LEAFcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Our latest LEAF Digs Deeper session takes a closer look at the vital role agriplastics play in modern farming and the growing need to improve how they are recovered and recycled.

From silage wrap to crop covers, agriplastics are essential tools for productivity and efficiency. However, as their use continues, so do the challenges around responsible disposal and recycling.

In this session, we explore:
- How better on-farm sorting, storage, and handling can significantly boost recycling outcomes
- Why used agriplastics should be treated as a valuable, recoverable resource not just waste
- The practical and financial barriers farmers currently face when managing plastic waste
- The need for stronger collaboration across industry, government, and supply chains to scale effective recycling systems

A key theme throughout is the importance of practical, joined-up solutions—approaches that fit the realities of farm businesses while moving agriculture towards a more circular and sustainable future.

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Climate-Smart Dairy: LEAF Digs Deeper – Key Insights

In this LEAF Digs Deeper session, we explore how climate-smart dairy practices are being applied on the ground to improve efficiency, resilience, and environmental performance. Featuring insights from Zoe Barker (University of Reading) on the SmartDairy Project and Sven Koops (CEDAR), the discussion highlights how better use of data, precision technologies, and herd management can reduce emissions, improve animal health and longevity, and boost farm efficiency—often without major infrastructure investment. The session also explores the role of policy stability, shared risk, and clear communication with consumers. Climate-smart dairy is about practical, data-driven decisions that deliver lasting benefits for farms, supply chains, and the environment.

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LEAF’s 10 year strate­gic direc­tion (2021−2031) builds on our core capa­bil­i­ties and strengths and deliv­ers against 8 com­mit­ments. In this series of pod­casts, LEAF Chief Exec­u­tive, Car­o­line Drum­mond explores each of the com­mit­ments and exam­ines how each feed into LEAF’s wider ambi­tions. Today we learn about ​‘Growing Education and Engaging Society’.

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LOFS Ambassador for the East of England,  Jon Myhill speaks to Jane Louden from Crown Point Estate about hosting their first LOFS event in 2021, the practicalities of running a larger event in conjunction with another organisation, and how help is key! 

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Lucy and Ally discuss how his events have been his favourite days on farm, how local marketing really worked for his events, and some fun activity ideas they have used after the initial worry of having nothing of interest to show the public due to having no livestock on farm!

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In this episode we join LOFS Ambassador for the North East, Anne Mair Chapman who chats to Cameron Harrison about his fascinating story of elephant garlic and his first time taking part in LEAF Open Farm Sunday last year, and how his event differed from Anne's event, who also took part for the first time!  A chance to hear how every farm has something fascinating to show visitors. 

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Lewis Davies, Group Environmental and Sustainability Manager at Wynnstay and Clare Mike, LEAF’s Director, Business Development discuss partnerships, people, projects and the LEAF membership offer. 

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Join our series of LEAF Open Farm Sunday podcasts, where we meet LOFS host farmers from across the UK who will be sharing their experiences, magic moments and top tips to running an event. 

This week, we meet LOFS host farmer Tanya Robbins from Didcot Farm, chatting about fond memories and some useful tricks, such as ticketing and the LOFS website that have been picked up along the way. 

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The first in our series of LEAF Open Farm Sunday podcasts, where we meet LOFS host farmers from across the UK who will be sharing their experiences, magic moments and top tips to running an event. 

This week LOFS manager, Annabel Shackleton discusses  the joys of growing up with LOFS on farm, with long term host farmer Rebecca Dawes from Hilton of Aldie, Kinross, Scotland. 

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Lucy Redmore, LEAF's Assurance Manager discusses how the LEAF Marque Standard is kept robust, relevant and rigorous. Lucy outlines the current LEAF Marque Standard v16.0 draft public consultation – how it works, what it does, the different ways of getting involved and, crucially, the proposed changes.

Complete survey here.

Register for webinars here.  

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