Adam Henson, presenter of BBC’s Countryfile, has spoken openly about the difficult times he has endured both personally and professionally. As the steward of his family’s Cotswolds farm, originally founded by his father Joe in 1971, Adam has faced a series of heartbreaking moments and tough decisions.
Despite having a strong support network of family, friends, and trusted business partners, Adam acknowledges the struggles that many in the farming community face when it comes to mental health. In an exclusive interview with Reach PLC, he shared, “I am generally an upbeat person, and I’m fortunate to have an incredibly supportive wife, children, and close friends around me.”
Adam also highlighted the strength of those he works with: “Within the business, I have a partner from Agricultural College who is one of my closest friends. We surround ourselves with experts who excel in their roles, whether it’s the farm manager or other team members, and we maintain honesty and openness with each other.”
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Reflecting on his journey, Adam revealed some of the challenges he has confronted. “I’ve had some very difficult times—my wife was seriously ill a few years ago, I lost my parents, and sadly a nephew passed away. We also battled crises like foot-and-mouth disease and the Covid pandemic.”
However, he credits his resilience to the support system around him, noting, “Despite all that, I’ve never suffered from poor mental health because I’ve been surrounded by fantastic people.”
Adam often shares updates from his Gloucestershire farm on social media, showing the realities of farming life in all its highs and lows. In a recent heartfelt post, he celebrated a new addition: a Gloucester cow named Holly gave birth to a healthy calf.
With pride, Adam posted a video showing the mother and newborn, affectionately saying, “There she is, Holly and her beautiful little calf. What a clever girl.”
The post inspired touching comments from followers, including “Just beautiful,” “Lovely,” and “Sweet baby,” reflecting the warmth and connection Adam’s audience feels toward the farm and its animals.
Countryfile continues to air Sundays at 7pm on BBC One.