walk-in freezer, a dry ager to improve meat quality and creation of a website to boost sales of venison.

A trial project that aims to upscale an existing successful experiment run by Queen’s University Belfast. This focusses on creating a plastic and chemical free rope product in order to grow sea kelp in the ocean using Dartmoor’s very own Whiteface Dartmoor sheep’s wool.

This project supports the purchase of a quad-mounted flail mower to help create butterfly flight paths and encouraging breeding habitat for High Brown and Pearl Bordered Fritillary butterflies. In addition to this, the equipment will help to improve the existing bridle path in Huccaby Newtake, and encourage the public away from a scheduled monument helping to prevent further erosion.

The creation of a cell grazing system following baseline soil testing by the Farm Carbon Cutting Toolkit. In addition to installing a solar-powered portable water pump and power system to power an electric fence energiser as the site has no mains power or water.

A collaborative project aiming to control bracken in Upper Avon Valley. This included the purchase of a flail mower for 5 hectares of steep fields, which will be used to control the vigorous growth of invasive bracken and allow the land to return to wildflower rich and biodiverse pasture.