Podcasts about butterfly conservation

In this week's episode of Activity Quest, Adam chats to Will from the Stratford Upon Avon Butterfly Farm and to Dan from Butterfly Conservation.Join Fun Kids Podcasts+: https://funkidslive.com/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's time for another trip around the solar system on the BIGGER and BETTER Science Weekly! In this episode of the Fun Kids Science Weekly, we continue our bigger and better podcast where we answer YOUR questions, have scientists battle it out for which science is the best & learn about a dinosaur which used to rule the skies! Dan kicks off with the latest in science news, beginning with a fascinating update on the Earth's core—could its shape be shifting? Next, we dive deep into the ocean to meet a newly discovered fish, named after a beloved film character. And to wrap up, Richard Fox from Butterfly Conservation joins Dan to explore the urgent challenges facing butterflies across the UK and what can be done to help. We then answer your questions, Lulu wants to know why planets have a gravitational pull and our favourite meteorologist, Kirsty McCabe joins Dan to answer Deanna's question: Where did the first water droplet come from? Dangerous Dan continues, where we learn all about the poisonous Oleander plant. In Battle of the Sciences, Dr. Natalia Jagielska explains the power of the palaeontology... the study of ancient dinosaur fossils! What do we learn about? · What's happened to the shape of the Earth's core · The urgent crisis facing butterflies in the UK · How the first water droplet was formed · The dangers of the Oleander plant · And in Battle of the Sciences, the power of palaeontology All on this week's episode of Science Weekly!Join Fun Kids Podcasts+: https://funkidslive.com/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The monarch butterfly is popular and currently in the news a lot. You might think that we know all there is to know about it, but there are many mysteries remaining, particularly about their migration and how they use their habitat. This may be more so for the western population that overwinters in California. Radio tracking has long been used for studying the movement and habitat use of bigger animals. Advances in this technology mean it is emerging as a tool that can provide scientists with some answers about tiny animals too.To explore how radio tracking — also called radio telemetry — can be used with monarchs, we are joined by Ashley Fisher. Ashley is an endangered species conservation biologist and a monarch overwintering specialist with the Xerces Society. Based near the overwintering sites in California, Ashley manages Xerces' overwintering habitat database and helps facilitate research projects, working with Xerces partnering organizations and universities. She also works with local land managers in communities along the central coast of California to provide guidance on the management and restoration of overwintering sites.Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

Bridget Robinson from Coram Voice shares how the competition, now in its ninth year, provides a platform for young voices to shine. Plus, hear from Mali, a previous winner, about how poetry helped her express her experiences in care. Meanwhile, Adam goes on an after-dark adventure to discover the fascinating world of moths. Dr Dan from Butterfly Conservation reveals surprising facts about these under-appreciated insects, from winter moths' incredible adaptations to the colourful diversity of species like the elephant hawk moth.Join Fun Kids Podcasts+: https://funkidslive.com/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bees, butterflies, beetles — populations of almost any group of insects you can name seem to be falling. But how do we know they are falling, how can we find out how well insects are doing? Monitoring is an essential tool for understanding the abundance and distribution of species, as well as how they respond to conservation efforts.To explore this further, we are talking with Matt Forister, professor of biology and insect ecology in the Biology Department at the University of Nevada, Reno. He has studied butterflies and other insects in the western US for the last 20 years, and has published more than 100 journal articles and book chapters on issues that include insects adapting to exotic plants and butterflies responding to a changing climate. Matt is also a long-time scientific advisor to the Xerces Society and our staff have undertaken several research projects with his lab.Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

This week, Dan heads to London for some adrenaline-pumping action with the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks live show at the O2 Arena. From colossal vehicles to behind-the-scenes interviews with drivers Rebecca and Rick, Dan explores the roaring engines, daring stunts, and fierce competition of monster truck events. Plus, Adam embarks on a quieter adventure, searching for the beautiful small tortoiseshell butterfly. Joined by Dr Dan from Butterfly Conservation, Adam learns all about this winter survivor, its vivid colouration, hibernation habits, and how to make your garden butterfly-friendly. Links Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Butterfly Conservation Join Fun Kids Podcasts+: https://funkidslive.com/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering the addition of the monarch butterfly to the endangered species list, and are set to announce a decision the week of December […] The post Monarch Butterfly Conservation in Wisconsin appeared first on WORT-FM 89.9.

We all love a success story and what better tale to tell than the one about the Fender's blue? Once thought extinct, this butterfly was rediscovered 35 years ago, since when it has made a comeback thanks to hard work by dedicated scientists, land owners, agency staff, and many others.To tell us this story of hope, we are joined today by two people whose long-time collaboration has been central to this success. Cheryl Schultz is a Professor at Washington State University in Vancouver, where she studies the ecology of at-risk species, particularly butterflies of the PNW prairies. Mikki Collins works for the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and is currently the Willamette Valley Recovery Coordinator. Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

Send us a textAs we say farewell to September… Tom Pattinson's reflecting on a patchy but canny spring summer of flowers and crops… and the joys of soft and top fruits… and growing tetties for Christmas!Tom Cadwallender's full of good news about the breeding season… and he's following migrations and keeping tabs on crossbills… And we'll be looking at the results of this year's Big Butterfly Count, Dr Zoe Randle from Butterfly Conservation is here to tell us more…And we've got some top tips for the garden from Tom P…  Support the showYou can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom Cadwallender and our wonderful guests and featured flowers, birds and projects on Twitter: @gardenersradio @TheNatureGarden and on Facebook: The Nature Garden. And you can tune in to our monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.comThank you for your support!Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk

October is a wonderful month in the garden - crisp blue skies and fantastic autumn colour to enjoy. DIG IT's Peter Brown and Chris Day look at the month as far as places to visit, what's in the world of gardening news and timely tasks to be getting on with - so not quite the month to take your foot off the pedal!What's on5th & 6th October, 10am-4pm: Buckingham Garden Centre's Apple Weekend. Apple identifying with Gerry Edwards, apple pressing and juicing with the Mid Shires Orchard group, a Heritage Apple Display featuring over 100 varieties, Jessica Naish from the Buckingham Cut Flower Farm, a fantastic Tombola, plus The Woodland Trust and BBOWT.Saturday 5th October: Autumn Plant Fair at RHS Garden Bridgewater, Manchester.Saturday 12th October, 11am-4pm: National Alpine Garden Show at RHS Harlow Carr Gardens.26th October - 3rd November: Scarecrow Hunt at Painswick Rococo Garden Trust in Stroud.News Giant mosaic made from apples at National Trust Cotehele in Cornwall last month.Weather concerns could see tulip bulb prices rise by as much as 20% in 2025, Dutch growers warn.Britain's rarest orchid discovered after one man's 15-year hunt.New rare and endangered plant exhibition opens at Kew Gardens.Plea to use less herbicides and pesticides in our towns voiced by The Pesticide Collaboration.Tulip trees as well as storing more carbon are no longer hardwood they are now Midwood! It's all about the cells, says new study.Vegetable and flower seed merchant Dobies celebrates 130th anniversary.‘Delphinium Dad' efforts rewarded with National Plant Collection status.Artists set to champion ancient plane tree.A new garden commemorating the life of Queen Elizabeth II is to be constructed in London's Regent's Park.Upcycling facemasks left over from the pandemic to cradle developing melons by the team at Bluebird Care in Stroud and Cirencester.Butterfly numbers drop disastrously reports Butterfly Conservation.Blenheim Palace introduces bee swarms to its nine new woodlands.Huge restoration for parklands at Crystal Palace.New report sheds light on why many plants have prickles.Dame Mary Berry joins 40th anniversary celebrations of the Macmillan & National Garden Scheme partnership. During the last 40 years the NGS has raised more than £19 million for Macmillan through private garden openings.David Austin launches Bring Me Sunshine ® as Climbing English Rose.DIG IT Top 5: Climbing roses As we approach the root wrap and bare-root season learn about our bestselling roses.Product mentions: Long handled bulb planters, greenhouse disinfectant, bubble insulation, hedgehog houses, lawn rake and leaf grabbers, bird feeders ready and primed with wild bird mix, sunflowers, peanuts, and fat balls. Evergreen Autumn Fertiliser, and lawn seed for overseeding and patch repair.Plant mentions: Allium ‘Rosy Dream,' Taylors Bulb of the Year and Daffodil ‘June Allyson,' Daffodil of the Year, Dogwoods, Hostas, Salix (Willows), planning for hedges, Garlic, Onions, and Shallots to plant now, pumpkins to harvest and rhubarb propagation - remove healthier outer sections to create new crowns.Our thanks to Chiltern Music Therapy for supplying the music. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for another trip around the solar system on the BIGGER and BETTER Science Weekly!  This episode of the Fun Kids Science Weekly we continue our bigger and better podcast where we answer YOUR questions, have scientists battle it out for which science is the best & learn all about the first baby beavers born in Hampshire for 400 years. Dan starts with the latest science news where we learn all about how radio waves caused by Elon Musk is stopping our ability to peer into the universe, why a national butterfly emergency has been announced by the Butterfly Conservation and Ewhurst Park's Mandy Lieu tells us all about the first beavers born in Hampshire for 400 years Then we delve into your questions where Dan explains how why we close our eyes when we sneeze & Peter Martin from University College London answers why so many babies are born in the evening....or are they? Dangerous Dan continues and we learn all about the Polistes Carnifex or it's better known name The Executioner Wasp.The Battle of the Sciences continues where Dan chats to Katy Clough from Queen Mary's University of London about why the Mathematical Sciences is the best kind of science? What do we learn about? How Elon Musk is stopping us from peering into the Universe Why there's been a National Butterfly Emergency declared? The first baby beavers born in Hampshire for 400 years Why are most babies born in the evening? Is Mathematical Sciences the best type of science? All on this week's episode of Science Weekly!Join Fun Kids Podcasts+: https://funkidslive.com/plusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Butterfly numbers in the UK appear to be at the lowest on record after a wet spring and summer dampened their chances of mating. This comes on top of a long and worrying trend of decline. To find out what's going on and what we can all do to help butterflies cope with extreme weather patterns, Phoebe Weston speaks to Dr Richard Fox, the head of science for the charity Butterfly Conservation, and to Matthew Hayes, who is part of the Banking on Butterflies project, a collaboration between the Insect Ecology Group at the zoology department in Cambridge University and the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Rural crime - the cost of crime in the countryside has jumped by 7 percent in Wales according to the latest figures from the rural insurer NFU Mutual. Fluttered away - Butterfly Conservation reports alarmingly low numbers of butterflies, with the weather a significant factor in the decline.Lime Kilns - the Llanymynech Limeworks, closed over a hundred years ago calls for volunteers to help with the restoration work, wildlife surveys and keeping the site open to the public.Mushrooming success in Gwynedd - the grower who's pioneered a method for raising a range of exotic, Lions Mane mushroomsand how a pop-up pastaria, called Pasta a Mano, has quickly gained a cult following for offering authentic Italian Street Food will be competing in next month's British Street food Awards.

Moths are far from the furry, dusty, scary things we've imagined. With over 10,000 species of them in North America alone, they come in all colors and sizes, and they do the important work of pollinating during the night shift. Dr. Richard Fox, the Head of Science at the UK's Butterfly Conservation, joins us to talk about these incredible insects. I also share some fun activities you can do to get a close-up look at moths in your own yard. Visit NightSkyTourist.com/102 for more information about this episode. CHECK OUT THESE LINKS FROM EPISODE 102: Butterfly Conservation: https://butterfly-conservation.org/  Butterfly Conservation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savebutterflies  Butterfly Conservation on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/savebutterflies/  20 Night Sky Books for Children: https://nightskytourist.com/20-childrens-books/  BugGuide.net: https://bugguide.net/node/view/57  iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/  “Sketching the Night Sky with John Muir Laws” Episode 22: https://nightskytourist.com/22-2/  Rate Night Sky Tourist with 5 stars on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. THANK YOU! FOLLOW NIGHT SKY TOURIST ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NightSkyTourist  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nightskytourist/  SPREAD THE WORD Help us reach more people by subscribing to the podcast, leaving a review, and sharing it with others. GET TO KNOW US MORE Visit NightSkyTourist.com to read our great blog articles, check out our resource page, and sign up for our newsletters. Our monthly newsletter has content that is exclusive for subscribers. SHARE YOUR QUESTION We want to hear your questions. They could even become part of a future Q&A. Record your question in a voice memo on your smartphone and email it to us at Hello@NightSkyTourist.com. COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS Email us at Hello@NightSkyTourist.com.

Send us a Text Message.Tom Pattinson's getting creative and investing time to propagate plants, Tom Cadwallender's up with the larks for the dawn chorus… and he's super excited on Coquet Island… home of the roseate tern...Steve Lowe's trying his hand at beekeeping at the Creswell Pele Tower garden… And… Dr Zoe Randall from Butterfly Conservation is here to inspire us all to take part in the Big Butterfly CountPlus  some top tips for the garden from Tom P… Support the Show.You can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom Cadwallender and our wonderful guests and featured flowers, birds and projects on Twitter: @gardenersradio @TheNatureGarden and on Facebook: The Nature Garden. And you can tune in to our monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.comThank you for your support!Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk

We are in East Lothian with Patricia Stephen, founder of Phantassie Organic Produce. They head out to the fields during pumpkin planting and chat about the growth in organic food and farming over recent years.Friday 12th July was the launch of this year's Big Butterfly Count organised by the charity Butterfly Conservation. Mark met Apithanny Bourne, their East Scotland branch chair, at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh to find out more about the count and see if they could spot the elusive Holly Blue.In this week's Scotland Outdoors podcast, Helen Needham is in rural Wales with musician Owen Shiers. Owen lives in a housing cooperative in Ceredigion which was formerly a sheep farm and is now a woodland. He explained how that process had happened and they chat about the concept of rewilding.A year ago, Mark headed out on a trip with Hans Unkles, co-owner of Scotland's first ever electric, solar-powered fishing vessel. A couple of weeks ago, Mark and Rachel caught up with Hans to hear how the first year of the boat has gone and if anyone has been inspired to follow in his footsteps.The Pine Hoverfly is one of the rarest species in Scotland. It used to thrive in Pine woodlands across the country but is now confined to just a small area of the Cairngorms. Rachel visits the Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie where the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland are working on a breeding programme. Dr Helen Taylor told her about the project which has involved releasing thousands of eggs and larvae into the Cairngorms National Park in an attempt to save the species from extinction.Farmer turned comedian Jim Smith has become pretty well known across Scotland over the last few years, especially in farming circles. He's appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, on TV and radio and now he has his own BBC Radio 4 series- Me and the Farmer. Jim chats to us live about his journey from cattle to comedy.Two years ago, journalist Paul English encountered a team of archaeologists exploring a patch of land in Govan in Glasgow. The team, from the University of Glasgow, were taking part in a research project to uncover what they could of the one remaining site of the Glasgow Garden Festival of 1988. Paul recently went back to catch up with the team and see what treasures they'd uncovered.While on the outskirts of Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago, Mark bumped into a man on a strange looking electric bike. It turned out to be Jim Gayes who is working with the charity Sustrans on mapping the off-road National Cycle Network. He explained more about how the bike system works and why the mapping is important.

In this episode of Bug Banter, we are closing out our series on butterflies by exploring those found in the Rockies. From prairies to mountain tops, the Rockies are made up of a diversity of ecosystems varying in altitude and temperature. To learn more about these amazing creatures, we are joined by Steve Armstead, a Pollinator Conservation Specialist with the Xerces Society who has a particular focus on Nature-Based Climate Solutions. Steve is based in Colorado, where he partners on efforts to manage and create high-quality, connected, climate-resilient pollinator habitat.Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

Chris Kidd, Curator of Ventnor Botanic Gardens, discusses his pioneering low-intervention approach to horticulture with a two decade long experiment which has yielded some surprising results on the Isle of Wight. New research from Butterfly Conservation reveals letting parts of your garden grow wild can increase butterfly numbers by up to 93%, we meet entomologist Dr Richard Fox to find out why moths and butterflies are such important members of the garden community. And finally, we catch up with Gemma Burr at RHS Garden Wisley to learn what you can sow right now to ensure your garden stays insect friendly throughout the season. Host: Guy Barter Contributors: Chris Kidd, Dr Richard Fox, Gemma Burr Other links: Ventnor Botanic Gardens website Butterfly Conservation wild garden study Wild Spaces website The Big Butterfly Count Sustainable Planting Combinations Become a RHS member

This week, Sara and Casey chat with conservation biologist and data scientist, Dr. Vaughn Shirey, for a wide-ranging conversation about his work in butterfly conservation and climate change. Learn what got Vaughn interested in the field, how artificial intelligence is being used in his work, and what cold climate butterfly species (yeah, that's a thing) are telling us about climate change. Resources for this episode: Find more on Dr. Vaughn Shirey and his work HERE Find Vaughn Shirey on Twitter Find Vaugh Shirey on Instagram Vaughn Shirey - Google Scholar

Continuing with our series on butterflies, we are highlighting the butterflies east of the Rockies, which is a huge area and encompasses so many different environments — prairies in the Great Plains and the Midwest; forests of New England and the Southeast; mountains of the Appalachians; the wetlands and beaches of the Atlantic and the Gulf coasts. To try and cover all of these, we are joined by Ray Moranz, who you may remember from episode six, when he talked about the monarch, a butterfly that could be found in any of those areas. Ray is a pollinator conservation specialist and NRCS partner biologist with the Xerces Society, and has spent many years studying butterfly and plant communities across the US.Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

We often hear about monarch butterflies, but there are many other species of butterflies in North America. So we are kicking off a series of three podcasts to highlight butterflies in different regions of the US and today we are focusing on butterflies west of the Rockies! Joining us is butterfly expert and Xerces Society Endangered Species Conservation Biologist, Kevin's Burls. Kevin's efforts with the Xerces Society focus on protecting the hundreds of butterfly species that inhabit deserts, forests, and grasslands across the western United States. Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

Buglife's citizen science project, the Scottish Oil Beetle Hunt, needs your help. As part of the partnership programme, Species on the Edge, members of the public are asked to look out for these amazing beetles and record any sightings. Looking for the Scottish Oil Beetle Scottish records of oil beetles on iRecord more than doubled last year due to the combined effort of the Scottish Oil Beetle Hunt and surveying carried out by the Species on the Edge team. Survey work for Short-necked Oil Beetle in particular yielded over 100 records of individual beetles, with many new sites discovered for the species. The Black Oil Beetle was also confirmed from Scotland, following doubt about previous records due to issues with misidentification. In 2023, Short-necked Oil Beetle were found on Tiree for the first time by Ranger Hayley Douglas. Long thought to be present, this discovery is the latest new island site for the species, following on from populations found in North Uist in 2022, and Barra and Islay in 2021. Species on the Edge is an ambitious four-year programme for species recovery in Scotland that aims to take action for 37 declining and threatened species across Scotland's coasts and islands. It is a partnership programme of eight organisations, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The partnership consists of Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Bat Conservation Trust, Buglife, Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Butterfly Conservation, NatureScot, Plantlife and RSPB Scotland. One of these threatened species is the Short-necked Oil Beetle, which has only been found in a handful of locations within Scotland - the Isles of Coll, Islay and Tiree (Inner Hebrides), as well as Uist and Barra (Outer Hebrides). Classed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species is at high risk of extinction and therefore it's imperative that we learn more about this amazing beetle to help improve its fortunes. Oil beetles are eye-catching, charismatic beetles that are so-called because they exude a yellowish oily substance from their leg joints when threatened. They have been described as looking like they're wearing an ill-fitting waistcoat; the 'waistcoat' being the short wing cases that do not fully cover the beetle's abdomen. Oil beetles are under threat. Populations have declined due to the loss of flower-rich habitats owing to changes in countryside management. As oil beetles are nest parasites of solitary bees, declines in populations of wild bees has worsened their fortunes further as they depend on them for survival. Scotland has fewer oil beetle records than both England and Wales, so it's possible that oil beetles are under recorded in Scotland. To get a better understanding of their current distribution in Scotland, it's important we keep a look at and hear about all sightings of oil beetles. Sally Morris, Buglife Conservation Officer, explains: "Last year was great for oil beetles in Scotland, but we're still far behind England and Wales for records - it's time we catch up! Have you ever seen a shiny black beetle that may be an oil beetle? Please send us a photo and help us to learn more about these amazing beetles within Scotland." Oil beetles have an amazing life cycle, intricately linked to that of solitary bees. After hatching, oil beetle larvae (known as triungulins) make their way onto a flower head where they lie in wait for a solitary bee. Using specialised hooks on their feet, they attach themselves to the back of a visiting female bee and when the bee returns to its underground nest, the triungulin disembarks and continues its development underground, eating through the bee's stores of pollen and nectar. Depending on species, they then emerge in the same or following year, as an adult oil beetle ready to start the life cycle all over again. There are five species of oil beetle in the UK, only three are found in Scotland, these are the Black Oil Beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus), Violet Oil Beetle (Meloe violaceus) and Shor...

Tom Pattinson… is up and at ‘em in the garden and taking care as he brings us a very important ‘gan canny' message. There's great excitement on the Aln estuary and coast where Tom Cadwallender is watching the spring gatherings of birds…  And we'll be hearing from Butterfly Conservation and their findings on how well or not so well different types of butterflies are doing across the UK… and they've got some great advice on how to help butterflies.  Plus some top tips for the garden from Tom P… All coming up… on the Nature Garden Podcast….Support the showYou can follow Tom Pattinson, Steve and Tom Cadwallender and our wonderful guests and featured flowers, birds and projects on Twitter: @gardenersradio @TheNatureGarden and on Facebook: The Nature Garden. And you can tune in to our monthly live radio show on Saturdays at 11am on www.lionheartradio.com Or email us: gardenersradio@outlook.comThank you for your support!Music link: Gaia by Carl Cape Band on Amazon Music - Amazon.co.uk

Join us for a jam-packed visit to Frodsham Woods, Cheshire, where 80 volunteers were planting thousands of trees to help transform a former golf course into a fantastic new space for wildlife and people. We visit the neighbouring ancient woodland and admire hilltop views with site manager Neil and chat to Tim, supervisor of this army of tree planters, about how the new wood will develop. We also meet Esther, lead designer of the project, hear from comms guru Paul about the Trust's #plantmoretrees climate campaign, and speak to the volunteers about what the day means to them. Transcript You are listening to Woodland Walks, a podcast for the Woodland Trust presented by Adam Shaw. We protect and plant trees for people to enjoy, to fight climate change and to help wildlife thrive. Adam: Well, today's podcast is a bit of an unusual one because I'm off to an abandoned golf course in Cheshire, overlooking Liverpool. Not far away, in fact. And the vision is to create this once golf course into a thriving mosaic of habitats, including lush broadleaved woodland, grassland meadows and wooded glades dotted with wildflowers. Throughout the site, they're creating a network of grassy paths so people can walk through them and get far-reaching views of the Welsh borders, the western Pennines and the Bowland Fells, along with, of course, Liverpool and the Mersey Estuary. And very excitingly, the man actually who's running all the tree planting there is also in a band, and it's his music and his band's music you can hear in the background. More about that a little later. It's called Frodsham Woods, and it's near the Frodsham train station. Guess where? In Frodsham. Well, today we are starting, I'm starting sitting down with Neil Oxley, who's the site manager here. Hi Neil. Neil: Good morning, Adam. Adam: Good morning. So, just explain where we are because we are, well, I'm not gonna take away your thunder. Explain. It's an unusual location. Neil: So, we're sat on a bench overlooking the River Mersey and Liverpool. We're on the old golf course that was closed about three years ago. Adam: Yeah, well that's what I think is unusual – sitting on a golf course. I gotta take, it doesn't look like a golf course. They, the greenkeeper would have had a heart attack seeing the state of this place. But what's amazing is, well, I'm looking over a forest of planted trees. I mean, just within 10 yards, probably a couple of hundred of them, just been planted. So, this has got to be unusual. Take buying a golf course, turning it into a forest? Neil: It is, yeah. I think it's probably the first golf course that the Woodland Trust has taken on and it's just a great opportunity, though, that when it became available, it's adjoining some of our existing woodlands, including ancient woodland. And it's given us an opportunity to plant lots of trees and work with local people and engage the community in doing something good for the climate. Adam: And we're sitting down, looking over what might be, I don't know. Is that a bunker? Do you think that's a bunker? Neil: It is, yep. So, there there's probably about 40 bunkers on the golf course and we've kept them all, so some of those old features are still here. Adam: And I saw one, some gorse growing, just naturally growing in the bunker there. Neil: There is. Just in the two or three years since it stopped being maintained. There's gorse, there's silver birch, there's all sorts of trees and plants that are now appearing. Adam: I love the gorse. It's bright. It comes out early. Bright yellow. Real splash of colour in early spring. It's really. Neil: It is, yeah, it's lovely and colourful. Adam: And we're looking over a range of wind turbines. And is that the Mersey ahead? Neil: That is, that's the River Mersey. Adam: Although there's not much river, it looks, it looks like it's out. It's mainly mud. Neil: It's probably low tide at the moment. Yeah, and Liverpool just beyond the other side. Adam: Very nice. So, you're going to be my main guide today. We've got lots of people to meet, I know. Alright. Brilliant. So, explain to me the plan for the day. Neil: So, we're gonna have a walk round and look at some of the tree planting that we've already done here. We've got some groups of corporate volunteers and Woodland Trust staff here today also who are planting trees. So, we'll go and see them later on. But I thought maybe to start off with we could go and visit some of the ancient woodland that borders the site and show you sort of why it's important that we're doing what we're doing today. Adam: Brilliant. I'm of an age where sitting down is quite nice, but that's not going to get, that's not gonna get nothing made, is it? It's alright. We better get up and you lead on. Neil: OK, let's go. This lady, by the way, coming with the pug. She's up here all the time. She's really lovely, friendly, always talks to me and Paul. And we've already said hello to her, but he... Adam: Oh, this dog wants a lot of attention. Neil: He loves that. He loves that, yeah. Adam: We'll let the rest of the team pet the dog. You know, you've paused here for a special reason. Why? Neil: Yeah. So, this area, we're on the edge of the ancient woodland now and the part of the site in front of us is going to be left for what's called natural regeneration to develop. So, that will be where trees can self-seed and set and grow naturally. So, we're not actually planting any trees in this area in front of us. And you can see there's some silver birch trees there that probably self-seeded five or 10 years ago on the edge of the golf course. And they're growing quite well already. Adam: So, and what's the advantage of that? There's a big debate about rewilding and all of that. So, why has that become an important issue? Neil: It is, I mean to different people it can mean slightly different things as well. But basically it's leaving the land to develop and rewild itself, you know, for nature to colonise it. It's a slower process. Adam: So, because if you're planting them yourself, you're planting all the trees at the same time. They're all the same age, so they get wiped out. Everything gets wiped out. Neil: Potentially yes. You could lose a lot more. Adam: Actually, I'm surprised those are natural regeneration because they've, it's very regimented. Those silver birch, they've all come up in exactly the same space, very close together. It looks like there's been some thought behind that. Neil: It does. It does and again nature can do things very similar to how people plant trees. You know, you often can end up with them very densely packed, more densely packed than we're planting them, actually. Adam: Yeah, OK. Well, we're still surrounded by these young, young trees. So, you lead on. Where are we heading off to? Neil: So, we're just walking into, towards the ancient woodland area. So, this this is called Woodhouse Hill and it's mostly oak and some silver birch, some holly growing in here, plus a few other species as well. Adam: And wonderfully of you, you've taken me to the muddiest bit of land there is. Are we going through this? Neil: This, well, we can do. It's unfortunately because of the winter we've had, some of the paths are very wet and muddy around here now. Adam: So, I have my walking boots on. You squelch ahead and I'll squelch behind you. Neil: OK. We'll carry on then. Adam: So, we're heading up, give us a better view of the Mersey, a better view of Liverpool. Neil: That's right. Just around the corner, there's a really good viewpoint where the view will open up and a sunny day like today get quite good views. Adam: And is it used by the locals a lot? I mean, it's relatively new then. I mean, presumably a lot of locals don't know about it. Neil: Well, I mean since, the golf course was closed down during the pandemic, and at the time the owner allowed the public to come and walk on the site. So, suddenly from people being not allowed to use it unless they were playing golf, local people were allowed to come and walk the dogs or just walk themselves around with the family. So, people did get to know the site and start using it, but it also borders some existing woodlands with footpaths, which is where we are now. So, these existing woodlands were already well-used. Adam: Right. And what's the reaction of the locals been to the development here? Neil: Very positive. Yeah. I mean obviously there's always a fear when a piece of land is up for sale that it might go for some sort of development, housing or be sold to a private landowner who fences it off and stops people using it. So, people have been, yeah, really positive, really supportive. The consultation that we did before we started anything was all very much in favour of creating woodland and allowing public access. Adam: I think we're coming up to a viewpoint here where there's a bench. Neil: There is, we should have another sit down. Adam: And it's very steep here. You wouldn't want to be falling off that, but this is a beautiful view. Neil: Yeah. The weather today is just great for the view. Adam: We've been blessed. Look at this. And then you look across a sort of flat valley floor with some wind turbines, which some don't like but I always think they're really majestic. And beyond the wind turbines, the Mersey, where the tide is out. And beyond that, that's Liverpool. And is that Liverpool Cathedral? The grey building in the sort of middle there. Neil: That's the main Anglican cathedral, and then the Catholic cathedral is just off to the right and beyond in the far distance is North Wales, so that low line of hills you can see is just within North Wales. Adam: Oh, that's, those hills over there, beyond the chimneys, that's Wales. Neil: Beyond the chimneys, yeah. Adam: And some other lovely gorse and, whoops don't fall over, I thought it was going to be me that would be falling over, not the site manager. Neil: Mind the rock. Adam: Ice and sea. So, we've come to the sign. ‘The view from Woodhouse Hill holds clues to the distant past, the Mersey Basin and Cheshire's sandstone hills were both shaped by advancing ice sheets during the last Ice Age.' Do you know what? I wanted to say that because I remember from O-level geography, I think a flat-bottomed valley is a glacier-made valley. But I was, I didn't want to appear idiotic, so I didn't say that and I should have had the courage of my convictions. So, this is an ice-formed landscape. Neil: It is. It is. I understand that the ice sheets came down to this part of the north of England back in the Ice Age. And there's some interesting features that are found here called glacial erratics. Adam: Right. Neil: Which is rocks from other parts of the north of England and Scotland that were brought down on the ice sheets. And then when the ice sheets melted, those rocks were left behind. But they're from a different geological area. Adam: Right. Amazing. Neil: So, around here it's sandstone. The erratics are all kind of volcanic rocks. Adam: Brought down from the north, from Scotland. Neil: Lake District and Scotland. That's right. Adam: Beautiful. We were with a few other people. Neil: I think they couldn't be bothered to come through the mud, could they? Yeah. Adam: We seem to have lost them. OK, alright. Well, maybe we'll have to, we've lost our team, our support team. Neil: We'll head back, but yeah, no, this was the view I thought we'd come to. Yeah, because it is a nice view. Adam: Well, I'll tell you what. Let me take a photo of you, for the Woodland Trust social media. Neil: Thought you were gonna say falling over the rock again. No, no, I'll try not to. Adam: Yeah, let's not do that. Yeah, so to explain, you're running me across the field for some... Neil: Walking fast. Adam: Well, for you walking fast. I've got short legs. Why? Neil: Well, we've walked over now to where we've got the people who are helping plant trees today with us. So, we've got a mix of corporate volunteers, Woodland Trust staff and some of our volunteers here to help us and we're gonna go over and meet Tim Kerwin, who's in charge of the tree planting and supervising the tree planting with us today. Adam: Oh right, so these are, this is his army of tree planters. Neil: It is, yes. Tim keeps things in check and makes sure they're doing the right thing. Adam: OK. I mean, let's just look, there's scores of people I've no idea of who Tim is. Neil: Tim? Tim, can we get your attention for a few minutes? Tim: Yes. Adam: Hi, nice to see you, Tim. Tim: I've seen you on telly. Adam: Have you? Adam: Well, Tim, as well as being in charge of everyone planting the trees today is also the sax player in a band. And of course we have to talk about that first and he very kindly gave me one of his original tracks, which is what you can hear right now. A first for the podcast. *song plays* Tim: You know, you know what? We probably do about eight gigs a year, right? But we're trying to find venues where people like jazz. We don't want to, you know, we don't want to do Oasis. That's not what we're about. There's plenty of bands like that. We play music for ourselves, and if people turn up and appreciate it, those are the people we want. I'll play for one person. Adam: You know, I was in a wood a few years ago and, can't remember where it was, and we just came across a violinist, just playing to herself. And it was just like can I record it? And it's like, just playing amongst the trees, and I thought it was really lovely. Tim: You know what? I would, I would do the same. I mean, the places I like to play, like churches are fantastic because of the acoustics. Adam: So, you might play that under this chat and what's the name of the band? Tim: The Kraken. Adam: The Kraken? Tim: Yeah. Adam: OK. Alright, The Kraken *laughs* So, all of which is a bit of a divergence. Tim: I know, sorry *laughs* Adam: So, I'm told you're in charge of this army of tree planters you can see over here. Three men having their sandwich break there. So, you've been working them hard. Tim: We have been working them hard, indeed. Adam: So, just explain to me a little bit about what's going on here. Tim: So, today we can almost see the finishing line for our 30,000 trees. So, this morning we've actually planted just shy of 2,000 trees with the group that we've had, of which there's about 80 people. Adam: That's a lot of trees. People always talk about how long does it take to plant a tree? It's not that big a thing is it? Tim: No, but what we're keen about is it's not about necessarily speed, it's about accuracy. We want quality. So, what we're asking people to do is plant each tree really well. So, today I have to say the standard of planting has been amazing. From the first to the last, I haven't found one that I'm not happy with. Adam: So, explain to me, and we're standing by a tree that's just been planted. It looks like they've scraped a bit of the grass away. So, explain to me, how should you plant a tree and what goes wrong? Tim: OK, so what we've done here, we took the grass off before the guys came, so that's called scriefing. So, the purpose of that is the tree needs water. And this grass also needs water. So, we take that grass away, and the competition's gone away for the tree. So, it won't be forever, because within two years, that grass will have grown around that tree. But those first two years are quite critical. So, if we can get the new roots from, so those trees and little plugs, new roots which are going to come out in the next couple of weeks because the soil's warming up. I mean, the air's warming up, but the soil's warming up. Those will send out shoots. They're already starting to come in to leaf, which is why the urgency to get these trees in now. They will take in the water around them and then keep on spreading with that root system. Enough root system will go out there and it will then not be competing with the grass because in fact the tree will be competing with the grass and actually taking over. So, eventually that grass will probably die because it will be shaded out in the future. Adam: And talking about shade, I'm surprised how closely planted these are, about five foot apart or thereabouts. If this was a forest in 20 years', 30 years' time, it's exceptionally dense. Or are you expecting a lot of them to fail? Tim: So, imagine you've got an oak tree and that throws down 40,000 acorns in usually every four years. So, it doubles its weight above ground. Adam: Sorry, 40,000? Tim: 40,000. A mature oak, yeah. Adam: It's worth pausing on that *laughs* A mature oak drops 40,000 acorns a year? Tim: Every four years, roughly. Adam: Because it doesn't do it every year, do they? Tim: No. So, it has what they call a mast year, which is the year when everything's come together. It's usually based on the previous weather, weather conditions. So, that doubles the weight of the tree above ground, that throws all those acorns. Now you imagine they're gonna be a couple of centimetres apart on the ground. They're not all going to make it. What they're hoping is that something will take those away. So, a jay or a squirrel, they'll move those acorns away. Not all of them will get eaten. In fact, jays let the acorn germinate, and then they eat the remains. So, they wait to see where the oak tree comes up and then they come back and eat the remains of the cotyledon. So, you imagine if all those were going to germinate, there'd be a mass rush, and what they're waiting for is for the parent plant to die. And if that falls over, then they can all shoot up, but they're not all going to survive. So maybe only one, maybe two will survive out of those 40,000 if they're close to the tree. Now, what we're doing here is, imagine there's the parent plant, the parent plant's not here. We've already spaced these out by this distance already. So, we've given them a better chance. So, they can now flourish. In time, so within sort of 10 to 12 years, we're going to start to be sending this out. So, you won't see this line. There are other parts on this site, 23 years old, and we've done a lot of filling through that. You wouldn't know it's been planted by, in a plantation. Adam: So, what would you, what's the failure rate? What's a good failure rate to stay with? Tim: It can really, really vary. I have to say that the soil here is tremendous. It's very rich. I'd be very surprised if we have a high failure rate. It could be 95% take. Adam: So, that's really interesting. And what are you planting then? I've seen some oak. I've seen some silver birch. What are you planting? Tim: So, Cheshire is all about oak and birch. So, 25% of these trees, so 7,500 are oak. And then 10% are silver birch. So that's 3,000. And then there's another 18 species that are all native to the UK that we're planting in here. So, things like rowan, holly, Scots pine and then we've got hazel, some large areas of hazel on this site that we've put in and then we've got hawthorn, blackthorn, couple of types of cherry, and then some interesting ones as well. So, we're putting some elm in and, specifically for a butterfly. So, there's a butterfly called white letter hairstreak. And the caterpillar feeds on the leaves of that tree. So, we've got those in Cheshire, but we're trying to expand it. And we've been working with the Butterfly Conservation group to get it right. So, they've given us some advice. Adam: I thought elm was a real problem with the Dutch elm disease? Tim: It still is. It still is. Adam: There was some talk that maybe some had found some natural resistance to Dutch elm disease. Tim: There are some resistant elm. And so, the plantings that we've done on here are what's classed as wych elm. It will still get Dutch elm disease, but it can last up to 16 years. And then there's always the opportunity to replant so we can get elm established. Then we can carry on spreading that through the site, so it's a starting point for that species we have. So again, we're trying to increase the biodiversity of the site by having specific trees for specific species. So, it's exciting. I mean, a lot's been lost and it won't become a beautiful wildflower meadow, although we are going to be doing some wildflower planting. We've already bought the seed. And in the next couple of weeks as it gets a little bit drier and a little bit warm, we're going to be, we're going to be sowing that in and that will come through the spring and summer. So, we've got lots to happen here as well. Adam: Oh brilliant. Well, it's so nice to see it at an early stage. I'll come back in a couple of years. Tim: It's probably one of the most exciting projects, tree wise, in Cheshire in a long time, because I've been doing this for a long, long time and these opportunities don't come up. So, for this to happen. And for the size of it as well. I mean, you're talking about a huge area of woodland now, over 180 acres. So, the second biggest area of woodland in Cheshire, so it's amazing. It truly is amazing. Adam: Well, I'm walking away. In fact, all tree planting has stopped for lunch. What is the time? Yeah, it's 12:45. So, everyone has stopped for sandwiches and teas, and they're spreading branches of some trees. And while they're doing that, two people are still working. That's me. And Paul? Hi. Paul: Hi. Adam: So, just explain to me what you do, Paul? Paul: I work as the comms and engagement manager for the north of England, so this is one of the best tree planting games we have had in a long time. Adam: And the people we've got here today, they're just locals? They from any particular groups? Paul: No, the Woodland Trust staff as part of our climate campaign now get a day to come out and we've got various corporate volunteering groups out also planters. We've got about 80 people out planting today. Adam: Well, that's amazing and we've just paused by this gorse bush. I'm rather partial to the gorse, so we'll take some shelter there. So, you talked about that this is part of a bigger campaign. What is that campaign? Paul: It's our climate campaign. And very simple hashtag plant more trees. So, trees are one, probably one of the best things we've got in the battle against climate change to help. And they have the added benefit that also they're good for biodiversity as well. So, twin track approach if you plant a tree. Obviously they're not the solution to everything, but we're hoping, as the Woodland Trust just to get more people planting trees. Adam: What is the target then? The sort of tree planting target you have? Paul: Well we have a target to get 50 million trees planted by 2030. Across all of the UK, so quite, quite a number. Adam: 50 million trees by 2030, so six years? Paul: Yeah, yeah. And we've, I think we've planted 6 million trees, 2023, yeah. Adam: Why is everyone taking a break? They've got millions to get in. That's quite an ambitious thing to get done, isn't it? Paul: Yeah. And we need, we need to plant billions of trees longer term. So, it's really important we get everyone planting trees, but it's all that message as well, right tree in the right place, and get trees planted where they're needed. Adam: And this is an unusual project, not least cause it's on an old golf course, which I've never heard of before. Has it attracted much interest? Is there a lot of engagement from the media and the public? Paul: Yeah, this site has had a remarkable amount of attention from the press. It started with local radio, then regional TV and then we've had things like Sky News Climate Show out here and then even international press coverage looking at rewilding of golf courses. CNN covered it alongside international golf courses and here in the UK, Frodsham. So, it's been amazing how it's captured everyone's imagination and it's been such a really positive good news story. It's a site that's a key site within the Northern Forest. So, the Northern Forest is another project that I'm involved with in the north of England, but. Adam: Did you say a little project? *laughs* Paul: Another, another project. Adam: Oh sorry. I was gonna say, a massive project. Paul: That's a massive project, which is again stretching, looking to plant 50 million trees from Liverpool to Hull and we're working with the Community Forests in each area, in this case the Mersey Forest and again just promoting grants and support to landowners and communities to get more, more trees planted and to help acquire land for tree planting and give the grants for tree planting. Adam: It must give you a warm feeling that your communications are actually being so well received that there is, it's not just you pushing out a message, that people want to hear this message. Paul: Yeah, it's really, really good to not have a negative message. Generally it's a really, really positive message that people wanted to hear because it's great for the community. They're getting some amazing green space with stunning views of the Mersey on the doorstep. It's interesting story about how we're changing from a golf course to a woodland site. We've got the ancient woodland, got natural regeneration. And just the fact that everyone's smiling, everyone's really happy and just so pleased that they're playing their small part in helping us create this new woodland site. Just great to be part of that, that positive good news story. Adam: Well, I'm going over to a group of people who have been busy planting all day but are now on their lunch break, just to bother them and ask them how their day has been and why they got involved in this. Adam: OK, well, you can, first of all, you can just shout out so, well we've, you all are hard at work I hear, but I've seen very little evidence of it cause everyone's sat down for lunch now. Have you all had a good day? Everyone: Yes. Adam: That would have been awful had they said no. Anyway, they all had a good day. So, I mean, it's lovely that you're out. You're all out here doing, I mean, very serious work. You've all got smiles on your face and everything. But this is important. I wonder why anyone's getting involved, what it means to you. Anyone got a view or get a microphone to you? Adam: So, what's your name? Volunteer 1: Rodon. Adam: Rodon. So, why are you here? Rodon: Well, nature, wildlife, planting, and I know the area quite well, so it's nice to see being developed in a sustainable way and being something for nature. It's a great place to come and visit, not far from the sandstone trail. I visit lots of Woodland Trust sites. I live in Warrington so it's sort of down the road, and it's, as I say, with the old wood over there that's quite an adventurous path. It's got lots of like sandstone sort of steps and little caves, and it's on the side of a cliff. So, this has kind of extended that over here as well. Adam: It would be a lovely thing to return to in a few years. Rodon: Well, it's a nice place now to be honest. Adam: Brilliant. Volunteer 2: My name is David Mays. I'm also from the from the town of Warrington as well. I'm an MSC and BSc student from local Hope University. I've finished both of them now, thankfully. I'm trying to get a job in the ecological management sector and I feel doing this working with people like Tim and Neil will help me massively get a, you know, it looks good on my CV. Most importantly, I really enjoy being out here and getting to know how the areas of ecological development, particularly in the woodland industry, is developing over the past few years and what are the plans for the future and what they hope to achieve in the long term and short term. Adam: That's very good. So, it's also very innovative of you putting out your CV live on air there. Good. Hopefully someone needing a job, with a job to offer will contact us. Good luck with that. So, oh yeah, we've come under another lovely tree. I mean it looks set. I was just saying to Kerry, it's so beautiful here. It looks like we've set this shot up. Really, you know? But here you are with your spades behind you taking a break from the trunk. So, first of all, have you, has it been a good day? Volunteer 3: Yeah. Yeah, it has been. It's been dry. Adam: It's been dry. OK. Alright. Well, let's get, so, the best thing about today is that it was dry. Volunteer 3: It's one of the positive points. Definitely. Yeah, after the trees. Adam: Yeah, with experience. So, why did you want to come out? What made you want to be part of this? Volunteer 3: Well, I think it's because we are having a bit of a push with the climate change agenda at the moment, so it's, working for the Woodland Trust it's just a nice opportunity to get away from the sort of the day job for me and get out into the field and actually do something practical and help towards that. Adam: Yeah. Did, I mean, has it been very physical for you today, has it? Volunteer 3: It's not been too bad, actually. It's been fine. Yeah. No, it's been OK. Ask me tomorrow, but yeah *laughs* Adam: Have you done this sort of stuff before? Volunteer 3: No, this is my first, this is my first planting day with the Trust. Adam: Yeah, and your last? Volunteer 3: No, no, I'll definitely no, it hasn't put me off. We'll definitely, definitely be back out again when I get the opportunity. It's been great. Adam: So, go on. Tell me what's all been like for you today? Volunteer 4: It's been really good. Yeah. I just can't believe we've covered so much ground in so little time, really. Seems we've only been here a few hours and because it's, I've been quite remote working from home, so it's quite nice kind of seeing some people I've met on screen, so it's nice to now, yeah, meet people in the real world and yeah, give back. I've never, I've not done anything like this before. Adam: So yeah, so is this your first time planting trees? Volunteer 5: It's not my first time planting trees, but it's my first time planting with the Trust. I was planting trees in my garden on the weekend, so I've done my back in. So, I've not quite got the planting rate of everyone else today I don't think, but you know, as the other guys were saying, we work office jobs really rather than on the front line of the Trust. So, it is good to get our hands dirty and to get involved with what we're supposed to be all about and contribute to our climate change campaign. So, hashtag plant more trees. Adam: Yeah. There we are, on message as well. Volunteer 5: I work in the brand team *laughs* Adam: There we are. There we are. Thank you. That's excellent. Adam: Now, really I should have started with this because we're nearing the end of my morning in the forest. But I've come to meet Esther, who's really one of the big brains behind the planting scheme. I know a bit modest about that, but tell me a little bit about what your involvement has been with this project. Esther: I've been a lead designer on this project, so I've been putting together the planting plans and lots of maps and really working with Neil, he's the site manager, to make sure that we make this the best scheme that we can make it. We've included coppice coupes for biodiversity and. Adam: Right, what's a coppice coupe? Esther: A coppice coupe is just an area of where you're planning to coppice. So, cut a tree down to its very base and then it grows back up as shoots. So, it only works with a few species and the species that we've chosen is hazel. So, those areas are 100% hazel. And it's great for biodiversity because you sort of go in a rotational like a 10-year cycle or something like that and you cut back say 10% of your trees in that year and then you get a lot of light to the ground and then you get hopefully a lot of floristic diversity coming through. Adam: And so, is that a job that, it sounds terrible the way I'm saying it – is that a job? Is it a job that you sit down and you go, you have a piece of paper or computer and you go, this is where we're, how we're gonna design the forest. We're gonna put ash over there. We're gonna put oak over there. Is that what you do? Esther: Yeah. Yeah. So, we use something called GIS. So, geographical information systems which basically let you draw shapes on a map and then you can colour code it and basically make a really coherent design of something to tell people, you know, what you're trying to achieve. What's gonna go where. Adam: And it's not every, it's not like building an extension to a house where you go well, there's probably thousands and going on all the time. There can't be that many forests being planted each day, so this must be a significant thing in your career I would have thought. Esther: Oh yeah, this is my first woodland creation scheme that I've seen from pretty much the start to the finish, so I've been working on it for 18 months and then an awful lot of hours gone into it. It's been really enjoyable and it's just a wonderful, wonderful to see it coming together. And yeah, and we're nearly finished now, so. Adam: And I know people often think, oh well, I'll come back in 100 years' time and you know, my great grandchildren might see these trees. But actually, within your career, you will see a forest here won't you. Esther: Yeah. So, I think within 10 years it will look like a woodland. It's had, this site has a history of agriculture, so it should in theory have a lot of nutrients in the soil. So, the trees should grow really well. So yeah, I would say within 10 to 15 years, it should look like fully fledged woodland, if not a bit young, but yeah. Adam: And are you optimistic about really the change that you and your colleagues can make? Cause there's a lot of pessimism around. What's your view? Esther: I think it's a really exciting time to be working in the environment sector and there's a lot of enthusiasm for making big changes in our lives and big changes in our landscape. I think there's a lot of hope to be had. And yeah, just seeing like the amount of enthusiasm on a planting day like this really fills me with a great deal of hope, yeah. Adam: Yeah. Have you planted any trees yourself? Esther: I have, yeah. Adam: How many of these have been yours, you reckon? Esther: We have 15, probably not that many *laughs* Adam: Oh, that's not bad. I thought you were gonna be like The Queen. I planted one. There was a round of applause and I went home *laughs* Esther: No, I put a lot of guards on, but yeah, not planting that many trees myself. Adam: Fantastic. Well, it's been a great day for me. Our half day out here and I'll definitely return. It's amazing, amazing, positive place. Esther: Wonderful, yeah. Adam: And the sun has shone on us. Metaphorical smile from the sun. Brilliant. Thank you very much. Esther: Thank you so much. *song plays* Adam: Well, if you want to find a wood near you, you can do so by going to The Woodland Trust website which is www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/findawood. Until next time, happy wandering. Thank you for listening to the Woodland Trust Woodland Walks with Adam Shaw. Join us next month, when Adam will be taking another walk in the company of Woodland Trust staff, partners and volunteers. Don't forget to subscribe to the series on iTunes or wherever you're listening to us and do give us a review and a rating. And why not send us a recording of your favourite woodland walk to be included in a future podcast? Keep it to a maximum of five minutes and please tell us what makes your woodland walk special. Or send us an e-mail with details of your favourite walk and what makes it special to you. Send any audio files to podcast@woodlandtrust.org.uk. We look forward to hearing from you. Don't forget to rate us and subscribe! Learn more about the Woodland Trust at woodlandtrust.org.uk

We've previously talked about overwintering monarchs seeking refuge in warmer climates, but what do other butterflies do during the winter? Do they also migrate? Do all butterflies overwinter as adults? If so, where do they hide — in leaves or rock piles or up in the trees? If not, how do they survive — what do these warm-loving butterflies do during the winter?To answer these questions and help us explore the world of wintering butterflies is Kevin Burls, Xerces Society Endangered Species Conservation Biologist. Kevin has spent several seasons searching for endemic and at-risk butterfly species in Nevada, and his work now focuses on protecting the hundreds of butterfly species that inhabit deserts, forests, and grasslands across the western United States.Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

Last month we met with Isis Howard to talk about western monarch populations and community science. Today, we are going to talk about monarchs east of the Rockies.  From their overwintering sites to their multi-generational migration, and the stops along the way, we will take a deeper look at the journey of the monarch.To lead us on this discussion is Dr.Ray Moranz, Xerces Grazing Lands Pollinator Ecologist, Partner Biologist for the Natural Resources Conservation Service in the Central National Technology Support Center. One focus of his work is to assist in the planning and implementation of monarch butterfly conservation efforts in the south central U.S. Ray has also studied the effects of fire and grazing on prairie plants and butterfly communities. Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

Our guest this month is Anthony McCluskey from Butterfly Conservation, who shares some fascinating advice about how to support butterflies and caterpillars in your growing space. We chat to Butterfly Conservation's urban butterfly project officer about the importance of attracting more butterflies and nighttime pollinators such as moths. And he provides some brilliant advice on things you can plant and do in your garden to help support pollinator populations. “Recent studies show more than 80 per cent of our UK butterfly species are in decline and a lot of our moths are in decline too,” says Anthony, who is based in Stirling. “If you want to boost butterfly numbers locally, you need to pack your garden with ‘caterpillar plants'.” Also in this episode… Chris, Emma and Fiona take time to reflect on their successes and failures this year, and Emma answers questions from the postbag including how to plant wildlife-friendly hedges, tackle leek moth and improve soil in greenhouses.

There are not many insects as well-known, and as well-loved, as the monarch butterfly. Monarchs are characterized by their beautiful bright colors and their awe-inspiring migration. Unfortunately, monarch populations have been in decline for many years — but have you ever wondered how we know that? Tracking and estimating the population of any animal is tricky, even big ones like bears and eagles. How do you do it for an insect that moves across North America? Today, to help answer these questions, we are joined by Isis Howard, Endangered Species Conservation Biologist with the Xerces Society. Isis works to protect the monarch butterfly in the western states and manages several community science projects, including the annual Western Monarch Thanksgiving Count, New Year's Count, and the Western Monarch Milkweed Mapper.Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.

Today Mary is talking to Victoria Beeler. Victoria is a butterfly enthusiast and enjoys gardening, wildlife, nature, and learning. She and her family have helped with the Smith-Gilbert Gardens butterfly exhibit in Kennesaw, Georgia, U.S.A., and with releasing butterflies there. They have raised Monarchs—from eggs, to caterpillars, to chrysalis, and to emerging butterflies—in an outdoor butterfly garden habitat at home near Atlanta for the first time last fall and then released them into the wild to migrate! It was truly an incredible, inspiring, and transformative experience! Victoria has written a documentary book about her Monarch experience with raising and releasing them. In Journey with Monarchs: A Personal Experience of Raising and Releasing Monarchs in the Home Garden, she combines photos of the Monarchs' life stages and personal knowledge about Monarchs with the science. Monarchs are so special, and their legacy can be continued by planting native milkweed. Monarchs have also inspired Victoria to give native milkweed seeds as gifts (seeds of hope) to family and friends and Monarch books to children in her community to save and protect Monarchs and continue their legacy. Monarchs bring joy, hope, and continuity. Nature is a blessing. Planting native milkweed and creating a wildlife habitat are important to helping Monarchs, as well as birds, pollinators, and the ecosystem. It also connects people. All of creation is interconnected and weaves together a unique, dynamic tapestry of life. Victoria hopes that, together, we can spread joy to all and save the Monarchs and wildlife!Victoria's suggestions How We Can Support Nature: ·Create natural habitat in our yards and communities to support the full life cycles and food webs of local biodiversity and restore species populations. -Garden, pocket prairie/meadow (mini-prairie/meadow). -Try to let it grow naturally. Limit mowing to pathways (reduce mowing). ·Provide host and nectar plants (host-plant specialists / plant-insect interactions; no milkweed, no monarchs; no flowers, no pollinators; no insects, no balance). -“Insects are the animals that are best at transferring energy from plants to other animals…” (Doug Tallamy, Nature's Best Hope, 2019). -Also include a “puddling station,” a place in the habitat area where butterflies and moths can absorb minerals from muddy soil and pebbles (place pebbles in a tray with water and mud).·Plant native plants and keystone plants (most beneficial to local ecosystems and increase biodiversity, ecological connectivity, and ecosystem function). -Top 20 native trees, like the oak, cherry, and willow, support over 5,000 butterfly and moth species (Tallamy, Nature's Best Hope, 2019). -Oaks support about 557 caterpillar species- more than any one plant; oaks make the most food; excellent for supporting local food webs; oak = top keystone plant species. -Five percent of the local keystone plant species can host up to 75 percent of local Lepidoptera species (including some local keystone plant species benefits greatly) (Tallamy, Nature's Best Hope, 2019). -U.S. resource: National Wildlife Federation's Native Plants Finder, which shows the native plants by zip code that support local species and food webs. -Try to remove and replace non-native, invasive species with native plants. -Balance: Plant mostly native plants, with some exceptions (a habitat space with primarily native and keystone plants benefits greatly; helps local ecosystem; having some native plants is better than none). -Replace with native plants gradually (manageable segments/tasks/goals); a process.·Provide shelter for non-migratory, overwintering butterflies and moths (safe caterpillar pupation sites) -Leaf litter for moth caterpillars to drop from their host trees, burrow into the leaves and/or soil, and spin their cocoons. -Leaf litter is also a food source for some caterpillars. -Leave plant stems, which provide nesting cavities for native bee species & pupation sites for caterpillars. -Fallen logs & branches, which provide nesting sites for native bee species. -Leave a bundle of sticks or brush pile for birds, other animals, & native bees to nest. -Thick or uncut vegetation. -Leave some weeds, which are host plants to some butterflies and moths. -“Leave an area of uncut grass all year round to provide shelter for pupating caterpillars (especially caterpillars that feed on grass) and for butterflies in reproductive diapause” (Biodiversity Ireland, “Gardening for Butterflies,” 2023). -Native trees to shelter roosting butterflies. -Include hedgerows (hawthorn and holly) -Have a layered landscape (horizontal layer—understory, with woodland/shade plants; middle layer—shrubs; and vertical layer—overstory/canopy, with trees). -Have a “continuous sequence of flowering plants (plants that flower continuously; perennials; benefits butterflies, moths, bees, and other pollinators)” (Tallamy, Nature's Best Hope, 2019).·Feed the insects to feed the birds (create a garden/habitat space that welcomes all of nature). -A plant is a bird feeder, a pollinator feeder, and much more.·Pesticide-free/chemical-free.·Can include container plants.·If outdoor lighting (artificial light, which interferes with nocturnal insects and birds) is used, consider motion sensor lights instead (not continuous light) -Nocturnal insects (moths) usually get nectar from nocturnal flowers and need natural light from the moon (not artificial light) to find host and nectar plants and to mate; become easy targets for predators (visible) (Tallamy, Nature's Best Hope, 2019).·Shade-grown coffee grown under native trees (shelter for birds).·Participate in citizen/community science (butterfly tagging and butterfly counts). -U.S.: -Monarch Watch tagging and the North American Butterfly Association's butterfly counts; Monarch Joint Venture and Save Our Monarchs (monarch organizations). -Other resources—Stokes Butterfly Book: The Complete Guide to Butterfly Gardening, Identification, and Behavior (1993) by Donald and Lillian Stokes and Ernest Williams -“MrLundScience” YouTube channel -Wings in the Meadow (1967) by Jo Brewer -Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants (2019) by Doug Tallamy -Nature's Best Hope: A New Approach to Conservation That Starts in Your Yard (2019) by Doug Tallamy -The Living Landscape (2012) by Rick Dark and Doug Tallamy -Ireland: -Irish Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (apart of the National Biodiversity Data Centre of Ireland)—note butterfly populations, flight patterns, and habitat availability from April-September. -Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count (Northern Ireland)—count the butterflies seen in a 15-minute period and upload results online. -Ireland threatened butterflies and moths (large white, small white, green-veined white, ringlet, small tortoiseshell, small copper, speckled wood, meadow brown, red admiral, peacock, painted lady, holly blue, common blue, six-spot burnet, and silver-Y). -Butterfly Conservation Ireland's National Garden Butterfly Survey—record butterflies seen in your garden over a 3-month period (https://butterflyconservation.ie).·Ireland butterfly resources -National Biodiversity Data Centre (Ireland)—“Ireland's Butterfly Series—Gardening for Butterflies: Helping Butterflies with Native Plants” PDF resource (https://biodiversityireland.ie). -Butterfly Conservation (Northern Ireland Branch)—“Do It Yourself” resources on butterfly and moth events, volunteering, counts and activities, and gardening (https://butterfly-conservation.org).·Ireland native larval host plants: -Buckthorn (brimstone butterfly) -Clovers (clouded yellow butterfly) -Nettle (comma, peacock, red admiral, and small tortoiseshell butterflies) -Trefoil and vetch (common blue and wood white butterflies) -Garlic mustard and watercress (green-veined white and orange-tip butterflies) -Holly and ivy (holly blue butterfly) -Brassicaceae family of plants and nasturtiums (large white and small white butterflies) -Fescues and meadow grasses (meadow brown and small heath butterflies) -Thistles (painted lady butterfly) -Violets (fritillary butterfly) -Sorrel (small copper butterfly)·Ireland native nectar plants: -Sedum -Verbena -Sage https://biodiversityireland.ie/app/uploads/2023/06/Rewilding-Yo

Butterflies are a much-loved feature of summer in many parts of the world. But how many of them are there on Earth? That's the question a young listener to More or Less wanted an answer to – and she couldn't find the answer no matter how hard she searched the internet. Presenter Daniel Gordon enlists Professor Jane Hill, a butterfly expert at York University, England, who's also President of the Royal Entomological Society, to try and help solve the mystery. He also consults Holly Mynott, International Officer of Butterfly Conservation, who describes the techniques used to run The Big Butterfly Count in the UK – the biggest event of its kind in the world. Producer/Presenter: Daniel Gordon Series Producer: Jon Bithrey Editor: Richard Vadon Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Engineer: Graham Puddifoot

Reintroducing species, bringing those lost back and bolstering those that are on the verge of disappearing.Join us in this episode as we delve into the world of reintroductions. We look at what it really takes to make reintroduction projects succeed and how work to bring one species back can have far reaching conservation benefits.We also dive into some very well and some lesser-known UK reintroduction success stories.We had a great time researching and recording this episode and it could have easily gone on for hours. It is always nice to cover positive stories of when conservation efforts work. We hope you enjoy listening.Contact:As always, please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or just want to say hi! What is your favourite reintroduction success story and which species would you love to see be reintroduced?The easiest way to get in touch is to ping us a message on Instagram:Steve - @a.bird.in.the.lensMatthew - @a.bug.in.the.lensLinks:Ladybird Spider - Back From The Brink (naturebftb.co.uk)Field Cricket - Back From The Brink (naturebftb.co.uk)The projects - Back From The Brink (naturebftb.co.uk)Location of re-introduced Chequered Skipper butterfly revealed | Butterfly Conservation (butterfly-conservation.org)Reintroducing the Great Bustard To Southern England - The RSPBhttps://www.roydennis.org/

Learn about butterflies and moths and what you can do to help them as Ashlea chats to Dr Zoë Randle from Butterfly Conservation UK.

Dr. Randle comes to us from the U.K. based Butterfly Conservation, one of the largest insect conservation organizations in the world. Dr. Randle points out that artificial light at night affects pheromone production in some female moths and sperm count in some males. Along with all the other environmental pressure, light at night has caused a 32% decline in population since the 1970's. Thanks to the thousands of volunteers and data sets stretching back decades, you can learn all about them in The Atlas Of Britain & Ireland's Larger Moths. Dr. Randle is the ecological lead for Butterfly Conservations' Big Butterfly Count, an annual UK citizen science survey which helps to assess the health of our environment and connect people to nature. Prior to working for Butterfly Conservation she was a Field Ecologist, working in a range of different habitats, counting and measuring a variety of different plants and animals for scientific research. In her spare time Dr. Randle enjoys riding her horse, photography, star and moon gazing and writing to try to make sense of a crazy world!

We begin our second series of Natural Capital exploring Bees, Butterflies and Biodiversity with Dr Lorna Cole, an agricultural ecologist whose work addresses the challenge of feeding our growing world population whilst protecting our environment. We discuss beneficial insects, habitats and biodiversity, including the many pollinators found in Scotland. Pollinators play important roles but face multiple pressures and we discuss how agricultural practices influence these insects and the ecosystem services they deliver. We explore what you can do to protect and enhance species and habitat. The Earth's soils, rocks, air, water, plants and animals are all valuable resources that provide a wide range of services and benefits. These resources need to be carefully managed and maintained to support a healthy functioning environment. In this Natural Capital podcast series, we explore different natural capital assets and their value to Scottish agriculture and the rural economy, including the opportunities and risks for the future.  Hosted and produced by Iain Boyd, with Rachel Smillie and Fiona Salter, editor Kieron Sim, executive producer Kerry Hammond.  Timestamps  The importance and value of biodiversity: 3:30 – 15:43 Pollinators in Scotland and their roles on farm: 15:44 – 21:55 What land managers can do to boost pollinators and habitats: 21:55 – 35:33 Managed bees, beekeeping and native pollinators: 35:33 – 43:16 Benefits for other pollinators: 43:16 – 46:00 Related FAS Resources Insect Pollinators & Pollination | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Thrill of the Hill - Natural Capital | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)The Great Yellow Bumblebee | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)FAS Sounds | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory ServiceBiodiversity | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Other Related Resources Welcome to the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (PoMS) | PoMS (ukpoms.org.uk)How farming with nature brings pollinators back to arable farms (soilassociation.org)Bumblebee Conservation TrustHome page | Butterfly Conservation (butterfly-conservation.org)Scottish pollinators | Updates on pollinators and pollinator projects from around Scotland (wordpress.com)The soil health scorecard | AHDB

We begin our second series of Natural Capital exploring Bees, Butterflies and Biodiversity with Dr Lorna Cole, an agricultural ecologist whose work addresses the challenge of feeding our growing world population whilst protecting our environment. We discuss beneficial insects, habitats and biodiversity, including the many pollinators found in Scotland. Pollinators play important roles but face multiple pressures and we discuss how agricultural practices influence these insects and the ecosystem services they deliver. We explore what you can do to protect and enhance species and habitat. The Earth's soils, rocks, air, water, plants and animals are all valuable resources that provide a wide range of services and benefits. These resources need to be carefully managed and maintained to support a healthy functioning environment. In this Natural Capital podcast series, we explore different natural capital assets and their value to Scottish agriculture and the rural economy, including the opportunities and risks for the future.  Hosted and produced by Iain Boyd, with Rachel Smillie and Fiona Salter, editor Kieron Sim, executive producer Kerry Hammond.  Timestamps  The importance and value of biodiversity: 3:30 – 15:43 Pollinators in Scotland and their roles on farm: 15:44 – 21:55 What land managers can do to boost pollinators and habitats: 21:55 – 35:33 Managed bees, beekeeping and native pollinators: 35:33 – 43:16 Benefits for other pollinators: 43:16 – 46:00 Related FAS Resources Insect Pollinators & Pollination | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Thrill of the Hill - Natural Capital | Information helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)The Great Yellow Bumblebee | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)FAS Sounds | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory ServiceBiodiversity | Helping farmers in Scotland | Farm Advisory Service (fas.scot)Other Related Resources Welcome to the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme (PoMS) | PoMS (ukpoms.org.uk)How farming with nature brings pollinators back to arable farms (soilassociation.org)Bumblebee Conservation TrustHome page | Butterfly Conservation (butterfly-conservation.org)Scottish pollinators | Updates on pollinators and pollinator projects from around Scotland (wordpress.com)The soil health scorecard | AHDB

Chris Packham is undoubtedly one of the most recognisable faces on British Television. He's been a mainstay of the BBC's Natural History programming for nearly 40 years. Alongside this commitment he also currently serves as President for the Bat Conservation Trust and Vice President for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, The Wildfowl and Wetland Trust, Butterfly Conservation, and the RSPCA. In this two-part discussion, David and Chris walk through the New Forest (the site of both their childhoods), and discuss how Chris came to prominence on Television, and then balanced his role there alongside his creative passions and his environmental concerns and campaigns.In search of Chris' favourite Beech, David and Chris set out into the fabric of their lives – the New Forest. In the shade of “…a giant green cathedral, bathed in green light” they discuss the pressures facing one of Britain's favourite national parks, the fact that even Belgium has a wolf-pack, and how over-grazing in the New Forest needs to be resolved for a healthy ecosystem.Closer to home, the big questions are asked: Should Chris' father have helped him boil the head of a Pilot Whale? Should Chris' own parenting skills have involved putting wasps on his step-daughter Megan McCubbin's nose and then making her dissect Roadkill? And should Chris, at 61, climb the 30 foot into a Scots Pine tree to examine an abandoned Osprey nest whilst recording a podcast?!The driving force behind Chris is an obvious one: “I've got to do something, I'm running out of time; I don't want to leave this world in a worse place than I inherited it.” But where does Chris stand on the effectiveness of modern non-violent protest? Is it too little too late? Or is something more dramatic required? Why not become a "Subscription Squirrel" on our Patreon, and help support the production of this podcast? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pentagon continue to monitor ‘spy balloon' spotted over sensitive sites. Why Jupiter has overtaken Saturn's moon-count. Number of people diagnosed with cancer in the UK 'will rise by a third by 2040'. Why the UK is losing its butterflies, and why that matters. In this episode:Butterfly Conservation expert Richard Fox on falling numbersHow whisky can help with skin rejuvenationBill Gates would ‘rather pay for vaccines than travel to Mars'Apple, Amazon and Google all offer gloomy outlooks in quarterly resultsThat Titanic door debate - James Cameron uses experiment to finally answer whether Rose AND Jack could have survivedFollow us on Twitter #TechScienceDaily Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Processors have been defending their track record after the government said they need to do more to tackle a backlog of pigs building up on farms. Farmers can't get all their pigs slaughtered and an estimated 35,000 healthy pigs have been culled on farm, unable to enter the food chain. The DEFRA minister says processors haven't taken full advantage of support measures, including a temporary visa scheme which would allow more butchers to work here. But the British Meat Processors Association says it's unfair to blame them. They said last year they processed more pigs than they had done for 15 years. Farmed salmon is one of Scotland's most lucrative food exports. The sectors had to adapt quickly since Britain left the European Union. Mowi is one of the biggest producers of salmon. We visit their factory to find out how they've adjusted to the new rules and regulations. A dairy farmer is re-introducing elm trees onto his land. Dutch elm disease wiped out more than 20 million trees in the British landscape 50 years ago. Peter Shallcross from Wiltshire is working with Butterfly Conservation to import disease-resistant varieties from Spain and plant them on his farm. Presenter = Caz Graham Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Once ubiquitous in North America, the monarch's striking orange and black wings are likely the first image that comes to mind when picturing a butterfly. The monarch is famed not only for its beauty, but also for its role in a healthy ecosystem – the pollinators are a critical support to some uniquely American landmarks: from the Great Smoky Mountains to Zion National Park. Yet, over the past few decades, the monarch has experienced a dramatic dip in population.As the eastern members of this iconic species prepare for their annual migration to Mexico, on this episode of the AASHTO ETAP Podcast we talk with Arizona Department of Transportation's Roadside Resource Specialist, Kris Gade, Ph.D — one of the professionals leading the charge for monarch conservation.

Once ubiquitous in North America, the Monarch's striking orange and black wings are likely the first image that comes to mind when picturing a butterfly. The Monarch is famed not only for its beauty, but also for its role in a healthy ecosystem- the pollinators are a critical support to some uniquely American landmarks: from the Great Smoky Mountains to Zion National Park. Yet, over the past few decades, the Monarch has experienced a dramatic dip in population. As the eastern members of this iconic species prepare for their annual migration to Mexico, we'll sit down with Arizona Department of Transportation's Roadside Resource Specialist, Kris Gade-- one of the professionals leading the charge for Monarch conservation.

We talk to Joe Freeley from Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo, who breeds, rears and trains doves, Terry Flanagan goes looking for Owls in the Phoenix Park and we go counting butterflies with Rose Cremin from UK-based charity Butterfly Conservation.

Interview with the manager of the Kipepeo Butterfly Project, a conservation initiative manged in part by the National Museum of Kenya. The project works with locals around the Arabuko Sokoke forest national park to breed butterflies for export to butterfly displays around the world.   The project has improved the incomes of families and communities living around the forest. It has also changed attitudes from wanting protections against development removed, to supporting forest rangers. The Kipepeo Project has also allowed the National Museum of Kenya to regularly monitor butterfly populations within the forest, which have been doing well in the more than 20 years the project has been running.   For more information check out the Kipepeo Butterfly Project website.   For full show notes on the Knowing Nature Podcast website.

In this episode of Conversations with Quiet Leaders, Juliet speaks with Gary Roberts, co-director of Earthwild Partnership. Gary has significant experience in charity, third sector and consultancy management and has a keen interest in the natural world, conservation, environmental and third sector issues. His experience and passion for conservation and sustainability was fuelled by his late father and having the opportunity to spend time with Sir David Attenborough. A professed quiet leader, here Gary describes how his career has been unplanned and focussed on his passion to set up Earthwild Partnership, with co-director Sibel Lami. Gary talks about: - the Butterfly Conservation - meeting Geoffrey Smith and Sir David Attenborough - Quiet leadership is diverse - the right to have a voice - his passion to support women into business - courage, comfort zones and more! Connect with Gary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-roberts-bbab233a/ and https://www.earthwildpartnership.com Before you go: If you liked this episode, please do rate the show, and leave a review wherever you listen to your podcasts to help this to reach a wider audience. Connect with Juliet on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliet-morris/ Join the Quiet Leadership group on LinkedIn to continue the conversation and support Juliet's research. If you have a question, an insight or wish to recommend a guest, please message Juliet / email juliet@opensquareconsulting.com Thank you for listening.

Good News: The butterfly species, Duke of Burgundy, is on the rebound in the UK thanks to the conservation efforts of the organization Butterfly Conservation, Link HERE. The Good Word: A somber and dark sonnet from Gerard Manley Hopkins. Good To Know: A lovely bit of trivia about Costa Rica! Good News: A development group […]

Welcome to Sound Escapes from BBC Countryfile Magazine – your chance for a relaxing escape into nature no matter how busy you are. In this episode, it's evening at Alners Gorse, a nature reserve in Dorset run by Butterfly Conservation. As the dew falls, the extraordinary song of nightingales rises from the thickets. Recorded by Martin Maudsley and presented by Hannah Tribe See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Louise Midgley is joined by Butterfly Conservation's Helping Hands Project Officer, Anthony McCluskey, who shares top tips on gardening for protecting butterflies and moths. 

This episode is a veritable butterfly extravaganza. Joff talks to a wide range of people about butterflies, plants they need, and their specific habitat requirements.  Joff meets Tricia Atkinson at Prinknash Abbey and has a tour of the nectar garden hearing about all the plants that are recommended for both the adult butterfly and the larvae. He spoke to ex national chairman of Butterfly Conservation Maurice Avent ten years ago and recorded their conversation on his battered old minidisc recorder. Thankfully the recording still exists and Maurice was able to tell him all about the history and habits of the Pearl Bordered Fritillary. Chris Tracey from the Gloucestershire branch is an expert on this declining species and showed Joff around the site she maintains to encourage it to breed and increase its population. Daneway Banks in Gloucestershire is one of the few UK strongholds for the enigmatic Large Blue Butterfly. Sue Smith Chairperson of the Gloucestershire branch of Butterfly Conservation met him there and told him all about the incredible life cycle of this once extinct species. www.butterfly-conservation.org  

In this podcast I speak with the trailblazer John Little of The Grass Roof company. In this wide ranging and informative podcast we discuss how "Brownfield landscape" can be the most Biodiverse spaces for flora and fauna. We also discuss solitary Bees, and the need to include an entomologist in the design process Lastly, we touch on the fabulous work John undertook over 18 years at the Clapton Park social Housing estate, in London (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/blog/2012/oct/11/clapton-park-estate-john-little) https://www.instagram.com/grassroofco/?hl=en grassroofcompany.co.uk The following link is for a webinar entitled: "How to save money and green the highways", in which John participated. Its a high quality, informative webinar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr2-_OQWmRo&feature=youtu.be This webinar outlined how we can apply a more whole life-cycle approach to linear infrastructure schemes using low-nutrient soil to reduce maintenance and waste, save money and carbon, and enhance nature. Chaired by Kat Evans, Associate Director, RSK Habitat Management and ADAS Environment. Phil Sterling, from Butterfly Conservation, will demonstrate how he created a nature-rich embankment on the Weymouth relief road and saved more than £270,000 for Dorset County Council. Sarah Wynn, Technical Director in ADAS, will examine the carbon implications by comparing the standard and alternative low-nutrient-topsoil approaches. John Little, from Grass Roof Company and a CIRIA BIG Biodiversity Challenge award winner, will show how he incorporates habitats into structures and uses recycled materials to create beautiful, low-maintenance, biodiverse environments.

Larry visits with Frasier Jones in regards to the Monarch Butterfly. Frasier has been working on a new conservation project that is utilizing a documentary approach that is designed to be turned into a kids tv show. This show is designed to help raise awareness about the Monarch and will follow it on its 3000-mile journey from Canada, across North America, and down into Mexico. Frasier also give some details about little things we can all do to help in the conservation of this beautiful butterfly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are joined by Dr Amir Khan GP, known from Channel 5’s GPs Behind Closed Doors, BBC Breakfast and ITV’s This Morning, and ambassador for the Wildlife Trust and Butterfly Conservation, to discuss health benefits of wildlife, getting under represented groups access to nature and these benefits, the wonderful wildlife in his garden and Yorkshire,…

In her final Woman’s Hour after 33 years at the helm, Jenni discusses the work that still needs to be done when it comes to feminism and equality. She's joined by Helena Kennedy QC, Jude Kelly the founder and director of The WOW Foundation, "Mother of the House" Harriet Harman MP, and poet and novelist, Jackie Kay. We hear from Lee Lawrence, whose mother Cherry Groce was shot by police in a botched dawn raid. Lee describes his fight to get justice for his mother and his ongoing commitment to challenging racism within the police force. We hear from the film director Malou Reymann about her new film ‘A Perfectly Normal Family’. It centres around an eleven year old girl whose life is turned upside down when her father tells her he wants to become a woman. The fictional story is based on Malou's own experience. Live, learn and thrive: that’s what Andrea McLean wants us to do with the help of her new book “This Girl is on Fire”. The 2020 Woman’s Hour Power List is looking for women who are trying to improve the health of our planet. We hear from Zoë Randle, the Senior Surveys Officer for Butterfly Conservation. She tells us about the thousands of volunteers who are turning their love of nature into hard data which will directly influence UK conservation policy. And Jenni leaves us with a snap-shot of her favourite-ever guests. Presenter: Jane Garvey Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed Editor: Siobhann Tighe

On 28 September 1985, Lee Lawrence’s mother Cherry Groce was wrongly shot by police during a raid on her Brixton home. The bullet shattered her spine and she never walked again. Soon after it was reported – wrongly - that Cherry Groce was dead, and two days of rioting took place in Brixton. All this was witnessed by 11-year-old Lee. He became his mother’s carer. After a doctor questioned the cause of his mother’s death in 2011 Lee campaigned fiercely for an inquest, a chance to find out what really happened the day his family’s life was turned upside down. Lee joins Jane tomorrow to talk about his mother, his life as a carer, his fight to get the police to recognise their wrongdoing and his ongoing commitment to challenge racism and fight for justice. The government has announced it will not go ahead with a change to the Gender Recognition Act which would have allowed trans men and women to self identify rather than go through a medical diagnosis to change their gender. The Equalities and Human Rights Commission has said it was a ‘missed opportunity’ but women's rights groups have applauded the decision as a ‘victory for fairness and common sense’. Jane Garvey hears from two of the women who’ve been campaigning on this issue, Dr Heather Peto who is Co-Chair of Labour’s LGBT+ group and Dr Nicola Williams from the group Fair Play for Women. The 2020 Woman’s Hour Power List is looking for women who are making a significant difference to the health of our planet. But that power doesn’t have to be held on boards or by leading international organisations. Zoë Randle, the Senior Surveys Officer for Butterfly Conservation, tells Jane about the hugely important role played by hundreds of thousands of volunteers – who are turning their love of nature into hard data that directly influences conservation policy in the UK. Do you think there should be clearly defined parent/child relationship? Or maybe you think of your family as more of a team or that your child is like a friend. If you’ve been watching the new Netflix series The Duchess which features a mum’s friendship with her child, you may have been asking yourself about your own parenting style. Jane Garvey talks to Dr Holan Liang an NHS Consultant Child & adolescent Psychiatrist in London, a mother and author of the book Inside Out Parenting and Rowan Coleman who’s an author and mother to five children ranging from 19 to twins of 8.

We love a butterfly here in England, although some of us are not so keen on moths for some reason, but what is the difference? Well this episode will answer that question. From Butterfly Conservation, Richard Fox joins me to discuss the beautiful world of butterflies & moths. I ask those life long questions of "why do moths love light?" "how old do butterflies live for?" & "do moths really eat our clothes?" We dive right into the world of Lepidoptera & I know you will come away with not only more knowledge, but a new heightened love for butterflies & moths. If you'd like to keep up to date with Richards upcoming projects & work you can do so on Twitter @RichardGoxBC & you can follow the Butterfly Conservation on Instagram & Twitter @SaveTheButterflies. You can also get in touch with me at intothewildpod@gmail.com or you can get in touch on social media, @intothewildpod on Twitter & @intothewildpodcast on Instagram. Whether it's just to say hello, share some thoughts on an episode or even to let me know you'd like to hear about next! 

Dan is joined by Dr Zoë Randle from the Butterfly Conservation to hear how you can take part in the future of butterflies in the UK! Plus, imagine a predator that is successful in its hunts every other time ... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"We can't talk about deforestation in Mexico without talking about herbicides and the mowing of Milkweed in the US. Both are harming the Monarchs, and solving these problems will help bring their populations back up. We have to cooperate."⁣In this episode I talk to Jose Luis Alvarez Alcala, a Mexican tree nurseryman, who has for decades been growing trees for reforestation projects.He tells me about what the arrival of the monarch of the butterflies in the Michoacán mountains signifies to the indigenous people of Mexico,  his decades long work of reforestation where the butterflies winter and the areas surrounding to help the local communities. The struggles that monarch creatures are facing and how  the fight to conserve the monarch butterflies needs to be fought in the two countries, reformatting in Mexico and planting milked in the us. Stay tuned as we learn about this magical creatures. Since 2017, Forests for Monarchs has partnered with the Mexican Hass Avocado Importers Association (MHAIA) to promote reforestation and forest and watershed restoration. Together, to-date they have planted 800,000 trees to to restore forests, convert farming land back to forest, and to help conserve monarch butterfly winter habitat as well as to improve water and soil conditions.Please support Jose and in his project to help the Long-Term Survival of the Monarch Butterflyhttps://www.forestsformonarchs.orgIf you enjoy this episode, could you share it with a friend? Leave us a comment, let us know what you think. Follow Indigenous Earth Community PodcastHosted by Frank Oscar Weaver Music by Jason Carey Social Media by Jessica Suarez 

This week, the Government’s target to be testing 100,000 a day for COVID-19 looks like it won’t be met. But we’ve heard about many people who experienced the virus mildly, or who’ve tested positive with no symptoms at all. If you really want to know who has had the virus, the only way to tell for certain is with an antibody, or serology, test. Describing how they work is Professor of Virology at Nottingham University, Jonathan Ball. Eleanor Riley, Professor of Immunology and Infectious Disease at Edinburgh University, explains why its so important to get the specificity and sensitivity of these tests right, and reveals what they can and can't tell us about individual and population-wide exposure to the virus. We like citizen science on BBC Inside Science, it’s an opportunity for anyone and everyone to try their hand at some scientific projects, learn about the scientific process and help researchers crunch through masses of data. Professor Chris Lintott co-founded Zooniverse, the biggest citizen science platform over a decade ago. He’s a regular on the programme telling us about the latest Muon-hunting, Penguin-counting, galaxy-searching opportunities they offer. But they’re not the only ones, Butterfly Conservation want you to help them track the timing of butterfly emergence in the UK and Fold.it are asking people to play their protein folding online game to help them find a possible cure for Covid-19. But back in the 1930’s BBC radio producer Mary Adams was running a series called ‘Science in the Making’, where listeners were invited to participate in, what would now be called ‘citizen science’ experiments. With topics as diverse as charting the timing of blackbird egg laying and deciphering the meaning of dreams, a scientist would explain their hypothesis and ask the audience for help. Allan Jones, a senior lecturer in computing and communications from the Open University has been digging into the BBC’s earliest public science experiments, and the woman who decided to broadcast them. Presenter – Marnie Chesterton Producers – Fiona Roberts and Beth Eastwood

This time on Alfred, the podcast for Shaftesbury, The Vale and Chase areas of North Dorset and West Wiltshire: Over the August Bank Holiday, people drove to Fontmell Down from as far away as Cornwall to go on a Butterfly Conservation hunt for a rare species. Alfred went along to understand why naturalists consider this North Dorset beauty spot so important. And our reporter enjoyed an unexpected surprise. (00:26) After experiencing a terrible tragedy Shaftesbury resident Karen Cole found reading books offered her an escape. She’s since become a well-respected and influential crime novel reviewer. Alfred met Karen. (11:21) A new Shaftesbury green group intends to share practical advice on how to live a more sustainable life, rather than getting involved with politics or protest. Alfred sat in on a ‘Shaftesbury Buttons’ session and heard about their plans for a 2020 festival. (19:42) Alfred meets Fontmell Magna Man Adam Masters and hears why he’s so passionate about knots. Adam is the Dorset Chairman of an international society which aims to promote and preserve knot-tying techniques, skills and stories. (27:39)

Following on from my episodes on native vs. non-native plants and gardening for wildlife, who better for me to interview than wildlife gardening guru Kate Bradbury?  We talk about the best ways to garden for wildlife, including what to put in to your wildlife garden and what to leave out. Kate champions some unusual species and our conversation touches upon aspects that may surprise even the most seasoned wildlife gardener. The timing was perfect too, as Kate’s new book Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything hit the shelves 5 days ago. Once she’s tempted you with snippets of wildlife gardening gold, you can go buy the book and find out everything you need to know about turning your own garden, whatever its size, into a haven for all creatures great and small.   Providing shelter in the garden   Kate’s top features to include in a wildlife garden   Kate’s top plants for wildlife   Common mistakes we make when trying to help wildlife   The decline of certain species   Gardening for flies!   Resources for wildlife gardeners   About Kate Bradbury Kate Bradbury is an award-winning author and journalist, specialising in wildlife gardening. She edits the wildlife pages of BBC Gardeners World Magazine and regularly writes articles for the Daily and Sunday Telegraph, The Guardian, RHS magazine The Garden and BBC Wildlife and BBC Countryfile magazines.  In 2015 she became the first Butterfly Ambassador for conservation charity Butterfly Conservation, and she writes a quarterly column for its members magazine, Butterfly. Kate regularly talks at events and festivals, and appears on radio including BBC Gardeners Question Time and the popular RHS gardening podcast.  She also makes wildlife gardening videos for gardenersworld.com. She lives and breathes wildlife gardening, and is currently transforming a tired north-facing patio garden into a wildlife oasis, where she hopes to attract a wealth of creatures including frogs, toads, newts, birds, beetles, hedgehogs, butterflies, not to mention her very favourite, and first love: bees.   Links: Buy a copy of Kate’s new book Wildlife Gardening for Everyone and Everything here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wildlife-Gardening-Everyone-Everything-Trusts/dp/1472956052/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Kate+bradbury&qid=1554217200&s=books&sr=1-3  Kate on Twitter @Kate_Bradbury https://twitter.com/Kate_Bradbury?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor On Instagram kategbradbury https://www.instagram.com/kategbradbury/ The Bumblebee Flies Anyway by Kate Bradbury - Buy Here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bumblebee-Flies-Anyway-year-gardening/dp/1472943104/ref=la_B00O0X7MLI_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1554215473&sr=1-2 The Wildlife Gardener by Kate Bradbury - Buy Here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Wildlife-Gardener-Kate-Bradbury/dp/152671289X Butterfly Conservation www.butterfly-conservation.org https://butterfly-conservation.org Big Butterfly Count www.bigbutterflycount.org https://www.bigbutterflycount.org Moths Count www.mothscount.org http://www.mothscount.org Froglife www.froglife.org https://www.froglife.org Bumblebee Conservation Trust www.bumblebeeconservation.org https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org BTO (British Trust for Ornithology) www.bto.org https://www.bto.org   Get in touch; Email podcast@rootsandall.co.uk  Website www.rootsandall.co.uk  Twitter @rootsandall Instagram rootsandallpod   Patreon Link; Help us keep the podcast free & independent! Donate as much or as little as you like at https://www.patreon.com/rootsandall 

Brett Westwood relives programmes from the Living World archives, this week an episode from 2008. More familiar in our gardens and parks, the red admiral butterfly is found throughout the British Isles and is one of the highlights of the butterfly season. It is an unmistakable butterfly with its black wings, and striking red bands. But how do they get here? Well for this Living World, Lionel Kelleway travels to Lulworth Cove in Dorset where, standing on the cliffs and fully expecting to be looking out for autumnal bird migration, instead he witnesses the small bands of Red Admiral butterflies flying in from the sea as they migrate from mainland Europe. With Lionel is Richard Fox from Butterfly Conservation, who explains what's happening.

Today Alexa Bobyak interviews Judy Geck at the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge. Also, as Donald Trump signs an executive order to complete the Dakota Access Pipeline, a brief history of the pipeline is provided.

Journey to the heart of the Yorkshire Dales to visit the Wensleydale Creamery.