Teach livestock farming at school to stop ‘militant vegans’, says TV presenter

Adam Henson of Countryfile says people must be able to make ‘informed choices’ on food

THE presenter of Countryfile has expressed anger over online intimidation by militant vegans as he called for agriculture to be taught at GCSE level.

Adam Henson, who owns a 1,600acre working farm in the Cotswolds, believes people need to “make informed choices” around food.

His wife and daughter refuse to eat meat reared on his farm. Now the 53-year-old BBC presenter is calling for others to learn more about the process of meat farming before deciding on whether they will eat it.

“What drives me mad are the vegan vigilantes who post horrendous things on social media that aren’t true,” he told the Sunday People. “Are you better off eating a lamb that’s been bred on my farm, grazed on beautiful Cotswolds pasture and is full of wild flowers, or something that’s been shipped half way around the world and may have contributed to deforestation? There has to be a balance.

“But let people eat what they want. I don’t have a problem with it.”

Henson’s comments come after a rising number of reports of protests by vegans against the meat industry – both online and in the wider world.

In June last year, an Isle of Man goat farmer was targeted in a social media abuse campaign, while workers at a farm in Devon received online death threats.

The Greendale Farm Shop in Devon, which became the focus of ire for running a “pick your turkey” Christmas promotion, was also daubed with graffiti reading “Murder!” and “Go Vegan!”.

The National Pig Association last year claimed its members “cannot sleep” for fear of attacks on their farms, while the National Farmers’ Union advised against any “direct engagement with animal rights activists”.

Members of militant vegan groups have also occupied supermarket meat aisles and invaded a steak restaurant in Brighton in November demanding animal liberation.

Henson said that while he and his son eat meat bred on the farm, his wife and daughter were vegetarians.

He also discussed the perks of appearing on Countryfile, comparing the experience to being a pop star and revealing he once bought a bull from the Queen.

“Normal farmers will drive around in tractors peeping over other people’s hedges, whereas I get to go behind the scenes and have a real look,” he said.

“Even in Balmoral, where I actually bought a bull from the Queen. I met her afterwards and she asked me about it, which was lovely.”

Farm Park, Henson’s farm, was started in 1971 by his father Joe Henson, a farmer and TV presenter who had a regular slot on Animal Magic.