“Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were – Flopsy, Mopsy, Cottontail, and Peter,” wrote Helen Beatrix Potter in 1901.

The tale of a mischievous rabbit and his three siblings would shape the childhoods of generations to come. The writer took inspiration for her books, full of the adventures of countryside creatures, from the rolling hills of the Lake District, where she ultimately lived and dedicated her life to its preservation. 

Beatrix Potter was born in London, but after years of childhood family holidays in Cumbria she began buying land and property in the Lake District. She funded her purchases using profits from her Peter Rabbit success, with the book having sold close to 50,000 copies by 1903. 

In 1905 she bought Hill Top, a 17thcentury stone house now owned by the National Trust, with her literary royalties and it was here she created some of her most favoured characters, including Samuel Whiskers, Jemima Puddleduck and Tom Kitten. 

She became synonymous with the Lake District and was an integral member of its farming community for 30 years.