What does it take to keep a thousand-year-old rural estate alive in the 21st century?

In this episode, CLA Communications Manager Henk Geertsema visits Broughton Sanctuary in North Yorkshire to speak with Roger Tempest — 32nd-generation custodian of the estate and one of the most compelling voices in the rural resilience conversation.

Roger shares the remarkable journey of transforming Broughton Hall Estate into Broughton Sanctuary: from a single job in 1974 to a thriving community of 52 businesses and 700 jobs. He talks candidly about the alchemy behind that change — moving from industrial farming to nature-friendly practices, from fossil fuels to renewables, and from a traditional landed estate to a hub for personal transformation retreats.

We also discuss the growing headwinds facing rural landowners, why Roger believes the government needs to treat the countryside as an ally rather than a target, and how places like Broughton produce millions in tax revenue that politicians are at risk of destroying through short-sighted policy.

Plus: the difference between rewilding and nature-friendly farming, why there's room for all approaches, and Roger's top three tips for building a resilient rural business — whatever its size.

Topics covered:

• The 40-year transformation of Broughton Sanctuary
• Building community through jobs, culture and managed access
• Personal transformation retreats and the concept of inner rewilding
• Land ownership, government policy and rural headwinds
• Nature-friendly farming vs rewilding
• Top tips for landowner resilience