She said: “My brother was going to be the farmer. In those days farming was still heavily manual and it was thought to be very unusual for a girl to stop back and farm. My father encouraged me to get some qualifications that would make something of my life.”
However, her brother left farming and just as Bridget’s career was taking off with an array of commissions and teaching work, she began to consider returning to Yorkshire.
“Dad isn’t getting any younger and if I was going to take on the farm and learn from him, because he is an extremely good farmer, then I needed to be up there.”
Her husband John who runs his own business from home supported her and, together with children Rebecca, 13, and David, 17, the family left Lincolnshire in 2001. They have recently moved into a house they have built and designed on the farm in Risborough.
Bridget does not underestimate what she has taken on. Her husband said he was very proud of her: “I think what she has done is astounding. To see her out there behind the wheel of a six ton crop sprayer is just awesome.”
She said: “I may be a farmer’s daughter, but when I was growing up I was out with my horses having a great time. I really didn’t know what it took to run a farm. I think I saw it all through rose-tinted glasses and I had no idea how complex a job it was.
“I have just basically had to work hard. There is so much red tape in farming and it is so complicated. That’s one reason why I did the HNC course at Bishop Burton College. It gives you a really good base on which to grow skill and knowledge. And now I can actually read Farmers Weekly and understand it. Before the course it was all hieroglyphics to me.
“The course helped me to apply the theory to what I am now doing in practice. I’ve done a lot of power harrowing and drilling. I’ve spun hay and I’m involved in looking after the cattle. Still, after four years, I feel I’ve barely scratched the surface.”
