The National Trust is standing by its controversial decision to split up High Yewdale Farm despite outrage from both in and outside of the farming community.
High Yewdale, near Coniston, was left to the trust by children's author Beatrix Potter on her death in 1943.
The farm's present tenants, Jonny Birkett and his wife Ruth, have been farming the land for 35 years but six weeks ago Mr Birkett, 71, was told by National Trust members that the farm is to be split upon his retirement in October between four neighbouring farms and the flock given to another farm.
Mr Birkett's father, Robert, was selected by the famous writer in 1940 to take on the farm because of his excellent reputation as a shepherd.
The couple have been left distraught and their neighbours fuming but the National Trust says that it will to stick to its guns.
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