Wilson & Ashley

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Welcome back to another episode of The Wilson Ashley Podcast with Rebecca Wilson and Charlotte Ashley!

This week starts exactly as you’d expect — with complete farm-life chaos, conversations about cats, “toe beans”, the possibility of gifting Rosie a kitten, and Charlotte desperately hoping it doesn’t rain while her car windows are down! Because apparently, even when we’re about to have a serious conversation, there’s always time for a tangent.

But once the laughter settles, we get into a much more serious and important...

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Almost three quarters of England is in drought at the time of recording— so what does that actually mean for farmers, food production and the price of our food?

We’re talking about what we’re seeing on our own farms, from crop yields and forage to water availability, boreholes and the risk of fires, as well as some of the less obvious consequences of a dry summer, including livestock disease.

But there’s a bigger question too: when there isn’t enough water, who should get it?

...

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We’re back! And after a VERY busy summer, we’ve got a lot to catch you up on.

It’s been a while… and when we looked at our diaries, we genuinely don’t know how we were supposed to fit recording a podcast in as well!

From weddings, Cereals at Diddly Squat Farm and Zach Bryan, to the Great Yorkshire Show, The Game Fair, Farm 24 and Meat Up — we’ve basically been here, there and everywhere.

Then we’re introducing something new…

The Jury’s Out.<...

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This week on the Wilson and Ashley Podcast, we tackle two issues affecting rural Britain right now: the rise of AI and concerns around the future of creativity, alongside the growing rural crime epidemic impacting farmers and countryside communities across the UK.

We begin by discussing a recent video from artist and farming supporter Doodling Lucy, exploring fears that cheap reproduction content could threaten creative industries and small rural businesses. Lucy’s work has long celebrated British farming and agriculture, and we discuss why this conversation matters so much fo...

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We're tackling the controversial British food labelling loophole and ask whether supermarket packaging is confusing consumers — or outright misleading them. With imported food products often displaying Union Jacks, British countryside imagery and phrases like “Packed in Britain” or “Prepared in the UK”, are shoppers being led to believe they’re supporting British farmers when they may not be?

We cover:

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In Part 2 of our Foot and Mouth series, we move beyond the initial outbreak and into the harsh reality of what it took to bring it under control — and the lasting impact it had far beyond the farm gate.

This is the side of the story that is rarely spoken about.

We hear from a slaughterman working at the very front line of the response — confronting the scale, intensity, and emotional weight of the job day after day. Alongside this, we explore how the outbreak rippled through the...

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In this first part of our two-part series, we step back into 2001 — to the beginning of the Foot and Mouth outbreak. An outbreak that would change British farming forever.

What started as a single confirmed case quickly escalated into a national crisis. But behind the headlines and statistics were real people, real farms, and real lives being turned upside down.

In this episode, we hear directly from those on the front line. A farmer from an affected area shares what it was like to live through the un...

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What really happens when you put rewilding, farming, and real-life rural voices in the same conversation?

In this unfiltered and often hilarious episode, we dive deep into one of the most controversial debates in modern agriculture:
👉 Should land be rewilded—or should it feed people?

From sleep-deprived lambing nights and muddy farm realities to the growing pressure of government schemes, rising costs, and public opinion, this episode pulls back the curtain on what farming actually looks like in 2026.

...

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In this episode of the Wilson and Ashley Podcast, off the back of a great reel from Schöffel Country and The Country Food Trust, we talk about how game meat is being used to tackle food poverty in the UK. 

When you actually look at the numbers, food poverty is hard to ignore - millions of people in the UK are struggling to access enough food, there are now more food banks than McDonald's restaurants, and demand for emergency food is still rising. At the same time, we’ve g...

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In this episode of the Wilson & Ashley Podcast we’re looking at two topics that have been making plenty of noise both online and in real life: the controversy surrounding multi-million follower account, Ballerina Farm, and the ongoing debate around taking children out of school during term time.

If you spend any time on the rustic American farming side of social media, you’ve probably come across Ballerina Farm. Run by former ballerina Hannah Neeleman and her husband Daniel in Utah, the account has built a huge following by shar...

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This week we're asking should farmers be wearing SPF like it’s PPE? From influencer 50-step skincare routines and £100 moisturisers to the harsh reality of UV exposure in agriculture, we dig into why so many farmers skip sunscreen — and whether that says something bigger about how the industry approaches wellbeing in general.  With 17,500 new melanoma cases in the UK each year and outdoor workers at significantly higher risk, is it time farmers started taking sun protection seriously? We've had a lot of responses from our followers on social media and the result...

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This episode is brought to you in partnership with with our Headline Sponsor, BKT and Kirkby Tyres. 

Is solar grazing a genuine triple-win or just clever greenwashing? This episode talks about two big topics in farming at the moment - land use and milk price - and who ultimately pays the price for cheap energy and cheap food.

We open with the rise of solar grazing, sparked by a Guardian article questioning whether putting sheep under solar panels really delivers benefits for farmers, renewables and s...

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This episode is brought to you in partnership with with our Headline Sponsor, BKT and Kirkby Tyres. 

In this episode of the Wilson and Ashley Podcast, we take on two big questions shaping the future of food, work and farming.

We begin by looking at the significant changes happening on our supermarket shelves... changes which are perhaps going under the radar. From chocolate bars that are no longer legally allowed to be called chocolate, to ingredient substitutions hidden behind familiar packaging, we ask whether consumers a...

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We're starting this week's episode with animal welfare and the UK Government’s new Animal Welfare Strategy for England, which aims to cover farmed animals, pets and wildlife under one policy framework. With proposed changes ranging from livestock production systems to dog breeding and wildlife management, we ask whether one strategy can realistically work for such different animals — and whether farming continues to carry a disproportionate share of the welfare spotlight.

We discuss the role of the supply chain, the risk of UK farmers being undercut by imports produced to l...

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Welcome back to Episode 19 of the Wilson & Ashley Podcast — our final episode before Christmas! Somehow, despite an entire year to prepare, we’ve managed to finish on Episode 19 instead of 20 (sorry to those of you who like your round numbers!) A festive combination of poor planning, questionable maths, and general disorganisation. Should we record a bonus episode to fix it? Maybe. Probably. (Almost definitely not.)

Before we fully embrace the Christmas spirit, we tackle a serious and increasingly important issue following an Irish Farmers Journal undercover investigation: the use of a...

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In this episode, we’re tackling the controversy around the recent Budget Day farmer protest in London — what was meant to be a well-planned, low-disruption demonstration against the proposed “family farm tax” turned chaotic after the Met Police reversed permissions less than 24 hours before farmers arrived. Tractors were banned from Whitehall, some still made it into central London, a few were seized, and several farmers were arrested simply for bringing their vehicles. We chat through why this happened, the questions Victoria Atkins has now put to the Met, and whether farmers are righ...

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In this episode of Wilson & Ashley, we unpack two big, and sometimes controversial, topics shaping the future of food and farming: Cambridge University’s move towards a 100% plant-based menu and the fast-growing interest in regenerative agriculture across the UK.

We begin with Cambridge University’s 2023 vote supporting fully plant-based catering across its services — a decision driven by sustainability arguments and student-led climate activism. But has the plan actually become reality? And what would large-scale plant-based menus mean for British livestock farmers, nutrition, food culture and student choice? We look at the...

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In this episode of the Wilson and Ashley Podcast, we explore two major stories shaping farming and rural life. First, it's the rise of female ranchers in the US, sparked by a recent US Guardian article. We're lucky enough to hear in detail from a real life cowgirl, Faith from Little Jennie Ranch.

 With women now making up more than 36% of agricultural producers in America—compared to just 16% of principal farmers in England—we discuss why this shift is happening, how ranching culture is changing, and what life is reall...

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First up, we’re heading to Australia to ask: do they do it better when it comes to farm employment and training? From government-backed gap year schemes like AgCareerStart to hands-on training farms for short-term workers, we explore how the Aussies attract and upskill new people into agriculture — and whether the UK could learn a thing or two.  But is the cost really worth it and we can't help but touch on the weather in Aus versus the UK!

Then we turn to your social media feeds. How many of th...

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Is there any hope for farmers when it comes to political decision-making? We're fresh back from the Conservative Party Conference, invited by Victoria Atkins, Conservative MP and Shadow Environment Secretary, where it really did feel like farming took centre stage.

In this episode, we talk more about Victoria's declaration of the "food and farming emergency” that we're facing and what this really means for farmers, family businesses, and consumers. From scrapping the Family Farm Tax to putting food production back at the heart of policy, are we seeing genuine su...

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Schooling. It’s something we’ve both talked about a lot beyond the podcast—mainly because our own experiences couldn’t have been more different. In this episode, we tackle the big question of: to school or not to school?

Prompted by a viral Stacey Dooley reel and plenty of conversations in our own new Podcast Community on Facebook, we explore the rise of home schooling in the UK, the realities of state vs. private education, and how farming children fit into the picture.

From resilience and life ski...

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In this episode, we're talking about the Love Island star, Farmer Will, and his new business venture.  It promises a behind-the-scenes look at British farming, exclusive workshops, and early access to new products. We explore whether this approach bridges the gap between farmers and consumers or oversimplifies the realities of farming life. We reflect on privilege and accessibility, asking: who really gets to have an opinion on how food is grown and sold? We also look at how Farmer Will compares to other initiatives, including Riverford, and discuss the complexities of t...

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This week, we're talking about the first ever and compeltely unique Borderline Challenge, being undertaken by Cumbrian brother-and-sister duo Hugh and Alex Addision. It's all in aid of the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution and with a £10,000 fundraising target already smashed, their incredible journey not only pushes physical limits but also shines a spotlight on the growing mental health crisis in farming communities.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/the-borderline-challenge

RABI - https://rabi.org.uk/ or call 0800 188 4444 24 hours a day

We also tackle the wildfire raging a...

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This week on the podcast, we’re tackling two big talking points in farming — one heated debate, and one devastating disease.

First up: children on farms. After Farmers Weekly ran a piece comparing farm kids to Victorian chimney sweeps, the backlash was fierce. 

We're asking are the clickbait headlines distracting from farming’s real health and safety issues? Do farm kids grow up safer and more risk-aware, or should children be kept away from farm work altogether? And is comparing supervised help to slave labour just a...

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This week, we’re de-briefing you on a couple of hectic weeks with a fair bit of time adventuring around the country! We're moving from the heart of Wales to the #Farm24, the UK’s biggest digital celebration of British farming.

We kick things off at the Royal Welsh Show, and trust us when we say it's seriously Welsh! There's definitely two sides to the show... From the iconic sight of Welsh cobs in the main ring to nights at Penmenau, plus Charlotte gives us the real insight on that...

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This week, we're talking about the real cost of food – and the true reality of many of the products that are on supermarket shelves. Inspired by a video from B FRANK Health, we unpack the rise of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), how they’ve warped our perception of value, and why real, nutritious food can feel “too expensive” – despite the fact it shouldn’t be.

Government policy, food affordability, and the staggering profits of retailers compared to plummeting farm incomes form part of the conversation – as we ask: are we valuing food...

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This week on the Wilson and Ashley Podcast, we’re tackling the conversation around Glastonbury... but we're looking beyond the music. Held on a 1,000-acre working dairy farm, we ask: are vegan festivalgoers being hypocrites? If ticket sales support farming, can you really separate the two?

We unpack the festival’s environmental impact, from solar panels on cattle sheds to a ban on body glitter, and debate whether farming can be part of the festival's sustainability solutions. 

We also get into the latest free speech controversy on the G...

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Disclaimer: This episode covers a sensitive and delicate subject, including practices around religious slaughter. We approach the topic with respect and aim to present balanced, factual information.

In this episode, we attempt to unpack the complex and often controversial world of Halal and Kosher slaughter in the UK. Triggered by a 100,000-strong petition calling non-stun slaughter “barbaric,” a recent Westminster Hall debate has reignited public and political scrutiny — but how much do people really understand?

We explore the reality behind Halal practices, with most Halal meat i...

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We’re back — and fresh from our very first outing with the Wilson and Ashley podcast trailer! We still can't believe that people came looking for us to have a chat after listening to our episodes! Sitting in our trailer, it really did bring home how we want the episodes to be like a chat between friends! One question kept cropping up… “How did you two even meet?” Well, in this episode, we get into the story!

Charlotte reveals why she initially hated Rebecca (yes, really!), how we went from this...

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In this episode of the Wilson and Ashley Podcast, we’re talking about the weather. Yes, we know that farmers are always complaining about it being too wet, too windy, too cold...but why does it matter?

With dry, cracked fields and brown fields becoming the norm across the UK, we want to explore the reality of farming through the extremes. Inspired by a recent post from the Funky Farmer, and the flood of comments that followed, we reflect on what drought actually means on our farms — not just in t...

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We’ve absolutely loved hearing from our listeners in previous episodes—so this week, we’re handing over the mic (sort of) and sharing your takes on the biggest myths you’ve heard about farming. From dinner table debates to downright daft questions, it’s all in here. But should we be judging consumers for not knowing, or should we, as farmers, take more responsibility for bridging the knowledge gap?

In this myth-busting episode, Wilson and Ashley wade into the world of food and farming misconceptions. From the rumour that brown...

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Episode 2: Chlorinated Chicken, Trade Deals, Charlotte & Rebecca Take London, Does the Women in Agriculture Movement Really Matter and is There a North-South Divide?

Unfiltered. Unexpected. Unapologetically honest….some might say blunt. Again.

We're back — this time fresh from a trip to the capital for the National Women in Agriculture Awards, with one of our hosts bringing back the Influencer of the Year crown! Don't get us started on the word 'influencer' though, that needs its own episode! Of course there was a sense of power, prid...

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Episode 1: The Rural Town Divide, Social Media, Charlotte’s screen time, farming life & the next generation

Unfiltered. Unexpected. Unapologetically honest….some might say blunt. 

Welcome to the very first episode of The Wilson & Ashley Podcast hosted by Charlotte Ashley and Rebecca Wilson. We’d like to think that we are strong, no-nonsense farming women with deep roots in the countryside and a passion for tackling big issues.  Recording from our unique mobile podcast studio, we are also on YouTube so if you fancy watching the whole th...