THE COUNTRYFILE PRESENTER GOES BEHIND THE SCENES ON HIS SHOWS AND FAMILY FARM
PREPARING OUR FARM FOR THE FUTURE
As our farming industry experiences the biggest shift in generations – from economic pressures, environmental changes and policy alterations – we, too, have gone through an entire structural change on our family farm.
Those of you who followed Our Farm in the Dales on Channel 4 will be aware that my mum had a nasty farming accident in 2021, breaking her leg and requiring a total knee replacement. The result was the realisation that, if mum wanted to continue farming, some big changes had to take place, in order to make farming less demanding on her.
We changed our sheep from heavy Hampshire Downs to breeds that would be easier to manage high in the uplands of County Durham, and which wouldn’t need so much assistance come lambing time. We scoured the UK for sheep that fit the bill, from the Cheviot Hills of the Scottish borders to the heights of Snowdonia in Wales, stopping off in the Lake District en route. The resulting flock of black Welsh mountains, Herdwicks and Cheviots have been a first-class choice. The Herdwicks lambed an absolute treat, with the black Welshies and Cheviots to follow in the upcoming series, which will be aired later this year.
From a son’s perspective, as I try my best to allow mum to continue the lifestyle she loves, I have to say that I’m so relieved with the outcome of our newly established flock. Never has it been clearer to me what lies behind the creation of our UK county breeds. These are animals that, over decades, have been bred to thrive on the diverse range of pasture, topography and geology on this mos
