Launching our 2025 Journal at Berry Bros. & Rudd
November 14, 2025
The publication, which we produce each year, shows our support for people across rural Britain who are making a huge difference to their family farms and communities, to ensure a real future for the countryside we all depend on.
Our Executive Director, Keith Halstead warmly welcomed guests, and we then heard from Lizzy Rudd, Chair of Berry Bros. & Rudd. Lizzy spoke of the importance, as a family business, to support farming families and those who look after the land, and about the history of the King’s Ginger liqueur, of which 10% of the profits are donated to the RCF.
Chair Heather Hancock with Nicola Simpson, Heather and Phil Gorringe.
RCF Chair Heather Hancock then spoke with three people who have experienced firsthand the impact of the RCF’s support. Phil and Heather Gorringe are from Herefordshire and farm with their son Monty. They recognised that the state of their farm’s soil didn’t give them the resilience they needed to survive the more difficult years, and have embraced a regenerative approach with help from our free workshops with Regenified. “We’re soil farmers now,” said Heather. “Our focus is on how we improve the soil, because everything is based on that.”
We also heard from Nicola Simpson, Chair of Countryside Learning Scotland in Perthshire. With a £12,500 grant from the RCF for their project ‘Pathways to Rural Work’, they aim to increase career awareness and opportunities for young people in Gairloch, Kinlochbervie and Ullapool high schools. Hear more about the difference the project is making to their rural community:
Wednesday’s event was particularly special, as it was not only a celebration of this year, but of the last 15 years of The Royal Countryside Fund. We were honoured to share the evening with many people, partners and friends who have made huge contributions to the work we’ve achieved in that time, including Elizabeth Buchanan, who we were delighted to announce as one of this year’s RCF Fellows.
Tom Athron, CEO of Fortnum & Mason, with Elizabeth Buchanan CVO FRAgS.
Elizabeth was a founding trustee when we came into being as The Prince’s Countryside Fund in 2010. She served on our board for 14 years as a tremendous advocate of the RCF and remains a valued member of our development committee. Elizabeth continues to steadfastly champion the work of the RCF to everyone she meets, and we owe many of our partnerships and successes to her dedicated efforts.
On receiving the award, Elizabeth said, “I am more honoured than words can express to be awarded a Fellowship. But the only person who deserves celebration is The King – the Fund was entirely his idea born of his understanding and love of the British countryside and those who live and work in it. Never has its work been more important and never has it deserved support more.”
The evening closed with a prize draw, which helped raise £1,478 for the RCF thanks to prizes generously donated by Berry Bros. & Rudd, Fortnum & Mason, Barbour, Caravan and Motorhome Club, The Ritz and Clarence Court.
RCF Ambassador Lady Alice Manners drawing the winning tickets.
Our Executive Director, Keith Halstead said, “As we mark 15 years of the RCF, I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved together with many of the people who attended our event. This anniversary is a moment of celebration but also a renewed call to support the farmers and communities that make our countryside thrive. Hearing directly from those we’ve helped reminds us why our work matters more than ever, and thanks to the generosity and commitment from our supporters, we can continue to build a real future for rural Britain!”
A huge thank you to Berry Bros. & Rudd and all those who attended!
