Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share From Dorset Fields To Dorset Plates - Down In Dorset Episode 1
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
From Dorset Fields To Dorset Plates - Down In Dorset Episode 1
Send Lizzie a message!
Welcome to the very first episode of Down in Dorset, a brand-new mini-series brought to you by Second Nature! I am so excited to launch this special project in partnership with Nature Recovery Dorset, as we explore the vital work being done across the county to restore our landscapes and celebrate the incredible food produced right here on our doorstep.
Joining me as my guest co-host for this series is local farmer Tim Gelfs. Together, we’re heading out to meet the fantastic people doing incredible things for the local area.
Make sure to mark your calendars, as new episodes of this mini-series will be available on the last Friday of every month!
In This Episode: From Dorset Fields To Dorset Plates
In our series premiere, we sit down with two experts who are dedicated to the connection between healthy land and healthy people.
- The Heritage of Watercress: We chat with Tom Amery, CEO of The Watercress Company, based at Waddock Farm, south of Dorchester. Truly a jewel in Dorset’s crown, Tom’s business is the largest of its kind in Europe, supplying all the major UK retailers. Tom shares the fascinating history of this "super-leaf"—from its Roman roots to how his team currently produces up to 45 tonnes a week for half a million customers across the UK.
- Pesticide-Free Pioneering: Tom discusses the massive shift they made 25 years ago to stop using pesticides entirely, turning their spring-fed gravel beds into thriving habitats for thousands of invertebrates. It’s a brilliant example of how commercial farming can work hand-in-hand with nature recovery.
- Reconnecting the Next Generation: Claire King, a former headteacher and founder of the Nutrition Advisory Team (NAT), joins us to talk about the vital importance of food education. We discuss her "NutriKit" and why it is so critical for children to understand food provenance—moving beyond the supermarket shelf to the water, soil, and the people who grow our food.
- Building Resilient Food Systems: We dive into the complexities of modern agriculture and the importance of shortening supply chains to support both the local economy and the environment.
Meet the Team:
- Lizzie McLaughlin: Your usual host
- Tim Gelfs: Guest co-host and local poultry farmer, bridging the gap between farming reality and consumer tables.
- Tom: A watercress champion managing a unique crop that provides nutrition to half a million customers weekly.
- Claire: An education specialist dedicated to teaching the nitty-gritty of health, provenance, and sustainability.
This series is all about how we can help nature recover while still producing world-class food. Whether you're a Dorset local or a food lover from further afield, there is so much to learn from these incredible guests.
What does "nature recovery" mean to you? Get in touch at [email protected] or find me on social media at @LizzieMuddyHeelsMac.
This podcast mini-series has been produced with help from Nature Recovery Dorset, a Dorset Council led initiative helping communities, landowners and organisations work together to restore nature across Dorset. Any views or opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers and should not be taken as representing Dorset Council.
Website: www.second-nature.co.uk
Email us: [email protected]
Social media: @second_natureuk
Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac
View all episodes
By Lizzie McLaughlinSend Lizzie a message!
Welcome to the very first episode of Down in Dorset, a brand-new mini-series brought to you by Second Nature! I am so excited to launch this special project in partnership with Nature Recovery Dorset, as we explore the vital work being done across the county to restore our landscapes and celebrate the incredible food produced right here on our doorstep.
Joining me as my guest co-host for this series is local farmer Tim Gelfs. Together, we’re heading out to meet the fantastic people doing incredible things for the local area.
Make sure to mark your calendars, as new episodes of this mini-series will be available on the last Friday of every month!
In This Episode: From Dorset Fields To Dorset Plates
In our series premiere, we sit down with two experts who are dedicated to the connection between healthy land and healthy people.
- The Heritage of Watercress: We chat with Tom Amery, CEO of The Watercress Company, based at Waddock Farm, south of Dorchester. Truly a jewel in Dorset’s crown, Tom’s business is the largest of its kind in Europe, supplying all the major UK retailers. Tom shares the fascinating history of this "super-leaf"—from its Roman roots to how his team currently produces up to 45 tonnes a week for half a million customers across the UK.
- Pesticide-Free Pioneering: Tom discusses the massive shift they made 25 years ago to stop using pesticides entirely, turning their spring-fed gravel beds into thriving habitats for thousands of invertebrates. It’s a brilliant example of how commercial farming can work hand-in-hand with nature recovery.
- Reconnecting the Next Generation: Claire King, a former headteacher and founder of the Nutrition Advisory Team (NAT), joins us to talk about the vital importance of food education. We discuss her "NutriKit" and why it is so critical for children to understand food provenance—moving beyond the supermarket shelf to the water, soil, and the people who grow our food.
- Building Resilient Food Systems: We dive into the complexities of modern agriculture and the importance of shortening supply chains to support both the local economy and the environment.
Meet the Team:
- Lizzie McLaughlin: Your usual host
- Tim Gelfs: Guest co-host and local poultry farmer, bridging the gap between farming reality and consumer tables.
- Tom: A watercress champion managing a unique crop that provides nutrition to half a million customers weekly.
- Claire: An education specialist dedicated to teaching the nitty-gritty of health, provenance, and sustainability.
This series is all about how we can help nature recover while still producing world-class food. Whether you're a Dorset local or a food lover from further afield, there is so much to learn from these incredible guests.
What does "nature recovery" mean to you? Get in touch at [email protected] or find me on social media at @LizzieMuddyHeelsMac.
This podcast mini-series has been produced with help from Nature Recovery Dorset, a Dorset Council led initiative helping communities, landowners and organisations work together to restore nature across Dorset. Any views or opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers and should not be taken as representing Dorset Council.
Website: www.second-nature.co.uk
Email us: [email protected]
Social media: @second_natureuk
Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac