Natural Capital

Farm Advisory Service
  • 5.0 (2)
  • NATURE

The Earth’s soils, rocks, air, water, plants and animals are all valuable resources that provide a wide range of services and benefits. These resources need to be carefully managed and maintained to support a healthy functioning environment. In this Natural Capital podcast series, hosted by Rachel Smillie and Harry Fisher, we will explore different natural capital assets and their value to Scottish agriculture and the rural economy, including the opportunities and risks for the future. Hosted by Rachel Smillie and Harry Fisher, produced by Iain Boyd, edited by Ross Mackenzie and Kieron Sim, executive producer Kerry Hammond. Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service is funded by the Scottish Government. Our podcast covers a range of topics which help support your farm or croft to be more profitable and sustainable.

  1. JAN 27

    The History of Scotland’s Natural Capital

    We are joined by environmental historian Dr Ian Maclellan as we wind the clock back through Scotland’s long history of land use change: from the ice age to the Romans, clearances, industrialisation and modern pressures. Along the way, we unpack how humans have been part of the landscape – managing it for food, livelihoods and leisure, and the consequences this has had on nature and biodiversity. Scotland’s landscapes are often seen as wild and timeless, but people and the land have shaped one another over thousands of years. We discuss this and how understanding yesterday can help us make better decisions for the future. Challenging us to have more nuanced, informed conversations about land restoration and management today - recognising complexity, positive outcomes, unintended consequences, and the realities of climate, culture and history. Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producers Kerry Hammond & Kirstyn Blackwood Timestamps: 1:25 – 13:38 Introductions and high-level walkthrough of Scotland’s natural history 13:38 – 31:00 Management of land and our relationships with it 31:00 – 43:55 Our perceptions and misconceptions of the land and challenges for the future 43:55 – end. Final comments and where to get more info Related FAS resources Natural Capital: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/ Biodiversity: https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/ Other Related Resources Prof T C Smout: Nature Contested Environmental History in Scotland and Northern England since 1600: https://www.nhbs.com/nature-contested-book University of Stirling Environmental History and Heritage: https://www.stir.ac.uk/about/faculties/arts-humanities/history-politics/history-research/environmental-history-and-heritage/ Prof R Oram: Where Men No More May Reap Or Sow: The Little Ice Age: Scotland 1400–1850: https://birlinn.co.uk/product/where-men-no-more-may-reap-or-sow/ Ichnos Heritage: https://ichnosheritage.com/

    48 min

  2. 11/27/2025

    Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere OPIN

    Galloway and Southern Ayrshire is Scotland’s first UNESCO Biosphere which promotes a balanced relationship between people and the natural environment. Built on partnership, community action, innovation and learning, the Biosphere supports thriving, sustainable communities living in harmony with nature.   In this episode, we’re joined by Nature Recovery Manager Dr Anna Griffin and Natural Capital Officer Jonathan Olandi to explore the work of the Biosphere and introduce their new project, OPIN (On-farm Plans Integrated with Nature). This initiative will recruit 12 farms across the Biosphere in Dumfries and Galloway to take part in a five-year programme focused on whole-farm planning and farming resilience. We discuss how land managers can get involved, the benefits of participation, and the support available, including access to a robust suite of tools, data, and capital grant funding, that will help implement strategic land management actions that are good for natural capital and good for business.   Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producers Kerry Hammond & Kirstyn Blackwood    Timestamps:  1:04 – 9:00 Intro to speakers and Biosphere  9:00 – 14:30 Reasons for the designation and previous projects delivered  14:30 – 30:30 The OPIN project  30:30 – 50:00 Benefits for land managers and how to get involved  Related FAS resources:    Natural Capital: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/   Biodiversity: https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/      Other Related Resources:  Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere: https://www.gsabiosphere.org.uk/   To apply or for more information: https://www.gsabiosphere.org.uk/contact-us/   Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal: https://www.borderlandsgrowth.com/

    51 min

  3. 10/28/2025

    Reflections from the Nature Friendly Farming Summit

    In this episode of Natural Capital, Harry Fisher and Alex Pirie reflect on their time at Scotland’s first Nature Friendly Farming Summit. The summit explored how to scale nature-friendly farming to deliver for people, nature and climate and brought together farmers, policymakers, researchers, and environmental leaders to discuss how Scotland can build a resilient, nature-positive farming future. The summit addressed how nature and profitability are not opposites and showed how the path to a thriving, nature-friendly farming future is already taking shape.  Harry and Alex explore the main themes from the day, from farmers as stewards of the land, how profitability and biodiversity can go hand in hand and set the scene on biodiversity loss, climate pressures, and the need to de-risk nature-based solutions. The episode also looks at the future of funding, how current and new payment systems can reward environmental outcomes and discusses some of the key messages and announcements made on the day.  Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producers Kerry Hammond & Kirstyn Blackwood  Related FAS resources:    FAS Environment - https://www.fas.scot/environment/   NC LENs episode - https://www.fas.scot/podcast/natural-capital-landscape-enterprise-networks-leven-lens/   NC John and Louise Seed Woodend episode - https://www.fas.scot/podcast/arable/   Thrill of the Hill - https://www.fas.scot/sounds/thrill-of-the-hill/     Other Related Resources:  Nature Friendly Farming Network - https://www.nffn.org.uk/   Minister for Agriculture speech - https://www.gov.scot/publications/minister-for-agriculture-speech-nature-friendly-farming-network-summit/   RSPB article on summit - https://www.rspb.org.uk/scotland/news/nature-friendly-farming-summit-scotland   AECS announcement - https://www.ruralpayments.org/news-events/ministers-have-confirmed-the-2026-round-of-the-agri-environment-climate-scheme--aecs-.html   Alex Pirie - https://www.sruc.ac.uk/all-unearthed-posts/meet-the-consultant-alex-pirie/   Timestamps:  0:56 – 6:10 Intro to summit, nature friendly farming and setting the scene  6:11 – 25:26 Range of different farmers, organisations and messages from speakers and exhibitors   25:27 – 29:10 Policy, government messages and funding announcements  29:10 – 35:04 Landscape scale initiatives and LENs  35:05 – end. Summing up and main takeaways.

    44 min

  4. 09/25/2025

    The Free Company

    In this episode, we sit down with Angus Buchanan-Smith, Co-Founder and Director of The Free Company, an organic farm and restaurant guided by regenerative methods, at the foot of the Pentland Hills. We explore the history of the business, the transition to organic farming and the various complimentary enterprises they operate, from their onsite restaurant, to veg boxes, pigs and engaging with their local community.   With a deep respect for the land and experimenting with what works for them to ensure a resilient future, they share their ethos, the practices they use and how they are producing food that feeds both their local community and their on-site restaurant. We explore how they create meaningful links between food and place, and the challenges and benefits of transitioning to organic.     Whether you're a grower, eater, or someone curious about the future of food, this episode offers an honest, grounded look at how farming with nature can nourish people, planet, and community   Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producers Kerry Hammond & Kirstyn Blackwood  Timestamps:  0:56 – 15:29 Intro to the Free Company, transitioning to organic farming and finding out what worked for them.  15:30 – 27:06 Getting the most out of the land, a regenerative approach and benefits to biodiversity, soil and carbon.   27:07 –40:24 Local food production, customer experiences and their various enterprises.   40:25 – end. Challenges, recommendations for others and future plans.    Related FAS resources:    Natural Capital: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/   Organics: https://www.fas.scot/organics/      Other Related Resources:  The Free Company: https://www.the-free-company.com/   Pasture for Life: https://www.pastureforlife.org/

    55 min

  5. 08/27/2025

    Landscape Enterprise Networks – Leven LENs

    In this episode, we catch up with Amelia Heath (Co-Director, Forth Rivers Trust), Clara Schade-Poulsen (Leven LENs Project Officer), and Tom Brown (Senior Programme Manager, LENs Scotland) to explore how the Leven LENs is taking shape following its launch.   We discuss what LENs really means on the ground: how farmers and businesses are partnering to fund environmental improvements, what actions are being supported, and what’s next for this innovative approach in Scotland and beyond.  This episode offers practical insight into how collaborative, place-based solutions are helping unlock environmental outcomes at scale to the mutual benefit of those living and operating in a landscape.   Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producers Kerry Hammond & Kirstyn Blackwood  Timestamps:  0:50 – 4:56 Intro to speakers, LENs and recent developments  4:56 – 19:44 Leven LENs , who is involved, motives and drivers   19:44 –  29:25 How to get involved and farmer perspective   29:25 – 40:26 Consensus and feedback so far  40:26 – end: LENs elsewhere, sharing benefits and more info    Related FAS resources:    Natural Capital: https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/   Landscape scale conservation: https://www.fas.scot/article/landscape-scale-conservation/   Specialist advice: https://www.fas.scot/specialist-advice/      Other Related Resources:  Landscape Enterprise Networks LENs: https://landscapeenterprisenetworks.com/   LENs Impact Report: https://landscapeenterprisenetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/LENs_impact_report_2024.pdf   Leven Catchment Collective: https://catchmentcollective.scot/   Leven LENs funding announcement: https://www.3keel.com/news-lens-leven-funding-july-2025/   FIRNS: https://www.nature.scot/funding-and-projects/firns-facility-investment-ready-nature-scotland

    51 min

  6. 07/22/2025

    Galvanising Change through Natural Capital - James Hutton Institute

    In this episode, we dive into how Natural Capital is reshaping land use, farming, and business decisions with our guest, Dr Kerry Waylen. She shares her insights and working examples, to explore how land managers, farmers, and policymakers measure nature’s value, access carbon markets, and plan for long-term sustainability.We discuss topics including a just transition, the risks of greenwashing, the need for fair systems, and how supply chains—from food production to whisky—are adapting. Practical, grounded, and future-focused, this episode highlights the real opportunities and challenges in putting nature at the heart of decision-making.   Kerry Waylen is a senior social researcher in the Social, Economic and Geographical Sciences (SEGS) department at the James Hutton Institute, and Deputy Director of the International Land Use Study Centre (ILUSC).  She builds understanding of how to achieve more 'joined up' approaches to natural resource management and studies when and how different types of knowledge – including ideas of ‘natural capital’ get used in decision-making - and how to put abstract ideas for nature management into practice.  Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond. Timestamps:  0:59 – 5:52 Intro to speaker and topic background  5:53 – 18:59 Galvanising change via natural capital project  19:00 –  24:53 Ecosystem services, measuring natural capital, farming practices and easy wins  24:54 – 36:34 Paying for carbon, natural capital markets, opportunities and risks  36:35 – 44:50 Just Transition in land use and future of natural capital    Related FAS resources:    Biodiversity | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service Stock Talk - The 5-Mile Pig! | FAS What is the Woodland Carbon Code? | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service Understanding Natural Capital Markets | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service Other Related Resources:  Ecosystem services - nature’s benefits | NatureScot Galvanising Change via Natural Capital - James Hutton Institute Natural Capital Protocol – Capitals Coalition Natural Capital Market Framework - gov.scot  Ecosystem Restoration Code: engagement paper - gov.scot

    46 min

  7. 06/24/2025

    NatureMetrics - eDNA

    Measuring and accounting for biodiversity across farmlands is becoming increasingly important. Environmental DNA (eDNA) involves collecting genetic material from environmental samples like water and soil to detect what species are present. It is a tool that is growing in popularity, that can give insights into the range and distribution of species found across a landscape, assess ecosystem health, and track biodiversity changes over time.   We discuss the role this technology can have in biodiversity baselining with Kevin Fennelly and George Muscatt  from NatureMetrics. NatureMetrics is a global nature intelligence technology company who pioneer the use of innovative methods for biodiversity monitoring. We assess how eDNA works and the role this technology could have across diverse landscapes, including its benefits and limitations, and how it can help understand and manage biodiversity.  Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producer Kirstyn Blackwood  Timestamps:  1:11 – 7:55 intros to speakers and what is eDNA  7:56 – 25:38 what can it discover and how does it work  21:37 – 36:18 what is driving demand and nature based risks  36:19 – 47:46 benefits for farms, companies and food production  Related FAS resources:    Biodiversity On Your Farm | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service Habitat And Landscape Management | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service FAS Sounds | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service Other Related Resources:  eDNA Biodiversity Monitoring Case Studies eDNA & Biodiversity Monitoring for Regenerative Agriculture Kevin Fennelly - kevin.fennelly@naturemetrics.co.uk

    51 min

  8. 05/27/2025

    John Wright - Hedgerows, Ditches, and Drystane Dykes

    Linear features like hedgerows, ditches and drystone dykes are symbolic of our countryside, providing boundaries and unique habitats. From their history as a form of ancient enclosure, to their importance for nature, we go on a journey with John Wright to discuss these fascinating ecosystems, their natural and cultural significance and what they can tell us about our landscape.   John Wright is a naturalist, fungi expert, forager and author who has written many books covering Britain's countryside, its history and value to us past and present. John shares his knowledge on the history of the British countryside, why we should value and look after our linear habitats and the abundance of biodiversity they support.   Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producer Kirstyn Blackwood  Timestamps:  1:07 – 8:27 Intro to John and the early history of linear features  8:27 – 19:22 Hedgerows decline, focus on biodiversity and landscape pressures  19:23 – 33:39 Species in hedgerows and importance of different habitats  33:40 – 39:07 The biodiversity on stonewall dykes  39:07 – End Management and advice to support biodiveristy  Related FAS resources:    Biodiversity | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service FAS Sounds | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service Protecting Scotland's Peatlands Woodland, and Hedgerows | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service Technical Note (TN738): Hedges – Carbon, Conservation & Compliance Other Related Resources:  A Natural History of the Hedgerow - Profile Books John Wright - Profile Books Dr Rob Walton Life in a Hedge (researchgate.net)

    54 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Earth’s soils, rocks, air, water, plants and animals are all valuable resources that provide a wide range of services and benefits. These resources need to be carefully managed and maintained to support a healthy functioning environment. In this Natural Capital podcast series, hosted by Rachel Smillie and Harry Fisher, we will explore different natural capital assets and their value to Scottish agriculture and the rural economy, including the opportunities and risks for the future. Hosted by Rachel Smillie and Harry Fisher, produced by Iain Boyd, edited by Ross Mackenzie and Kieron Sim, executive producer Kerry Hammond. Scotland’s Farm Advisory Service is funded by the Scottish Government. Our podcast covers a range of topics which help support your farm or croft to be more profitable and sustainable.

Information

  • Creator
    Farm Advisory Service
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Farm Advisory Service
  • Show Website
    Natural Capital