Thank you for being one of the 101,500+ people who signed the Online Petition asking the Defra Secretary of State, Steve Barclay, to make sure pony numbers do not drop on Dartmoor.  Sadly, Mr Barclay has refused to make the steps needed to protect pony numbers:  instead he has emphatically put the fate of England’s last semi-wild pony Population, the Dartmoor Hill Ponies, in Natural England’s hands.  As Natural England called for a reduction in livestock to the tune of 50-90% on Dartmoor last year, this is devastating.
 
A recent Independent Review recommended to Defra that ‘Dartmoor’s pony population is genetically important and invaluable for conservation grazing….. Natural England should not take actions likely to result in a decline in pony numbers
 
BUT
 
In his response to the Defra-commissioned independent Review, Secretary of State Steve Barclay states ‘If ponies were excluded in the stocking density calculations, the government would have no control over grazing rates’  The stocking rates (number of sheep/ cattle/ ponies) are set by Natural England: whether you will continue to see Semi-wild Dartmoor Hill Ponies on Dartmoor is now emphatically the responsibility of Natural England.
 
The Dartmoor Hill Pony Association is meeting with national and local Natural England teams.  We will update you with the outcomes of these discussions when we can.  In the meantime, keep Sunday 29th September free if you would consider travelling to London for an in-person show of support for Dartmoor’s Semi-wild Hill Ponies.  Watch this space.