You might have some questions. I'll try to answer them here...
Research
Why are you studying visions of the future?
Images of the future – both the images we hold in our heads and the more physical visual representations of the future – shape the decisions we make in the present. If you search Google Images for "future farming," you get a very specific vision of the future – a high-tech vision where our food is grown with the help of robots and drones instead of farmers. In my research, I'm interested in seeing how people in farming communities imagine the future of farming in England. Does their vision of the future align with these images?
“when conversations about the future are driven predominantly by those people and organisations that already hold the majority of power, then proposed future visions continue to consist of only their perspectives, values, and ambitions.” Zoë Prosser
What got you interested in this research topic?
I'm not originally from a farming background, but ever since I was in high school I've been interested in the intersections of food, farming, and climate change. My PhD research also ties in my love for photography!
Why are you focusing your research on England?
When I first started talking about doing a big cycle ride for my PhD, I was planning on cycling from Land's End to John O' Groats, with research participants in England and Scotland. Some of the people in my research groups suggested I should, therefore, also include Wales and Northern Ireland and I felt like the trip was just getting too big for me to manage! The focus on England also makes sense from a research perspective. In the UK, agricultural policy is a devolved nations issue, so focusing on England means I can focus more on what vision the English government has for the future of farming.
What kind of methods will you be using during your fieldwork?
I'm still refining my methods, but I'll be drawing on methods from human geography and the environmental social sciences. My fieldwork will be a multi-sited ethnography, including semi-structured interviews with women in farming communities, participant observation, as well as broader ethnographic reflections of cycling through farming landscapes (please don't worry if you don't understand all of those words – I'm only still wrapping my head around what they mean!).
Why are you focusing on women's visions of the future?
A lot of historical work exploring visions for the future have focused predominately on how men imagine the future. The farming industry (like cycling), remains very male-dominated, so I'm curious to speak with women about how they view the future of farming and food production.
Who are your PhD supervisors?
I'm supervised by Professor Saffron O'Neill (Geography) and Dr Angela Cassidy (Centre for Rural Policy Research).
Cycling
Why are you cycling for your PhD fieldwork?
There's lots of reasons! I realised if I wanted to collect visions of the future of farming across different farming contexts, I would need to travel to different parts of England. I haven't learnt how to drive yet and public transport in rural areas isn't always reliable, so I realised cycling would be the best way for me to get around. It's also a more environmentally friendly way of travelling across the country and will allow me to really experience the varied landscapes of England as I move through the countryside. I'm also hoping the trip will generate some media interest and get people talking about the future of farming!
“It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them” – Ernest Hemingway
When are you planning on setting off?
At the moment, the plan is to start my trip at Land's End in Cornwall (the most south-westernly point in mainland Britain) in mid-April 2025. I'll spend the next 12 weeks cycling across England for my fieldwork, likely ending in Carlisle on the England-Scotland border in early July.
How are you planning your route?
I'm still in the early stages of planning my route and could use your help in refining it. I'll be splitting my fieldwork into "cycling weeks" and "data collection weeks," so will need help identifying which rural areas I should focus recruitment. I'll predominatenly be following the Sustrans National Cycle Network routes, as these routes tend to have quieter (and, hopefully, safer) roads. I've also started plotting various places I could visit along the way – for example, agricultural shows, livestock markets, and research institutes – but I'm going to need your help to identify farms I should visit along the way!
How far will you be cycling?
I don't think I'll know the answer to this until after I'm back from my fieldwork, but I'm expecting that I'll cycle around 1,300 miles across the three months. The majority of my cycling will take place in my "cycling weeks," where I'm hoping to do between 25-50 miles each day.
Have you ever cycled that far before?
Nope! The furthest bikepacking trip I've done so far is a 150-mile trip from Exeter to Falmouth for my master's graduation. The trip next year is definitely going to be a massive challenge both physically and mentally, but I'm excited to see where it could lead!
Will you be cycling solo?
Brett might be able to join me for a few days along the route, but I'm planning on doing most of the trip solo! If you'd like to join me for a day of cycling, do let me know!
Where will you be staying along the way?
For the most part, I'm planning on camping at established campsites along the way, so here's hoping the weather is a bit drier next year! I've built in extra time into my schedule to rest and relax, so will also stay with friends, as well as at hotels and hostels at various points along the route.
How's the training going?
It's going well so far! In May, Brett and I cycled 300 miles across four different weekend cycling trips, and in July, we cycled over 200 miles in just eight days! The cycle from Exeter to Falmouth was a big confidence boost – I've heard that the constant hills in Cornwall and Devon make it one of the more difficult areas to cycle, so now I know I can do that, I'm feeling more optimistic about the ride next year!
How can I follow along on your adventure?
I'll be sharing highlights from my trip on social media, so make sure you're following along!
Funding
How are you funding this trip?
That's a fantastic question! Doing a three-month cycling trip across England isn't going to be cheap. My PhD is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) through the South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP). I have some money from my PhD funding and am planning on applying for some grants to get additional funding. If you have any funding suggestions or are interested in sponsoring my ride, please do get in touch!
Are you going to be fundraising?
Yes! As I cycle, I'll be raising money for The Farming Community Network (FCN), a British charity that "supports farmers, farming families and people in rural communities through difficult times and periods of change."
Participants
I'm a farmer, how do I participate?
Thanks for your interest in participating! At this point, I'm mostly interested in speaking with women in farming communities – including farmers, as well as any other women who live on a farm or are involved in farming/food production in some way. I'll be sharing more information for participants as my project continues to develop, but do drop me an email at vmw210@exeter.ac.uk so I can keep you updated.
I'm not a farmer, but I have a vision for the future of farming in England. How can I be involved in your research?
I'd love to learn more about your vision for the future! Make sure you're following my social media – I'm hoping to find a way for you to submit your visions to be included in my research.
Contact
How can I get in touch with you?
If you'd like to reach out, feel free to email me at vmw210 [at] exeter.ac.uk
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