Wild Flowers / Climate / Wellbeing / Tree Planting: One of Tree Amble's favourite projects is Forest of Flowers [FOF] - this is where we take ex arable soils in very poor condition, deep plough them, broadcast wildflower seed and then plant trees. The idea came from Denmark and their forestry creation work but was interpreted by the great folks at Landlife and given a new life as a way to provide suitable wildflower seed beds using the same principle - reduce surface fertility by inverting the top layers of soil potentially to 1m in depth.  We have pinned this on one stage by adding in trees to the mix. 

Many people are now very and rightly concerned about ploughing and its ability to impoverish soils, release carbon, open soil up to erosion. Many more are concerned that we should not be ploughing and planting arable soils upon which we could grow food. But this approach will only ever operate on a few small sites and the monitoring we have carried out on these few sites suggest that [as a one off operation] the carbon release is rapidly compensated for by sequestration and the boost to biodiversity is off the scale.

Alwyn's site in Yorkshire - which we visit in this episode - was restored only in 2015 and 2016 and is now one of the best butterfly sites in Yorkshire. This is creative conservation at its best!

Soil / Geology / Restoration / Lancaster University 

John and I were at school together too many years ago to think about - he introduced me to Neil Young and I introduced him to Jethro Tull. I'm still a fan of both. 

As kids we already had an idea of our interests - his was geography and rocks and mine was geography and trees. An inspirational teacher probably gave us license to think about both. Roll forward 40 years and John is now a professor of Soil Science at Lancaster University - we are both still mates and enjoy getting together for walks and talks. 

We met on a cold early spring day in a wild valley in Cumbria and talk about old times as well as our overlapping work in difficult spaces trying, where we can, to bring people together, to mend soils and restore biodiversity. 

Farming / Hedges / Trees / Organic Dairy:

Tree Amble were delighted to go and meet James Robinson on his farm near Kendal for the second interview in series 2. James is an organic dairy farmer and a leading light in the Nature Friendly Farming Network. He loves the cows on his farm but he also revels in the nature which comes when you manage land organically in a system of small fields surrounded by hedges - which James lays on a rotation - and mixed grass leys and herb rich meadows between. 

It was such pleasure to spend an hour chatting with James. We hope you enjoy this episode! 

Episode 1 of our second series sees Pete up in the Cairngorms with Alan Crawford underneath an amazing granny pine within a very old patch of woodland. The views out from under the tree include mountains, gorgeous old woodlands and streams. It is truly beautiful.

Alan talks about his mental health and wellbeing and how he finds peace and calm in old woods and with veteran trees. He is very knowledgeable about such places and his love of them comes across.

Rainforest / Scotland / Temperate / Networking / Ecology 

The second of two "Tree Amble Specials" this episode saw us heading to Scotland for a meeting of partner organisations and individuals working to save Scotland's Rainforest. 

Yes! Scotland has rainforest, and very special rainforest at that. The soft wet fringes of the west coast have just the tight conditions for rainforests to form with an amazing variety of mosses, lichens, bugs and beasts. It is highly fragmented and threatened ... but a lifeline is emerging as local people and groups with bigger organisations like Woodland Trust Scotland and RSPB come together to think and act in a coordinated way. 

Have a listen to some very special people working together to save something of immense significance for nature in Scotland. Bear in mind also that England Wales and Ireland (check out Eoghan Daltun's book - An Irish Atlantic Rainforest) also have remnants of gorgeous biodiverse rainforest. 

Rewilding / Upland Farming / Native Breeds / Riggit Galloway / Pea Restoration / Slowing the Flow 

In this episode Tree Amble's Pete visits Kingsdale Head, a 1500 acre / 608 ha upland farm and natural regeneration project in the Yorkshire Dales. Owners Catherine Bryan and Tim Yetman discuss the challenging landscape and their ambitious plans to restore peatbogs as well as increase biodiversity and create a mosaic of habitats using native breed cattle to stimulate natural function. 

The project is focussed on extensive peatland restoration, rewetting the area so the site can store more carbon, water and ultimately support widespread natural regeneration. Kingsdale has a site manager who looks after the cattle and has become an excellent dry stone waller. 

Kingsdale Head is the final episode of Series One of Tree Amble. We have a couple of specials - Carbon Calling (out now) and Saving Scotland's Rainforest (coming soon!) before we commence Series Two in October!!

Carbon / Farming / Soils / Water / Nature / Nature friendly farming 

Carbon Calling is an awesome gathering of farmers in Cumbria, created and lead by farmers, talking about regenerative agriculture. 2023 was the second year of this conference hosted by Tim and Emma on their farm at Kirby Thore. About 200 folks talking positively about changing farming practice to save costs, deliver good food, manage soils, bring back nature and enjoy farming.

Today's episode is a brings together many of the voices at the conference.

In this episode, Fidelity Weston shows Pete around Romshed Organic Farm in Kent, which she has managed for 40 years with a focus on restoring nature. With a network of woodland, hedges and species-rich meadows the 80ha Romshed Farm supports wildlife and biodiversity as part of a successful farming system.

Fidelity is Honorary Vice President at Pasture for Life which works for sustainability, health and welfare standards through grass-fed meat farming. Grazing animals on 100% pasture brings positive impacts for biodiversity and carbon, human health and wellbeing, and animal health and welfare.

Pasture for Life works on the ground, every day, to restore ecosystems, implement positive change in our food and farming systems, and demonstrate the benefits of 100% pasture fed animals. 

Pete meets with Paul Arkle, a self employed advisor who works with farmers and landowners on agri-environment schemes in Cumbria. Paul's business is called Cumbria Farm Environment Partnership. 

Pete and Paul have worked together on many schemes in the last 18 years and discuss the changes in farming over that time. Has there been a shift towards working with nature and more awareness of the impacts of poor practice on wildlife and soil health?

With wide-ranging experience in the agri-environment schemes now available, Paul also offers insight into how these are working (or not working) for farmers and landowners.

Pete catches up with Lee Schofield, author of Wild Fell, at RSPB Haweswater where Lee leads a team managing an amazing complex of habitats from wetland to woodland from fields with sheep grazing to upland fells with native breed cattle. 

Lee discusses the fascinating flora, fauna and fungi within the nature reserve, and the methods used by his team to support this important and thriving habitat.

The pair also reflect on the difficulties facing upland farms, plus how diversification and simple changes can offer a huge benefit to farming businesses and wildlife.