Forty Farms is a touring exhibition that comes to the South Lakes from Rheged Gallery in the north of the county. It opens on Saturday 4 March and runs until Sunday 4 June. Nibthwaite Grange (‘Dodgson Wood’), Crake Valley near Coniston – Arts & crafts, beef, sheep, tourism

Amy told us about the origins of the book; how the exhibition’s going; and how B4RN helps her professional and family life.

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In March 2021, British Life Photographer of the Year Amy Bateman embarked on a journey to record the stories of Forty Farms in the Lake District and Cumbria. Rhian Harris, Chief Executive Lakeland Arts says, “As an arts and heritage charity, Lakeland Arts encourages creativity and the exploration of landscape and identity. We’re delighted to be hosting Forty Farms which brings to life the stories of local farmers who for generations have been fundamental in shaping the landscape and culture of this region.” It's a photography book showcasing 40 farms in Cumbria, and how the landscape is used by different farming families. It includes real human-interest stories that unfold in the ever-changing landscapes of one of the UK’s best-loved mountain landscapes – the Lake District.

I think the thing about documentary photography for me is that it's about telling the story. For farm photography in particular, it's different. It's not necessarily a wildlife photograph or a landscape. You're telling a story about what's actually happening in front of you. It's those elements of storytelling; your composition, the light, your leading lines, and the interaction of your subject with its environment.Derwentwater dawn (Image credit: Amy Bateman - Forty Farms) How did you go from amateur to professional photographer? Forty Farms offers a unique insight into the hopes, fears and everyday lives of 40 extraordinary farmers across Cumbria. Over the course of a year, Amy conducted frank conversations about the financial challenge of farming in a fast-changing world; about the tightrope balance of producing quality food for the nation in sensitive heritage landscapes; and about the challenges and opportunities of working in an area that is internationally famed for its beauty. Helen has appeared on Sky News, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio Manchester, BBC Radio Merseyside, BBC Radio Lancashire, BBC World Service, talkRadio, and GB News. An experienced chairperson and speaker, she regularly chairs conferences and events for, among others, literature festivals, award ceremonies, and tech shows. She was also a Guest Lecturer at Westminster University in the Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, and a Guest Lecturer at City University and at MMU. She taught Music Journalism at Salford University for a number of years, and taught Political Reporting at Huddersfield University. In 2017, she was shortlisted for Person with Purpose at the Northern Power Women Awards. In 2019, she was a judge for the HWA Gold Crown Awards which recognise the best historical novels. The Forty Farms exhibition offers a unique insight into the everyday lives, fears and hopes of 40 extraordinary farmers, through photography, film, and words.

Dalefoot Farm ('Dalefoot Composts'), Heltondale near Penrith – Compost, peatland restoration, sheep The book reveals frank conversations about the financial challenges experienced by upland farmers; the tightrope balance of producing quality food in nature-rich protected landscapes; and the highs and lows of working in an area internationally famed for its beauty. Our family farm, some of our wonderful producers, and our farming friends, feature in a brand new exhibition offering a unique insight into the everyday lives, fears and hopes of 40 extraordinary farmers throughout Cumbria. In March 2021, British Life Photographer of the Year, Amy Bateman, embarked on a year-long journey to record the stories of 40 farms across Cumbria. One of the farms she photographed was our farm, Yew Tree Farm, Coniston.

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It highlights independence, innovation and resilience in a post-Brexit world of declining farm subsidies, as we seek to focus on producing food closer to home, whilst balancing the drive towards net-zero, and restoring biodiversity. There will be times when part of the Forty Farms exhibition can’t be viewed temporarily because the learning centre is being used for an activity.