Rheged preview event for 'Six Inches of Soil' farming film

Rheged, just off the M6 at Penrith, has been selected as one of a handful of venues nationally to preview "Six Inches of Soil," which tells the story of young British farmers standing up against the industrial food system.

The screening, on Sunday, January 21, ahead of its main release in March, will include an introduction and Q&A with the film director Colin Ramsay and producer Claire Mackenzie. This will be followed by a panel debate on "how individual choices can drive change".

Six Inches of Soil is an independent British feature film which had its international premiere on December 9 at COP28 in Dubai. Its UK premiere will be at the Oxford Real Farming Conference on January 4.

The film follows the highs and lows of three new farmers on the first year of their regenerative journey, Anna Jackson, a Lincolnshire 11th generation arable and sheep farmer, Adrienne Gordon, a Cambridgeshire small-scale vegetable farmer, and Ben Thomas, who rears pasture fed beef cattle in Cornwall.

The panel debate following the film will include:

• Mike Berners-Lee, a leading expert on sustainability, author of several acclaimed books, professor in practice at Lancaster University and director of Small World Consulting;
• Neil Heseltine, fourth generation farmer of the 1,100 acre Hill Top Farm at Malham, member of the nature friendly farming network and chair of Yorkshire Dales National Park and National Parks, England;
• Maria Benjamin, of Dodgson Wood, a diversified part of Nibthwaite Grange Farm near Ulverston, who finds creative and environmentally sustainable solutions by making the most of natural resources on the farm;
• Garry Miller, who runs a family farming business in partnership with his wife Hazel near Penrith, and has diversified by running farm tours, weekly sheepdog demonstrations and produces knitting wool, tweed, wool products, and soap;
• Colin Ramsay, director of Six Inches of Soil and award winning film maker who is passionate about nature-based solutions to climate change.

Claire Logan-Stephens, head of programming at Rheged, said: “We are delighted to host this event and share the important messages it portrays. Sourcing local food and innovation in farming has sat at the heart of our business since it was founded with the opening of Tebay Services in 1972.

"Rheged is fast becoming a place to learn and debate the latest food and farming techniques and meet local producers through our programme of events. This event is designed to appeal to everyone – as everyone’s individual choices such as where you buy your food and clothes, influence both our health and wellbeing and the environment.”

Claire Mackenzie, producer of Six Inches of Soil, added: “We very much hope that audiences watching this film will see that it is possible to produce food in harmony with nature through regenerative farming within an agroecological system. The film provides a voice for British farmers, food producers and campaigners. It also gives real context to discussions about climate change and the importance of soil and regenerative food production.

"We need to transform our food system for people and planet. This is vital if we are to reach our climate goals and limit global warming and ensure food security for our growing global population."

Six Inches of Soil will be screened at Rheged on January 21 at 2pm. The introduction, film screening, Q&A and panel debate is a ticketed event and expected to last two and a half hours. To book, see rheged.com/event/six-inches-of-soil-special-preview-film-screening-qa-and-panel-debate/.