Federation of Cumbria Commoners

Rooted in Cumbria

The Federation of Cumbria Commoners is a member-led organisation dedicated to promoting commoning in Cumbria. Our overall aim is to maintain and improve the viability of hill farming on common land.

We want this website to:

Inform you about new issues in commoning
Let you know what we are doing
Make our voice heard all over the world and much more

Less than helpful letter from Angela Leadsom about RPA's inability to pay commoners

Tim Farron, MP has been attempting to put pressure on Andrea Leadsom MP, the new Minister of State for Defra, to get RPA to pay up the BPS 2015 owed to commoners and other farmers.

andrea_ledsom_sept_16001.pdf

Submitted on Thursday 29th September 2016

Federation reponds to National Trust letter to us and other farming organisations

Last Friday we, along with other farming organisations received a letter from Mike Innerdale, Assistant Director (Operations) North Region, regarding the National Trust’s position on some key issues in the Lake District at the moment.

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Letter from Mike Innerdale 02-09-16

FCC response to Mike Innerdale 07-09-16

Submitted on Thursday 8th September 2016

General News

Shame on the National Trust for breaking up a hill farm in the Lake District

The Federation along with the commoners in Borrowdale, in Cumbria, members of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association, hill farmer tenants of the National Trust, James Rebanks, Lord Melvyn Bragg and many more who have commented about this, and we suspect countless members of the National Trust....is dismayed and worried by the National Trust's purchase of the land and sheep of Thorneythwaite farm, Borrowdale, but not its farmhouse or outbuildings. The valley has lost another working farm and a future opportunity for a young farmer to begin their farming career.

Submitted on Wednesday 31st August 2016

Commoners need to inform RPA NOW if their 2015 payments is incorrect

We have heard from the RPA that not many commoners have contacted them about mistakes in their 2015 payments. If you suspect that your payment is incorrect then you must let RPA know as soon as possible.

You can phone them on 03000 200 301, e-mail ruralpayments@defra.gsi.gov.uk or write to Rural Payments Agency, PO Box 69, Reading, RG1 3YD

Submitted on Tuesday 30th August 2016

CAP Reform 2013

RPA to publish information to help commoners understand payments

We received a response from Mark Grimshaw, CEO, RPA to our e-mail on July 27th. In brief he acknowledges our concerns and as usual tells us that RPA is working hard to get the payments right.

If you think that you haven't been paid the right amount then you must get in touch with RPA as soon as possible.

mark_grimshaw_16-08-16001.pdf

Submitted on Tuesday 30th August 2016