[O]n Sunday 17th June, farmers from throughout Cumbria came together to meet members of the public by taking part in The Herdwick Fellgather event. Hosted by Stanley Jackson at Nook Farm, Rosthwaite in the Borrowdale valley, he and several farmers gave a number of talks and demonstrations showcasing upland farming in the Lake District.
Mr Jackson talked of recently working through the worst winter weather conditions since he took the farm over in 1982, this following a terrible summer in 2017 when he was unable to make a single bale of hay. Will Rawling, Chairman of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association, presented and discussed a number of different sheep breeds that can be found on Lake District farms. He also discussed the current strong demand for sheep meat with prices at record levels.
Several hundred people visited the farm and stopped to take in the demonstrations which included sheep handling, clipping, judging, sheep dog trialling, dry stone walling and wool spinning. Farmer Network Managing Director Adam Day held a mock auction of a Herdwick Tup and encouraged members of the public to bid.
There were also two farm walks led by local young farmers Craig and Matthew Fearon who spoke frankly about the challenges facing them in the future, as they strive to farm the fells in a sustainable manner and conserve the Lakeland landscape.
The event was funded by Cumbria Community Foundation and the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association with support from the Lake District National Park Authority and the National Trust
A visitor from Lancashire, one of several hundred on the day, commented by saying, “We have had a wonderful time and managed to see some of the events with our disabled companion. It was so interesting and our farm walk leaders were excellent. Watching the farmer working his sheep dog, it was amazing to be so close to the action. It has been a well organised event which the helpers have obviously put themselves out for to make it successful.”
