We Can Do Both

BRUCE GRIFFITHS is from North Wyke Farm near Oakhampton in Devon. His job: to a run a team that’s researching how farming can reach net zero and become resilient to the effects of climate change. In this episode Neil joins Bruce for a tour of the farm, and finds out what clever methods they are employing to understand and reduce the environmental footprint of farming in the UK.In this episode: an introduction to the work of the farm (1m02s); using satellite data in order to apply fertiliser more judiciously (3m48s); ways to monitor methane gas emissions from livestock (7m14s); ways to reduce methane from livestock (12m36s); a tour of the run-off monitoring shed (16m43s); and a demonstration of the methane monitoring device (25m27s).Read about Bruce and Rothemstead ResearchFollow Rothemstead Research on Twitter/X

Traditional orchards are a “priority habitat” according to the Government’s Biodiversity Action Plan. In this episode, Neil is led through one such orchard by farmer JUSTIN WEEKES and his father, whose Ridge & Furrow Cider farm has won awards both for its sweet craft cider, and for the wildlife that the orchards support.In this interview: what a ‘ridge and furrow’ orchard means (2m07s); Justin’s approach to grazing in the orchard (6m10s); the perils of drinking alcohol after being stung by bees (8m43s); biodiversity on the farm (11m03s); their thoughts on fertilisers (13m28s); Neil meets their cattle (18m40s); Neil finds out how the cider is made (21m45s).Visit the Ridge & Furrow Cider Farm websiteRead about the Biodiversity Action Plan’s Priority HabitatsLearn about the countryside stewardship scheme of which Justin’s farm is a part

Neil farms on low-lying land near the mouth of Somerset’s River Parrett. For this first episode he makes a short journey upstream to the beef and arable farm of JAMES WINSLADE. Sitting at James’s dining table they discuss the challenges of farming for both food and nature on the flood-prone, man-made landscape of Sedgemoor. They discuss: how pumps are used to manage water here (3m22s); the impact of prolonged flooding on biodiversity and carbon storage (10m22s); how James would like to see water being managed here in the future (12m30s); his work supporting UK farmers during severe weather events (16m29s); how flooding impacts food production (21m18s); a cautious optimism for the future (28m37); and his call for farmers to be compensated for storing flood water on their fields in order to protect nearby towns (34m19s).Follow James on Twitter/XRead more about James and the floods in 2014James’s work with Forage Aid

How can UK farmers both grow good food AND protect the environment? Join NEIL PARISH at his dining table to find out why he'll be seeking to answer this question in this new podcast.