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The Westcombe Project

The Westcombe Project

By: Sam Wilkin
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About this listen

In July 2021 I started an ambitious project to document a-year-in-the-life of Westcombe Dairy.


It was a timely partnership as it coincided with a big push at Westcombe Dairy to take their regenerative farming to the next level. It also became a great opportunity to stop and consider all the changes that they've brought about at the dairy in the past years, from pasture-led grazing to the development of their charcuterie and the work they've done on the farm to improve resilience and diversity.


I visited Westcombe once a month, focusing on a different aspect of what they do on each visit. Through the lens of Westcombe Dairy we are able to look at how dairy farming is changing here in the UK and how one cheesemaker is making changes on their farm in search of a more harmonious nature with nature and ultimately an even more delicious cheese.

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Sam Wilkin Biological Sciences Hygiene & Healthy Living Science Social Sciences
Episodes
  • The Westcombe Project - EMERGENCY PODCAST

    The Westcombe Project - EMERGENCY PODCAST
    Nov 22 2024

    EMERGENCY PODCAST


    An all new chat with Tom Calver in which I hear first hand what it was like to be at the centre of the Cheddar Scam storm that enveloped British Cheese just a few weeks ago. We talk about the real impact of a crime like this and how in a very weird way it’s a compliment to Farmhouse Cheddar!


    We also talk about the budget and specifically the changes to IHT that have formed the backbone of the recent farming protests in central London. This was recorded a couple of weeks ago and so the story has evolved a bit since we discussed it but ultimately it’s an issue that proving very divisive and one that I don’t think is dropping g out of the conversation any time soon.


    We also talk briefly about lard, slurry and Alpine cheese…


    As always thank you for listening to The Westcombe Project and please do rate and review on your favourite pod app.


    Cheers.


    PS some articles


    here’s a cracking piece all about the cheddar scam and why high end food is finding its way onto the black market


    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crmz42pjpnjo.amp


    an excellent analysis of the impact of the budget on farmers by James Rebanks


    https://unherd.com/2024/11/a-farmers-revolt-is-coming/



    The article in The Financial Times all about Lard


    https://www.ft.com/content/47a70eb9-4a25-4209-aab6-3acc38e10b9b

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    21 mins
  • Return to Westcombe Episode 3

    Return to Westcombe Episode 3
    Nov 21 2024
    Back at Westcombe Dairy and Tom gives Sam a tour of the farmyard. A lot has changed in 12 months with a new mill and bakery on site, a brand new brewery going in and the charcuterie changing and developing. In the background the cheddar is the back bone of the business, with all the new its important to focus on what made the Westcombe Project so fascinating - that search for a truly delicious cheese.

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    21 mins
  • Return to Westcombe Episode 2

    Return to Westcombe Episode 2
    Nov 20 2024
    Sam is back at Westcombe and chatting to raymond about how the changes have affected the herd, I also hear from Raymond about his health. Suffice to say, herdsmen are a tough lot!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    26 mins
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