Spring has arrived at Cotswold Farm Park, and with it, a fresh wave of new life that Countryfile presenter Adam Henson is excited to share. Opening the park in mid-February marks the start of the season’s lambing demonstrations, a beloved event that draws families eager to witness the birth of lambs and goat kids. Adam explains, “The birth of new little lives will continue to captivate audiences in the Animal Barn throughout the Easter holiday.”
Located on the expansive 650-hectare Bemborough Farm in Gloucestershire, the park offers visitors the chance to see more than 50 flocks and herds of rare breed animals, enjoy the cozy Ox Shed café, and explore the interactive animal barn.
Adam acknowledges that the earlier Easter this year brought a timely boost to the farm, especially given the ongoing challenges faced by the hospitality industry since the pandemic. These difficulties have weighed heavily on farmers, including Adam himself, who took over the farm in 1999 from his father Joe, the pioneer who first opened the farm to the public in 1971.
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Despite the farm park’s success, Adam highlights how tough it is to make a profit from traditional arable farming. Last year’s “horrible spring” led to poor crop yields, and current low commodity prices for grain suggest challenging times ahead. “The margins don’t look positive. In general, the farming side of the business is not easy to make money from,” he admits.
Beyond farming, Adam is a passionate advocate for wildlife-friendly practices. He points out that since the 1970s, the UK has lost over 70 million wild birds, including a 60% decline in farmland bird populations. Committed to conservation, Adam’s farm now regularly hosts lapwing, redwing, fieldfare, golden plover, yellow hammer, corn bunting, and skylark — signs of a healthy and biodiverse environment.
Adam’s media career spans over two decades, beginning with Countryfile in 2001 and extending to BBC Radio 4’s On Your Farm and Farming Today programs, as well as special series like Lambing Live and Nigel and Adam’s Farm Kitchen. Despite his success, Adam remains grounded, reflecting, “The media world is very fickle… But I’ll just get back to being a farmer full time, which is fine by me.”