Countrystride #96: ERIC ROBSON – Wasdale, Wainwright, and a champion of Cumbria

....in which we head west to Wasdale to talk with one of Cumbria's living greats; broadcaster, author, film-maker and former sheep farmer Eric Robson OBE. Sat by the stove in his isolated farmhouse study, we learn about Eric's long love affair with Wasdale, and the decision to donate his OBE to his beloved adopted Cumbria; we take the long view of a broadcasting career that has included Gardeners' Question Time, Remembrance Sundays and the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales; we talk about Eric's life as a fell farmer, and his passion for rare breeds; and we re-live the many frustrating, rewarding – and amusing – weeks spent in the company of Alfred Wainwright during the making of the TV films that made the great fellwanderer a reluctant star.

• Eric can be found on Twitter at twitter.com/stridingedge

• Striding Edge Productions can be found at stridingedge.com

Wasdale Head: the view that Eric fell in love with.

Eric Robson OBE in his Wasdale study.