“The students’ perspectives of farming and ecology have massively changed. I think it’s given them a lot of food for thought about how we treat the natural world. They were really blown away by it. I think that idea of their work having value and it being about the place they are from as well has been absolutely invaluable for them.”
– Teacher, Queen Katherine School
James Robinson, his father, and his son care for miles of ancient hedgerow, between the species-rich grassland, woodland, and becks on their regenerative farm in Cumbria.
Our first We Feed The UK story tells their tale, through the lens of photographer Johannes Pretorius.
Following the success of his initial exhibition, Johannes’ photographs of Stickley Farm have returned to Cumbria as part of an expanded collection of work; this time joined by additional photographs by students from Queen Katherine School. Johannes accompanied these young creatives to capture the dynamic relationship between the land and those who care for it. Now on display at Abbot Hall, the exhibition pairs these students’ perspectives with Johannes’ original images in a beautiful collaboration.
“I learnt how things should look on a farm if they’re run properly with the environment in mind. Seeing the river on the farm really makes you think because everything is alive. It shows you how things should look.”
Student, Queen Katherine School
“We had talked at school about this idea of ‘the overlooked’ and how we might take the natural world for granted even though we’re surrounded by it every day. So the students went to the farm with that in mind, looking at things that people wouldn’t necessarily stop and pause and think about in the natural world.”
Teacher, Queen Katherine School
“The photographs made me feel joy for the students having that magical experience of connecting with nature in a way that enlivened their imaginations in terms of what needs to be done to protect it, and that really did come through in the photographs. Inspiring work.”
Exhibition attendee
“James was really fantastic when they went to the farm, giving the students an insight into why they do what they do and how important it is to be innovative. They had some really interesting discussions about food production and waste and how they could take small elements of that back into their daily lives.”
Teacher, Queen Katherine School
“Taking these young people to the farm, you see how directly they respond to what’s in front of them and the joy that brings them. A seed has been planted and I think it all adds up to changing the narrative”
Johannes Pretorius, photographer
It’s important for students to learn that their voices matter in these broader conversations about our shared future. Hands-on involvement like this can get young creatives thinking about their perspectives on food, farming, and environmental issues.
By collaborating directly with the photographer, the students saw first-hand the power of storytelling in inspiring change. This experience will hopefully have helped foster a connection with local land and an understanding of how to care for it.
You can view the full exhibition at Abbots Hall until 28 December 2024.
