Post by Chris Fleet

It's shocking that #NaturalEngland can act the way that they are. Their latest statement is very cleverly worded, but basically admitting that they are going to reduce numbers of stock on the moor but leave it up to the farmers (commoners) to decide which stock to get rid of. They don't mention that the some of the commoners don't have any stock but will still get financial recompense. They also don't mention that to a commoner the value of a pony is insignificant to that of cattle or sheep. So, when the farmer has to make a business decision on reducing stock it will be the ponies that will suffer. If there is a 92% reduction and it's all ponies that will leave just 80 ponies covering Dartmoor. Then Natural England will say "It's not our fault, the farmers chose to do it." Personally I see that as being cowardly and sly and run by people with spreadsheets in offices.