Richard Darlington is more inclined to the quiet life than grabbing international headlines but over the last two years, the County Durham farmer has gained fans in the USA, New Zealand, and Canada after launching a unique project.
Mr Darlington, who runs Hall Hill Farm, near Lanchester, became an unlikely cult hero over lockdown when his daily videos became essential viewing for many people during the lockdown, making the farm a destination with visitors from as far away as California, Australia, and New Zealand.
Now fully open again, Richard is still making daily videos of life on the farm, of which the main stars are the Farm’s Highland Cattle.
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The County Durham farmer, who often updates his followers with plenty of agricultural-related content, is fast becoming a hit sensation in the region and further afield.
So much so that Hall Hill Farm has recently won two accolades for its popularity.
Scooping two awards at the 2022 National Farm Attraction Network Awards (NFAN), Mr and Mrs Darlington collected trophies for Farm Attraction of the Year 2022 and Farm Attraction with the Best Digital Presence.
The accolades were announced by Jules Hudson, from Escape to the Country and Countryfile, in June at an awards dinner as part of a three-day Annual Conference and Trade Exhibition in Newport, Wales.
Ann Darlington, tourism manager at Hall Hill Farm, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to win these prestigious awards. The pandemic has been tough for many people, and we are pleased if we have helped people in a small way to get through that. It is also brilliant to see so many people back at Hall Hill Farm in person."
“I would like to thank all our staff who work hard at ensuring our visitors enjoy a great day out. Also, a special thanks to our visitors, many of whom return time and time again, for supporting us.”
Hall Hill Farm is open daily until the end of September.
The award-winning Hall Hill Farm, a family-run tourist attraction in County Durham, has been providing children and families with an educational and fun day out for over 40 years.
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