38 SUMMER LODGE OCT / NOV 2019 • farmers-mart. co. uk
For further informa�on please contact:
38 SUMMER LODGE OCT / NOV 2019 • farmers-mart. co. uk
SWALEDALE SHEEP BREEDERS’ ASSOCIATION
Proud to be associated with Steven Porter of Summer Lodge
For further informa�on please contact:
John Stephenson( secretary) 01833 650 516 / 07751 439 363 jstephenson @ swaledale-sheep. com | www. swaledale-sheep. com
SWALEDALE BREEDING- IN THE SHEEP AND THE FAMILY
Chris Berry talks with Steven Porter at Summer Lodge.
UP in the hills of Swaledale the farming talk is usually about the breed that is the backbone of the sheep world. This is where the‘ Swardle’, as it is often referred to, has ruled supreme for generations.
The Porter family of dad John( 83), his sons Steven, Brian and Greg and his grandsons William and Christopher are all involved in the enterprise that covers around 2000 acres at various locations from Low Oxnop to Summer Lodge on Low Row and Bankheads Farm, plus additional land at Healaugh and Grinton.
The last two of those locations tell you why the talk has been a little different this year given the deluge that fell from the sky in such a short time in late July, causing mayhem to the dale’ s hamlets, bridges and villages.
‘ We were lucky, we got off lightly,’ says Steven Porter from his home location of Summer Lodge high above the river and the streams.‘ We had a bit of damage but nothing like those whose homes have been ruined
and lives devastated. It was Arkengarthdale that suffered the brunt. It came down through Cogden Hall to Leyburn in a strip. It’ s terrible what happened there. It was Arkle Beck that did the damage and the becks that came down off Cogden Moor, like Cogden Beck, took out the top and bottom bridges.’
‘ Down Cogden Ghyll where it is largely out of sight it is really bad. The National Park said 11 footbridges and other bridges were down and as everyone knows so was the main road in the dale near Reeth. It was quiet the fortnight afterwards when it would normally be at its busiest with the school holiday season. It was very fortunate nobody was injured or killed but one farmer we know lost a lot of sheep. Everyone has done their bit to help, but it is still tough for those who were most affected.’
Muker Show took place as did Reeth Show, which had a job on to get cleared up beforehand.
The Porters’ 1200 Swaledale breeding ewes are the farm’ s bedrock with 450 of
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