Ploughing Through History: From Shakespeare to Sustainability

Copied from my ‘The Ruralist’ Substack, a story of soil, toil, and the ways in which we hold on to our traditions and also let them go.

From Pillaging to Protecting Aquatic Life: it's Time to Act

Little has been mentioned about our oceans and our waterways, until now. Is our aquatic environment finally having its ‘regen’ moment and at long last taking centre stage?

What next after the Spending Review?

After a benign, damp squib of a Spending Review, we must turn our attention to areas of government policy being driven by populist narratives.

Davie Scott - Life of a Bird Ringer

Davie Scott is a bird ringer, nest finder and holds schedule 1 licenses for some of our rarest bird species in the UK. He holds world records for finding some of the most remote nesting birds on the planet and has a true passion for nature

Breaking Perceptions: Fitness & Fieldsports Working Together

As a coach of strongmen and a lover of the countryside, I want to bring them together in a powerful way

Greenwashing, Larceny and Greed: The Golden Age of Commercial Foraging

Commercial foraging once promised purity, provenance and profit - but behind the wild garlic and sea kale lay a world of muddy legality, food safety headaches, and ecological grey areas. A brief and peculiar chapter in Britain’s food story.

When the Tyranny of Virtue threatens to distort policy.

Heated disputes between academics are not new, but when legitimate concerns are voiced within academia regarding flaws in the reviewing and presentation of science for policy making, government must seek an independent review.

Far from the madding crowd - and then a little bit farther

Being alone with nature in this crowded island is easy - so long as you're prepared to walk and get up early.

Choose Compassion: Why UK Meat is the Ethical Choice

Following on from the announcement of a US trade deal, I shout from the rooftops why we need to support British produce

‘Dog People Know’; A Journey Through Grief

When a simple New Year’s resolution—to never pass a roadside “Fresh Eggs for Sale” sign—leads to unexpected human moments, it also teaches a grieving dog owner a deeper lesson: to pause for small kindnesses, both in life and in loss. A tribute to Gat

Bonfire of the Banalities

Both ‘sides’ in a debate that shouldn’t even have sides at all make crude assumptions that then become precious truths.

Discovering Joy in Downsizing: A Family Farm Legacy

The importance of family farms and the ups and downs of leaving ours.