This podcast takes the Ashdown Forest as a springboard for conversations about wildlife. In each episode audio producer, Eka Morgan, goes on a dawn and dusk walk with wildlife guide, Tom Forward. In between dusk and dawn, Eka interviews well-known writers, musicians and wildlife specialists - all recorded in the woodland and on the heath. The Ashdown Forest is 10 square miles of open access land in East Sussex. Please support us by subscribing/following us and leaving a review. Charlie Rose, presenter, BBC South East Today: 'Brilliant podcast. Compulsory listening for everyone - ought to be on prescription.' Isabella Tree, rewilding pioneer: 'This podcast is a total delight and an immersion in nature itself.’ We are producing these podcasts to enhance visitors’ appreciation and understanding of Ashdown Forest and to connect people back to nature. We are actively looking for sponsors for future issues, so please get in touch: ashdownpodcast@gmail.com.
Season 2, Episode 2 - Summer episode(00:00) Intro with wildlife guide Tom Forward – soil, the last frontier and a whistlestop guide to the five principles of regenerative farming.(05:31) What is conservation grazing? - with Rich Allum and Tristram Stuart (16:45) A tour round Elizabeth Buchanan's organic farm (27:51) Trip to Groundswell, the Regenerative Agriculture Festival with:· John Cherry, co-founder of Groundswell · Henry Dimbleby, author of ‘National Food Strategy' · Martin Lines, CEO of Nature Friendly Farming Network and others…(41:41) Peter Brown explains biodynamic farming – which celebrates its 100th year.(52:01) Closing thoughts with Tom ForwardKeen listeners with headphones: spot the cuckoo which we didn't notice in the background of one of the interviews.This podcast takes the Ashdown Forest as a springboard for conversations about wildlife. Please subscribe and leave a review.You can support the production of the Ashdown Forest podcast by donating here: https://ashdownforest.org/get-involved/ Please specify ‘podcast' where it says ‘Tell us more about your gift'. Thank you!Podcast webpage‘So professional and well-constructed.' Vanessa Williams, Director BBC Countryfile'This podcast is a total delight and an immersion in nature itself.' Isabella Tree, rewilding pioneerLinks:Groundswell, the Regenerative Agriculture Festival: www.groundswellag.comNature Friendly Farming Network: www.nffn.org.ukRegenerative farming documentary: www.sixinchesofsoil.orgWe are hugely grateful to the Halleria Trust for funding this episode and to The Ashdown Forest Foundation (TAFF) for supporting our fundraising.Link to our social platformsProducer: Eka MorganGuitar: Jared ThodeArtwork: Carry AkroydTechnical support: David KittoIf you have suggestions for future subjects or if you can sponsor future episodes, please get in touch: ashdownpodcast@gmail.com.
Season 2, Episode 1Children & Nature: Bumper EpisodeHow can we connect children with nature more?Are children still excited about the outdoors? Hear from 9-17 year olds.‘Slimed, scratched, bitten and stung'? Is this the way to ignite curiosity? Hear from outdoor educators Lisa Stevens and Paula Da Luz.The magic of the humble stick…with Rich Skrein, Forest School specialist.Teenagers on a dusk walk… discovering biofluorescence.Link to our social platformsThis podcast takes the Ashdown Forest as a springboard for conversations about wildlife. Please subscribe and leave a review.You can support the production of the Ashdown Forest podcast by donating here: https://ashdownforest.org/get-involved/ Please specify ‘podcast' where it says ‘Tell us more about your gift'. Thank you!With thanks to Dara McAnulty for permission to read from his ‘Diary of a Young Naturalist'.Natural History GCSEAshdown Forest Youth Volunteer Group (13-17 years) is every 3rd Sunday of the month: Find out more and reserve a free placeFor Rich Skrein see: richardskrein.com. Rich works with the Garden Classroom, the inner-city nature connection charity: www.thegardenclassroom.org.ukBackground reading:‘Learning with Nature' by Marina Robb, Victoria Mew and Anna Richardson.‘The Nature Seed, How to Raise Adventurous and Nurturing Kids', by Lucy Jones and Kenneth Greenway.‘So professional and well-constructed.' Vanessa Williams, Director BBC Countryfile'This podcast is a total delight and an immersion in nature itself.' Isabella Tree, rewilding pioneerWe are hugely grateful to the Titcomb Foundation and the Friends of Ashdown Forest for their generous funding towards this episode of the podcast. We also appreciate all the support that The Ashdown Forest Foundation (TAFF) gives us to keep this podcast going. Producer: Eka MorganGuitar: Jared ThodeArtwork: Carry AkroydTechnical support: David KittoIf you have suggestions for future subjects or if you are in a position to sponsor future episodes, please get in touch: ashdownpodcast@gmail.com.
Here's our one minute trail – what we're about and what's coming up…Our first theme will be children and nature. Please get in touch at ashdownpodcast@gmail.com if you have suggestions for this topic.This podcast takes the Ashdown Forest as a springboard for conversations about wildlife. Please do support us by subscribing and leaving a review. Thank you!Podcast webpage'An invaluable source of information. I actually thought I was listening to a Radio 4 broadcast, it was so professional and well constructed.' Vanessa Williams, Director BBC Countryfile'This podcast is a total delight and an immersion in nature itself.' Isabella Tree, rewilding pioneer'Magical, life-enhancing and full of pearls of wisdom.'Christina Coleman, Environmental Advisor to the UK Government'So educational, quirky and fun.'Khorshied Nusratty, Director of Media Relations at Gallup, USA@AshdownPodcastInstagramX - Twitter
Did you know that Ashdown Forest is the '100 Aker Wood' (Christopher Robin's spelling) from the Winnie-the-Pooh stories? Hear from Pooh enthusiasts visiting the Forest...• What was the real Christopher Robin like? Ann Thwaite, biographer of Winnie-the-Pooh author A. A. Milne, tells us.• Dawn: how to manage the ever-increasing deer population. • Dusk: how to inadvertedly scare away rutting deer…Please support us by subscribing and leaving a review.Podcast webpageCharlie Rose, presenter, BBC South East Today: 'Brilliant podcast. Compulsory listening for everyone - ought to be on prescription.'Isabella Tree, rewilding pioneer: 'This podcast is a total delight and an immersion in nature itself.'We make these podcasts to have conversations about wildlife and to enhance visitors' appreciation and understanding of Ashdown Forest. We are hugely grateful to a wildlife enthusiast for generous funding towards this episode of the podcast. Please get in touch: ashdownpodcast@gmail.com if you are in a position to help fund future episodes.@AshdownPodcastTwitterInstagramProducer: Eka MorganGuitar: Jared ThodeArtwork: Carry AkroydTechnical support: David Kitto
Cats, bats and curlews...Dawn: bird ringing explainedCats: how to reduce their impact on wildlifeCurlews, lynx, wildcats & the Natural History GCSE with author and campaigner Mary ColwellDusk: bat spotting on the ForestPlease support us by subscribing and leaving a review.Podcast webpageCharlie Rose, presenter, BBC South East Today:'Brilliant podcast. Compulsory listening for everyone - ought to be on prescription for busy digital lives.'Isabella Tree, rewilding pioneer:'This podcast is a total delight and an immersion in nature itself.'We make these podcasts to have conversations about wildlife and to enhance visitors' appreciation and understanding of Ashdown Forest. We are hugely grateful to a wildlife enthusiast for generous funding towards this episode of the podcast. Please get in touch: ashdownpodcast@gmail.com if you are in a position to help fund future episodes.@AshdownPodcastTwitterInstagramProducer: Eka MorganGuitar: Jared ThodeArtwork: Carry AkroydTechnical support: David KittoMusic extract: The Arc by David Gray from Simmerdim: Curlew Sounds.
Tom and Eka revel in a moth bonanza … ‘Conservation Hero' Dave Goulson (Professor of Biology at the University of Sussex) sees a world in a cowpat … and musician Sam Lee rhapsodises about Nightingales.Please support us by subscribing/following us and leaving a review.Podcast webpageCharlie Rose, presenter, BBC South East Today:'Brilliant podcast. Compulsory listening for everyone - ought to be on prescription for busy digital lives.'Isabella Tree, rewilding pioneer:'This podcast is a total delight and an immersion in nature itself.'We are producing these podcasts to enhance visitors' appreciation and understanding of Ashdown Forest and to connect people back to nature. We have been fortunate to receive a generous contribution from a local individual towards this episode of the podcast. We are still actively looking for sponsors for future issues, so please get in touch: ashdownpodcast@gmail.com.@AshdownPodcastTwitterInstagramProducer: Eka MorganGuitar: Jared ThodeArtwork: Carry AkroydTechnical support: David KittoHoverfly sound effect: Simon ElliottGrasshopper sound: Baudewijn OdéMusic extracts:The Garden of England (Seeds of Love) from Sam Lee's ‘Old Wow' album.Singing with Nightingales collaborators: Sam Lee on Shruti Box followed by Anna Mudeka on vocals and Mbira.
Rewilding trailblazer Isabella Tree tells Eka about her new ‘Book of Wilding'… Clare Balding from BBC Radio 4's Ramblings brings her ‘Tigger' energy to the Forest…Tom joins in with the dawn chorus and Nightjars churr at dusk.And by the way, we do know that 2 x 85 is 170, not 160…but it was dark and we were being eaten by midges. However, what we are referring to is very exciting…Please support us by following us and leaving a review.Podcast webpageCharlie Rose, presenter, BBC South East Today:'Brilliant podcast. Compulsory listening for everyone - ought to be on prescription for busy digital lives.'We are producing these podcasts to enhance visitors' appreciation and understanding of Ashdown Forest and to connect people back to nature. We have been fortunate to receive a generous contribution from a local individual towards this episode of the podcast. We are still actively looking for sponsors for future issues, so please get in touch: ashdownpodcast@gmail.com.@AshdownPodcastTwitterInstagramProducer: Eka MorganGuitar: Jared ThodeArtwork: Carry AkroydTechnical support: David Kitto
This soundscape of the Ashdown Forest is dedicated to James Adler.James was the Chief Executive of the Conservators of Ashdown Forest from January 2021 to May 2023.Why is Ashdown Forest special?This soundscape is a compilation of highlights of interviews with people who know and love the Forest, blended with wildlife sounds. It is a celebration of this rare space, so close to the biggest city in Europe.Produced by Eka Morgan in 2017.Please support us by subscribing/following us and leaving a review.'A stunning example of how audio can be so much more powerful than video.' Anna Buckley, London, Producer, BBC Radio 4's Life Scientific‘Wonderful! A real delight to listen to.' Cheryl Tipp, Curator, Wildlife and Environmental Sounds, British LibraryWith thanks to the following interviewees, who you hear from in this order:Corin StuartPeter KirbyDiana HurrellMike ParcellRich AllumSue HollingsworthDavid Brett – reading from William Cobbett and later Winnie the PoohMartin WilkinsonGregers BrinchTom ForwardMichael BlencoweDavid StreeterFred MarshallHenry OsborneSteve AltonMossy MarshallPodcast webpageWe are producing The Ashdown Forest podcast to enhance visitors' appreciation of Ashdown Forest and to connect people back to nature. We are seeking funding for future episodes, so please get in touch if you can help: ashdownpodcast@gmail.com.@AshdownPodcastTwitterInstagramProducer: Eka MorganArtwork: Carry Akroyd
Eka interviews Tony Juniper, dedicated wildlife campaigner and Chair of Natural England; Kari Dunbar on her new dog-focused role, and children join Tom for wildlife encounters on the dusk walk. Please support us by subscribing and leaving a review.Mystery sounds revealed – where you can also see a photo of the frog mating with a toad.Podcast webpageCharlie Rose, presenter, BBC South East Today:'Brilliant podcast. Compulsory listening for everyone - ought to be on prescription for busy digital lives.'Isabella Tree, rewilding pioneer:'This podcast is a total delight and an immersion in nature itself.'We are producing these podcasts to enhance visitors' appreciation of Ashdown Forest and to connect people back to nature. We are seeking funding for future episodes, please get in touch if you can help: ashdownpodcast@gmail.com.@AshdownPodcastTwitterInstagramProducer: Eka MorganGuitar: Jared ThodeArtwork: Carry AkroydTechnical support: David Kitto
Dawn and dusk walks on the Forest and interviews with Green MP Caroline Lucas and James Adler, Chief Executive of the Conservators of Ashdown Forest.Please support us by subscribing/following us and leaving a review.Mystery sounds revealedPodcast webpageCharlie Rose, presenter, BBC South East Today:'Brilliant podcast. Compulsory listening for everyone - ought to be on prescription for busy digital lives.'Isabella Tree, rewilding pioneer:'This podcast is a total delight and an immersion in nature itself.'We are producing these podcasts to enhance visitors' appreciation of Ashdown Forest and to connect people back to nature. We are seeking funding for future episodes, please get in touch if you can help: ashdownpodcast@gmail.com.@AshdownPodcastTwitterInstagramProducer: Eka MorganGuitar: Jared ThodeArtwork: Carry AkroydTechnical support: Martha Littlehailes