Derek vs Derek
Derek Gow and Derek Banbury live in the idyllic countryside of Devon, England. They are neighbours and both farmers. Yet the contrast between the two could hardly be greater, because one day Gow radically changed course. While Banbury runs a very traditional intensive dairy farm, Gow has decided to return his land to the wild. Wild boars are once again rooting around on his land, ponds have been dug, and he now uses his stables and barns to reintroduce native species that had almost become extinct, such as storks, wild cats and moor moles. Banbury shakes his head in disbelief: ‘This isn't farming, it's just a mess!’
Against the backdrop of the growing crisis of biodiversity loss and climate change, director James Dawson follows the relationship between the two Dereks and the impact that one man's radical decision has on the local community over a period of three years. It's a serious subject, but Dawson tells the story with humour.
