A farming family from the Eden area have been honoured for their contribution to agriculture in the old county of Cumberland.
The Wilson family, of Skirwith Hall Farms, Skirwith, near Penrith, have received the Blamire Medal, which has been awarded annually since 1862 to leading members of the farming community.
Performing the award handover at Penrith show were Blamire Trust members Nicki Quayle and Andrew Turnbull. Nicki explained that Jacky and Laura Wilson moved to Skirwith Hall in 1980.
Their sons Len and Chris were then 13 and 11 years old, and the family milked 120 cows. Skirwith Hall ran to 400 acres and was not originally a dairy farm.
Jacky and Laura set about creating a simple self-feed silage system which they could easily manage. The herd was British Friesian and Jacky became chairman of the Border and Lakeland breed society.
Thanks to home breeding and the use of top quality genetics, the farm now carries a Holstein milking herd of 450 cows, yielding an average 0f 10,500 litres.
In 2000 they purchased a further 120 acres at Langwathby and five years later secured a tenancy at Edenhall, bringing the total area they farm to 800 acres.
Sadly, Jacky died in 2007, but Len and Chris continued to invest in the business and are currently installing a 54 point rotary parlour.
The family also maintain an active involvement in the local and farming communities. Len is a committee member of the Holstein Society, while Chris is chairman of the Grassland Society, a past president of the One A One Club and a trustee of Penrith show.
The family have always exhibited their cattle — doing well at Penrith show — and enjoyed success in crop competitions.
Laura was a founder member of Farm Stay and Eden Country Holidays, and ran two holiday cottages. She was active in the Methodist church, acting as a lay preacher, and was involved with Cumbria RABI for more than 25 years.
Nicki said: “The next generation of Lucy, Tamara, Harry and Matthew are all actively involved in the farm and we look forward, I am sure, to continued success of Skirwith Hall Farms Ltd, growing and going from strength to strength.”
