SEM’s Founder/CEO attended the Future Countryside 2024 conference at Syon House, London on June 4th.

The conference was about bringing ambition and energy to rural policy under an overall theme of “A Countryside for All”, hosted by the Duke of Northumberland with a keynote speech delivered by the Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Steve Reed MP. Other speakers include the Rt Hon Stephen Barclay, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Themed ‘A Countryside for All’, it was attended by hundreds of environmental professionals and farmers across the country with participants tasked to look ahead and think about what will be needed to make the countryside a better place for nature and for people from all backgrounds over the next decade.

Participants explored how we can navigate to a positive rural future for everyone – urban and rural alike. Nick Herbert, Co-Founder of Future Countryside said, “the conference provides an opportunity for the two political parties to share with delegates their environmental manifestos leading to the General Elections on July 4th.

Maxwell Ayamba said, what was great about the conference was the fact that Flavian Obiero, a young Black Farmer of Tynefield Farm was among other white farmers to speak to delegates about his experience as a Black Farmer in rural England.

Mr Obiero, originally from Kenya in East Africa started farming in the UK as an apprentice aged 19. Mr Obiero’s hard work impressed the owner of the Farm where he did his apprenticeship which led to being given a portion of land where he now rears pigs and other livestock. He is now considered one of the successful young Black farmers in the country who visits youth groups and schools speaking to minoritised young people to encourage them to pursue a career in farming.

In his presentation, Mr Obiero told delegates the need for the Farming industry to create more opportunities for interested young people from minoritised communities to pursue a career in farming. He sees himself as a good example of how with the right support interested Black young people can succeed in the farming sector.

Maxwell agrees with Mr Obiero’s plea, noting how the Farming Industry is the least diverse sector in the country. It was therefore very inspiring to see a young Black Farmer given the privilege to speak on the need for diversification of the Farming Industry at such an exclusive event attended entirely by a white audience”.

To find out more about the Future Countryside intitative visit the Future Countryside Website

You can also find information on the Countryside Alliance website.

An interview with our CEO and founder Maxwell A. Ayamba BEM has been published in the most recent issue of Ramblers UK magazine.

In an article entitled ‘The realities of rural racism’, Maxwell outlines his expriences as a walker of colour while rambling through British rural spaces.

He states that;

“In the British rural landscape, minoritised individuals are often made to feel out of place, either overtly or subtly. I was the first Black person appointed to the Ramblers’ board in 2005 – a landmark in the organisation’s history.

As a trustee, I attended several Ramblers area council meetings. I met good Ramblers who I am still friends with. I also came across some whose behaviour I’d describe as ‘racial gaslighting’, making me feel out of place. This experience isn’t limited to the Ramblers, but applies to environmental organisations more broadly, and on walks. Sometimes we’re the butt of a ‘joke’: ‘Oh, there are too many of you out here today!’ or ‘We can’t escape from them – they’re invading our space.’

Other comments implicitly suggest we don’t belong in the countryside: ‘Are you walking for a charity event?’ or ‘Where do you come from?’ When we say ‘Sheffield’, they respond: ‘Yes, but I mean which country are you from?’ ”

You can read the rest on Maxwell’s feature interview in the Summer 2024 edition of Walk magazine which has been published on the Ramblers UK website.

Ramblers UK is charity dedicated to removing barriers so everyone can enjoy walking in green spaces, and to improving Britain’s most popular and least-known walking places.