BROCKSTONES FARM

KENTMERE

THE FARM

ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES

VISITORS

ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES

Brockstones is unique for the number of its barns; 13 traditional 18th century stone barns. The farmhouse and many of these barns are grade 2 listed.

Through an Environmentally Sensitive Area scheme, 120 individual trees have been planted,with special guards; crab apples; holly; ash; oaks; hawthorns.

The River Kent is triple SSSI and is to become a Special Area of Conservation; this designation begins on one Brockstones’ fields.

Some of the grassings on the common are a triple SSSI because of their unique geology. The common had a slate quarry (Jumb) which is also a triple SSSI.

GEOLOGY

Kentmere and Longsledale are the only areas where a complete sequence of the lowest part of the Dent Group of the southern Lake District may be seen.

The Dent group is a narrow band which runs from Barrow (in the South West) to Shap. This represents a sea which has encroached and receded from the Lake District several times during the late Ordovician. Sandstone and siltstone and limestone have been deposited and these contain fossilised remains of marine animals, including trilobytes.

SOIL TYPE(S)

Soils on the commons and grassing are of a peaty nature, with very high rainfall; the grasses are hardy.

Soil on the pastures has a good depth and has been given different treatments over the years, more so, than now.

FAUNA

At one time hares were never seen, but now they are plentiful. There are Snipes, Woodcocks, Curlews, Grouse, Peregrines, Kestrels, Buzzards, Sparrowhawks, Green and Great Spotted Woodpeckers; a pair of Kingfishers were seen for the first time in 2007. There are foxes, badgers, red deer, roe deer (a breeding pair nearby); rabbits, stoats, weasels, bats, frogs and toads.

FLORA

The richness of the flora is always increasing and includes Common spotted orchid, Grass of Parnassus, Spignel, Forget-me-nots, Cotton grass and Meadow cranesbill. There is an ancient woodland with bluebells; bog asphodel; common butterwort and yellow rattle as well as other ancient woodlands.

ARCHAEOLOGY

There is a Romano-British enclosed hut circle settlement and a Romano-British homestead.

DRY STONE WALLS

Approx 20 miles present an ongoing maintainence challenge. 170metres have been restored over the five years through the ESA scheme.

VERNACULAR BUILDINGS & FEATURES

There are 8 square stone structures in the grassings from a time when more work was done on the fell.

INCOME AND PAYMENTS

35% income from stock (worth much less than 20 years ago); the wool cheque was £200, in 1994 it was £2,000. Herdwick lamb goes to Plumgarth’s Farm Shop.

65% from payments for public goods (Single Farm payment, ESA Commons Share and for farm, Hill Farming Allowance).

PRIZES & AWARDS

Brockstones have taken championships at many shows. One of the highlights was winning overall champions at the Eskdale Show.

Ben Dickinson showed Galloway Cattle up to the 1970’s; Highlanders were kept until 1990’s.