News & Blog

Lambing season has officially begun at Smeaton Hall Farm, and the whole team is putting in long hours to make sure every ewe and lamb gets the care they need. This year we're expecting over 300 lambs across the flock, with our Herdwick ewes leading the way as always.

Visitors are welcome to arrange a viewing during this special time of year — please get in touch via our contact page if you'd like to see lambing season for yourself. As ever, animal welfare comes first, so visits are scheduled carefully around the flock's needs.

We'll be sharing regular updates here and on social media throughout the season — follow along to meet this year's new arrivals.

By popular demand, our farm shop is now open longer hours throughout the week, giving visitors more opportunity to pick up fresh eggs, seasonal vegetables, wool products and more, direct from Smeaton Hall Farm.

All produce is grown or raised right here on the farm, using the sustainable methods you can read about on our Our Farm page. Stop by and say hello — we love meeting the people who enjoy what we grow.

Exact opening hours are listed on our Contact page and are updated seasonally, so do check before making a special trip.

Thanks to a dry spell at just the right time, this summer's hay harvest at Smeaton Hall Farm was one of the best we've had in years. Our fields produced enough hay to see the flock and herd comfortably through the coming winter, with some to spare.

None of it would have been possible without our brilliant seasonal team, who worked long days in the fields to get everything cut, turned and baled before the weather changed. It's exactly the kind of hands-on, rewarding work we're always looking for team members to join us for — see our Careers page for seasonal openings.

The new year brings new faces to Smeaton Hall Farm — we're thrilled to welcome two new team members who joined us as Farm Hands this January. Both bring real enthusiasm and a willingness to learn, which is exactly what we look for in every hire.

If you're interested in joining our team, we'd love to hear from you too — visit our Careers page to see current openings and submit an application.

This autumn, we've continued our long-term project to restore and protect the hedgerows that border our fields. These hedgerows are a vital habitat for local wildlife, from nesting birds to pollinating insects, and play an important role in the character of the Lake District landscape.

We've planted several hundred metres of new native hedging this season alone, working alongside local conservation volunteers. It's slow, careful work — but it's central to our commitment to sustainable farming, which you can read more about on our Our Farm page.

Late spring means one thing at Smeaton Hall Farm: shearing season. Our flock of Herdwick sheep is sheared carefully by hand and machine, keeping them comfortable through the warmer months while producing wool that's put to good use across the farm and in our shop.

It's demanding work that takes real skill, and we're proud of the team's efficiency and care with every single animal. If hands-on seasonal work like this appeals to you, take a look at our Careers page.