Farming Matters with Bensons: Winter Work at Cotswold Farm Park with Adam Henson
Winter might look still from the outside, but on the farm, the work never really stops. In this season, Lexi Benson joined farmer and broadcaster Adam Henson at Cotswold Farm Park to see what’s really happening behind the scenes at this time of year.
This is the first in our Farming Matters with Bensons series, where we share the everyday realities of British farming, season by season, and what it takes to care for land, animals, and produce when the weather has other ideas.
The “quiet season” that is not quiet at all
Late January into February is all about preparation and resilience. Nature slows down, but the work continues: planning, maintaining, checking, fixing, feeding, bedding, and keeping a close eye on animal welfare as conditions change.
For Bensons, winter is also a moment to look closer at the land and our farming practices, and to keep asking how we can work in harmony with the environment, even when the days are cold and short.
A farm park built on real farming values
Cotswold Farm Park was founded in 1971 by Joe Henson with a clear mission to help protect rare breeds of farm animals. Adam Henson continues that work today, alongside his team.
It matters, because rare breeds are not just lovely to look at. They are part of Britain’s farming heritage and biodiversity, and looking after them is year-round, hard, hands-on work.
Meet the winter headliners: the pigs
During Lexi’s visit, it was time to meet some of the real stars of the farm: the pigs. With Adam, the conversation turned to winter feeding and what changes when temperatures drop. Then, inevitably, we got onto apples.
Because pigs really do love apples, and watching them enjoy something so simple is a reminder that good produce does not need to be complicated. It is practical, wholesome, and rooted in the everyday.
Goats, routine, and the art of consistent care
The final part of the visit took Lexi to the goats, talking through the winter routine: feeding, shelter, and keeping animals healthy through the colder months.
Cotswold Farm Park is known for its rare breeds, including Bagot and Golden Guernsey goats, and traditional pig breeds like Gloucestershire Old Spots and Tamworth.
In winter, those breed boards and visitor moments are underpinned by steady, consistent care that continues regardless of the forecast.
The winter pick-me-up: Apple & Ginger
And when the cold bites, a bottle of Bensons Apple & Ginger Pressed Juice is never far away. It’s that crisp apple hit with a gentle ginger warmth that feels made for winter days on the move, whether you drink it chilled or warm it gently when you want something cosy.
This visit was a proper snapshot of winter farming: muddy boots, well-cared-for animals, and the kind of consistent work that rarely makes the highlight reel.
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