MP welcomes move by the Lake District National Park and the University of Cumbria which could increase farming incomes and help manage climate change

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed the carbon and land management project, and encourages farmers to participate.

The project team are currently looking for farms to take part, and this will involve staff from the national park and the university visiting volunteer farms four times between February and July next year doing tasks such as, mapping the existing store of carbon in soil and vegetation on their farm, calculating the carbon footprint of the farm and estimating the effects of different types of land management on carbon.

As well as looking at how farms can help in reducing the effects of climate change, they will also be considering the effects this has on the farm's business. It is hoped that the project may reveal some money-saving ideas, or it could be used as evidence for the need for more resources.

Tim said: "I think that this is a great idea, it really is so good to see that the local university and the national park are working together on something that could benefit farming communities across the South Lakes and beyond."