Hill farming is a way of life, and although the hill farmer in the North
of England in the 21st century has changed with the times, the
traditions remain strong and the dramatic upland landscape is eternal.
In Hill Farming in the North of England, photographer John Bentley has
had access to the world of the hill farmer in the North of England. Hill
farming is round-the-clock work, season to season, still predominantly
done on family farm. In this book he shows farmers at work through the
seasons of the year, which dictate the hill farming calendar. From
providing feed for the livestock - mostly sheep but also cattle - and
shearing to haymaking, from lambing in the spring to 'tupping' time in
the autumn, going to sales, shows and sheepdog trials, with the backdrop
of the dramatic landscape in the changing seasons. It is a visual
portrait of a remarkable way of life and a part of our farming heritage.
Look through these photographs and you will quickly see the unique
challenges of hill farming in the stunning but often harsh landscape of
the North of England.
