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| A much-desired First Prize! |
Next Tuesday, 21st August, sees the
Hawkshead Agricultural Show taking place, right in the heart of what was Beatrix Potter's 'patch'.
It's a great chance to enjoy the spectacle of farm animals of all kinds (including Herdwicks) being shown off at their best and to see the efforts of lots of local people displaying their horticultural, homecraft and other skills to win the hotly-contested awards. For anyone with withdrawal symptoms after the Olympics, there are contestants in hound trailing and pony jumping to cheer; and of course a chance to shop, eat and drink too.
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| Not quite 'London 2012' but an equally great setting |
Beatrix herself was a keen participant at local agricultural shows. One of the things she loved about living in the Lake District was the farming. She played a very active part in managing her own farms, especially Hill Top Farm, and was much involved in helping conserve the wonderful local sheep breed the Herdwick. She was an expert sheep-breeder, often judged local agricultural shows, liked winning awards, and was elected president of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association in 1943, but sadly died before taking up the office.
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| Beatrix in her later years at the Keswick Show |
Our Rangers will be at the Show, meeting visitors, maybe showing off some traditional greenwood craft skills and helping to explain our part in helping conserve the Lakes. In the Lake District we own many traditional farms, Beatrix herself left 15 farms and many acres of land to the Trust on her death; now let out to tenant farmers they're continuing Beatrix's legacy. Like Beatrix, you can help too by joining the National Trust (something you can do at the show).
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| Our ranger Richard demonstrating his greenwood working skills |
Let's hope the weather is good for the big day, although if the weather's bad there's always the 'Beer Tent'!
post | Linda
photos | Hawkshead Show & National Trust
