The first lady of the Herdwicks

When she died, Potter was set to be the first female president of the Herdwick Sheep Breeders Association; she was a great supporter and breeder of the local fell sheep-during the 1930s, her ewes dominated the prizes at shows-which she believed to be integral to the local, traditional farming practices. She might perhaps be dismayed at the de-stocking of livestock that has since taken place on parts of the uplands

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BEATRIX POTTER will forever be remembered for her enchanting, mischievous characters—Tom Kitten and his burst buttons, the Two Bad Mice, who trashed the dolls’ house in temper, Peter Rabbit scampering home after escaping from Mr McGregor’s garden—but in the Lake District, where she cut a sturdy Mrs Tiggy-winkle-like figure, she became respected as Mrs Heelis, a fierce champion of farming, farmers, the countryside and rural crafts and a generous benefactor through funds from selling her drawings.