Emma Gray and Adam Henson joins the Borderway Agri-Expo event

Farmer and TV presenter Adam Henson visits the Borderway Agri Expo event in Carlisle, Cumbria. (Left to right) Adam Henson, Judith Hunter, Emma Gray and Ewan Irvine: 29th October 2021. Copyright Stuart Walker Photography 2021.

Showcasing the finest examples of livestock from across the UK, the Borderway Agri-Expo took place Friday 29th October 2021, with more than 12,000 visitors attending this in-person event in Carlisle.

The photo was taken at the Carlisle event in the morning and features Adam Henson, Judith Hunter, shepherdess Emma Gray and her husband Ewan Irvine, who have starred in ITV’s celebrity shepherding contest Flockstars, BBC1’s Countryfile and BBC2’s This Farming Life.

Farmer and relationship director for Cumbria at Lloyds Bank agriculture, Judith Hunter, commented on how the resilience of the agricultural community was clearly evident at the event. She said: “Lloyds Bank has supported the Borderway Agri-Expo since its inception, and it’s been great to have our farming ambassador, Adam Henson, along with us for our 14th year.

“The Expo has always been a showcase of the best quality cattle and sheep, taking place at a time of the year when the seasons are changing, and new challenges start to come our way. But after such a long pause on the agricultural show calendar, this year it’s been just as much about coming back together as a community and celebrating the industry’s resilience.

“I’ve had the opportunity to meet with customers and other rural business owners today and, despite the challenges everyone has and will continue to face, it’s evident that there is still very much an eagerness to continue to build on the strength of the UK farming sector. The team at Lloyds Bank Agriculture are committed to being by their side as supportive and guiding partners to help them achieve this.”

Farmer and TV presenter, Adam Henson, said: “It’s been a real pleasure attending the Borderway Agri-Expo in my capacity as Lloyds Bank farming ambassador. Along with chairing the Young Farmers seminar where, with Emma Gray, I heard from passionate young farmers who were positive and pragmatic about the future of the sector, I was also invited to take part in a discussion where I shared my views about the future of rural support schemes.

“It’s safe to say farmers up and down the country will be looking to find other forms of income so that their businesses remain profitable and resilient as the BPS reduces to zero by 2028.

“I believe the Sustainable Farming Initiative offers a wide range of Government support in various shapes and forms that may suit farmers in England depending on their situation. And it sounds like the soil health and hedgerow options included in the pilot have been popular choices so far.

“On our tenancy, we are not only considering environmental land management schemes and the potential of regenerative farming, we’re also considering the potential benefits from biodiversity net gain and carbon trading. We will also continue to diversify by investing in our tourism business, the Cotswold Farm Park, as we consider this to be a sensible strategy going forward.

“I’d like to thank the Lloyds Bank agriculture team for inviting me, and to H&H for putting on such a great event.”

As agricultural in-person events are on the up, what do you think? You can share your views with us on this, or any other farming issue by emailing us at views@farmersguide.co.uk