Episode Details

"We are facing a catastrophe. We are about to face the largest clearance of small family farms from the English landscape that has ever been experienced, and it is driven directly by the incentives connected to these environmental schemes."

"I have no problem at all with people saying, 'We really want to do this; we believe in more trees, we believe in the biodiversity, we believe in the nature benefits'. But you will have driven up Loch Lomond, past the Cameron House Hotel which is hundred of bedrooms, thousands of visitors, on the side of a Loch Lomond that would not have met any of your requirements, and it's unbelievably popular and it brings a lot of money in to the economy."

"Is the response to me, or to the Cumbrian farmer, 'Well, I'm afraid you're the victim of this, suck it up because it's much better for the whole world that beavers exist and Rory, you can just spend a couple of days in your septic tank'?"

On this special extended episode of Rewilding the World, Ben Goldsmith is joined by Rory Stewart, academic, former politician and diplomat, and a host of The Rest is Politics podcast. 

Rory has been a rewilding sceptic for some time, especially when it comes to the uplands where he argues farming is facing a crisis due to certain rewilding initiatives. 

This conversation - where the two mostly disagree agreeably - covers wildcats, beavers, government subsidies, and whether we should have sheep or native cattle in our uplands.  

Ben Goldsmith is a British financier and rewilding enthusiast. Join him for each new episode as he speaks to people from all over the world who champion nature and are helping to restore habitats and wildlife to some of the most nature depleted parts of our planet.

This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.

Text Rewilding the World here. Let us know what you think of the podcast and if there are any rewilding projects you would love Ben to feature in future episodes.

The Devon Environment Foundation (DEF) is on a mission to accelerate nature restoration across Devon.

Devon’s beautiful natural landscapes are under growing pressure from farming, housing development, and sewage, plastic, and other pollution.

Grassroots nature restoration offers an inspiring, cost-effective response.

We raise money from people and businesses who love Devon, directing it where it delivers the greatest benefit for local nature.

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