Lauren Strand

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Custodians

The Lake District in the heart of Cumbria has a well know Cultural identity of been a shepherding culture as well as a tourist attraction. Retaining the key traditions of this culture is vital especially within the agricultural industry where traditions are slowly becoming out of fashion to make room for more modernised methods. The National Trust is one of the biggest landlords in the Lake District playing a huge role in the conservation of the landscape and supporting small, traditional working farms with now only two farms not owned by the Trust.

Thorneythwaite farm is situated high up at the head of Borrowdale surrounded by a valley and overlooking the route to Scarfell Pike. In June 2016 Thorneythwaite was put up for auction for the first time since 1920. The National Trust stunned everyone by bidding beyond the asking price for the land and 413 hefted Herdwicks, but not the farmhouse. This caused a huge outcry within the farming community as the trust outbid all potential buyers and also split up a traditional working farm, when their main objective is to preserve them, following the wishes of Beatrix Potter.

Custodians helps to identify the controversy over the National Trusts actions showing a photographic representation of this area, celebrating the land but also highlighting the issue.