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BBC Farmwatch: showcasing the best of South farming

15 August 2025

Screen grab of Chloe Marsh standing in front of a milk vending machine

More than 20 members across the South took to TV screens and radio airwaves to showcase farming and highlight key issues during BBC Farmwatch on Thursday 7 August.

The BBC focused on UK agriculture across its TV, radio and online channels in celebration of farming communities across England.

There was a mix of pre-recorded interviews undertaken in the days leading up to Farmwatch and live interviews on the day, with the coverage across television, radio and online news stories.

Issues covered included IHT, SFI, water security, farming opportunities for young people, harvest, farmer confidence and food security.

Gloucestershire County Chair Charles Day pre-recorded a piece for BBC Radio Gloucestershire on the impact of the Family Farm Tax and member Liz Godsell was interviewed about the challenges facing the farming industry.

BBC Radio Devon ran clips throughout the day from an interview carried out with member Layland Branfield about being a hill farmer on Dartmoor.

BBC Radio Oxford attended the Bicester Sheep Fayre and spoke to farmers.

BBC Radio Cornwall interviewed Rob Halliday about farm theft whilst BBC Radio Solent Dorset from Deputy County Chair Nigel Friend’s farm near Wimborne.

Presenter Steve Harris spoke to Nigel and County Chair Tim Gelfs about farming challenges in the county, and Dorset member Chloe Marsh, a busy mum who runs a successful diversification, talked to BBC South Today about some of the misconceptions surrounding being a ‘farmer’s wife’.

BBC Radio Somerset presenter Rachel Andrews spent the day on member Paul Candy’s farm to chat about the various challenges facing farming.

BBC South West News featured an interview with Devon County Chair David Chugg about SFI and the Family Farm Tax and the Jones family in Cornwall talked about some of the benefits livestock bring to the land.

Thanks to all the members who gave up their time to be interviewed and tell the public about what they do.


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