Natural England and MPs Seek Rule Change to Protect Dartmoor Ponies
Natural England and Members of Parliament are urging the government to amend livestock regulations to prevent the culling of ponies on Dartmoor.
Semi-wild ponies have inhabited Dartmoor for over 4,000 years, adapting uniquely to its boggy terrain and providing a distinctive attraction for visitors to the national park.
Widespread public outrage followed reports that Natural England, a government advisory body, intended to cull up to 90% of the pony population. The Conservative Party has called for a review of Natural England’s authority and suggested it might be stripped of its powers.
However, sources within Natural England indicate that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) policy is responsible, as it does not distinguish between sheep and ponies in its livestock management rules. Due to severe overgrazing on the barren moors, which threatens species including rare birds and butterflies by reducing available food and nesting sites, Natural England stated that measures are necessary.
Natural England itself does not have the authority to order culls of sheep or ponies. Commoners who graze animals on the moor receive payments for their stewardship of the national park. Evidence shows that overgrazing, primarily by sheep, has hindered the growth of wildflowers and other plants, resulting in areas of Dartmoor being depleted of natural biodiversity.
New government proposals require those grazing livestock on the moor to reduce their animal numbers to qualify for funding, which may lead to culling some animals.
Sources at Natural England explained that Defra’s rules do not differentiate between sheep and ponies. While sheep consume the most nutritious and preferred plants, horses effectively consume tougher, less palatable vegetation such as molinia grass and gorse, which are overtaking the peat bogs and heather on the moor. Farmers are more inclined to cull ponies than sheep, as sheep can be sold for meat.
“Defra policy in agri-environment schemes does not allow us to differentiate between livestock animals in making agreements.”
Natural England sources described this policy as deeply frustrating. The agency has faced online abuse, including posts on X falsely claiming its chair, Tony Juniper, intended to personally kill ponies.
The Dartmoor Hill Pony Association reports fewer than 1,000 Dartmoor hill ponies remain, down from approximately 7,000 in 1999. A report into Dartmoor published two years ago stated that Natural England “should not take actions likely to result in a reduction in pony numbers,” adding that ponies are “invaluable for conservation grazing.”
Joss Hibbs, secretary of the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association, said:
“Natural England is putting ponies in direct competition with commercial livestock who pay the farmers’ bills. Their plans disregard the scientific evidence and could decimate an endangered species that has been a feature of the landscape for over 4,500 years.”
Natural England and MPs are advocating for Defra to create an exemption for the ponies. Steve Race, a Labour MP representing Exeter, stated:
“The ponies are not livestock – they’ve existed as an integral part of Dartmoor’s ecosystem for thousands of years, and are the only thing that eats the highly destructive molinia grass that is reducing Dartmoor’s biodiversity.”
Race and other MPs are scheduled to meet with Defra ministers next week to discuss this exemption.
Caroline Voaden, Liberal Democrat MP for South Devon, whose constituency includes part of Dartmoor, expressed concern:
“Dartmoor ponies have roamed the moors since the bronze age, yet under plans drawn up by a government quango, their population could drop by as much as 90% in the next few years. I am deeply alarmed, as are many others, that we might see the near elimination of ponies on the moor. The potential consequences of Natural England’s proposed grazing contracts are staggering. We must do everything we can to protect what are among the last semi-wild species of pony in the UK and ensure their survival for generations to come.”
Luke Pollard, Defence Minister and MP for Plymouth, has written to Defra requesting a carve-out for ponies. He said:
“I am deeply concerned that the proposed contracts include ponies within overall livestock unit limits, which risks creating a financial incentive to prioritise more commercially viable livestock, such as cattle and sheep, over ponies.”
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, criticized the situation:
“This is total madness from another unaccountable quango. The government must overrule Natural England and stop it immediately.”
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister stated:
“This government will not allow a cull of Dartmoor ponies and we don’t manage our pony populations by culling in this country.”
