Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker

What's the series about?

The eight-part series, produced by Big Circus Media and hosted by TV presenter Matt Baker, features seven shortlisted applicants applying for a 10-year farm tenancy on the Wallington Estate.

The show sheds light on the process of applying for a farm tenancy, with applicants presenting business plans and discussing their vision for the farm. They also experience life on the Wallington Estate by taking part in real-life farming tasks and experiences.

Sally Richards, General Manager at Wallington and Giles Hunt, Land and Estates Director at the National Trust then consider how well each applicant would achieve the farm's objectives and deliver their vision for the land.

'What I really wanted from the applicants was passion,' explained Sally. 'I wanted to see passion for this farm on this historic estate and enthusiasm for being part of the local community, which is so important to us here.'

Shining a light on tenant farming

Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker provides us with an exciting opportunity to raise awareness of tenant farming and the role it plays in managing the countryside and addressing the nature crisis.

Giles said, 'The series offered a chance to bring farming, specifically, tenant farming, to life for a wide audience, and to give the public an up-close look at the letting of a farm on one of our historic estates.

'There’s a common perception of what a farmer is, but few people really know what a tenant farmer is. They face very different challenges, and we wanted to showcase that part of the industry – and that part of the countryside – which isn’t so well understood. Much of what you see in the series is a real reflection of how we let our farms, even though the process was supersized for the TV series.'

Check back here for more information on Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker as each episode airs. You can watch the first episode on 6 April at 8pm.

Episode three

As the applicants come to the end of their first week on the farm, Giles and Sally prepare to host the first round of business meetings. Two applicants will be chosen to present their vision for the farm and, afterwards, someone will leave the process. Before making this difficult decision, Giles and Sally observe all seven applicants take part in a task designed to test their business skills at Hexham Farmers’ Market.

Episode two

Angus and Emily are the first applicants to spend a night in the farmhouse with the responsibility of looking after the animals. When the outside water pipes freeze they have to fill buckets of water from the house for the livestock to drink. The applicants also take on the challenge of preparing for the arrival of beavers into a 60-acre enclosure on the estate. They also welcome some Tamworth pigs to the farm.

Episode one

Matt meets seven applicants all hoping to be chosen as the farm's next tenant. It's lambing season – one of the busiest times of year. A neighbouring farmer has brought 60 of his ewes to the farm and the applicants have to prepare the lambing shed so that the pregnant ewes can be brought in from the field to lamb. The applicants also have to create a penning system for the lambs to be born in.