Podcasts about Herefordshire

Send us Fan MailPut off by the excessive heat, Col Andy and Rev Paul decide to stay indoors for this episode and explore the interesting and little known history and evolution of the Allied Victory Medal for the First World War.  There are many in the collection of the Herefordshire Regimental Museum and due to the sad incidence of melting down the silver British War Medal in the past and present day, this is now the most common surviving medal awarded to UK and Commonwealth personnel for the Great War.Paul and Andy share a rare account of the original meeting at the Versailles Peace Conference where representatives of the 15 Allied and Associated Powers met to discuss a joint medal.  And the work of Dr Dick Flory who proved that there were two different issues of the medal to UK and recipients - the well known "type 2" and the lesser known and illusive "type 1."  With their usual mixture of wit, insight and rabbit holes our intrepid pair explore this often overlooked medal - how people qualified for it, differences across awarding nations as diverse as Cuba, Siam (modern-day Thailand) and Japan, its enduring appeal to medal collectors and importance to families and historians alike.Support the showIf you like what you hear, don't forget to like and subscribe to help us reach a wider audience. Visit our website - Herefordshire Light Infantry Museum; follow us on Facebook Herefordshire Regimental Museum | Facebook or visit our Youtube channel Herefordshire Regimental Museum - YouTube.Support the Museum?  Become a Patreon supporter or a Become a FriendTheme Tune - The Lincolnshire Poacher, performed by the outstanding Haverhill Silver Band.This podcast generously supported by the Army Museums Ogilby Trust.

As promised in the last episode of A is for Apple, here is the full interview with Tom Tibbits and Lydia Crimp of Artistraw Cidery and Orchard in Herefordshire.Lydia and Tom go to great efforts to make a natural cider and perry using fruit from their own orchards, fermented the natural way without pitching any yeast.You can find out more about Artistraw on their website www.artistraw.co.uk, where you can also sign up to their newsletter, or follow them on Twitter, Instagram and Bluesky @artistrawcider.Today, we talk about the basic process of natural cider making, and how it is both an art and a science, what makes a good cider apple, terroir, and the folklore associated with cidermaking.I'll be back in a week with Alessandra Pino and Sam Bilton with the next regular episode of A is for Apple.See Artistraw on BBC Countryfile: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002kw2wDon't forget to email us at aisforapplepod@gmail.com or tag us on Instagram or BlueSky if you have any suggestions for future episodes.You can follow the A is for Apple Podcast on Instagram and BlueskySam Bilton also hosts the award winning Comfortably Hungry Podcast and is the author of First Catch Your Gingerbread, Fool's Gold: A History of British Saffron The Philosophy of Chocolate and Much Ado About Cooking: Delicious Shakespearean Feasts for Every Occasion (written in collaboration with Shakespeare's Globe). You can find her on Instagram and BlueskyDr Neil Buttery also hosts the British Food History Podcast and is the author of A Dark History of Sugar, Before Mrs Beeton: Elizabeth Raffald Britain's Most Influential Housekeeper as well as Knead to Know: A History of Baking and The Philosophy of Pudding with another book in progress. You can find him on Instagram and BlueskyDr Allie Pino produces and hosts the Curious Appetite Podcast and the Fear Feasts Podcast with Vanessa Baca. She is also the co-author of A Gothic Cookbook and is currently working on a new book. You can find her on Instagram and Bluesky

This episode is the second part of a conversation between Vanessa and Looby Macnamara, author, permaculture designer, gardener, song leader, and artist from Herefordshire, United Kingdom. They discuss Looby's latest book, "Design Adventures: Discover a Creative Framework for Effective Change", and how weaving this playful design methodology into daily life can awaken, invigorate, and empower individuals and communities. Tune into Living Permaculture on KDNK.org the third Monday of each month at 4pm.

Episode 503 takes you through England and Wales with audio snapshots from the UK Blossom Time Totally Cider Tour while exploring one big question: What is a proper cider? Travel orchard roads through Somerset, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, and Wales as tour guests share reflections on traditional cider, perry pears, wild fermentations, farmhouse hospitality, blossom-covered orchards, and the people keeping cider culture alive. From Ross on Wye and Oliver's Cider and Perry to Gwatkin Cider Mill and beyond, this episode captures the feeling of living inside cider country for a little while. Time Stamps 00:00 Proper Cider Defined 01:42 Tour Craft and Group Flow 04:07 Season Updates and UK Teasers 07:22 Pouring Quince and Rolling Clips 08:50 Trevor's Tour Takeaways 13:25 George and Marla's Cidery Story 20:18 France vs UK Cider Culture 24:35 Tom's Cider Journey via Spirits 32:28 Richard and Elizabeth's Mountain Cidery 39:36 Tour Gratitude Recap 40:52 UK Apple Diversity Takeaway 41:39 Cider Kindergartner Graduates 44:19 Cheese Box and Stinking Bishop 45:55 Perry Pear Center Passion 46:43 Usk Castle Cider Picnic 47:27 Blossom Tour with Syracuse Duo 49:11 Far Orchard Mystique and Bees 50:22 Cask Cider Hospitality 53:03 Gwatkins Bag in Box Secrets 55:21 Why Guided Tours Work 59:16 Last Minute Traveler Gene 01:01:08 Farmhouse Cider and Beer Overlap 01:06:33 Proper Cider at Wilkins 01:10:24 Signing Off and Theme Song Find the full show notes for Episode 503 at CiderChat.com Direct Link: https://ciderchat.com/podcast/503-uk-blossom-time-proper-cider/ Listen wherever you get your podcasts and don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's coming next in Ciderville. Prefer to watch? Find Cider Chat on YouTube for more cider stories, orchard adventures, and global cider culture. Enjoy cider? Help keep #ciderGoingUP by supporting Cider Chat. Your support helps keep the podcast on the air and makes it possible to share more conversations like this one.

Howard J Ford has stared down a four-ton boulder held up by a single pebble, sat on funeral pots containing the dead while eating lunch, been lifted off his feet by hundreds of people in Burkina Faso, and walked out of a Mississippi murder house that nobody could bring themselves to buy. All in the name of independent filmmaking.Howard J Ford is a British filmmaker, director, and cinematographer whose films include The Dead, Never Let Go, The Ledge, River of Blood, Dark Game, Escape, and Bonekeeper — out now on Prime Video & Apple TV. His new action thriller Zipwire is heading to Cannes, and if his track record is anything to go by, it won't be long before it lands on your streaming service of choice.Why filming Bonekeeper in real caves in Wales and Herefordshire meant learning to light absolute darknessThe Burkina Faso incident: filming in a village with no electricity, sitting on pots containing dead relatives, and being swept off his feet by hundreds of people at the end of the shootThe haunted house in Clarksdale, Mississippi, where both Howard and his producer felt something was seriously wrongThe screenplay Howard wrote, which Morgan Freeman once wanted to star inWhy boredom is the starting point for everything — and how every film begins as a blank void before thousands of images and a story slowly emerge from nothingThe cannibal on a bicycle who stayed to watch the shoot — and why he was laughingConnect with Howard here:InstagramFacebookFind us on social media — links on the About page. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first of a 3 part series for the Ryeland Flock Book Society, I speak to an old friend of the Toplines and Tales podcast, livestock historian Clive Davies, as well as local breeder Jonathan Webb, about the ancient history of the Ryeland Breed. Dating back to medieval times, the breed rose to prominence in Herefordshire and the surrounding areas and found global fame for its excellent quality wool. We speak about it's remarkable journey through the ages in a highly interesting episode. 

Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Kate Speke Adams

Send us Fan MailWelcome to this special episode of the English Wine Diaries, in partnership with London Wine Fair.The 2026 London Wine Fair – taking place at Olympia London on 18th to 20th May – will, for the first time, showcase a specific country or region as the centrepiece, and this year it's Great Britain!There will be the largest presence of British producers in the show's 45-year history and, of course, that includes plenty of English wine.Visitors will be able to taste hundreds of wines from produces across the UK, attend panel discussions, such as How to Make English wine mainstream, and in an exclusive partnership with Tiny Wine, there are 84 free tasting kits showcasing a selection of standout British still red wines.Indeed, some of you listening may have already picked up a pack and scanned the QR code, but if you're tuning in pre-show make sure you have secured your entry ticket to the show at LondonWineFair.com so that you can snap up one of the complimentary packs from stand B60.I spoke to the producers behind those six wines – 1276 Wines in Herefordshire, Flint Vineyard in Norfolk, Bolney Wine Estate in West Sussex, Sandridge Barton in Devon, Williams Family Wines in Cambridgeshire and Lyme Bay, which makes wines from grapes grown in Essex – to deep dive into how two red wine grapes – Pinot Noir and Pinot Noir Precoce grow and develop in different parts of the country.Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com. 

In this episode of Eat Sleep Wine Repeat, Janina takes you inside the London Wine Fair to explore the rise of English wine and its growing presence on the global stage. Through conversations with leading producers - Simpson's Wine Estate, Roebuck Estates, 1276 Wines and Everflyht - this episode dives into the people, wines and techniques shaping modern English wine. From Pinot Meunier clones and Bacchus to sustainability, sparkling wine production and tasting highlights, this is a must-listen if you want to better understand English wine and discover the styles, grapes and producers to know. And don't forget, if you are in the wine trade, block out the dates 18-20 May for London Wine Fair 2026, Olympia, London. 02:06 – Introduction to English wine at London Wine Fair - a key moment for this growing wine region. 04:23 – Pinot Meunier clones - why they're less discussed but still important wine grapes. 05:27 – What defines a Simpson's wine - terroir, identity and precision winemaking. 08:55 – New pressing technologies – innovation in English winemaking. 10:10 – Simpsons, Roman Road Chardonnay 2023 £32 - what to expect in balance, minerality and texture. 12:39 – Export markets - how English wine is expanding globally. 14:35 – Misconceptions about English wine - understanding quality and value. 17:13 – Simpsons Wines to discover at London Wine Fair  18:27 – Roebuck Estates and vineyard-focused winemaking. 22:19 – Blending decisions - shaping house style and consistency in sparkling wine. 24:45 – Tasting Roebuck, Rosé de Noir 2019 £42  - structure, fruit and lees complexity. 26:31 – Pinot Noir Précoce - early ripening and its role among English wine grapes. 29:15 – Rare Expression wines - small batch experimentation and aging potential. 32:04 – Ecology in the vineyard - sustainability and innovation in modern wine education. 34:27 – Roebuck Wines available to try at London Wine Fair. 34:52 – 1276 Wines and Herefordshire as a surprising wine region. 40:44 – Climate challenges - rainfall, ripening and regional differences. 42:34 – Bacchus explained - a signature English wine grape to watch. 44:50 – Acidity in English wines - balancing freshness and texture. 47:32 – Tasting 1276, Chardonnay 2024 £24 - floral aromatics, structure and elegance. 48:34 – Experimentation with Cabernet Sauvignon - pushing boundaries in cool-climate viticulture. 50:45 – 1276 Wines to try at London Wine Fair. 51:28 – Everflyht and regenerative viticulture. 52:51 – Vineyard philosophy - sustainability, soil health and long-term thinking. 54:49 – Canopy management - the technique with the biggest impact on fruit quality. 55:29 – Manual vs mechanical work - precision vs efficiency in the vineyard. 56:49 – Leaf stripping explained - sunlight exposure and vine balance. 58:17 – Managing vine growth - long-term vineyard strategy. 59:34 – Regenerative viticulture - one practical change with measurable impact. 01:03:04 – Everflyht Cuvée Edition 3 £30 - Solera system continutes to the uniqueness. 01:04:34 – Everflyht New Wine: Wylde - Charmat vs traditional method in English sparkling wine. 01:06:16 – Everflyht wines to try at London Wine Fair.

On this episode of Living Permaculture, Vanessa interviews Looby Macnamara, an author, permaculture designer, gardener, song leader, and artist from Herefordshire, United Kingdom. They discuss Looby's latest book, "Design Adventures: Discover a Creative Framework for Effective Change", and how weaving this playful design methodology into daily life can awaken, invigorate, and empower individuals and communities. Tune into Living Permaculture on KDNK.org the third Monday of each month at 4pm.

Send a textJoining me on today's episode of the English wine Diaries is Ceri Phipps, co-founder of Two Beacons, a family-owned vineyard on the border of Herefordshire and Worcestershire in the Malvern Hills National Landscape. Ceri founded the vineyard in 2018, along with school friend Tim Dutton, on part of Ceri's family estate, with a focus on growing Bacchus, Pinot Précoce and Pinot Noir. The team initially planted around 4,000 vines but has since planted a further 12,000, adding Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier varieties, which will be used to extend the range of traditional method sparkling wines when the vines come into production in 2027.Currently Two Beacons, which is part of the Malvern Hills Vineyard Group,  produces a sparkling Rosé Pinot Noir, still Bacchus and Pinot Noir precoce, which can be sampled at their Tasting Room in the heart of Great Malvern. 2025 was an award-winning year for the team with three Silver medals at the Wine GB Awards and two Bronze medals at the Decanter World Wine Awards. Keep up to date with the progress at Two Beacons by following them on Instagram @twobeaconsvineyard or visiting twobeaconsvineyard.com.This episode of The English Wine Diaries is sponsored by Rankin Bros & Sons — trusted suppliers of corks, closures, and packaging solutions to the UK wine industry since 1774. To learn more about how Rankin is supporting the future of British wine, visit rankincork.co.uk. Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at englishwinediaries.com. 

The meat industry say increased charges for Food Standards Agency staff such as abattoir vets and inspectors could threaten some operations. New charges come into force at the end of this month, and the hourly rate for some services will be more than 20% higher. The Food Standards Agency says a global vet shortage means it is having to pay more to recruit and retain them, and there are other inflationary pressures across the sector. We speak to the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers. Food producers, manufacturers, importers and exporters are all being asked to get prepared early for the new trading system under the EU/UK Trade Agreement, which is expected to come in next year. The new agreement will include a relaxation of the food biosecurity paperwork, known as SPS or Sanitary and Phytosanitary rules. The International Chambers of Commerce say this is good news. And trade disruption caused by the war in the Middle East has pushed oil and fertiliser prices up. Farmers here are worried there could be shortages of imported fertiliser. With this in mind, some farmers are looking at ways of mitigating the situation. David Morgan keeps a large herd of beef cattle at Peterchurch in Herefordshire's Golden Valley. He's invested in slurry separating equipment to help produce better home grown fertiliser.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

I'm back in my kitchen - this really feels like the place to speak to you - and I've been thinking this week about the juxtaposition between joy and pain, between the bitter and the sweet.It's something that came up in a conversation I had recently, and something that's been arising in the Gratitude Quest. So I thought we could reflect on that together today.In this episode, I explore:• How we learn to make space for both joy and pain within us - not as a meme of 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger,' but as a genuine capacity• Why cacao is a beautiful representation of the balance of bitter and sweet • A blessing I received from a wonderful teacher: 'I see you in your pain and your magnificence'• My own journey of believing I could only hold joy or pain, never both — and how I chose joy as my raison d'être, which became unsustainable• The devastating period of grief when I told Anton 'I feel as though I'm never going to smile again'• Getting really ill ten years ago and beginning to understand what would truly serve me• The awakening - deep, deep, deep down in the bowels of my belly - that I have the capacity to hold joy and pain simultaneously• An invitation to feel into where you are on this journey, and to know this capacity exists simply because of our humanityI close with a poem from My darling girl that I don't often share, but that appeared when I opened the book today. It speaks to the expansiveness of a heart that has space for every part of us.I also share details about two offerings: The Weekend of No Requirements 16-19 October (a luxurious retreat in Herefordshire with no requirements upon you to be anything other than how you feel) and Awakening Hopes and Dreams, a small group course beginning 26 March, 12.00-1.15pm (UK).Settle in, and see where the episode takes you. ★ Support this podcast ★

Send a textThis special podcast episode is a recording of a talk given by Dr Bruce Tocher at Hereford Welsh Club on 5th March 2026.  The subject was Operation Freshman, the first glider borne raid of the Second World War, which  the Vemork Norsk Hydro hydrogen electrolysis plant in Telemark, Norway.   Bruce, who has studied the operation in great detail, explained the reasoning behind the raid, the selection and training of the men involved and the events of 19th November 1942 and the aftermath.Introducing the talk, museum curator Col Andy Taylor drew attention to Sapper Thomas William Faulkner, son of Charles Henry and Florence Faulkner, of Hereford, who served with 9th Field Company (Airborne) Royal Engineers and took part in the operation.  His father, uncle and grandfather had all served with the Herefordshire Regiment; his grandfather being the oldest casualty of the Regiment at Gallipoli.Bruce outlined how the Halifax bombers and gliders managed to reach the Norwegian coast, but neither was able to reach their objective. The first pair suffered from navigational difficulties and severe weather, which resulted in the tow rope snapping and the first glider crash-landing, with its Halifax tug aircraft returning to base. Three airborne troops were killed and the survivors were captured shortly after the crash. The second pair fared even worse, with both the aircraft and glider crashing into a mountain after the aircraft flew low in search of the first glider. Both members of the glider crew were killed instantly, while one soldier passenger died soon afterwards from his injuries. Those who survived the crashes were captured by German forces and killed as a result of Wehrmacht's Commando Order, which stated that any Allied personnel captured while involved in commando operations were to be killed immediately. At the end of the war, the Wehrmacht personnel involved were tried, sentenced to death and executed for their part in the murders. A number of descendants and family members of Operation Freshman were present to hear this poignant and superbly researched talk, which was mounted in aid of Museum funds.Support the showIf you like what you hear, don't forget to like and subscribe to help us reach a wider audience. Visit our website - Herefordshire Light Infantry Museum; follow us on Facebook Herefordshire Regimental Museum | Facebook or visit our Youtube channel Herefordshire Regimental Museum - YouTube.Support the Museum? Become a Patreon supporter or a Become a FriendTheme Tune - The Lincolnshire Poacher, performed by the outstanding Haverhill Silver Band. This podcast generously supported by the Army Museums Ogilby Trust.

Former GB cyclist-turned-adventurer and solo ocean rower Annasley Park has built her life on the value of fortitude. In this episode of the Optimising Human Performance Podcast, she shares her journey, including her experiences with injury and burnout. She introduces the ‘fortitude mindset', built on feral intelligence, visualisation, and emotion, and shares practical routines that anchored her through fear, fatigue and uncertainty.Guest, Cast & CrewAnnasley Parks speaks from lived experience about leadership under pressure, performing in uncertainty, managing fear, and sustaining high performance without burnout.At just twenty-nine years of age, she is the ninth solo, unsupported and independent woman in history to row three thousand miles across the Atlantic Ocean. A former professional cyclist, white-water raft instructor, Alpine chalet manager and superyacht deckhand. Annasley has spent over a decade working in demanding and unpredictable environments where resilience, adaptability, decision-making under pressure and self-leadership were essential skills.Growing up on the military estates of Herefordshire, Annasley found her freedom in the mountains through sports, ultimately building a professional cycling career with the Great Britain Cycling Team, competing on the road and track, and signing for a UCI World Tour-level road team. However, injuries cut this chapter short, teaching her early lessons in rebuilding and resilience when identity and purpose is lost.She went on to explore unconventional career paths that took her from source to sea. From Alpine chalet management to white-water rafting on the American rivers, and four years serving as a deckhand on superyachts, travelling all over the world with high-profile clients. Annasley gained unique insights into navigating diverse environments and thriving outside the conventional structures.Despite her physical, mental and emotional fortitude, Annasley experienced severe burnout in 2023. That period led her to question what truly sustains people when pressure rises, plans fail, fear sets in, and motivation runs out. Her Ocean Survivoar Challenge became the ultimate test of all the knowledge, skills, resources and networks she had developed. In less than a year, she brought the project to the starting line, assembling a world-class team of experts in ocean rowing, communications, medical and equipment support, and more, ensuring the expedition's success.Her Atlantic row was more than a test of endurance. It was a journey into the critical 20% zone. An unpredictable space she calls the messy middle, a threshold of transition where you are no longer who you once were, but not yet who you are becoming. This is a space where human capacity outlasts the plan. The lessons she learned in that zone form the foundation of The Fortitude System, built on the disciplines of solitude, magnitude and attitude of any given challenge or faced adversity, helping audiences convert chaos into clarity, overwhelm into sustainable performance and fear into action.Hosted by Martin Jones & Jonpaul Nevin https://www.ophp.co.uk Produced & edited by Bess ManleyResourceshttps://annasleypark.com/https://www.instagram.com/annasleypark/ Thanks for tuning in. If you found this podcast valuable, please take a moment to rate, share & review. If you have feedback, guest suggestions or topics that you'd love us to cover, then do email us at info@ophp.co.uk or connect with us on LinkedIn. Chapters01:23 Podcast Setup and Welcome02:26 From Running to GB Cycling04:06 Inside British Cycling Culture08:03 Injuries Identity and Retirement09:48 Where the Drive Comes From10:49 Post Cycling Adventures and Burnout18:25 Ocean Rowing Begins 21:17 Chaos at Sea22:22 Fortitude Mindset Tools24:46 Lows and Liminal Space27:06 Scraping Barnacles 29:17 Bird Companion and Team30:39 Flow State Ocean Signs33:04 Purpose and Charity Mission35:25 Advice for Young People39:24 Enjoy the Middle Space40:49 Where to Follow Next41:27 Final Podcast WrapThanks for listening to Optimising Human Performance.This podcast is for people who can't afford to fail. Each episode gives you practical, evidence‑based tools you can apply in the real world.For more about the podcast, speaking, coaching, and mentoring, visit:www.ophp.co.ukConnect with us:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ophp/Instagram: @ophumanperformanceIf you found this episode useful, please share it with one colleague, subscribe, and leave a review – it helps us reach more people who operate in high‑stakes environments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We return to Wildside Exotic Rescue in Herefordshire, where owner Lindsay Mckenna now cares for 11 pumas, a lynx, a serval and many other animals which were exotic captives needing new and better homes. Our 4 guests describe their own sightings of pumas wild in Britain, and compare them to the pumas at Wildside...   Jenny near Bath watched a puma exploring her garden at 6.30am in 2023 before it loped off into the adjacent wood. Tracey re-lives her close encounter with a grey-tone puma in Chile, and prompts discussion on pumas avoiding people even when close by. John Bilney explains how he sets up trail cams at woodland edges in the south Cotswolds, after he confronted two pumas on a cycle to work one morning.Jon from Carmarthen recounts the hissing puma in front of his car as it cornered a bend in south-west Wales, experienced just 5 days before the podcast recording.  The guests chat with Lindsay about the challenges of caring for pumas at Wildside, as we hear the puma sounds in the background as they feed on portions of locally culled fallow deer. Rick offered the pumas their first taste of boiled eggs…Website for Wildside Exotic Rescue, where we recorded this episode. Note the cottages for hire, the Open Days, and the Donations pages, as ways of supporting Wildside. https://www.wildsideexoticrescue.co.uk/ Words of the week:   coalition of cats 28 February 2026    

Send a textIn this episode, Col Andy Taylor and Rev Paul Roberts take a springtime visit to Peterchurch in the Golden Valley on Herefordshire's western border with Wales.  Standing in the corner of the churchyard, they spot the grave of a Victoria Cross winner and explore the story of Robert Jones VC of the South Wales Borderers.  They uncover the story of how Pte Jones won this highest of all gallantry awards at the Battle of Rorkes Drift in 1879, his depiction in the 1964 film Zulu, and his later life in Peterchurch after leaving the army, including his tragic death. A warning that this episode does feature the topic of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicide.A little later, in the nearby Boughton Arms, Andy and Paul discuss the importance of war memorials in town and village life - from the time of Robert Jones when the ordinary soldier was unlikely to be memorialised, through the Second Boer War and the First World War when such memorials became an essential focus for individual and communal grief.  The poem "Drummer Hodge" by Thomas Hardy gets a mention, along with the temporary cenotaph set up in High Town, its eventual permanent replacement in St Peter's Square, Hereford, along with a number of other local war memorials which were installed in the county between 1919 and 1926.  Kings Pyon, Walford, Staunton-on-Wye and Tupsley all get a mention, and the commissioning of the hymn "O Valiant Hearts", first sung at the unveiling of Bodenham War Memorial is explored... with perhaps a promise of a later episde.Support the showIf you like what you hear, don't forget to like and subscribe to help us reach a wider audience. Visit our website - Herefordshire Light Infantry Museum; follow us on Facebook Herefordshire Regimental Museum | Facebook or visit our Youtube channel Herefordshire Regimental Museum - YouTube.Support the Museum? Become a Patreon supporter or a Become a FriendTheme Tune - The Lincolnshire Poacher, performed by the outstanding Haverhill Silver Band. This podcast generously supported by the Army Museums Ogilby Trust.

In this episode, as concern grows about funding for the government's flagship agri-environment scheme, we look at ways to farm profitably without subsidies. Farmers who are doing just that share their secrets at the Norfolk Farming Conference and the BASE UK conference in Huntingdon. They include Nottinghamshire farmer Joe Howard, of Howard Farms and Grassroots Farming; and Cotswolds farmer Henry Astor, of Bruern Farms, who is supplying Gails bakeries. We also talk to Cambridgeshire farmer David Wheatley, of Petite Peonies; and Lancashire farmer Martin Caunce, of Brow Farm. We also discuss the LinkedIn article about future funding for the Sustainable Farming Incentive by Geoff Sansome, former head of agriculture at Natural England. We find out how to add extreme value to farm output – and how to harness the power of social media as a valuable marketing tool to consumers. And we meet Sam Stables – the Herefordshire farmer who raised more than £40,000 for charity by walking 142 miles to London during Mind Your Head Week. If you wish to make a donation, you can do so via Sam's fundraising page. This episode of the Farmers Weekly Podcast is co-hosted by Johann Tasker, Louise Impey and Hugh Broom. Edited and produced by Johann Tasker. Contact or follow Johann: linkedin.com/in/johanntasker/ Contact or follow Louise: linkedin.com/in/louise-impey-95470b20b/ Contact or follow Hugh: linkedin.com/in/hugh-broom-9b11906a/ For Farmers Weekly, visit fwi.co.uk or follow linkedin.com/company/farmers-weekly To contact the Farmers Weekly Podcast, email podcast@fwi.co.uk. In the UK, you can also text the word FARM followed by your message to 88 44 0. We'd love to hear from you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the Tales of a Nuffield Scholar series I had the pleasure of chatting with Ben Taylor Davies

UK dairy farmers are living through what's been called the sharpest milk price drop in history. We look at the causes with dairy analyst Chris Walkland.Earlier this week, the author of a Government commissioned review of profitability in farming, former National Farmers Union president Baroness Batters, was questioned by MPs. She told the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs Committee that civil servants needed to spend some time 'in the lambing shed' to understand farming more fully, and that farmers also needed to understand more about Whitehall culture.England's Farm Business Survey figures for 2024-25 showed that incomes increased by 49% on average across all farm types. Business consultant, James Webster-Rusk, explains that the headline figure conceals difficult times for arable farmers, and that diversification as well as environment scheme payments are the difference between profit and loss for many farms.And...feeding livestock in winter, a new crop to cut costs on a Welsh dairy farm, the impact of drought in Herefordshire, organic farmers grappling with updated rules, and we jump into the lorry of a hay merchant delivering to the Isle of Lewis.Presenter: Charlotte Smith Producer: Sarah Swadling

The government is promising a complete overhaul of the water system, which it says will protect households from disrupted water supplies and bring in tougher oversight of water companies. The new water white paper, which paves the way for the Water Reform Bill, proposes the abolition of Ofwat to create a new regulator. It promises new reforms bringing councils, water companies, farmers, and developers together to deliver joined-up local plans to tackle river pollution, water resources and housing growth. We ask the Rivers Trust what it means for agriculture and the health of our rivers.All week we're talking about winter feed - from simple grass to complex proteins. Some farmers have already used up the forage which they grew to feed their animals over the winter. We visit a dairy farmer in Herefordshire who's had to buy in maize to feed his livestock and reduced his herd numbers because there's a shortage of fodder.Glyphosate is a commonly used but controversial weedkiller. Councils use it kill off weeds and it's used in regenerative farming to kill off cover crops, planted to help protect and nourish soils over the winters, before planting the main crop. In the USA courts have ruled that the chemicals in it are linked to cancer. In the UK, the government's reviewing whether it should still be allowed. We speak to farmers, scientists and campaigners about its future.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Charles may be King of England, but who is the King or Queen of royal fashion? How do Royals choose what they wear day-to-day?What is the most iconic Royal fashion moment ever?And just how influential was Princess Diana as a style icon?On Talking Royals this week, Charlene White is joined by Royal Editor Chris Ship, Royal Expert Lizzie Robinson, and Omi from fashion label Vin + Omi.The fashion brand has created pioneering fabrics and clothing from waste from the King's royal estate.He tells us how the King loved their work so much that he would send boxes of his weeds to them during lockdown!The panel shares their favourite royal fashion moments - from Charles in pink to Kate's stunning coronation dress, and of course Diana's 'athleisure' look.Meanwhile, as workers prepare Marsh Farm, the rumoured next home for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, when will he move out of Windsor and into Sandringham?On Thursday, the Prince of Wales traded in his suit for a flat cap and made his way to Herefordshire to raise awareness of rural mental health as patron of We Are Farming Minds.Plus, did you catch the Duchess of Edinburgh's personal essay in the Daily Telegraph?Sophie is royal patron of Plan International and wrote to mark and raise awareness of 1000 days of war in Sudan.

Prince Andrew prepares to leave Royal Lodge sooner than expected as a small but vocal group of royal watchers argue the backlash against him has gone too far. Reports suggest he is relocating to Sandringham, with work already under way at Marsh Farm. Meanwhile, Kate is said to be furious over claims Andrew blames her for his downfall. Also in this episode: a new book on William and Catherine, the Princess hosts England's women's rugby champions at Windsor Castle, and William spotlights the mental health crisis facing farmers during a rainy visit to Herefordshire.Palace Intrigue is your daily royal family podcast, diving deep into the modern-day drama, power struggles, and scandals shaping the future of the monarchy.Hear our new show "Crown and Controversy: Prince Andrew" here.Check out "Palace Intrigue Presents: King WIlliam" here.

Tracey had a prolonged and close view of a black panther outside her car at a forest edge in Gloucestershire in 2001. Two years later she was able to compare the cat with a black leopardess at Heythrop private zoo in the Cotswolds. Tracey recounts other big cat reports from family and friends, including from her sister who was a sceptic until seeing a black panther in the same general area, and from friends who were confronted by a puma on a cycleway near Stroud.Tracey has had two puma encounters herself. The first on a mountain path when trekking in Patagonia, and then in October 2025, when driving on the edge of Cirencester. Rick recalls past big cat sightings in precisely the same area of Cirencester, unknown to Tracey.  In a final segment we play voice messages from Craig in Herefordshire as he follows up ep129 when he reported a puma on one of his trail cams. In December Craig was charged by a puma just meters from that camera and he's twice seen watching eye shine at close range. We then hear from Mark Graves, from ep 95, as he responds to Craig's comments and queries about these recent events.  Word of the week:   zoophobia11 January 2026

The Welsh Government's Sustainable Farming Scheme has come into force. It replaces the Basic Payment Scheme which has been phased out since the UK left the EU. What will it mean for Welsh farmers? We speak to a farmer near Brecon to find out.Environmental groups in Scotland are leaving the advisory boards on the country's new agriculture schemes in protest at what they say is a failure to address climate change and nature depletion. RSPB Scotland, Scottish Environment Link and other groups say they no longer have confidence in what they say was supposed to be to co-design of the post-Brexit schemes but in fact has ignored their views and failed to deliver meaningful reform. The Scottish Government says it is creating new policies that will deliver for both nature and the climate.Thousands of farmers, environmentalists and policy makers converge on Oxford this week for the annual Oxford Farming Conference and Oxford Real Farming Conference. This year, the Oxford Farming Conference theme is growing resilience, concentrating on how farmers can create the conditions on their land, and in their businesses, to weather future challenges. Climate change is just one of those. We visit a farmer in Herefordshire whose land has been repeatedly flooded. He's working with other farmers to make their businesses more resilient on a landscape scale.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Sam & Tom sit down to discuss their recent trip to Kington in Herefordshire. The highest course in England, Kington offers spectacular views and great architecture from C. K. Hutchison. We talk tangential historic tidbits and the style and playability of the course. Send us a message if you liked the showIf you've enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!You can follow us along below @cookiejargolf Instagram / Facebook / Twitter / YouTube / Website

My Story   Talk 34   Overcoming New Challenges Welcome to Talk 34 in our series where I'm reflecting on God's goodness to me throughout my life. Last time I was mentioning some of the health challenges I faced in India and today I will be describing how these continued for some time once we were back in England. I will also be talking about the serious health challenges Eileen faced during the last ten years of her life. I take no pleasure in recording all this, but an honest account of my life must include the hard times as well as the good, and, of course, the Lord has brought me through. Challenges following India Fortunately, there was little in my diary for the first few weeks after our return from India and I soon began to feel better. I thought I was back to normal and in April we set off for two weekends of ministry in Essex. We would stay with Eileen's sister Joan in Billericay and the first weekend I would preach in Witham and a week later in our old church in Colchester. On the first Saturday we drove from our home in Paignton straight to Witham, a journey of about 250 miles, and I preached in the afternoon and evening meetings. We then made our way to Billericay, returning to Witham for the Sunday morning service. I had felt fine on the Saturday, but on Sunday I suddenly started to feel unwell again shortly before I was due to preach. The symptoms were like those I had had in India, and I went outside to get some fresh air. However, I managed to get through the preaching but was grateful to get back to Billericay. The next day Joan arranged an appointment for me with her GP who, hearing that I had been bitten by a mosquito in India and suspecting that I might have malaria, sent me for tests at the hospital in Basildon. Although these tested negative, I was still worried that there was something seriously wrong with me and just wanted to get back home to Paignton. Apologising profusely, I asked our friends at Colchester to release me from my commitment to preach the following weekend and we drove home later that week, unsure of what the future might hold. The next two years proved to be extremely difficult. I continued to experience similar problems every time I preached. In May 2010 I drove up to Huddersfield for the AoG conference but was so stressed that I returned home without attending a meeting. I immediately arranged an appointment with my GP, Mark Thompson, a good Christian man, and told him my whole story. He reminded me that as Christians we are not immune to such things and recommended some books that might help explain my condition. It appears that my experience in India, caused by extreme heat, dehydration, and overwork, triggered a rush of adrenalin which produced the symptoms I was struggling with. I learnt that worrying about the symptoms only made matters worse because that causes a further rush of adrenalin. I was caught in a vicious circle, and the only way out was to embrace the symptoms, tell myself that they would not harm me, and gradually I would get better. And that's what happened, although it did take a long time. Following my visit to the doctor I cancelled my two-week trip to teach at the Bible College in Finland in May. We did go to Madeira for a three week holiday in June, but this turned out to be disappointing because of my recurring symptoms. However, in September I did manage to teach for two weeks at Mattersey, preach for a weekend in Pocklington, and assisted by Bob Hyde, teach a course at CTS in Brussels for a week. I was still experiencing the symptoms but managing to cope with them – at least most of the time. But there were still occasions when I felt unable to preach. In October I cancelled a weekend in Poynton and in November I was unable to complete a weekend's ministry in Aston. I began to wonder if the time had come for me to give up. But less than two weeks later the Lord suddenly intervened. Eileen and I were in Exeter at a meeting for Assemblies of God ministers and their wives. The guest preacher was John Glass, the General Superintendent of the Elim Churches. He was preaching on Jeremiah 1 when he came to verses 11-12: The word of the LORD came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?" "I see the branch of an almond tree," I replied. The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled." He explained the play on words that we find in these verses – the Hebrew word for almond is very similar to the word for watch. The almond tree is among the first to blossom in spring. It's something you watch for as a sign that spring has come. Winter will be followed by spring because God watches over his word to see that it is fulfilled. Now in England most of us don't see an almond tree too often, so John likened it to crocuses. In his garden they're the first flowers to bloom in spring. They're the sign or guarantee that winter won't be forever. Then John broke away from his notes and said something like this: There are some of you here who are feeling that your ministry has come to an end. You have been experiencing a bleak winter, but the Lord wants you to know that it will not be forever. You will experience a new springtime. Eileen and I looked at each other. Was this for us? Surely it must be. But there were a lot of other people in that meeting. Could it be that John's prophetic word was for them and not for us? We drove home after the meeting hoping, rather than believing, that this really was a word from the Lord for us. And then, that evening, Jill Cooper, one of our friends from church, arrived on our doorstep and said, I've brought you a little present. To be honest, I had bought it for someone else, but then I felt the Lord tell me to give it to you instead.  What was the present? A bowl of crocuses! How good God is! He gave us the assurance that I would emerge from this dark period of winter into a new springtime of ministry. We sometimes have to go through a valley of shadow, but he is with us in it all the way. So in 2011, whenever the symptoms reoccurred, I pressed through them, knowing that this condition wouldn't last forever. In March I flew to Scotland to speak to the AoG ministers, in May we went back to Finland to teach at Iso Kirja for two weeks, in September I taught for two weeks at Mattersey, and in October I was back at CTS again. None of these occasions was easy. In fact, I often felt really unwell, but everyone always said that, if I hadn't told them, they would not have known anything was wrong with me! I'm not quite sure how much longer it took to get back to normal. In fact, I'm not really sure what 'normal' is! We all deteriorate physically as we get older and our energy levels are not what they were. When I look back at what I was doing in the years before Mattersey and throughout my time there, I wonder now how I possibly managed it all. What was normal for me then is far beyond my capabilities now, but I have moved into a new springtime in my ministry and people tell me that at 87 I'm not doing badly for my age, for which I am grateful. Challenges to Eileen's health But my health challenges were nothing compared with those faced by Eileen in the last ten years of her life. On Sunday 21st December 2014 quite unexpectedly at about 9am Eileen started to experience severe pain in her stomach as she was getting ready for church. As the pain was unrelenting, causing Eileen to pass out a couple of times, by 3pm I decided I needed to call 999. I accompanied Eileen in the ambulance while Jonathan followed by car. After waiting with her a few hours, Jon and I were advised to go home and await the results of an MRI scan.  At about 10.30 that evening the surgeon phoned to ask us to go in to discuss options for Eileen. It was clear that the situation was very serious. On arrival at the hospital, we were told that the scan had revealed that the blood supply had been cut off from Eileen's bowel and that her smaller bowel had died. Without an immediate operation she would die. There was even the possibility that the condition was already too far advanced for them to be able to save her. Furthermore, even if they were able to save her, there was a strong possibility that she would need to have a permanent colostomy. Eileen agreed with us that we should agree to the operation and trust God for the best possible outcome. We prayed with her, of course, but as you can imagine, for the next few hours we were on an emotional roller-coaster, experiencing all the ups and downs from fear to faith, but with a determination to trust God, come what may. We simply could not believe that it was God's time for Eileen to go to Heaven and kept praying that he would spare her. Imagine our relief when at one o'clock on Monday morning the surgeon phoned to say that she had the best possible news for us. Eileen's bowel was alive! What had been causing the pain was an internal hernia which they had been able to fix. None of her bowel had needed to be removed and the blood supply had been restored.   Now bearing in mind the certainty with which the surgeon told us that Eileen's bowel had died we were convinced that this was not just a case of faulty diagnosis, but that God had worked an amazing miracle in restoring Eileen's bowel to life. God had allowed man to do what he could but intervened to do what man could not do – restore a dead bowel to life! We were so grateful for the prayers of the many people who interceded for Eileen throughout this difficult time and to God for his miraculous intervention. I never cease to be amazed at his wonderful grace and goodness to us. But the operation had been very invasive and left Eileen severely weakened for months. And she never fully regained the strength and energy she had lost, but that, of course, may have been partly caused by the fact that she was not getting any younger. And neither was I! In April 2015 we had a few days' break in the Lake District and neither of us felt like walking very far. It was much the same in September when we went to the Isle of Wight, but on both these holidays we contented ourselves with driving around in the car, visiting old haunts, marvelling at the beauty of God's creation, and, of course, enjoying the food. We planned two short holidays for 2016, the first in Longtown, a village in Herefordshire close to the Welsh border in May. After preaching in Rugby on the Sunday morning, we drove there in the afternoon and spent a few delightful days in a charming cottage on the banks of the River Monnow, returning to Brixham the following weekend. The second holiday, planned for a week in September at the southern end of Coniston Water, never happened. In June I flew to Ireland to preach for a weekend in Sligo where Daniel Caldwell, one of our former students, was leading a church. On Sunday morning I preached on Jesus calming the storm in Matthew 8 and I remember saying that sometimes unexpected problems suddenly arise in our lives, but Jesus is well able to see us through them and get us to the other side. Who knows what might happen this week? But whatever happens Jesus is with us. And I flew home that afternoon. I have preached that message many times, but little did I know what was to happen just two days later. On Tuesday evening, sitting in her armchair Eileen had a severe stroke and was rushed into Torbay Hospital. From head to toe she had no feeling down the right side of her body. The next Sunday, still in hospital, she suffered another stroke and we were told that the outlook was extremely bleak. She was rushed to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth and underwent surgery to relieve the pressure on her brain. Her life had been saved. After eleven days she was transferred back to Torbay where she remained for eight days until a bed was available at Newton Abbot where she began a course of rehab. Throughout this time we were all looking to the Lord for a complete healing, whether instantaneous or gradual, but her progress was extremely slow, and it was becoming increasingly clear that she needed a miracle if she would ever walk again. And although the healing miracle we were praying for never happened, we could see the hand of the Lord at work in other ways. Firstly, on July 28th when we were sitting in the hospital day room and eating cake to celebrate our wedding anniversary, the Torbay doctor who had told us that the outlook was extremely bleak approached us and said, I'm looking for Eileen Petts. And when he saw her he said, I can't believe it. Which was something he repeated more than once during the fifteen minutes he was with us. He clearly had not expected Eileen to survive, and this encouraged our faith that God was at work in the situation. On 10th August, after eight weeks in three different hospitals, Eileen finally came home. And that, in itself, was a miracle. We had been told just a few days earlier that Eileen would have to be discharged as her bed was needed for someone else. To continue her rehab she could either go into a care home if we could find one that would take her, or the NHS would provide rehab workers to come to our home, but we would need to find a home care company to take care of Eileen's other needs. The problem was that at the time there were over 70 people in Torbay on a waiting list! I needed an answer – quick! And just in time the answer came. Just a day before Eileen had to be discharged, Trude Hyde came to me and said that she and her twin sister Sylvia would take care of Eileen if we would like them to. How wonderful! I didn't need to ask Eileen because I knew she would love it, but for the sake of all concerned, I felt I needed to ask the Lord for his guidance. And I did foresee one possible problem. I didn't know if I would be allowed to choose Eileen's carers or if they would require certain recognised medical qualifications. I needed an immediate answer to that question, and I didn't know where to find it. I was just going off to visit Eileen, and I didn't want to mention the twins' kind offer until I knew the answer in case it led to her being disappointed. And then I remembered that Katie, the daughter of our next-door neighbour, Sue, was the lead carer for the whole of Torbay. She would certainly know the answer. I was just about to go and knock on Sue's door when I changed my mind and said, Lord, if this is of you, before I get into the car, please let Sue come out without me knocking on her door. And that's what happened. No sooner had I prayed that prayer than Sue came out of her house. In less than five minutes Katie was on the phone and told me that I could choose whom I liked. Eileen was overjoyed, and Trude and Sylvia took care of her visiting our home four times a day for the next four years until we moved to a bungalow on the other side of town, when workers from Abide Care, Brixham, took over.  Eileen finally went to be with the Lord in February 2024 almost eight years after that awful stroke. She was always grateful that her condition was not physically painful, but frustrated at her inability to walk and do all those things we normally take for granted. And we both naturally wondered why the Lord had allowed this to happen. One Bible passage that Eileen found particularly helpful was 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 where Paul says: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. And the comfort and strength our Father gave to Eileen certainly did overflow to others, not least as a testimony to the dozens of carers from Abide who came into our home over the final four years of her life. Throughout this whole very difficult period both Eileen and I had been sustained by our Christian faith and by a particular word received from the Lord through Barrie Taylor, our daughter Sarah's father-in-law. Barrie and Sandra live some distance away and we normally only saw them once or twice a year. On one such occasion when Eileen seemed to be making little progress after her stroke we were all having a meal together at Berry Head Hotel, when Barrie said the Lord had given him a word for us: My Father is at work in your lives and situation which He is using as a platform to display his sustaining grace. God sometimes uses amazing miracles of healing to display his power and love, but it is often the sustaining grace that he gives his people in times of suffering that brings others to faith. Through Eileen's suffering the lives of many were touched, people who might never have otherwise heard the good news about Jesus. And since she died there have been many opportunities to share the gospel. The funeral staff at the crematorium were visibly moved and said they had never experienced a service like it and neighbours said the same thing about the church service that followed it. As Christians we know where we are going, and the knowledge that our loved ones are with the Lord is a source of great comfort and even joy. Although I still miss her every day, I sometimes weep for joy at the thought of how happy Eileen must now be in Heaven! And one day we shall meet again! But until then there is still work for me to do down here. But that's the subject of our final talk.

For this second episode in our Festive Folklore series for December 2025, I'm joined by my podcast pals, The Faerie Folk podcast and Sian Powell from Celtic Myths & Legends. We discuss some plant-based traditions from Herefordshire, the Mari Lwyd, and Cornwall's Montol Festival. We also talk about Christmas films, our own Christmas traditions, and what we'll be enjoying for Christmas dinner... Find The Faerie Folk at: https://thefaeriefolk.libsyn.com/ Find Celtic Myths & Legends at: https://celticmythspodcast.libsyn.com/ Get your free guide to home protection the folklore way here: https://www.icysedgwick.com/fab-folklore/ Become a member of the Fabulous Folklore Family for bonus episodes and articles at https://patreon.com/bePatron?u=2380595 Buy Icy a coffee or sign up for bonus episodes at: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick Fabulous Folklore Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/fabulous_folklore Pre-recorded illustrated talks: https://ko-fi.com/icysedgwick/shop Request an episode: https://forms.gle/gqG7xQNLfbMg1mDv7 Get extra snippets of folklore on Instagram at https://instagram.com/icysedgwick Find Icy on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/icysedgwick.bsky.social 'Like' Fabulous Folklore on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fabulousfolklore/

Despite a rise in the number of students taking up agriculture degrees over the last couple of years, not all courses are growing. The University of Nottingham is deciding whether to close its agriculture and business course at its Sutton Bonington campus. The University says applications for its farming courses have dropped, making them “less financially viable”. Students have started a petition to save the degree course.Cases of bird flu are still on the rise across the country, with outbreaks in all four nations of the UK and housing orders for England, Wales and Northern Ireland are in place, meaning all poultry has to now be housed if the flock totals more than fifty birds. We hear from farmers at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair in Builth Wells.All week we're looking at dairy farming. One family farm which has invested heavily in technology for the future is run by Rob Davies and his son Harry. Instead of selling the livestock, the farm in Herefordshire has built an aerobic digester to reduce energy costs, bought robots to milk the cows and grows all its own feed.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

A decline in demand for whiskey is being blamed for the closure and suspension of Scottish malting plants - something which farmers fear will also mean a decline in demand for barley. Maltsters process barley so it can be used in distilleries or brewing. Several plants have announced closures and redundancies, but the Maltsters Association of Great Britain says that although it has a been a challenging year, they are positive about the future.The BBC Food and Farming Awards ceremony has taken place, with three strong finalists in the Farming Today and The Archers Farming for the Future category: Grazing Management who manage conservation grazing in Herefordshire; The Free Company, a farm and restaurant on a former dairy farm near Edinburgh; and Hugh Wragham who grows hemp in Northumberland. The winners were brothers Charlie and Angus Buchanan-Smith from The Free Company.All this week we're considering farming across the world, as COP 30 continues. We speak to a first generation farmer who produces organic mushrooms as part of an agroforestry farm business in south Brazil. He says its important for farmers to be at COP to push for financing for agriculture which can combat climate change. New rules on the size of oysters that can be landed on the River Fal in Cornwall have been introduced - part of a bid to protect future stocks of the shellfish. It's the first change in regulation on the size of native oysters dredged from the Fal in a hundred years.Presenter = Charlotte Smith at Producer = Rebecca Rooney

An independent review of the way pigs are slaughtered has called for the use of carbon dioxide gassing to be prohibited, because it causes too much distress and pain to the animals. 90% of pigs reared in England and Wales are slaughtered this way. The report was carried out by the Animal Welfare Committee, an independent expert committee from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish government and the Welsh government. It recommends that argon gas should be used instead. We speak to vet Dr Jane Downes, who led the Animal Welfare Committee at the time the report was prepared. We also speak to the National Pig Association.All week we're looking at beer and cider. One of the biggest cider producers in the UK, producing 65 million litres every year, is Westons, based in Herefordshire. The business started in 1880, and now works with 180 apple growers and orchard owners in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire – the heart of apple country. We visit the production line.Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Rebecca Rooney

The Government's bill to ‘get Britain building' returns to the House of Lords for its report stage. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill gained more than sixty Government amendments earlier this month to streamline the process and give ministers more power to grant permission for big planning projects. However conservation campaigners are not happy about the developments, and the Government's rhetoric. All this week we're taking a look at the beer and cider industry, and the UK growers who make it possible. There are around 45 hop growers across the country, around half of them in the West Midlands. We speak to a farmer in Herefordshire as he harvests his crop and ask the Campaign for Real Ale about the market for home-grown hops.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

It's time to dig up some old bones! In this episode, Ash and Judith have left Tilly in her sickbed to sift through the bones of history to explore the theme of The Bare Bones! They discuss how this theme is so important within the field of archaeology and medieval life, as well as their own person anecdotes on death, happy skeletons and medieval memes!Monthly Book: Mort by Terry PratchettBooks MentionedThe Kingmaker's Daughter by Philippa GregoryThe White Queen by Philippa GregoryMedieval Children by Nicholas OrmeAll That Remains by Sue BlackMedieval Death: ritual and representation by Paul BinskiWigmore Castle, north Herefordshire: excavations 1996 and 1998, Stephanie RátkaiLinksRichard III's DiscoveryRichard III's DNA StudyOsteoarchaeological AnalysisIsotope AnalysisTarbat Discovery CentreContactDiscordWebsiteInstagramEmailMusic"Little Adventure" by Sergei ChetvertnykhTranscriptsFor rough transcripts of this episode, go to: https://www.archaeologypodcastnetwork.com/archaeo-book-club/07ArchPodNetAPN Website: https://www.archpodnet.comAPN on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpodnetAPN on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/archpodnetAPN on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpodnetAPN StoreAffiliatesMotion Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A Toast to Perry and Place Enjoy an intimate recording from the 2025 Totally Cider Tour_UK Edition. This unforgettable evening featured James Forbes of Little Pomona, leading guests through a cider dinner pairing in the Malvern Hills located on the border of Herefordshire and Worcestershire in England. James presents both a welcome Perry, Ciders and a very special aperitif. We beging with Brut Rosé Perry, crafted from perry pears co-fermented with local damsons. James shared how whole damsons are fermented via carbonic maceration to extract their rich color and flavor before being pressed with early season pears. The result: a radiant sparkling Perry with deep fruit notes and remarkable finesse. “We actually ferment the damsons whole in CO₂ and then co-press them with the first pears. It gives a whole new layer of aroma and flavor.” — James Forbes A Cider for the Table Next up was a single varietal Stoke Red cider, a rarity from Little Pomona's usual blends. James described it as a “fully fermented” cider that is balanced and dry yet vibrant, with a whisper of natural sweetness from the Rural Method. This approach captures the cider before all sugars ferment out, creating harmony between acidity and fruit. Check out Wilding Episode with Sam Leach on the Rural Method “Stoke Red is one of my top three apples. In a less ripe vintage, that touch of sugar brings perfect balance.” Select Cider Apples Dinner continued with Egremont Russet, a still cider with a light sparkle. The russet's golden skin and nutty depth create an almost wine-like cider. Notes of pineapple, anise, and honey appeared with each sip, echoing the richness of the food and the rustic charm of the evening. “FOMO” Caps the Night Dessert brought out a treasure: Little Pomona's “FOMO”—a playful nod to France's Pommeau. Only 192 bottles were made, combining distillate from Bramley apples and Kingston Black juice aged in chestnut barrels. It lent a sweet, amber nectar with layers of floral and plum notes, it was the perfect close to the evening. James Forbes with FOMO “We called it FOMO—a faux Pommeau—because you don't want to miss out on this one.” The Spirit of the Malvern Hills The evening concluded with words from Deborah Fox CEO of the Malvern Hills Trust, who shared the rich history and heritage of this cherished landscape—home to ancient Perry pears, cider orchards, and centuries of cultivation. Ria Windcaller and Deborah Fox “We keep the hills unbuilt, un-encroached upon, and un-urbanized. …The Perry pear and cider have always been part of this land's story.” Deborah Fox Contact info for Little Pomona Website: https://littlepomona.com Past episodes featuring Little Pomona 126: Little Pomona's Big Ciders! | Herefordshire, UK 181: The Cider Insider | 100 Craft Ciders to Drink Now 460: James Forbes on Little Pomona's Ciders & Legacy Contact info for Malvern Hills Trust Website: https://www.malvernhills.org.uk Mentions in this Cider Chat Vermont's 1000 Stone Farm – Farmers Hand Kitchen cider to watch for in 2026 Chapeau Bruin 465: The Integrated Table: Cider, Food, and Farming at 1000 Stone Farm Cider Chat Patreon 392: Bent Ladder Estate Ciders & Wine | Ohio Totally Cider Tours – France and UK

Newton Court Cider began as a 30-acre farm selling apples to Bulmers. When the market changed, Paul Stephens turned those same orchards into a modern day cider business. Front view of Newton Court's restaurant and visitor centre in Herefordshire, surrounded by orchards and outdoor seating. His early inspiration came from Brian Shanks, the co-founder of Bold Rock Cider in Virginia. Though Bold Rock produces cider on a large, industrial scale, it was Brian's perspective as a New Zealander who admired Herefordshire's rich cider apple heritage that sparked Paul's drive to build something lasting at home. Today, the recently built out Newton Court tasting room/restaurant is booming showing that tourist and locals alike are thirsty for a full service destination. Cider Making at Newton Court It was noted by Paul that his parents open-minded approach helped the farm transistion into the cider destination that it is today. In additon, a recent collaboration with River Cottage led to the award-winning Elderflower Cider, proving that tradition and creativity can thrive together. Newton Court remains deeply rooted in sustainable farming and regional pride, helping to preserve the orchards and cider heritage of Herefordshire for future generations. Contact Info for Newton Court Website: https://www.newtoncourtcider.com Totally Cider Tours Showering – Shepton Mallet Mill horizontal tanks for cider

Bluetongue affects ruminant animals, like Sheep and Cattle, and it's spread between animals by biting midges. The disease tends to subside as temperatures drop but vets are warning farmers not to become complacent about Bluetongue this autumn. Anna Hill hears from the British Veterinary Association.This week we're focussing on apples, plums and their ilk - known as Top Fruit. Today, a visit to a Herefordshire orchard growing apple varieties old and new, which is enjoying a good harvest.Anna visits a conference in North Norfolk, where farmers are at the sharp end of balancing farming for food production with farming for nature.Presenter: Anna Hill Producer: Sarah Swadling

UK Cider Tour 2025 Audio Snap Shots Wallace and Ria in Bristol In this Episode 469 of Cider Chat, we brings listeners inside the UK Totally Cider Tour 2025 through the voices of the guests who joined. From Somerset, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, to Wales guests on this tour discovered not just cider and perry, but also community, history, and inspiration. First Impressions and Highlights Many guests shared that they signed up to experience places they couldn't access on their own. From the scale of Showering's Cider Mill, the second largest in the country to the intimate welcome at Oliver's, the contrast certainly left a deep impression. The discovery of Perry was a recurring theme. From Ohio travelers Chris and Megan who tasted their very first Perry on the tour, while Rodney from Virginia declared he'd be grafting Perry scions at home. Personal Connections Group Selfie with Sam Leach of Wilding Cider For repeat travelers like Debbie and Bryce from California, the tour reaffirmed how relationships with makers enrich the experience: “ They treat us like friends, not tourists.” Ancha from Hungary spoke of the joy of hiking the Malvern Hills in the rain and celebrating with fellow cider lovers. Rachel and Mary of Kanga Cider in Texas noted the value of orchard insights for their own plantings back home, while Thomas from Australia praised the tour for covering the full spectrum of producers—from industrial to artisanal. Learning and Inspiration Guests emphasized that tasting ciders in their native terroir cannot be replaced by books or certifications. Dan from Spacetime Mead and Cider Works in Dunmore Pennsylvania highlighted how only by being in Herefordshire or Somerset can one grasp the range of English cider styles. Susan and Tom of Heeman's Cellars in Ontario pointed out how the pacing of the tour allowed real reflection—something missing from busier farm tours. The Takeaway Whether first-timers or repeat guests, everyone agreed: the Totally Cider Tour offers access, education, and camaraderie that can't be replicated alone. As David of Oregon said it best, “It wasn't really about the cider—it was about the people.” Contact info for Totally Cider Tours Website page: https://ciderchat.com/totally-cider-tours/ For details on upcoming cider journeys and to join the waitlist, send an email to info@ciderchat.com and write in the heading Totally Cider Tours. Let us know how many are in your party Destinations you would like to visit Mentions in this Cider Chat Episode 469 425: Babycham to Triple Vintage – The Showering's Cider Legacy 450th Roger Wilkins – The Cider King 444: Worleys and Honey's: Somerset's Cider Makers 441: Wilding Cider and the Rural Method | Somerset, UK 454: Wild Ferment Meets Fine Cider: Inside Oliver's Barrel Room 460: James Forbes on Little Pomona's Ciders & Legacy 432: Ancha Gergely's Abaliget Garden Projects | Hungarian Cider Maker

Changes to the costs, paperwork and bureaucracy that are hampering agri-food exports from Great Britain to the European Union won't be in place until 2027. Nick Thomas–Symonds, the Minister for EU Relations, has been setting out his priorities for the future of the UK-EU relationship in a speech in front of industry representatives and journalists. We speak to trade expert David Henig and hear how food exporters are 'disappointed' that barriers to trade won't be removed sooner.The pig and poultry industries is damaging our rivers and countryside, according to a report commissioned by the Wildlife Trusts. The UK produces almost one million tonnes of pig meat and two million tonnes of poultry meat per year and the Trusts have been examining the broader environmental risks from farming pigs and poultry. We hear look into the details of the report and hear from the pig industry.Pollinators play an essential part in crop production and we've been looking at them all week. One fruit farm in Herefordshire imports bees from the Netherlands to pollinate fruit in polytunnels. We also speak to the insect charity Buglife. An update on a tiny community which was considered too remote to be connected to the national grid. People living in the Upper Coquet Valley in Northumberland used to be reliant on generators. For 50 years they've campaigned to be connected to the mains - and now they are!Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

A new stakeholder survey has been launched by Natural England and Natural Resources Wales to find out how the Countryside Code is working in England and Wales. The code in Northern Ireland is similar but runs separately, and in Scotland, where they have the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, access, rules are different. We speak to two farmers about whether they feel the code's working for them and what they'd like to see. Pollinators play an essential part in crop production and we're looking at them all week. One fruit farm in Herefordshire imports bees from the Netherlands to pollinate fruit in polytunnels. We also speak to the insect charity Buglife.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Morse code transcription: vvv vvv White House talks more important than US Russia summit in Alaska Methanol poisoning Man saw kaleidoscopic light before going blind Skibidi and tradwife among words added to Cambridge Dictionary Man guilty over role in shooting of nine year old girl in Dalston Croatian ultra nationalist mega gig exposes divided society Swatch apologises for slanted eyes ad after uproar in China Herefordshire farmer sees broccoli harvest hit by heatwave and lack of water James Bond should be a man, says Dame Helen Mirren Liverpool man banned after Antoine Semenyo racist abuse report BBC witnesses Israeli settlers attack on Palestinian farm in West Bank

Patreon Series: Context of a ConquestEpisode 173: Eadric the WildThis tale is one of alliance, defiance, and no small amount of grit. We're headed to the borderlands in this episode. Eadric of Herefordshire and Shropshire teams up with Welsh princes in a last-ditch effort to push back the Norman tide. Anglo-Saxon resistance isn't dead—not yet. And in the shadowy woods and rugged hills, a fragile hope still flickers.[Fits nicely between public Episodes 76 and 77.]NOTE: Any mispronunciation of Welsh names is entirely due to my Midwestern 'Merican accent. I hope I can bring respect through the attempt, but I'm afraid my attempts may be so bad it's in fact disrespectful. Forgive me. :)No More Paywalls! How?If you believe in what's happening here – bringing our shared history to life, warts and all, free to the public with absolutely no more paywalls…ever…please consider donating to my caffeine-mediated research and writing through the website/app Buy Me A Coffee! With opportunities for one-time donations and even a monthly donation plan, you can voluntarily contribute to the continuation of this show. I would be eternally grateful!Social Media:YouTube: Fortune's Wheel PodcastMeta: https://www.facebook.com/fortunes.wheel.3 X: https://twitter.com/WheelPodcastBuy Me A Coffee!Music:“Beyond Time” by Danijel Zambo Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/danijel-zambo/beyond-timeLicense code: 8TGHY8YXD5D73OVH

Our first guest Malcolm was an arch sceptic on big cats being wild in Britain. Then one night driving home in 2011 he encountered a big black panther on the lane outside his property in Herefordshire. It rushed off, doing a long leap through a high gap in the hedge. Malcolm then asked around and found that other people in the area had also seen a panther around the same time.Malcolm is coincidentally about 3 miles away from Craig, a podcast guest from episodes 72 and 116. Craig joins us again for the second half, updating us on events in the area where he found the clawed carcass and set out trail cams. Craig has a recent trail cam photo to describe, captured in mid July 2025 - see copies on BCC website Refs & Links. Then the following week, at 7pm in the woods, he experienced a full-on hiss directed at him – a google search confirmed his view that it came from a big cat, most likely a puma. Craig and Rick discuss the reports of both black and brown big cats, described over many years in this corner of Herefordshire and seemingly keeping to themselves…Word of the week:   GISS (General Impression of Shape & Size)9 August 2025

Scottish gamekeepers may refuse to help tackle wildfires in a dispute over licences for muirburn. Muirburn is the controlled burning of heather and other vegetation to encourage new growth, mostly to raise game birds for shooting. It takes place from autumn to spring, but from January next year it will be licensed and it will be an offence to carry out any burning without a licence. Gamekeepers say controlled burning reduces the amount of dead vegetation which fuels wildfires and if they can't do it, they say tackling future wildfires will become too dangerous.All week we've been following the harvest. It started early for many and one of the country's largest cherry growers in Herefordshire says warmer winters and summers are shortening the growing season. Britain's newest and largest Green Bridge is under construction in the Cotswolds as part of a half billion-pound road building scheme. When it's completed at the end of the year, the bridge won't be tarmacked - instead it'll be planted with grasses, wildflowers and shrubs designed to create a crossing for wildlife, and walkers over a new eight lane highway near Cheltenham.Presenter = Charlotte Smith Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Ben Andrews is a farmer. Ben comes from a very long line of farming, in fact, his family date back 7 generations. He's also been voted the UK's 3rd hottest farmer by Farming Weekly Magazine. And that's not all, Ben is a voice person for farming and mental health and uses his social media to shine a spotlight on the contemporary agriculture landscape. Ben is also a supporter of the global LGBTQ+ farming network agrespect which promotes and supports diversity in the countryside.    Ben farms organic beef and vegetables, supplying Abel and Cole amongst other shops. He is also the beneficiary of Nuffield Farming Scholarship which supports young farmers seeking to explore the work of new and revolutionary farming communities world-wide. Ben is currently studying the water and river systems of New Zealand, how and why they are managed differently, in the hope his findings bring new insight to waterways and flood management here in the U.K.     The episode starts with Claire driving down tiny country lanes on route to Ben's farmhouse. It's a hot sunny day and the birds are chirping high up in the trees. There are also some sheep in the field next to Ben's house, so enormous, that Claire first mistakes them for cows. It's off to a good start for the recording!    Ben wants to cook Bulgogi beef, he's using his own rump steak from the farm, naturally. Outside the BBQ is lit and together Ben and Claire make a start on cooking his Herefordshire take on a Korean classic, all the while tackling topics such as mental heath, clubbing in the countryside, his mum's love of kitchen knickknackery, and his neighbour, “just over that hedge”, Monty Don.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For our PRIDE special episode, Patrick O'Donnell sits down with Ben Andrews, an organic farmer from Herefordshire and founding member of Agrespect, a group that aims to tackle LGBTQIA+ discrimination and share positivity, to encourage the agricultural industry to be a more inclusive and diverse environment.While exploring Ben's family farm, the pair discuss his childhood, defined by his grandparents' sofa, a winning foray into rowing and his love for golden hour. From the importance of ecosystems in organic farming, to his passion for river health and bird photography, Ben's story is blossoming with enthusiasm for the great outdoors.Learn about the colours featured in each episode hereSee the colours of Ben's Life hereFollow Ben on Instagram hereFollow us on Instagram here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode of Local Legends, Martin is joined by blogger, museum worker, tour guide, and all-round champion for Herefordshire, The Herefordian Historian.Real name Tom Quinsey, The Herefordian Historian was born in Swansea and is an identical twin. His parents, who are both from Herefordshire, eventually settled back there before Tom turned 10 years old - but even before then he had developed a passion for history.At first, prompted by the film Titanic, he was preoccupied by boats, steam engines, and all things maritime, only then, while Tom was studying Creative Writing at the University of Portsmouth, he developed an interest in the stories of the county he calls home.Out of this new interest his new superhero alter-ego was born: The Herefordian Historian, with Tom's blog being a brilliant repository of history, legends and all sorts of Herefordshire curiosities, which he has been maintaining since the lockdown.All the while, Tom has also become Hereford Waterworks Museum's writer and editor, and he is also a member of the Mayor of Hereford's Guild of Guides, so there really couldn't be a much better or more passionate person we could hope to speak to for this episode!To learn more about Tom, including his writing and his other work, do visit his website at herefordianhistorian.co.uk, and otherwise do please join us around the Three Ravens campfire for a chat about angry ghosts shaking cathedrals, thousands of years of territorial conflict across the Welsh Marches, little drummer boys saving cities with peas, and so much more!We really hope you enjoy it, and will be back on Monday with our brand new County Episode all about the history and folklore of Derbyshire!Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon.Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly, the pair take turns to tell a new version of an ancient story from that county - all before discussing what that tale might mean, where it might have come from, and the truths it reveals about England's hidden past...Bonus Episodes are released on Thursdays plus Local Legends episodes on Saturdays - interviews with acclaimed authors, folklorists, podcasters and historians with unique perspectives on that week's county.With a range of exclusive content on Patreon, too, including audio ghost tours, the Three Ravens Newsletter, and monthly Three Ravens Film Club episodes about folk horror films from across the decades, why not join us around the campfire and listen in?Learn more at www.threeravenspodcast.com, join our Patreon at www.patreon.com/threeravenspodcast, and find links to our social media channels here: https://linktr.ee/threeravenspodcast Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rainy Days Goes Best with Dry Cider in the Barrel Room Walking into the barrel room at Oliver's Cider and Perry Company, you might think you know what to expect. But surrounded by whitewashed stone walls, standing beneath the old Hessian sacking floor, and facing rows of aging barrels, I quickly realized this wasn't just a cidery—it's a living, breathing creative space for cider making. Tom Oliver sources fruit both from his farm and from local orchards across Herefordshire. This isn't an estate cidery where everything is grown on-site—but what sets Oliver's cider and perry apart is Tom himself. A master blender with an instinct for balance, he brings character to every bottle. And while the farm may not produce every apple, it certainly imparts its own terroir through the land, the barns, and the quiet, purposeful rhythm of the work. Tom and Ria In this Cider Chat Blending Tradition with Innovation Tom is now experimenting with distillation: apple brandy, pommeau-style blends, and barrel-aged perry into brandy too! He's careful with naming, refusing to call something a “Pommeau” unless it honors French tradition. Barrels sourced from rum, sherry, port, bourbon, and white wine shape each unique blend. Tasting in the Barrel Room In the barrel room We tasted perries straight from the barrel—some from single ancient trees, others blended with gin pears or red pear varieties. Each sip revealed: Confectionary sweetness Banana, melon, pineapple notes Mellow malolactic fermentation This isn't a showpiece cidery as Tom puts it, “It's a working farm“, evolving from a hop yard and now cider. Tom calls it “just a part of the agricultural calendar.” No pretense, just purpose. Tom Oliver straddles the line between tradition and experimentation with ease. Whether it's a single-varietal showcase or a spirit-kissed blend, the goal remains the same: make cider that speaks of time, place, and people. Contact info for Oliver's Cider and Perry Co. Website: https://www.oliversciderandperry.co.uk Mentions in this Cider Chat 2025 Totally Cider Tour_UK Edition Send an email to info@ciderchat.com to get on the wait list for the next cider tour! Tom Oliver Featured episodes: 029 Tom Oliver| Oliver's Cider and Perry, UK 105 Tom Oliver on Making Perry | UK 366 Acclaimed Cider w/Minimal Intervention | Tom Oliver

Throughout the early 1970s, California's Bay Area was in the grip of terror as multiple serial killers operated at the time same time and in more or less the same space. In time, some of these killers, like Ed Kemper, would be caught, while others, like the Zodiac Killer, would remain unidentified. Yet it was the ones who appeared to kill at random, without any preferred victim, that would prove the most terrifying and most difficult to catch. Herbert Mullin was one such killer, and while he may have been active for a very short period, he managed to do a tremendous amount of damage in such a little amount of time.Over a five-month period in late 1972 and early 1973, Herbert Mullin killed thirteen people, including a college girl, a Catholic priest, and a former high school friend and that friend's neighbors. To investigators, Mullin's victims appeared to be—and indeed largely were—chosen at random and the weapons used were chosen more out of convenience than pathology. Had Mullin's final murder not been committed in full view of witnesses, there's a very good chance he would have gone on to kill many more people before being caught, if he ever was.Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!ReferencesAssociated Press. 1972. "Dragnet set up for Catholic priest's slayer." Los Angeles Times, November 4: 34.Dowd, Katie. 2022. "'Murder capital of the world': The terrifying years when multiple serial killers stalked Santa Cruz." SF Gate, August 21.Green, Ryan. 2024. I Hear Voices: A Descent into the Dark Half of Psychotic Killer, Herbert Mullin. Herefordshire, UK: Independent.Honig, Tom. 1973. "Did Mullin slay fourteen." Santa Cruz Sentinel, August 10: 1.—. 1973. "Mullin enters plea: innocent, insanity." Santa Cruz Sentinel, June 13: 1.—. 1973. "Mullin explains his reason for killing." Santa Cruz Sentinel, August 15: 1.—. 1973. "Mullin is found guilty." Santa Cruz Sentinel, August 20: 1.—. 1973. "'Overtones' of drugs in five slayings." Santa Cruz Sentinel, January 28: 1.—. 1973. "Slaying suspect called a 'quiet, regular guy'." Santa Cruz Sentinel, February 15: 1.Lunde, Donald, and Jefferson Morgan. 1980. The Die Song: A Journey into the Mind of a Mass Murderer. New York, NY: Norton.Santa Crus Sentinel. 1973. "Suspect charged in six shootings." Santa Cruz Sentinel, February 15: 1.Santa Cruz Sentinel. 1972. "Another disturbance at SC County Jail." Santa Cruz Sentinel, September 14: 19.—. 1972. "Body of slain transient is identified." Santa Cruz Sentinel, October 16: 10.—. 1972. "Investigator hired to find Cabrillo coed." Santa Cruz Sentinel, November 26: 46.—. 1972. "Priest slain in confessional box of church." Santa Cruz Sentinel, November 3: 2.Smith, Dave. 1973. "Killer of killers? Town waiting for answer." Los Angeles Times, February 19: 3.United Press International. 1973. "Friends claim man charged with 7 deaths used drugs." Sacramento Bee, February 16: 21.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Throughout the early 1970s, California's Bay Area was in the grip of terror as multiple serial killers operated at the time same time and in more or less the same space. In time, some of these killers, like Ed Kemper, would be caught, while others, like the Zodiac Killer, would remain unidentified. Yet it was the ones who appeared to kill at random, without any preferred victim, that would prove the most terrifying and most difficult to catch. Herbert Mullin was one such killer, and while he may have been active for a very short period, he managed to do a tremendous amount of damage in such a little amount of time.Over a five-month period in late 1972 and early 1973, Herbert Mullin killed thirteen people, including a college girl, a Catholic priest, and a former high school friend and that friend's neighbors. To investigators, Mullin's victims appeared to be—and indeed largely were—chosen at random and the weapons used were chosen more out of convenience than pathology. Had Mullin's final murder not been committed in full view of witnesses, there's a very good chance he would have gone on to kill many more people before being caught, if he ever was.Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support!ReferencesAssociated Press. 1972. "Dragnet set up for Catholic priest's slayer." Los Angeles Times, November 4: 34.Dowd, Katie. 2022. "'Murder capital of the world': The terrifying years when multiple serial killers stalked Santa Cruz." SF Gate, August 21.Green, Ryan. 2024. I Hear Voices: A Descent into the Dark Half of Psychotic Killer, Herbert Mullin. Herefordshire, UK: Independent.Honig, Tom. 1973. "Did Mullin slay fourteen." Santa Cruz Sentinel, August 10: 1.—. 1973. "Mullin enters plea: innocent, insanity." Santa Cruz Sentinel, June 13: 1.—. 1973. "Mullin explains his reason for killing." Santa Cruz Sentinel, August 15: 1.—. 1973. "Mullin is found guilty." Santa Cruz Sentinel, August 20: 1.—. 1973. "'Overtones' of drugs in five slayings." Santa Cruz Sentinel, January 28: 1.—. 1973. "Slaying suspect called a 'quiet, regular guy'." Santa Cruz Sentinel, February 15: 1.Lunde, Donald, and Jefferson Morgan. 1980. The Die Song: A Journey into the Mind of a Mass Murderer. New York, NY: Norton.Santa Crus Sentinel. 1973. "Suspect charged in six shootings." Santa Cruz Sentinel, February 15: 1.Santa Cruz Sentinel. 1972. "Another disturbance at SC County Jail." Santa Cruz Sentinel, September 14: 19.—. 1972. "Body of slain transient is identified." Santa Cruz Sentinel, October 16: 10.—. 1972. "Investigator hired to find Cabrillo coed." Santa Cruz Sentinel, November 26: 46.—. 1972. "Priest slain in confessional box of church." Santa Cruz Sentinel, November 3: 2.Smith, Dave. 1973. "Killer of killers? Town waiting for answer." Los Angeles Times, February 19: 3.United Press International. 1973. "Friends claim man charged with 7 deaths used drugs." Sacramento Bee, February 16: 21.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If we are in the midst of the Great Derangement (thank you Amitav Ghosh), what tools do we have to help us shape a system that is actually fit for purpose? Who are our elders and what can they teach us? How do we learn to listen to our heart's (and hearts') desire and shape the communities of place, passion and purpose that will allow us to emerge into a different culture? Our two guests this week live and work at the heart of a global movement for cultural change.  Looby Macnamara is the co-founder of the Cultural Emergence movement. She is an author, designer, gardener, song leader, mother, and artist. She has written four influential books including People & Permaculture and Cultural Emergence - and she has a new one coming out in September: Design Adventures: Discover a Creative Framework for Effective Change.  She is also creator of the CEED card deck - Cultural Emergence Empowerment & Design.  With her partner, Chris, Looby runs Applewood Permaculture Centre in Herefordshire, UK, where they facilitate courses and demonstrate permaculture of both land and people . Leona Johnson, host of Connection Matters Podcast, is a transformational life coach, connection facilitator, and guide dedicated to personal growth, cultural emergence, and regenerative ways of being. She has spent decades exploring how we heal the crisis of disconnection, within ourselves, in our relationships, and in the world around us.Through her work in nature connection, rites of passage, life coaching, and cultural emergence, she supports people to step into Connected Self-Leadership and what she calls ‘Everyday Spirituality' practical, embodied ways of living with depth, purpose, and alignment.Leona co-hosts the PEACE course with Looby and online with Jon Young, runs the Connection Matters Leadership Programme, Nature Quests around the world, and Children, Nature & Spirituality courses. At the heart of her work is a simple but powerful message: When we remember our interconnectedness, with ourselves, each other, and the other than human world, we step into our fullest potential and create the conditions for a thriving world.These two transformational women are part of a growing movement to shift the entire foundation of our culture. What happens if we stop being the hamsters in the wheel of modernity and become the lively, inspiring, inspired - and connected - individuals we could be?  In this episode we explore the nature of cultural emergence, the values that could underpin our new culture and the real, grounded, practical ways we can begin the journeys of shift in ourselves and our communities. Cultural Emergence www.cultural-emrgence.comCultural Emergence Courses https://cultural-emergence.com/courses-overview/PEACE Course (24th - 29th June 2025)  https://applewoodcourses.com/uk_courses/peace-empowerment-and-cultural-emergence/Applewood Courses https://applewoodcourses.com/courses/Looby's Books https://applewoodcourses.com/sales/books/Leona's website: https://www.leonajohnson.life/Leona's podcast Connection Matters https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/connection-matters-podcast/id1515564368Leona's FREE mini course on Elemental Connection  https://pages.leonajohnson.life/elemental-connections-helloandIf you want to share the journey with Accidental Gods, we're here: Accidental Gods Gatherings https://accidentalgods.life/gatherings-2025/Accidental Gods Membership https://accidentalgods.life/join-us/