Thursday, 7 August 2025
Farming exhibition at Gibson Mill
Until 31 December 2025
Fields, Folds and Farming Life is the latest photography exhibition to open at Hardcastle Crags, a National Trust property in Hebden Bridge.
Photo: Valerie Mather
The exhibition captures candid moments from a year in the lives of upland farmers in Bransdale, a valley and surrounding moorland in North Yorkshire.
The exhibiting photographer is Valerie Mather, a Yorkshire-based documentary, travel and portrait photographer. Valerie says, "Photography has the power to capture a moment in history, and my hope is that these images paint a picture of the spirit, stoicism and joy of these local farming families and communities today. I wish to share some of the joy & inspiration about farming and nature that I discovered from my year in Bransdale."
Valerie Mather is a documentary, travel and portrait photographer based in Yorkshire. Following a successful career in law, she retired early to pursue a lifelong passion for photography. The words of Paul Caponigro inspire her interest in documentary photography: 'It's one thing to make a picture of what a person looks like, it's another thing to make a portrait of who they are'.
Valerie's photography, specially produced films and artwork highlight the resilience and dedication of the farming community as they adapt to an ever-changing agricultural landscape, working toward a better future for people, wildlife, and the land they cherish.
Caring for the land is central to the National Trust's mission to protect places of historic interest and natural beauty. Chris Bryerley, Site Manager at Hardcastle Crags, says, "We are thrilled to be the latest National Trust property to show this exhibition, linking in with our Ancient Grasslands Project, a conservation project that is only possible thanks to the traditional farming practices used in Calderdale.
Loss of ancient grasslands
Over the last 80 years, up to 97% of ancient grasslands have been lost, many of them are irreplaceable. This exhibition aims to celebrate the local farmers working to protect what remains."
Fields, Folds and Farming Life is open to visitors on the second and third floors of Gibson Mill throughout the summer, autumn and winter months.
For more information to help plan a visit, go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardcastle-crags
