Puzzle Description

Life on the Farm (G6304) is another beautiful English farm scene from the prolific hand of Kevin Walsh. Kevin's work not only captures the bucolic gentleness of farm life in the not too distant past but he also dazzles with his eye for authentic details. All the farm equipment such as the tractor and the Land Rover are faithfully rendered, if somewhat cleaner than usual. The farm appears to be in the Cotswolds as the stone is quite unique to that part of England and is still used to this day to build houses, farm buildings and even stone walls. Stone farm walls require a real talent as they are put together without mortar: it's called dry walling and a properly crafted wall can survive centuries. Such skills are not entirely lost as new generations have taken it upon themselves to perpetuate the craft.

Agriculture in the United Kingdom uses 69% of the country's land area, employs 1.5% of its workforce (476,000 people) and contributes 0.6% of its gross value added (£9.9 billion). The UK produces less than 60% of the food it consumes. Agricultural activity occurs in most rural locations, it is concentrated in East Anglia (for crops) and the South West (livestock). There are 212,000 farm holdings, which vary widely in size.

Despite skilled farmers, advanced technology, fertile soil and subsidies, farm earnings are relatively low, mainly due to low prices at the farm gate. Low earnings, high land prices and a shortage of let farmland discourage young people from joining the industry. The average age of the British farm holder is now about 60.

Recently there have been moves towards organic farming in an attempt to sustain profits, and many farmers supplement their income by diversifying activities away from pure agriculture. Biofuels present new opportunities for farmers against a background of rising fears about fossil fuel prices, energy security, and climate change. There is increasing awareness that farmers have an important role to play as custodians of the British countryside and wildlife.[6] All the livestock looks amazingly genuine as well. It's only the dress code of the children that conjures up a time in the past. I remember wearing short trousers to school even if it meant showing off my adolescent hairy legs. That was at least 100 years ago and my legs are no longer hairy.

There's a real challenge in all the brickwork for the avid puzzler. This type of rendition seems to be very popular at the moment and is devoid of brushwork. It all looks as though it's composed of actual photographs which gives the puzzle a somewhat hybrid look between the artist's touch and photo mechanical reproduction.

Life on the Farm is a 1000 piece puzzle and measures 68 x 49 cms. when complete. It is made of 100% recycled premium puzzle board and can be made over and over again.