AN exhibition in Shap has been enlightening visitors about the legacy of the fell pony in the Lake District.

The Heritage of the Fells’ showcase at The Old Courthouse displayed the work of 12 different artists and photographers, as well as a map of Cumbria showing the area where many of the fell herds can be found.

The exhibition opened with a showing of the ‘Endangered Species – Fell Pony Breeders’ film which featured footage of five well known hill herds - Greenholme, Lownthwaite, Lunesdale, Murthwaite and Wellbrow.

This was followed by talks on the history of the Fell pony and their relationship with the land and another about the benefits and considerations of using them for conservation grazing.

Having recently relocated her Globetrotter Fell pony herd back from France to hill ground in Low Borrowdale, near Tebay, Libby Robinson, who grew up in Kentmere, shared her thoughts regarding the future of the Fell pony and her plans to set up a Fell Pony Heritage Centre.

Libby, a former shepherdess and agricultural lecturer, has been breeding and working with fell ponies for more than 40 years.

She was joined by her daughter Fleur Hallam, a photographer, who provided an insight into the work she had done taking images of Fell ponies from some of the hill herds.

Vyv Wood-Gee also talked about her ‘Horseland Journey,’ an epic 1,500 mile trip exploring Britain’s heritage on horseback with her trusty Fell ponies.

Travelling through Cumbria Vyv visited the Fell Pony Museum at Dalemain then travelled via High Street and the Nan Bield Pass over to Shap, then on towards Yorkshire.

The ‘Heritage of the Fells – ponies past, present and for the future’ event came to an end on Tuesday.