To grow food or to protect nature? It often seems as if one can only be done at the expense of the other. In this podcast, farmer & ex-MP Neil Parish seeks to find out if, in fact, we can do both.
Our relationship with food is on the brink of a massive shift. Global instability disrupting food security, UK farmers are being incentivised to promote biodiversity rather than grow food. And climate change is starting to transform what we grow, what we eat and how we live. As a Somerset farmer, Neil Parish is facing up to all these changes. And as an EU & UK parliamentarian, for 20 years he helped design the policies that shape our food system. Now, he has unfinished business. In this podcast, local, national & global experts join Neil to tackle crucial questions about the past, present and future relationship between food and the environment.
Produced by: jakelloyd.co.uk
Social media by millyfyfe.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
To grow food or to protect nature? It often seems as if one can only be done at the expense of the other. In this podcast, farmer & ex-MP Neil Parish seeks to find out if, in fact, we can do both.
Our relationship with food is on the brink of a massive shift. Global instability disrupting food security, UK farmers are being incentivised to promote biodiversity rather than grow food. And climate change is starting to transform what we grow, what we eat and how we live. As a Somerset farmer, Neil Parish is facing up to all these changes. And as an EU & UK parliamentarian, for 20 years he helped design the policies that shape our food system. Now, he has unfinished business. In this podcast, local, national & global experts join Neil to tackle crucial questions about the past, present and future relationship between food and the environment.
Produced by: jakelloyd.co.uk
Social media by millyfyfe.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How 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 here
Visit Chris and Lindsay’s online farm shop here: lydiardturkeys.co.uk
This podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.