For farmers like Robert Falconer, whose family have grazed lambs on the Duddon Estuary marshes for generations, the sudden popularity of salt marsh lamb has given added value to his product.
Where once he sold all his lambs through local auction marts, he now sells some of them directly to customers either through the farm's website or via telephone orders.
Since launching the website two years ago, orders for the lamb have gradually increased, with advance orders placed during winter for the next season's lamb.
"It's good to produce a decent product and see it go straight to the customer," says Robert, who farms with his son, James, near Millom.
The family have farmed at Waterblean since Robert's great-great grandfather's day, with the flock of 400 Suffolk cross lambs still reared in a traditional, less intensive way. The land is within an Environmentally Sensitive Area and the Duddon Estuary is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
"The sheep have an extensive, natural environment to graze out of the marshes," says Robert. "Most importantly, we give them time to grow at their own pace."
It seems Cumbria's salt marsh lambs are set to graze the county's unique coastal marshes for many years to come.
Article from
Cumbria Life Magazine, June/July 2008
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R Falconer & Son, Waterblean, The Hill, Millom, Cumbria, LA18 5HA 01229 772518 sales@saltmarshlambdirect.co.uk