Yew Tree Farm

01/11/2024

We’ve been reminiscing about the time Oscar-winning screenwriter and actor Emma Thompson came to stay with us… when William and Kate were both here too!

Just to clarify, William and Kate were our turkeys and we still - to this day - get a lot of enquiries about William, after he became something of a celebrity, having prompted Emma to write her book, The Further Tale of Peter Rabbit.

Sadly, turkeys don’t live particularly long and although the turkeys here at Yew Tree Farm were never actually destined for dinner, our recovering otter population take an altogether different view 🫣 so it’s no longer practical for us to keep free ranging turkeys..

However we do remain as a small working farm with several diversifications, a strategy started by the very wise Beatrix Potter herself. We are not a tourist attraction but we have the self-catering accommodation Emma stayed in when she wrote the book, an on Farm butchery shop and in the summer we are a wedding venue!

And, of course, there’s the Herdwick Experience where you can learn all about farming this breed of sheep, then meet (and cuddle!) our special little flock of lovely, smiley Ambassador sheep.

And maybe one day, for those of you who are overseas, we’ll add a virtual tour of the farm to the website, but time, money and good old-fashioned reality mean that’s probably some way off yet!

https://youtu.be/THSEWtET5cQ?si=TN7W3bR0zD6rPeCk
TThe Beatrix Potter Society The Lake District, Cumbria

Emma Thompson travels to the Lake District for a behind the scenes look at her latest book, The Christmas Tale of Peter Rabbit. Here she meets up with the in...

31/10/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15G41mR74Y/?mibextid=WC7FNe

🧠 If you’re struggling with mental health and a negative mindset this week, please don’t forget this fantastic service is available to all farmers.

31/10/2024

Big thumbs up to Coniston Sports and Social Club for their hedgehog friendly bonfire building! 🦔🥰😇👏🏻
i.e.
Collect fire wood in one place and only transfer and build at burn site just before you’re going to light it. This prevents weary hedgehogs opportunity to try and hibernate inside.

Still worth checking for sheltering animals just before actually lighting it though 😉

Hope you have a good evening tomorrow guys and raise loads of money to keep providing and improve on this fantastic village resource 😘

30/10/2024

29/10/2024

Receiving this letter today was possibly one of the proudest, most moving moments of my professional career! This week we once again hosted global delegates from the Ministry of Defence Strategic Leaders programme, including delegates from UAE, Germany, India, Nigeria, Ukraine and Peru. This letter was sent from the Estonian Delegate.

10/10/2024

10/10/2024

What an amazing night!! The lights were literally all around!!! 🤩🥰

04/10/2024

Cannot overstate how highly we recommend this exhibition to anyone who has even an iota of interest in Herdwicks or the Lake District landscape. The images and narrative are beautiful, powerful, enlightening and often very moving.
And ITS FREE!!!
(oh … and we’re featured in it 😁 but that genuinely has no bearing on the recommendation, it’s simply the reason we went to see it in the first place 👍)

Our modern, independent gallery hosts a dynamic programme of events, bringing together established and emerging artists in curated and touring exhibitions.

03/10/2024

On 19 August 2024 we turn 25 and we’re marking the occasion by celebrating the people who were instrumental in the very beginnings of our theatre, the people who continue to be a huge part of our work today, and the people who we look forward to being a part of the next 25 years of our story.

There’s a few famous faces, plenty of people our regular visitors will recognise and a spotlight on young people and emerging artists that we’re fortunate to work with at the start of their journeys. We commissioned award-winning Cumbrian photographer Amy Bateman to take portraits of 25 of the theatre’s collaborators and it's called ‘We Are 25’.

The exhibition includes the well-known faces of Dame Judi Dench and Lord Melvyn Bragg alongside key creatives, volunteers and supporters. It opens on 19 August, is free to enjoy and the portraits will stay on show for one year.

We Are 25 Exhibition
19 Aug 24 - 19 Aug 25
https://bit.ly/TBTLWeare25 (or Exhibitions in our bio)

29/09/2024

Sunsets turn the river to fire this time of year leading the charge of autumn colour 🍁🍂🍄‍🟫

27/09/2024

26/09/2024

We absolutely loved Polly & George’s wedding this summer - huge thank you to Rachel Joyce Photography for sharing some incredible pictures 💖

Fancy getting married here in 2025? 💚

OR renewing your vows?! 🩵

We have limited space available between May & late August next year - get in touch for details or to have a look around the farm! 🧡

21/09/2024

20/09/2024

31/08/2024

After the summer we’ve had, we can’t quite believe this beautiful weather today! 🌞

In fact, we’re preparing what might be the last BBQ of the season🍗

To make an online order, go to the link in comments..

16/08/2024

It’s Tell a Joke Day today and we never pass up on an opportunity to tell some of our best dad jokes… and before anyone comments - no, we’re not giving up the day job!!🙈

14/08/2024

You may remember back in June, we were delighted to have been nominated for a British Farming Award. But we have just heard the news that we've been shortlisted!!

Each year, Britain’s farming industry come together in their hundreds to celebrate the achievements of individuals at the British Farming Awards and we’re very proud to be a part of this ☺️

13/08/2024

Hooray! Managed to catch them this time! 😁💃

11/08/2024

WORKING TITLE: ‘LIFE FROM THE MOUNTAINS’ ⛰️🎥💧 Well, I’ve almost finalised in my heart and mind what my next big documentary will be featuring the most beautiful corner of England.

Here’s a concept picture I’ve drummed up today 📸

Enticing? 🤔🎥

The story would begin with starry night skies whereafter we see a spectacular sunrise about the high fells of Lakeland until…dark brooding clouds envelopes the ancient land and it begins to rain.

We see a raindrop up close falling upon the summit of England’s highest peak Scafell Pike.

From there the journey begins as we follow the story of a rain drop making its way from source and back to sea rolling over ancient volcanic rocks before tumbling down gills and spectacular waterfalls.

We follow the waters further down into the dales turning into rivers and then lakes and onwards we go as the large bodies of water that gives life on earth then snake like a serpent through historic lowlands, villages and towns to the sea.

Along the way we meet the wildlife that relies on such raindrops that helps shape the land but creates their homes. Be it of the aquatic kind or land based.

Folk will learn how a humble rain drop has led mankind to work and live amongst the Cumbrian mountains. From ancient times to the present day and all that entails.

A journey through history of not just geology and geography but climate, culture and heritage as well as conservation (inc red cuties as they will feature too).

Much like my last film ‘Cumbrian Red’ I want the star if the film to be nature but humans will feature of course. Be it shepherds, scientists, conservationists, local residents and the effects of overtourism upon the land.

Like ‘Cumbrian Red’ it’ll feature a narrator and I’m certain my good friend and composer Freddie will have an absolute field day creating a stunning score for the documentary 😊 🎶🎥

It’s ambitious!! I’ll admit that! But I don’t tend to do things by halves as I’m sure many of you are aware! 😂😂👍

I’ve figured out what kit I might need or can get help with to enable me to capture incredible footage underwater to amongst gills and waterfalls that’ll blow your socks off.

My heart and mind is ready.

The fire in my belly is burning.

In a few months I reckon I’ll be good to go! 🎥

I’ve still some more tentative planning to do though so I can be certain I’ll nail it. That includes fine tuning the footage I envisage and the time required and a few human stories along with where best (with permission to film in precious habitats and wildlife).

And of course I have to consider financing as usual.

Just as Hollywood directors et al go to studios or businesses seeking funds to finance a film I have to humbly do the same.

I need to work out an approximate budget for the documentary. It won’t be cheap but then again all my award-winning documentaries are done on a small budget.

I take pride in punching above my weight with heart and passion 😊💪

I have been considering approaching the likes of the BBC to fund the project but such media may not have the funds available now (as they plan and budget a good year in advance).

I have the pedigree and proven track record I think 📺 🎥🏆

So a part of me is nervously considering my usual approach to such projects. Sponsorship, partners and crowdfunding.

I’ll be honest, I hate the latter but that’s how the world is unless you’re employed directly in-house by big TV.

BUT more importantly I’m keen I maintain FULL CREATIVE CONTROL! Crowdfunding et al enables me to do that.

Back in the day I was told my Scafell Pike film made no sense and it would be a failure.

I disagreed of course because I couldn’t explain what I had in my mind and heart! I’m not professionally trained in such things.

But as we know it was a smash hit! 🎉⛰️🎥

I broke the rules.

Blencathra and Helvellyn films followed and were smash hits too winning lots of awards and critical acclaim. Crikey! They’ve been repeated lots of times since! 🤯 And much imitated too! 🙄😂📺

Then of course, despite big TV offers as many of you will know I chose to stick to my roots and set about independently producing ‘Cumbrian Red’ 🐿️🎥

And despite some HUGE challenges (health, family loss, injuries and working with wildlife) producing that film I pulled through and that’s been a smash hit too!

It’s not awards season yet…but I’m told the red scamps film will be out there 🤣🤣🤣

So….there ya go!

I’m putting it out there.

I plough my own furrow and follow my heart and passion. I think that shows for my sins.

I’ll also need to discuss more details with my Sue too.

She’s my rock and has to put up with a lot when I’m filming. She hates how it takes over my life but also worries about me 😂 There’s a few times she’s had to take me to hospital 😂 Especially when I fell 25 foot down a waterfall once and I still stayed out filming being bloody-minded thinking I’ll head to A&E later once I got my shots on a perfect day.

Anyway, I’d appreciate your thoughts and any advice too! 🙏🙏

I don’t make such decisions lightly. Believe me.

Once I commit, I’m all in and driven to extremes at times 🤣

It’ll be worth it though! As I often say, people, nature and places matter. It all shapes us. From land to human and vice versa.

Let me know anyway 🙏🙏

09/08/2024

Lovely words from Simon!

To savour the flavour of the Lake District fells… order online here: https://yewtree-farm.com/heritage-meats/

08/08/2024

Yesterday was an exciting day … our first Herdwick Experience wedding! 💕These guys were over from Holland for a registrar’s ceremony in Kendal. They contacted us a few weeks ago, it was too late to rearrange the legal side of things (we’re licensed for up to 120 people) but we were able to help them celebrate afterwards with their two guests who enjoyed an afternoon tea and a champagne toast in the field with our wonderful sheep. 🥂🍾🐑