BBC Countryfile sparks anger as viewers left furious over Adam Henson's 'brutal' farming decision
Adam Henson left viewers furious over his farming decision
BBC
Countryfile's latest episode saw Matt Baker help with a peatland health check and learning about the lasting environmental impact of the historic draining of the Fens for agriculture.
Anita Rani also embarked on a wildlife safari on the Great Fen to learn about an ambitious fenland restoration project, but it was Adam Henson who sparked outrage when he paid a visit to his Cotswolds farm to check on the breeding ewes - learning he had to let 15 of them go.
After a thorough check through his herd, Henson came to the tough decision and explained: "Farming is all about cycles, and four months on from lambing once again, we're busy with the sheep.
"So they've been what's called weaned and they're living on grass and they're perfectly happy in there. And then over here are their mums, so these are the weaned ewes that will now go back to the Ram this autumn to give birth in spring 2025.
"And what we've got to do is get this flock in and check them over and make sure they're all fit and healthy, ready to go back to the ranch. Each year, all sheep farmers expect to have to replace some of their older or unproductive ewes.
"So today we're sorting through half of our breeding flock.... around 150 sheep. I'd expect 25 per cent of these to be unsuitable to breed again. Today. I'm hoping it's less."
Adam Henson took viewers back to his farm in the Cotswolds
BBC
Henson later realised he had to let 15 of them go - causing outrage amongst viewers who took to their X accounts to complain.
One irate fan vented: "A low point? Countryfile."
"Adam pretends to be a farmer," another commented before a third chimed in: "I don't think the future is bright for the ewes that don't make the grade #countryfile"
Someone else expressed: "They mean they're sending them to Tesco et al #countryfile."
Adam Henson realised that 15 of his Ewes had to be put down
BBC
"Jesus. Brutal #countryfile," a fifth quipped whilst a sixth fumed: "If we want to help farmers, we'd be better off spending our taxes focusing on #cattle-based measures rather than slaughtering tens of thousands of iconic #wildlife species every year now, to no great avail." (sic).
This is the second week in a row that viewers were left unhappy with the programme, as last week they complained about the "distressing" scenes which came from Tom Heap looking into tragic workplace accidents.
Heap spoke with Tim Parton, who appeared on the show just weeks before a life-changing accident, and left the presenter to explain: "Just weeks after this was filmed, Tim was left paralysed after a routine tree felling went terribly wrong."
The presenter went and met Parton at the ground of the hospital where he was being treated, leaving Parton to explain: "We had a tree in the yard that was damaging one of our sheds, so decided to take it down, a normal job for a farmer.
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Tim Parton suffered a horrific workplace accident
BBC
"I took every precaution I could, I'd got a work colleague working with me and it had all gone very well. We got down to the very last bit, and it didn't play ball - and it went the wrong way and unfortunately landed on me."
"And what has been the impact on you?" Heap asked, to which the farmer replied: "Well, I've lost my left leg below the knee, I'm paralysed from the waist down, my right foot had to be rebuilt, I broke my sternum, smashed a load of ribs, punctured lung, broke my back. So yeah, I did a good job of it!"