Winter 2020

Out&About interview

“My youngest son, who is 14, is very passionate about environmental issues and like many young people wants it all to change right now. “It’s great to have that enthusiasm and of course he is right, we do need to change our attitude, but I do have to point out to him that it can’t all happen in an instant – he wants me to rewild the whole estate, and I have to rein his enthusiasm in a little, while at the same time listening to the voices of the next generation.” Education furture generations about the environment and nature is something else that he has advocated strongly, particularly through the work done on his estate. The Englefield Estate covers some 14,000 acres and is a thriving community consisting of farms, woodlands and residential and commercial properties. “Earlier this year we appointed an education and community engagement officer. “We have always encouraged school visits, particularly primary school age children, but we were keen to widen the appeal to secondary schools, university students and community groups such as the U3A (University of the Third Age) and Rotary and other organisations. “Of course nobody foresaw the extraordinary events of 2020, but during lockdown we produced a series of worksheets for schools and families to download and work on and we know that thousands did just that. “It’s so important to make sure that the next generation learns about nature. The approach to education has already changed a great deal, most schools now have ‘outdoor classrooms’, and there is a real appetite for it. “Many inner city children never get to see a field or farm animals or indeed birds, other than pigeons or magpies. So we encourage school visits to give them an opportunity to experience rural life.” And if that isn’t enough to keep him occupied, he is also in the process of planning an eco-friendly homes from scratch. “I want to build houses and create sustainable communities that take a responsible approach to the environment and how people want to live in the decades ahead.” He recently returned from Cornwall where he visited some of the projects set

up by the Duchy under the auspices of Prince Charles. “I am now on the Duchy of Cornwall board and they are a good model for sustainable living and community planning for the future.” He is also president of the Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE), a two-year post which has come about in extraordinary times, but again he is keen to push innovation in science in order to create credible sustainable blueprints. “The agricultural community has been through a lot of change and like many other industries has suffered as a result of coronavirus. “And of course we also have to deal with what Brexit will bring – it is going to affect the agricultural community a great deal and we have to be ready for that – although there is little guidance and it’s hard to prepare for something when you’re not quite sure how it’s going to play out.” So how did he handle his time in lockdown? “I don’t think we really expected it to be so invasive – there have been pandemics before, such as SARS and the like, but they’ve never really impacted this country and certainly not West Berkshire. “And now here we are, all in the same boat – a global problem. “Obviously I am lucky, living on this estate and so I was able to appreciate my surroundings – I spent more time here during those three months, than I have since I was about seven-years-old. “It was great having the family here in our bubble and we all pitched in with the cooking and enjoyed daily walks. “I’ve definitely got fitter since leaving politics. There was no excuse for it before really, but I just didn’t do much exercise. Richard Benyon celebrates his victory in the 2005 General Election with family and supporters. Right casting his vote in 2005 and below, today, relaxing on his estate with dog Willa

“One of the biggest changes to my life is the lack of structure. “When I was in parliament, I would spend Monday morning working on estate issues, then I would go up to London and stay there until Thursday, then the weekend would be devoted to the constituency – running my surgery and going out and meeting people. “I love the fact that now I don’t know what I’ll be doing or where I’ll be from one week to the next – it makes my life more varied. “The one constant is my PA Michele, who has been with me for 26 years, working in my constituency office and now organising my diary and making sure I’m in the right place at the right time. “My family say I’m more relaxed and I am certainly relishing the challenges ahead and enjoying the variety of projects I am involved in.” For now at least, it looks like Richard Benyon is happy to stay off the naughty step.

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O&A WINTER 2020