Derek vs Derek doc shows farmers unite on nature loss — SkimNews
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- Derek Gow is transforming his Devon sheep farm into a rewilding hub, breeding beavers, storks, wildcats, and glowworms while criticizing conventional farming practices he sees as environmentally destructive
- Derek Banbury, Gow’s neighbor, runs an intensive dairy farm with 600 cattle and initially dismisses rewilding efforts, calling Gow's work 'madness' that encroaches on his land
- James Dawson, the filmmaker, pivoted from a solo profile of Gow to a dual portrait after meeting Banbury, recognizing the dramatic potential in their clashing but charismatic personalities
- Linda Banbury, Derek Banbury’s wife, emerges as a key voice advocating tolerance and coexistence, particularly in accepting species like beavers, and becomes a breakout figure in the film
- Derek Banbury begins to acknowledge ecological losses caused by intensive farming, admitting in the film that 'we’ve got to have areas like this for wildlife' after visiting Gow’s thriving meadows
- Derek Gow proposes that farmers be paid to breed and release rare wildlife, arguing they would then become invested stewards of local conservation efforts
Why it matters: Over 300 farmers and neighbors attended a preview screening where, despite laughter at rewilding critiques, no one disputed the documented loss of nature—suggesting the film could shift long-standing tensions by fostering dialogue rooted in shared values rather than ideology.
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