Documentary screening gives MPs a dose of reality on a Teesdale hill farm

A widely acclaimed film providing an intimate portrayal of a Teesdale farming family had MPs enthralled when it was screened at the heart of Westminster  to highlight the importance of hill farming as Brexit negotiations get underway.
Filmed by Magali Pettier, who spent 18 months alongside Tom and Kay Hutchinson on their farm at Forest in Teesdale, Addicted to Sheep focuses on the day-to-day reality of farming, providing an authentic insight into life on a hill farm.
After seeing the film, MP Helen Goodman was determined to take it to the House of Commons and helped stage a special screening for MPs.
She said: “In the run-up to Brexit, I wanted to give farmers and MPs a chance to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing a unique farming sector that makes a huge contribution – not just to our food production but also to the environment and the social and economic fabric of our rural areas.
“I am deeply concerned about how my constituents will fare during the Brexit process.
“They need a commitment to deliver favourable trade rules – especially for lamb; but also need reassurance on the government’s approach to establishing future support systems and the regulatory framework for food safety and the environment.”
With the film at the centre of the event, film-maker Magali Pettier and farmers Tom and Kay Hutchinson also travelled to Westminster last week.
Ms Pettier said: “We hope that showing Addicted to Sheep to MPs has helped them better understand the challenges that farmers nationally and in their own constituencies may face.
“There was a great atmosphere in the room and I hope that the screening has opened conversation channels with tenant hill farmers for the future.”
Mrs Hutchinson thanked everyone for the chance to “discuss the opportunities that will arise from Brexit”.
She added: “Our aim was to help showcase the importance of upland hill farmers in the production of food, as well as the benefits we deliver for the landscape and environment, and agriculture’s vital role in maintaining local communities.”
The event, sponsored by Ms  Goodman and Peter Aldous  (Conservative MP for Waveney) also heard from chairman of the NFU’s Uplands Forum Robin Milton.
He said: “It is vital that policy-makers recognise the uplands as the natural capital assets they are and commit to developing appropriate policies that will ensure a sound economic future for them.”