KENDAL'S popular Low Sizergh Barn has announced the reopening on their lower ground floor area known as the shippon.  

The business is reopening the lower floor of the three-storey 18th Century Westmorland Barn which houses the Low Sizergh Barn farm shop and café.

The shippon became part of the farm shop in 2000 but closed temporarily during the pandemic.

Three generations of the Park family have farmed the 341-acre land at Low Sizergh in south of Kendal, for over 40 years.

Their goal is to farm in a way that is good for the land, the livestock, the environment and the wider community.

Alison Park runs the farm shop while her brother, Richard heads up the farm team of five, which also includes his son, Matthew.

She said: "Part of the joy of the farm shop experience is the nature of the building and its inviting nooks and crannies.

"But the shippon's characterful low beams and ceiling, narrow passing places and staircase meant the options for social distancing were limited. 

"It felt good to be restocking the space two years on and the shippon officially reopened last weekend.

"Customers can once again spend time wandering between the stalls and beams where they'll uncover a selection of work by local artists, basketry, homewares and a specialist section of eco-friendly cleaning supplies.

"Outside improvements have also been underway. Visitors to the original farm trail are enjoying some additions on the way to the pond: a willow tunnel, and a willow arbour for quiet moments by the water. A willow bee hangs above the path, as a reminder of the importance of bees as pollinators on farms.

"Thanks to a Farming in Protected Landscape grant we were able to enhance the experience of our walking trail, which is just under 2 miles and weaves its way around the farm and through woodland.

"The section down to the pond is pushchair-friendly and a great distance for early adventures in nature.

"All in all, there’s more of the trail to enjoy for those with limited mobility and more prompts for everyone to really notice nature.

"We hope being absorbed in the landscape surpasses what can be communicated through conventional interpretation boards and leaflets."

An organic working farm, practising regenerative agriculture, Low Sizergh is home to a 166 cross bred dairy herd of Holsteins, Swedish Reds and Montbeliardes – as well as a flock of 200 sheep.

The cows stay in the fields from late March to late October and are milked twice a day.

Visitors can see milking in action from the café windows at 3.30pm daily and they are invited to say hello to the herd at the parlour door. Just feet away the cows’ milk can be bought from a state-of-the-art raw milk vending machine.