This summer has brought relentless difficulties to farmers across the UK, and Adam Henson, co-owner of the Cotswold Farm Park near Guiting Power in Gloucestershire, is no exception.
As both a working farm and a popular visitor attraction, Cotswold Farm Park has felt the strain of one of the driest seasons in recent memory. In a recent video published on the farm’s YouTube channel, Henson shared insights into the severity of the harvest and expressed concerns over the increasing wildfire risks affecting the region.
Despite escaping wildfires on his own property so far, Henson described the looming threat as “pretty scary”. He explained, “Goodness me, look at the dust. It shows how dry it is. It’s quite a fire risk as well. We have to be quite careful with overheating engines and any sparks coming off anything.”
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He acknowledged that while his farm has remained safe, others across the Cotswolds have experienced fires, underscoring the seriousness of the situation during this prolonged heatwave.
Southern and central England have endured five to seven weeks with little to no rainfall, accompanied by regular temperatures exceeding 30C, creating ideal conditions for wildfires to ignite.
In the video, Henson also took viewers on a tour of the farm to illustrate the impact of the drought. “It’s been absolutely bone dry for over a month. Our lambs will need to be fed hard food, and we’re going to have to secure some silage because the grass has just turned brown,” he said. “There’s very little for them to eat.”
Aside from the livestock, Cotswold Farm Park has a significant arable operation cultivating various crops. However, the exceptionally hot weather, combined with thin, stony soil, has resulted in disappointing yields. “We’ve started our harvest two or three weeks earlier than usual,” he added. “Last year was early because of drought, but this year seems even earlier. Normally, we wouldn’t begin harvesting wheat until August.”
The farm was established in 1971 by Adam’s father, Joe Henson, who was also known for presenting the BBC’s Animal Magic. Since assuming management in 1999, Adam has maintained its unique focus. Today, the park features over 50 flocks and herds of rare-breed farm animals, play areas for visitors, a restaurant, and various seasonal events, continuing the Henson family’s legacy despite these challenging times.