Last month, we spent two full days at Groundswell Festival, the UK’s premier gathering for regenerative agriculture. Everywhere we turned, the energy buzzed with possibility -farmers, chefs, policymakers and curious food lovers swapping stories, ideas and convictions, all with one shared goal: building a more resilient, respectful food system. What struck us most was how clear it became that regenerative farming isn’t a one-size-fits-all project. Every patch of land is different; the diversity of soil, wildlife, climate and scale means there’s no universal template. What matters is how a farmer treats their land - if each step is taken with intent to leave the ground richer than they found it. From mob-grazed livestock to newly planted hedgerows humming with life, Groundswell shone a light on countless pathways to better farming. We began with a captivating conversation about pasture-raised pigs, led by Amy Chappell, Fred Price, Flavian Obiero and Song Su Kim of Super 8 Restaurants. From rare Saddlebacks to Tamworth-Duroc crosses, each speaker brought a different breed, a different backstory, but a shared belief in pigs as partners in land restoration. Song Su’s perspective as a buyer reminded us that kitchens must understand and honour where their meat comes from. The highlight? A keynote from Gabe Brown, often called the godfather of regenerative farming, introduced by none other than His Royal Highness the Duke of Cornwall. Gabe took us straight to the heart of the soil, contrasting vibrant, living ground with its compact, lifeless counterpart. His message lingered more than the visuals: “regenerative isn’t a practice, it’s a mindset.” Simple, but profound and entirely the kind of truth we want to carry forward. Later, Henry Dimbleby moderated a razor-sharp discussion with Justin King and George Eustice on the future of British farming policy. The conversation wasn’t polite - it was real, raw, full of tension at times. But it was that honesty that made it shine. Subsidies, strategy, political will - Henry’s clear, incisive probing made policy feel urgent and necessary again. Over in the Pasture for Life tent, farmers spoke frankly about the challenges of finishing cattle on grass alone. Issues like marbling, fat content and consistency weren’t sidestepped - they were laid bare. And yet, amidst those challenges, there was optimism: honest sharing felt like progress, a sign of how collaboration breeds better solutions. Then came “Regenerative Sourcing,” a conversation connecting chefs and producers - including Chris Leach (Manteca), Anna Tobias (Café Deco) and the Shrub team. Their stories were threaded with trust, transparent relationships, and a shared belief: provenance truly matters, right down to the plate. On the second day, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall delivered something we hadn’t expected: a reminder of how powerful storytelling is. From River Cottage to Instagram feeds, he reminded us that farmers are more than stewards - they are storytellers, cultural carriers, and regenerators of both land and imagination. One of the year’s most visible shifts? Meat was everywhere - more expansive, more nuanced, more part of the conversation than ever before. Chefs, butchers, restaurateurs - the dialogue went beyond field and abattoir and into the heart of the supply chain. And as butchers, we feel that in our bones: we’re the conduit between field and fork. It’s our responsibility to carry those stories forward, to honor the care, labour and knowledge behind every cut. Groundswell reminded us that great farming is about so much more than yield - it’s soil, biodiversity, flavour, community, and trust. But more than that, it’s connection. Between farmer and chef, butcher and diner, land and table. Regeneration isn’t a marketing trend, it’s a mindset we all share responsibility for carrying forward.