- Fell farming
Fell farming is the
farming ofFell s, i.e. areas of uncultivated high ground used as commongrazing . It is a term commonly used inNorthern England , especially in theLake District and thePennine Dale s. Elsewhere, the terms "hill farming" orpastoral farming are more commonly used.Animals
Animals native to fells, or bred for fell farming, include:
*Fell pony
*Rough Fell (sheep)
*Herdwick (sheep)
*Swaledale (sheep) Problems
As discussed in an article on the Carnegie UK Trust Rural Community Development Programme site: [ [http://rural.carnegieuktrust.org.uk/media_clips/rural_futures_and_fell_farming_traineeship__cumbria Rural Community Development Programme - Media Clips ] ]
"The Foot and Mouth outbreak in Cumbria in 2001 led to the culling of over a million sheep. It also showed that the hill (fell) farming communities were as vulnerable as the pastoral system they have created over many generations."
Beatrix Potter
In the latter stages of
Beatrix Potter 's life, she purchased property in theLake District (bequeathed to the National Trust and now comprising a portion of theLake District National Park ) for the purposes of conservation and historical preservation. Her efforts helped to ensure "the practice of fell farming remain unspoiled to this day."References
External links
* [http://www.fellsanddales.org.uk Leader+ Fells and Dales project]
* [http://www.roughfellsheep.co.uk The Rough Fell Sheep Breeders' Association]
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