On the surface, being a farm and a wildlife park featured on TV, looks like a good life on a large scale.

But Michaela Doherty, wife of farmer and TV presenter of the eponymous Jimmy's Farm has spoken openly of the hardship they, along with many others have faced to determine when they can reopen.

Jimmy's Farm at Wherstead will open its gates once more on Thursday, June 15, with a number of safety measures in place, determined with Babergh District Council.

It has not been easy and Mrs Doherty told the BBC the industry had to band together to call on the government to fix a reopening date, with several zoos and parks warning of perilous financial difficulties.

"We couldn't get a steer on when and how we were going to reopen, which is totally frustrating for any business," she said.

"It was nonsensical that retail outlets could open but large wildlife parks couldn't - thankfully the lobbying from all the zoos and wildlife parks has worked."

The government approved zoos, like Colchester, which opens on Thursday to the general public but with a VIP day on Wednesday, to reopen as people were less likely to spread the virus when outdoors and it also needed to support the industry.

Mrs Doherty said the last few months had been the farm's "rock bottom in 18 years of trading - it's been the hardest of times".

She said it had been "crippling" financially, but praised the government's job retention schemes and loans.

Ahead of reopening, the farm had worked with Babergh District Council to ensure safety and adherence to strict guidelines, said Mrs Doherty.

That means the 150-acre (61-hectare) site's indoor buildings would remain closed, visitor numbers were limited and people would have to book advance tickets online.