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.
We’re joined by Derek Robeson from the Tweed Forum to explore their catchment-scale action across the River Tweed and the surrounding landscape and communities. We discuss their various projects including Eddleston Water and Destination Tweed and cover topics including natural flood management, working with landowners and economic drivers, to showcase what it takes to turn ambitious ideas into practical, beneficial action on the ground.
Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producers Kerry Hammond & Kirstyn Blackwood
Key Timestamps:
0:59 – 14:54 Intro to Tweed Forum, its activities and Eddleston Water project.
14:55 – 24:49 Destination Tweed, other projects and drivers.
24:50 – 33:40 Catchment scale approach, funding and logical solutions
33:40 – end How to get involved and find out more
Resources:
Tweed Forum: https://tweedforum.org/ (https://tweedforum.org/)
Tweed Foundation: https://rivertweed.org.uk/tweed-foundation/ (https://rivertweed.org.uk/tweed-foundation/)
Borders Forest Trust: https://bordersforesttrust.org/ (https://bordersforesttrust.org/)
Southern Uplands Partnership: https://sup.org.uk/ (https://sup.org.uk/)
FAS Water Management: https://www.fas.scot/environment/water-management/ (https://www.fas.scot/environment/water-management/)
River Catchment Management at Landscape-Scale:
https://www.fas.scot/article/river-catchment-management-at-landscape-scale/ (https://www.fas.scot/article/river-catchment-management-at-landscape-scale/)
For more information, visit www.FAS.scot (https://www.fas.scot/)
Twitter: @FASScot
Facebook: @FASScot
National Advice Hub
Phone: 0300 323 0161
Email: advice@fas.scot (mailto:advice@fas.scot)
28 Aug 2026
Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands
Join us for a conversation with Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands, the not-for-profit initiative is taking a proactive approach to restoring and connecting native woodland across the region. We explore the importance of woodland connectivity, the realities of creating woodland on working farms, and how the Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands and their projects are helping landowners turn good intentions into trees in the ground.
Contact:
McNabb Laurie - D&G Woodlands Manager
Email: mcnabb.laurie@dgwoodlands.org (mailto:mcnabb.laurie@dgwoodlands.org)
Mobile: 07538 798 837
Harry Fisher - Consultant
Email: harry.fisher@sac.co.uk (mailto:harry.fisher@sac.co.uk)
Host Harry Fisher, Producer Iain Boyd, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producers Kerry Hammond & Kirstyn Blackwood
Key Timestamps:
0:00 – 14:26 Intro to D & G Woodlands and their work
14:26 - 21:18 Their woodlands connectivity project
21:19 - 28:08 Types of woodland creation and the wider benefits
28:09 – End Next steps and how to find out more information
Resources:
Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands: https://dgwoodlands.org.uk/ (https://dgwoodlands.org.uk/)
Galloway & South Ayrshire Biosphere: https://www.gsabiosphere.org.uk/ (https://www.gsabiosphere.org.uk/)
Integrating Trees Network: https://www.forestry.gov.scot/integrating-trees-network (https://www.forestry.gov.scot/integrating-trees-network)
Tweed Forum: https://tweedforum.org/our-work/projects/borders-tree-grant-scheme/ (https://tweedforum.org/our-work/projects/borders-tree-grant-scheme/)
FAS trees & woodland resources: https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/farm-woodlands/ (https://www.fas.scot/crops-soils/farm-woodlands/)
FAS Environment: https://www.fas.scot/environment/ (https://www.fas.scot/environment/)
For more information, visit www.FAS.scot (https://www.fas.scot/)
Twitter: @FASScot
Facebook: @FASScot
National Advice Hub
Phone: 0300 323 0161
Email: advice@fas.scot (mailto:advice@fas.scot)
30 Jul 2026
Scottish Agroecological Partnership
In this episode, we're joined by Abi Morton from Propagate and Colleen McCulloch from the Soil Association to explore the work of the Scottish Agroecological Partnership (SAP), a collaboration of organisations working to make agroecology central to farming, crofting and growing in Scotland.
We discuss what agroecology means in practice, how collaboration is helping farmers, crofters and growers build more resilient businesses and their project to upscale agroecology. Through on-farm workshops, peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange, the partnership is supporting the adoption of farming practices that are good for soils, nature and people. We also explore the barriers to change, the economic case for agroecological farming, the role of policy, and what Scotland's farming future could look like.
Host Harry Fisher, Producers Iain Boyd & Fiona Salter, Editor Kieron Sim, Executive Producer Kerry Hammond
Key Timestamps:
1:10 – 10:21 What SAP do, who is involved and what is agroecology
10:22 – 18:39 What does it look like in practice, farmer clusters
18:40 – 24:29 Overcoming barriers to adoption and making the transition
24:30 – 38:18 workshops, knowledge sharing and engaging with policy
Resources:
FAS Biodiveristy
https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/ (https://www.fas.scot/environment/biodiversity/)
FAS Natural Capital podcast
https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/ (https://www.fas.scot/sounds/natural-capital/)
Scottish Agroecology Partnership (SAP)
https://www.agroecology.scot/ (https://www.agroecology.scot/)
SAP Events
https://www.agroecology.scot/about-sap/events/ (https://www.agroecology.scot/about-sap/events/)
For more information, visit www.FAS.scot (https://www.fas.scot/)
Twitter: @FASScot
Facebook: @FASScot
National Advice Hub
Phone: 0300 323 0161
Email: advice@fas.scot (mailto:advice@fas.scot)
Who has been a guest on Natural Capital
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
KEVIN FENNELLY
GEORGE MUSCATT
John Wright
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
1,394,773
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
12 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 55 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
43
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
77
Contact Natural Capital
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