Catch Countryfile star Adam’s Princes talk

FARMER and television presenter Adam Henson is the next guest speaker at the Clacton Arts and Lits Society.

Adam is perhaps best known as a regular presenter on BBC1’s Countryfile.

Born and brought up on the Gloucestershire-based farm he now runs as Cotswold Farm Park, he found his way into television back in 2001 when Countryfile ran a presenter search.

As well as that programme, he has also co-presented the second series of BBC2’s Lambing Live, alongside Kate Humble, and been a reporter for BBC2’s Coast.

Running the Cotswold Farm Park, which pioneers rare breed conservation and is part of the 650-hectare Benborough Farm his father Joe set up, has given Adam an in-depth knowledge of British farming, and led to his expertise being highly sought after for TV, radio and public speaking.

He says: “People expect a lot from me, but I just tell the truth about what I feel about farming and the countryside.

“It is a matter of truth, honesty and integrity and telling the general public about the highs and lows of the countryside.”

He tells it as it is, even when it might be slightly controversial.

In 2011 Adam revealed he had received death threats against his children after he presented reports on Countryfile about badger culling and more recently he has defended his views on field sports. He says both shooting and fishing brought a lot of people together and, along with gamekeepers and water bailiffs, they were the eyes and ears of the countryside, quickly picking up on anything that was wrong.

“I am very much into the whole idea behind field sports and conservation,” Adam says.

“The work done by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and other such bodies would not be happening if it was not for the sports.

“I am very happy to have discussions with people who don’t understand field sports and there are some questions to be asked, but on the whole it is a very positive thing to be involved in.”