Tree Amble

Episode 8 - Paul Arkle

Pete meets with Paul Arkle, a self employed advisor who works with farmers and landowners on agri-environment schemes in Cumbria. Paul's business is called Cumbria Farm Environment Partnership. 
Pete and Paul have worked together on many schemes in the last 18 years and discuss the changes in farming over that time. Has there been a shift towards working with nature and more awareness of the impacts of poor practice on wildlife and soil health?
With wide-ranging experience in the agri-environment schemes now available, Paul also offers insight into how these are working (or not working) for farmers and landowners.

Episode 7 - Lee Schofield

Pete catches up with Lee Schofield, author of Wild Fell, at RSPB Haweswater where Lee leads a team managing an amazing complex of habitats from wetland to woodland from fields with sheep grazing to upland fells with native breed cattle. 
Lee discusses the fascinating flora, fauna and fungi within the nature reserve, and the methods used by his team to support this important and thriving habitat.
The pair also reflect on the difficulties facing upland farms, plus how diversification and simple changes can offer a huge benefit to farming businesses and wildlife.

Episode 6 - Jack Spees at Ribble Rivers Trust

As CEO of Ribble Rivers Trust, Jack leads a team of folks working to improve the River Ribble in Lancashire and all its tributaries, for both people and wildlife. He is immensely inspiring and hard working.  
Pete and Jack discuss the key threats to our rivers and their wildlife - from water quality and water flow to water temperature and river bank erosion. Jack explains how he works with farmers around the Ribble catchment to support and manage habitat on their land to improve the river, while often benefitting their business and livestock.
Jack and Pete visit a small feeder stream and chat about the resident freshwater invertebrates, revealing the importance of this high quality river habitat.  

Episode 4 - David Wolfe at Wakelyns

David talks to Pete about Wakelyns Farm in Suffolk, a long established diverse agroforestry project of real note in the UK. The farm is small at 23 hectares but is incredibly productive with numerous stacked enterprises - the land managed in collaboration with a wide range of small businesses.
Pete and David discuss how the Wakelyns project uses efficient growing methods, tailoring agroforestry principles for a variety of purposes across the site’s multiple 5-acre plots.
This is a fascinating project which offers inspiration for farmers and food communities of all scales, demonstrating how different techniques can benefit nature and bring people together. 
David will be a speaker at the Soil Association / Woodland Trust Agroforestry Show 6th 7th September at Eastbrook farm, Swindon.  This is an event really worth supporting! 

Episode 3 - Andrew Hatton

Organic Dairy / Upland Farm / Sheep / Curlews / Nature Friendly Farming
Andrew runs a remote upland farm of 460 acres in the Yorkshire Dales. His herd of native rare breed cows (Northern Dairy Shorthorn) produce a rich and flavoursome cheese from the farm’s diverse floral grasses and traditional wildflower hay meadows.
Against the backdrop of curlew calls, Andrew talks to Pete about how he manages the farm with nature in mind, taking hay at the right time to protect ground-nesting birds, while avoiding fertiliser input and reducing sheep grazing. Andrew’s methods have proven to be an economic and practical solution for his farm, benefitting wildlife in the process.

Episode 2 - Archie Ruggles-Brice

In this episode, Archie, Estate Manager and Owner of the Spains Hall in Essex, talks to Pete about its 860 hectares, from ancient woodland, tenanted farms, and holiday cottages, to a ground-breaking beaver introduction, which Archie masterminded for local flood management.
We discuss a wide range of topics across conservation and farming economics, and how Spains Hall Estate is navigating both of these on its path to a sustainable future.

Episode 1: Jenny and Mark

Pete meets Jenny and Mark Lee on their Cumbrian dairy farm, which they’ve radically changed from intense dairy unit to organic, pasture-only system. As 'Torpenhow Farmhouse Dairy', they now make their own cheese, butter and ice cream, to get the most out of their high quality milk.
We join the family on a momentous day - the first day of ice cream production! Pete sees the dairy setup in action, and finds out more from Jenny and Mark about their shift to regenerative farming.