Philip Harris: Why England's Smallest Vineyards may have the Brightest Future

In the eighth instalment of my twelve-part Indie Farmer series, supported by the Lund Trust and the High Weald National Landscape, I visited Philip Harris at his organic vineyard near Hastings, East Sussex, to explore how a small-scale wine business is combining regenerative principles, biodiversity and thoughtful land

An Evening of Farming Stories at Montague Farm

On a warm June evening, more than 100 people gathered at Montague Farm in Hankham, overlooking the Pevensey Levels, to celebrate two stories of farming, family and the future of the countryside. The event brought together farmers, landowners and members of the local community to watch two new short films

One Brick at a Time: The Story of Charles Palmer Vineyards

England's wine industry has changed dramatically over the past two decades. What was once considered a niche pursuit has become one of the most exciting and fastest-growing sectors in British agriculture. During May of this year I spent a few days at Charles Palmer Vineyards, on the

Learning to Listen: A New Indie Farmer Film from Montague Farm

Over the years I've spent a lot of time visiting farms across the country, documenting the stories of independent farmers and the landscapes they look after. One of the things I enjoy most is uncovering the quieter stories — the farms that aren't always shouting the loudest,

From the Farm Gate: Three Dairy Farms Facing an Uncertain Future

Rising costs, volatile milk prices and growing regulatory pressure are reshaping dairy farming. Across three farms in East Sussex, different systems reveal the same underlying challenge — how to remain viable in an increasingly uncertain landscape. Many UK dairy farmers find themselves caught in a familiar squeeze — milk prices that move

Falconhurst Estate: Holding It All Together

In the seventh instalment of my twelve-part Indie Farmer series, supported by the Lund Trust and the High Weald National Landscape, I visited Falconhurst Estate near Markbeech, Kent, to spend time with George Talbot and understand how a mixed organic dairy and estate business is being shaped in practice.

Pasture and Profit: Learning from the land and each other

Why farmer knowledge exchange matters in the High Weald and beyond On a cold morning in early spring, a group of farmers stand quietly beside a hedge in the High Weald, watching a group of young cattle move slowly across the pasture. Boots press into the damp ground as the

Organic Dairy Farming in the High Weald

In the latest instalment of my twelve-part Indie Farmer series, supported by the Lund Trust and the High Weald National Landscape, I visited Cockhaise Farm near Haywards Heath, in East Sussex to spend a day with organic dairy farmer Dan Burdett, to learn how he is managing a 240-

Farming by observation: Life below the surface at Lomas Farm

In the fifth instalment of my twelve part Indie Farmer series, supported by the Lund Trust and the High Weald National Landscape, I visited Lomas Farm in Sandhurst, Kent to spend a day with farmer David Cornforth, to understand how his passion for healthy soils and low input farming guides

Berries on Tap: Rebuilding a Fruit Farm Around Direct Connection

We visited Berries on Tap, a small family-run soft fruit farm near Selsey in West Sussex that is pioneering a new model by selling premium berries directly to consumers via vending machines. I visited Berries on Tap in late summer 2025, six years after the Evans family stepped away

Groundswell 2025 — Notes from Farming’s Glastonbury

Groundswell — farming’s very own Glastonbury — returns each summer to the Cherry family’s Hertfordshire farm, drawing a growing crowd of farmers, thinkers, growers and storytellers grappling with some of the biggest questions facing food and agriculture. Across two packed days — with more than 10,000 people attending — I moved

Building a future on grass at Brightleigh Farm

Brightleigh Farm is a mixed livestock holding near Outwood in Surrey, run by Penny and Nigel Franklin alongside Penny’s daughters Ellie and Joely. The farm produces 100 percent pasture fed beef, free range pork, poultry and eggs, all sold direct to customers through their on farm shop and a