04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Countryfile's Matt Baker makes admission as he shares update on mum after accident
Countryfile's Matt Baker makes admission as he shares update on mum after accident
Countryfile presenter Matt Baker has offered a health update on his mum Janice after she was involved in a horrific sheep accident
Countryfile star Matt Baker has provided an update on his mother Janice's condition following a distressing sheep accident.
During Sunday's (May 4) episode of the beloved BBC programme, Matt and his fellow presenters, Adam Henson and Sammi Kinghorn, showcased their unique methods for managing lambing season with their respective sheep flocks.
Matt opened up about his mother's wellbeing after she suffered a frightening event at their family farm in 2021.
She was trampled by sheep within the pen, which led to a broken leg and necessitated an emergency trip to the hospital for a full knee replacement.
"Five years ago, a freak accident on the farm left mum with some severe injuries, including a broken leg and needing a full knee replacement," Matt recounted during the show.
Countryfile aired a lambing special on Sunday night (May 4)
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He went on to reveal that at the time, the family continued to manage their farm on the Hampshire Downs, but post-accident, Janice found it challenging to care for the sheep, reports Gloucestershire Live.
Consequently, the family opted for a different breed of sheep and shifted to outdoor farming, altering their approach to lambing.
"We swapped our pedigree flock of lowland Hampshire Downs my mum Janice spent over 25 years rearing for flocks of hill breeds - Herdwicks and Black Welsh Mountain sheep," Matt elaborated.
While surveying the fields, Matt noted that the independent nature of the Herdwick sheep allows for a less intensive lambing period for his mother.
"It's a very, kind of, relaxed lambing system that we have here and they're so good with their lambing and they're brilliant mums. So, we're just monitoring them, really, just making sure that they're all right," Matt explained.
Matt Baker opened up about his mum Janice's sheep accident
"And that's the whole reason why we swapped over, to be honest. You know, for my mum it was just going to be easier for the sheep to actually help her get through the winter."
"This is the only way that we felt I could continue and do what I love doing. Hill breeds were the way forward," Janice added.
"I had to make a decision if I wanted to carry on. Then we had to look at things differently and that's what we did.
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"It's worked out really well. Better than I thought it would."
Matt concluded: "It's clear that my mum's passion for farming is as strong as ever. And for now, it feels like our own gamble, made with that in mind, has paid off."
Countryfile is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
