Tebay, Cumbria: At many farms, the cattle will be in their sheds by now, and stay there till spring. We’re trying something a bit different

The tussocky grass is frozen solid and it is difficult to walk up the fell this morning. I am also slow today as I am recovering from flu. Now that cattle have been grazing here instead of sheep for a couple of years, the vegetation is adapting, growing longer and tougher. What may be great for biodiversity can be more challenging to walk across.

Things are changing, that is for sure. Since we took over the farm we have planted thousands of trees in the valley and altered the way that water flows, bringing egret and snipe to the farm.