Robyn Munt, founding force behind the Wight Rural Hub, was recently honoured with an invitation to a special reception at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Royal Countryside Fund. The prestigious event was hosted by His Majesty The King in recognition of the vital support organisations like the Wight Rural Hub provide to farmers and land managers across the country, including here on the Isle of Wight.
“It was a great honour to be invited to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Royal Countryside Fund at Buckingham Palace,” Robyn said. “The invitation was a wonderful recognition of the work we do through the Wight Rural Hub to support farmers and land managers on the Island.”
Robyn was joined by her colleague Estee Phillimore, who leads the Wight Rural Hub’s ongoing work.
“It was an absolute pleasure to spend such a special evening with Estee, who is carrying forward our mission to bring knowledge, support and opportunity to the Island’s rural sector,” she added.
During the evening, His Majesty The King took time to speak with Robyn and Estee, showing genuine interest in their work and expressing his fondness for the Isle of Wight.
“The King was incredibly generous with his time and took a moment to reflect on the importance of organisations like ours. We were able to express just how crucial it is that groups like the Wight Rural Hub continue to receive the support needed to sustain their efforts,” Robyn shared.
As farming and rural communities continue to face a period of challenge and change, Robyn reflected on the importance of the wider farm and rural support network. “Now more than ever, we need trusted voices to offer reassurance, guidance and a platform for innovation. The resilience, creativity and commitment of our rural sector has so much to offer—not just for food production, but for the wellbeing of our communities and our environment.”