“I am appalled at how the Trust now uses tenant farmers”

Dear Editor,

I am a born and bred Cumbrian. My father was a tenant farmer on a National Trust farm for 38 years. I am appalled at how the Trust now uses tenant farmers. The Trust are now insisting that farmers abide by stocking rules made up by employees of the Trust who hardly know anything about the sheep and cattle that roam the Lake District. They are seeking to reduce the number of native Herdwicks that have roamed the beautiful mountains and fells for years. Their intention as far as I can see is to prevent farmers putting stock on some fields and reduce the number on the fells. The impact of this will be huge: visitors will soon see fells covered in trees, without views where they want to walk; and the beautiful low-lying meadows covered in rushes and thistles, with no animals.  

Yours faithfully,

Judith Myers
Cumbria