Women In Wellies

Having started her career working as a freelance stage manager in theatre and opera, Ros Wardman is now Forest Industries Advisor with Scottish Forestry, alongside being a Mum and passionate advocate for forestry and the wider sector. Join us as Ros shares her story of swapping the wooden boards of the stage for the real thing as she studied forestry at Newton Rigg. Since then Ros has been working across south and central Scotland in a variety of roles with Forestry and Land Scotland and Scottish Forestry. Her love of forestry began on family holidays and days out so, despite growing up in urban Liverpool, Ros has a deep rooted love for forestry and woodlands. We discuss the challenges Ros has overcome - progressing on return from maternity leave, a male dominated sector and so much more besides. Ros demonstrates her passion and advocacy for forestry and the development of small businesses that are connected to the sector through the stories she tells us and experiences shared. If you’ve been inspired by this conversation and want to know more about a career in forestry then do reach out to Ros Wardman - she’d be delighted to speak to you.This episode is sponsored by the Rural Scotland team at Savills.Connect with Ros on social media - LinkedIn : Ros Wardman MICFor / Scottish Forestry \\ Instagram : @scottishforestry \\ X : @scotforestryEpisode Recorded on 27th February 2024.All views expressed are our own.

Anja Baak owns and runs the award-winning Great Glen Charcuterie in Spean Bridge, alongside her husband, Jan Jacob. Join us as Anja takes us on their journey from moving to Scotland from the Netherlands, and how they built a sustainable and ethical business, with a connection to the local landscape at its heart.  Anja gives us an insight into how the business and products have evolved, and why authenticity and storytelling is such an important part of what they do. Anja talks about balancing family life raising six children, with the needs of the business, their family love of food, and what it is really like working with her husband, alongside the impact Jan Jacob’s health challenges have had, and how wild swimming and finding her tribe have helped her navigate that. Anja shares some of her experiences of being involved with Women’s Enterprise Scotland and how being raised in an entrepreneurial family helped encourage her to pursue her own path. Anja is passionate about sharing experiences to encourage other women and girls to start businesses, to learn from each other and create a sense of community. Find out more and order your own Great Glen Charcuterie here : https://www.greatglencharcuterie.com/Find out more about Women’s Enterprise Scotland here : https://www.wescotland.co.uk/This episode is sponsored by the Landed Estates and Rural Business Team at Henderson Loggie Chartered Accountants.Connect with Anja on social media - LinkedIn : Anja Baak \\ Instagram : @greatglencharcuterieEpisode Recorded on 16 March 2024.All views expressed are our own.

Lucy Jenner is an environmental scientist, PhD Student, long distance runner, secret entrepreneur, and Head of Natural Capital Scotland at Savills. Join us as Lucy shares her journey from growing up in the Lake District getting her hands dirty, to studying in Scotland, working with academics at the University of Edinburgh to accelerate the transition to a circular economy, and joining Savills last year to head up the Natural Capital Scotland Team. Lucy shares her passion for the natural environment and being part of a solution to the climate and biodiversity crisis, which has become a human rights issue, equality issue, wellbeing issue and security issue. Through her PhD, Lucy is researching how to improve decision making on the benefits and trade-offs of land use change in Scotland, with some interesting results to date. We discuss the concept of ecological grief and solastalgia, including Lucy’s experiences working with young people through the 2050 Climate Group, her brief foray into the start-up world selling energy bars in reusable wrapping, the importance of empathy in conversations around land use, and how you need to be your own example when it comes to role models. This episode is sponsored by the Rural Scotland team at Savills.Connect with Lucy Jenner on social media - LinkedIn : Lucy Jenner \\ Instagram : @savillsrural Episode Recorded on 6th February 2024.All views expressed are our own.

Polly Pullar is a writer, a photographer, a naturalist, a conservationist, a wildlife rehabilitator, and so much more besides, which she shares in this podcast episode. Join us as Polly takes us from her childhood in Ardnamurchan with wellies filled with frogspawn to rural Perthshire which is now home. Polly shares how her parents, teachers and those around her inspired her with nature from childhood, encouraging her to be inquisitive, to get stuck in and to explore. Polly’s love affair with nature has endured ever since and shaped her life and career. She shares the challenges she has faced with depression and anxiety including how nature has provided her with the emotional ballast to overcome these times. Polly shares some of her favourite wildlife rehabilitation stories including her travels with squirrel kits and tawny owlets, and returning red squirrels to the wild. Polly is passionate about inspiring the next generation of children to get stuck into nature, but this episode will inspire young and old to get outdoors and embrace the natural environment.  Order Polly’s Books - A Scurry of Squirrels,  The Horizontal Oak and plenty more besides here : https://www.pollypullar.com/books/This episode is sponsored by the Landed Estates and Rural Business Team at Henderson Loggie Chartered Accountants.Connect with Polly on social media - LinkedIn : Polly Pullar \\ Instagram : @pollypullar \\ Website : https://www.pollypullar.com/Episode Recorded on Monday 26th February 2024All views expressed are our own.

Joining us on International Women's Day 2024 is Kim Cameron, entrepreneur and award winning owner of The Gin Bothy in Angus. In this episode, Kim shares her journey from growing up in rural Glenisla with a childhood steeped in the traditional songs and stories of rural Scotland, to developing a successful international business with local people and produce at its heart.  We discuss the crucial role Kim's team of 19 women has played in the success of Bothy Trading, and the importance of  involving her daughter Cara in decision making. Kim’s passion for tradition, culture and preserving rural skills and jobs shines throughout the episode, as does her passion for brand Scotland, commitment to balancing growth with authenticity, and continuing the legacy of other local rural producers.  Kim shares an insight behind her business model which follows a circular economy principle, and how the award winning product line has continued to evolve. We discuss The Gin Bothy being selected to be part of the Oscar Nominees gift bags this year and the importance of shouting about your successes, as well as some of the personal sacrifices Kim has had to make to achieve that professional success. We end with a fantastic piece of advice to the next generation - be brave! This episode is sponsored by the Rural Scotland team at Savills.Connect with Kim on social media - LinkedIn : Kim Cameron \\ Instagram : @theginbothy \\ Website : https://www.ginbothy.co.uk/Episode Recorded on Sunday 25th February 2024.All views expressed are our own.

Sally Crowe is a crofter in Caithness, who brings a can-do attitude and a hearty dose of humour to her work, and this podcast episode. Join us as Sally shares her journey from growing up on the family croft, travelling to New Zealand and Australia with the Scottish team for the World Sheep Shearing Championships, and having her world turned upside down when she contracted Q-Fever. Sally talks about the mental, physical and financial battles she faced in dealing with her illness and the impact it had on her approach to life. From moving to regenerative farming and selling direct to the consumer through her successful lamb and Irish Moiled beef box business, to embracing mindfulness, rest and holidays, Sally lives by the motto ‘work smarter, not harder’. We also discuss the importance of family, including Sally’s IVF journey to have her son William and why she developed the Farm Emergency Planner - a one stop tool for everything someone would need to know about your farm in the event of an emergency. You can find out more here : https://myweecroftie.comSally rounds out this episode with fantastic advice and a great reminder - it doesn’t cost anything to be nice or helpful!This episode is sponsored by the Landed Estates and Rural Business Team at Henderson Loggie Chartered Accountants. Connect with Sally on social media - Facebook - My Wee Croftie \\ TikTok - @myweecroftie \\ Website : https://myweecroftie.comEpisode Recorded on Saturday 3rd February 2024.All views expressed are our own.

Our first guest as part of our ‘Next Generation’ series is Hannah Munro, a 20 year old Rural Estate Student and Forester on Balcaskie Estate in Fife.Join us as Hannah shares her journey from growing up on a farm in the Highlands, to realising a passion for forestry and studying for an HNC in Arboriculture & Urban Forestry at The Scottish School of Forestry, before moving to Fife to join a newly formed forestry team. Hannah talks about being the only girls in her class and her determination to succeed, her experience of winning the LANTRA ALBA Timber and Trees Learner of the Year Award in 2023, how she got her first job, and being interviewed for the Forestry Journal as part of their ‘Women in Forestry’ feature. We also discuss the challenge of trying to find the right career guidance and support for those who don't want to pursue the university route, leaving a legacy as a forester, and getting gear that fits. Having achieved so much already in such a short space of time, we can’t wait to see what comes next for Hannah! Connect with Hannah on social media - Instagram - @hannahmunro_30Episode Recorded on Saturday 28th January 2024. All views expressed are our own. 

In our first episode of 2024, we celebrate the first anniversary of the Women in Wellies Podcast! Join us as we reflect back on the last year, including the highlights and experience of creating 23 episodes of amazing stories and inspirational listening, and all the tears and cackles along the way. We talk about growing confidence, Hannah’s favourite phrase, Charlotte’s view on selfies, being a pantomime horse, and the exciting plans for what we have coming next! With lots of laughter and a real insight behind the scenes of how we make the podcast, why we do it, and the incredible support we have received, this is a must listen episode.This episode is sponsored by the Landed Estates and Rural Business Team at Henderson Loggie Chartered Accountants. Connect with Charlotte on social media : Instagram - @landagentlife // LinkedIn - Charlotte Gilfillan Connect with Hannah on social media : Instagram - @hannahlloydsle // LinkedIn - Hannah Lloyd Episode Recorded on Sunday 14th January 2024. All views expressed are our own. 

Kirstene Hair is a former Member of Parliament and political advisor, who now owns and runs Empower, a leadership coaching business for women. Join us as Kirstene shares her journey from growing up on her family farm in Angus, to time in London working in events, before returning to Scotland and ultimately running as the political candidate for Angus. Kirstene talks about how her farming background instilled in her a strong work ethic, and how her love for rural Scotland inspired her political campaigns. Kirstene gives an insight into the many challenges she has faced, from the abuse she received while serving as an MP and overcoming her own lack of self confidence, and how this led her to empower other women, both as business leaders and in politics. We discuss leading by example and how pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is a very effective form of personal and professional growth. With a plethora of fantastic advice and gems of wisdom, this episode is definitely not one to miss!Connect with Kirstene on social media - Instagram - @kirstenehair // LinkedIn - Kirstene Hair // Website - empowercoach.ukEpisode Recorded on Saturday 2nd December 2023All views expressed are our own