Share
We Can Do Both
A podcast about growing food, protecting nature and the future of farming, with Neil Parish
Latest episode
14. Hedgelaying at the UK’s first-of-its-kind Hedgefest
27:46||Ep. 14How can farmers best care for the UK's 400,000 miles of hedgerow? In this episode Neil attends Wiltshire's 'Hedgefest' to find out from self-confessed hedgerow ‘geek’ MEGAN GIMBER from the People’s Trust for Endangered Species why now is a great time for more farmers to take up the historical process of hedgelaying. He then meets farming couple and Hedgefest hosts CHRIS and LINDSAY RUMMING to explore their farm.Listen and you’ll hear: how hedgelaying works and why it’s useful (0m40s); why a variety of species is so important to a good hedge (4m15s); what excites Megan about hedges (6m50s); the unique, historical importance of Devon’s hedges (8m50s); other ways to manage hedges (11m30s); what Megan’s job involves (13m40s); Neil meets the farmers hosting Hedgefest (17m15s); and Neil’s true feelings about sheep (26m36s)!This conversation was recorded in October 2024.Follow Megan on X hereVisit Chris and Lindsay’s online farm shop here: lydiardturkeys.co.ukThis podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk
More episodes
View all episodes
13. Ex-farming minister & MP the Rt Hon George Eustice looks back on his time in government
42:19||Ep. 13On a visit to the south-west last year, former agriculture minister GEORGE EUSTICE stopped by Neil’s farmhouse for a candid look back at the time the two shared in parliament. Covering Brexit, trade deals, creating new agricultural policies, and trying to curtail the power of supermarkets, in this episode you’ll get a fascinating insight into government decisions during a turbulent time, from a man who was at the heart of it all.Listen and you’ll hear: about George’s farming background (0m40s); why he was pro-Brexit (5m49s); the environmental schemes he helped design for farmers (11m30s); food prices and the power of supermarkets (15m55s); negotiations, compromise and trade deals (21m10s); carbon credits and green finance (26m10s); the future of food production and security in the UK (31m30s).This conversation was recorded before the inheritance tax row began.This podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk12. NFU President Tom Bradshaw on resolving the inheritance tax row
26:06||Ep. 12Both Neil and NFU President Tom Bradshaw were speaking at a recent agricultural conference, and after one event Neil spoke with Tom to hear the approach he is taking towards the Keir Starmer’s government, his disappointment at what’s happened but optimism for a satisfactory resolution, and his thoughts on what happens next.Also in this episode, you’ll hear Neil speak with two of the thousands of protestors that were at Westminster in November: Conservative MP for Bridgwater Ashley Fox, and Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Minehead Rachel Gilmour.Listen and you’ll hear: Ashley Fox (1m09s); Rachel Gilmour (5m18s); Tom Bradshaw on his optimism for a resolution (7m50s); Tom’s disappointment at what feels like the breaking of a longstanding contract between government and farming (10m27s); where the NFU might go next.Follow Tom Bradshaw on X hereThis podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk11. Harnessing what beavers can offer British farms
38:37||Ep. 11Neil visits a Somerset farm in which a colony of beavers have made their home. Joining him is JAN STANNARD who’s Heal Rewilding charity owns the farm, and EVA BISHOP from The Beaver Trust. In this episode the three of them talk about the evolving relationship between this ‘keystone’ species and farming practices.Listen and you’ll hear: the concerns some farmers have about beavers (2m50s); how beavers lead to increased biodiversity (6m19s); the positive role beavers play in water management (11m45s); techniques for managing the impact beavers have on farms (17m37s); conservation as a way to diversify farm income (20m52s); what farmers should do if they’d like beavers on their land (27m02s); the role of the Beaver Trust in facilitating this (31m42s).Learn more about Heal Rewilding on their websiteLearn more about The Beaver Trust on their websiteThis podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk10. Professor David Rose on robotics, technology and behaviour change on UK farms
22:56||Ep. 10PROFESSOR DAVID ROSE is an expert in sustainable agricultural change, with a focus on how farmers can be supported to adopt and implement new technology that will improve outcomes for nature and for their business. In this episode he gives Neil a tour of the Harper Adams campus in Shropshire. Listen and you’ll hear: the best way of supporting farmers to adapt to change (1m45s); how technology could enable more ecological farming (9m04s); why government regulation struggles to keep pace with technological development (12m35s); using robots in the milking parlour (14m29s); how technology impacts the human-animal relationship (17m30s). Follow Professor Rose on Twitter/X hereVisit Harper Adams University website hereThis podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk9. Ben Goldsmith on UK food security, rewilding and more
01:10:13||Ep. 9BEN GOLDSMITH is a financier, environmentalist, rewilding enthusiast and farm owner, who first met Neil when he was advising DEFRA on its food policy. In this episode, Neil visits Ben to catch up where they left off. They discuss the past, present and future relationship between farming and the environment, Ben outlines his vision for better land management and food security in the UK, and they even catch a glimpse of some wildcats.Listen and you’ll hear: Ben’s role in helping create current government policy (0m27s); reintroducing species to the UK (10m23s); protecting the most productive farmland for food production (18m31s); why nature should also be seen as ‘infrastructure’ (21m20s); a tour of Ben’s farm (28m18s). Listen to Ben’s ‘Rewilding The World’ podcastThis podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk8. The Allerton Project
44:03||Ep. 8JOE STANLEY is head of sustainable farming at The Allerton Project, a 320 hectare farm in Leicestershire, which researches the effects of different farming methods on wildlife and the environment. In this episode, Neil tours the farm with Joe to find out about their latest research and to hear why Joe is optimistic about the future of British agriculture.In this episode: why DEFRA’s top team visit this project (2m25s); how farmers could get a fairer price from supermarkets (10m15s); a tour of their agroforestry trials (18m02s); striking the balance between tree-planting and food production (34m55s).Visit the Allerton Project websiteThis podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk