The National Sheep Association (NSA) has responded to Chris Packham’s recent Guardian column on Tuesday 15th July, which claims sheep are 'destroying' Britain’s upland habitats, by calling for a more evidence-based and balanced conversation around the complex issues affecting protected landscapes.

NSA accepts Britain’s uplands face many challenges, but states that it is simply incorrect to blame sheep, or upland farming more broadly, as the root cause of environmental decline.

Site condition in designated protected areas is influenced by a multitude of factors, and reducing grazing levels alone, a strategy driven by environmental schemes over the last 20 years, has not yielded the improvements of ecological recovery many expected. In fact, evidence shows that inadequate grazing, whether from sheep, cattle or ponies, has often allowed damaging encroachment by bracken, gorse and purple moor grass, degrading biodiversity and habitat quality.

NSA says the Guardian article paints a one-dimensional picture of the uplands as overgrazed and barren and questions that if they were indeed in such desperate condition why they remain as some of the most loved landscapes by the British public and those visiting the UK from overseas.

NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker says: “Appropriate grazing at the right intensity and with the right species remains essential to managing and maintaining the mosaic of habitats valued by ecologists, land managers and local communities alike.

“Upland landscapes are multifunctional. They are vital not just for biodiversity, but also for water retention, carbon storage, access, wellbeing, and food production. Upland farmers are already taking huge strides in developing creative, collaborative, and nature-friendly management approaches. The NSA is proud to support these efforts.”

Mr Stocker adds that the long-standing misconception that upland livestock farming is propped up by subsidies needs to be corrected.

“Contrary to the implication in Mr Packham’s piece, sheep farming is not subsidised,” said Mr Stocker. “In England, there has been no direct support for sheep production for some years. Farmers are rewarded for delivering environmental outcomes under schemes designed by Defra and Natural England. The idea that taxpayers are funding sheep to damage the landscape is simply false.”

NSA is actively engaged in initiatives that support sustainable farming while delivering wider public benefits. This includes advocating for balanced land use policies that enable food production alongside climate and biodiversity goals.

NSA believes that genuine progress will come not from polarised debate, but from recognising the value of working with the farmers who live and work in these areas every day. It is only through inclusive and evidence-led land management that long-term, resilient solutions can be found.