Dartmoor Ponies – Clarification of Natural England's Role and Position

Recent reporting on Natural England's role and position on Dartmoor ponies has contained several inaccuracies, including that Natural England has recommended a cull of Dartmoor ponies, which is false. We have also seen similar reporting on Exmoor ponies, which is also untrue.

Natural England remains firmly committed to the future of Dartmoor ponies. Dartmoor ponies are part of the cultural landscape of Dartmoor and play a vital role in the health of its moorland habitats.

This blog refutes the false claims and sets out Natural England’s position.

Claim: "Natural England has recommended a 90% cull of Dartmoor ponies."

Our position: This is not true. Natural England has not recommended a cull of Dartmoor ponies. We do not have the power to order a cull, and we have not advised one.

Claim: "Natural England is trying to remove ponies from Dartmoor."

Our position: This is false. Natural England wants to see ponies remain a central part of Dartmoor's grazing system. The Fursdon Review of Protected Site Management on Dartmoor, which Natural England fully supports, described the Dartmoor pony as invaluable for conservation grazing and genetically important. Our position is aligned with that finding.

Claim: "Natural England's stocking restrictions will force commoners to get rid of their ponies."

Our position: Decisions about which animals are grazed on Dartmoor commons rest with individual landowners and commoners, not with Natural England. Our role is to provide evidence-based advice on to protect and restore designated habitats.

We are aware of concerns that including ponies in livestock unit calculations could lead some land managers favouring more commercially profitable cattle or sheep. Our advisers work closely with individual agreement holders to provide tailored advice to improve nature and support businesses.

Claim: "Natural England is ignoring the importance of Dartmoor ponies to the landscape and local communities."

Our position: Dartmoor ponies and hill ponies are part of the cultural and ecological identity of Dartmoor, and Natural England’s advice recognises this fully.

Claim: "Natural England's advice is harming an already endangered breed."

Our position: Natural England shares the concern about the future of Dartmoor ponies as a breed. Semi-wild Dartmoor Hill Ponies have been included on the Rare Breed Survival Trust watch list and they are recognised as an at-risk native heritage semi-feral population in Defra’s Native Breed Support list. They are also eligible for the Native Breed and moorland cattle/pony keeping supplements alongside registered pedigree Dartmoor ponies within our Environmental Land Management schemes.

We are committed to working with the Dartmoor Land Use Management Group to develop a collaborative plan that supports both nature recovery and the sustainable future of the Dartmoor pony

Claim: “Why are Natural England giving advice when the Dartmoor Land Use Management Group are still working on a landscape scale approach?”

Our position: For many landowners their existing stewardship agreements and associated permissions are due to expire before the conclusion of Dartmoor Land Use Management Group’s two-year review. To avoid gaps in stewardship funding and management advice, we are engaging in preliminary conversations to facilitate future agreements. These will be complimented by the outputs from Dartmoor Land Use Management group, which we are actively shaping.

Natural England's Position

Much of Dartmoor's moorland is currently in unfavourable condition, restoring it is vital for wildlife and for the communities that depend on it. Our advice on grazing management is part of that effort. It is evidence-based, it is developed in dialogue with those who manage the land. Natural England is committed to the long-term future of Dartmoor ponies and is working in partnership with commoners, landowners, and organisations such as the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association to achieve that.