The 10 farms in Scotland were based around
Inverness, with some of them located in the
northwest, in crofting areas. Flock sizes varied from
400 ewes to 2000. Most of the farmers had some
common grazing. In Northern England, one of the
groups was centred on the Keswick area (Lake
District) with 15 participating farmers predominantly
located in the valleys radiating out from there.
Consequently, most of the farms had limited mowing
ground and often limited intakes (land between the
open hill and the lower fields). All had extensive and
severe hill grazing (around 600–800 m altitude),
mainly commons but some fenced. The other group
was centred on the Hope Valley in the Peak District
area, with 10 participating farms. Most had extensive
heather moorland grazing, some of which were
commons but some fenced. Much of the moor
grazing was severe and rose up to 636 m altitude.
Finally, the 11 farms from Mid-Wales were centred
on Newtown near Llanidloes in Powys. The area was
predominantly hill land with most farms having
suckler cows and sheep. Flock sizes varied from 600
breeding ewes up to 3000. The same farmers
participated to both series of focus groups and
interviews.