The Shepherd's Life By James Rebanks

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Growing Up

20150413

20250224 (BBC7)
20250225 (BBC7)

Some people's lives are entirely their own creations. James Rebanks's isn't. The first son of a shepherd, who was the first son of a shepherd himself, he and his family have lived and worked in and around the Lake District for generations.

It's a life lived according to the demands of the seasons: sending the sheep to the fells in the summer and making the hay; the autumn fairs where the flocks are replenished; the gruelling toil of winter when the sheep must be kept alive, and the light-headedness that comes with spring, as the lambs are born and the sheep get ready to return to the fells.

Through his eyes, we see that the Lake District is not a playground or a scenic backdrop, it's a working landscape that needs sheep and its farmers to survive.

James Rebanks has a huge following on Twitter (using his moniker: @herdyshepherd1) where you can see photographs detailing day to day life on the farm - including his fine flock of Herdwick sheep and, the latest additions to the workforce, sheepdog Floss's ten puppies.

Written by James Rebanks.

Music: 'The Nightshift', Country Escape, BBC Production Music BBCPM031.

James Rebanks's powerful account of growing up in a farming family in the Lake District.

James Rebanks's powerful account of his life as a traditional sheep farmer in the Lake District. Read by Bryan Dick.

Some people's lives are entirely their own creations. James Rebanks' isn't.

Sheep are sent to the fells in the Summer and making the hay.

In Autumn flocks are replenished - followed by the gruelling toil of keeping the sheep alive.

Light-headedness comes with spring, as the lambs are born and the sheep get ready to return to the fells.

Through James's eyes, we see that the Lake District is not a playground or a scenic backdrop, it's a working landscape that needs sheep and its farmers to survive.

Abridged in five parts by Sian Preece.

The tough challenges of growing up in the Lake District in a sheep farming family.

Powerful account of James Rebanks's life as a traditional sheep farmer in the Lake District. Read by Bryan Dick.

[LISTEN NOW]

Decisions

20150414

20250225 (BBC7)
20250226 (BBC7)

After his grandfather's death, James Rebanks' family face a difficult financial decision about the farm.

James is the first son of a shepherd, who was the first son of a shepherd himself. He and his family have lived and worked in and around the Lake District for generations.

Through his eyes, we see that the Lake District is not a playground or a scenic backdrop, it's a working landscape that needs sheep and its farmers to survive.

James and his family face a difficult decision to keep the farm out of debt.

After his grandfather's death, James Rebanks's family face a difficult financial decision about the farm. Read by Bryan Dick.

James Rebanks is the first son of a shepherd, who was the first son of a shepherd himself, he and his family have lived and worked in and around the Lake District for generations.

An increasingly marginalised and precarious livelihood - it costs £1 to sheer a sheep, yet each fleece is worth only 40p - Rebanks' anger at the way small farmers are treated, and his passion for continuing his ancestors way of life, is palpable. Through his eyes, we see that the Lake District is not a playground or a scenic backdrop, it's a working landscape that needs sheep and its farmers to survive.

James Rebanks has a huge following on Twitter @herdyshepherd1 where you can see photographs detailing day to day life on the farm - including his fine flock of Herdwick sheep and, the latest additions to the workforce, sheepdog Floss's ten puppies.

Written by James Rebanks

James's family face a difficult decision to keep the farm out of debt.

[LISTEN NOW]

University

20150415

20250226 (BBC7)
20250227 (BBC7)

As disagreements with his father intensified, James Rebanks, aged 21, decided to return to education, resulting in a place at Oxford.

All the time he was away, he longed to be back home, working on the fells.

James is the first son of a shepherd, who was the first son of a shepherd himself, he and his family have lived and worked in and around the Lake District for generations.

Small scale farming is an increasingly precarious livelihood, it's almost impossible to earn enough money to bring up a family, you need a secondary income.

Clashing with his father, James gains a place at Oxford University.

Clashing with his father, James Rebanks gains a place at Oxford University, but misses the farming life. Read by Bryan Dick.

James Rebanks is the first son of a shepherd, who was the first son of a shepherd himself, he and his family have lived and worked in and around the Lake District for generations.

Small scale farming is an increasingly precarious livelihood, it's almost impossible to earn enough money to bring up a family, you need a secondary income. And so, as disagreements with his father intensified, James, aged twenty-one, decided to return to education, resulting in a place at Oxford. All the time he was away, he longed to be back home, working on the fells.

James Rebanks has a huge following on Twitter ( as the @herdyshepherd1 ) where you can see photographs detailing day to day life on the farm - including his fine flock of Herdwick sheep and, the latest additions to the workforce, sheepdog Floss's ten puppies.

Written by James Rebanks

Clashing with his father, James returns to education and gains a place at Oxford.

[LISTEN NOW]

Disease

20150416

20250227 (BBC7)
20250228 (BBC7)

James Rebanks recalls the dark days of 2001, when farmers faced the horror of Foot and Mouth disease.

From the loss, came something unexpected: a neighbour's kindness led him to breed pure Herdwick sheep.

James is the first son of a shepherd, who was the first son of a shepherd himself, he and his family have lived and worked in and around the Lake District for generations.

Small scale farming is an increasingly precarious livelihood, it's almost impossible to earn enough money to bring up a family, you need a secondary income.

James recalls facing the horror of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001.

James Rebanks recalls the dark days of 2001, facing the horror of foot-and-mouth disease. Read by Bryan Dick.

In this episode, he remembers the dark days of 2001, when farmers faced the horror of Foot and Mouth disease. From the loss came something unexpected: a neighbour's kindness led him to breed pure Herdwick sheep.

James Rebanks has a huge following on Twitter (he's the @herdyshepherd1 ) where you can see photographs detailing day to day life on the farm - including his fine flock of Herdwick sheep and, the latest additions to the workforce, sheepdog Floss's ten puppies.

Written by James Rebanks

[LISTEN NOW]

05 LAST

Spring

20150417

20250228 (BBC7)
20250301 (BBC7)

Spring is the farmer's reward for the hard days of winter - and in this final episode, the cycle of the year begins again, as James Rebanks prepares for lambing.

The first son of a shepherd, who was himself the first son of a shepherd, James and his family have lived and worked in and around the Lake District for generations. Through his eyes we see that the Lake District is not a playground or a scenic backdrop, it's a working landscape that needs sheep and its farmers to survive.

Written by James Rebanks.

Lake District shepherd James Rebanks prepares for lambing season.

Spring is the farmer's reward for the hard days of winter, as James Rebanks prepares for lambing. Read by Bryan Dick.

[LISTEN NOW]

OMNI

20150419

20250302 (BBC7)
20250303 (BBC7)

Some people's lives are entirely their own creations. James Rebanks's isn't.

The first son of a shepherd, who was the first son of a shepherd himself, he and his family have lived and worked in and around the Lake District for generations.

It's a life lived according to the demands of the seasons.

Sheep are sent to the fells in the Summer and making the hay.

In Autumn flocks are replenished - followed by the gruelling toil of keeping the sheep alive.

Light-headedness comes with spring, as the lambs are born and the sheep get ready to return to the fells.

Through James's eyes, we see that the Lake District is not a playground or a scenic backdrop, it's a working landscape that needs sheep and its farmers to survive.

Ominbus of five episodes abridged by Sian Preece.

Read by by Bryan Dick.

Powerful account of growing up in a farming family in the Lake District.

A passionate account of the challenges of growing up in a farming family in the Lake District. Read by Bryan Dick.

[LISTEN NOW]

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
01	Growing Up	20150413	20250224 (BBC7) 20250225 (BBC7)	Some people's lives are entirely their own creations. James Rebanks's isn't. The first son of a shepherd, who was the first son of a shepherd himself, he and his family have lived and worked in and around the Lake District for generations. It's a life lived according to the demands of the seasons: sending the sheep to the fells in the summer and making the hay; the autumn fairs where the flocks are replenished; the gruelling toil of winter when the sheep must be kept alive, and the light-headedness that comes with spring, as the lambs are born and the sheep get ready to return to the fells. Through his eyes, we see that the Lake District is not a playground or a scenic backdrop, it's a working landscape that needs sheep and its farmers to survive. James Rebanks has a huge following on Twitter (using his moniker: @herdyshepherd1) where you can see photographs detailing day to day life on the farm - including his fine flock of Herdwick sheep and, the latest additions to the workforce, sheepdog Floss's ten puppies. Written by James Rebanks. Music: 'The Nightshift', Country Escape, BBC Production Music BBCPM031. James Rebanks's powerful account of growing up in a farming family in the Lake District. James Rebanks's powerful account of his life as a traditional sheep farmer in the Lake District. Read by Bryan Dick. Some people's lives are entirely their own creations. James Rebanks' isn't. Sheep are sent to the fells in the Summer and making the hay. In Autumn flocks are replenished - followed by the gruelling toil of keeping the sheep alive. Light-headedness comes with spring, as the lambs are born and the sheep get ready to return to the fells. Through James's eyes, we see that the Lake District is not a playground or a scenic backdrop, it's a working landscape that needs sheep and its farmers to survive. Abridged in five parts by Sian Preece. The tough challenges of growing up in the Lake District in a sheep farming family. Powerful account of James Rebanks's life as a traditional sheep farmer in the Lake District. Read by Bryan Dick. [LISTEN NOW]
02	Decisions	20150414	20250225 (BBC7) 20250226 (BBC7)	After his grandfather's death, James Rebanks' family face a difficult financial decision about the farm. James is the first son of a shepherd, who was the first son of a shepherd himself. He and his family have lived and worked in and around the Lake District for generations. An increasingly marginalised and precarious livelihood - it costs £1 to sheer a sheep, yet each fleece is worth only 40p - Rebanks' anger at the way small farmers are treated, and his passion for continuing his ancestors way of life, is palpable. Through his eyes, we see that the Lake District is not a playground or a scenic backdrop, it's a working landscape that needs sheep and its farmers to survive. James and his family face a difficult decision to keep the farm out of debt. After his grandfather's death, James Rebanks's family face a difficult financial decision about the farm. Read by Bryan Dick. James Rebanks is the first son of a shepherd, who was the first son of a shepherd himself, he and his family have lived and worked in and around the Lake District for generations. An increasingly marginalised and precarious livelihood - it costs £1 to sheer a sheep, yet each fleece is worth only 40p - Rebanks' anger at the way small farmers are treated, and his passion for continuing his ancestors way of life, is palpable. Through his eyes, we see that the Lake District is not a playground or a scenic backdrop, it's a working landscape that needs sheep and its farmers to survive. James Rebanks has a huge following on Twitter @herdyshepherd1 where you can see photographs detailing day to day life on the farm - including his fine flock of Herdwick sheep and, the latest additions to the workforce, sheepdog Floss's ten puppies. Written by James Rebanks James's family face a difficult decision to keep the farm out of debt. [LISTEN NOW]
03	University	20150415	20250226 (BBC7) 20250227 (BBC7)	As disagreements with his father intensified, James Rebanks, aged 21, decided to return to education, resulting in a place at Oxford. All the time he was away, he longed to be back home, working on the fells. James is the first son of a shepherd, who was the first son of a shepherd himself, he and his family have lived and worked in and around the Lake District for generations. Small scale farming is an increasingly precarious livelihood, it's almost impossible to earn enough money to bring up a family, you need a secondary income. Clashing with his father, James gains a place at Oxford University. Clashing with his father, James Rebanks gains a place at Oxford University, but misses the farming life. Read by Bryan Dick. James Rebanks is the first son of a shepherd, who was the first son of a shepherd himself, he and his family have lived and worked in and around the Lake District for generations. Small scale farming is an increasingly precarious livelihood, it's almost impossible to earn enough money to bring up a family, you need a secondary income. And so, as disagreements with his father intensified, James, aged twenty-one, decided to return to education, resulting in a place at Oxford. All the time he was away, he longed to be back home, working on the fells. James Rebanks has a huge following on Twitter ( as the @herdyshepherd1 ) where you can see photographs detailing day to day life on the farm - including his fine flock of Herdwick sheep and, the latest additions to the workforce, sheepdog Floss's ten puppies. Written by James Rebanks Clashing with his father, James returns to education and gains a place at Oxford. [LISTEN NOW]
04	Disease	20150416	20250227 (BBC7) 20250228 (BBC7)	James Rebanks recalls the dark days of 2001, when farmers faced the horror of Foot and Mouth disease. From the loss, came something unexpected: a neighbour's kindness led him to breed pure Herdwick sheep. James is the first son of a shepherd, who was the first son of a shepherd himself, he and his family have lived and worked in and around the Lake District for generations. Small scale farming is an increasingly precarious livelihood, it's almost impossible to earn enough money to bring up a family, you need a secondary income. James recalls facing the horror of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001. James Rebanks recalls the dark days of 2001, facing the horror of foot-and-mouth disease. Read by Bryan Dick. In this episode, he remembers the dark days of 2001, when farmers faced the horror of Foot and Mouth disease. From the loss came something unexpected: a neighbour's kindness led him to breed pure Herdwick sheep. James Rebanks has a huge following on Twitter (he's the @herdyshepherd1 ) where you can see photographs detailing day to day life on the farm - including his fine flock of Herdwick sheep and, the latest additions to the workforce, sheepdog Floss's ten puppies. Written by James Rebanks [LISTEN NOW]
05 LAST	Spring	20150417	20250228 (BBC7) 20250301 (BBC7)	Spring is the farmer's reward for the hard days of winter - and in this final episode, the cycle of the year begins again, as James Rebanks prepares for lambing. The first son of a shepherd, who was himself the first son of a shepherd, James and his family have lived and worked in and around the Lake District for generations. Through his eyes we see that the Lake District is not a playground or a scenic backdrop, it's a working landscape that needs sheep and its farmers to survive. Written by James Rebanks. Lake District shepherd James Rebanks prepares for lambing season. Spring is the farmer's reward for the hard days of winter, as James Rebanks prepares for lambing. Read by Bryan Dick. [LISTEN NOW]
OMNI		20150419	20250302 (BBC7) 20250303 (BBC7)	Some people's lives are entirely their own creations. James Rebanks's isn't. The first son of a shepherd, who was the first son of a shepherd himself, he and his family have lived and worked in and around the Lake District for generations. It's a life lived according to the demands of the seasons. Sheep are sent to the fells in the Summer and making the hay. In Autumn flocks are replenished - followed by the gruelling toil of keeping the sheep alive. Light-headedness comes with spring, as the lambs are born and the sheep get ready to return to the fells. Through James's eyes, we see that the Lake District is not a playground or a scenic backdrop, it's a working landscape that needs sheep and its farmers to survive. Ominbus of five episodes abridged by Sian Preece. Read by by Bryan Dick. Powerful account of growing up in a farming family in the Lake District. A passionate account of the challenges of growing up in a farming family in the Lake District. Read by Bryan Dick. [LISTEN NOW]