03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Our Dream Farm: This family have just won a 15-year tenancy at one of Wales' most remote farms
Our Dream Farm: This family have just won a 15-year tenancy at one of Wales' most remote farms
The newly-engaged couple, who both come from Welsh farming backgrounds, moved into the farm just before Christmas
Ioan Jones and Sara Jenkins won the farm on the second series of Our Dream Home
(Image: National Trust Images Iolo Penri )
One lucky couple have won a 15-year tenancy of a 613-acre farm in the foothills of Yr Wyddfa. In the series finale of the Channel 4 series Our Dream Farm saw a Welsh couple win a picturesque four-bedroom farmhouse in what they described as a dream.
Ioan Jones and Sara Jenkins, both 28, come from Welsh farming backgrounds with Ioan growing up on his parent's beef and sheep farm in Boduan, Gwynedd and Sara on her family farm in Tal-y-Bont, Ceredigion. Since moving into the farm just before Christmas they got engaged on it.
The show, which concluded on May 3, follows seven applicants passionate about sustainable farming compete to win a farm. They must present business plans, discuss their vision for the farm and experience life on the National Trust Cymru estate by taking part in real-life farming tasks and experiences.
Some of the tests include handling livestock, going to auction, selling produce at a market in Portmeirion, welcoming tourists to the farm's holiday lets and more. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter .
Presenter Matt Baker said he had no doubts the pair would be "brilliant tenants"
(Image: National Trust Images Iolo Penri )
The farmhouse, Llyndy Isad, has lowland fields, woodlands and mountain pasture and a four-bedroom farmhouse on the shores of Llyn Dinas. It also comes with a two-bedroom annex and two bothies, which are free to use shelters for hikers.
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The couple moved in just before Christmas and said it had been a dream to have their own family farm. They are currently living in the annex while letting the four-bedroom farmhouse as a holiday home, which Sara added was fully booked this month.
Ioan said: "We're so glad to have been chosen and can't wait to build a life here together in this beautiful location. Farm tenancies are hard to come by and opportunities like this don't come up very often and so you have to seize the opportunity when it comes up and go for it like we did."
The farmhouse from across the Llyn Dinas
(Image: National Trust Images Iolo Penri )
He added: "We have been busy over the past few months getting to know the farm and landscape, settling in and tending to our flock of 65 sheep. We are currently in the middle of our first lambing season. Fortunately, it's been great weather which is a massive help for lambing.
"We are also looking for Welsh black heifers to buy so we can start our own herd.
"The bothy has also been very busy with guests so far and we hope to open a second bothy by the start of the summer. Hopefully they will be successful and get busier and busier as word spreads on social media."
Since acquiring the farm the couple have also been working with the National Trust and Eryri National Park to discuss creating a small overflow car park for hikers and a small campsite on their land. They are also in the process of adding beds and other comforts to the bothy.
One of two bothies which comes with the farmhouse
(Image: National Trust Images Iolo Penri )
They have also keep in contact with the other contestants through a group chat, having recently gone for Sunday lunch with Ryan, Lowri and Greg.
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Presenter Matt Baker said he was "delighted" the couple had won. He added: Over the three weeks they proved to be very at home in the challenging landscape of Eryri and I have no doubt that they'll be brilliant tenants. Not only are they a wonderful couple, they're passionate farmers and talented land managers who I'm sure will be an asset to the farm and the Trust."
