Dr Johnny Wake is a Doctor turned Estate Manager. 

He is the managing partner at his family's 1,700-acre Courteenhall Estate in Northamptonshire, as well as holding several positions with organisations including LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) and the Environmental Farmers Group. 

In this epiosde of Estate Matters, Johnny talks about a people-focussed approach to both medicine and land management. 

He discusses the importance of engaging with the local community, and shares, very honestly, the times when the estate hasn't got it right. 

Read more about the estate here: https://www.courteenhall.co.uk/

Sir William Worsley is the owner of the 3,000-acre Hovingham Estate in North Yorkshire, which has been in his family for more than 450 years. He is joined in this episode of Estate Matters by Avril Roberts, Senior Property and Business Policy Advisor with the CLA. 

The pair discuss masterplanning for rural estates and the importance of good communication and engagement with neighbours and stakeholders, set against the background of the Government's housing targets. 

https://www.hovingham.co.uk/

https://www.cla.org.uk/people/avril-roberts/

Managing Director of Estates at Blenheim Palace, Roy Cox, is the first guest to join Season Two of the Estate Matters podcast.

Roy, along with host Anna Byles and KOR's Senior Public Affairs Consultant, Andrew Howard, discuss the reasons behind the Estate's proposed solar farm at Botley West in Oxfordshire. 

Roy explains how the rigid planning process governing nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) prevented Blenheim adopting its usual proactive approach to communication with the local community, and subsequently what that meant for its reputation and relationships with its community and stakeholders. 

https://www.blenheimpalace.com/estate/

Iestyn John is a Partner at Planning Consultants, Bell Cornwell. In this episode of Estate Matters, he is joined by KOR's Senior Consultant in Public Affairs, Andrew Howard. 

The pair discuss the detail in the updated Framework and what opportunities that poses for landowners. Both agree the main thrust of the revisions is creating more new homes, more quickly. 

But will that mean compromising on "building beautiful"? Estates' reputations are built on the quality of any project they deliver, so how will they ensure they can continue to create legacy developments?

Read more about Iestyn here: https://www.bell-cornwell.co.uk/team/iestyn-john/

Charlie Forbes Adam was responsible for Escrick Park Estate for 32 years, before handing over responsibility to his son, Beilby in recent years. 

The Yorkshire estate, comprising a residential and commercial property portfolio, a 2,500 acre in-hand farm, a holiday park and a forestry operation, has been in the Forbes Adam family for over 350 years.  

In this episode of Estate Matters, the father and son discuss their approach to succession and how the challenges facing the next generation of land managers, like Beilby, are different to those faced by their predecessors. 

Read more about Escrick here: https://www.escrick.com/

Michael Birnie (Property Director) and Sarah White (Head of Learning Programmes Development) from The Ernest Cook Trust, discuss how the management of the nine estates that make up the land holdings of the charity, is carried out with a clear focus on the Trust’s primary purpose as providers of outdoor learning.

Michael describes the challenges of explaining that the Trust has charitable objects, but that those activities are funded by the land and property in its care. 

Sarah gives a first hand account of the impact outdoor learning can have on those who experience it, through direct-delivery on Trust land, and through grant schemes. 

Philipp Lukas is Chief Executive Officer of Future Biogas - who develop and operate Anaerobic Digestor (AD) plants in the East of England. 

In this episode Philipp discusses the challenges of promoting AD plants, including allaying fears that sites will smell and increase traffic. 

He is joined by KOR's Senior Public Affairs Consultant, Andrew Howard who explains the principles of communicating renewable energy projects and how important it is to set the narrative from the outset. 

Ben Murphy is the Estates Director for The Duchy of Cornwall's 130,000 acres, spread across 23 counties.

The Duchy earned a reputation for building beautiful places that meet local needs with Poundbury in Dorset, now seen as a blueprint for placemaking by designers, architects and planners all over the world.

In this episode of Estate Matters, Ben reveals that the key to the success of Poundbury, and the principles that guide the current development at Nansledan in Cornwall, is engagement with communities, local planning authorities and other stakeholders.

Molly Biddell is the Head of Natural Capital at Knepp Estate and Nature Based Solutions Manager at Hampton Estate. 

In this episode she explains how food production and caring for the natural world are inextricably linked – but that it will take a cultural shift in the countryside to change the way many farmers and land managers view their role.

CLA President Victoria Vyvyan gives her thoughts on the approach of the new Labour Government. 

In an open and frank conversation with Estate Matters host Anna Byles, Victoria explains how she became involved with the CLA and discusses how she hopes new Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Steve Reed, will tackle issues around planning, energy and food production.