A sheep-shearing demonstration will return to Orton's Farmers Market for the first time since 2015. 

Saturday's market will include a demonstration on how a fleece is made and a general overview into upland farming life. 

Steve Dunning, an organiser of the demonstation, said: "I will give an general history of agriculture in the Lakes. Fiona Park will cut the sheep and Carol Hughes will explain what she is doing.

"We haven't had one recently because of COVID over the last three years. The reason it didn't happen last year was because of the pandemic."

He also said that they avoid doing demonstrations every year at the market so that it 'doesn't become stale.' 

While the sheep's wool will be sold at the market, Steve also said: "The sheep have to be cropped so the flies do not bite them. It is mostly done for the sheep."

The sheep-clipping will happen at a 'steady' place with ten sheep shorn over three hours from 9:15 in the morning. 

Steve also saw this as an opportunity show the contribution of women farmers: "Women are a big part of farming a lot of upland farmers who shear the sheep are women, which I think a lot of people don't realise. They play as big a role in the running of the farm."

Most importantly, Steve wanted to make a case for farming in Cumbria: "There wouldn't be a tourist interest if there wasn't hill farming. The landscape is on the back of agriculture, it is what people come to the Lakes for." 

Sheep shearing is where the wollen fleece of a sheep is cut off. Typically an adult sheep is shorn once each year. 

Traditionally sheep are cut using blade shears, and this is still how they are often cut in competitions. However machine shears are typically used comerically. 

Animals rights protestors in Australia have complained about they way sheep are treated during sheep shearing. 

The price of wool in the UK has dropped to record lows over the past few years, making it difficult for farmers to make revenue off sheep shearing alone.