Beatrix Potter, the Lake District and the National Trust

Yew Tree Farm and it's flock of Herdwick sheep, near Coniston, in Cumbria — Yew Tree Farm near Coniston, was part of Beatrix Potter's legacy to the National Trust

Beatrix Potter loved life in the Lake District, it inspired her to create some of her most famous tales and as a prominent member of the farming community she won prizes for breeding Herdwick sheep. She also became a fierce campaigner on local conservation issues.

Beatrix and Herdwick Sheep

Beatrix Potter did much to promote the Herdwick breed and was the first woman to be elected president of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association, although she died before she took up the chair.

Beatrix Potter in later life with one of her Herdwick sheep — Beatrix Potter in later life with one of her prize-winning Herdwick sheep

Step inside Hill Top, her beloved home in the Lakes, and see some of the awards and trophies she won at local agricultural shows for her sheep breeding on display.

A Lakes landowner

During the next few years Beatrix purchased a considerable amount of land in the Lake District and was advised by local solicitor William Heelis, who she met in Hawkshead and later married.

She and William lived in Castle Cottage, Near Sawrey, from 1913 until her death. Only a few books were produced for Frederick Warne after their marriage as she became much more focused on farming and investing in land and the local community around Near Sawrey.

While she was a fierce campaigner on local conservation issues and passionate about preserving a way of life, she was an astute and forward-thinking business woman, not afraid of making changes where necessary.

Beatrix and the National Trust

She worked closely with the National Trust, helping it to acquire land and manage farms with a view to long-term preservation.

" I wish there may be a sufficient representative number of the old farms in the hands of the Trust. "

Since an early meeting at Wray Castle, Beatrix became a good friend of Canon Hardwicke Drummond Rawnsley – one of the three founder members of the National Trust. When she died in 1943, she left 4,000 acres of land and countryside to the National Trust, as well as 14 farms.

All of these farms are still working farms managed by National Trust tenant farmers, in accordance with her wishes, and we continue her conservation work in the Lake District, to keep it special for ever, for everyone.