Today we are heading to Shropshire to the Oteley Estate which has been in the Mainwaring family for 500 years. Ben's guest is Clare Mainwaring who runs the 2000 acre estate with her husband Ian. Clare and Ian rear two herds of native British cattle – Shorthorns and Highlands, they have a flock of sheep and some pigs. They’re also not afraid of trying new things and in recent years have launched premium meat boxes, held open garden days, market days, created a cafe and farm shop that opens once a week, they’ve held ‘walk and eat’ events, open farm days, and worked with a local distillery to start producing their own damson liqueur to sell in the shop, as well as working with a local chef to make ready meals using their produce - to name but a few! Today we’re going to hear more about Clare and what it takes to run a traditional estate that has been in one family for so many generations. 

Image credit: Countryside Magazine

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About Ben and  RuralPod Media

Ben Eagle is the founder and Head of Podcasts at RuralPod Media, a specialist rural podcast production agency. He is also a freelance rural affairs and agricultural journalist. You can find out more at ruralpodmedia.co.uk or benjamineagle.co.uk 

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This episode is sponsored by our primary sponsor Howden Rural Insurance.