The Wildlife Trusts at Groundswell
Groundswell Festival is a hands-on, practical event all about regenerative farming - putting soil health first while producing food in harmony with nature. Learn from farmers, researchers and industry experts about approaches like no-till planting, cover cropping, livestock integration and more.
Returning in 2026 at Lannock Manor Farm on Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd July, Groundswell is packed with inspiring talks, demonstrations and discussions to help anyone interested in food and farming make more sustainable, nature-friendly choices.
Groundswell 2026
We’re delighted to once again host the ‘Farming with Nature’ stage, bringing together expert panels and lively conversations that cut through the complexity of farming policy, markets and environmental change.
Wednesday 1st July
11am-12pm - What is farming's role in restoring our rivers?
Water reform in England is on the cards, with big changes coming to water companies and water regulation. But sewage is not the whole picture. What role can the food and farming sector play in reducing pollution and helping nature to recover across our river systems?
1pm-2pm - Making every link: supporting nature-friendly farmers in supply chains
From farmer to consumer, what changes need to happen in our supply chain to support our nature friendly farmers. What examples can we use from other countries which drive nature friendly practices.
3pm-4pm - From flood to bud: managing floodplain meadows
Helping farmers navigate through all the water edge options available. A workshop on floodplain meadows, answering your questions from finances to restoration to advice and support.
5pm-6pm - A policy vision for farming and nature: what do recent strategies mean for farming in 2050?
Join Wildlife Trusts CEO Craig Bennett as we bring together the leading voices from the eNGO and nature-friendly farming sectors to discuss nature versus food security. A healthy natural environment underpins food security; that farming is vital, to produce the food we eat, and it is also central in tackling the nature, climate and public health crises.
Thursday 2nd July
10am-11am - Butterflies on the hedge
What can butterflies tell you about the health of your hedge? Hedgerow heroes showcase their work helping to connect rural and urban communities and expand habitats past just the hedgerow.
12pm-1pm - Through the maze: navigating the farmer cluster journey
Collaboration is the most effective tool for building resilience in a changing agricultural landscape. Join us for an interactive, practitioner-led workshop that cuts through complexities to explore the potential of farmer clusters. Featuring insights from Jenny Phelps (FWAG), Jonty Brunyee (North East Cotswold Cluster), Alex Robinson (Farmer Guardians of the Upper Thames), and Alex Donnelly (Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust), this session showcases successful models of landscape-scale recovery. Together, we will explore existing networks and identify the practical resources needed to scale this movement. Whether you are looking to start or strengthen a group, join us to gain new insights, share your own experience and learn how to realise the opportunities for collaboration in your own landscape.
2pm-3pm - Dare to do dairy differently
Ahead of the launch of our dairy research we invite all to discuss how we can do dairy differently, showcasing that dairy can support nature and be a sustainable business.
4pm-5pm - Boots on the ground or automated systems?
How should we monitor wildlife on farms? Monitoring the effects of farm management or conservation actions is a critical part of ensuring their success. With a growing range of options for collecting data, we explore the pros and cons to automated systems in the field.
If you can't make it to the event this year, you will be able to catch up on the sessions on our YouTube channel, available shortly after they take place.
Whether you’re a farmer, grower, policymaker or simply curious about the future of food, our discussions capture the ideas, innovations and conversations shaping regenerative farming today.
While you wait, why not explore last year's sessions?
The Wildlife Trusts' 25 Year Farming Vision
The Wildlife Trusts have launched our 25 Year Vision for Farming. This vision sets out a blueprint for delivering healthy diets, nature recovery and climate-resilient farm and food businesses long into the future.
Transformation of the food and farming system is more vital than ever as farmers are continuing to face a huge degree of uncertainty, battling the ever-increasing impacts of a changing climate and volatile markets.
