The Prince of Wales recently visited Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park to highlight the work of RBST-accredited farm parks in the survival of British rare breeds, and to encourage visitors to return to farm parks when they re-open from 4 July.
Having been closed for months due to Covid-19 restrictions, farm parks have lost visitor income while still meeting the usual costs of housing, feeding and caring for their animals.
Across England, farm parks were able to reopen from the 4th July, followed by 29th June in Scotland and 3rd July in Northern Ireland with new instructions regarding social distancing and hygiene practices.
The Prince of Wales has been the patron of Cotswold Farm Park since 1986 and his visit was to help raise awareness for the important work being done at the Rare Breed Survival Trust accredited farm park.
Commenting on the Prince’s visit, Adam Henson said: “It was a great honour to welcome The Prince of Wales to Cotswold Farm Park before we re-open to the public on 4th July. His Royal Highness is incredibly knowledgeable about farming, food production and rural tourism, he voiced his encouragement that multi generational families should get back out into the fresh air to enjoy everything that the countryside brings.”
Christopher Price, chief executive of Rare Breeds Survival Trust, also commented: “The coming few months are going to be very difficult for farm parks and as they make plans to reopen safely, we can all support them and the conservation of rare breeds by visiting as soon as we can and going back regularly throughout the year to watch the animals change and grow. I am grateful to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales for all his support for the survival of rare breed livestock and equines, and I thank Adam Henson and Cotswold Farm Park for hosting the visit today
