Prince William pays respects to British farmers during Groundswell event
3rd July 2025
The regenerative agriculture event Groundswell was attended by a special guest, the Prince of Wales, who has offered British farmers his “respect and encouragement”.
Prince William paid a surprise visit to Groundswell during the first day of the event, which was hosted on Wednesday, 2nd July, at Lannock Farm in North Hertfordshire.
While talking to the event participants, Prince William said: “To the farmers here today, I offer my respect and encouragement. You are the heart of this transformation.
“[…] If we as a society are to meet the challenges ahead, it will be by learning from the land and those who tend it with wisdom and humility.
“Let this festival be not just a celebration of innovation but a rallying call, for regenerative farming is not a fringe alternative. It must be a foundation stone for British agriculture to help us rebuild the health of our nation.”
‘Huge role’ of British farmers
Prince William added that farmers have a “huge role to play”, however, they cannot do it alone. He noted that the country also needs to rely on retailers, food manufacturers, and the general public.
“As consumers, we must re-educate ourselves on what we eat, where it comes from, and the true cost of its production,” the Duke of Cornwall added.
Prince William highlighted that farming “is not simply the act of growing food, it is much bigger than that”.
“It is the stewardship of the land, the health of our soils, the purity of our water, and the resilience of our rural society in harmony with nature,” he told Groundswell participants.
‘Hopeful path forward’
Groundswell Festival 2025 takes place on the 2nd and 3rd of July 2025 and is the ninth edition of the event founded by the Cherry family on their mixed farm in Hertfordshire.
The Groundswell event provides a forum for farmers and the public interested in food production or the environment to learn about the theory and practical applications of conservation agriculture or regenerative systems, including no-till, cover crops and reintroducing livestock into the arable rotation, with a view to improving soil health.
The organisers said that Groundswell is a practical show aimed at anyone who wants to understand the farmer’s core asset, the soil, and make better-informed decisions.
It is a two-day event featuring talks, forums and discussions from leading international soil health experts, experienced arable and livestock farmers, agricultural policy experts, direct-drill demonstrations and AgTech innovators.
Prince William said that regenerative farming offers a “hopeful path forward”, a way of working with nature, not against it, of enhancing soil health rather than depleting it, and of building resilient systems that are economically viable and ecologically sound.
“It is not a single method or dogma, but a mindset, rooted in curiosity, observation, community and growth,” he concluded.
‘We will always need a farmer three times a day’
As the landlord of Duchy farms, Prince William has been an ambassador of British farming. He has recently taken part in a meeting at Jeremy Clarkson’s Diddly Squat Farm.
He then said: “I think there’s a worry with everyone about where they see farming in 10 years’ time, and I always say, ‘don’t forget we will always need a farmer three times a day: breakfast, dinner and tea’.
“I’ve always said farmers are really good problem solvers. And yes, okay, they may solve the problem. But then at the end of the day, they take that on board themselves.
“That’s where the stress comes from, and that’s why mental health issues occur in the farming industry a lot. So it’s good to talk about it.”
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