Neil farms on low-lying land near the mouth of Somerset’s River Parrett. For this first episode he makes a short journey upstream to the beef and arable farm of JAMES WINSLADE. Sitting at James’s dining table they discuss the challenges of farming for both food and nature on the flood-prone, man-made landscape of Sedgemoor. 

They discuss: how pumps are used to manage water here (3m22s); the impact of prolonged flooding on biodiversity and carbon storage (10m22s); how James would like to see water being managed here in the future (12m30s); his work supporting UK farmers during severe weather events (16m29s); how flooding impacts food production (21m18s); a cautious optimism for the future (28m37); and his call for farmers to be compensated for storing flood water on their fields in order to protect nearby towns (34m19s).

• Follow James on Twitter/X
• Read more about James and the floods in 2014
• James’s work with Forage Aid

This podcast is produced by jakelloyd.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.