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Festival-founding farmer named among Europe’s top 50
A farmer that has dedicated his career to nature-friendly practices has been named among Europe’s top 50 by a programme that recognises those at the cutting edge of sustainable farming.
Top 50 Farmers defines regenerative agriculture as a chemical free approach that builds soil, supports wildlife and enhances the natural environment as well as surrounding communities.
Luke Hasell rears cattle organically with neighbour Jim Twine on his 400 acre farm in the Chew Valley under the Story Farms umbrella.
He has also founded Valley Fest, the family festival on his land promoting good food and sustainable lifestyles, and opened Root, a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand restaurant, with Josh Eggleton.
Luke Hasell runs his farm chemical-free and leaves the majority to nature which he says “can recover if we work with it and not over it” – photo: Jon Craig
He says his vision for the farm is to leave it in a better place than he found it:
“This recognition reflects the wider regenerative movement happening across farming right now. Farmers across Europe are rediscovering that healthy soil is the foundation of healthy food, healthy communities and healthy landscapes,” he said.
“We are trying to think about land stewardship on a much longer timescale – even imagining what our farm and land might look like if we and our future generations were caring for them responsibly and regeneratively over the next 1000 years.”
He was among six farmers in England that made the top 50, with two from Ireland also named in the list.
Hasell has now launched a regenerative farming symposium off the back of his European recognition.
Valley Fest takes place overlooking the Chew Valley lake in a spot that Hasell has dubbed ‘nature’s spectacular’ – photo: Giulia Spadafora
The new event follows the success of Valley Fest, a fixture on the local festival calendar since 2014, and Hasell’s foray into a more sustainability-oriented event last year with Fire in Your Soul.
Wake the Valley will invite future thinking farmers, chefs, growers and cultural leaders to explore how food, farming and culture can work together to regenerate landscapes and communities.
Its name takes influence from the seasonal tradition of wassailing, the act of ‘waking the orchard’ with cider and song each winter to encourage the trees to flourish.
“Wake The Valley is about bringing farmers, chefs, thinkers and communities together to explore what [a regenerative] future could look like,” he explained.
The symposium will take part on July 30, as part of this year’s Valley Fest programme.
Find out more at valleyfest.co.uk/wake-the-valley and register to take part here.
Main image: Luke Hasell
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