Derek Banbury and Derek Gow are the stars of Derek vs Derek - a new documentary about the dilemmas facing farmers
A new film about two warring farmers is set to hit the big screen.
Award-winning director James Dawson's latest documentary Derek vs Derek, set in the rolling hills of Devon, tells the story of two neighbouring farmers who share a name but who also take a very different approach to land use.
Nature protection vs food production
Derek Banbury (Lower Frankaborough Farm) is a third-generation dairy farmer who believes in intensive farming and is hellbent on producing enough food 鈥榯o feed the nation', while next door his neighbour, Derek Gow (Rewilding Coombeshead), has decided to turn his entire farm into an oasis for nature.
In equal parts hilarious and moving, the film shines a light on the vital debate surrounding the future of rural Britain, encouraging conversations about how farming and nature restoration can work together.
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At one point, we see Mr Banbury taking a look at his neighbour's fields, before declaring: "I do not know what he is doing. It is not farming, it is just a mess."
Mr Gow is having none of it however, telling his friend: "This is my land and I am going to heal it."
Throughout the rest of the film the two Dereks tussle and argue over everything from beavers, storks, wild boar, hedge cutting and the reintroduction of wolves.
Small family businesses
But then Derek Gow finds he has an unlikely ally Mr Banbury's wife Linda who has a passion for wildlife and enjoys letting her holiday cottages to international delegates attending Mr Gow's conservation and wolf conferences, providing much needed extra income.
Like the vast majority of Britain's farms, they're small family businesses which are more vulnerable than ever to the vagaries of a changing subsidy system and the shrinking profit they receive for their produce.
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Filmed over four years, Derek vs Derek's stories unfold over the seasons. As nature starts to recover on Mr Gow's farm, his intensive farming neighbour Mr Banbury grapples with the impact climate change is having and the wettest winter on record.
Behind the comedy, Derek vs Derek explores one of the most urgent questions facing us: how can we restore our lost biodiversity 鈥� before there is ecological breakdown - whilst at the same time producing the food we need?
Derek vs Derek is now being screened nationwide. For venues, visit:
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