A project to create 1.4 ha of wildflower meadow, in a field that was previously used for livestock grazing. This also included laying and casting up 150m of previously flail trimmed hedges, and the creation of a ‘gold-plated' hedgerow on western boundary.

A project supporting the purchase of 12 Nofence collars to target cattle grazing on areas of dense Molinia on the common, helping to break up the thatch and allow smaller dwarf shrubs to thrive. The collars will also be used to to exclude cattle from vulnerable areas in need of protection from grazing, and to help with lear establishment. 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 (DNP-FPL-322)

This project involved surveying permanent pasture fields on the farm to establish what plant species are present. This will allow the farm to understand and improve their management of pasture fields in the future.

£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. Being lead by 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.

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Creating a stockproof enclosed area around an existing wildlife pond, alongside a new traditional hedgerow and planting 50 native trees to create a wet woodland area. In addition to this, woodland cover across the landholding was improved by planting in-field trees across 4 land parcels, and planting further native trees in an area that is being converted to wood pasture.

A project aiming to restore 4 wooden gateways with traditional granite gateposts and install hard bases for 10 water troughs across the farm to stop cattle poaching the ground and damaging the soil around their existing troughs. Improving access to water for cattle has also allowed a low-input paddock cattle grazing system to be adopted across part of the farm.

The aim of this project was to help develop and sustain the annual pony Drift Sale tradition on Dartmoor, by creating a safer and more secure environment for ponies at the new Drift Sale venue. This included the purchase of bespoke cattle-handling equipment to pen and handle semi-wild Dartmoor Hill Ponies being sold an their annual event.

Trowlesworthy Farm provides a unique opportunity for school children to experience a day on an upland Dartmoor farm, as well as being taken out onto a nearby common to learn about farming and nature. The project included bespoke access for students who are less-able bodied which was identified as a huge blocker for many children.  The visits were aligned to the school curriculum, FiPL also helped with educational materials and resources to support these visits.

A project aiming to monitor habitat and biodiversity across Farm Wilder’s member farms on Dartmoor. This included an opportunity for local volunteers to get involved by engaging with and helping farmers to record wildlife themselves.

A project aiming to improve gateway access so that those less-abled can access an existing footpath. The project also included planting and protecting orchard 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 enabled 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. Commoners are the first line of defence against wildfires on Dartmoor's commons, and this equipment will be used alongside the fire service. This project aims to protect habitat on this SSSI site.

A 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. Commoners are the first line of defence against wildfires on Dartmoor's commons, and this equipment will be used alongside the fire service. This project also included an ecological survey of the common, which will inform the future management of the SSSI.

Moorlands Farm hosted the English National Sheepdog Trials in August 2024. This project aimed to support this event with access improvements and mobile 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 event.

Repairing a historic Fold Yard at Great Dunstone Farm, including repointing a historic wall by hosting a heritage skills 2-day course in Lime-pointing, providing an opportunity for the public to learn this skill. The project also included replanting traditional orchard trees, protected by fencing.

Ringleshutes Track is the access to the centre of Holne moor, and is a route to the historic Ringleshutes tin mines. Repairs to this popular track were needed in order to prevent further erosion. This track is used by commoners to get to the heart of the common to check livestock, by members of the public when walking or horse-riding and as a route for emergency vehicles to access Holne common and beyond. The repairs included cutting back gorse, clearing ditches, filling in eroded sections of the track with growan and installing two clapper bridges across a leat.

This project builds on the work previously completed in phase one of this project. This includes delivering practical works on the ground across Dartmoor's commons to reduce the risk of wildfires and enable them to be extinguished faster when they happen. The project also includes mapping work, along with map training courses for commoners and stakeholders. Commons Associations will draw up their own Fire Response Plans and data will be inputted into the final mapping layers.

The creation of a new species rich hedgerows to divide a large grazing paddock into two parts, allowing improved grazing management on the farm. This included the installation of a new gateway entrance for access and fencing to protect the newly planted hedgerow.

A project aiming to improve erosion and access in the Doe Tor Marsh area of Lydford Common. This included removing debris and overhanging vegetation currently blocking two streams, widening a track and repairing erosion damage, and creating a suitable crossing point over a wet flush.

The creation of an orchard by planting 30 native apple trees, protected by cactus tree guards. In addition to repairing two short sections of stone-faced bank which are a traditional feature of the Dartmoor landscape.

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. Commoners are the first line of defence against wildfires on Dartmoor's commons, and this equipment will be used alongside the fire service. This project also included an ecological survey of the common, which will inform the future management of the SSSI.

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 mitigation equipment to be used by the commoners in the case of a wildfire. Commoners are the first line of defence against wildfires on Dartmoor's commons, and this equipment will be used alongside the fire service.

This project aims to support Devon Venison, a local deer management and venison supply business, by supporting the purchase of a walk-in freezer and a dry ager to improve meat quality. The project also included the creation of a website to boost their sales and keep up with increasing demand.

A trial project that aims to upscale an existing successful experiment run by Queen’s University Belfast. This project 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. Twool hopes to replace the synthetic ropes most commonly used in sea kelp farming, with a sustainable Dartmoor wool rope alternative.

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, carried out 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 the 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.