Bibliofemme News
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10/10/2005
Beatrix Potter farm sale causes protests
There have been protests about the subdivision and sale of an English farm once owned by Beatrix Potter, the author and creator of characters such as Peter Rabbit.
Potter bequeathed the 450-acre High Yewdale Farm, in England's Lake District, to the National Trust in 1943.
For the last forty years Johnnie Berkett has farmed the land and tended the 400-strong flock of sheep, direct descendants of those bred by Potter.
Now that the 71-year-old is retiring, the National Trust says the farm is no longer viable because Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reforms mean the farm is not making a good living.
To ensure the economic future of the farm, the National Trust plans to split the land three ways between local farms and rent out its 17th century farmhouse.
John Darlington, National Trust area manager for the Lake District, said: "The Trust will ensure the character of the farm and its beautiful landscapes are protected for the future."
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