BY ALLISON LEE
Putting respite at the heart of UK Farming
At its core, BZy Shepherd is more than just a livestock contracting and farm-sitting service—it is a movement dedicated to restoring balance to the lives of British farmers. Co-founded by young duo Holly Zeidler and Adam Broomhead, alongside their six-year-old collie, Tweed, the enterprise provides trusted, fully comprehensive cover across sheep, beef, dairy, and pig enterprises throughout the UK. But beyond the practical day-to-day care, BZy Shepherd exists to tackle one of agriculture’s most pressing yet overlooked crises: the loneliness epidemic and the chronic lack of respite that leaves farmers exhausted, isolated, and unable to step away from their land. By stepping in as reliable, skilled caretakers, Holly and Adam give farming families the freedom to take a holiday, attend a wedding, or simply enjoy a guilt-free day off—secure in the knowledge that their livestock and operations are in expert hands.
Holly is currently studying BSc Agriculture with Business Management at Aberystwyth University, kindly supported by the CLACT (County Land and Business Charitable Trust). The couple run a social media page under the name @thebzyshepherd, and, says Holly, they “Cherish the connections we have made through our platform.”
Holly told me that she and Adam have become increasingly aware of the mental health struggles associated with the loneliness epidemic within the agri-industry. The pair came up with the idea of supporting farmers by providing trusted livestock care and farm cover, which allows farmers and their families to take a break, go on holiday, or simply attend family events without worrying about their farms.
The couple are passionate about farmers’ wellbeing and improving access to respite support, and they are keen to develop partially funded farm-sitting opportunities in the future, perhaps through partnerships with charities and industry organisations.
I asked Holly and Adam about a typical day in the life of a farm sitter and was told that “no two days are the same!” which isn’t surprising given the variety of work they do and the farms they visit. Their work has taken them all across the UK, from Devon to an uninhabited island in Orkney. Holly says that, where possible, they “like to visit farms before taking on the responsibility of farm sitting”, so their day might sometimes include a visit to a prospective client. On the whole, a ‘typical’ day for Holly and Adam might involve caring for livestock, including milking, lambing, calf rearing, and general farm work. Holly says the duo will soon be able to offer shearing, too. When farm sitting, she and Adam take full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the farms whilst the owners are away.
Holly says that, as they are both self-employed, they can organise their own work schedules to a certain extent, so they try to practice what they preach and, when they feel the need to take a break, they can do so.
Holly explains that one of the most enjoyable aspects of their work is meeting farmers and building lasting relationships with them. She and Adam enjoy visiting new places and experiencing different farming systems; “all farms have the same goal, but everyone has a different way of doing it,” Holly says. Holly and Adam take satisfaction from knowing that they provide farmers with peace of mind and enable them to take valuable time away from the farm. She says, “Nothing beats the joy on people’s faces when they come home after a trip they once only dreamed about!” Holly tells me that she enjoys the variety and independence of running her own business with Adam. However, she acknowledges that it can be tough at times, and one of the least enjoyable parts of the job is being away from family and sometimes missing important family occasions. Sometimes the pair are away for months, such as when they visited the uninhabited island of Pharay in Orkney, with just the two of them and 500 sheep to lamb.
Holly says it is upsetting to see farmers unable to take breaks due to financial or staffing pressures, and this is the driving force behind her and Adam’s plans to grow BZy Shepherd. They plan to be an umbrella business, branching into various sub-businesses, for example, agricultural advisory. Holly told me that she and Adam have some big plans for the future and hope to develop partnerships to provide partially funded respite farm-sitting for farmers facing difficult times, whether financially, mentally, or both. They hope to support more farming businesses across the UK.
If you are interested in the services of BZy Shepherd, you can contact Holly and Adam on Instagram and Facebook @thebzyshepherd or by emailing thebzyshepherd@gmail.com
Allison Lee is a smallholder from North Yorkshire who has written for the Yorkshire Times and other publications. Her website can be accessed here.