Welcome to arable country

The Vale of Mowbray is a big expanse of flat land in northern England lying between two distinct upland areas that are also two of England's most popular national parks - the North Yorkshire Moors to the east and Yorkshire Dales to the west.

Arable farming is big business around these parts and it's not a great place to live if you're a hayfever sufferer (I'm not incidentally). As a youngster growing up here I think I found it a wee bit frustrating. I was into hills and climbing and there's a distinct lack of mountains and cliff faces in this agricultural landscape.

Having spent the past ten years living in Scotland, I can now appreciate the gentler nature of my homeland and the value and great diversity of its landscape now I know what to look for and where to find it.