Meet Our Farmers

Stephen Sherwen: Greenmoor Side Farm, Cumbria

Farmers are often seen as an unsentimental bunch but Stephen Sherwen may have something to say about that.

Stephen, who is one of the stars of the poster campaign supporting the launch of the new Lake District Cheese Company, is seen ensuring the comfort of his prize herd.

It’s this care and attention, passed down through the generations, that he says epitomises dairy farming in Cumbria and delivers such fantastic milk for the cheese.

“The Lake District is a paradise for the herd and there is nothing better than a happy herd. Apart from the fresh air and rainfall, the accumulation of knowledge counts for so much. Everyone has a slightly different way of doing things but Cumbrians are aware of the dairy heritage in their region and continue to draw on it generation after generation.”

Juggling the responsibilities of farm life in the Lake District may sound like a walk in the park, quite literally, but according to Stephen great milk only comes with honest hard work.

“I’m up pretty early to fetch my 200 cows in for 5:30am then I’m milking for around two and a half hours before the cows go out again. At 4:00pm they are back in for milking again.

“It’s a long day but I’ve always taken pride in my work and it is definitely more rewarding to know exactly where your milk is going and being able to hold and taste the finished product – especially if it’s as delicious as this cheese.

“I see no reason why Cumbrian Cheddar won’t gain the same recognition as the Cumberland sausage or Kendal mint cake. Either way, I’ll look forward to finding out!”