R2Kast - People in Food and Farming/All In

Today we welcome Thomas to the R2Kast 🎙️ A regenerative farmer exploring how agroforestry fits into a practical farming system and what that means for productivity, resilience and long term decision making. 🌾We spoke about his farm, why he’s integrating trees into grazing and arable land, and how agroforestry can work when it’s designed properly rather than bolted on. A big part of the conversation focused on carbon credits. What they are, how they work, where the opportunities might be for farmers, and where the risks and uncertainties still sit. 🍎It was a detailed and honest discussion about whether carbon markets are genuinely helpful for farming, how careful farmers need to be when signing up, and why understanding the long term implications matters just as much as the short term income. 🌍

Well today we welcome Aileen to the R2Kast 🎙️ A farmer and secondary school teacher who has built a new way of bringing food and farming into the classroom. 🌾We talked about life on an upland beef and sheep farm, her route into agriculture, and how that experience fed directly into her teaching. Aileen explained the agricultural education course she has created, how it works in practice, and why experiential learning, responsibility and real world problem solving matter for young people. 🍎Enjoy! 🙂

Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Tom Bradshaw 🎙️ He is the NFU President, a fourth generation farmer from Essex, and a Nuffield Scholar whose journey has helped shape both his own farming business and his leadership at the very top of the industry 🌾We talked about Tom’s early life on a mixed livestock farm, how selling cows and pigs led to contract farming and diversification, and how those decisions pushed him to think differently about soil fertility, business resilience and long term sustainability. His Nuffield Scholarship took him across New Zealand, Australia, Germany, Argentina and the US, opening his eyes to everything from regenerative systems to large scale global production, and challenging some long held assumptions along the way 🚜One of my favourite parts was hearing Tom reflect on how Nuffield quietly built the confidence and perspective that later helped him step into national leadership roles. A single comment during his travels planted a seed that eventually led him towards the NFU presidency, even though it was never something he set out to do 🌍We also spoke openly about the pressures of representing farmers during incredibly challenging times, balancing family life with a demanding role, and why staying calm, constructive and solutions focused really matters. His advice to anyone thinking about a Nuffield Scholarship was honest and encouraging, take the opportunity, stay curious and be ready for doors you never expected to open 🌱Thank you to NFU Mutual for their support of this project.Enjoy! 🙂

Well today we welcome Martin to the R2Kast 🎙️ A farmer and CEO of the Nature Friendly Farming Network, where he works on connecting farming, nature and policy. 🌾We spoke about his own farming journey, succession, and the shift towards nature friendly systems built around soil health, biodiversity and resilience. Martin explained why the Nature Friendly Farming Network was created, how it has grown, and the role it plays in representing farmers in policy discussions while keeping things practical and grounded in real farming experience. 🍎Enjoy! 🙂

Well today we welcome Lizzy to the R2Kast 🎙️ Someone who has turned curiosity, nature and lived experience into a full time career teaching people how to forage, cook and reconnect with the land around them. 🌾We talked about how a simple walk with her son led to discovering wild food, and how that slowly became a way of life. From nettles and mushrooms to bread, pizza and preservation, Lizzy shared how learning at a gentle pace helps people rebuild confidence around food and nature. 🍎One of my favourite moments was when Lizzy laid it out plainly and said not to be a “silly willy poohead” when it comes to foraging. If you’re not 100 percent sure, don’t eat it. Slow down, learn properly, and don’t rely on apps when it’s a matter of safety. That mix of humour and responsibility summed her approach up perfectly. 🌍Enjoy! 🙂

Well today we welcome Madeleine to the R2Kast 🎙️ A brilliant chat with someone who found her way into farming later than most and proves there is no single route into the sector. 🌾We talked about her upbringing around agricultural workers, a career working with children with additional needs, and the moment a simple lambing job during lockdown changed everything. From turning up in DMs and an old shirt to falling in love with lambing and farm life, her journey was honest and refreshing. 🍎One of my favourite parts was hearing about her work today on a rare breeds farm, combining livestock, education and community engagement, alongside studying regenerative agriculture. Her passion for learning, asking questions and making space for others coming in behind her really shone through. 🌍Enjoy! 🙂

Well today to kick off the sixth series of the podcast we welcome Anna to the R2Kast 🎙️ Someone juggling life on the family farm with law, policy work and a serious passion for improving how young people are heard across food and farming. 🌾We spoke about her journey from an arable and beef farm in Fife to studying law, living across Europe through Erasmus, and working in global policy and technology spaces before feeling the pull back home. Her honesty about missing the farm and realising food security was missing from major policy conversations really stood out. 🍎One of my favourite parts was hearing about her work bringing young voices into policy spaces, from national food strategies to building something new through the UK Youth Food and Farming Forum. Her belief that young people should be meaningfully involved, not tokenised, came through strongly and made for a powerful conversation. 🌍Enjoy! 🙂

Well today we welcome Claudia to the R2Kast 🎙️ Someone who has lived and breathed chickens since she was six years old, turning her sister’s unwanted hens into a full blown breeding hobby, a little business and eventually an educational platform followed by thousands. 🌾We talked about how she became overstocked at eight years old, selling chicks from rabbit hutches, learning through trial and error, reading Practical Poultry and building a client base before most kids knew their times tables. Her stories of juggling colours, managing the pecking order and keeping hundreds of birds as pets were brilliant. 🍎One of my favourite parts was hearing how that childhood obsession turned into the work she does today, from breeding Pekins in every shade of the rainbow to helping people across the UK look after their hens properly. Her knowledge on housing, red mite, dust baths, feeding, flock introductions and avian influenza was unreal, and her passion for welfare came through the whole way. 🌍Enjoy! 🙂

Well today we welcome George to the R2Kast 🎙️ Someone who has spent nearly 30 years leading the Tenant Farmers Association and has seen more policy cycles, governments and tenancy changes than most of us could list. 🌾We talked about his journey from Belfast to agricultural economics, joining the old Ministry of Agriculture, and eventually stepping into the TFA at a time when the whole tenancy landscape was shifting. His stories about navigating succession rules, short term agreements, landlord relationships and the fight to protect tenant rights were fascinating. 🍎One of my favourite parts was hearing about his faith and how deeply it shapes the way he leads. From rural church work to the Farming Community Network, he spoke about supporting people not just technically but pastorally, and how that “head and heart” balance is at the centre of everything he does for the sector. 🌍Enjoy! 🙂