# Scribehound
> The best countryside writers
Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. Use `/llms-full.txt` for consolidated page and post context.
Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`).

## Pages
- [About this site](https://www.scribehound.com/about.md) - Scribehound is an independent publication launched in September 2023 by Chris Horne and editor George Browne. Fieldsports Channel acquired it in July 2026, and George Browne stays on as editor. If you subscribe today, you'll get full access to the website – both articles to read and audio to listen…
- [Prefer your podcast app? Link your account.](https://www.scribehound.com/prefer-your-podcast-app-link-your-account.md)
- [Privacy policy](https://www.scribehound.com/privacy-policy.md) - Here at Scribehound, we understand the importance of your privacy. The 2018 General Data Protection Regulation means we’re publishing this privacy notice to make it easier for you to find out how we use and protect your information. Scribehound will not sell your personal information, nor pass it t…
- [Terms & conditions](https://www.scribehound.com/terms-conditions.md) - Summary of key points Users of Scribehound must agree to these terms and conditions Scribehound reserves the right to check any information posted on the site but does not accept any responsibility to do so Scribehound reserves the right to remove information Scribehound accepts no responsibility f…
- [Thank you for subscribing to Scribehound](https://www.scribehound.com/thank-you-for-subscribing-to-scribehound.md)

## Posts
- [Time to banish the bogeymen](https://www.scribehound.com/time-to-banish-the-bogeymen.md) - A troll is a troll, no matter which side of the bridge you are on.
- [Sir Johnny Scott’s life in fieldsports](https://www.scribehound.com/sir-johnny-scs-life-in-fieldsports.md) - Sir Johnny Scott has brought out a book, Letters to a Young Countryman. It links his long life in sports from coursing and ferreting, as well as hunting and shooting, to his hope that future generations will enjoy the countryside as much and in the same way that he does.
- [The green investment fantasy](https://www.scribehound.com/the-green-investment-fantasy.md) - Can carbon credits and rewilding really deliver a 10% annual return?
- [Rediscovering nature’s magic on the Cotswolds Savannah](https://www.scribehound.com/rediscovering-natures-magic-on-the-cotswolds-savannah.md) - One Cotswolds farmer's breathtaking ambition, resilience, and love for the land shows leaves Tom Martin breathless
- [Every farmer needs good neighbours](https://www.scribehound.com/every-farmer-needs-good-neighbours.md) - The magic and mess of being a good neighbour—whether across a fence or at a table of strangers.
- [The rewetting/wildfire gamble](https://www.scribehound.com/the-rewetting-wildfire-gamble.md) - Is rewetting really the wildfire solution? Discover the flawed science and policy missteps fuelling Britain's moorland fire crisis in this thought-provoking exposé.
- [Why I fear remote-controlled cows](https://www.scribehound.com/why-i-fear-machine-readable-cows.md) - Technology is taking more responsibility for chores we don't want to do on the farm. Is it really going to leave us doing the things we love?
- [The UK Treasury’s attempt to destroy European farming](https://www.scribehound.com/the-treasurys-attempt-to-destroy-european-farming.md) - We identified the worst effects of post-Brexit agricultural reforms in 2005 – and we defeated them. History is repeating itself within Britain.
- [How to give lapwings a chance](https://www.scribehound.com/how-to-give-lapwings-a-chance.md) - We need your input to help protect our most iconic birds
- [Wildfires: will this be the Burn’em government?](https://www.scribehound.com/wildfires-will-this-be-the-burnem-government.md) - Andrew Gilruth, Jo Pearson and Richard Bailey explain to Charlie Jacoby where the Westminster government is going wrong on upland wildfires.
- [The parochial cow](https://www.scribehound.com/the-parochial-cow.md) - The cow that saved hundreds of millions of lives
- [Two ways to earn your boots](https://www.scribehound.com/two-ways-to-earn-your-boots.md) - A forestry dispute, a very old campfire, and the uncomfortable truth that tribalism isn't something other people do
- [A new chapter for Scribehound](https://www.scribehound.com/a-new-chapter-for-scribehound-countryside.md) - Scribehound Countryside is entering a new era - same team, same content, different owners
- [Red kites, Rachel Carson, and the power of speaking out](https://www.scribehound.com/red-kites-rachel-carson-and-the-power-of-speaking-out.md) - Rachel Carson's truth-telling teaches us why we still need bold voices to secure our planet's biodiversity.
- [Why Britain’s wildfires rage despite ‘expert’ advice](https://www.scribehound.com/why-britains-wildfires-rage-despite-expert-advice.md) - New conservation policies are turning the UK’s moorlands into tinderboxes? Fre crews and local communities say traditional land management is being dangerously ignored.
- [What Does 'Wild' Actually Mean?](https://www.scribehound.com/what-does-wild-actually-mean.md) - In Britain, the idea of 'wildness' is a slippery concept to pin down. How we define it, think about it, and feel about it has changed over time, so what does it mean today?
- [From Donkeys to Highland Cows: How Customer Experience Has Evolved](https://www.scribehound.com/from-donkeys-to-highland-cows-how-customer-experience-has-evolved.md) - Discover how a passion for rare breeds and visitor experience turned Cotswold Farm Park into a world-class, ever-evolving attraction—find out what makes this rural gem so unique!
- [Conservation: why farmers need to do more](https://www.scribehound.com/conservation-why-farmers-need-to-do-more.md) - The NFU might say "farmers are the original environmentalists" but are those just words?
- [Why Woodcock Choose Quiet Moors Over Woodlands](https://www.scribehound.com/why-woodcock-choose-quiet-moors-over-woodlands.md) - Unlock the hidden world of woodcock, as firsthand stories and unexpected discoveries reveal why protecting undisturbed moorlands is vital for these mysterious, misunderstood birds.
- [The Quietly Smiling Elephant](https://www.scribehound.com/the-quietly-smiling-elephant.md) - Trees = carbon = big profits, are we sure? because it all depends on whether the woodland carbon code is keeping up with the latest science.
- [On the Haggs](https://www.scribehound.com/on-the-haggs.md) - It's almost taboo to think of cutting peat for the fire, but some old traditions are too valuable to ignore.
- [The Cosmic Battle between Cereals and Groundswell](https://www.scribehound.com/the-cosmic-battle-between-cereals-and-groundswell.md) - There is a great struggle for the future of our industry that we can't afford to ignore
- [Rethinking Farm Sustainability: Beyond Carbon Tunnel Vision](https://www.scribehound.com/rethinking-farm-sustainability-beyond-carbon-tunnel-vision.md) - From heat-stressed cows to the hidden benefits of messy hedgerows—see why one vet urges farmers to rethink everything they know about sustainability before it’s too late.
- [Ground Cry: The Last Stand for Ground-Nesting Birds](https://www.scribehound.com/ground-cry-the-last-stand-for-ground-nesting-birds.md) - Join the campaign to save Britain's meadow birds, waders and other ground nesting birds, before it's too late.
- [The world outside my window](https://www.scribehound.com/the-world-outside-my-window.md) - When the DIY stables closed, the departure of the horses from a bustling barn sparked an explosion of wildlife, offering a rare glimpse into nature’s resilience.
- [10 Things You Need to Know About Food Poverty](https://www.scribehound.com/10-things-you-need-to-know-about-food-poverty.md) - Food inflation could hit 10% by the end of 2026, but more than 6 million people already live in food poverty. What does that actually mean when they also have 'big TVs and iPhones'? We'll tell you.
- [Keeping our cool](https://www.scribehound.com/keeping-our-cool.md) - We can't control the weather. We can change how we farm. Reflections on heat, drought, wildlife, wildfire, livestock and preparing for whatever comes next.
- [A Country Mile From Manchester](https://www.scribehound.com/a-country-mile-from-manchester.md) - Could Andy Burnham's Manchersterism work in the countryside?
- [Demonised and Proud: My Life as a Hunted Hunter](https://www.scribehound.com/demonised-and-proud-my-life-as-a-hunted-hunter.md) - Is hunting truly the domain of 'sociopathic thugs,' or is this just another case of demonizing an entire community? Discover the reality behind the myths and meet the misunderstood tribe at the heart
- [At The Top Of The Year](https://www.scribehound.com/at-the-top-of-the-year.md) - Today is the longest day. The shortest night. The top of the year. And the quiet insult of midsummer is that the light starts retreating the moment we arrive.
- [Dartmoor Pony-gate: a very British Crisis](https://www.scribehound.com/dartmoor-pony-gate-a-very-british-crisis.md) - What the row over Dartmoor Ponies really says about modern Britain
- [Lyme disease: the horror](https://www.scribehound.com/lyme-disease-the-horror.md) - Antibiotics are meant to cure Lyme disease but what happens when they don't?
- [Pursuing waders in Persia](https://www.scribehound.com/pursuing-waders-in-persia.md) - 21 years ago, I led a group (fully armed) to Iran to shoot snipe and woodcock
- [Beyond the Hounds: How a ban on trail hunting will impact rural life](https://www.scribehound.com/beyond-the-hounds-how-a-ban-on-trail-hunting-will-impact-rural-life.md) - Think a trail hunting ban only affects hunts? Far from it; it could unravel rural economies, destroy traditions, and impact everything from local pubs to racing.
- [Why County Shows Still Capture Britain’s Rural Heart](https://www.scribehound.com/why-county-shows-still-capture-britains-rural-heart.md) - From 18th-century innovation to modern marvel, find out why attending a county show is the ultimate way to experience British food, farming, and fun first hand.
- [Creating a Swift City](https://www.scribehound.com/creating-a-swift-city.md) - Sometimes, you just need to ignore the wider world and get on with it.
- [Return to Tarzan's Pool](https://www.scribehound.com/return-to-tarzans-pool.md) - The death of my river keeping mentor, Vic Foot, lead to me walking the entire length of 'my river' - the river Test - from source to sea.
- [Forward-to-the-Land](https://www.scribehound.com/forward-to-the-land.md) - How a progressive ruralist movement rejected the plough (and completely failed)
- [The value of wisdom and experience](https://www.scribehound.com/the-value-of-wisdom-and-experience.md) - Want to know why real expertise can't be Googled? Read about the rare wisdom and inspiring stories of four old-school naturalists still protecting Britain’s wild spaces.
- [Deathbed Curlew](https://www.scribehound.com/deathbed-curlew.md) - Often understanding the dynamics of a conflict can remove the fog of war.
- [Shooting a Cayman](https://www.scribehound.com/shooting-a-cayman.md) - Has conservation become too fond of saints? In the second of two Scribehound reflections on Attenborough's centenary, Patrick Laurie asks 'do we still have what it takes to produce his successor?'
- [Celebrating Sir David Attenborough’s Century of Wonder](https://www.scribehound.com/celebrating-sir-david-attenboroughs-century-of-wonder.md) - Sir David Attenborough has been shining a light on the natural world for more than seven decades. In the first of two Scribehound reflections on his centenary, Adam Henson pays tribute to his legacy
- [Meet Wales’ Rising Star: Bruce Vaughan's First Season](https://www.scribehound.com/meet-wales-rising-star-bruce-vaughans-first-season.md) - Meet 16-year-old Bruce Vaughan—the rising star of Welsh pointing who’s already scored three wins in his rookie season; discover the family, talent, and drive fueling his progress
- [Spring’s Wild Soundtrack and a Wedding in Galloway](https://www.scribehound.com/springs-wild-soundtrack-and-a-wedding-in-galloway.md) - From mysterious cow noises to floral perfection for a wedding, peek into the vibrant challenges and joys of spring in rural Galloway.
- [Bold Proposals for Britain’s Countryside](https://www.scribehound.com/bold-proposals-for-britains-countryside.md) - Scribehound Countryside contributors have some policy ideas for Wes, Andy et al... but will they take any of them on?
- [It's ok to ask 'Are you ok?'](https://www.scribehound.com/its-ok-to-ask-are-you-ok.md) - I write about about forestry because I wanted to do two things; highlight issues I feel need highlighting and promote the positives. Recently, I have also been writing about a more universal subject
- [A Vet’s Anxious Joy: Witnessing Calving on My Farm](https://www.scribehound.com/a-vets-anxious-joy-witnessing-calving-on-my-farm.md) - Experience the highs, surprises, and anxious moments of calving season through the eyes of a vet learning to trust nature on her own farm—click for an authentic slice of rural life.
- [Rural Britain is Best Understood Through a Train Window](https://www.scribehound.com/rural-britain-is-best-understood-through-a-train-window.md) - Britain is best seen by train: not as a postcard, but in passing slices of limestone, reservoirs, barley, sidings, suburbs, back gardens and steel bones of tomorrow.
- [A fine bit of casting](https://www.scribehound.com/a-fine-bit-of-casting.md) - A new documentary on land access has brought an old face back to our TV screens and the countryside isn't happy
- [We have messed up, by being far too tidy.](https://www.scribehound.com/we-have-messed-up-by-being-far-too-tidy.md) - I have a theory, that we have tidied our land up far too much, and all because we have spent hundreds, if not thousands, of years tidying our farm yards, so folk would know our food was safe to eat!
- [Ten Wins, Countless Setbacks: Fionn Summers’ Gritty Story](https://www.scribehound.com/ten-wins-countless-setbacks-fionn-summers-gritty-story.md) - Discover how Fionn Summers fought through injuries and setbacks to secure his tenth point-to-point win, and what keeps this hardworking freelance jockey in the saddle.
- [Epistemicide, Ethnocide, Ecocide—Who’s Silenced in the Countryside?](https://www.scribehound.com/epistemicide-ethnocide-ecocide-whos-silenced-in-the-countryside.md) - Unpack a hidden crisis: environmental injustice in the uplands is not just about nature, but about whose history and expertise survive—see which ‘cide’ is shaping your countryside’s future.
- [A Hunting State of Mind](https://www.scribehound.com/a-hunting-state-of-mind.md) - Humans can't help hunting and feasting.
- [The Dark Art of Rural Nicknames](https://www.scribehound.com/the-dark-art-of-rural-nicknames.md) - Why are the names we have for other people so often something we would rather they didn't hear?
- [Emma Freeman's Emotional Return: Victory After Two Years Away](https://www.scribehound.com/emma-freemans-emotional-return-victory-after-two-years-away.md) - After two years away, Emma Freeman’s emotional comeback win is an inspiring journey through racing’s highs, lows, and the power of perseverance.
- [Can Wild Grey Partridges Return to our Family Farm?](https://www.scribehound.com/can-wild-grey-partridges-return-to-our-family-farm.md) - Can six tiny partridge chicks, a bantam hen and healthy dose of blind optimism reverse decades of wildlife decline?
- [Stopped in their Tracks](https://www.scribehound.com/stopped-in-their-tracks.md) - The nightingale’s song inspires awe and offers a rare connection between nature, memory, and instant human emotion.
- [Meet the Loyal Companions Who Changed My Life](https://www.scribehound.com/meet-the-loyal-companions-who-changed-my-life.md) - Explore the legacy of loyal dogs, fascinating canine facts, and the magic of Crufts to uncover why these four-legged friends are truly priceless in every sense.
- [Forestry often gets a kicking in the media, but what are the solutions?](https://www.scribehound.com/forestry-often-gets-a-kicking-in-the-media-but-what-are-the-solutions.md) - The growing and harvesting of trees for timber products often receives negative coverage in the mainstream media, written press and particularly on social media. Timber is just as essential to our daily lives as food and water, and we currently import around 80% of our domestic needs. This isn’t…
- [From the Kennels to Aintree: Dan Cherriman’s Pointing Journey](https://www.scribehound.com/from-the-kennels-to-aintree-dan-cherrimans-pointing-journey.md) - Meet Dan Cherriman: huntsman, pipe-smoking jockey, and passionate defender of point-to-point racing—his inspiring rise and candid thoughts on the sport’s uncertain future will keep you reading.
- [Not Just Another Little Brown Bird](https://www.scribehound.com/not-just-another-little-brown-bird.md) - If you care about curlews, hen harriers, or healthy moorlands, this article reveals the secret star that holds it all together: the unassuming meadow pipit.
- [Cryptochrome ~ the superpower behind animal migration](https://www.scribehound.com/cryptochrome-the-superpower-behind-animal-migration.md) - Uncover the mysterious secrets of bird and butterfly migration, from quantum navigation to multigenerational journeys—discover why every new finding leaves scientists awestruck.
- [Nature Places](https://www.scribehound.com/nature-places.md) - Have love for nature - will travel... it's now a sixty mile drive to see the nearest blackcock - and has it really come to this?
- [From Galashiels to Glory: Jack Stenhouse’s Racing Journey](https://www.scribehound.com/from-galashiels-to-glory-jack-stenhouses-racing-journey.md) - Rising star Jack Stenhouse reveals the secrets behind his rapid ascent in British jump racing. Discover what drives his journey!
- [Does Britain need a farmer?](https://www.scribehound.com/does-britain-need-a-farmer.md) - Are the country-born destined to lead the nation to salvation?
- [The Right to Roam or the Right to Ruin?](https://www.scribehound.com/the-right-to-roam-or-the-right-to-ruin.md) - The four legged stool of conservation will never work without attitudes changing
- [Water.  Life-giving and Soul-destroying](https://www.scribehound.com/water-life-giving-and-soul-destroying.md) - Think farming is all about animals? Click to learn how mastering water pipes proved tougher than veterinary school—and how farming has taught me more than textbooks ever could.
- [Should ewe stay or should ewe go now… that is my upland question.](https://www.scribehound.com/should-ewe-stay-or-should-ewe-go-now-that-is-my-upland-question.md) - The pros and cons of keeping sheep on my bit of moorland.
- ["I never leave the farm in May"](https://www.scribehound.com/i-never-leave-the-farm-in-may.md) - May is the farm at its most alive—light stretching, hedges bursting, birds singing. A month too beautiful, and too fleeting, to spend anywhere else.
- [How Harry Coleby Lost Seven Stone and Won Big](https://www.scribehound.com/how-harry-coleby-lost-seven-stone-and-won-big.md) - Discover how Harry Coleby defied the odds—losing seven stone at 34 to win on his first-ever ride, and learn about his remarkable journey with horses.
- [Becoming An Activist](https://www.scribehound.com/becoming-an-activist.md) - The Government called us NIMBYs; now hear us roar.
- [Is "No mow May" causing "June bug-ocalypse"](https://www.scribehound.com/is-no-mow-may-causing-june-bug-ocalypse.md) - Don't get me wrong, I'm all for no mow May, I think it's a brilliant incentive to bring wildlife back into focus and in large, it's quite an easy sell. Don't mow your lawn and get both social green points for caring about fuzzy bumbles and butterflies, while enjoying a longer break away from the…
- [Firsts of the year.](https://www.scribehound.com/firsts-of-the-year.md) - Leading on from the swallow thread, what other firsts are people seeing and hearing? It is good time of year for migrants arriving, creatures coming out of hibernation or hatching and plants growing. Just now my wife spotted the first hummingbird hawk moth on our garden flowers (mid Wales), never…
- [Three Things Learned By Being Kicked By A Tree](https://www.scribehound.com/three-things-learned-by-being-kicked-by-a-tree.md) - Writing about your own injury is self-indulgent and dull, but there are few things to be said about rural healthcare.
- [Time to re-imagineer extra-urban Britain's economy](https://www.scribehound.com/time-to-re-imagineer-extra-urban-britains-economy.md) - To be taken seriously by Westminster, Fleet Street and Gen-Z, the countryside needs to use less medieval language
- [Bird nesting.](https://www.scribehound.com/bird-nesting.md) - Our garden birds are full on nesting and inevitably, every year, some will nest in the most inconvenient of places, we open a shed door to find a robin nest amongst the tools or mower we need. A blackbird took only 3 days to build this nest in our “Molehole” (as we call it), where we sit and…
- [Read Yorkshire Jockey Joe Wright’s Story](https://www.scribehound.com/read-yorkshire-jockey-joe-wrights-story.md) - Joe Wright has been one of the leading jockeys on the Yorkshire and Northern circuits for the past decade. Aged 28 and originally from Carlisle, he achieved his 100th career winner earlier this season and won his second Grimthorpe Gold Cup – the most prestigious point-to-point race in Yorkshire and…
- [Permission to speak, Sir?](https://www.scribehound.com/permission-to-speak-sir.md) - Trying to undo two hundred years of tradition, not always good, on the chalk streams is tough for a newer generation of river keeper. Permits, paperwork and pointless permission doesn't help.
- [How Important is language in public discourse?](https://www.scribehound.com/how-important-is-language-in-public-discourse.md) - Had bit of a back and forth with Ian Coghill yesterday about how I perceived some of his comments regarding tree planting. As a forester it came across to me as a minor attack and while that clearly wasn't intended, that is still how it came across. I've been accused of being a bit thin-skinned…
- [Can 'Britishness' be defined by animals?](https://www.scribehound.com/can-britishness-be-defined-by-animals.md) - Which animals should we put on our banknotes?
- [Are We Driving the Curlew to Silence and Extinction?](https://www.scribehound.com/are-we-driving-the-curlew-to-silence-and-extinction.md) - Curlew Day is a wake-up call—learn why this beloved bird is vanishing, what’s driving its decline, and what controversial solutions could save it before it's too late.
- [Fishing Close Season](https://www.scribehound.com/fishing-close-season.md) - What are people’s thoughts on having a close season for fishing? Currently there’s no coarse fishing on rivers. Trout season on rivers is allowed, if that will stop in October. There always seems to be a lot of moaning about it. My view is some anglers are a selfish bunch and are just trying to…
- [Does anyone have any views on thoroughbreds (out of racing)?](https://www.scribehound.com/does-anyone-have-any-views-on-thoroughbreds-out-of-racing.md) - I see so many people looking for horses who specify ‘no thoroughbreds’, but personally I’ve found that they are great horses. So adaptable and most have seen so much in training that they take most things in their stride. What does anyone else think?
- [How can we help the public care more about where their food comes from?](https://www.scribehound.com/how-can-we-help-the-public-care-more-about-where-their-food-comes-from.md) - A running theme on Scribehound has been the connection (or lack of one) that people feel towards their food, often with reference to how different attitudes are in places like France. How can we encourage UK consumers to value great quality over price, especially now. Do you think it is a…
- [What's your favourite local dialect name for an animal / plant / landscape feature?](https://www.scribehound.com/whats-your-favourite-local-dialect-name-for-an-animal-plant-landscape-feature.md) - I love the Norfolk name for a ladybird, which is 'Bishy Barnabee' and would love examples of other such local names for things!
- [Time to Get Real?](https://www.scribehound.com/time-to-get-real.md) - As always during a modern crisis, the government overlooks the greatest lever it can pull. Us
- [Bluebells - had to be shared](https://www.scribehound.com/bluebells-had-to-be-shared.md) - Simply for some shared appreciation for the woods at this time of year!
- [From Sheep to the Saddle—Dewi Haddock’s Unbelievable Double](https://www.scribehound.com/from-sheep-to-the-saddle-dewi-haddocks-unbelievable-double.md) - Meet Dewi Haddock: the 16-year-old rising star who owns, trains, and rides his winners himself. Learn about his early success, his friends and mentors, and his love for sheep and chickens!
- [Join the Conversation Shaping Our Countryside’s Future](https://www.scribehound.com/join-the-conversation-shaping-our-countrysides-future.md) - Discover the new Scribehound Countryside 'Discussions': a space where rural voices can talk through the issues facing the countryside, celebrate conservation wins and connect with like-minded people
- [Swallows!](https://www.scribehound.com/swallows.md) - Have your barn swallows arrived yet? Last year in Hampshire ours arrived in the first week of April, but I've not seen them yet this year...
- [Fjords and Fact Fudging](https://www.scribehound.com/fjords-and-fact-fudging.md) - Think Scotland and southwest Norway should look the same? Discover why this popular rewilding myth ignores deep differences in landscape, climate, and history.
- [To save the countryside we need to get political](https://www.scribehound.com/to-save-the-countryside-we-need-to-get-political.md) - It seems that when it comes to policy, activists are in the corridors of power while the countryside organisations aren't
- [From Driving Lessons to a Dream Winner: Lucy Pickford’s Story](https://www.scribehound.com/from-driving-lessons-to-a-dream-winner-lucy-pickfords-story.md) - Lucy Pickford defied the odds to claim her first pointing win in her 30s—discover the inspiring journey and personal triumph behind this amateur jockey’s unforgettable victory.
- [On The Road](https://www.scribehound.com/on-the-road.md) - A road runs through the heart of my farm - it's a space which nobody seems to feel responsible for, and it's always getting faster...
- [Nesting Season Begins: An update from the Pennines](https://www.scribehound.com/nesting-season-begins-an-update-from-the-pennines.md) - Spring's here and North Pennines birds are busy! Catch my video update to see their dramatic displays and turf wars before nesting season begins.
- [What the heck are those?! A surprising arrival at the Farm Park](https://www.scribehound.com/what-the-heck-are-those-a-surprising-arrival-at-the-farm-park.md) - Find out why scientists and animal lovers from home and abroad are flocking to see our latest fluffy additions
- [Food, Fuel, and Frustration: Rural Britain’s Bumpy Ride](https://www.scribehound.com/food-fuel-and-frustration-rural-britains-bumpy-ride.md) - From war shocks to soaring costs, explore how global events and government policies are putting rural Britain—and your grocery bill—under real pressure.
- [Sniping in the Dark](https://www.scribehound.com/sniping-in-the-dark.md) - Discovering the secrets of the snipe
- [Changing Seasons, Challenging Weather and a Glorious Spring Turnout](https://www.scribehound.com/changing-seasons-challenging-weather-and-a-glorious-spring-turnout.md) - From stubborn March rains to gleeful spring turnouts, shifting seasons are altering age-old farming rhythms and why climate adaptation is more urgent than ever.
- [Read the Inspiring Story behind Teenage Jockey Jimmy Munro’s First Win](https://www.scribehound.com/read-the-inspiring-story-behind-teenage-jockey-jimmy-munros-first-win.md) - 17-year-old Jimmy Munro secures his first victory on just his fifth ride—discover the story behind his rise and the mentors shaping his racing journey.
- [Into the Shadows: The Poetry of Pike](https://www.scribehound.com/into-the-shadows-the-poetry-of-pike.md) - From poetry to fly fishing, the pike is a fierce survivor that deserves both our awe and respect.
- [Every 'Dog' Has Its Day](https://www.scribehound.com/every-dog-has-its-day.md) - It's opening day of the trout fishing season at Clywedog Reservoir in mid-Wales. It's a day for epic scenery - but even more epic weather as Andy Ford and Rob Hughes head out with fly rods in hand
- [How Planting 5,000 Trees Built a Community of Joy](https://www.scribehound.com/how-planting-5-000-trees-built-a-community-of-joy.md) - A journey of laughter, muddy boots, and meaningful connections as volunteers from all walks of life band together to restore woodlands and hedgerows, showing the profound joys of working with nature
- [Too Small a Country for This Much Driving](https://www.scribehound.com/too-small-a-country-for-this-much-driving.md) - Wales looks small on the map, but try crossing it. A short drive can become a minor expedition, and that says rather a lot about rural life, roads, and assumption.
- [Could an Emoji save Britain’s red squirrels?](https://www.scribehound.com/could-an-emoji-save-britains-red-squirrels.md) - Can a red squirrel emoji ignite a movement to save Britain's most endangered native mammal, or does deeper wildlife education hold the real answer?
- [From Tractors to Talent: The Farmers Choir’s Golden Moment](https://www.scribehound.com/from-tractors-to-talent-the-farmers-choirs-golden-moment.md) - From milking parlours to a roaring Britain's Got Talent stage, the Hawkstone Farmers Choir is proving that music and community can transform rural lives—click to meet the farmers behind the viral sens
- [The Right To Be Left Alone](https://www.scribehound.com/the-right-to-be-left-alone.md) - As you’re reading this, it’s likely a bunch of people are participating in a mass trespass in a woodland somewhere in England. It's selfish and irresponsible and nature will lose.
- [Gitto’s Triple Triumph: Secrets of a Racing Maverick](https://www.scribehound.com/gittos-triple-triumph-secrets-of-a-racing-maverick.md) - Meet Neil 'Gitto' Gittins: the point-to-point trainer who's just had a sensational treble, blending sharp wit, horse know-how, and cinematic dreams - find out what drives him
- [Inside the High Court Battle to Save Family Farms](https://www.scribehound.com/inside-the-high-court-battle-to-save-family-farms.md) - Step inside a dramatic High Court battle as farmers challenge sweeping inheritance tax reforms that could reshape the future of family businesses—discover what really unfolded inside the courtroom.
- [Hedgelayer, Heal Thyself](https://www.scribehound.com/hedgelayer-heal-thyself.md) - The muntjac plague is a disaster for East Anglian wildlife. Rather than whining, you can do something about it.
- [Local businesses: use them, or lose them](https://www.scribehound.com/local-businesses-use-them-or-lose-them.md) - Supporting your local shops, pubs, and producers is more crucial than ever—and see how your everyday choices can save your town from decline.
- [Stand up and Talk](https://www.scribehound.com/stand-up-and-talk.md) - We need to do more, we need to shout louder, we need the courage to stand up and talk
- [Make Market Towns Great Again](https://www.scribehound.com/make-market-towns-great-again.md) - From bustling medieval fairs to chain-store monotony - how reviving the link between market towns and the countryside could have a huge impact
- [Cows in the Highlands](https://www.scribehound.com/cows-in-the-highlands.md) - Rewilding or Tourism or Cows🐂 🦌
- [VOICES FROM THE WORLD OF HUNTING](https://www.scribehound.com/voices-from-the-world-of-hunting.md) - The Labour Party wants to ban trail hunting. It should listen to the great unheard, the people for whom hunting is a major part of their lives, rather than to activists like Chris Packham and the hunt saboteurs
- [The Real Rural Renaissance Isn’t on Instagram](https://www.scribehound.com/the-real-rural-renaissance-isnt-on-instagram.md) - Somewhere on Instagram, at this very moment, a dachshund is trotting purposefully across a frosted field in a pristine tweed jacket…
- [A small sad cry from a special habitat](https://www.scribehound.com/a-small-sad-cry-from-a-special-habitat.md) - The short life and death of SFI GRH6 Shorter lived than the seasonal plants it was supposed to support.
- [From Commentary Box to Winner’s Enclosure: Robbie Scott’s Story](https://www.scribehound.com/from-commentary-box-to-winners-enclosure-robbie-scotts-story.md) - Discover how top point-to-point commentator Robbie Scott turned a drinking bet into his first racehorse—and called him home to victory!
- [Deer Deserve Better Than Simplified Narratives](https://www.scribehound.com/deer-deserve-better-than-simplified-narratives.md) - Why data, ecology and responsibility should reframe deer management in the UK.
- [The Rare Breeds Revolution Began With My Dad’s Vision](https://www.scribehound.com/the-rare-breeds-revolution-began-with-my-dads-vision.md) - Discover the extraordinary story of Joe Henson, the visionary who turned rare farm animals into a world-first attraction—proof that passion and perseverance can change an entire industry.
- [The Deer Dilemma: Uncovering the UK Venison Shortage](https://www.scribehound.com/the-deer-dilemma-uncovering-the-uk-venison-shortage.md) - Why is venison scarce despite a booming demand and government cull targets? Dive into the surprising mix of market, weather, and cultural challenges.
- [A Conversation of Death](https://www.scribehound.com/a-conversation-of-death.md) - What happens when co-evolution goes backwards
- [The last trouting men in Beadnell Bay](https://www.scribehound.com/the-last-trouting-men-in-beadnell-bay.md) - You never really know when you are witnessing the end of part of rural life but we often are
- [Are we really that bad?? Are we the worst in the G7?](https://www.scribehound.com/are-we-really-that-bad-are-we-the-worst-in-the-g-7.md) - Sick of 'doom and gloom' in UK nature debates? Discover why our environmental story isn't as dire as you’ve been told—and how the right data paints a different picture.
- [Molly Armytage’s Dream Double: Pointing’s Next Rising Star](https://www.scribehound.com/molly-armytages-dream-double-pointings-next-rising-star.md) - Molly Armytage, daughter of racing royalty, celebrates a sensational double win and reveals her grounded ambitions—discover the story behind racing’s rising star.
- [Black to Bluegrey](https://www.scribehound.com/black-to-bluegrey.md) - It's hard to shift direction in farming - but buying a new Whitebred Shorthorn bull for my Galloway cows is a lesson is a whole new world...
- [Alone In The Pennines](https://www.scribehound.com/alone-in-the-pennines.md) - Venture into a snow-laden world at sunrise where hopes of dramatic wildlife spectacles turn into rare, soulful encounters with black grouse—discover why these fleeting moments are unforgettable.
- [Will ploughing end civilisation, or is the concern something else?](https://www.scribehound.com/will-ploughing-end-civilisation-or-is-the-concern-something-else.md) - Some stories have a hidden meaning, intentionally buried deep within the soil.
- [How Tribalism Is Undermining Britain’s Nature Recovery](https://www.scribehound.com/how-tribalism-is-undermining-britains-nature-recovery.md) - How have we allowed the critical debate on nature restoration to become so binary and horribly tribal?
- [Small scale, Big impact!](https://www.scribehound.com/small-scale-big-impact.md) - Could local producers lead the way in venison promotion and sale?
- [Meat Supply at Risk as UK Slaughterhouses Disappear](https://www.scribehound.com/meat-supply-at-risk-as-uk-slaughterhouses-disappear.md) - Discover how the UK’s vanishing local abattoirs and butchers threaten animal welfare, food quality, and the future of your Sunday roast—find out why this hidden crisis matters.
- [Behind the Silks: Meet Pointing's 'Hat-trick Hero' Jeremy Hill](https://www.scribehound.com/behind-the-silks-meet-pointings-hat-trick-hero-jeremy-hill.md) - Discover how Jeremy Hill went from point-to-point fan to treble-winning owner in one breakthrough weekend—find out what fuels his passion and ambition for grassroots racing!
- [The Dangerous Bit At The Top](https://www.scribehound.com/the-dangerous-bit-at-the-top.md) - A cardiac arrest on a Welsh ridge, an RAF Sea King hunting through the mist, and the question of why we consistently underestimate the mountains on our doorstep.
- [Springtime Tipples](https://www.scribehound.com/springtime-tipples.md) - Don't wait till Autumn to make booze at home, Spring has a bountiful supply of amazing ingredients!
- [Days Like These](https://www.scribehound.com/days-like-these.md) - A reflective journey through winter fields, working dogs, and the solace of shooting days—an anchor for mental wellbeing amid life’s pressures and growing political uncertainty.
- [Creating Wild Places That Will Outlive Us All](https://www.scribehound.com/creating-wild-places-that-will-outlive-us-all.md) - As a farmer and landowner, I am in a privileged position to make real difference, but what will my legacy be?
- [Nutrient Neutrality and the English Talent for Self-Sabotage](https://www.scribehound.com/nutrient-neutrality-and-the-english-talent-for-self-sabotage.md) - Can we be a country that is both efficient and ecologically sensitive? Its a challenge, but scrapping Nutrient Neutrality for developers won't do a jot to help.
- [Don't Talk About Beef (it'll upset the tourists)](https://www.scribehound.com/dont-talk-about-beef-itll-upset-the-tourists.md) - Pride in farming is only possible if farmers are proud enough to tell their story. Here's how a cowboy experience on a ranch in Costa Rica reminded me of that.
- [Weather, cheese, bread and beer. Salisbury's Water Meadow Secrets](https://www.scribehound.com/weather-cheese-bread-and-beer-salisburys-water-meadow-secrets.md) - From record-breaking rains to a cheesey comeback,. This is the uplifting tale of water meadows, people, and food culture that have weathered every storm.
- [Seventeen Years Between Wins: James Innes Rides Again](https://www.scribehound.com/seventeen-years-between-wins-james-innes-rides-again.md) - Discover James Innes’ extraordinary 17-year journey between race wins, the reasons for his comeback, and why point-to-pointing still thrills him more than running across the Arctic.
- [Could Ancient Greek Gods Help The British Countryside?](https://www.scribehound.com/could-ancient-greek-gods-help-the-british-countryside.md) - Understanding how the Greeks thought about their gods could help us tackle the big questions facing rural Britain
- [Who Keeps the Countryside Running? It’s Not Just the Farmers](https://www.scribehound.com/who-keeps-the-countryside-running-its-not-just-the-farmers.md) - While farmers remain the backbone of rural Britain, they do not work alone. This is a celebration of the unsung heroes whose roles shape our landscape.
- [How Did Storks Sneak Past England’s Wildlife Watchdogs?](https://www.scribehound.com/how-did-storks-sneak-past-englands-wildlife-watchdogs.md) - The surreal story of Britain's white stork releases: unchecked risks, non-existent oversight, and a fundraising frenzy
- [Dating life in the countryside](https://www.scribehound.com/dating-life-in-the-countryside.md) - Rethink Valentine’s Day with one farmer’s refreshingly real take on rural dating, self-discovery, and tree-planting as the ultimate antidote to romantic clichés.
- [Rising Star Tom Britten’s Pointing Journey to Success](https://www.scribehound.com/rising-star-tom-brittens-pointing-journey-to-success.md) - Get an inside look at rising star Tom Britten's journey from amateur jockey to leading trainer and his bold plans to go professional.
- [The search for a new car](https://www.scribehound.com/the-search-for-a-new-car.md) - Why do 4x4 all look the same these days and why have they all become "soft-roaders"?
- [Surprising Signs of Change in Rural Policy](https://www.scribehound.com/surprising-signs-of-change-in-rural-policy.md) - Two surprising broadsheet articles hint the tide may be turning for rural Britain—could change could finally be on the horizon?
- [Lower Drink-Drive Limits Will Kill Village Life](https://www.scribehound.com/lower-drink-drive-limits-will-kill-village-life.md) - The government's push for tighter drink-drive limits won't just crush rural pubs, but other key institutions of rural Britain
- [Cowboys and Corn; Visiting an American Farming Convention](https://www.scribehound.com/cowboys-and-corn-visiting-an-american-farming-convention.md) - Why would a British farmer fly to Missouri in winter? Because in one room sat forty years of hard-earned farming wisdom—and I wanted to listen.
- [Can we discuss political philosophy with animals?](https://www.scribehound.com/can-we-discuss-political-philosophy-with-animals.md) - Is the modern world actually something animals want to escape?
- [Inside Jo Priest’s Winning Point-to-Point Team](https://www.scribehound.com/inside-jo-priests-winning-point-to-point-team.md) - Discover how shrewd trainer Jo Priest has turned a historic Herefordshire yard into a point-to-point powerhouse, boasting a great strike rate and nurturing novice riding talent.
- [It's Big Farmland Bird Count season](https://www.scribehound.com/its-big-farmland-bird-count-season.md) - Why spending 30 minutes watching the birds on your patch matters for them, and us
- [The Last Grown-ups in the Room?](https://www.scribehound.com/the-last-grown-ups-in-the-room.md) - When all else fails, try the parish council
- [The cloud that nearly ate me](https://www.scribehound.com/the-cloud-that-nearly-ate-me.md) - Joni Mitchell described clouds as "Rows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air", now come and look at some interesting clouds from both sides with me.
- [Into the Ring](https://www.scribehound.com/into-the-ring.md) - Rural people often feel like they're being pushed around by lazy prejudice - a trip to the bullring in Bilbao is a reminder to look harder and make up your own mind...
- [From Partying to Planting: The Millennial Hobby Revolution](https://www.scribehound.com/from-partying-to-planting-the-millennial-hobby-revolution.md) - From plant parenting to sourdough starters, find out why traditional hobbies are making a comeback—bringing purpose, calm, and a sense of control to modern millennial life.
- [The Law of Interdependence- Part Two](https://www.scribehound.com/the-law-of-interdependence-part-two.md) - Trail hunting faces extinction. Why did farmers win their PR battle, but hunters didn't?
- [Regenerative: The most divisive word in the English language?](https://www.scribehound.com/regenerative-the-most-divisive-word-in-the-english-language.md) - Challenging groupthink, saving ecosystems, and facing controversy: Allan Savory is regarded by some as a pioneer of regenerative agriculture, but as a crank by others
- [Jockey Dreams and Sibling Rivalry: Meet Michael Treneer](https://www.scribehound.com/jockey-dreams-and-sibling-rivalry-meet-michael-treneer.md) - Meet Michael Treneer: a Devon-based amateur, whose family roots, riding ambitions, and sibling rivalry make for an inspiring and entertaining story in the heart of rural racing.
- [How a 1970s Nightmare Film Still Saves Lives Today](https://www.scribehound.com/how-a-1970-s-nightmare-film-still-saves-lives-today.md) - From TV revolutions to farm tragedies, explore how the way we communicate safety has changed—yet why UK farming remains the country’s most dangerous job.
- [Ban banning stuff](https://www.scribehound.com/ban-banning-stuff.md) - A ban is a lazy and crude way to deal with complicated issues and doesn’t solve the thing it was intended to. The consequences though, especially for people in the countryside, are huge.
- [Moments That Stop Time: Finding Magic in Nature](https://www.scribehound.com/moments-that-stop-time-finding-magic-in-nature.md) - In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to forget the quiet, extraordinary moments that nature offers. In this month's article I'm exploring the moments in nature that stopped people in their tracks.
- [The Law of Interdependence](https://www.scribehound.com/the-law-of-interdependence.md) - At School I learned there is a positive for every negative. In this two part article I highlight why a partial victory for the farmers is not a total win for the countryside.
- [How Will Thirlby Hopes to Revive Pointing’s Farmer-Trainer Tradition](https://www.scribehound.com/how-will-thirlby-hopes-to-revive-pointings-farmer-trainer-tradition.md) - Meet Will Thirlby: the modern-day farmer, trainer, and jockey defying the odds—and the clock—to keep point-to-pointing’s spirit alive. Discover his unique journey and how love, family, and goats keep
- [Bang to rights](https://www.scribehound.com/bang-to-rights.md) - Just how defensible is driven red leg partridge shooting?
- [Resilience, resistance, community and hope. Lessons from ORFC.](https://www.scribehound.com/resilience-resistance-community-and-hope-lessons-from-orfc.md) - The uplifiting speeches, personal reflections, and urgent calls for solidarity that made this year’s Oxford Real Farming Conference an unforgettable gathering for farmers and activists alike.
- [Last Orders for the Countryside](https://www.scribehound.com/last-orders-for-the-countryside.md) - How Government Policy Is Quietly Killing the Rural Pub
- [Hedgelaying, Immortality and Tradition](https://www.scribehound.com/hedgelaying-immortality-and-tradition.md) - The job of hedgelaying—where timeless craft, local dialect, and nature's resilience, create living, immortal barriers on our Cumbrian farm.
- [The Golden Plover’s Secret: Wildlife Management That Works](https://www.scribehound.com/the-golden-plovers-secret-wildlife-management-that-works.md) - Discover how a missed shot at a bird led to the birth of the Guinness Book of Records—and why the golden plover may be key to the future of Britain's wild places.
- [From Corgis to Cockers: the Royal Family's surprising canine influence](https://www.scribehound.com/from-corgis-to-cockers-the-royal-familys-surprising-canine-influence.md) - How the Royal Family's canine choices—from Queen Elizabeth's corgis to Camilla's rescue terriers—have shaped dog breed trends and inspired a nation of pet lovers
- [From Champion Conditional to Trainer: Luca Morgan's Story](https://www.scribehound.com/from-champion-conditional-to-trainer-luca-morgans-story.md) - Luca Morgan’s shift from champion conditional jockey to smart young trainer is full of ambition, and early success - discover how he’s doing in the point-to-point world.
- [The Subtle Art of Doing Bugger All](https://www.scribehound.com/the-subtle-art-of-doing-bugger-all.md) - Break free from the cult of busyness — why mastering the art of doing nothing may be the best resolution you ever make.
- [Landscape Recovery Fund: Where Did the £12 Million Go?](https://www.scribehound.com/landscape-recovery-fund-where-did-the-12-million-go.md) - Are expensive conservation industry plans really 12.5x better than what farmers deliver for less? I dive into the numbers and the secrecy behind government wildlife funding.
- [January's Small Larder](https://www.scribehound.com/januarys-small-larder.md) - January looks empty but it's lying. The hedgerows are still feeding us if you know where to look - and our ancestors worked out the same tricks thousands of years ago.
- [A doggy tale – how joining a new shoot put the wag back in my world.](https://www.scribehound.com/a-doggy-tale-how-joining-a-new-shoot-put-the-wag-back-in-my-world.md) - My heartfelt journey with two extraordinary spaniels explores grief, loyalty, and that unbreakable bond—all with stories that will make dog lovers smile, laugh, and maybe even cry.
- [If we love the countryside so much, should we create more of it?](https://www.scribehound.com/if-we-love-the-countryside-so-much-we-should-create-more-of-it.md) - Is it time for some bold thinking to excite progress in Britain? We could start with The Wash
- [From Red Deer to Regenerative Farming: Rethinking Agricultural Science](https://www.scribehound.com/from-red-deer-to-regenerative-farming-rethinking-agricultural-science.md) - Discover how Frank Fraser Darling’s legacy bridges the gap between farming and ecology, and what the decline of UK agriculture courses means for our future food sustainability.
- [Why our future (and past) lies in the soil](https://www.scribehound.com/why-our-future-and-past-lies-in-the-soil.md) - Healthy topsoil is our greatest national asset: why do we treat it like dirt?
- [Walk](https://www.scribehound.com/walk.md) - What happens when you stop and walk a farm for a year? Owls appear, soil speaks, and farming looks very different.
- [How Many Farms produce food? Food Security at Risk](https://www.scribehound.com/how-many-farms-produce-food-food-security-at-risk.md) - Think you know what counts as a farm? Discover how government definitions skew the numbers—and why it could jeopardize our food security and tax fairness.
- [Ladybird’s Wildlife in Britain, Fifty Years On](https://www.scribehound.com/ladybirds-wildlife-in-britain-fifty-years-on.md) - You might be surprised by what has changed
- [Loopy lupins to the rescue](https://www.scribehound.com/loopy-lupins-to-the-rescue.md) - A cocktail of lupins, distorted history, misleading facts and a twist of land reformist nationalism, makes for a compelling narrative for tree planting in Scotland, but don't be fooled.
- [Future Salmon for the Frome](https://www.scribehound.com/future-salmon-for-the-frome.md) - How an exciting new project for salmon recovery has been the official green light
- [Get Stuffed!](https://www.scribehound.com/get-stuffed.md) - Taxidermy is experiencing a resurgence in popularity - are stuffed animals cool again?
- [A Wodwo for the Mountains](https://www.scribehound.com/a-wodwo-for-the-mountains.md) - The story of a wild man cursed by God and cast into the Galloway Hills offers a good opportunity to explore an abundance of hairy, naked men in folklore and beyond.
- [Is the Countryside Melting Away?](https://www.scribehound.com/is-the-countryside-melting-away.md) - Oh how the countryside is used to charm and relax us throughout the festive season!

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