A LOVE OF THE LAND
An exhibition documenting the farming year in Yorkshire reveals the rural highs and lows
Farming can be an unforgiving job at the best of times but in winter the slog is real. Photographer Valerie Mather spent a year with the farming community in Bransdale and surrounding moorland in North Yorkshire, capturing the colours and characters of the farming seasons.
For every bright, snowy sight of sheep on the hills there is a mundane, tough task to keep a farm alive – from mending fences to shearing sheep and fixing a tractor. Yet resilience and love of the land shines through.
The exhibition of Valerie’s work at Nunnington Hall is called Fields, Folds and Farming Life. ‘Photography has the power to capture a moment in history, and my hope is that these images paint a picture of the spirit, stoicism and joy of these local farming families and communities today,’ says Valerie. ‘I wish to share some of the joy and inspiration about farming and nature that I discovered from my year in Bransdale.’
Through the exhibition, the work of Valerie and specially produced films and artwork reveal the hard work and determination of the people at the heart of the farming community; as they continue to navigate the ever-changing agricultural world to achieve a better farming future for people, the environment and the local wildlife.
Looking after land is central to the National Trust’s founding principles and mission – to care for places of histor
