BBC Countryfile presenter Adam Henson delivered an emotionally charged segment during Sunday's episode, revealing a heartbreaking story of legacy and loss behind one of the show's Young Countryside Champion finalists.
A Legacy in Beekeeping
The programme featured three finalists vying for the prestigious title at the BBC Food & Farming Awards 2025. However, it was the story of 22-year-old beekeeper Dafydd Pett from Bridgend that provided the most moving moment of the broadcast.
Adam Henson introduced the segment by explaining, "Back in June, we asked you to put forward a Young Countryside Champion for the BBC Food and Farming Awards 2025. A young person who made a real difference to the UK countryside, and from all the brilliant nominees, we've had to narrow it down to just three finalists."
Grandfather's Tragic Passing
Dafydd's journey into beekeeping began at just 11 years old, inspired by his grandfather. "My grandfather first got me into beekeeping when I was 11 years old," Dafydd shared. "First of all, it was one day a weekend, and then we ended up spending the whole weekend together doing the beekeeping. At that time, I completely fell in love with it."
The story took a tragic turn in 2017 when Dafydd's grandfather passed away. "It was an emotional time," Dafydd revealed. "Nobody else in the family had ever been interested in the bees. So if I didn't take them on at 14 years of age, they would have been abandoned, and that's not what my grandfather would have wanted."
Continuing the Family Legacy
Despite his youth, Dafydd shouldered the responsibility of maintaining his grandfather's bee colonies. He admitted to initial struggles, saying, "It was such a responsibility at such a young age. The first time I opened the hive, I'll be completely honest, I lost some confidence because I didn't have my grandfather."
However, the young beekeeper found strength in honouring his grandfather's memory. "I kind of stepped up and just thought to just get stuck in and run them the way that my grandfather would have wanted them to be run. I knew that having those bees, as well as making a positive impact on our ecosystem. It made me feel really proud."
The emotional segment showcased how Dafydd's dedication to protecting pollinators and sharing his love for beekeeping continues his grandfather's legacy, making him a deserving finalist for the Young Countryside Champion award.
