03/06/21 - Old farming wisdom, topsy-turvy weather, making nature accessible and a farm safari

Farming Today

• Episode: 03/06/21 - Old farming wisdom, topsy-turvy weather, making nature accessible and a farm safari
• Website: Farming Today
• Feed URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qj8q/episodes/downloads.rss
• Duration: 00:13:37
• Published: 2021-06-03 07:00

Since 1883, students, farmers and industry professionals have been referring to a publication called The Agricultural Notebook. It’s still going today and one of the authors of the most recent edition - out this spring - has noticed that agricultural practice is revisiting ideas and knowledge from more than a century ago combining it with updated science and technology. We hear from co-author, Professor Richard Soffe. The last few days of blazing sun have been a far cry from earlier in the spring. This April had the lowest average minimum temperature since 1922 and then much of May was a washout. We visit two different farms to find out what difference a month of rain and a blast of strong sun has made to the crops. We hear from Debbie North, who uses a motorised wheelchair to explore the roughest ground and is a powerful advocate for making the countryside accessible for all. And Northumberland is one of the least visited of all the National Parks but that's something the Wilson family, who farm in the Cheviot Hills there, hope they can help change. This week we’re looking at developments in rural tourism, and for the Wilsons that means a new venture - the Ingram Valley Farm Safari. A specially designed all terrain vehicle will carry visitors right across their 2000 acre farm, taking in ancient archaeological sites and free-roaming livestock. Presented by Caz Graham Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons