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S4E2 Sarah Ashford
Everything you wanted to know about quilting... Somerset Stories meets writer and founder of the Great British Quilter community – Sarah Ashford. From designing and making quilts for over twelve years, to writing for magazines, and creating her own podcast, Sarah is a multi-talented creative, with a knack for bringing people together over a love of sewing. Her own designs have seen her collaborate with well known craft brands around the world, and speak at national and international events. We met at Sarah’s studio in Wellington, surrounded by patterns and colours.
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S4E1 Charles Dowding
Our guest for the first episode of this season is one of Somerset’s living legends in gardening. Possibly the country’s most recognised and celebrated gurus of the no-dig method: Charles Dowding. Based at his market garden farm near Castle Cary, Charles has pioneered organic food production, written bestselling books no-dig, and become an internet sensation with his videos and social media channels. We spoke earlier this month, and chatted about his life, achievements, and philosophies when it comes to the soil and where our food comes from.
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S3E14 William Sitwell
For the final episode of this season, Somerset Stories meets one of this country’s go-to people for all things food. A writer, restaurant critic for the telegraph, and you’ve probably seen him as one of the guest critics on Masterchef – William Sitwell. When he’s not writing about food and drink, William is also busy running supper clubs, curating wines, and is even a partner in a cider company – right here in Somerset. We met last month to talk about his life growing up, his journey into the world of food, and his love for local produce and cider!
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S3E13 Rebecca Lipkin
This week, we're talking about the Victorian writer, philosopher, John Ruskin. Author Rebecca Lipkin is an ardent student and follower of his work, and has just published a novel which spans 20 years of Ruskin's life and relationships. Looking beyond just his work and writings, Unto This Last explores the complex nature of Ruskin as a person, in a key period of his later life. As well as her own writing, Rebecca is a keen explorer of Bath's architecture, history, and cultural riches.
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S3E12 Zac Greening
This week, Somerset Stories meets an artist whose work is inspired by nature and man's many links with our natural environment. Zac Greening has lived in Somerset for the last 14 years, and during that time he has continued to create works that communicate themes of sustainability and biodiversity. Zac has been commissioned by corporate clients and had solo exhibitions around the world.
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S3E11 Will Hamilton-Davies
Inspired by his own local natural surroundings, Will Hamilton-Davies has recently crowdfunded and self-published his debut story – The Shrew with the Flu. Coming from a large family where he looks after his younger siblings, Will has a clear passion and skill for getting kids to connect with the environment around them through amusing, but heart-warming writing. We spoke to this emerging talent as a children’s book author about his journey from story-enthusiast to story-teller.
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S3E10 Julian & Matilda Temperley
This week's guests have collectively been at the centre of the Somerset drinks industry for 50 years… Julian and Matilda Temperley are two of the country’s most prominent faces in the world of cider and cider brandy. Their passion and expertise for creating the highest quality drinks, through the most natural and traditional methods has seen their products grace the tables of Michelin-star restaurants, and the fields of Glastonbury festival, with their iconic cider-bus.
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S3E9 Heidi Greensmith
Combining a love of stories, film, and music, award-winning writer and director Heidi Greensmith began writing scripts at the age of 16. Since then, her career which has spanned creating videos for Paul Weller, writing and directing the award winning feature-film – Winter... and a lockdown TV project with Brian Cox.
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S3E8 Hugo Hall
The image of a hot air balloon, drifting through the Somerset skies at sunset is an iconic image for the county. This week, we meet third generation balloon pilot Hugo Hall of Fly Away Ballooning to talk about what makes Somerset the perfect place to take flight. Hugo's father and grandmother had both been instrumental in the development of ballooning in the UK, and as Hugo embarks on his own project, we talk about some of his highs, and even highers!
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S3E7 Amanda Forster-Searle
Our guest this week spent 25 years working in the corporate and media world, before a build-up of stress brought her to realise her calling in emotional freedom and wellness. Amanda Forster-Searle is a practitioner of integrative health, looking at how nutrition, mental health, negative experiences, and energy levels all affect each other in our mind and body. We chatted over Zoom, covering everything from toxic workplaces, to an obscure piece of late 90s nostalgia – the Y2K bug…