A day of rare delights for Charles championing rural destinations
THE PRINCE of Wales has spoken of the value of rare breeds as he champions Britain’s rural tourism on a visit to Cotswold Farm Park.
Prince Charles, shown an inquisitive Gloucestershire old spot sow and her energetic brood, chortled as he found himself unceremoniously surrounded by piglets.
The rare breeds farm, run by co-presenter of the BBC’s Countryfile Adam Henson, draws 150,000 visitors a year.
The heir to the throne is a passionate farmer who runs Home Farm in Gloucestershire by his organic principles, and in the past has reared the rare breed pigs, which were traditionally kept in orchards and known for their highquality meat.
He was also introduced to Victoria, a 19-year-old Suffolk Punch horse – another rare breed – and posed for a picture with the imposing animal.
As rain began to fall heavily and he sheltered under a umbrella, he spoke to Mr Henson about the plight of working horses like Victoria.
The prince who is patron of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) said: “It’s a real uphill struggle to get people to understand how valuable they are.”
The royal was walked past small fields filled with unusual sheep, goats and cattle – some of the 50 rare breeds across seven species at the attraction.
Seeing a goat with its head caught between the gap in a wooden fence, Prince Charles shared stories of his own farming memories with husband and wife Mark and Sam Adamson who manage the farm’s campsite.
Mr Adamson said: “The prince told us a story about how he found a deer with its head stuck in a fence and he had to get on its back and pull its horns back like he was riding a motorcycle to free it.”