THE Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have learned all about the fight for conservation in Cumbria.

William and Kate enjoyed a walk at Patterdale as they rounded off a day of engagements in which they drew crowds on to the streets - then had a taste of life as sheep farmers.

The Royal couple strode out on a route that saw them take in views along Glenridding, over to Ullswater and up the valley to Kirkstone Pass.

They were joined by Cumbria Wildlife Trust volunteers Steve and Beth Pipe, along with the charity’s conservation manager, David Harpley.

Beth said: “It was an absolute delight to spend time guiding the duke and duchess, chatting to them about how Cumbria Wildlife Trust is working hard to protect, preserve and improve the many rare and precious habitats.

“They were both clearly very knowledgeable and care as passionately about the landscape as we do.

“It was wonderful to hear first-hand how they’re encouraging their own children to experience and engage with the outdoors.”

Part-way along the route, they were met by a group of children form Patterdale School, along with their teacher Liz Stewart and the wildlife trust’s senior and education and volunteer officer, Jamie Normingtoin. They were learning about a wildflower meadow.

Mr Harpley presented the duke and duchess with a family membership for the charity and said: “The Duke and Duchess seemed like really nice people and they were very interested in Cumbria and its environment.

“We talked about Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s work in helping farmers restore hay meadows and upland peatlands, our work in managing nature reserves and how natural flood management can help Cumbria.”

Earlier the couple had tried their hand at sheep farming at Deepdale Hall Farm.

After helping farmer Jack Cartmel to shear one sheep, William joked: “She’s not going to be happy with her haircut.”

The pair laughed as the sheep squirmed while Kate tried out shearing.

Kate and William also helped out with sheep herding and dry stone walling, by the Brown family and were handed flowers as they were welcomed by the youngest members of the family Caitlyn, five, and Georgia, three.

Chris Brown, 67, and his son Jimmy, 41, who run the farm, then took the couple into the farmhouse kitchen where they met other farmers for a discussion over a cup of tea and piece of cake.

William asked the farmers about how Brexit had affected them.

Adam Day, managing director of the Farmer Network, said: “The worst case scenario post-Brexit is absolutely dire.”

Sam Rawling, who runs a farm in Ennerdale which has been in his family for 500 years, said he was surprised farmers had voted for Brexit.

When he was asked by William how he felt about the future, he said: “It’s a bit of a concern, I wouldn’t want to be the last generation after 500 years.”

Mr Cartmel and his wife Rachel, who run a hill farm together, said they also ran other businesses, sheep shearing and training sheep dogs, and rented out part of the house to create income.

William said: “It’s a juggling act for you.”