Forty Farms - Conversations about change in the landscapes of Cumbria

In March 2021, British Life Photographer of the Year Amy Bateman embarked on a journey to record the stories of forty farms in Cumbria. 

From the Herdwick-grazed Lake District commons to the big-sky Solway marshes; from isolated farmsteads unchanged in generations to businesses at the cutting-edge of innovation; from world-class sheep breeders to award-winning cheese-makers, Forty Farms is a visual record of farming at a period of profound change. 

Over the course of a year, Amy conducted frank conversations about the financial challenge of farming in post-Brexit Britain; the tightrope balance of producing quality food in nature-rich landscapes; and the highs and lows of working in an area internationally famed for its beauty. 

With contributions from, among others, best-selling author James Rebanks, L’Enclume’s Simon Rogan, veteran damson-grower Hartley Trotter and ‘king of the Herdwicks’ Anthony Hartley, Forty Farms offers a unique insight into the hopes, fears and everyday lives of 40 extraordinary farmers.

Details:

• SIZE: 280mm x 240mm (portrait).

• PAGES: 336 pages. 

• FORMAT: Hardback.

• PRINTED: on FSC paper from responsible sources.

The forty farms

Beckside Farm, Millom – Dairy, sheep
Birkhaw Farm, Sedbergh – Sheep
Brackenburgh Home Farms, Calthwaite – Arable, dairy, sheep
Cairnhead Farm, Croglin near Carlisle – Dairy, cheese
Cannerheugh Farm, Renwick – Beef, pigs, poultry, sheep, tourism
Castletown Estate, Rockcliffe – Arable, beef, hospitality, sheep, tourism
Causeway Foot, Naddle Valley, Keswick – Dairy, sheep, tourism
Church Stile, ('Wasdale Sawmill Café and Farm Shop’), Wasdale – Hospitality, sheep, tourism
Croft Foot Farm, Docker near Kendal – Beef, sheep, tourism
Croglin High Hall ('High Hall Campsite’), Croglin – Beef, pigs, sheep, tourism
Dalefoot Farm ('Dalefoot Composts'), Heltondale near Penrith – Compost, peatland restoration, sheep
Fell Foot Farm, Little Langdale, and 'Lakeland Farm Visitor Centre', Ings – Beef, education, hospitality, sheep
Glencoyne, near Glenridding – Beef, sheep
Gowbarrow Hall Farm, Ullswater – Beef, pigs
Great Lindeth Wood, Rutland Valley – Arts & crafts, forestry
High Chapel ('Westmorland Chapel Farm / Tebay Services’), Orton - Beef, hospitality, sheep, tourism
High House Farm, Gilsland near Brampton – Beef, sheep
Holker Farm (‘St James Cheese’), Holker, Cartmel – Cheese, dairy
Low Borrowbridge, Tebay – Beef, hospitality, words, sheep
Low Sizergh Farm (‘Low Sizergh Barn Farm Shop & Café’), Sizergh near Kendal – Dairy, horticulture, hospitality, poultry, tourism
Meg Bank ('The Lakes Free Range Egg Company'), Stainton near Penrith – Poultry 
Millstone Moor, Redmain, near Cockermouth – Beef, sheep
Naddle & Swindale Farms ('Wild Haweswater'), Haweswater – Sheep, water, wildlife
Nether Hall Farm ('Netherhall Herefords’), Mansergh near Kirkby Lonsdale – Beef
Nibthwaite Grange ('Dodgson Wood'), Crake Valley near Coniston – Arts & crafts, beef, sheep, tourism
Old Stoddah Farm ('Deer and Dexter'), Penruddock – Beef, deer
Orchard Dene, Lyth Valley – Fruit
Our Farm (‘L’Enclume’), Cartmel – Horticulture, hospitality
Penny Hill Farm, Eskdale – Beef, hospitality, sheep, tourism
Piper Hole, Ravenstonedale – Cheese, goats, tourism 
Racy Ghyll Farm, Matterdale – Beef, sheep, words
Sheepriggs, near Alston – Sheep
Susan's Farm,  Houghton near Carlisle – Beef, education, horticulture, sheep
Strickley, Old Hutton near Kendal – Dairy
The Hollins, Ennerdale – Sheep
Town Foot Farm (‘Globetrotter Stud’), Roundthwaite, Tebay – Fell ponies
Turner Hall Farm, Duddon Valley – Sheep, tourism
Whinfell Park ('Whinfellpark Limousins’), Clifton Moor, Penrith – Arable, beef genetics, sheep
Wraysholme Tower Farm ('Wraysholme Creamery’), near Grange-over-Sands – Cheese, dairy
Yew Tree Farm, Coniston – Arts & crafts, sheep, tourism