(Image: Supplied)
A NEW documentary exploring the clash between farming and rewilding is coming to the big screen.
Derek vs Derek, directed by James Dawson, will be shown at Pictureville Cinema in Bradford on October 9–11, 13–15, and 21–22 as part of its UK-wide cinema release.
Set in the rolling hills of Devon, the film follows the lives of two neighbouring farmers who share not only a boundary but also a name — and a deeply divided vision for the land they call home.
One, Derek Banbury of Lower Frankaborough Farm, is a third-generation dairy farmer deeply committed to intensive food production.
Across the hedge, Derek Gow of Rewilding Coombeshead has transformed his land into a rewilding project, turning away from conventional farming in favour of nature restoration.
The documentary captures their sometimes comical, often heated disagreements over land use, wildlife, and the future of the countryside.
Mr Banbury said: "I don't know what he's doing.
"It's not farming, it's just a mess."
Mr Gow, once a sheep farmer himself, now focuses on reintroducing endangered species, digging ponds, and using wild boar to regenerate the land.
He said: "This is my land and I’m going to heal it.
"We're going to completely change this farm into a haven for wildlife."
The film, shot over four years, also features Mr Banbury’s wife, Linda, who finds common ground with Mr Gow’s conservation efforts.
She lets her holiday cottages to international delegates attending his conservation and wolf conferences, calling it "Having Derek Gow locally has opened our world up."
As biodiversity flourishes on Mr Gow’s land, Mr Banbury, now in his 70s, reflects on the environmental changes he’s witnessed since childhood — and the role farmers and government policies have played in shaping the landscape.
Behind the humour, Derek vs Derek raises urgent questions about how the UK can restore nature without compromising food production.
Mr Gow believes meaningful change is possible.
He believes that if farmers were paid by the taxpayer to give over just 10% of their least productive land to nature, it would make a huge difference.
The film arrives at a time of transition for UK agriculture, as subsidies shift toward environmentally friendly land management — a move welcomed by many but fraught with practical and financial challenges.
Director James Dawson said he was drawn to the story by the frightening loss of nature in industrialised countries and the opportunity to approach the subject with humour.
He said: "Once I met the two Dereks, I realised their conflict offered a way of telling the story of biodiversity loss.
"And unlike most environmental films it might not make you miserable in the telling."
Tickets can be purchased HERE.