The recent storms wreaked havoc along the fellside of the Eden Valley causing 6ft drifts that cut off whole communities for days. As other areas were rightly seen as higher priority by council agencies, the Fellside farmers set about ensuring peoples safety and digging out paths to ensure that vulnerable communities were cared for. However, as fellside farmers they also had to attempt the arduous task of gathering up livestock, much of which had attempted to shelter by walls and got caught up in the drifts. This has led to the deathtoll of livestock not seen in this area since the devastation of foot and mouth. Now that roads are open the members of the communties are able to come and go freely and get on with their lives but the Farmers are only just beginning to deal with the magnitude of the situation.

I know a lot of people who don’t frequent these areas may not realise the extensive heartbreak this storm has caused but I want to attempt to raise awareness and funds to try and offer something to a group of individuals who went above and beyond much to their own detriment.

Farmers are the backbone of the countryside and to ensure the countryside remains we need to look after the farming communities. Beatrix Potter knew this and she gave considerable amounts of money to preserve farm land. It is essential that we follow in her footsteps and step up to preserve our beautiful countryside.