First instalment of Agroecology around Arran released

The series showcases the people behind the island’s farms, food businesses and rural communities and can be found at agricology.libsyn.com/meat-and-livestock-farming and on all major streaming platforms.

Episode one, called Meat and Livestock Farming, begins with the story of beef in the Shiskine Valley told by Alistair Currie. Then, the story of sheep from a few miles up the road is told by Colin Currie.

Next the podcast moves to the issues of pest management, affordable meals and adding value by Zoë Hughes of Wild Isle Venison.

The episode is neatly wrapped up by the only contributor across the whole series who is not an Arran resident, Alec Pirie. Alec talks about the biodiversity and carbon perspective of the island’s livestock farms, having been a main point of consultancy for a decade and, in recent weeks, completing a survey of 40 farms and 989 fields on the island.

Wallace told the Banner: “The series is like my love letter to an island that has been the proverbial village of my raising, with a focus on a sector that has given me so much, a career, a network, but most importantly friends and family.

“Please listen if you have ties to Arran, farming, food, drink, you like a whisky, steak, glass of milk, slice of sourdough, mushrooms, greens, ice cream, cheese, honey, community, friends, family…you name it, you’ll love this.”