Adam tells of his lockdown difficulties
AHEAD of the big reopening yesterday Countryfile’s Adam Henson spoke about the sleepless nights he suffered while his Cotswolds farm was shut to the public during lockdown.
The popular presenter said he faced the prospect of financial ruin and was left “broken” during the prolonged closure.
Now, with restrictions finally lifting and the lambing season under way, he is making plans for the future on the farm at Guiting Power in Gloucestershire and for his TV career too.
Speaking to the Sunday Express he said that as well as focusing on the farm he also has his sights set on a stint on Celebrity Bake Off, but has ruled out Strictly Come Dancing because he would get too much ribbing from his fellow farmers.
Adam, who runs the Cotswold Farm Park visitor centre and accommodation site, alongside a tenanted working farm, said: “There will be tears when I see the smiling faces this week coming in from the car park. It will be overwhelming.
“I’ve been brought up on this place ever since I was a little boy.
“My mum and dad built the business up and they’ve both now sadly passed away.
“But everywhere I look I still feel them and see them, I am completely entrenched in the place.
“To see it fail and wither on the vine was heartbreaking, and to see it blossom and come back to life is elating, it’s just fantastic.”
He recalled: “The 2020 lockdown was horrible because we didn’t know what was going to happen.
“We spent a lot of money over the years and 2020 was going to be a big year – and it all went wrong. Financially it was really scary. There were plenty of sleepless nights.”
He also spoke about two new arrivals – lambs named after television presenters Cat Deeley and Lorraine Kelly.
He said: “Lorraine and Cat won’t be sausages. They are both female so we will breed from them. Cat (Deeley) says she’d like to visit so I hope they come up here.”
Adam, 55, who lives with partner Charlie and their two children, also has a new interactive book out now called A Year On Adam’s Farm.
To book tickets to visit go to cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk.
The 2020 lockdown was horrible because we didn’t know what was going to happen ADAM HENSON