Joanna Shimwell

About Joanna Shimwell

Hailing from the Peak District in Derbyshire, England, Joanna Shimwell is a farmer, avid outdoorswoman, wild swimmer, and digital content creator. She is the steward of her family's Dale Farm, a 100-acre livestock operation located near Great Longstone and Bakewell. On this land, she tends to sheep, having previously raised pigs for pork products, and also oversees various farm enterprises, including a campsite. Joanna's formative years were spent on the very same farm, experiencing a childhood steeped in the outdoors, marked by equestrian pursuits, extensive countryside exploration, and participation in events like one-day-eventing. Following her university studies in Nottingham, where she pursued journalism and had a brief flirtation with urban living, she felt compelled to return to her roots. For a period, she occupied an office role, but approximately six to seven years prior to current discussions, she transitioned away from that to assume responsibility for the farm's operations from her father, marking a significant milestone as the first Shimwell woman to take the reins. She has been candid about the initial reservations surrounding a farming future, stemming from past financial challenges her parents encountered.

Joanna has gained recognition primarily for her deep affection for wild swimming, mountain biking, and the invigorating practice of cold water exposure. Her journey into mountain biking began during a particularly trying phase of her life, a period of feeling adrift, which ultimately served as a catalyst for rediscovery. She embraced winter wild swimming around three years before her more recent conversations, roughly in the 2018–2019 timeframe, finding that the rush of adrenaline, the release of endorphins, and the tranquil natural environments provided immense support. She employs a range of outdoor pursuits – swimming in lakes, rivers, or even the challenging act of breaking ice for a dip, cycling through the Peak District, and engaging in cold exposure such as ice baths amidst snowy landscapes – as vital strategies for maintaining her mental well-being. These activities help her navigate and manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, and a spectrum of emotions. She characterizes this approach as "wild wellness my way," highlighting the importance of uninhibited movement, pushing her own boundaries, and fostering a profound connection with the natural world as a means of disengaging from the demands of contemporary life. Her advocacy for outdoor living has included a role as a dryrobe ambassador, and in 2020, she was a contender for the title of Wild Swimmer of the Year.