Joanna Shimwell

After studying journalism at university in Nottingham and briefly trying city life, she returned home. She worked a desk job for a time, but about six to seven years ago she left it to take over running the farm from her father, making her the first Shimwell woman to do so. The farm, Dale Farm, is a 100-acre livestock operation near Great Longstone and Bakewell, where she handles sheep and has previously reared pigs for sausages and bacon. She also runs diversifications like a campsite.

Joanna is best known for her love of wild swimming, mountain biking, and cold water exposure. She started mountain biking during a difficult period when she felt lost, and found that it helped her rediscover herself. She took up winter wild swimming around 2018 to 2019 and found the adrenaline and quiet natural settings beneficial. She uses outdoor activities, including swimming in lakes and rivers, breaking ice for dips, and taking ice baths in snowy fields, as tools for mental health. She describes this as "wild wellness my way," emphasizing joyful movement and reconnecting with nature to unhook from modern life. Her efforts earned her a nomination for Wild Swimmer of the Year in 2020, and she has served as a dryrobe ambassador.