Adam Henson, the beloved Channel 5 presenter known from A Yorkshire Farm, has delivered a heartfelt plea to safeguard some of Britain’s rarest pig breeds. On a recent episode broadcast from his Cotswolds farm, he highlighted the urgent need to preserve these endangered animals.
One breed Henson emphasized was the Large Black pig, a traditional variety facing a steep population decline. “We can’t afford to lose them,” he stressed, introducing viewers to a heavily pregnant sow named Doreen. “Fingers crossed everything goes okay, because every piglet born is one small step toward securing this breed’s future.”
Earlier in June, Adam shared an Instagram update featuring Ellen, his iron-age sow, who was expecting a litter he hoped to be as large as eight or nine piglets. His dedication to the survival of these heritage breeds is clear as he documents the farm’s breeding efforts.
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The episode also showcased other farm activities, including farmers Rob and Dave Nicholson harvesting sloes to craft unique chocolate and JB Gill from JLS visiting a Welsh daffodil farmer cultivating flowers for medicinal use.
Beyond pig farming, Adam recently celebrated new arrivals at his Cotswold Farm Park in Gloucestershire, welcoming seven baby chicks hatched by their farmyard hen. This joyous news followed the birth of a calf named Holly in April, which Adam fondly described as a “clever girl.”
Having lived on the farm since 2001, the 59-year-old presenter is known for openly sharing updates about life on the land, especially the milestones of new animal births.
Looking ahead, Adam has reflected on an impending shift in his family’s farming legacy. Speaking to GloucestershireLive, he revealed plans for the future as his children choose careers outside agriculture. “Sure, they can lamb a sheep and drive a tractor, but my daughter is an events organiser in Perth and my son works as a financial advisor in Leeds,” he explained.
With the farm tenancy ending in 12 years, Adam and his son Charlie plan to move to a nearby bungalow in Winchcombe where they will still care for a few sheep and their dogs, signifying “the end of an era” for the family’s active farming life.
Fans can catch A Yorkshire Farm on Channel 5, following Adam Henson’s ongoing commitment to farming heritage and animal welfare.