Learn more about the wildlife and wild places in Kent and beyond.
Groundswell Agriculture Festival is the UK’s largest event dedicated to farming that regenerates the soil and restores nature. It’s a unique blend of industry conference and lively festival. This year, I took the plunge, braved the camping, and immersed myself in two days of inspiring talks and networking.
Last year, an innovative partnership emerged between Kent Wildlife Trust, Bockhanger Farms Ltd and Reading University, fuelled by the Co-op Carbon Innovation Fund.
Iain Tolhurst NBE is a pioneering organic farmer and owner of Tolhurst Organic Farms. This farm has made quite a name for itself because it is able to feed 350 families on 14 acres of what is classified as poor quality agricultural land up to now, without any government subsidies. He manages this land with minimal external inputs to the farm. This means no chemical fertiliser or pesticides. He also does this without any livestock or external fertility from animals. Nearly 20% of his farm is trees and an additional 40% set aside for green manure. So how does he do it?
Join your Talk on the Wild Side host, Rob Smith, for a journey through Marden's farms and gardens - where farmers, scientists, and keen birders are working together to make space for the rare turtle fove.
John Dinnis of Filston Farm (part of the Darent Valley Farmer Cluster) wrote this blog about his experience at World Environment Day in Brussels with Defra and UN delegates. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) wanted a farmer to attend - a farmer who works directly on the land and who could give their perspective on the challenges and advantages of being involved with a water quality or river restoration focused project. By the sounds of it, he had a great (if unexpected!) day - read on for his experience.
In episode 10 of Talk on the Wild Side, Rob Smith spends a day at Moat Farm for a Healthy Hedgerows workshop. He speaks to a self-confessed hedge geek, a hedgelaying expert and conservationist, a local landowner, and the host of the workshop.
Join Rob in this Talk on the Wild Side interview with James Clarke, director at Rothamsted Research. They talk all things nature-friendly farming, and explore how their work is paving the way for more sustainable food production in the UK.
In the 9th episode of Talk on the Wild Side, Rob Smith talks to Emma Loder-Symonds about Nonington Farm (near Canterbury) and their regenerative approach to farming. They have managed to cut costs AND fertilisers and pesticides, while keeping yields high. Rob also talks to Liz Milne, the Natural Environment and Coast Manager for Kent County Council about the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Kent.
