ABSTRACT
The UK uplands provide society with a range of important goods and services (so called ecosystem services). Despite their wild appearance, people have modified the uplands over millennia. Today, the uplands are home to sparsely populated communities and internationally important habitats and species, including semi-natural habitats (pastures and meadows) formed and sustained by generations of livestock farming. In places, important populations of upland birds persist, especially in those areas where traditional extensive livestock farming (cattle & sheep), often referred to as High Nature Value farming (HNV), is practised. Livestock farming in the uplands is reliant on support payments. Despite policy support, livestock farming in the uplands is economically challenging. The UK’s decision to leave the European Union poses further challenge. To improve performance, farmers must look closely at the intersection between productivity and profitability, reducing costs, maximising sales and work with the grain of nature to improve environmental delivery.
