Paul English LIVE 121825 ,Food, Fellowship, and a Bowler Hat: Building Resilient Communities for 2026

In this lively, year-end episode, I welcome Eric Von Essex and farmer-activist Mark “the Bowler-Hatted Farmer” to swap winter tales, childhood Christmas memories, and frank talk about the state of food in the UK. We discuss why community, culture, and a sense of wonder still matter—and how food sits at the heart of it all. Mark shares the latest on Food Finders Hub, the push to buy direct from farms, and the mounting pressures on farmers—from supermarket pricing tactics to mass culls—plus a call for practical, local solutions in 2026–2028, including community news, grow-your-own know-how, and a new Food for Thought radio initiative. We range widely: books that rekindle imagination (Tolkien, Dickens), the restorative power of real meals, and how breaking bread together builds resilience. You’ll hear ideas for farmer-to-family supply, neighborhood growing co-ops, and independent media so communities can share what’s working. If you want a hopeful, practical path forward—grounded in real food, honest conversation, and a bit of festive cheer—this one’s for you.'Food Finders Hub': https://foodfindershub.org'Paul English Live': https://paulenglishlive.com'Radio Albion': https://radioalbion.com'Red Ice': https://redice.tv'Arundel Castle' (official site): https://www.arundelcastle.org'The Man Who Invented Christmas' (film info): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6225520/'The Lord of the Rings' (official Tolkien site): https://www.tolkien.co.uk/'The Folio Society': https://www.foliosociety.com'Blue Peter' (BBC): https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbbc/shows/blue-peter