CUMBRIAN hill farmer, Will Cockbain, has today been named as the National Farmers' Union's official spokesperson for issues concerning less favoured areas of land in England and Wales.
Less favoured area land is mostly situated in the hills, of which his home county has many.
Mr Cockbain's role as official spokesperson will be to voice the views and concerns of farmers in these areas at meetings held by organisations concerned with the welfare of farmers and the environment. He will also explain their views and concerns to a wider audience via regional and farming press.
Will, 44, owns Rakefoot Farm in Keswick where he farms sheep and cattle in the hills. He has been a Cumbrian hill farmer all his life. He is married to Glenis and has two sons called John, 23, and James, 21.
"The farming sector is facing huge changes with the common agricultural policy reforms and there is increasing input from other agricultural organisations and lobbying bodies," said Mr Cockbain.
"I see my role as making sure that the voice of grassroot farmers is heard on a national platform."
