Sam studied for his degree at Harper Adams University in Shropshire, after which he worked for five years at Swinbrook Estate, in Oxfordshire, carrying out many duties including cultivation and drilling throughout the season. He joined Cotswold Seeds five years ago, and as well as providing farmers with advice on complex grass seed mixtures, and visiting farms all over the UK, Sam is actively involved with FarmED, the new Centre for Food and Farming Education, due to open later this year.

This year at Groundswell, Sam and Technical Advisor Lizzie Arnold, will be on hand to discuss the demonstration plot of herbal ley, as well as to discuss the establishment and management of the leys – how to sow and grow them on different soil types, as part of a crop rotation. His presentation will also focus on the many benefits of the ley in terms of building soil fertility.