A FARMING family has shared its experience of enforced separation while striving to keep two separate holdings running through the coronavirus crisis.

Natalie Dalton has been busy on her family farm in Upper Teesdale while her husband Greg, who is NFU county chairman for Durham and North-Riding, has been doing the same at his family farm in Weardale.

The couple’s three children, Jack, 11, Poppy, nine, and Maisie, six, have stayed with their mother and have been helping her look after 300 Swaledale ewes, as well as supporting the health message about the virus and backing NHS staff.

“We have been separated due to the necessity of us both needing to run our farms, and we made the very difficult decision to ‘separate’ and follow Government guidance and limit travel as well as potential ‘cross-infection’,” said Natalie.

“Our three children have remained with me and I am currently farming, home-schooling and providing a lot of ‘outdoor education’ activities.”

She said the last time she and the children had seen Greg, who is also vice-chair of the Swaledale Sheep Breeders Association and a previous chairman of NSA Northern Region, was on FaceTime some days earlier.

Natalie said they would soon start lambing and the children would be helping with that. “But we wanted to show our appreciation to the NHS, British farming and all other industries that are ensuring we are able to continue as best we can - #staysafestayhome,” said Natalie.

“It’s all very surreal,” she added. “Not seeing Greg, Not going out and about in public, although being on a farm in the middle of nowhere does have its positive.

“The children are able to get out and about and spend their days at the river, in the fields and checking the stock with me. I have 300 pure Swaledale breeding ewes and 20 suckler cattle herd so it’s not ‘massive’ but all hard work when you are on your own.

“All my sheep need to come off the land (Natural England restrictions) in January so they are all housed and I lamb everything inside so three extra pairs of hands will prove extremely useful.

“They always help on the farm but this year their help will prove essential, as not only are they incredibly useful and will try and turn their hand to anything, their company is great.

“Farming can often be quite lonely and isolated at the best of times, so we aim to ‘enjoy ourselves’ and make things fun and education, as we need to look after our mental health and well-being.

“My husband runs his family farm with his father in Upper Weardale. He has 700 breeding ewes and followers, predominantly Swaledales, and a 40-suckler cattle herd.

“We usually try and help each other during busy periods. However, this year will be very different, depending on how long the restrictions remain.”

“We are in awe of everyone within the farming industry and other essential key workers, namely NHS staff but also those in food production, and also those in education and teaching staff who remain in schools, ensuring the key workers have access to child care.”