In the Cumbrian fells of northern England, traditional sheep farming practices are increasingly being tested by rising temperatures and prolonged dry periods. Each July, shepherds undertake the annual “gathering,” a communal effort to bring mountain and moorland sheep down to farmsteads for shearing. This year, as in recent summers, the event began before dawn to avoid the hazards of working in the intense heat.

Temperatures in the region have been exceptionally high, with July recorded as the driest month in England and Wales since records began in 1836. According to meteorological data, many areas went more than 50 consecutive days without rain, surpassing even the well-remembered extreme of 1976. The sustained heat and dryness are reshaping how farmers manage livestock and land.

Shepherd James Rebanks described the logistical challenges faced during the gathering, where teams of shepherds and around 20 sheepdogs work together to maneuver flocks of several hundred sheep across steep and uneven terrain. The physical demands are heightened by temperatures often exceeding 30°C, limiting the working time for the dogs and necessitating early starts while it is still cool and dark.

Despite these difficulties, the gathering remains a long-standing communal activity involving multiple flocks from surrounding farms. The shepherds coordinate movements across the hill, with dogs guiding the sheep into positions while avoiding escapes. The sheep are eventually confined in stone-walled pens, allowing for sorting by flock using traditional identification marks.

The summer’s drought conditions have affected pasture quality and water availability. Streams and ponds, normally used by cattle for drinking, dried up weeks ago, forcing farmers to provide additional fresh water and shade to livestock. The dry conditions have also accelerated haymaking and storage ahead of the season.

Farmers like Rebanks have begun adopting grazing strategies from counterparts in the United States to better cope with drought. Techniques such as rotational grazing and allowing longer recovery periods for pasture growth help maintain a cooler, more resilient microclimate. These practices encourage deeper root systems and more robust plant cover, which can delay the adverse effects of drought and support a more sustainable farming model under changing climatic conditions.

However, the limits of adaptation are evident. Without sufficient rainfall, pastures eventually wilt and die, posing ongoing risks to livestock farming in the region. Rebanks expressed uncertainty about the future, noting that these increasingly frequent dry spells may require shifts in the types of crops grown, animals raised, and land management approaches. The enduring rhythms of rural life in the Cumbrian fells are now being rewritten by a warming climate, presenting new challenges for the next generation of farmers.