Joe Henson obituary

Farmer who fought to save rare breeds and educate the public about the importance of maintaining animal diversity

During the 1960s and 1970s most farmers were going headlong down the route of intensive agriculture. But Joe Henson, who has died aged 82, stood out from the crowd. His passionate championing of rare breeds – initially as a lone voice, but later at the head of a thriving national movement – helped to save some famous varieties of farm animals that might otherwise have vanished.

For more than four decades, his farm near Cheltenham, was a haven for unusual breeds of pigs, sheep, goats, cattle, horses, ponies and poultry that helped educate generations of visiting families and schoolchildren about the importance of maintaining diversity among farm animals.