A Derbyshire farmer is reshaping a traditional hill system to bring livestock, landscape and business together at the foot of Mam Tor. Third-generation farmer at Hardenclough Farm, James Metcalfe, not only has to contend with high altitude land which rises to 2,000ft above sea level, but also farming in... Read more
Beef and dairy farmers should resist grazing drought-hit grassland as soon as rain returns to preserve parched swards. Instead, farmers should consider keeping cows in condition by feeding conserved winter forage. Allowing recovering plants to reach the three-leaf stage before livestock return could protect weakened swards and extend autumn... Read more
Summer wildfires across the UK and Europe have sparked interest in mechanical vegetation clearance to reduce combustible material before fires start. High-profile wildfires on Dunwich Heath on the Suffolk coast; Stourbridge in the West Midlands; and South Wales – as well as Spain and France – mean more land... Read more
Knight Frank has expanded its rural estate offering through a formal partnership with environmental consultancy Maydencroft as landowners face growing demand for ecology, forestry and natural capital advice. The agreement integrates Maydencroft’s specialist services into Knight Frank’s rural estate proposition. It covers forestry, arboriculture, ecology, nature recovery, landscape management... Read more
Forestry leaders tackle timber security
Forage 28/08/2026
Britain’s reliance on imported timber will come under scrutiny at a new series of industry debates being launched at APF 2026 next month. Talking Forestry will bring together forestry leaders, researchers and practitioners to examine timber security, climate change, skills and public attitudes. The free programme runs throughout the... Read more
Britain’s forestry and arboriculture industries will gather at the Ragley Estate in Warwickshire next month for the 50th anniversary of the APF event. The APF 2026 showcase puts machinery, technology and contracting skills at the centre of its three-day trade exhibition. Running from 24-26 September, it is expected to... Read more
Water-sharing agreements between neighbouring farms could also help safeguard production during times of drought, says a climate change expert. UK farming must become more resilient to increasingly frequent droughts, with better soil management and more on-farm reservoirs, according to University of East Anglia professor Neil Ward. “Agriculture and the... Read more
Major losses caused by drought could see onion yields 25% down this year due to extreme heat and lack of rain. Despite significant investment in infrastructure, water shortages and restrictions have prevented some growers from irrigating at key stages. As a result, crops have matured exceptionally early – some... Read more
If we’re serious about food security, we need to be serious about water security too, says James Harrison The UK potato sector is facing one of its biggest challenges yet, as growers grapple with increasingly dry conditions and growing competition for water resources. For us, the conversation isn’t really... Read more
Farmers need fewer barriers to storing water, says Jeremy Moody. The government needs to improve its plans to make it easier for farmers to create reservoirs if it is remotely serious about food security. This year’s drought – after one of the wettest winters on record – has brought... Read more
