15 minutes with...

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.

15 minutes with...Roger Tempest

What does it take to keep a thousand-year-old rural estate alive in the 21st century? In this episode, CLA Communications Manager Henk Geertsema visits Broughton Sanctuary in North Yorkshire to speak with Roger Tempest — 32nd-generation custodian of the estate and one of the most compelling voices in the rural resilience conversation. Roger shares the remarkable journey of transforming Broughton Hall Estate into Broughton Sanctuary: from a single job in 1974 to a thriving community of 52 businesses and 700 jobs. He talks candidly about the alchemy behind that change — moving from industrial farming to nature-friendly practices, from fossil fuels to renewables, and from a traditional landed estate to a hub for personal transformation retreats. We also discuss the growing headwinds facing rural landowners, why Roger believes the government needs to treat the countryside as an ally rather than a target, and how places like Broughton produce millions in tax revenue that politicians are at risk of destroying through short-sighted policy. Plus: the difference between rewilding and nature-friendly farming, why there's room for all approaches, and Roger's top three tips for building a resilient rural business — whatever its size. Topics covered: * The 40-year transformation of Broughton Sanctuary * Building community through jobs, culture and managed access * Personal transformation retreats and the concept of inner rewilding * Land ownership, government policy and rural headwinds * Nature-friendly farming vs rewilding * Top tips for landowner resilience

15 Minutes With…Kerry Booth, Chief Executive, Rural Services Network

15 Minutes With… Kerry Booth, Chief Executive, Rural Services Network What does it really take to champion rural communities at a national level — and are policymakers actually listening? In this episode, we sit down with Kerry Booth, Chief Executive of the Rural Services Network, the national body representing over 450 rural local authorities and service providers across England. Kerry shares her journey from frontline local government to leading the RSN, and makes a compelling case for why rural communities deserve far more than an afterthought in national policy. We discuss the stark funding gap that sees urban councils receive a third more in government spending power per head than their rural counterparts, why so many Whitehall departments still struggle to understand the realities of rural life, and what genuine rural proofing should look like in practice. Kerry also sets out the enormous untapped potential of the rural economy — estimated at £19 billion in additional Treasury contributions with the right policy interventions — and explains why devolution could be a double-edged sword for rural communities. A wide-ranging, honest, and essential conversation for anyone working at the intersection of policy, place, and public services.