Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker
Series One – Broadcast: April / May 2024 (Channel 4)
Around a third of Britain’s farmland is rented to tenant farmers, in ‘Our Dream Farm’ Matt Baker heads to Northumberland, to a vacant farm on the Wallington Estate where the landlords, The National Trust, are searching for a new tenant.
On offer is a 10 year lease for 340 acres of grassland, woods, wetland and a fully refurbished, four bedroom traditional farmhouse. Seven applicants all with hopes and dreams of calling this place home and making a living from the land, have been shortlisted by The National Trust to spend 3 weeks working on the farm, demonstrating they have what it takes to be awarded this life changing opportunity and be chosen as the next tenant.
In each episode Matt will follow the process as the applicants are tasked with a variety of farm jobs, allowing them to demonstrate their abilities handling livestock, hosting farm visits and improving the land for nature and wildlife to thrive – all under the watchful eye of the National Trust. As well as working on the farm the applicants have all submitted a business plan setting out their vision for the farm’s future. Across the series they’ll be invited to attend a crucial meeting to pitch their vision at the estate’s manor house and historic headquarters.
Deciding who will be awarded the tenancy is the Wallington Estate’s General Manager, Sally Richards and Giles Hunt, the Land and Estates Director for the whole of the National Trust. Having seen the applicants in action and scrutinised their business plans, they have the difficult task of deciding who should stay and who should go as they whittle the shortlist down to the final 3. Only one can be awarded the tenancy and Matt will be alongside the applicants throughout to lend a supportive hand as they discover if they have what it takes to be chosen as the new tenant.
All episodes available on catch up on Channel 4
Series Two – Broadcast: March to May 2025 (Channel 4)
Series Two of Our Dream Farm with Matt Baker follows The National Trust as it searches for a new tenant of a 600-acre dream farm in the spectacular Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in North Wales.
Along with fields, woodland and mountain pasture the farm comes with a beautiful four-bedroom farmhouse, holiday letting accommodation, views of Wales’ highest mountain, Yr Wyddfa, and access to a spectacular lake.
To select the new tenant, seven applicants have been shortlisted to live and work on the farm for three weeks. They’ll take part in a series of tasks designed so they can prove their skills with livestock, passion for conservation and ability to run a successful business if they are chosen to take on the tenancy.
Throughout, the applicants will be monitored by Eryri General Manager, Trystan Edwards and Giles Hunt, the Land and Estates Director for all of the National Trust. Those who impress will be offered the chance to become temporary farm managers – taking responsibility for the livestock and living in the farmhouse.
They’ll also choose which applicants should leave the process, one by one, until just two are left, and are invited to attend a final meeting with Giles and Trystan. Only the winner will be offered the truly life changing 15-year tenancy of this incredible farm.