Fletcher’s Family Farm is back on screens with a new series on Sunday
Kelvin and his wife, Liz, have welcomed a new addition to their farm.
In emotional scenes set to air on Sunday as Fletcher’s Family Farm returns, the couple watched one of their ewes give birth to a baby lamb, although panic set in when the mum didn’t rush to clean her baby.
Before the birth, Liz and Kelvin discussed how “easy” it had been with the lambing. She said, “I think this has been our easiest lambing so far, touch wood. Last year was definitely our trickiest year; this year has been smooth running.
“We’ve only had to really get involved with two or three [births], the rest have done it themselves, which is amazing. We prefer to do that sort of ‘Leave them to it, let them work it out’.”
As they watched the ewe give birth, worry set in for Liz as she asked, “Is she gonna lick the thing off?”
Liz proceeded to jump over the fence and rushed to the lamb’s aid. She went on, “That is a worry, you see? See, she did really well then, just birthing it herself.
“But she didn’t go over it instantly to lick it and break the bag that was around the lamb’s face, and that’s when they suffocate. So, that’s when you have to kind of step in and just quickly break the bag.”
In another part of the show, the couple welcomed another animal to the farm, a bull they had named Crowther, which was a moving tribute to Kelvin’s “best mate”.
“We’ve never had a male come on the farm to serve before. I’m excited,” Kelvin said to the camera. “The cows were way more excited than him.”
The show then cut to four months later, and Kelvin commented on how big the bull had got as he explained, “He’s named after my best mate, who sadly passed away.
“Every time I look at Crowther, I think of my mate. Some of my best memories were with him by my side. If Crowther was going to be an animal, he’d be a bull.”
“I took a picture and sent it to his mum and dad. They were delighted,” he added.
The synopsis for this week’s episode reads, “Return of the documentary following Kelvin Fletcher and his family, who have reached their fourth year of farming.
“Lambing gets underway as spring approaches, while a new bull arrives to help the Fletchers grow their herd of Lincoln Reds.
“Kelvin decides that it’s time to try his hand at arable farming, while he and Liz have to deal with a fire in their farmhouse.”
Fletcher’s Family Farm airs on Sunday at 11.30am on ITV.