Adam Henson, the presenter of Countryfile and co-manager of Cotswold Farm Park in Gloucestershire, has shared the financial challenges he faces after recent drought conditions severely affected his farm’s pastures.
In a recent video posted on the Cotswold Farm Park YouTube channel, Adam introduced viewers to his newly weaned lambs and explained why the usual grazing alone no longer suffices to meet their nutritional needs.
He described how the grassland, which normally provides essential nutrients for young livestock, has become “dead and dry,” offering minimal nourishment due to prolonged dry spells.
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To compensate, the farm has had to supplement the lambs’ diet with sheep nuts- a concentrated feed rich in vitamins, minerals, protein and energy. Adam emphasised that these nutrients would typically come from healthy pasture, meaning this additional feed represents a significant extra cost.
“Nutritionally, it contains everything the sheep need,” he said. “They get a set amount each day, dropped out in small piles for the sheep to eat.”
The supplementary feed costs around £180 per tonne. With several hundred lambs in the fields, this translates to an increase of approximately £10 to £15 per lamb in feed expenses compared to normal years. Adam acknowledged the financial impact is substantial for the farm.
He also reflected on the broader difficulties faced over the past few years at Cotswold Farm Park, which spans 650 hectares and operates both as a working farm and tourist attraction hosting over 50 rare-breed flocks and herds.
The region’s elevated position-about a thousand feet up-and reliance on natural spring water limits irrigation options, exacerbating the effects of the dry conditions. Adam noted it has been “bone dry for over a month,” making arable farming particularly tough.
“I want to stay positive-farming is one of the best jobs in the world-but right now, it’s really hard,” he admitted.
He outlined how the farm has endured “a tough couple of years,” with very wet conditions in 2024 followed by droughts in 2025 and 2026.
Adding to the challenges is the threat of bluetongue disease spreading among livestock, a concern that Adam said requires careful preparation for the coming year.
Adam Henson has managed Cotswold Farm Park since 1999, continuing the legacy of his father, Joe Henson, who founded the farm in 1971. Despite the difficulties posed by recent weather and disease threats, the farm remains a vital centre for rare breed conservation and rural education in the Cotswolds.