As spring breathes new life into the Cotswold Farm Park, BBC’s Countryfile presenter Adam Henson shares a hopeful update from his Gloucestershire farm. Opening the park in mid-February to coincide with the arrival of new lambs, Adam notes, “families just love to see our live lambing demonstrations,” highlighting the special charm these new arrivals bring to visitors.
Adam fondly describes the birth of lambs and goat kids as a continual highlight at the Animal Barn throughout the Easter holidays. The popular attraction, located on the extensive 650-hectare Bemborough Farm, is home to over 50 flocks and herds of rare breeds. Visitors can also enjoy the “Ox Shed” café and explore the interactive animal barn, making it a vibrant destination for nature lovers.
Despite these joys, Adam openly acknowledges the tough times facing the farming and hospitality industries, which have been heavily impacted since the pandemic. Taking over the farm park tenancy from his father Joe in 1999—who pioneered public farm openings since 1971—Adam admits that making a profit solely from farming is increasingly difficult.
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In particular, arable farming presents economic challenges. Speaking on BBC’s Farmwatch, Adam explains the bleak outlook: “Out of straight arable farming in 2025 we won’t make money. The spring has been horrible, the crops aren’t going to yield, and commodity prices for grain are low, so the margins don’t look positive.”
Beyond the challenges of crop production, Adam emphasizes his commitment to wildlife-friendly farming. While wild birds may affect crops, conserving farmland birds remains a priority. He notes that since the 1970s, over 70 million wild birds have been lost in the British Isles, with more than a 60% drop in farmland bird populations. However, on his north Cotswold farm, species like lapwing, redwing, golden plover, yellow hammer, corn bunting, and skylark are regularly sighted, serving as vital indicators of a healthy, biodiverse environment.
Adam’s connection to farming extends deeply into his media career, which began in 2001 with Countryfile. He has since contributed to BBC Radio 4’s On Your Farm and Farming Today, presented Lambing Live and Gardeners' World, and co-hosted Nigel and Adam’s Farm Kitchen. Despite his success, Adam remains humble about the media industry’s unpredictability, sharing with WhatToWatch.com, “The media world is very fickle… but I’ll just get back to being a farmer full time, which is fine by me.”