Simon Thorp & Associates

There are a greater range of potentially-conflicting interests in the uplands of the UK than in any other area.

Simon Thorp & Associates promotes an integrated approach to management that seeks to build consensus amongst all those with an interest in the area. The value of the knowledge and experience provided by land managers must be considered alongside the evidence provided by science when making land management decisions or when forming government policy.

Many organisations and interest groups have a passing interest in the uplands, but this interest is usually confined to one aspect (birds, farming, peatland) or to one area or part of the UK.

The uplands are an important but very sensitive area, and they need knowledgeable, integrated management.  Too often a single-issue approach is adopted to management and this can lead to significant unintended consequences.  

There are many examples, such as: re-wilding increasing the risk of damage from wildfire, bad burning practices damaging peatland, access disturbing rare breeding birds, over- and undergrazing (by wild and domestic grazing animals) reducing the diversity of vegetation.