DEBATE ON FUTURE OF COMMON LAND

THIS week one of the country’s most influential uplands and common land specialists will issue a stark warning about the future of large swathes of the Cumbrian landscape.

North Cumbrian-based Dr Julia Aglionby, executive director of the Foundation for Common Land, will discuss how the future of the ancient system of ‘commoning’ could be left hanging in the balance unless post Brexit policy helps protect it.

Dr Aglionby will be discussing the issue on Thursday (23 Jan) evening during a public lecture at the Ambleside campus of University of Cumbria, where she is a Professor of Practice.

She will explain that with the end of EU Common Agricultural Policy payments in sight, new government funding for ‘public benefit rather than food production’ provided the only credible alternative.

Farmers, land managers, environmentalists and anyone with an interest in the landscape are welcome to attend the Commons for the 21 Century event taking place in the Percival Theatre, part of the campus in Rydal Road, Ambleside. It starts at 6pm.

It was announced last August that Dr Aglionby, who is also chair of the Uplands Alliance, was joining the university as a Professor of Practice, a pioneering role in which she wants to ensure University of Cumbria is at the heart of applied research and policy development in national parts and protected areas.

Her talk this week is the first in a series of lectures on behalf of the university’s Centre for National Parts and Protected Areas. Further information and booking details are online at at https://tinyurl.com/tlzsvkr

PICTURE