Estate Matters Podcast

The Government’s revised planning policies offer opportunities for landowners and developers to create more homes more quickly – without compromising on the provision of essential infrastructure or abandoning high quality design.

Handing over control of the Escrick Park Estate in Yorkshire to his son, Beilby, was “quite a challenge,” Charlie Forbes Adam admits in the latest Estate Matters podcast from KOR Communications.

The management of the nine estates spread across England that make up the land holdings of The Ernest Cook Trust is carried out with a clear focus on the Trust’s primary purpose as an education-based charity. 

There is a good story to tell about the production of ‘green gas’ – and landowners and farmers producing the raw material at the start of the process can be proud of what they do and should be ready to talk about it, says Philipp Lukas, Chief Executive Officer of Future Biogas.

Creating affordable housing that is no different in quality to homes built for open market sale is a matter of huge pride for the Duchy of Cornwall at its two high-profile developments, Poundbury in Dorset and Nansledan in Cornwall.

Duchy Estates Director Ben Murphy tells the latest episode of KOR Communications’ Estate Matters podcast that more than a third of the homes built at Poundbury, the Duchy’s community on the edge of Dorchester where work began more than 30 years ago, are affordable.

Farmers must be valued for managing the landscape and protecting and enhancing nature as well as for producing food, if wildlife-depleted Britain is to improve its environment and continue to feed its population.

That’s the message from Molly Biddell, Head of Natural Capital at the Knepp Estate in Sussex, a trailblazing 3,500-acre rewilding project which abandoned traditional farming 20 years ago and has become one of the UK’s most biodiverse nature reserves.

CLA President and Cornish rural estate owner Victoria Vyvyan believes the new Labour Government and its Defra team are listening to voices from the countryside in essential areas of policy, including planning, farming and energy.

KOR Communications’ podcast, Estate Matters, is celebrating its first anniversary after a remarkable twelve months with guests providing insights across the rural and development sectors, from farming to journalism, politics to housing.

Minette Batters led the National Farmers’ Union during the most tumultuous times in decades for British agriculture, as the nation faced Brexit, the Covid pandemic and the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Businesses and individuals with a reputation to protect need to put robust plans in place to deal with threats that can damage their name or brand.

Charlie Courtenay, barrister, parliamentarian and proprietor of the 3,500-acre Powderham Castle Estate in Devon, says he sees the business as an 800-year-old start up social enterprise with the potential for long-term sustainable growth.

Rural Estates can be ‘heroes’ in helping to reduce the impact of climate change – but they need to talk about what they are doing and engage with their communities.

The MP for Camborne, Redruth and Hayle, who spent nine years as a Minister at Defra, rising to become Secretary of State in 2020, makes the prediction in a remarkably frank conversation with KOR Communications’ podcast host Anna Byles in the latest episode of Estate Matters.

Regional newspaper farming editor Athwenna Irons describes the challenges for agriculture as the countryside undergoes major change, in the latest episode of Estate Matters.

The challenge of meeting the development needs of a college of further education is the subject of our new Estate Matters podcast, featuring the Executive Director of Estates and Sustainability at Exeter College, Steve Strang.

Nicola, Head of Agriculture and Rural Estates at Trowers & Hamlins, tells podcast host Anna Byles that there is still a lack of understanding by the public about the work of farmers and estate owners. But she says those who make the effort to improve their communications can reap the rewards.

The director of one of Britain’s leading landed estates tells KOR Communications’ latest Estate Matters podcast that ongoing engagement with communities can be the key to winning support for new ventures, from building houses to changing a right of way.

Changes to the way the landscape is managed as the UK moves towards a greener future makes it increasingly important for landowners to forge strong communications’ links with local communities and other stakeholders.

Creating entire new communities from scratch to meet Britain’s housing needs comes with its own special challenges and requires early engagement with neighbours and other stakeholders.

The value of professional communications in helping landowners achieve success with development projects is explored in the Estate Matters podcast.

KOR Communications has launched a new podcasting production service for rural business and landed estates who will all have important and interesting stories to tell.