Farron welcomes Herdwick farming campaign

South Lakes MP and Chair of All Party Parliamentary Hill Farming group Tim Farron, has welcomed a campaign to protect Herdwick sheep farming and give upland farmers a better deal for their livestock. The campaign has been launched with financial support from a fund established by the Prince of Wales.

Secured by Taste Cumbria and the Herdwick Breeders Association, the funding from the Prince's Countryside Fund will be used to help Cumbrian farmers build on the recently acquired Protected Designation of Origin status for Lakeland Herdwick sheep.

On average an upland farmer earns £6,000 a year and the campaign plans to boost the earnings of upland farmers.

Tim said: "We need to do all we can to support our farming industry particularly in the uplands where life can be a real struggle. This support and funding could make a massive difference to upland farmers throughout Cumbria. I know that this is another initiative that could help show the next generation that there is a real future in a career in farming and I will press the government to support the scheme and do everything they can to help."