Got Beef - Can Buying a Steak Be Good for Nature?

Voices of the Countryside

Patrick Galbraith delves into the world of sustainable farming and its impact on Britain's rural landscape. With the help of a farmer, an upland conservationist, a restaurateur and a butcher, he explores the environmental benefits and gastronomic delights of native cattle.

Patrick begins his journey by meeting up with fellow Scribehounder and best-selling author Patrick Laurie, who has a herd of Riggit Galloway cattle. Patrick Laurie shares his love of these hardy beasts and explains their cultural significance in South West Scotland. He also reveals some of the wonders of organic cowpats and some of the hard financial reality of small-scale farming.

Next up is conservationist, Phil Warren, a research scientist specialising in the plight of black grouse. Phil digs down into claims that livestock farming is bad for the environment and shares the findings of some of his work on native cattle and nature restoration.

From the wilds, Patrick heads to London to visit Sophie's Steakhouse, a Soho institution which specialises in serving native breed beef. He learns why these beasts produce, according to Sophie, the best steak around.

Finally Patrick catches up with specialist butcher Ian Warren to get a butcher's perspective on beef. Veganism, Ian tells him, has been a brilliant thing for those in the trade who are selling a good product.