Send Lizzie a message!

"When you think of the British countryside, it’s the hedgerows and towering trees that truly define the landscape..."

Welcome back to another episode of Down in Dorset, the mini-series from Second Nature! Autumn is officially setting in across the county, and after a busy couple of months, Tim and I are back together to tackle one of the most vital-and topical-conversations in farming and conservation today: the state of our hedges and trees.

From the historic decline of UK woodlands to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and the practical realities of farming through extreme weather, we’re exploring how nature recovery and food production can go hand in hand.

To help us break it all down, Tim and I were joined in the studio by three brilliant guests:

• John Calder, Project Manager for The Great Big Dorset Hedge Project
• Jo Garlick & Holly Savage, From the Forestry Commission

Together, we look at what’s currently happening across the Dorset landscape, how farmers can practically integrate trees and hedges onto their land, and what we can all do to help restore our natural corridors.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Our Favourite Dorset Hidden Gems: The team shares their absolute favourite local spots-from the spooky, beautiful holloways at the Symondsbury Estate and pub lunches after walking Golden Cap, to the breathtaking beech tree avenue at Kingston Lacy. 🍃🌊
• A Brief History of UK Woodlands: Jo breaks down how England’s woodland cover dropped to a shocking 5% after WWI, leading to the creation of the Forestry Commission, and why we’re now pushing for 16.5% tree cover by 2050. 🌲
• The Great Big Dorset Hedge Project: John shares the incredible work being done by 400+ volunteers across 150 farms to survey, restore, and replant hedgerows as vital ecological building blocks for wildlife and carbon capture. 🦔🌾
• Shade, Shelter, and Willow Forage: Why trees and hedges are becoming a complete necessity for livestock welfare during summer heatwaves and droughts-and why cows love browsing on nutrient-rich willow trees! 🐄🌳
• Right Tree, Right Place: How small changes, like filling hedge gaps, planting field corners, or establishing shelterbelts, can transform a farm's resilience without taking valuable land out of food production. 🚜
• Bridging the Town and Country Divide: How volunteer projects are getting local residents out into fields, sparking conversations about where our food comes from, and building stronger rural communities. 🤝

🌳 If you would like to learn more about the Great Big Dorset Hedge Project, please email: greatbigdorsethedge@gmail.com

🌲 If you would like to learn more about the work of the Forestry Commission:

Email Swwoodlandcreation@forestrycommission.gov.uk Or
Complete Get support to plant trees and woodland – GOV.UK

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: info@second-nature.co.uk

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

Send Lizzie a message!

"I brought twenty day-old chicks, the Northern sunshine, and plenty of excitement!"

Tim and I are back together in person, broadcasting straight from the heart of West Dorset at the legendary Melplash Agricultural Show! Hosted on the NFU Mutual stand, this episode is a celebration of rural community, agricultural heritage, and connecting people of all ages to where their food really comes from.

We kick things off by chatting with the Society’s President and Chairman to uncover the fascinating history of the show- from its origins in a friendly 19th-century ploughing match to becoming one of the premier one-day agricultural shows in the country. Then, we dive into the bustling crowd to speak with local farmers, council representatives, and NFU experts about community resilience, local food production, and how to navigate current industry challenges such as milk pricing and soil health.

My absolute highlight? Stepping into the buzzing Discover Farming Tent! From hand-milking wooden cows and cuddling day-old chicks with young showgoers to getting our hands dirty exploring compost and soil structure with local experts, this episode is packed with energy, learning, and local pride.

Inside this episode:

• Behind the Melplash Show: The President and Chairman share what makes this one-day showcase so special, from annual ploughing matches to local educational scholarships. 🏆🚜
• Connecting Community & Policy: We sit down with NFU Mutual hosts and local representatives to talk about supporting West Dorset's rural network, local governance, and building agricultural resilience. 🤝💬
• Hands-on at Discover Farming: A walk through the interactive education marquee-milking mock cows, meeting day-old chicks, and seeing how kids connect with where their food starts. 🥛🐣
• The Secret Life of Soil: Hannah walks us through soil health, comparing monoculture grass to diverse herbal leys, clay vs. sandy retention, and how thermophilic and vermicompost supercharge topsoil. 🪱🌱
• Cultivating Future Careers: How the show is inspiring the next generation to pursue rewarding careers across agriculture, engineering, and food production. 🛠️🌾

Whether you're a lifelong showgoer, a passionate foodie, or just love a bit of countryside buzz, join Tim and me for a stroll around one of Dorset's best days out!

A huge thank you to NFU Mutual for hosting us and sponsoring this episode!

How to listen:

🎧 Search Second Nature on your favourite podcast app.

📲 Get in touch: Did you visit the Melplash Show this year? Let Tim and me know your favourite moments or drop us a message on our social channels!

#DownInDorset #SecondNaturePodcast #MelplashShow #WestDorset #DiscoverFarming #NFUMutual #SoilHealth #BritishAgriculture #RuralCommunity #DorsetFarming

Website: www.second-nature.co.uk

Email us: info@second-nature.co.uk

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

Send Lizzie a message!

"When you think of summer in the countryside, the iconic scene is always a combine harvester rolling through a golden field of wheat..."

It is the end of July; it is absolute sweltering heat here in Dorset, and harvest is in full swing! In this episode of Down in Dorset, Tim and I are diving headfirst into the fast-paced, high-stakes world of arable farming during one of the hottest, driest summers we've seen in years.

To kick things off, Tim headed out into the field to jump right into the cab of a 10-ton combine harvester with our fantastic guest, Nigel Friend. Nigel is a second-generation farmer managing 500 acres up on the Cranborne Chase in Northeast Dorset, and he gave Tim an amazing behind-the-scenes look at how these incredible machines actually work, from harvesting tiny clover seeds to bread-making wheat.

While they were up on the downlands taking in views where you can see Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, and the Isle of Wight all from a single field, they talked through the reality of this year's heatwave: earlier harvest dates, low grain moisture, and the very real danger of field fires.

Afterwards, Nigel joined us in the studio to talk about the bigger picture of the British arable industry and what it’s really like farming in Dorset today.

In this episode, we cover:

• Life Inside the Combine Cab: Tim and Nigel break down the mechanics of harvesting- from sharp header knives and threshing drums to precision yield mapping on the go. 🌾⚙️
• The Harvest of 2026: Why crops are coming off weeks ahead of schedule, how the dry spell affects overall yields, and how farmers carefully cool hot grain once it's in the barn. ☀️🌡️
• Tinderbox Danger: The very real fire risks facing farmers in this weather, including a wild story about how a single dropped mobile phone sparked a field fire! 🚜🔥
• Dorset's Secret Powerhouse Crop: Why grass (and grass seed!) is actually our biggest crop, powering everything from local dairy herds to premier sports turf at Wembley and Wimbledon. 🏟️🌱
• Soil Health & Regenerative Tips: Why Nigel chops straw back into his fields to boost organic matter, protect soil moisture, and keep the earthworms thriving. 🪱🪨
• From Field to Pint: Where our crops go after leaving the farm- from winter wheat for our daily bread to spring barley for brewing beer, shipped from our local docks across Europe. 🍺🚢

Whether you’re a farmer yourself or just love watching the combines roll past on your countryside walks, this episode gives such a brilliant look into what it takes to bring the harvest home.

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: info@second-nature.co.uk

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac