In this episode, we’re joined by the legendary Polly Portwin — Director of the Campaign for Hunting at the Countryside Alliance. A leading voice in rural affairs, Polly shares her insights on the future of country sports, the challenges facing the countryside today, and why tradition still matters in a modern world.

Whether you’re passionate about field sports or just curious about the debates shaping rural Britain, this conversation offers straight-talking perspectives from one of the countryside’s most influential advocates.

This month Iona had the pleasure to speak with Lesley Peake from Twin Peakes Fly Fishing and Karen Woolley from the Angling Trust. Two incredible women in the fly fishing world. They shared their insights and advice and talked about the need to get more women into angling. 

Jo Perrott is the founder of the Ladies Working Dog Group, a global community that’s rewriting the rules on how women train their gundogs. Facing serious health challenges herself, Jo knows what it means to keep going when the path gets rocky, and she’s built a space where women can do exactly that with their dogs. She’s passionate about cutting through confusing advice and ‘perfect dog’ myths to focus on what really matters: building confident, resilient handlers and dogs who work as a team in the real world. The community's practical, no-nonsense approach is wrapped in kindness and a genuine belief that every small win deserves to be celebrated.  

You can also buy her book here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thoughtful-Dog-Trainer-Mindset-Journey-ebook/dp/B0CNDH89P1

Anita North is a former English clay trap shooter known for her success in Olympic Trap. She began shooting in her late twenties and went on to win multiple Commonwealth Games medals, including gold in the women's trap at the 2010 Delhi Games. After retiring from competition in 2017, she became a respected coach on the British Shooting Talent Pathway. Based at Nuthampstead Shooting Ground, Anita is committed to developing new talent and promoting wider participation in the sport.

Philippa Davis is the cookery columnist for The Field Magazine, a chef and tv presenter.

She grew up with her extended family on a small holding in Dorset where her love for food and feeding people was sparked. At 14 she got her first job in a restaurant, it was hot, fast and furious and she was instantly hooked into the world of hospitality.

In this podcast she joins Louisa and Vanessa to give an overview of how she got to where she is today.

Jessica is founder of Kingstone Coaching and Training Consultancy. 

After working in the highly driven corporate sector for over twenty years, Jessica founded her own coaching and training consultancy, Kingstone, taking her side hustle of five years and developing it into a full-time business. 

Jessica found the corporate sector was hugely supportive in the growth and development of employees, yet, as soon as we step outside of the that world, the support with growth and development is often missing. Jessica’s mission is to help companies and individuals in the rural sector utilise their strengths and build their confidence to thrive within their working world and their life.

When Jess isn’t working, she is clay and game shooting, adventuring in the
outdoors, both in the UK and overseas, and has recently taken up fly fishing. 

In this month’s episode, we had the pleasure of chatting with Georgie Stanford.

Georgie is one of a very small number of professional shooting instructors. She works as a freelance instructor for several top grounds in the South East and loves everything about the countryside and field sports, from shooting and fishing, to working dogs, trail running and riding.

This month Iona and Louisa are joined by Catherine Austen. Catherine is Horse & Hound hunting editor, press officer & a freelance journalist.

Hannah is Business Development Manager at BE-ST, joining in January 2025 from Scottish Land and Estates. Her career has taken her all over Scotland working in Edinburgh, the Highlands and is now based from rural Ayrshire. 

Hannah is passionate about developing relationships, connecting others and supporting businesses to thrive. She brings an enthusiasm for supporting and encouraging others. Alongside her day job Hannah is founder and host of the Women in Wellies Podcast - spawned from a desire to shout about the success of others. The podcast shares stories, experiences and lessons from people who live and work in rural Scotland to inspire the next generation about the opportunities that rural Scotland presents. 

Hannah is the current Chair of the Women in Property Scottish Advisory Group and a Director of Women in Property Limited supporting the activity of Women in Property across the UK and is a local community councillor. 

Join us for a 2024 Round Up with Founders Louisa Clutterbuck, Vanessa Steel & Iona Campbell. 

We talk about our highs and lows plus our favourite events of 2024.