THE PUBLIC BENEFIT
The Commons' vegetation adds up in agricultural terms to 'rough grazing' and as such is a critical asset in the hill-farming commoner's operation and budget. Much of it is very valuable in scientific terms, especially for its biodiversity, and is designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) under English law and as Special Area for Conservation (SAC) under European law. All of it is open to public access on foot and horseback under the Dartmoor Commons Act of 1985.
Only balanced and skilfully managed grazing maintains
both the rich mosaic of plants (and thus insects, birds
and mammals) on which the biodiversity value rests, and
only that same grazing keeps the vegetation below knee
height, through which walking and riding are possible.
The grazing also, of course, sustains the visual textures of
Dartmoor’s singular beauty AND the opportunity to see
it, which with its accessibility is the reason for its status
as a National Park.
Dartmoor holds the richest concentration of prehistoric sites in Europe. Bronze Age hut circles, pounds and ceremonial monuments are particularly numerous. They only remain visible to us if the vegetation is grazed to at least the intensity that it was by the builders of those structures.
Commoners are thus providing a huge social and scientific benefit while going about their own business, which is why government, on behalf of us all, makes
agreements with groups of commoners to ensure that they can stay on the farm, stick to the task, and continue to deliver these ‘public goods’. Their ‘own business’ is of course the production of stock - sheep and cattle, that form the first link in a food chain, which continues with the fattening of the same animals for meat in lower, more lush pastures. Many commoners also keep ponies,
which live out on the moor all the year round. Sheep, cattle and ponies all contribute in their individual ways to the balance of grazing so important for maintaining the valuable landscape of Dartmoor.
