Kelvin Fletcher has said he hopes his Cheshire farm will remain in the family for generations, reflecting on the life he and his wife Liz have built there. Speaking during a quiet early start, watching the sunrise while his family slept, the former soap actor said: "We have made a life here, just as I'd hoped, the good life. I can't imagine a life now without this little farm, without this space. Home has never felt as important. Hopefully, it'll be in our family for generations to come."
A dream realised
For Kelvin, the moment was also a chance to look back at the dream he and Liz had before buying the property. "I can't imagine a life now without this. It's instantly worth it the minute you get up. I think back to when we were trying to buy this place, wanting to call this home," he said.
Kelvin added: "This is just our little piece of heaven on earth. Our little patch, the Fletcher patch. It means a lot, it means everything really. I think the kids have just adapted to this life just so well, and I just think they're so at home here. They're just proper farm kids. They're just proper outdoor kids, and I'm so proud of them."
Worst lambing start
But building that life has come with painful challenges. In the latest series, airing on Sunday, the couple opened up about their worst start to lambing, with Kelvin estimating they had lost six of their first 10 lambs. He said: "It's actually been the worst lambing to date we've ever had. The worst start, should I say? I think the first 10 lambs. I think we lost six."
Liz added: "I don't think we've ever lost that many lambs in an entire lambing season." Kelvin explained that some ewes had struggled to deliver unusually large newborns. According to him, their vet had also seen serious lambing difficulties elsewhere in Cheshire, offering some reassurance that the couple were not alone. "So many issues. So when you hear that, it's a little bit easier to stomach, really, that it's not you. You've done nothing wrong," he said.
Highs and lows
Despite the losses, Liz pointed to the moments that make farm life rewarding: "That's the thing. There are highs and lows, and when the highs are good, they're really good. Like, look at this little lamb here. Look at this one sleeping."
Fletcher's Family Farm airs on Sunday at 11.30am on ITV.
