Member Spotlight: Clare Hill

This month, we’re super excited to introduce Nature’s Blueprint founder member Clare Hill.

Clare is a practising regenerative farmer with a wealth of experience in farm transition, and at policy and corporate level, having worked across the full spectrum of the agri-food world for more than 20 years. She has developed Planton Farm in Shropshire into a model regenerative farm offering work-shops, mentoring and the Roots to Regeneration Transition Accelerator programme

What inspired you to join Nature’s Blueprint?

I was looking for somewhere to be around like minded people.

How do you integrate the natural world into your everyday work or life?

We live on a farm and so this is easy in some ways, but it is also easy to be so busy day to day that I don’t really take in my surroundings.

Usually a look at the big sky for 10 seconds and a deep breath is something I do between rushing around. I have recently learned about fractal patterns in nature (this is what actually helps our brain and body feel better when in nature) and so I spend more time looking for these in the grass and trees.

We also have an old willow tree which has created its own soil in its base and so when I am passing it I often stop to smell the soil for all the good microbes and also to remind myself what super healthy soil should smell like.

What specific projects or initiatives are you currently working on that you are excited about?

Roots to Regeneration. We are just about to start recruiting for our second cohort to start in February 2025. Roots to Regeneration (R2R) is a two-year-long experiential regenerative agriculture training I run with Caroline Grindrod. Its primary aim is to facilitate a ‘whole system’ regenerative shift across the food and farming industry.
R2R is aimed at both farmers and professionals to give a deep and wide learning experience grounded in farm-based examples and embedded in a supportive regenerative community and culture.
This transformative journey includes a supported, regenerative design process, on-farm experiences, engaging online learning, live sessions with guest experts, fortnightly coaching calls, and expert support.

Can you share a memorable ‘nature based’ experience you’ve had that significantly influenced your career or personal life?

Looking at cracks in the fields in April, after the wettest winter on record and wondering where all the water had gone. Flood to drought in a matter of weeks. I learned about effective rainfall (the proportion of rain absorbed by the soil) by doing an infiltration test and realized that our water was running off rather than soaking in. I realized we needed to change the way we managed our land.

From your perspective, what is the most challenging aspect of your work?

Working with trying to change culture in the farming and food industry from a egocentric and controlling one, which is monoculture and relies on chemical inputs, to one which is ecocentric, where we recognize we are part of nature and we look to harness its power to grow food. Making the most of the three frees …. rainfall, photosynthesis and nitrogen in the air, not from a bag.

How do you overcome it?

Demonstrating the art of what’s possible at our farm in Shropshire, sharing stories of success and being compassionate in our approach.
Are there any specific skills or expertise you’re looking for that other Nature’s Blueprint members may be able to help with?

Please help us spread the word about Roots to Regeneration…

We believe that humans have an extraordinary capacity to problem solve & innovate. What gives you HOPE?

Every time I am in some one’s presence when they have a light bulb moment and I see them be excited by what the future now holds with a different way of thinking about and growing food.

We hope you found this Member Spotlight interesting. Do connect with Clare if anything she has shared resonates with you and you’d like to know more – you can find Clare on LinkedIn here >