BY ALLISON LEE Alison O’Neill comes from a family of hill farmers, so farming is deeply rooted in her heritage. She describes her family as “Sedbergh folk who started farming in Garsdale, in the Yorkshire Dales.” Alison recalls her father’s sale of the family farm in the late ’70s following his heart attack. She found the experience very distressing, especially since he was the final … Continue reading Daughter of the Dales
BY ALLISON LEE Colne Valley Museum – a Grade II listed building – is housed in four cottages built in the 1840s by the Pearsons, a family of independent cloth manufacturers whose relatives still live in Golcar today. These weavers’ cottages, named ‘Spring Rock’ by James and Sally Pearson, were built into the steep hillside, with the traditional entrance for the lower rooms (like our modern … Continue reading Colne Valley Museum
BY ALLISON LEE Whitby Wildlife Sanctuary started in 2009 when Alexandra Smith recognised a growing need for a safe, permanent place for injured, orphaned, sick and displaced wildlife in the local area. Alexandra’s journey began when she started volunteering at her local veterinary practice and chose to care for two pigeons that needed long-term care. As most veterinary practices are unable to house wild animals … Continue reading Whitby Wildlife Sanctuary
BY ALLISON LEE The Wainwrights have farmed the rolling countryside of Ryedale in North Yorkshire since 1962. The farm consists of a mixture of arable land and livestock. Henry Wainwright works alongside his father; however, shortly after Henry returned to the family farm from agricultural college, the family realised that in order for it to be viable for him to work full-time, they needed to … Continue reading The Flower Belt
BY ALLISON LEE Raby Castle, Park and Gardens is set in picturesque parkland where both red and fallow deer roam near Staindrop in County Durham. Today, Raby Castle’s custodians are Lord and Lady Barnard and with the team around them, they were the driving force behind an exciting three-year major development in the castle grounds to create a new leading lifestyle destination for the north … Continue reading Raby
BY ALLISON LEE Regular readers know I’m a passionate advocate for genuine animal charities. I deeply admire those who dedicate their time and resources to rescuing, rehabilitating, and providing homes for neglected or abandoned animals. This week, I want to highlight the remarkable work of an animal sanctuary in the US. Arthur’s Acres Animal Sanctuary is a nonprofit charity in Parksville, New York, nestled in … Continue reading Arthur’s Acres
BY ALLISON LEE Farming is classed as one of the most dangerous jobs in the United Kingdom, with a higher death rate than any other profession—and it is not difficult to see why. The agricultural sector involves a range of serious risks, including those from heavy machinery, hazardous environments, livestock injuries, contact with harmful substances, and falls from height, among the most common dangers. It … Continue reading The Wheelchair Farmer
BY ALLISON LEE In October 1930, Dorothy Brooke and her husband, Geoffrey, relocated to Cairo following his appointment to command the British Cavalry Brigade in Egypt. Horses already featured heavily in the Brookes’ lives — Geoffrey was the author of several books on horsemanship, and Dorothy had been a devotee of all things equine since childhood. Born in Melrose, in the Scottish Borders, on 1st … Continue reading The Brooke Charity
BY ALLISON LEE Lately, my social media feeds seem increasingly filled with fundraising posts. While I fully appreciate that charities depend on donations—and that, as cash disappears from daily life, traditional collection methods are dwindling—I can’t help but feel uneasy about the sheer volume of personal online appeals. I wonder if this approach is becoming too normalised, and whether it might sometimes channel money to … Continue reading Animal Crowdfunding – Should We Fall For it?
BY ALLISON LEE There can’t be many dogs that own a wardrobe to rival their owners. However, for Monti, owning luxury clothing isn’t something he has to worry about—thanks to his owner, Toni Walker, and her business, Wag and Wool. Toni Walker became a dog owner in 2018 when Monti came to live with her and her partner, and they quickly found him to be … Continue reading Wag and Wool
BY ALLISON LEE I am constantly in awe of the number of farmers who have diversified to protect their incomes. I have spoken to numerous farmers who, for various reasons, have had to tap into an alternative income to keep their farms afloat. They do this without complaint or blame, quite simply because they have no choice. Many of today’s young farmers have been brought … Continue reading Smiths
BY ALLISON LEE What happens when a young local lad with common sense but no hospitality experience takes on a place that he knows has the potential to be something special? That was the question Jake Dinsdale asked himself when, at the tender age of 26, he took on Simonstone Hall, a traditional country-style hotel situated in the pretty village of Simonstone, just a few … Continue reading Simonstone
BY ALLISON LEE When my husband and I moved our smallholding from West to North Yorkshire in 2024, one of the most worrying factors for me was having to find a new farrier. I had used the same farrier since acquiring my miniature Shetland ponies and miniature Mediterranean donkeys, and they knew him well. Initially, as they were all very young, they were nervous of … Continue reading The World Champion Farrier
BY ALLISON LEE Roger Payne and his wife Lesley bought a traditional hill sheep and cattle farm in the Snowdonia National Park (Eryri) many years ago however, with just 60 acres they knew it wasn’t large enough to make a living from and therefore they had to think of alternatives to make money. Diversification came in a variety of ways such as converting barns into … Continue reading Diversifying – Baavet
BY ALLISON LEE It wasn’t all that long ago when keeping chickens as pets was seen as being rather eccentric, despite the fact that the bird was first domesticated around 8000 years ago and is now one of the most common and widespread domesticated animals in the world. Chickens do make good pets. They are social, friendly and are adept at forming bonds with humans. … Continue reading Chickens as Pets
BY ALLISON LEE Jake Ratcliffe has always loved animals, so it is perhaps no surprise to those who know him that he now runs his own animal rescue sanctuary. Millington’s Magical Barn is an award-winning sanctuary situated in West Yorkshire, where Jake, his wife, and their small team of helpers rescue animals in need. Jake told me how his dream became a reality. He opened … Continue reading Millington’s Magical Barn
BY ALLISON LEE The British Beekeepers’ Association (BBKA) was founded in 1874 with the intention of encouraging, improving, and advancing bee culture in the United Kingdom—particularly as a means of bettering the condition of cottagers and the agricultural labouring classes, as well as advocating for humanity toward the industrious labourer: the honey bee. Originally established as a London-based beekeepers’ club, the BBKA evolved within a … Continue reading Not Just a Celebrity Hobby
BY ALLISON LEE I had the pleasure of a two night stay at Swinton Park Hotel recently and it was a truly amazing experience. The hotel is a Grade II castle set in stunning gardens and parkland at the heart of the 20,000 acre Swinton Estate. It is the ancestral seat of the Earl of Swinton and the informal stately home experience makes this dog … Continue reading The Swinton Estate – Part II
BY ALLISON LEE Model, Claire Turner and her husband and daughter moved from London to the New Forest in 2019 primarily for a change of life and a good choice of schools. Just two years later, in 2021, she founded Alpaca Apparel which was inspired by a deep connection to nature and a desire to offer a more sustainable alternative to mass-produced fashion. Claire’s journey … Continue reading Alpaca Apparel
BY JAMIE FOSTER For anyone who has ever dreamed of escaping the rat race, of feeling soil between their fingers and living in tune with the seasons, Allison Lee’s “Free-Range and Flourishing: The Smallholder’s Year” is the compassionate and practical guide you’ve been waiting for. This book is far more than a manual; it is an invitation to a way of life that is both … Continue reading Free-Range and Flourishing
