15 minutes with...Baroness Young, chair of the Forestry Commission

15 minutes with...Baroness Young, chair of the Forestry Commission

In this episode, we sit down with Baroness (Barbara) Young, the newly appointed Chair of the Forestry Commission, for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of trees and woodland in England. Barbara shares her vision for what success looks like on trees — from timber in construction and flood risk management to air quality and human health — and explains why getting the right tree in the right place matters more than ever. We explore whether woodland is becoming a sound business decision for farmers and landowners, the challenges of natural capital markets for smaller operators, and why policy certainty is so critical when woodland decisions can span generations. Barbara also gives her take on the land use framework, the role of devolution in place-based decision making, and the thorny question of grey squirrels and deer — including a surprisingly practical suggestion for the NHS on venison. And to finish, she shares the woods and trees that mean the most to her personally. Topics covered: * Trees as a multi-benefit crop: climate, timber, health, and biodiversity * Making woodland economics work for farmers and estates * Natural capital markets and the risk of a two-tier system * Policy certainty and cross-government coordination * The land use framework and devolution * Grey squirrels: the missing action plan * Deer management and the venison market * Favourite trees and woodlands

15 minutes with...the Pawsey family

What does it really take to run a family farm across generations? In this episode, we sit down with John, Alice, and Rufus Pawsey of Shimpling Park — a 4,500-acre organic farm in Suffolk that's been in the family for five generations. We pick up a conversation that started at the CLA breakfast at the Suffolk Show, going deeper into what it's actually like to work together as a family business. From navigating disagreements over paperwork and loader tractors, to the Cock-up of the Year award, succession planning, and the challenges of back-to-back difficult harvests — this is an honest, warm, and often funny conversation about the realities of farming today. We also explore how diversification through weddings, food events, school visits, and a working flour mill helps keep the business resilient in uncertain times. If you're interested in family business, rural enterprise, or the future of farming, this one's for you.

15 mins with...Carlos Bagrie

CLA Deputy President Joe Evans sits down with New Zealand farmer, entrepreneur and Nuffield Scholar Carlos Bagrie for a wide-ranging conversation about rural innovation, brand-building and what UK and New Zealand farming can learn from each other. Carlos Bagrie is anything but a conventional farmer. Having co-founded My Food Bag - New Zealand's answer to HelloFresh - he went on to purchase a stunning 1,200-acre farm in the foothills of the Southern Alps near Queenstown, and has since built one of New Zealand's most recognisable rural brands. From a micro abattoir and butchery producing 10 tonnes of lamb per month, to two high-end supermarkets, a brewery, a whiskey label and a TV show that draws inevitable comparisons to Jeremy Clarkson's farming adventures, Carlos and his wife Nadia have become household names in New Zealand. A genuinely global perspective on farming's future, this episode is essential listening for anyone interested in rural diversification, farm business strategy and the power of authentic storytelling in agriculture.

15 minutes with...Lord Townshend

15 Minutes With...Lord Townshend of Raynham Estate In this edition of 15 Minutes With, CLA East Director Cath Crowther visits Raynham Estate in Norfolk to meet Tom Townshend, the 9th Marquess Townshend — a landowner whose family has farmed the same land since the 1100s. Recorded on location at The Copse, the estate's own secret supper club, Tom talks openly about what it takes to future-proof a historic estate in today's climate. From building a portfolio of eight diverse businesses — including glamping, renewable energy, and commercial property — to navigating a five-year planning battle for a farm shop, Tom shares the real challenges facing rural landowners. The conversation also covers the pressures of maintaining affordable rural housing against increasingly demanding EPC regulations, the three-year fight to get planning permission for a reservoir, and how a new potato rotation is helping to strengthen the farm's resilience. At the heart of it all is a word Tom keeps returning to: resilience — and what it means to build a business that can still be farming here for generations to come. 🎙️ Hosted by Cath Crowther, CLA East Director 📍 Recorded at Raynham Estate, Norfolk 15 Minutes With is produced by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).

15 minutes with...Charles Trotman

What does the government's new Devolution Act actually mean for rural Britain? In this episode of 15 Minutes With, host Jonathan Roberts is joined by Charles Trotman of the CLA (Country Land and Business Association) to break down the UK's landmark devolution legislation — and what it means for farmers, landowners, and rural businesses. Charles explains how power will flow from Whitehall to new strategic authorities and unitary councils, why the CLA's hard-won inclusion of "rural affairs" as a legal area of competence is a game-changer, and how rural commissioners and economic boards could finally give countryside communities a genuine seat at the table. They also debate whether devolution is a sign of government weakness, explore how Reform and Green Party gains in local elections could reshape rural policy, and turn the spotlight on Wales — where a new poll reveals deep dissatisfaction with how devolution has been handled so far. With Welsh elections imminent and a wave of political change on the horizon, this is a pivotal moment for rural Britain. Charles makes the case for why now is exactly the time to get involved — and why CLA membership has never mattered more.