The Mullet is our small rural business and marketing advice mini-series, brought to you by Richard P and Callum of CountrySlide.

Gareth from Wales (which isn't on another planet as Callum likes to believe) has written in asking whether it is too late to build up a brand for his hobby business and transform it into a real money maker.

Callum and Richard weigh up the pros and cons of turning something you love into a job and discuss what Gareth could do to develop his love of walking sticks and wood carving into something more substantial.

If you have a question, please DM us or send an email on contact@countryslide.co.uk

This week Callum couldn't make it so we've brought in a stunt double in the form of Poor Producer Amy. Together the Richards and Amy talk about the signs of Autumn - everything from bats to hedges, fruits to frosts!

The trio also discuss a recent article about the decline of birds and the state of wildlife recording overall.

CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.

Send us photos of your interesting trinkets that your other half wants to burn or bin as submissions to the calendar or for fun at: contact@countryslide.co.uk 

Links
- Amy on X and Instagram
- Subscribe on Patreon for extra content (you can cancel at any time)
- If you enjoy what we do, consider a one-off tip on Ko-fi
- CountrySlide website
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here


The Hosts
Richard Negus website
Callum McInerney-Riley website
Richard Prideaux website


Edited and Produced by Amy Green for Rural and Outdoor.

This week we interview Matt (Aspect Forestry and Rural Management) and Nick (Kilmaha Forestry) about what actually happens in forestry and the moves in the last 20 years away from bare monocultures and towards more diverse and sensitive plantations.

We cover every stage of forestry and the consideration taken for nature, from planting and selective weeding through to after care and harvesting of timber with minimal ground damage, and the benefits of using timber over other Carbon expensive materials like steel and concrete.

Finally the guys talk about the industry as a whole and the impact that vilification of a sector can have on the mental health of the humans within it.

CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.

Send us photos of your interesting trinkets that your other half wants to burn or bin as submissions to the calendar or for fun at: contact@countryslide.co.uk 

Links

- The video launching the sector-wide mental health initiative
- Matt on X , bluesky and Aspect Forestry website
- Nick on X and Kilmaha Forestry website
- Forestry Contracting Association
- Subscribe on Patreon for extra content (you can cancel at any time)
- Richard Negus interview on YouTube
- If you enjoy what we do, consider a one-off tip on Ko-fi
- CountrySlide website
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here

The Hosts

Richard Negus website
Callum McInerney-Riley website
Richard Prideaux website


Edited and Produced by Amy Green for Rural and Outdoor.

Access to nature and an increase of arable land going into environmental schemes are the hot topics this week.

A recent study has shown that 42.3% of farmers across the UK reduced their cropped arable area to take part in agri-environment schemes for harvest 2025, with the majority being in the South East and East of England where less productive and marginal ground which is difficult to access with machinery are being put into schemes to improve profitability and help the environment.

Meanwhile a Labour-led all-party parliamentary group has released a report which concludes that there is not enough access to nature in England and calling for greater access to nature, particularly inland waters. There is also a push for improving accessibility of existing rights of way by removing stiles and replacing with inclusive alternatives.

Richard and Richard discuss these topics, the deeper meanings and their potential impacts on rural spaces and our wildlife.

CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.



Links
- Environmental scheme study
- Helena Horton's article about access to blue spaces
- More information on the All-party parliamentary group and their recent report
- Subscribe on Patreon for extra content (you can cancel at any time)
- If you enjoy what we do, consider a one-off tip on Ko-fi
- CountrySlide website
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here


The Hosts

Richard Negus website
Callum McInerney-Riley website
Richard Prideaux website


Edited and Produced by Amy Green for Rural and Outdoor.

A download of information about the fantastic Hedgerow Fest in Ireland, what the recent changes in government could mean for rural communities, and how Wild Justice can sometimes be an ally.

Callum eventually turns up after a day of no signal and horse shenanigans to disrupt things!

CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.

Send us photos of your interesting trinkets that your other half wants to burn or bin as submissions to the calendar or for fun at: contact@countryslide.co.uk 

Links

- Hedgerow fest
- Subscribe on Patreon for extra content (you can cancel at any time)
- Richard Negus interview on YouTube
- If you enjoy what we do, consider a one-off tip on Ko-fi
- CountrySlide website
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here

The Hosts

Richard Negus website
Callum McInerney-Riley website
Richard Prideaux website


Edited and Produced by Amy Green for Rural and Outdoor.

The Mullet is our small rural business and marketing advice mini-series, brought to you by Richard P and Callum of CountrySlide.

Whilst feeding us with Pheasant burgers hot off the grill at the Game Fair, Hugo asked how to tell when it's time to grow some balls and quit the day job to focus entirely on the side hustle/passion project/own business.

Whether your thing is smoking meat or laying hedges (or both) there are a few things to think about before throwing everything that you've got into it.

Hugo can be found on Instagram @thegameglutton

If you have a question for the podcast, please DM us or send an email on contact@countryslide.co.uk

After a month off from regular podcast recording, we've wrangled Richard N and Callum into giving us the lowdown on what they did over the summer holidays. Callum has been to France in search of fine food, family friendly lakes and adventures with his son. Meanwhile Richard has been learning more about the wider nature writing audience through his book tour.

CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.

Send us photos of your interesting trinkets that your other half wants to burn or bin as submissions to the calendar or for fun at: contact@countryslide.co.uk 

Links

- Richard P's wild camping article on Scribehound
- Hedgerow fest
- Subscribe on Patreon for extra content (you can cancel at any time)
- If you enjoy what we do, consider a one-off tip on Ko-fi
- CountrySlide website
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here

The Hosts

Richard Negus website
Callum McInerney-Riley website
Richard Prideaux website


Edited and Produced by Amy Green for Rural and Outdoor.

The Mullet is our small rural business and marketing advice mini-series, brought to you by Richard P and Callum of CountrySlide.

This episode we answer a question from Danum Blades about how to get around the meta algorithm which appears to be slowing his growth on social media as a craftsman who makes and sells knives.

You can give Alan a follow over on @Danumblades

If you have a question, please DM us or send an email on contact@countryslide.co.uk

We sat down with Nick Von Westenholz CEO of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust and had a conversation about what it has been like for him so far, the challenges facing rural wildlife and landowners and managers in 2025, the function of conservation organisations and plans for GWCT in the future.

This episode was recorded on the GWCT stand at The Game Fair with a backdrop of lively chatter and burgers being cooked.

CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.

Send us photos of your interesting trinkets that your other half wants to burn or bin as submissions to the calendar or for fun at: contact@countryslide.co.uk 

Links

- GWCT
- Subscribe on Patreon for extra content (you can cancel at any time)
- If you enjoy what we do, consider a one-off tip on Ko-fi
- CountrySlide website
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here

The Hosts

Richard Negus website
Callum McInerney-Riley website
Richard Prideaux website


Edited and Produced by Amy Green for Rural and Outdoor.

A little bonus episode in the form of Richard interviewing Richard about hedgelaying and his book live on stage at FolkEast. There's even a little preview of what the audiobook might sound like!

CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.

Send us photos of your interesting trinkets that your other half wants to burn or bin as submissions to the calendar or for fun at: contact@countryslide.co.uk 

Links

- Subscribe on Patreon for extra content (you can cancel at any time)
- If you enjoy what we do, consider a one-off tip on Ko-fi
- CountrySlide website
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here

The Hosts

Richard Negus website
Callum McInerney-Riley website
Richard Prideaux website


Edited and Produced by Amy Green for Rural and Outdoor.

Richard P sat down with Avian Sandercock - regular cohost of the Guns on Pegs podcast, ex-gin distiller, current gin drinker, woodland manager and proud Cornish man.

The pair talk about Cornwall's different coastlines and Avian's struggle to find local apple trees, experimenting with gin flavours - Clotted cream infused gin anyone?, and the realities of being in a syndicate shoot and managing a small woodland. The conversation flows from topic to topic like a river full of pools and gives vibes of a pub chat between friends.

This episode was recorded on the Guns on Pegs stand at The Game Fair with a backdrop of chatter, drinks and George Browne's faded Salmon shorts.CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.

CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.

Send us photos of your interesting trinkets that your other half wants to burn or bin as submissions to the calendar or for fun at: contact@countryslide.co.uk 

Links

- Subscribe on Patreon for extra content (you can cancel at any time)
- If you enjoy what we do, consider a one-off tip on Ko-fi
- Avian's Instagram
- Avian's YouTube channel - A Year in the Woods
- CountrySlide website
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here

The Hosts

Richard Negus website
Callum McInerney-Riley website
Richard Prideaux website


Edited and Produced by Amy Green for Rural and Outdoor.

Farmer Clusters have been referenced more times than we can count in the last 38 episodes so we went straight to the source and arranged a conversation with Megan Lock and Lizzie Grayshon from GWCT who facilitate Farmer Clusters, work with waders, monitor wildlife and offer advice to farmers across the UK.

Richard Negus takes the helm for this interview and the three discuss Wild Quail, the problems facing our breeding waders, how the government could help, mapping hedgerow habitat and more.

This episode was recorded behind the GWCT stand at The Game Fair with a backdrop of rented van, low hum of generator and a spaniel who would rather be retrieving.

CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.

Send us photos of your interesting trinkets that your other half wants to burn or bin as submissions to the calendar or for fun at: contact@countryslide.co.uk 

Links

- GWCT on Instagram and X
- Farmer Clusters website
- Martin Down Farmer Cluster on X
- Megan on Instagram and X
- Subscribe on Patreon for extra content (you can cancel at any time)
- If you enjoy what we do, consider a one-off tip on Ko-fi
- CountrySlide website
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here

The Hosts

Richard Negus website
Callum McInerney-Riley website
Richard Prideaux website


Edited and Produced by Amy Green for Rural and Outdoor.

We interviewed Tim Bonner, Chief Executive at Countryside Alliance, and asked him about working in/around politics, upcoming policy and legislative changes which will affect shooting, what has changed in the last 20 years, the impacts of social media, and whether or not a cocker spaniel should be retrieving pink-footed geese. All bundled in with some light-hearted banter and chat.

This episode was recorded on the Countryside Alliance stand at The Game Fair with a backdrop of headache inducing orange carpet and background chatter.


CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.

Send us photos of your interesting trinkets that your other half wants to burn or bin as submissions to the calendar or for fun at: contact@countryslide.co.uk 

Links

- Countryside Alliance - on Instagram and X
- Subscribe on Patreon for extra content (you can cancel at any time)
- If you enjoy what we do, consider a one-off tip on Ko-fi
- CountrySlide website
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here

The Hosts

Richard Negus website
Callum McInerney-Riley website
Richard Prideaux website


Edited and Produced by Amy Green for Rural and Outdoor.

Feeling a bit giddy from having fun at The Game Fair... Richard, Callum and Richard discuss tricking people into foraging in the wrong areas, meeting listeners at the Game Fair, mushrooms, Grey Squirrels, and the harvest.

CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.

Send us photos of your interesting trinkets that your other half wants to burn or bin as submissions to the calendar or for fun at: contact@countryslide.co.uk 

Links

- North Wales Mushrooms on Instagram
- Subscribe on Patreon for extra content (you can cancel at any time)
- If you enjoy what we do, consider a one-off tip on Ko-fi
- CountrySlide website
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here

The Hosts

Richard Negus website
Callum McInerney-Riley website
Richard Prideaux website


Edited and Produced by Amy Green for Rural and Outdoor.

An episode which strays seamlessly from Charismatic Megafauna into Food Security, The Game Fair and the real reason that farming in the UK changed.

If you are going to be at The Game Fair and see us wandering around then please say hi! It'll help Producer Amy to herd us onto the next thing if we all stop at once!

CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.

Send us photos of your interesting trinkets that your other half wants to burn or bin as submissions to the calendar or for fun at: contact@countryslide.co.uk 

Links

- The Countryside Forum
- Subscribe on Patreon for extra content (you can cancel at any time)
- If you enjoy what we do, consider a one-off tip on Ko-fi
- CountrySlide website
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here

The Hosts

Richard Negus website
Callum McInerney-Riley website
Richard Prideaux website


Edited and Produced by Amy Green for Rural and Outdoor.

George Browne joins Richard P and Callum this week to talk about Scribehound, fishing, herding writers, curating varied content, the future of Scribehound, digital vs print magazines, American influences on fieldsports and much more...

CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.

Send us photos of your interesting trinkets that your other half wants to burn or bin as submissions to the calendar or for fun at: contact@countryslide.co.uk 

Links

- George on Instagram
- Scribehound on Instagram
- Scribehound website
- Subscribe on Patreon for extra content (you can cancel at any time)
- If you enjoy what we do, consider a one-off tip on Ko-fi
- CountrySlide website
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here

The Hosts

Richard Negus website
Callum McInerney-Riley website
Richard Prideaux website


Edited and Produced by Amy Green for Rural and Outdoor.

This week we talk about the misuse of artificial intelligence / where it can't replace humans. Richard fills us in on what he has been doing in the woods this week and Callum provides an audio recipe for a tequila and port based cocktail.

CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.

Send us photos of your interesting trinkets that your other half wants to burn or bin as submissions to the calendar or for fun at: contact@countryslide.co.uk 

Links

- Subscribe on Patreon for extra content (you can cancel at any time)
- If you enjoy what we do, consider a one-off tip on Ko-fi
- CountrySlide website
- Pimeyes facial recognition
- Cat Frampton on X
- The Peat Map
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here


The Hosts

Richard Negus website
Callum McInerney-Riley website
Richard Prideaux website


Edited and Produced by Amy Green for Rural and Outdoor.

Unsure where to start with this episode description....a winding pathway through the price of a chippy tea, rural internet, broken down cars, Groundswell, social observations, three-legged stools, public service information films and a dabble into politics.

CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.

Send us photos of your interesting trinkets that your other half wants to burn or bin as submissions to the calendar or for fun at: contact@countryslide.co.uk 

Links

- Subscribe on Patreon for extra content (you can cancel at any time)
- If you enjoy what we do, consider a one-off tip on Ko-fi
- CountrySlide website
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here


The Hosts

Richard Negus website
Callum McInerney-Riley website
Richard Prideaux website


Edited and Produced by Amy Green for Rural and Outdoor.

Social media recently flew into outrage at one man's decision - we talk about perceptions of rural life as viewed through the media, should it only show the highlights or is it better to provide a balanced view of life in the countryside?

Callum has also been working with his suspiciously ChatGPT like glamourous assistant to devise a better tree planting scheme which takes into account life after planting and right species in the right place.


CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.

Send us photos of your interesting trinkets that your other half wants to burn or bin as submissions to the calendar or for fun at: contact@countryslide.co.uk 

Links

- Subscribe on Patreon for extra content (you can cancel at any time)
- If you enjoy what we do, consider a one-off tip 
- Farm on the Edge on Instagram
- CountrySlide website
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here


The Hosts

Richard Negus website
Callum McInerney-Riley website
Richard Prideaux website


Edited and Produced by Amy Green for Rural and Outdoor.

The main topic for this weeks episode is the mid-season spending review, but we ease you into it with the usual banter. Callum has been creating memorable summer evenings for his kids. Richard P has been out in the woods and cooking up a storm with locally sourced ingredients. Meanwhile Richard Negus has been out and about meeting interesting people like the Duke of Norfolk and Davie Scott.


CountrySlide is a podcast that looks at farming, conservation and life in the British countryside.

Send us photos of your interesting trinkets as submissions to the calendar or for fun at: contact@countryslide.co.uk 

Links

- Subscribe on Patreon for extra content (you can cancel at any time)
- If you enjoy what we do, consider a one-off tip 
- Fieldwork Book Club
- The Peppering Project
- Davie Scott video created by Emily Graham
- CountrySlide website
- Negus' book tour dates can be found here


The Hosts

Richard Negus website
Callum McInerney-Riley website
Richard Prideaux website


Edited and Produced by Amy Green for Rural and Outdoor.