National Trust Podcast

How did two beetles cause a gay panic?  There's much more to a cockchafer or ‘maybug' than meets the eye.  Join ecologist, Connor Butler, to find out more about what these charismatic creatures can teach us about science, humanity and the fluidity of the natural world.  Discover more:      You can find out more about Connor's work and the queer ecology walks here: https://www.connorbutler.co.uk/  To visit Osterley Park and House and gardens, or to find out more about its spectacular grounds, find out more here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/london/osterley-park-and-house  Further reading:   This is a HUGE topic of which we've only scratched the surface. As part of our research and if you wanted to dig a little deeper, we read:  Of Maybugs and Men: A History and Philosophy of the Sciences of Homosexuality by Pieter R. Adriaens and Andreas De Block  and  Biological Exuberance by Bruce Baghemil  Special thanks to Laine Kaplan-Levenson from A Field Guide to Gay Animals for taking the time to speak with us while we developed the episode.   [Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.    Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.    Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.    https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/      Production:    Host: Rosie Holdsworth    Producer: Marnie Woodmeade   Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez      Follow Wild Tales on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected to our wild world, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk 

Wild Talk: In this bonus episode Ajay chats with wildlife legend Chris Packham about their shared love of birds.  After 3 weeks of filming Springwatch at the Longshaw Estate, Ajay wants to hear more about the stunning cast of characters on this year's show.     In particular, the black and white birds that choose to spend their summer here: the migrant pied flycatchers.     Ajay meets Chris for a walk on the Springwatch set where they share their passion for birds, birding and what we must do to help wildlife.     Production:   Host: Ajay Tegala  Producer: Marnie Woodmeade   Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez   Special thanks to Chris Packham for recording with us and the Springwatch TV team for being so welcoming!      Discover more:   Find out more about Chris Packham's work and what's coming up: https://www.chrispackham.co.uk/   Learn more about pied flycatchers from the British Trust for Ornithology website: https://www.bto.org/learn/about-birds/birdfacts/pied-flycatcher Follow Wild Tales on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a wild tale you're like to hear, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk  

There's not a lot better than getting out in nature and it's something Linda Stuart realised 40 years ago.  She visits Packwood House and Garden almost daily to get a nature fix, and credits it with getting her through some really challenging times.  Join Linda as she shares her story with Heather Birkett.  [Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.    Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.    Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.    www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/     Production  Presenter: Heather Birkett  Producer: Claire Hickinbotham  Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez  Contributors  With thanks to Linda for sharing her story  And to Robyn Booth for being so open about her mental health  And to Liz Ware, Founder of Silent Space.  Discover More  Walking in nature for wellbeing | National Trust  Silent Space | Peaceful time in green places  GROW: Fill your world with plants by Robyn Booth – Collins 

It's the 1980s and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise has burst onto the scene, scoring millions of young fans.   Half-human, half-turtle fighters Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael and Michelangelo originated as comic book characters before spawning phenomenally popular films and cartoons.   But “turtlemania” also inadvertently sparked a pet craze that ultimately led to an invasive species problem.   Red-eared terrapins were a particularly popular pet. But many people didn't realise they would grow from a matchbox-sized hatchling to a dinner-plate sized adult that lives for more than 40 years.       As a result a significant number of freshwater turtles were illegally released into waterways in the late 80 and 90s.  Rosie joins Turtle Tally UK's Suzie Simpson to uncover the wild origin story of how invasive freshwater turtles became a familiar sight in our waterways.   [Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.      Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.      Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.     https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/ Production:   Host: Rosie Holdsworth   Producer: Michelle Douglass   Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez   Contributor:   Suzie Simpson, Turtle Tally UK  Image:  (c) Suzie Simpson / Turtle Tally UK Discover More:  Head to Turtle Tally UK citizen science project to discover more about freshwater turtles in the UK and submit your sightings  https://www.turtletally.co.uk/  Find out about the National Trust's work protecting our waterways and how you can help  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/our-cause/nature-climate/climate-change-sustainability/protecting-coasts-and-rivers The National Trust cares for places so people and nature can thrive. Everyone can get involved, everyone can make a difference. Nature, beauty, history. For everyone, for ever. You can donate to us at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/donate Follow Wild Tales nature podcast on your favourite podcast app or Youtube @nationaltrustcharity. And join us on Instagram @wildtalesnt. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story idea you'd love to hear, contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk 

On September 27th 2023, the famous Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland was felled overnight in an act of vandalism, triggering a far-reaching wave of shock and sorrow.  Join Heather Birkett, as she goes behind the scenes to explore the enduring impact of this beloved landmark, the aftermath of its loss, and the community's efforts to preserve its memory. This episode has been updated from an previous release; National Trust Podcast - Sycamore Gap |One Year on [Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.  Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.  Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.  www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/ Production Host: Heather Birkett Producer: Nikki Ruck, Katy Kelly, Pippa Tilbury-Harris Sound Design: Nikki Ruck    Discover more To find out the latest information surrounding The Sycamore Gap Tree including The Trees of Hope campaign www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sycamore-gap Find out what's on in Northumberland Park and The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/whats-on/ Follow Wild Tales on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected to our wild world, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

When Ajay Tegala discovers that chaffinches, a small songbird, have a different accent every 30 miles, he's intrigued.  However, under threat from disease these birds are dying out in urban areas, and their unique urban songs may be lost for ever. But all is not lost. There's a way to find out how this disease is spreading...by recording their song.      Follow Ajay and ecologist and UKYouth4Nature advocate Şeniz Mustafa as they search for this disappearing birdsong.  To send Joe a chaffinch recording:   Identify a chaffinch. You can use apps like Merlin to help you make sure it's the right bird.   Point your phone at the chaffinch. Be safe and don't do anything you wouldn't normally do!   Record for anywhere up to 5 minutes.   Send to joe.cooper@bto.org  Your recording will be added to the database!  [Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.    Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.    Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.    www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/      Production:    Hosts: Ajay Tegala and Rosie Holdsworth    Producer: Marnie Woodmeade  Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez  Contributors:   Şeniz Mustafa  Joe Cooper   Ian Johnson     Discover more:    Find out more about chaffinches and the British Trust for Ornithology here: https://www.bto.org/understanding-birds/birdfacts/chaffinch 

It's the mid-1800s and pteridomania – or fern frenzy – is the new big craze.   Across the UK, plant enthusiasts are heading into the countryside to pick all the prized specimens they can find.   And fern fans far and wide are avidly creating collections and displays of the leafy green plants to show off.   Uncover the truth about this Victorian phenomenon and how it influenced our love of house plants.   But who were the pteridomaniacs? What did ferns secretly symbolise about young women and sex? And how can we learn from the conservation consequences of the craze?   Join Presenter and Ranger Rosie Holdsworth and Curator Clara Woolford to unfurl the curious story of Victorian fern fever.    [Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.    Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.    Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.   https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/   Discover more:    Visit Cragside in Northumberland for a taste of fern fever. See the fernery, rockery and glass houses designed by Lady Armstrong in the 1800s, now cared for by the National Trust.   https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/cragside Production:  Host: Rosie Holdsworth   Producer: Michelle Douglass  Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez     Follow Wild Tales nature podcast on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story idea you'd love to hear, contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Beneath the waves of West Wales lies a complicated network of relationships that determines not only who's belly rolling who, but which calf survives.  Join Katrin Lohrengel and her team at Sea Watch to search for one of the ocean's most loved and misunderstood creatures: bottlenose dolphins.  For the Welsh transcript of this episode please click here. [Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.   Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.   Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.   www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/  Production:   Host: Rosie Holdsworth   Producer: Marnie Woodmeade Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez Discover more:   Find out more about the dolphins in Cardigan Bay: www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/  Did you know , you can see dolphins from the shore at Cardigan Bay? Explore the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty's coastal walks:  www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/strumble-head-to-cardigan  Special thanks to Katrin Lohrengel for extra fact checking work and the whole team at Sea Watch.  Follow Wild Tales on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected to our wild world, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk 

Join Ranger Rosie Holdsworth to uncover the mystery of the leaping shark.   On a boat off Cornwall, wildlife guide Jenny spots a huge animal she's never seen before jumping out of the water.  But what exactly has she witnessed?    Across the world in Florida, shark-obsessed Dr Molly Kressler sets off on a mission to discover more about what is beneath the calm of the surface. More than that, she wants everyone else to be able to get to know and love creatures of the deep too.   [Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.    Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.    Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.    www.cotswoldoutdoor.com     Production:    Host: Rosie Holdsworth    Producer: Marnie Woodmeade  Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez  Additional research: Funbi Bakare    Discover more:    Find out more about thresher sharks at sharkstrust.org.uk.   If you want to be kept up to date with Molly's research, you can find her on X, Instagram or TikTok at @marinemollyk.   For incredible views of the Cornish coast, why not visit Trevose Head? Jutting out into the Atlantic, you can see for miles. Shark sightings not guaranteed (but possible!)   Special thanks to Dr Molly Kressler and Jenny from Padstow Sea Life Safaris.      Follow Wild Tales on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story idea, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk 

Seagulls have a bad reputation. But is it deserved?   Join Ranger Rosie Holdsworth to meet the gulls in Poole Harbour known for their chip-stealing behaviour. Are these birds feathered thugs or smart survivors? We'll discover the myths and surprising truths about one of Britain's most controversial birds.                        From their behaviours to their vital role in coastal ecosystems, uncover just what makes these ‘Gangster Gulls' tick.  Plus, we take part in a citizen science survey that helps track how these much-maligned seabirds are surviving in a changing world. [Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.  Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.  Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.  www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/  Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts  Production Presenter: Rosie Holdsworth Producer and sound designer: Nikki Ruck Contributors Mya Bambrick Dr Viola Ross-Smith Paul Morton Emma Caulfield Katy Sophie Discover more Find out more about bird conservation in Poole harbourBirds of Poole Harbour Take part in citizen science survey in your area BTO – British Trust for Ornithology Follow us @wildtalesnt Instagram account  If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story idea, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Imagine being a fly on the wall throughout history. Historians Helen Antrobus and James Grasby take you inside the stories of the people, places and moments that made us. Experience the Great Stink of London. Make an entrance onto the Georgian dating scene. Find out if you'd survive a medieval battle. And unlock the secrets of Britain's space race.   Our past is all around us. Be transported behind the scenes at landmarks from castles to dance halls and WWII bunkers to workhouses. You'll meet people from all walks of life whose fascinating stories help us make sense of who we are now. Lean in for a tale from time: introducing Back When, a new history podcast from the National Trust, launching 2 April.    Follow Back When on your favourite podcast app and never miss an episode: podfollow.com/back-when

Wild Tales is launching 26 March. Immerse yourself in intriguing stories from our weird, wonderful and utterly wild world.   Experience nature in a whole new way, from untangling the strange world of spider sex and digging up the greatest fossil finds, to meeting mysterious ocean giants and finding out why there's no such thing as a seagull. Join nature experts Rosie Holdsworth, Ajay Tegala and Heather Birkett on adventures around the UK's diverse habitats and uncover fascinating tales that connect us with wildlife.   New Wild Tales will be released twice a month. Follow us on your favourite podcast app to keep up with every episode. www.instagram.com/wildtalesnt

*The National Trust Podcast is changing.* From March 2025 the National Trust Podcast will look different so we can bring you more immersive stories in Nature, History and Adventure. Stay on this stream for our new nature podcast, Wild Tales, and look out for our new history podcast, Back When. Remember to follow your favourite shows from National Trust Podcasts to be the first to hear new episodes as they arrive.  We'd love to hear from you: please get in touch with feedback, thoughts or your ideas for stories at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk Journey to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and Mottisfont garden in Hampshire, to discover a story of heritage and horticulture through two of the world's most prestigious rose collections. We meet Princess Esther Selassie Antohin, founder of Heritage Watch Ethiopia, to explore the Tsegereda Rose Garden Project, an initiative that restores a link to Ethiopia's imperial legacy and also tackles climate conservation challenges. The International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) has twinned the Tsegereda rose garden with one of the most important rose gardens in the world, the National Trust's Mottisfont. Uncover surprising connections between Ethiopia and the UK – from Emperor Haile Selassie's wartime exile in Bath, to Sylvia Pankhurst, an English activist who championed Ethiopia's independence.  Follow the fight to keep this heritage alive through extraordinary roses.    Discover a story of gardens that have transcended borders to become symbols of heritage, resilience, and international collaboration. [Ad] Open the door to more with a National Trust membership. As well as free entry and parking at over 500 places we care for, you'll receive: • Access to our online Members' Area, full of exclusive member-only content, • A yearly handbook packed with visit inspiration, • And our award-winning member magazine 3 times a year. Now also available digitally. Become a National Trust member:  nationaltrust.org.uk/become-a-member. For a taste of the digital magazine, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/historic-recipes, or if you're a member and you'd like to switch, look for My Account on the website. Production Producer and host: Jesse Edbrooke Sound Design: Jesus Gomez Discover more We protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive. Everyone can get involved, everyone can make a difference. Nature, beauty, history. For everyone, for ever. You can donate to us at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/donate   Read more about International National Trust Organisation Twinning (INTO) project www.into.org/withstanding-change-twinning/ Visit Heritage Watch Ethiopia website www.hwethiopia.org Find out more about Mottisfont's Rose Garden, Hampshire, England www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/hampshire/mottisfont/the-rose-garden-at-mottisfont If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk  

*The National Trust Podcast is changing.* From March 2025 the National Trust Podcast will look different so we can bring you more immersive stories in Nature, History and Adventure. Stay on this stream for our new nature podcast, Wild Tales… and look out for our new history podcast, Back When. Remember to follow your favourite shows from National Trust Podcasts to be the first to hear new episodes as they arrive.  We'd love to hear from you: please get in touch with feedback, thoughts or your ideas for stories at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk Click here to read these episode notes in Welsh One of the simple pleasures in life is getting outdoors for a walk, taking in the world around you with some fresh air and then nipping into a cosy pub for a well earned treat. Claire Hickinbotham takes you on some of our favourite walks from our book ‘100 Great Pub Walks' and finds out why caring for our planet, is necessary for the good of the humble pint.  From floodplains to fens, from peatlands to pubs, discover the work that goes on to look after our planet. [Ad] This podcast is sponsored by Starling Bank. Peatlands are essential for people and the planet in lots of incredible ways - they act like natural sponges, storing more carbon than all of the world's rainforests put together.  And they're a habitat for a whole host of wildlife. And they act as flood defences in the face of climate change.   Starling Bank have been funding the National Trust's work towards saving our peatlands since 2023, supporting projects that'll restore and protect over 400 hectares of the UK's precious peatland  – that's 372 football pitches.  Find out more about Starling and the National Trust's conservation work: https://www.starlingbank.com/about/partnerships/starling-and-the-national-trust/ Production Host: Claire Hickinbotham Producer: Jack Glover Higgins Sound editor: Jesus Gomez   Discover more 2025 marks our 130th birthday. In each chapter of our history, we've adapted to the needs of the day. Now, it's time for a vision that takes us into the future. Our new strategy sets out our aims and ambitions for the next decade and beyond. Find out how we are restoring nature, ending unequal access to nature and taking action here. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/our-strategy  Learn about our peatland habitats and the work we're doing to protect them here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/our-cause/nature-climate/climate-change-sustainability/preserving-our-peatland  Pick up a copy of 100 Great Pub Walks by visiting https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-100-great-pub-walks.html or by popping into your local bookshop.  For more on wetlands, including Peat bogs, floodplains and fens, check out our friends at the Wetland Wildlife Trust https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/wetlands  Find out how the climate is affecting the taste and cost of our beer. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67078674 Find your local People, Planet, Pint here; https://small99.co.uk/people-planet-pint-meetup/  Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk 

From March 2025 the National Trust Podcast will look a little different, so that we can bring you more stories in nature, history and adventure.  We're splitting the National Trust Podcast into two dedicated shows for nature and history lovers.  Stay with the National Trust Podcast for our nature podcast Wild Tales. You'll be immersed in intriguing stories from our incredible natural world. Love history? Look out for our brand new podcast Back When. Step inside the stories of the people, places and moments that made us. Remember to follow both Wild Tales and Back When on your favourite podcast app, to be the first to hear new episodes as they arrive. We'd love to know what you think. Please get in touch with your feedback, questions and ideas for stories by emailing podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

*The National Trust Podcast is changing.* From March 2025 the National Trust Podcast will look different so we can bring you more immersive stories in Nature, History and Adventure. Stay on this stream for our new nature podcast, Wild World Of… and look out for our new history podcast, Back When. Remember to follow your favourite shows from National Trust Podcasts to be the first to hear new episodes as they arrive. Just beneath our feet lies a hidden world of centuries-old curiosities and undiscovered treasures. But laying your hands on these forgotten items and figuring out exactly what they are requires some special underfloor sleuthing, to sort the rubbish from the rarities. An archaeological adventure awaits in the story of the Dust Detectives, as the team uncover early medieval music and learn about the lives of ordinary people who played an important but unwritten part of Oxburgh Hall's history. [Ad] Open the door to more with a National Trust membership. As well as free entry and parking at over 500 places we care for, you'll receive: • Access to our online Members' Area, full of exclusive member-only content, • A yearly handbook packed with visit inspiration, • And our award-winning member magazine 3 times a year. Now also available digitally. Become a National Trust member: nationaltrust.org.uk/become-a-member. For a taste of the digital magazine, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/historic-recipes, or if you're a member and you'd like to switch, look for My Account on the website. Production Host: James Grasby Producer: Jack Glover Higgins Sound editor: Jesus Gomez Discover more Thank you to Anna Forrest, Matthew Champion, and Dr David Skinner DPhil (Oxon) for contributions to this episode. Among the music featured is a performance of early Tudor Choral song by Dr Skinner's Choir ‘Alamire'. For more episodes and information please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts  To find out about Oxburgh Hall please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburgh-hall Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

*The National Trust Podcast is changing.* From March 2025 the National Trust Podcast will look different so we can bring you more immersive stories in Nature, History and Adventure. Stay on this stream for our new nature podcast, 'The Wild World Of…' and look out for our new history podcast, 'Back When'. Remember to follow your favourite shows from National Trust Podcasts to be the first to hear new episodes as they arrive. In this classic episode, experience life on Blakeney Point in Norfolk as it transforms throughout the year. From the mass arrival of seal pups in winter to the noisy feathered-frenzy of summer, discover how a remote stretch of shingle coastline is home to some of the UK's most unique marine wildlife. [Ad] Open the door to more with a National Trust membership. As well as free entry and parking at over 500 places we care for, you'll receive: • Access to our online Members' Area, full of exclusive member-only content, • A yearly handbook packed with visit inspiration, • And our award-winning member magazine 3 times a year. Now also available digitally. Become a National Trust member: nationaltrust.org.uk/become-a-member. For a taste of the digital magazine, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/historic-recipes, or if you're a member and you'd like to switch, look for My Account on the website. Production Host and Producer: Michelle Douglass Sound editor: Jesus Gomez Discover more Please follow our seal-spotting guidance nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/nature/wildlife/seal-spotting-guidance  Find out more about visiting Blakeney National Nature Reserve nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/norfolk/blakeney-national-nature-reserve  Read about the Sea Mammal Research Unit's work www.smru.st-andrews.ac.uk   Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

In 1848 an image of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their children decorating their evergreen, caused a sensation and sparked a Christmas tree trend in Britain.    Many people began to bring trees into their homes and decorate them with homemade ornaments, sweet treats and naked candles tied with ribbons.      The Victorians can be credited with inventing our modern Christmas.  In this episode, Clara Woolford, Curator at Cragside in Northumberland, takes us to the mid 1800s to discover how the “Cult of Christmas” and the centrepiece, the Christmas Tree, entered into millions of homes.    Discover more See the UK's tallest living Christmas tree, a 42m giant redwood at Cragside, Northumberland: nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/cragside/christmas-at-cragside Read about the history of the Christmas tree: www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/history/queen-victoria-christmas-tree  [Ad from our sponsor] This podcast episode is sponsored by family history website Findmypast. What was life like for domestic servants, workers and local communities at our most fascinating heritage sites? Discover how people from all walks of life lived and worked, and who with, in hundreds of census records, for free, by signing up with Findmypast. And find out about the free trial that you could use to explore your family history. See where the past takes you at: findmypast.co.uk/national-trust The National Trust Podcast is changing In spring 2025 we'll be changing the National Trust Podcast to bring you more immersive stories in Nature, History and Adventure. Stay on this stream for our new Nature Podcast The Wild World Of… and look out for our new History podcast Back When. Remember to subscribe or follow either show in your favourite podcast app to be the first to hear new stories when they arrive.  Production: Host and producer: Michelle Douglass Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez

Heritage sites like the medieval palace Bayt Al Razzaz in Egypt and the picturesque Blickling estate in the UK, are under threat from climate change. What connects these vastly different places? And what can the guardians of these historic treasures learn from each other as they battle extreme weather, social upheaval and other challenges? Discover the global fight to protect our heritage. You can watch a video of this podcast on National Trust Youtube: https://ntpodcasts.org/Video [Ad] Open the door to more with a National Trust membership. As well as free entry and parking at over 500 places we care for, you'll receive: • Access to our online Members' Area, full of exclusive member-only content, • A yearly handbook packed with visit inspiration, • And our award-winning member magazine 3 times a year. Now also available digitally. Become a National Trust member:  nationaltrust.org.uk/become-a-member. For a taste of the digital magazine, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/historic-recipes, or if you're a member and you'd like to switch, look for My Account on the website. Production Host: James Grasby and Jesse Edbrooke Producers: Jesse Edbrooke Sound Design: Jesus Gomez Further Information INTO - The International National Trusts Organisation https://www.into.org/ Withstanding Climate Change https://www.into.org/withstanding-change-project/ Blickling and Bayt Al Razzaz in partnership https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/norfolk/blickling-estate/blickling-estate-twins-with-bayt-al-razzaz-in-cairo If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk   

As a wheelchair user, Melissa rarely has the opportunity of spending time on the beach with the rest of her family; and an activity for them all in the water together was unimaginable.   But an ‘adaptive surfing for families' session in South Shields in the North East, changed everything.  You can watch a video of this podcast on National Trust Youtube:  https://ntpodcasts.org/Video [Ad] Open the door to more with a National Trust membership. As well as free entry and parking at over 500 places we care for, you'll receive:  • Access to our online Members' Area, full of exclusive member-only content,  • A yearly handbook packed with visit inspiration,  • And our award-winning member magazine 3 times a year. Now also available digitally. Become a National Trust member:   nationaltrust.org.uk/become-a-member. For a taste of the digital magazine, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/historic-recipes, or if you're a member and you'd like to switch, look for My Account on the website. Production: Host: Claire Hickinbotham  Producer: Katy Kelly  Sound Design: Jesus Gomez Discover More: Find out more about South Shields Surf: southshieldsurf.co.uk Learn about Team England Para: Adaptive/Para - Surfing England If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at: podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk 

Sir Isaac Newton is best known for coming up with the theory of gravity while relaxing in his orchard, thanks to an apple that fell beside him one afternoon – helping him to unravel one of the universe's great mysteries.  But that story is only a small part of the tale...  Heather Birkett delves into one of the greatest minds of all time. Discover how a friendship with astronomer Edmund Halley helped to bring Isaac's ideas to the world and beyond. [Ad from our sponsor] This episode is supported by Blue Diamond Garden Centres. Fill your space with beauty and heritage with a collection of bulbs, seeds and plants, curated by Blue Diamond Garden Centres working with National Trust gardeners. A minimum of 10% of the retail selling price will be given to support the National Trust's conservation work and ambitions to plant and establish 20 million trees by 2030. https://www.bluediamond.gg/national-trust Production Host: Heather Birkett Producers: Jack Glover and Michelle Douglass Sound Design: Jesus Gomez Discover more This episode continues the story from a previous release 'Pips in Space | Featuring Tim Peake'. You could listen to that episode and hear more about the Newton Trees: https://bit.ly/NTPod81 Find out more about Woolsthorpe Manor www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/nottinghamshire-lincolnshire/woolsthorpe-manor Read a biography about Sir Issac Newton www.newtonproject.ox.ac.uk/ If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

On 18th March AD 978 at Corfe Castle in Dorset, a 16-year-old boy was brutally stabbed in the back and died shortly after. That boy was the teenage king, Edward the Martyr. But who was the murderer, or murderers?  Join James Grasby and author Anna Groves on this Halloween historical Whodunnit, as they try and figure out who committed the regicide, with the help of some other worldly encounters. [Ad from our sponsor] This podcast episode is sponsored by family history website Findmypast. What was life like for domestic servants, workers and local communities at our most fascinating heritage sites? Discover how people from all walks of life lived and worked, and who with, in hundreds of census records, for free, by signing up with Findmypast. And find out about the free trial that you could use to explore your family history. See where the past takes you at: findmypast.co.uk/national-trust Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts  Production Hosts : James Grasby and Anna Groves Producers : Pippa Tilbury-Harris and Nikki Ruck Sound Design: Jesus Gomez Actor voices : Caitlin Packer, Ethan Hughes, Louise Bray, Mark Powell courtesy of Prime Theatre Discover More If you'd like to read more about the ghosts of the National Trust, you can purchase Anna Groves' book, ‘Britain's Ghosts' here: https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-britain-s-ghosts.html To find out more about Corfe Castle including details for visiting, please click here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/corfe-castle If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk  

Join the adventures of Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers, the new kids' podcast from the National Trust. Introducing the Wildlifers, a crew of colourful creatures who use their special skills to help where there's trouble in nature. Beaver's a super engineer. Sleepy Bat's skill is sonar. Wildcat's a proud predator. Deer's strong and speedy. Fox has a nose for trouble. Shy Mole's an expert digger, and Dragonfly's always buzzing. Ranger Rae's the leader and can understand animals. And 12-year-old Apprentice Roxy dreams of becoming a real Ranger and being able to talk to wildlife too. From catching an escaped pet rat on a remote island, to solving the mystery of a giant bat in a cave, or tracking a thief through city streets, the gang are put to the test in their quests to help the natural world. Uncover stories of adventure and discovery with friends in the wild world. Perfect for 5-8 year olds. Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers is a podcast from the National Trust, produced by Fun Kids Radio. Artwork (c) Becka Moor. Follow and listen to Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers via mobile on your favourite podcast app: podfollow.com/national-trust-kids-podcast  Head to the National Trust Kids' Podcast website: nationaltrust.org.uk/kids-podcast

Historian David Olusoga tells the story of the children born to white British mothers and black American servicemen during the Second World War, dubbed Britain's ‘Brown Babies' in the African American press at the time.   Carol and Ann, now in their 80s, revisit their childhood home, Holnicote House in Somerset. During the 1940s, the building was used for the care of around 30 children of black GIs, from birth to the age of five.        Carol and Ann were among some 2000 children born in wartime Britain to black GI fathers and white British mothers. Under many pressures including social prejudice and US legislation banning interracial marriage, around half of these children were placed into care.       David also meets experts Prof Lucy Bland and Dr Chamion Caballero, to reveal this little-known history of the Second World War, and how modern DNA testing is helping families search for lost relatives 80 years later.  Production   Host: David Olusoga   Producer: Michelle Douglass  Sound editor: Jesus Gomez  Consultants: Lucy Bland, Professor of Social and Cultural History at Anglia Ruskin University, and Dr Chamion Caballero, Director and Co-Founder of The Mixed Museum Discover more      Find out more about Britain's ‘Brown Babies' and hear oral histories, including more from Ann:  https://mixedmuseum.org.uk/brown-babies/   Explore the experiences of WWII black GIs in the UK:   https://mixedmuseum.org.uk/brown-babies/black-gis-in-britain/  Read Britain's ‘Brown Babies' by Professor Lucy Bland:   https://www.amazon.co.uk/Britains-%60Brown-Babies-Stories-Children/dp/1526133261  Discover the Holnicote Estate's diverse countryside, wildlife and walkways, looked after by the National Trust  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/somerset/countryside-woodland/explore-holnicote-estate   Visit the Holnicote House hotel website:   https://www.hfholidays.co.uk/country-houses/locations/selworthy-exmoor     If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk 

Introducing Step into the Past, a podcast from our sponsors at Findmypast.        What if you could follow in the footsteps of your ancestors and reveal the hidden tales behind some of the UK's fascinating historical locations?      Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and her guest Sandy travel to the not-so-stately home of Calke Abbey in Derbyshire to discover Sandy's family's longstanding connection to the estate and its early Baptist congregation.   Calke Abbey has undergone many transformations in its long history, moving from religious priory to sprawling stately home, and forming the core of the community in all its guises for hundreds of years.   Sandy discovers that her family were skilled workers and faithful retainers, who honed their crafts over generations and were rewarded for their expertise and dedication by their wealthy patrons. Over 200 years, members of the family were embedded in the fabric of this community, enjoying the employment opportunities and patronage offered by Calke Abbey. Sandy also learns of their non-conformist beliefs, at a time when Baptism was on the rise among skilled working classes, and how this threatened the established order. Find out more about Findmypast's family history services at: www.findmypast.co.uk Listen to more episodes and follow the series by searching for Step into the Past on your favourite podcast app.  Find out more about the series on the Findmypast website:  https://www.findmypast.co.uk/page/podcast 

On September 27th 2023, the famous Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland was felled overnight in an act of vandalism, triggering a far-reaching wave of shock and sorrow.   Join Heather Birkett as she goes behind the scenes to explore the enduring impact of this beloved landmark, the aftermath of its loss, and the community's efforts to preserve its memory. A video version of this podcast is available on YouTube and Spotify. To watch it on YouTube please click here. Production Host: Heather Birkett Producers: Nikki Ruck, Katy Kelly, Pippa Tilbury-Harris Sound Design: Nikki Ruck    Contributors Luke Straszewski:  NT Ranger Andrew Poad: NT General Manager Northumberland Coast & Hadrian's Wall  Judith Ward: Twice Brewed Inn Mark Robinson: NT Experiences and Partnership Manager Chris Trimmer. NT Plant Conservation Centre Manager Louise Teasdale Charlotte Crowe Tony Gates: CEO Northumberland National Parks Authority Charlie Whinney Nick Greenall  Discover more Find out what's on in Northumberland Park and The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre. https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/whats-on/ Keep updated with all the latest Sycamore Gap news including details of The Trees of Hope campaign, Heartwood and activities at the stump. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sycamore-gap Survey We hope you're enjoying listening to the National Trust Podcast and the stories we tell from the places we care for. Please take 5 minutes to complete our survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/W2YJZWM and be in with a chance of winning a £50 National Trust online shop voucher. You must be over the age of 16 to enter. Full terms and conditions are listed at the end of the survey. Your feedback will help us improve the way we tell stories, share experiences and take you on an adventure through our landscapes and history. Thank you, The National Trust Podcast Team If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk   

Our lovely nature presenter and ranger Kate Martin is leaving to join our friends at the RSPB, helping to care for wildlife in Scotland. Here are some of Kate's best bits and few moments from behind the scenes. On behalf of everyone at the National Trust, from our listeners and from the podcast team, thank you and wishing you a great and adventure filled future.

A stretch of water between the mainland and Rathlin Island is home to some of the world's most unique wildlife and infamous shipwrecks.  Ranger Kate Martin continues her adventure along Northern Ireland's causeway coast, this time exploring life under water.    [Ad from our sponsor]  This podcast is supported by Tourism Ireland  Experience all of what Northern Ireland has to offer from standing on the rocks of the giants causeway, to hiking the Mourne Mountains with epic sea views, or enjoying the craic in Belfast city's great pubs with some live music. With amazing access from Great Britain by both air and sea, Northern Ireland is so easy to get to. Find your next adventure visit ireland.com/northernireland Production Host : Kate Martin Producer : Jack Glover Sound Design: Jesus Gomez Discover More The causeway coast is part of the UK80, a must-see route of places cared for by the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland. You can discover every stop along the way inside the Grand Adventure Map, the ultimate map for planning a Great British adventure https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-grand-adventure-map.html For info on visiting Rathlin Island please visit  http://www.rathlincommunity.org/ Information on marine life around the Causeway coast and Rathlin can be found here https://www.ulsterwildlife.org/explore/sea-life  Prannie's recipes and seaweed guides can be found here  https://irishseaweedkitchen.ie  Survey We hope you're enjoying listening to the National Trust Podcast and the stories we tell from the places we care for. Please take 5 minutes to complete our survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/W2YJZWM and be in with a chance of winning a £50 National Trust online shop voucher. You must be over the age of 16 to enter. Full terms and conditions are listed at the end of the survey. Your feedback will help us improve the way we tell stories, share experiences and take you on an adventure through our landscapes and history. Thank you, The National Trust Podcast Team If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk 

Don't look down! Across a rope bridge over a  stretch of water on Northern Ireland's causeway coast lies the Island of Carrick-a-Rede and a fisherman's cottage that has stood for centuries.   Ranger Kate Martin, heads off on her holiday, to make the crossing and to learn how this old bridge became the focal point for a community and rich coastal traditions.   [Ad from our sponsor] This podcast is supported by Tourism Ireland. Experience all of what Northern Ireland has to offer from standing on the rocks of the giants causeway, to hiking the Mourne Mountains with epic sea views, or enjoying the craic in Belfast city's great pubs with some live music.  With amazing access from Great Britain by both air and sea, Northern Ireland is so easy to get to.  Find your next adventure visit ireland.com/northernireland Production Host : Kate Martin Producer : Jack Glover Sound Design: Jesus Gomez Discover More The Carrick-a-Rede is part of the UK80, a must-see route of places cared for by the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland. You can discover every stop along the way inside the Grand Adventure Map, the ultimate map for planning a Great British adventure https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-grand-adventure-map.html For info on visiting Carrick-a-Rede please visit  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/carrick-a-rede Mark's Beyond the Bridge Tour and other experiences can be found at https://discovernorthernireland.com/travel-trade/experience/beyond-the-bridge-experience-p748851 A video version of this podcast is available on Youtube and Spotify. To watch it on Youtube please click here.  Survey We hope you're enjoying listening to the National Trust Podcast and the stories we tell from the places we care for. Please take 5 minutes to complete our survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/W2YJZWM and be in with a chance of winning a £50 National Trust online shop voucher. You must be over the age of 16 to enter. Full terms and conditions are listed at the end of the survey. Your feedback will help us improve the way we tell stories, share experiences and take you on an adventure through our landscapes and history. Thank you, The National Trust Podcast Team  If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk 

Jo and Katherine continue their bikepacking adventure, starting day two in Bude, with a surprise twist after breakfast, before heading up the coast to Devon. They visit the National Trust's smallest property, Hawkers Hut, on the way and join in an activity Jo last did at the age of eight. With thanks to Raleigh UK Production Hosts: Jo Dyson and Katherine Moore, and introduced by Claire Hickinbotham Producers: Sean Douglas, Pippa Tilbury-Harris, Claire Hickinbotham Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez Discover more To visit Hawkers Hut there is a 40 minute circular walk across fields https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/morwenstow/hawkers-hut-walk  To find out about longer bike rides  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/outdoor-activities/best-places-for-a-longer-bike-ride  To find out about cycling on holiday  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/active/cycling  To find out about cycle hire at our places  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/outdoor-activities/cycle-hire-at-our-places  Follow the National Trust Podcast on your podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

What happens when you combine backpacking and cycling? In this classic 2-parter we join Jo Dyson as she gets to grips with ‘bikepacking' under the expert guidance of Katherine Moore and tackles the unforgiving hills of the north Cornish coast. With thanks to Raleigh UK Production Hosts: Jo Dyson and Katherine Moore, and introduced by Claire Hickinbotham Producers: Sean Douglas, Pippa Tilbury-Harris, Claire Hickinbotham Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez Discover more To visit Hawkers Hut there is a 40 minute circular walk across fields https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/morwenstow/hawkers-hut-walk  To find out about longer bike rides  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/outdoor-activities/best-places-for-a-longer-bike-ride  To find out about cycling on holiday  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/active/cycling  To find out about cycle hire at our places  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/outdoor-activities/cycle-hire-at-our-places  Follow the National Trust Podcast on your podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

In this classic episode, you're invited to a midnight party happening deep in the woods. Meet the ravers, movers and shakers as they emerge from slumber to rule nature's nightclub.   Ranger Kate Martin heads out into the twilight landscape of Cragside, Northumberland in search of bats, moths and underwater noise makers. Production Host: Kate Martin Producer: Michelle Douglass Sound editor: Jesus Gomez With thanks to Bat Conservation Trust; Kosta Manser from the University of Bristol; Dave Chesmore from the University of York. Discover more For information on visiting Cragside please visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/cragside Find out more about staying overnight at Cragside and other National Trust places: nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays Learn more about moths, and take part in the Big Butterfly Count organised by Butterfly Conservation: Big Butterfly Count (butterfly-conservation.org) Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

There's loads more to come this season from the National Trust Podcast.  We'll be exploring Northern Ireland, hearing how heritage properties in Norfolk and Egypt are working together, and marking one year since the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree.  But it's not just new adventures on the horizon.  We'll be sharing one of our favourite ranger episodes to celebrate World Ranger Day, as well as a classic 2-parter to help inspire your summer travels.   And if that's not enough, head to https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/virtual-visit/podcasts to check out past series and specialist playlists.     And if you've enjoyed our episodes so far this year, why not vote for us in the British Podcast Awards. You can do that here too https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/virtual-visit/podcasts. Just look for the picture of the girl on her phone in a tent!   Happy listening and have a great summer from the National Trust Podcast Team. 

Deep under the hillsides of Carmarthenshire lie the remains of the UK's only known Roman Goldmines.   With a head torch to guide the way, James Grasby ventures into the void to unearth the secrets that lurk in the darkness and finds out the pioneering efforts that the Romans went to in order to extract this precious metal.  Click here to view these show notes in Welsh [Ad from our sponsor] This podcast episode is sponsored by family history website Findmypast. What was life like for domestic servants, workers and local communities at our most fascinating heritage sites? Discover how people from all walks of life lived and worked, and who with, in hundreds of census records, for free, by signing up with Findmypast. And find out about the free trial that you could use to explore your family history. See where the past takes you at: findmypast.co.uk/national-trust  Production Host : James Grasby Producer : Jack Glover Sound Design: Jesus Gomez  Discover More The Dolaucothi Roman Gold Mine is part of the UK80, a must-see route of places cared for by the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland. You can discover every stop along the way inside the Grand Adventure Map, the ultimate map for planning a Great British adventure https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-grand-adventure-map.html  For info on visiting Dolaucothi and it's Roman History please visit  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/dolaucothi  Join in with this year's festival of archaeology taking place at Dolaucothi and other National Trust properties  nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/dolaucothi/events/01df4ea5-2586-4968-8836-84909387a9fd If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk 

Ex-professional footballer Tayshan Hayden-Smith turned to the healing power of nature after the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy in 2017. Since then, he's been on a journey to bring access to nature to all. He shows ranger Kate Martin around his local community garden and together they see that a garden can be anywhere and anything.  Later Kate heads to the National Trust's Sutton House to see the garden they've created out of an old car scrapyard and learns how to grow in small and unusual spaces. [Ad from our sponsor] This episode is supported by Blue Diamond Garden Centres. Fill your space with beauty and heritage with a collection of bulbs, seeds and plants, curated by Blue Diamond Garden Centres working with National Trust gardeners. A minimum of 10% of the retail selling price will be given to support the National Trust's conservation work and ambitions to plant and establish 20 million trees by 2030. https://www.bluediamond.gg/national-trust Production: Host: Kate Martin Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez    Discover more:  Find out more about gardener and activist Tayshan Hayden-Smith's community work here: https://www.growtoknow.world/  You can read about growing in small spaces in ‘Small Space Revolution' by Tayshan Hayden-Smith.  Inside Tayshan demonstrates 20 different practical projects you can create to positively change small outdoor spaces and pulls out inspiration from community gardens around the world.  You can buy the book here: https://www.dk.com/uk/book/9780241680445-small-space-revolution/   If you'd like to learn more about gardening with tips from our experts, you can here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/gardening-tips  If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk  

If you didn't have money and a way to support yourself and your family in the 1800s you might be forced to go into the workhouse. Find out what life was really like for the men, women and children who ended up there.  Heading into the Workhouse, even if modern times, feels ominous and foreboding. Walk alongside Curator James Grasby as he enters The Workhouse and Infirmary in Southwell and takes on the role of an inmate in 1871. He meets the tyrannical Master of the house and discovers what work he would have done, and whether he made it out alive. [Ad from our sponsor] This podcast episode is sponsored by family history website Findmypast. What was life like for domestic servants, workers and local communities at our most fascinating heritage sites? Discover how people from all walks of life lived and worked, and who with, in hundreds of census records, for free, by signing up with Findmypast. And find out about the free trial that you could use to explore your family history. See where the past takes you at: findmypast.co.uk/national-trust Production Host: James Grasby Producer: Claire Hickinbotham Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez Discover more Find out more about the history of The Workhouse and Infirmary www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/nottinghamshire-lincolnshire/the-workhouse-and-infirmary   Learn about the collections that tell the stories pf people who lived and worked at The Workhouse and Infirmary  www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/nottinghamshire-lincolnshire/the-workhouse-and-infirmary/collections-at-the-workhouse-and-firbeck-infirmary  

When one man set off on a walk around the UK coast, little did he know that adopting a rescue dog would change the course of his life.  Christian Lewis was at rock bottom when he embarked on a journey that would last 6 years, but it was ‘Jet' and the power of nature, that would piece him back together to lead him onto a life that would otherwise have been unimaginable for this army veteran. [Ad from our sponsor] This podcast is supported by Forthglade natural pet food, founding partner of the National Trust's Dogs Welcome Project. Improving dog-friendly places for you and your four-legged friend to explore and enjoy together, from dedicated off-lead open spaces to pet-friendly holiday cottages. Discover more about the Dogs Welcome Project, supported by Forthglade: forthglade.com/pages/national-trust   Production Host: Claire Hickinbotham  Producer: Claire Hickinbotham  Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez  Discover more In Memory of Jet:  With thanks to Christian Lewis for sharing his story, and his love of ‘Jet' the rescue dog with us. Christian Lewis was raising money for SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity - https://ssafa.org.uk/ and his story continues @wildernessfamilyuk   If what Christian talked about in this podcast resonated with you, you can get help on the MIND website. https://www.mind.org.uk/   To find out about taking your dog to National Trust places.  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dog-friendly   Or have a look at our new book 'Great British Walkies'.  https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-great-british-walkies.html If this podcast has inspired you to get out and experience the coast, and get a blast of fresh sea air, with or without a dog, check out these suggestions. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/walking/top-coastal-walks   Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

The Philae Obelisk at Kingston Lacy in Dorset is an ancient reminder of a very different world. Learn about its origins, why it came to be in England and how its hand-carved inscriptions were key to unlocking the secrets of Egyptian hieroglyphs. Listen to this classic episode from our series 125 Treasures, presented by Alison Steadman. [Ad from our sponsor] This podcast episode is sponsored by family history website Findmypast. What was life like for domestic servants, workers and local communities at our most fascinating heritage sites? Discover how people from all walks of life lived and worked, and who with, in hundreds of census records, for free, by signing up with Findmypast. And find out about the free trial that you could use to explore your family history. See where the past takes you at: findmypast.co.uk/national-trust Discover more Watch BBC Two's Hidden Treasures of the National Trust: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001lttx Read about the Philae Obelisk and other treasures at Kingston Lacy: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/kingston-lacy/the-treasures-at-kingston-lacy Find out more about Kingston Lacy: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/kingston-lacy This mini series shares it's name with a National Trust book. Find out more and browse other reads in our collection: shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-125-treasures.html Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk 

Join us as we celebrate the season of blossom with poetry and music written and produced by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and his band LYR. In this episode, Simon shares the inspiration behind his poetry, and the band discuss how they produced the song Blossom: A CV and collaborated with community choirs as part of the Blossomise album. Production Producer: Jesse Edbrooke Sound editor: Jesus Gomez Discover more Find out more about Simon Armitage and his poetry www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/news/poet-laureate-simon-armitage-creates-blossom-inspired-poem Watch videos about the Blossomise project shot by young film makers www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLgonOCHSWf0I_a_fhmX2K_r_3MoKXA2c Listen to the full tracks of Simon and LYR's Blossomise music in collaboration with the National Trust and funded by the People's lottery post code lyrband.bandcamp.com/track/blossom-a-cv [Appeal] Plant a tree with the National Trust and help us establish 20 million trees by 2030. Whatever the size of your donation to the Plant a Tree appeal, you'll be helping to create beautiful green spaces for people and wildlife to thrive. And why not dedicate your donation to someone in your life? You'll receive a digital certificate to customise and gift. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/support-us/plant-a-tree Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

In the 1930s, the mysterious Ferguson's Gang captivated the British public with their daring and unusual stunts. Led by the enigmatic “Bill Stickers”, the group was unlike any other gangsters of the era. They were mask-wearing, all-women activists who gave money in quirky ways to help save the countryside.  In this docudrama, uncover the identities of the people behind the secretive Ferguson's Gang, and unravel a tale of intrigue, mischief and mayhem that made a lasting impact on British heritage.  This podcast episode is sponsored by family history website Findmypast.  What was life like for domestic servants, workers and local communities at our most fascinating heritage sites? Discover how people from all walks of life lived and worked, and who with, in hundreds of census records, for free. And find out how to explore your family history. See where the past takes you at: findmypast.co.uk/national-trust  Actor voices Lizzie Crarer, Rae Alexander, Sally Rudd, and Caitlin Packer, courtesy of https://www.primetheatre.co.uk/  Ric Jerrom and James Turton. Explore Further Discover more about the gang www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/history/people/who-were-fergusons-gang Learn more about Ferguson's Gang and their legacy on Polly Bagnall's website, where you can discover more about the book- Ferguson's Gang: The Remarkable Story of the National Trust Gangsters.  www.pollybagnall.com/ferguson-s-gang Copies of Ferguson's Gang's ‘Boos' are available for viewing at The Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre by prior arrangement.  www.wshc.org.uk/visiting-the-centre. Ferguson's Legacy While Shalford Mill remains closed to the public, you can still explore the legacy of Ferguson's Gang by visiting Newtown Old Town Hall on the Isle of Wight, Mayon and Trevescan cliffs in Cornwall, and Stonehenge. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/isle-of-wight/newtown-national-nature-reserve-and-old-town-hall/history-at-newtown-old-town-hall   www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/coast-beaches/discover-mayon-cliff www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wiltshire/stonehenge-landscape

Google Podcasts is coming to an end between April and June this year. To keep up with the National Trust Podcast please follow or subscribe using an alternative app. Spotify - https://spoti.fi/4a88H3d Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/4a1nH2N Youtube (Coming Soon) - https://www.youtube.com/nationaltrustcharity More - https://audioboom.com/channels/4957126-national-trust-podcast Info from Google: After April 2, 2024, users in the US will no longer be able to listen to podcasts in Google Podcasts.  After June 24, 2024 this will be the case for all users in all regions.  More info from Google/Youtube Music - https://bit.ly/3xeM8vd

National Trust Podcast is back with a new collection of immersive tales in nature, history and adventure. Look out for Series 8 launching 4 April.  Travel to the 1930s to unmask the eccentric Ferguson's Gang, find out how the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree impacted the community, and discover what life was like for ancient workers in the UK's only known Roman gold mine.  Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app to catch new episodes every fortnight. We'd love to hear from you. Please share your ratings and reviews on your podcast app. Or get in touch at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk Discover more about podcasts made by the National Trust at nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts