Farming Today

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Farming Today: 24/11/23 - Pond restoration, Kelvin Fletcher goes farming and regenerative flour

24/11/23 - Pond restoration, Kelvin Fletcher goes farming and regenerative flour

BBC Radio 4 - Farming Today, 24/11/23 - Pond restoration, Kelvin Fletcher goes farming and regenerative flour

We report on plans to revitalise ponds and pondlife.

England and Wales have lost two thirds of their ponds since the 19th century - we report on plans to revitalise ponds and pondlife.

Roughly two thirds of ponds in England and Wales have been lost since the late 19th century, mainly because they’ve been filled in or drained so the land can be farmed, and unlike in the 19th century, they’re not needed to water working horses any more. Now, scientists at University College London - along with the Norfolk Ponds Project and the Freshwater Habitats Trust - have produced a new guide to help farmers and landowners restore and maintain ponds.

Kelvin Fletcher won Strictly Come Dancing in 2019, but before that he spent 20 years playing fictional farmer Andy Sugden in the ITV farming soap Emmerdale. He grew up in Oldham and, along with his wife Liz, who’s also an actor, was a self-confessed townie. Until, in 2020, they bought a 120 acre farm on the edge of the Peak District. Caz Graham visits the farm to meet the family, along with their rare breed pigs.

And one big attraction of regenerative farming is that it can save farmers money. It focuses on improving soil health, and means using fewer artificial inputs. Spend less on fertiliser and manufactured feed, and production costs go down. Some are now starting to find ways to market their produce at a premium.

Presented by Caz Graham
Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

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