Joe Henson, founder of the Cotswold Farm Park, today received his MBE for services to conservation
Farmer, Joe Henson established one of the Cotswold’s most popular visitor attractions, The Cotswold Farm Park in 1971. 40 years on, today Joe received the MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, for services to conservation.
The ceremony took place at Windsor Castle, where Joe was accompanied by his wife Gill, daughter Louise and son Adam Henson, the farmer and popular television presenter.
Joe said, “I’m delighted to receive the recognition of the work that I’ve done to save our rare breeds. And thrilled that this continues to be born out through the work of The Cotswold Farm Park.”
As well as setting up the first ever Farm Park in the UK, Joe was also instrumental in the creation of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, and has played a major part in highlighting the plight of our rare native breeds of farm livestock. He set up the rare breeds awards for the Three Counties Show in Malvern, Worcestershire and the Moreton Show, in Gloucestershire.
Joe Henson, shortly after receiving his MBE with his wife Gill, son Adam Henson and partner Charlie.
In 1962 Joe took over the tenancy of the 160 hectare Bemborough Farm (The Cotswold Farm Park), where he yearned for the old-fashioned farm stock he first worked with. He encouraged his eldest daughter Libby’s enthusiasm for livestock by buying her some Cotswold sheep and this began his unrivalled collection of rare breed farm animals. He soon added Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs, Gloucester cattle and Shire horses to his small collection of rare breeds and took over much of Lord Zuckerman’s “gene bank” of rare breeds from Whipsnade Zoo in 1970. In 1971 Joe and his business partner, John Neave, set up the Cotswold Farm Park to put their collection of rare breeds on show to the public and raise awareness of conserving these historic breeds.
In 1968 Joe was invited to join a working party of people interested in the conservation of rare breeds of farm animals. Joe was despatched to meet Sir Peter Scott at Slimbridge who advised that an independent body should be set up and that the word “survival” should appear in the name, so the “Rare Breeds Survival Trust” was born. The working party became the first RBST Council, where Joe Henson was asked to be the founder Chairman. The work of the Trust began with an official launch in 1973, with the aim of establishing breeding programmes and other conservation action to ensure the survival of breeds at risk.
The Cotswold Farm Park continues to be a thriving visitor attraction today. It is run by Adam Henson and his business partner Duncan Andrews. The Cotswold Farm Park is dedicated to delivering the best of British Farming through sustainable methods.
For more information about passion in British farming and the Cotswold Farm Park visit www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk
For all media information please contact Alexandra Tilley Loughrey, 07775 620112 alexandra.tl@btopenworld.com
