17/06/2026
Thank you to everyone that contributed to our post yesterday, it was very mixed comments but it’s good to hear that it is a very hot topic at the moment and people don’t want this to happen. A statement today put out by Natural England and Defra have made it clear that this isn’t what they want and Kier Starmer has stated that he is against a cull of the Dartmoor Ponies so let’s hope this is the case.
This photo was taken this morning whilst out on the moor.
Following on from this post yesterday 17/06/2026 we were provided with the below statement from Natural England provided by a helpful lady. Thank you to everyone who has commented.
Grazing on Dartmoor – Setting the record straight on Natural England's role
Natural England, 9 June 2026 - Grazing, Natural England, Nature, wildlife and farming
This blog was updated on 16th June
Recent media coverage has suggested that Natural England has recommended a cull of ponies on Dartmoor. This is categorically not true, nor is it true to suggest any scheme has been designed with the aim of achieving this.
We are actively encouraging the continued presence of ponies as part of a balanced, well‑managed landscape. Dartmoor ponies play a vital role for nature on the moor due to the way they graze, in addition to their huge cultural value.
Our role is to provide independent, evidence‑based advice on how to protect and restore Dartmoor’s internationally important habitats and wildlife.
Much of Dartmoor’s moorland is currently in poor condition with wildlife and biodiversity continuing to decline. This also has implications for people with degraded moorland increasing the risk of flooding alongside worsening the impacts of other risks associated with climate change. Restoring moorland is essential for wildlife and for the communities who depend on it. Our advice to landowners and farmers on how the moors can be grazed supports this goal. It is based on evidence and developed in discussion with those who manage the land and government who fund the various land management schemes.
Ponies are an important conservation grazer on Dartmoor and it is vital their role is maintained. They are a key part of the wider system to maintain the mix of habitats on the moor and to prevent overdominance of coarser grasses like Molinia.
We are working in partnership with commoners, landowners and organisations such as the Dartmoor Hill Pony Association and Dartmoor Land Use Management Group to support both nature recovery and the long‑term future of Dartmoor ponies, and to ensure a much more certain future for those that farm on the moor
Natural England South West Regional Director David Slater said:
“The notion that Natural England is advocating a cull is simply untrue. Dartmoor's unique habitats are in a poor state and grazing by ponies is vital for their recovery.
“Our role is to advise farmers who wish to enter the publicly funded schemes available for grazing regimes. These government schemes have been designed to restore nature - some areas will require less grazing and some more, dependent on local conditions, but ponies are and should always be part of the mix on Dartmoor.
“We work very closely with partners on Dartmoor to find a way forward that protects livelihoods and the special character of Dartmoor, including its ponies."
Below we set the record straight on some of the inaccurate claims made in the media in recent days:
Claim: "Natural England has recommended that 90% of ponies on Dartmoor are culled."
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: A cull could begin “as soon as this autumn”.
Our position: There is no date for any cull as we do not recommend one. This statement conflates Natural England’s advice with the annual Dartmoor pony round‑up (“drift”), which is a long‑established, routine management practice carried out by commoners each year. These round‑ups are used to check welfare, identify and sort ponies, and manage numbers through sales or rehousing. It is not a cull directed or required by Natural England. As we’ve made clear, we have not proposed or recommended a cull, and decisions about what happens to ponies during and after the drift remain with their owners; suggestions of an imminent cull misrepresent both this traditional process and Natural England’s role.
Claim: "Natural England is trying to remove ponies from Dartmoor."
Our position: This is not true. Natural England wants to see ponies remain a central part of Dartmoor's grazing system.
Claim: Natural England’s position is not aligned with the outcomes of the Fursdon review.
Our position: Natural England’s position is consistent with the broad conclusions of the independent Fursdon Review: that Dartmoor’s ecosystems are in decline and require whole-system, collaborative management of grazing to recover nature while sustaining farming. Claims that Natural England is acting against the review rely on selective quotations about pony numbers, but the review itself emphasises balanced, evidence-based grazing across all livestock and the need for urgent change, not exemption for any one species. Natural England fully recognises Dartmoor ponies as culturally and ecologically valuable and supports their continued presence; however, decisions on livestock mix remain with commoners, and our role is to provide advice to achieve sustainable overall grazing levels. Assertions that our approach will force a cull or contradict the review misrepresent both the review’s intent and our statutory responsibilities.
Claim: Natural England has demanded a 75% reduction of livestock grazing on Dartmoor
Position: This oversimplifies a more nuanced, site‑specific process. Natural England does not set blanket cuts across Dartmoor; grazing levels are agreed locally with farmers and commoners based on the condition of individual habitats and the need to restore nature. The reality is that well managed grazing is essential to protect Dartmoor’s wildlife, landscapes and long-term farming future, and that requires tailored, evidence-based agreements and not blanket reductions.
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 how to protect and restore the habitats that are legally designated for protection.
We are aware of concerns that including ponies in livestock unit calculations could lead to some land managers favouring more commercially profitable cattle or sheep.
Including ponies in calculations of grazing animals means that ponies will be properly recognised within agri-environment payment schemes.
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 watchlist. We are working with Defra on whether the rare breed supplement available under agri-environment agreements should be extended to hill ponies as well as registered Dartmoor ponies.
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 help prepare for future agreements. These will be complemented by the outputs from Dartmoor Land Use Management group, which we are actively shaping.
