The stone barns, in the village of Crosthwaite near Kendal, have been donated by local resident Mrs Peter Cartmell and will be converted into one single storey one-bed and a two-storey three bed dwellings. The cottages will be used to house tenanted farming families wishing to retire from their farm, or due to health or financial reasons need to make an exit.

New Holland supported Addington Fund in 2016 by sponsoring Surrey Cow Parade cow ‘Moo Holland'. The decorated fibreglass cow was part of a public art exhibition to raise money for charitable causes and community projects. Moo Holland was auctioned at the end of the parade to raise money for Addington, and was purchased by New Holland dealer Lloyd Ltd.  She now resides at Lloyd Ltd's head office.

Moo Holland was on public display at the Lloyd Ltd stand at the Westmorland show, on 14th September, where Addington Fund is the show's chosen charity for 2017. Lloyd Ltd's stand was also where New Holland handed over a cheque to Christine Ryder, Addington Fund Trustee, and Sheila Cole, Addington Fund Chairman.

Mark Crosby, Marketing Manager at New Holland UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted to be continuing our support for the Addington Fund, a charity that does great work in supporting the agricultural community. The two barns will provide tangible assistance to farming families and we look forward to seeing the renovations complete and the new tenants in place.

Ian Bell, Addington Fund Chief Executive says: “We are grateful to New Holland for their on-going support. The ever-increasing cost of rural housing makes it very difficult for many tenant farmers wishing to retire, or when an accident or illness can mean a family can no longer farm.  We are also supporting younger families who are starting out with some land and buildings, but no home.

“Mrs Peter Cartmell has been exceedingly generous with her donation of two wonderful stone barns to Addington.  The National Park Authority has granted planning permission and we are working with H M Architecture of Kendal. We anticipate starting the conversion work in spring 2018, with the aim of completing in autumn 2018.”