LET'S GET DOWN TO EARTH
- Jun 1
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Saturday 18th July, 2026
2:30pm - 5:00pm
Castle Community Room, Framlingham
Tickets from £7.50
Let’s get Down to Earth, see some rare old Suffolk farming films, hear about Robert Ashton’s latest book and talk about soil.
This event is also an opportunity to support the charity ‘You Are Not Alone’ which provides practical mental health help for farmers here in Suffolk.
We’ll see some old Suffolk farming films from James Cecil’s collection, including the 1970 classic ‘Whatever Happened to the Countryside’ which warned of the dangers of ripping out hedges. Robert will then talk about his book, before we break for questions and a general discussion about how we can all treat the land a little more kindly.
Professor Jules Pretty OBE, President of Essex Wildlife Trust said of Robert’s new book: ‘It all starts and ends here. The soil, the earth. Where there are cultural roots, flinty axes, badgers and bodies, the very roots of nature. Robert Ashton brings us another fine and wise book that looks forward, back and down. Here is great attentiveness to nature and culture.”
Nigel Newman, of British Naturism said: ‘Naturism can be a spiritual experience: vulnerable, naked and in touch with mother earth. This book will help you understand why.’
Timetable
14:15
Arrive – Settle down
14:30
Introduction – Vivia Bamford - event host
1440
Film – ‘In the Shadow of the Plough’ – a 1986 RSPB film that shows a Dorset farmer living in harmony with the natural world.
15:05
Film – ‘Crown of the Year’ – a 1942 film that shows how even marginal land was brought into wheat production during WW2.
15:30
‘What Ever Happened to the Countryside’ – a 1970 film often considered as an early warning of the environmental impact of the intensification of farming.
16:00
Down to Earth – a conversation with author Robert Ashton about his recently published book.
16:20
Q & A - Book Signing
16:40
End
Intrigued? Why not buy a ticket and come along? All profits from the event will go to the charity YANA (“You Are Not Alone”) www.yanahelp.org
This event is kindly sponsored by:
