A film documenting the clashes and eventual understanding between two neighboring farmers, both named Derek, has become a global hit. The documentary, titled "Derek vs Derek," contrasts the intensive, conventional farming methods of 72-year-old Derek Banbury with the rewilding efforts of his 61-year-old neighbor, Derek Gow.
The film, initially conceived to focus solely on Gow's rewilding project on his 400-acre farm in Devon, England, evolved when filmmaker James Dawson met Banbury. Banbury, a third-generation farmer, prioritizes order, neatness, and maximizing output from his land, maintaining around 600 dairy and beef cattle. "Intensive farming, that's supplying the world with food," Banbury states in the film. "The population's getting bigger and everyone is going to be happy if they've got full bellies. I've done it for 50 years and I won't change."
In contrast, Gow has spent recent years transforming his adjacent land into a haven for wildlife. He has rejected synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, created ponds to attract birds, and reintroduced species like water voles and wild boar. Gow advocates for rewilding as a crucial tool against the extinction crisis, suggesting that if every farmer dedicated 10% of their less productive land to wildlife, it could make a significant difference. "There should be a cacophony of natural sounds on our farms – birdsong, insects, colour," Gow observes. "But instead we've just got all these great big green deserts."
Their differing approaches have led to friction over the years, ranging from escaped wild boars damaging sheep to conflicts over hedge-trimming. Banbury, who has run his farm since 1976, was raised in a farming family and has deep-rooted beliefs about agricultural practices. Gow, who did not grow up in a farming family, has a background in conservation and is credited with reintroducing beavers to Britain.
Despite their initial disagreements, the film captures a gradual softening between the two Dereks. Banbury admits to appreciating the wildlife on Gow's land, such as dragonflies and bees, though he still prefers the sight of cattle and neat hedges. He has even agreed to leave some less fertile areas untrimmed and fenced off from his cows. Gow, in turn, acknowledges Banbury's skill as a farmer, describing his operation as "fundamentally kind."
"Derek vs Derek" is being screened in cinemas, village halls, and farms internationally, including in Britain, New York, Korea, Australia, and Switzerland, resonating with audiences worldwide.
