Last updated 21:58, Wednesday, 06 August 2008

JIMMY Doherty, who found fame with his television show Jimmy’s Farm, about his move from city to farm life, is now championing other farmers across the country.

Jimmy Doherty, above, was assisted by NFU Scotland

In his new series, Jimmy Doherty’s Farming Heroes, he has travelled from the Outer Hebrides to south-east England to give the public a true picture of farming life.

His BBC research crew were helped by NFU Scotland during the making of the Scottish edition of the programme and the union now looks forward to seeing the finished programme on Tuesday, August 12 on BBC2 at 8pm.

It will focus on farmers and crofters from North Uist to Connel and many places in between. The programme covers beef breeding, crofting life, forestry and even bog myrtle production to show the huge variety found within the Scottish farming industry.

Anna Davies, NFU Scotland’s communications manager, said: “I have watched the episodes of Jimmy’s Farming Heroes that have been shown so far and have been really impressed.

“He isn’t just trying to create an idyllic impression of farm life but is showing the harsh realities of what life is like when you’re battling with the climate, the landscape and a tough marketplace.

“As Jimmy has said, we’re going to need all the farmers we can get as world demand for food grows and he has really been highlighting the crucial importance of agriculture to us all.”