Maria Benjamin

Maria Benjamin, alongside her husband John Atkinson, farm rare breed cattle and sheep, carving out premium markets for high quality produce, and incorporating them into farm diversifications. Maria moved to the Lake District in 2010 after studying Fine Art at Goldsmiths College and working in London for 12 years as an artist, film maker and creative producer. Besides helping with the general farm work, Maria runs their diversification businesses, including product development, marketing and sales. Maria makes soap from their Jersey cow’s milk and sells raw fleece, knitting wool, tweed and wool products from our flock of rare and native British sheep. Maria is a member of the British Lop Pig Society, Castlemilk Moorit Sheep Society and Teeswater Sheep Breeders’ Association and Secretary for the Rare Breed Survival Trust Cumbria Support Group. She is also a trustee for the Lakeland Arts Trust. They are both advocates for environmentally sustainable, high animal welfare farming.