A NEW dedicated farming officer for the Lake District National Park Authority has been appointed.

“This is an ideal opportunity for me to make a real difference to farming in the Lake District,” said Andrea Meanwell, who has been farming in Cumbria for the past ten years. “We should all have a sense of pride in what we’re doing in this UNESCO world heritage site.”

As part of the farming officer remit, Ms Meanwell will be tasked with maintaining good lines of communication among farmers, stakeholders and other organisations, as well as ensuring that farming is central to national park policies going forward.

She would also like to draw the attention of both locals and tourists to the realities of farming, having already written a series of books about our own experiences.

Ms Meanwell said: “Sheep have helped shape this amazing landscape and are important to our cultural heritage as well as biodiversity and in environmental management. Farming is what makes the Lake District distinct and we should be celebrating that.

“I can speak with an authenticity to farmers and have a genuine interest in developing the farming community to ensure that we are able to learn from each other and support each other going forward.”

She added: “I can’t wait to get out and about and speak to farmers and build an enhanced community so we can identify new and innovative ways we can work together.

“It’s important that we share best practice between us and I can’t wait to get out and highlight the very many farming success stories out there.”

While in the role, Ms Meanwell will leave the day to day running of her own farm to her son Hector. She can be contacted by emailing Andrea.Meanwell@lakedistrict.gov.uk.