Battle For The British Countryside: Guy Shrubsole, Fiona Reynolds, Andrew Bullock & Mary-Ann Ochota

What is the British countryside actually for? A working food factory, a concrete solution to the housing crisis, a sanctuary for nature, or simply a picturesque backdrop for tourists? As modern pressures collide, the centuries-old battle over land ownership, purpose and public access has reached a tipping point.Join Festival President and former National Trust Director GeneralFiona Reynolds,bestselling author Guy Shrubsole, and seasoned Cotswold farmer Andrew Bullock to interrogate the history of our rural spaces and debate who gets to decide their future.
Chaired by broadcaster and CPRE PresidentMary-Ann Ochota.Fiona is currently serving as High Sheriff of Gloucestershire 2026-7, with a focus on rural issues. Each ticket includes a 1.50 donation to the High Sheriffs Fund.