Independent review

Uplands Review

Uplands Review: a report on upland communities in England

Completed

Dr Hilary Cottam · Published 9 April 2026 · Commissioned by Defra Employment & Work

An independent participatory review into what it would mean for England’s uplands to flourish.

Government Response

No formal government response document; Defra states the report's views are not Defra policy. In her Oxford Farming Conference address, Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds announces a long-term Defra partnership with Dartmoor then Cumbria, building on Dr Cottam's insights, plus a GBP 30m Farmer Collaboration Fund. Review contains insights, not formal recommendations.

8 January 2026

Recommendations

No recommendations tracked yet for this review.

No recommendations with this response.