I was born and raised on a Pennine hill farm 1000 feet above sea level, where my dad Walter established the Hades Hill Herd of pedigree Fell ponies in 1957, making it one of the oldest of the currently active herds. He was President of the Fell Pony Breeders Association, (FPBA) and was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Trophy by the Fell Pony Society for services to the breed. His son Tom now manages the Hades Hill Herd. Tom was for several years Secretary to the FPBA, and now sits on the Council of the Fell Pony Society.
Walter Lloyd also established the Cowm herd of Welsh Black Cattle in 1974, which my wife Ali and I managed from then until 2010. We now manage a small hill farm under various agri-enviroment schemes. I was for many years Secretary of the local Commoners Association, so I have had a particular interest in the benefits and problems associated with re-wilding of the Cumbrian commons, and in particular the effect that has had on the semi-feral breeding herds of Fell ponies.
