Lynsay Bell Manson is an architect, owner of Studio LBA and Orwell Farm’s rural business hub, a mum, a wife and plenty more besides. She runs two brilliant businesses, delivers beautiful projects, raises an awesome kid, has her own rural idyl and plenty more besides and I loved chatting to Lynsay for this episode of the Women in Wellies Podcast.

Well this conversation really takes us on a journey that demonstrates Lynsay’s entrepreneurial energy, determination, spontaneity and the power of the gut instinct. From winging her way into her interview for architecture at university Lynsay has carved her path, built a business, shifted the business and overcome hard times. Growing a family - some with hooves - and building a highly sustainable rural business hub alongside running an architecture practice is something to be admired.

This is an episode packed with reminders to give things a go, to build a team around us who we can depend on and to remember to have fun, ride the horses, go to the events and make the connections along the way - there is something in here for everyone so do tune in and listen!

Please note : just a word of warning, this episode contains a conversation about miscarriage.

The Women in Wellies Podcast is sponsored by Scottish Law firm, Gillespie Macandrew, advising on all areas of land & rural business, private client, energy and real estate.

Connect with Lynsay on social media : LinkedIn - Lynsay Bell Manson and Studio LBA \\ Instagram - @lynsaybellmanson and @studio_lba

Episode Recorded on 11th June 2025.

All views expressed are our own.

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

Kitty Grubb is Farmer Success Manager at Regenfied based in Edinburgh having grown up on a mixed farm in Sussex as one of five siblings. Defining herself as a “travelling saleswoman” Kitty takes us through her journey from studying French & Spanish at university to working in recruitment and head hunting before a transition to regenerative agriculture.

Kitty’s determination and passion for the rural sector shine through in her stories of how she ended up with a job in regenerative agriculture, the inspiration and drive behind Regenified and the importance of community as farming changes. We discuss the changes in the land seen through regenerative practices and the impact of shared experience perfectly timed as many flocked to Groundswell this week to do just this.

A conversation filled with joy, enthusiasm and a love for the farming and rural sector - tune in now!

The Women in Wellies Podcast is sponsored by Scottish Law firm, Gillespie Macandrew, advising on all areas of land & rural business, private client, energy and real estate.

Connect with Kitty on social media : LinkedIn - Kitty Grubb and Regnified \\ Instagram - @kittygrubb and @regenified

Documentaries :

Kiss the Ground (Amazon Prime) : https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B0C9TFWQLH/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

Common Ground (Amazon Prime) : https://www.amazon.com/Common-Ground-Joshua-Tickell/dp/B0DSQ7LC5W

Book : Dirt to Soil by Gabe Brown : https://amzn.eu/d/e4JvzU5

Episode Recorded on 30th May 2025.

All views expressed are our own.

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

Jennifer is Head of Rural Agency and an Associate at DM Hall, mother of two, volunteer with cubs, RICS Scotland Board Member and studying (and making it look effortless)!

Join us as Jennifer takes us on her journey from business studies with textile chemistry to project management for interior design and even event management before finding her place in the rural sector and training to become a rural surveyor. This episode sells the best parts of working in rural from feeding lambs to the fabulous opportunities to be out and about (maybe a less good day being shot at!) alongside the importance of team, balance and making tough decisions.

Like other Mum’s who have joined us on the Women in Wellies Podcast we chat about the juggle, the setting of boundaries and the non-negotiables that Jennifer has set. The importance of ongoing learning, building a network and being involved - use your voice are all key themes throughout this conversation and if you want to be inspired to consider a career in the rural surveying profession then this conversation is definitely for you!

The Women in Wellies Podcast is sponsored by Scottish Law firm, Gillespie Macandrew, advising on all areas of land & rural business, private client, energy and real estate.

Connect with Jennifer on social media : LinkedIn - Jennifer Campbell and DM Hall \\ Instagram - @dmhallsurveyors

Episode Recorded on 23rd May 2025.

All views expressed are our own.

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

Alix is Program Director of Farmstrong Scotland, part time farmer, mother of two and at the time of recording in charge of 100 pet lambs!! Some juggle to kick us off!

Join us as Alix shares her story - from growing up rurally to university, working for and being part of Young Farmers and then her time with the Royal Highland Education Trust and Quality Meat Scotland. We delve into the power of on farm education, sharing where food comes from and the opportunity to get hands on to facilitate a greater understanding. Alix shares highlights from that including “that’s been the best day of my life” moments - truly something special.

We talk all things Farmstrong - the power of community, the importance of looking after your self as the number one asset on your farm and some of the pivotal moments since the launch of farmstrong in Scotland. Alix shares more about their own farm at home, the changes they have undertaken and the benefits gained. We discuss the role of women in agriculture, the burden they can carry and how Farmstrong are working to bring focus to this and support in the months ahead.

This episode reminds us all to take time for ourselves, look after our own wellbeing and take notice. A perfect one to enjoy while taking some time for you!

The Women in Wellies Podcast is sponsored by Scottish Law firm, Gillespie Macandrew, advising on all areas of land & rural business, private client, energy and real estate.

Connect with Alix on social media : LinkedIn - Alix Ritchie and Farmstrong Scotland \\ Instagram - @farmstrongscot \\ Facebook - Farmstrong Scotland

Episode Recorded on 25th April 2025.

All views expressed are our own.

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

Rosie is a cut flower farmer and florist, and the owner of Scottish flower farm, Rosie Louise Cut Flowers. She grows on a 1/2 acre site near Edinburgh, using organic and no-dig practices.

Join us as Rosie shares the challenges she has overcome to uncover her love for horticulture, her passion for nature and more about her beautiful flower farm. The farm focuses on producing seasonal focal flowers with fragrance and a garden style, and supplies to florists in Edinburgh, Midlothian and the Scottish Borders. Rosie discusses her pathway from folk musician to flower farmer, the challenges faced along the way and what inspires her to never give up.

This is a conversation filled with joy, enthusiasm and a deep rooted love for the path Rosie has ended up on - definitely one to be enjoyed out in the sunshine if possible!

The Women in Wellies Podcast is sponsored by Scottish Law firm, Gillespie Macandrew, advising on all areas of land & rural business, private client, energy and real estate.

Connect with Rosie on social media : LinkedIn - Rosie Archbold \\ Instagram - @rosielouisecutflowers

Find out more about Rosemains Steading here : https://www.rosemains.co.uk/

Episode Recorded on 21st March 2025.

All views expressed are our own.

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

Anna Hock joins me from the beautiful surroundings of Islay. Anna runs Orsay Sea Salt and Orsay Seafood - a seafood shack alongside juggling the chaos of life as a mum and a fisherman’s wife. Our conversations takes us from sea salt production to the challenges of island life.

Listen in as Anna shares from her childhood growing up on Jura, her move to Islay and working across a variety of industries from distilleries to social work before becoming a Mum. We go on the journey of establishing Orsay Sea Salt through three seasons of harvesting to where they are today including a mouth watering description of the crab dirty fries that you’ll be able to get from Orsay Seafood before too long! Anna’s drive and determination shines through - particularly when it comes to planning permission - alongside the power of community, the luxury of nature’s larder and her absolute passion for all she does!

Connect with Anna and Orsay Sea Salt on social media : Instagram - @orsayseasalt and @orsayseafood \\ Facebook - Orsay Sea Salt \\ Website - https://www.orsayseasalt.co.uk/

Episode Recorded on 21st March 2025.

All views expressed are our own.

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

Steph Hepburn is a well known face across rural Scotland and joins me from our capital city, Edinburgh, which she calls home. Steph is a partner at Shepherd and Wedderburn and leads their Rural Disputes team who work across rural Scotland to avoid and resolve disputes. Our conversation takes us from a marketing degree to the working mum life balance, to becoming part of the rural sector and plenty more besides.

Join us as Steph takes us from growing up in inner city Edinburgh - no farming families, crofters or rural landowners there - through her career. Steph has embraced opportunities, not been afraid to forge her own path and has, like many of us, ended where she is today thanks to nudges along the way from key individuals and seizing opportunities when things didn’t go the way she thought. We talk about the power of people - a theme common to the Women in Wellies Podcast - including the value of relationships in business, the connection and the use of LinkedIn (no surprise there if you know Steph!). Steph shares some memorable career moments including a herd of sheep and some horses - definitely not where she thought she’s be when she first went to Stirling Uni to study marketing!

We round out the episode with some brilliant advice for the next generation, as always - I love these gems of wisdom!

Connect with Stephanie on social media : LinkedIn - Stephanie Hepburn

Episode Recorded on 14th March 2025.

All views expressed are our own.

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

Jo Morris is a farmer, mum, wife, solicitor, snug host, star of ‘This Farming Life’ and now podcast guest, just to get us started and joins me in conversation from their “new” family farm in Fife. Jo takes us on the journey of change they have been on as a family to build a resilient future through a move from Caithness where her husband’s family had farmed for 5 generations, to the heart of Fife.

Jo provides a real perspective on the challenges of moving, the reality of learning new land, new livestock and the changes this has brought their family. She tells us more about being on BBC’s ‘This Farming Life’ with camera crews joining them on the farm and their decision to bring openness and transparency to their story in this series. We discuss the balancing act of being a practicing solicitor alongside farming and building guaranteed income into their business model as they plan for their future including the Snug’s and veg growers. Most of all, Jo’s dedication to her family first shines through our conversation.

Connect with Jo Morris on social media : LinkedIn - Joanna Morris \\ Instagram - @logie_farm_fife

Check out ‘This Farming Life’ on BBC iPlayer.

Episode Recorded on 12th February 2025.

All views expressed are our own.

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