‘This place could change the world’

Another powerful voice in the

Lake District farming debate is that of James Rebanks, a Matterdale farmer who found fame through Twitter

(@herdyshepherd) and expanded into a series of thought-provoking books about how we steward the countryside.

James’ farm is a model of what could be: he and his family have re-wiggled streams, planted 6000 trees, cut pesticide use and regenerated their soil by rotating their pastures. But it’s partly James’ writing fame that has funded those projects, and for most farmers that isn’t an option.

He says if we’re to address the problem across the board, it has to start with the price of food.

“To an extent we are addicted to cheap food,” he explains. “Cheapening food does away with small farmers, small businesses, a whole bunch of jobs that are associated with slightly more expensive food.”

He acknowledges that changing that situation brings problems, not least for people on low incomes. No one wants to make the cost of living harder. But he believes that if anywhere can be the starting point for change, it’s the Lakes.

“In the early 19th century, through Wordsworth and others, this place changed the way we think about landscape. And I think what’s happening now is it’s being reinvented again. I believe passionately in this landscape’s ability resonate out and change the world, and I hope we can do that again.”