Sophie Duchess Of Edinburgh To Visit Cumbria And Meet Rural Communities
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, is set to visit the Lake District and wider Cumbria for a series of engagements focused on the county’s rural economy and the people working to strengthen rural communities.
The Duchess will visit Cumbria on Tuesday, September 8 and Wednesday, September 9 as part of a programme highlighting opportunities for young people in agriculture, sustainable food production and rural skills development. Her visit will take her to a number of farms and rural organisations across the county.
One of the key engagements will see Sophie officially open the first farm involved in the Addington Fund’s new entrant scheme. Whins Farm, near Kendal, has been selected for the occasion as the charity works to support people from farming families and backgrounds who are entering agriculture for the first time.
The Addington Fund has had Sophie as its patron since 2021. Its new entrant scheme is designed to create pathways into farming for first generation farmers, while also helping to secure the future of smaller hill farms across rural areas.
The programme will also include a visit to Home Grown Here, near Penrith. There, the Duchess will learn more about community led approaches to sustainable food production and how local initiatives can contribute to stronger and more accessible food supply chains.
During the visit, Sophie is expected to meet volunteers and growers involved with Home Grown Here, as well as partners working to improve access to fresh produce. The engagement will provide an opportunity to see how community organisations are contributing to sustainable food production locally.
The Duchess will also meet representatives from the Royal Countryside Fund and organisations taking part in its Supporting Rural Communities Programme. The programme brings together organisations working on issues affecting people and communities in rural areas.
Another stop will be Low Beckside Farm in Mungrisdale, the Ernest Cook Trust’s learning and demonstration farm. Sophie will spend time with young people there as she learns more about farming education and the opportunities available to those considering a future in the agricultural sector.
The engagement will also involve representatives from LANSS, West Lakeland Farmer Led Nature Recovery CIC and Penrith Young Farmers. Penrith Young Farmers recently marked its 90th anniversary, highlighting its long standing role within the area's rural community.
The visit will provide the Duchess with an opportunity to meet people involved in different aspects of rural life, from farming and food production to environmental work and education. The range of engagements reflects the wider focus on supporting the future of rural communities.
Sophie’s programme will conclude in Borrowdale, near Keswick, where she will visit Nook Farm and Seatoller Farm. Both engagements will focus on upland farming and the ways agricultural businesses are adapting while continuing to maintain traditional farming practices.
At the two Borrowdale farms, the Duchess will see how upland farming businesses are combining established agricultural methods with diversification. The visit will offer a further look at how rural enterprises are developing new opportunities while operating within the challenges of the upland environment.
Across the two day programme, the Duchess will therefore travel between several parts of Cumbria, meeting farmers, young people, volunteers, growers and representatives from rural organisations. The engagements are intended to showcase the people and initiatives contributing to the county’s rural economy.
The focus on younger generations will be a central feature of the visit, with several engagements highlighting education, new entrants to farming and opportunities for young people to develop rural skills. The programme also places emphasis on sustainable food production and the long term future of rural businesses.
The royal visit will also bring attention to the variety of work taking place across Cumbria to support farming communities and rural economies. From helping first generation farmers establish themselves to encouraging environmental recovery and community food initiatives, the engagements cover several areas of rural development.
Sophie’s two day programme will end in Borrowdale after her visits to Nook Farm and Seatoller Farm, completing a schedule that spans Kendal, Penrith, Mungrisdale and the Keswick area. The visit will highlight the people, farms and organisations working to maintain and develop Cumbria’s rural communities and economy.
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