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25/10/25: Beer and cider from land to glass

The joys and challenges of growing the key ingredients which make a pint: malting barley, hops, cider apples and perry pears.

The raw ingredients to make a pint all begin life on British farms whether malting barley, or cider apples and perry pears, or hops. For barley and hop growers 2025 has been a difficult year. It's been a happier one in cider and perry orchards. We meet a cider apple detective hunting for lost varieties in Somerset, and the award winning team preserving Gloucestershire's perry heritage.

A review of environmental governance in Northern Ireland has called for a new independent environmental regulator to be established.

And, the Scottish fishing industry is unhappy about the way the Westminster Government has distributed a fund to modernise the fleet, improve skills, and revitalise communities. Scotland will receive just under 8% of the fund despite accounting for 60% of the UK's fishing capacity.

Presenter: Charlotte Smith
Producer: Sarah Swadling

28 days left to listen

25 minutes

Broadcast

  • Yesterday 06:30

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