Matt Baker’s mum reveals ‘new chapter’ in her life after being trampled by sheep in horror farm accident
OUR Farm In The Dales got emotional as Matt Baker's mum considered her future after a life changing accident.
The former One Show presenter moved back up north to help his parents run their remote 100-acre sheep farm, documenting the process for the Channel 4 series.
Matt's parents needed his help after his mum Janice badly hurt herself when some of her sheep knocked her over, and she had to have a total knee replacement.
Her accident left the family fearing for the farm's future, and in one scene, Matt, 43, suggested one way to save the farm was to change their flock of sheep.
He said: "The Hampshire Downs that we have bred here for years are big sheep. They are on the large end of the scale as far as sheep are concerned.
“I think, now at the stage that you’re in and what has happened that, and this will be hard to hear as you’ve put so much effort into the flock that we’ve got.
“I just don’t think that they are the way forward, for you now."
Janice agreed, but when it came to choosing her new flock, she became emotional.
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She explained: "It’s quite a strange feeling really, sitting here doing this in the sunshine.
“It’s the first time I’ve actually had to make a decision because of what’s happened."
Janice fought back tears as she admitted she "couldn't really do this anymore."
“It’s the right decision. I know it’s the right decision and you reach a time in your life when you think ‘I really can’t do this anymore’," she said.
She added: “In that respect it’s sad, but in a good way, a fork in the road might mean good things will come from it in a different way.”
So Matt and his wife Nicola travelled to Snowdonia to pick up the special ewes.
The couple also did a lot of work on the farm to make it more accessible for his parents, including building a new road around the farm.
“Mum is determined to keep farming, so my wife Nicola and I are making life up here as easy as possible," Matt said to the cameras.
“So, mum and dad can continue to live the lifestyle they love."
He then asked Janice: “How are you feeling with all this work going on and the fact that we’ve got these plans we’re really excited about?”
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To which she replied: “The weird thing about my leg, I mean obviously it was pretty rough at the time, but now I’m absolutely elated with the thought of what it’s all going to be and I’m looking forward to maybe a new chapter.”
Our Farm in the Dales is available on All4.
