Podcast appearances and mentions of River Avon

There is a lot of good swimming to be had in the Bristolregion, with several vibrant and active outdoor swimming scenes in the region - in the city itself, but also in the nearby River Avon, in the River Brue, in the Avon estuary, and in the sea at sand point. If you can go a mile or ten out of Bristol there is a lot of choice - at Weston Super Mare there are several lido beaches to choose. River swimming at Bradford upon Avon (the river Avon upstream) is a scenic delight. People really care about their swimming here. Thesetwo accounts of swimming around Bristol are extracts from my book ‘Memories like Water – Swimming in 65 places at the age of 65'. They took place as pandemic lockdowns eased in 2020, which gave them a surreal edge – can wereally swim together again? At Cleveden Marine Lake, and at Farleigh and District River Swimming Club, just south of Bath.

Charlotte Sawyer is a documentary film maker and photographer who captures cinematic stories that cross cultures and boundaries. She has worked in conflict zones and places vulnerable to climate change, notably Iraq, Ethiopia and Nigeria. Aggie Nyagari is a Kenyan film and TV director, who brings the diversity of her life experiences into her work. Charlotte and Aggie both live, swim and work in Bristol. Together they have made a beautiful new film - Rave On for the Avon - capturing the Conham Bathing Group communities love for their river, and their fight for to gain Bathing Water Quality status for it. This podcast was recorded at Conham, where Stanley Ulijaszek, Charlotte Sawyer and Aggie Nyagari talk about the film and its making, and the River Avon and its swimming people.

Looking for relaxation? Join Geoffrey by the campfire for a meditative walk through the historic town of Stratford-upon-Avon, home of William Shakespeare, and relax on the river banks, until you fall into an easy sleep.  Love Night Falls?

Plodcast host Fergus Collins enjoys an autumn walk by the River Avon near Bath with Emma Brisdion of the Rivers Trust to take part in a Big River Watch. This citizen science project hopes to make an important difference to the health of Britain's polluted waterways. But it's also a chance to pause, watch the world go by and see what wildlife characters might turn up. Join them for a marvellously mellow adventure. For more on the River Trust and to take part in the Big River Watch, visit https://theriverstrust.org/take-action/the-big-river-watch The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022. If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com. If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team. The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop. Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Join for FULL exercises! https://www.youtube.com/c/IELTSRyan/join Subscribe to this podcast on YouTube Music! https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLB73A1B919925E02F&si=jdjlHDSKxPWU5lvg Where you are from? I am originally from a picturesque town in the heart of England called Stratford-upon-Avon. Do you work or study? Currently, I am pursuing my studies. I am enrolled in a postgraduate programme in Environmental Science at a local university. What is your hometown like? Stratford-upon-Avon is a charming town with a rich history. It's renowned as the birthplace of William Shakespeare and is known for its well preserved Tudor-style architecture. The town is nestled along the tranquil banks of the River Avon, and its cobblestone streets are lined with quaint shops and theaters. Do you enjoy living in your hometown? I absolutely adore living in my hometown. The blend of history, culture and the welcoming community makes it a delightful place to call home. How has your hometown changed over the years? Over the years, Stratford-upon-Avon has seen some positive changes. There has been an effort to preserve and restore historic buildings, which has boosted tourism. Additionally, the town has embraced more eco-friendly initiatives, promoting green spaces and sustainability. What kind of accommodation do most people in your hometown live in? The majority of residents in Stratford-upon-Avon live in traditional houses, often Tudor-style or Georgian architecture. However, there are also modern apartments and townhouses available. Let's talk about drinks. What is your favourite drink? My favourite drink without a doubt is a well-brewed cup of Earl Grey tea. I take it with milk and find it to be soothing and refreshing. Did you prefer different drinks as a child? As a child, my preferences were quite different. I used to enjoy fruit juices and fizzy drinks, particularly orange juice and lemonade. Do you think it is important to drink lots of water? Yes, I firmly believe that staying hydrated is crucial for overall health. Water is essential for bodily functions, and it helps to maintain proper digestion, skin health and mental clarity.

Avenue Red proudly welcomes Owain K, the Bristol don of all things deep and co-label boss of Innate (alongside Tom Gilbert). Owain recently played at our Avenue Red event held at The Loco Klub in Bristol in March 2023, which turned into an incredible 4-hour B2B session with Avenue Red frontman Alec Pritchard. It was recorded and released as part of our Live Sessions series (link below) and the response to this collaboration was very positive! Owain's first studio mix for our main podcast series is as masterful as it is long overdue... it's a seamless, perfectly paced blend of trippy, melodic, grooving deep house & techno. Get it on! "The recording is my usual mix n' match of sounds - old, new, deep and true... all with a dub flavour in there somewhere. Although probably more from the deep house sphere on this trip than other sets I might play... Big thank you to Alec for being the ever excellent host! 😎 Enjoy!" Owain K, June 2023 https://soundcloud.com/owaink https://soundcloud.com/innate-recordings See Also: https://soundcloud.com/avenue-red/live-session-004-alec-pritchard-b2b-owain-k-the-loco-klub-bristol-uk-04-03-2023 Picture taken by Alec Pritchard from The White Lion Bar overlooking Clifton Suspension Bridge over The River Avon in Bristol, England, UK.

My dad has written a new book and he's come on the podcast to tell us about it. The book follows the path of the river Avon as it flows through the middle of England, telling stories of key moments in British history, nature and the current condition of Britain's rivers. Episode page https://wp.me/p4IuUx-sLSA River Avon Year: The Wildlife and History of Shakespeare's Avon by Rick Thompson is available now!

I am delighted to welcome to the podcast Bruce from Left Handed Giant based in Bristol. Left Handed Giant originally started with a beer handed across to Small Bar owners Bruce Gray and Jack Granger. The beer was made by Rich Poole, who eventually set-up shop on on a small kit in the back of the same bar, fermenting the thought of a cuckoo brewery that became Left Handed Giant. From its start in 2014, the brewery grew in stages, first by securing its own premises in the summer of 2017, and more recently in the latter part of 2019 a second, flagship location of a brewpub based in the centre of Bristol in Finzels Reach, overlooking the harbour off the River Avon. https://lefthandedgiant.com/

We meet ‘the mermaid swimmer', Lindsey Cole, at Conham River Park in Bristol. While travelling the River Avon to raise awareness of plastic pollution, she ran afoul – literally – of another issue, when she suddenly fell very ill, poisoned by sewage. We learn more about why, exactly, our waterways are such a mess and head to Gloucestershire to look at an ingenious human-made wetland on the banks of the Severn. We discover how special places like these can protect us from some of the nastiest bugs that make their way into our water, all through the power of nature.   Featuring: Lindsey Cole, Dan Roberts (Project Manager, WWT), Hugo Tagholm (Founder, Surfers Against Sewage). Presented by Roxy Furman.   If listening to this podcast inspires you to take action for wetlands then please do join our campaign! Search 'Wetlands Can' to find out more and sign our pledge here. Waterlands is a series brought to you by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. It's an 18Sixty production, and the producer is Eliza Lomas. 

Story: The River Avon Author: SlippinMickeys Rating: MA Site link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/34036306 Read by: SlippinMickeys Summary: I played with an old paragraph today. It whispered this in my ear. Used by the author's permission. The characters in these works are not the property of the Audio Fanfic Podcast or the author and are not being posted for profit.

Beavers are being spotted more frequently in the wild in Britain. In this adventure, Annabel Ross joins beaver expert Bevis Watts at dawn on the River Avon near Bath in north-east Somerset to paddle a canoe in search of a small population of beavers that have mysteriously appeared on the river. Enjoy fabulous birdsong and curious encounters.Bevis is also CEO of Triodos Bank UK and has written a book River Journey about his adventures with beavers on the river.Image from Getty. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Lying next to the River Avon just inside the Cotswolds, Avoncliff Wood is no ordinary wood. The site hosts one of the biggest trials in the UK to find biodegradable alternatives to plastic tree guards. As if that wasn't enough, it's also a living laboratory, revealing how ash dieback will really affect nature. Site manager Joe gives us a special behind the scenes tour to learn more. We also meet volunteer wardens Kay and James, and catch up with TV presenter Alice Beer who lives nearby. Don't forget to rate us and subscribe! Learn more about the Woodland Trust at woodlandtrust.org.uk Transcript Voiceover: 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, I've changed trains at Bath Spa for what appears to be a very small train which is taking me to Avoncliffe. Now, in fact, the train conductor has told me the platform is so short when I get there only one door is going to open. He came through asking “Is anybody getting off?” and I'm the only one, the only one. Well, I have to tell you, the station here is straight out of a 1930s style Agatha Christie film, that's what it screams to me. Beautiful signs, beautiful flowers, the River Avon just almost next door to the station, a great looking pub and down at the end of the platform one single man who I'm assuming is Joe Middleton with the Woodland Trust, site manager here and the guy who's going to show me around. Joe: So, welcome to Avoncliffe Wood in the Avon Valley just in between Bath and Bradford-on-Avon. We just crossed over the famous Avoncliffe Aqueduct and just followed the River Avon until we hit even Avoncliffe Wood which carpets the side of the valley across this area of the Cotswolds AONB, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, right at the southern end of the Cotswold AONB. Adam: There's very little woodlands right here, so what's going on in this first field? Joe: So, we're just at the edge of our woodland creation. So we bought 20 hectares, about 40 football pitches, of ancient woodland – untouched for generations – and to buffer that, to try and expand carbon storage and fight climate change and the ecological decline we're seeing we actually bought another 10 hectares, another 20 football pitches, worth of agricultural fields essentially and meadows which were very intensively grazed and we've planted that up with over 5,000 trees to try and get the next generation of trees in here. Adam: Wow, okay so shall we go through, have a look? Thank you. Joe: So just next to us as you can hear the birds singing away, there are blackbirds, robins and blackcaps in there. There's one acre, here, just on the right-hand side, which was actually planted up 25 years ago by a neighbour. So, the very small one acre square now 25 years later is teeming with you know 30-40 foot birch trees, willows, hazels and hawthorns, full of cherry blossom and hawthorn blossom, and birds nesting, tweeting, and insects buzzing all around us! It's quite rare these days! So hopefully we think everything we planted up here, all 5,000 trees would look like that in 25 years. A proper young woodland. Adam: And you've clearly, I mean, they're not uniformly planted so there's a big patch in the middle which you've got nothing and they seem to be done in clumps, so why have you done it like that? Joe: Do you want to know what that patch in the middle is? That's a sledging lane. Right well so we carried out community consultation when we first bought the woodland. We asked all the locals, we said look there's this really lovely kind of big expanse of fields all around the wood, we want to buy it, we want it to, you know, fight climate change, we want to try and do our bit for wildlife. And they said whatever you do leave us a sledging lane because when it snows here this hill is perfect for tobogganing down. Adam: laughs you see I thought it was going to be for some really technical reason! You need to do that for a very specific reason, I didn't realise it was gonna be sledges. Joe: There are also wide rides, you know, big areas that people can walk through. We've created a really good path network in here as well in some areas and natural regeneration so there are areas unplanted and there are areas purely for tobogganing fun in the middle of snowy winters. Adam: And why not? It's very important. Now, the thing that we can see in this immediate field is a lot of tree guards and well I'm also standing by a little sign which says biodegradable tree shelter. I always call them tree guards, but this was called tree shelter. Now that is not by coincidence. The tree guards are a huge issue, aren't they? Joe: Yeah, I mean with governments pledging to plant millions if not globally billions of trees to fight climate, you know hold onto carbon, stop floods, we have to be able to do it without using oil-based plastics. For the last 35 years people have just, every tree that's gone in you know, not every one, but most trees that've gone in have been planted with a giant plastic tree guard which doesn't biodegrade, it litters, it causes microplastics, and people… Adam: And are they reusable those plastic guards? Joe: They are to a certain degree, they're not easy to recycle, there are some better recycling schemes now just starting. But actually, probably one in three are reusable. But a lot of places are too far to go and get them, people don't bother they get left and derelict and are expensive to go and collect every single one, especially when you're planting hundreds of thousands. So the biodegradable alternative is the absolute key. Find something that naturally, you know, biodegrades away back into the soil, doesn't harm anything, it doesn't use oil. Adam: Right, I'm just going to go up to… So, this is a biodegradable one? Joe: Exactly. Adam: It looks sort of yellowish and quite canvas-like but it's very it's very firm, it doesn't feel, I mean that feels a sturdy old thing this. Joe: Yeah so, we've got 5,000 trees we put in. We are using some old recycled plastic ones, so we've been given a few, but actually we've got 16 different types of biodegradable alternatives to plastic here. So, they range from cardboard, you know, made from paper or mulch to biodegradable plastics, which the jury is out on at the moment, to actually resins and oils from things like cashew nut shells and pine resin. We've got a train coming past us! Train noise Two and a half years ago, when we planted the 5,000 trees in all these biodegradable guards, we launched something called Big Climate Fightback, a big Woodland Trust campaign to bring people out to help plant trees and do their bit. And actually, we ended up with over 250 people arriving one Saturday – spades in hand – on the trains in all the train stations. And the people in Bath, and Bristol and Bradford-on-Avon must have thought “what on earth is going on?”, with over 250 people arriving with spades on the platforms. And they came in here, they planted trees en masse – school kids, families, local groups. Everyone came here to try and plant trees and with that we, you know, told people about the problem of plastics and we've basically now got one of the biggest sites in the UK for trialling an alternative to plastic – to try and protect these trees so they get to five, seven years to get to a good height where they're no longer susceptible to browsing by deer, by rabbits, by voles, which is the main reason the shelters and guards are here to protect them. Adam: And correct me if I'm wrong but there is a sort of school of thought saying well don't use any guards. I mean it's now sort of established practice that you've got to use a guard otherwise the tree won't survive, but there is this sort of vague thought we never used to use guards in the distant past, so why have we suddenly got obsessed with them? Joe: I mean deer numbers are higher than they've ever been, it's a huge amount of browsing by deer with no natural predators, so it's complicated, that is the simplest answer, but putting up a giant 6-foot fence is probably you know the other solution which is in a lot of cases, depending on size, it can be much more economic, more practical. Very small areas – probably not massive areas, but medium sized – deer fencing is probably the answer, but then you've still got rabbits and voles you've got to fence out. So, doing nothing, over-planting, natural regeneration – we've got an area if you look up to the edge of the woodland we've left the buffer zone of about 20-30 metres around lots of this woodland, all around it, with nothing, we've just fenced it off and we're just going to allow the woodland to expand – every one of those berries and those nuts and seeds that drops into the ground will hopefully just have a, you know, wild natural generation. Like Knepp with a huge rewilding – that hope of what happens there doesn't happen as easily here but can take a long time. Hopefully that will establish woodland itself, but it may take 50 years. At the moment we've got a climate emergency on us and amongst us, so we have to do something now so planting trees is a very good quick solution. Adam: A huge issue because if we are planting for ecological reasons what we don't want to do is every tree comes with its own polluting plastic. I mean that's not the future. So, the answer to that question may well lie in the thousands of experiments you're carrying out in this field we're standing in. Joe: Absolutely. Adam: Right, well I've stopped us walking. We better… I better get my steps in. So, let's carry on. Where are we heading to now? Joe: So, we're gonna go and find our two volunteer wardens in a minute. Adam: So, we've got two volunteers hard at work. I can see just up the hill a bit. Joe: So, this is James and Kay who are both our two volunteer wardens. They've been working now replacing broken, rotted, fallen biodegradable tree guards, replacing the trees as they die as well, and these two have been working hard to help keep an eye on them for the last few years for us. Adam: It's got them hard at work! Joe: They are incredibly hard at work. Hey guys how you doing? Kay and James: Alright? Hi! Hello. Adam: They do have you hard at work! So Kay and James, so first of all before we get to what you're actually doing, why have you been doing it? What's your interest? Why did you volunteer to do all of this? Kay: Well, you've been a volun… a member of the Woodland Trust for about 25 years. James: Well, it's about 35 years now. Kay: Since this is really on our doorstep, this is a perfect opportunity to get really involved with the Woodland Trust. Adam: James, I mean, you've been a Woodland Trust member for a very long time. And, ah the debate around trees has changed enormously. Hasn't it? James: It has, and I am glad that people have suddenly valued trees. I was in the military but, before that, I was out of Kent, out near Canterbury and my uncle was a farmer with orchards and basically from the earliest days I knew about the trees, the names of trees. The pollards at the end of the field as windbreaks, the various wetland trees down in the floodplains around the Romney Marsh area. But I already had a fascination for the massive oaks, the spectacular deciduous trees on the horizon I think made this this countryside look like it does, so British, and so English, with these gorgeous round shapes, compared to a lot of conifers you see in all the European places I've been to. Adam: Okay, talk me through a bit about what you're actually doing here – I mean, you know, hammer in hand I can see. Kay: Hammer in hand, we're replacing some of the tubes that haven't stood up to the wind and the rain. We found that circular rather than rectangular and… Adam: works, circular works… Kay: circular works, because otherwise if it's square they act as a flag, especially cardboard ones. When they get wet, they just disintegrate – as you can see there's lots of bare sticks around here, so yeah, we're going through and replacing them with circular ones. Adam: Fantastic, now I know that the local community were very involved with the Trust, sort of when the Trust took over and sort of designed this site. Tell me a bit about what the local community feel. Kay: That was a great day. We had two schools frog marched in, and yeah, with their teachers and staff and they planted the whole area, which was lovely – they were naming the trees as they were planting them. I know the whole village got involved with planting 5,000 trees over a progressive few weekends and subsequently James and I have been replanting the failures. Adam: And James I mean very clear how engaged you are with this sort of issue but to tell me about the feelings then of the local community and what they what they felt when Woodland Trust first came here and how involved others are apart from you two. James: So, I'm very pleased that people are actually accepting, on the whole, that their backyard has been filled with trees and shrubs which are growing up for their children's lifetime. Kay: We have had some objections to this, but they haven't given their reason why. I assume it's because it's used when we do get snow, which is very rare, it's the sledging field. The Woodland Trust have kindly left a gap for sledging but then they moan that the grass is too long so you can't please everyone all of the time. Adam: But when it was first thought about, and I think it's really interesting isn't it, that you say the community are largely behind this, but I think if others are listening to you now where they may be talking about a woodland on their doorstep created by the Woodland Trust or their own sort of organisation – I wonder what people's first reaction, what were their concerns and hesitancies that you heard about that may have been overcome? Kay: People don't like change do they? And at the moment it's, yeah, it doesn't look picture perfect with the stakes and the guards on, but you've got to envisage what it will look like in 10-15 years' time. You've only got to look at the hedgerow, which is behind us now, and at this time of year which is beginning of May, it's absolutely gorgeous. The blossom's out, the fresh burst of the leaf is so colourful and vibrant, what's not to like about having a wood on your doorstep? And we were very lucky. Adam: Okay, well brilliant, well thank you very much. Look I don't want to disturb you anymore but that's brilliant. Thank you very much. Kay: Thank you! Adam: So, we're gonna head up now to the ancient woodland. Now this is certainly unique in any of the Woodland Trust sites I've been to, because normally the Trust actively encourages people to come in, but this is the only site I've been to where the ancient woodland bit you stop people from coming. Oh, look this is… Joe: This is our nifty little fenced area which… Adam: We're going through the barbed wire so just be careful going… So, explain to me why you've unusually actually kept the public out of the ancient woodland. Joe: Ash dieback really is becoming a huge problem across a lot of woodlands I manage. I manage about 30 woods across the West Country and every one of them has large amounts of ash that really grows really well on these sort of limestone soils and in these hills around the Mendips, the Cotswolds. Gosh there's a huge Buzzard just soaring over the edge of the woodland there. So, ash dieback is killing off essentially all our ash trees. Estimates vary at the moment. You know recently it was about 95% and then people said it was around 60%. So, the latest estimate is that about 60% of our ash trees will die over the next 50 years. How fast they die is the worrying thing but when we bought the wood in 2019 ash dieback was blowing across the landscape. It is a fungal disease. It naturally spreads. It came over from Asia originally in infected stock of nursery trees being planted out. So, no one's been able to plant any ash for the last three years. It's now being reported all the way from the east of Great Britain, all the way to the west, every year, until it's spread and spread and spread now our mature ash trees – whether they're in a hedgerow, along roadsides and country lanes, whether they're in woodlands – ash trees are essentially dying en masse, and this is killing off everything that lives and breathes on those ash trees. Adam: And the reason you're keeping the public out is because the trees are dangerous, are they? They might fall? Joe: Yeah exactly, so where you have a path or road or property you have to maintain, you know, what's reasonably practical safety for people to be able to walk under it. We realise if we were to create a load of paths, allow a load of people into now what is a fantastic ancient woodland, but it has never really had any paths in, it's been undisturbed for generations – over 100 years now – we don't think anyone set foot in it. So, we didn't want to create any paths because we didn't want to fell any trees, so we've kept it shut and all the locals have seemed to have bought into that and are really pleased this is just a woodland for wildlife. They're happy enough to walk around the fields where we've created woodland. Adam: And is it also something of a laboratory to see what happens to ash dieback? If you really don't step in and try and do anything? Joe: Exactly yeah, so, in so many woodlands across Britain because of the large amount of public footpaths, people are having to fell for health and safety reasons, so there's not very many examples where if no one goes in and nothing happens, what happens to that wildlife? Does it also dramatic- dramatically decline, with the trees losing? Or are there some winners? So, are there some decay species? Some fungi species? Some insects, beetles that love decay rotting wood that increase? So we don't really know. So, this site we've turned into a living laboratory, this is a unique case of where we are monitoring the species within the wood, how they react to ash dieback over time. Adam: We're now going into the bit of ancient woodland which the public are locked out of and so we have got this big “keep out, closed due to ash dieback” (sign). Joe: You have exclusive access! Adam: Brilliant, now I gotta say, I mean I've got to take a photo of this because this is a sea of amazing plants. I'm really, I want to be careful where I tread, I don't want to disturb anything. Because I'm completely ignorant, what are these plants? Joe: Can you smell it? Adam: Yeah sure, it's extraordinary! Joe: This is wild garlic. Adam: Is that what it is? Joe: Ramsons are all in flower at the moment and now we can see for literally, well, hundreds of metres is the white snowy tops of these wild garlic flowers that are just coming up across the thick green leaves and when there's no path in sight you have to be careful where you tread. So, luckily wild garlic's quite prolific, so we'll tread carefully, but an undisturbed wood looks like this. It's like a sea, or a carpet of sort of snow. Adam: That is extraordinary, isn't it? Yes it is a sea of snow and that's the advantage of actually having undisturbed places. Is that it, I mean, yeah sea is exactly what it looks like. These sort of white foaming tops to the rolling green waves of vegetation. Quite amazing. Joe: All you can make out are the occasional tracks of foxes, badgers, stoats, weasels, that have gone through it, maybe the odd deer as well. But insects seem to be declining catastrophically. The ideal analogy is, you know, people used to drive around even in the 80s and you get windscreens splattered with bugs and insects. It just doesn't happen anymore and that massive decline of insects, it's unknown the reason, it probably doesn't help with, you know, when people are using lots of pesticide sprays across the countryside, along with climate change, but as all those insects decline so do our birds that feed on them, so are our bat species – so they're not fat enough to basically get through the hibernation and then when they come out of hibernation and the young are born there are just not enough insects so they don't make it through the summer essentially, and they don't have another generation that makes it. So, yeah, bat species are declining at the moment, so that's one of the first things we've noticed, and well ash are declining en masse. There were a lot of these species of ash that we're monitoring that are all dying en masse. Adam: I mean so that, I mean, …you're telling me all these terrible things Joe: Yes, I know. Adam: But I mean that's important it's still amazing landscape still isn't it? Joe: Absolutely. Adam: And that's always been true with woodlands. That decay brings its own new life and decaying trees are very important parts the of the ecosystem, but even given all of those challenges that you talk about are there any, are there any high points, any reasons for optimism? Joe: Well, wild garlic's obviously doing really well in this particular wood! But there will be some species that do, really, there will be some species of butterfly that you know do really successfully with the increased amount of light. But one of the best success stories, the best things you can do to feel positive about it is to go back out into those fields, plant the trees, the next generation, so that if some of these woodlands do suffer for whatever reason then we've got far more woodland habitat. We need to increase our woodland cover from about 13% to 20% fast and then if we get 20% – we've got the shrubs, we've got the tree species, got the rewilding areas – to be able to provide those homes for the species that aren't doing so well. That's the key I think is to plant the next generation, get there quickly. Our woodlands have a fantastic history and have been managed over time. This is just the next phase in the management to basically keep an eye and ensure our guardianship secures for that next generation in the next 50-100 years. Adam: Well I'm going to leave Joe to smelling his wild garlic, because TV presenter and journalist Alice Beer, who I used to work with, I know lives not that far from this woodland. Now I know she's out and about today so I'm going to call her on her mobile to discuss what the countryside around here means to her and her family. Okay, so just Alice first of all we should explain a bit about our history, so everybody… Alice: Oh must we tell everybody? Do you think we should? Adam: I think we should share a little bit. I used to open letters on Watchdog which was a massive massive programme at the time and I can't, do you remember how many people watched it? I can't Alice: Well I don't know I'd come to watchdog from That's Life and That's Life, which was before you were born Adam I'm sure, had 15 million viewers in its heyday and I think Watchdog was around 7 million viewers, which now is completely unheard of, but then you know it was just 7 million people watching it and more importantly 7 million people putting pen to paper. No emails, pen to paper, and thank God Adam Shaw was in the post room! Adam: Yes I was opening the 7 million letters with one or two other people and Alice was much more senior, so we would come to pass those stories onto Alice and of course, you are now, what's your official title? Alice: I suppose I'm actually probably daytime television presenter but I'm far too much of a snob to say that! I kind of dip in and out of various things trying to still help the little guy or pass on information. Adam: You have a regular spot on a very big programme, This Morning? Alice: Well, This Morning, yes, it's every day, it's now two and a half hours, they keep extending it! I am waiting for it to bump up against the Six O'Clock News soon! But This Morning it was, “can you do a piece on brisk walking and the health benefits”, as a result of some survey that came out, so here I am for the second time today brisk walking and broadcasting at the same time which is fantastic! Adam: Very good! Don't trip over! You've got a couple of dogs with you haven't you as well? Alice: I have, I've got Stanley who's my five-year-old schnoodle and his girlfriend Tilly and there are times when they become quite amorous in the long grass but I'm going to try and keep it clean for your sake! Adam: I knew you when we used to work in Shepherd's Bush in London, but you are now a country girl aren't you? Alice: Yeah, wellies welded to my feet! I grew up in suburbia and in North London suburbia and the countryside wasn't really important to me, but my parents took me out, took me and my sister out walking quite a lot. There was always “shall we do the walk through the woods”, “should we do the walk through the bluebell woods” which is slightly longer or “should we go up and round” which involved the hill. So, there was always a consciousness of walking in the countryside as a pleasant thing to do, but as we've got older, the countryside has become more important to me and we have been doing that thing, my partner and I have been doing that thing where we're trying to move out of London and we've settled on this beautiful village, beautiful functional village not far from Malmesbury in Wiltshire, which is where I am now, walking alongside the River Avon. So not too far from Avoncliff and the same body of water sort of flowing past me which is rather nice. Adam: How lovely. I know, I've seen you on This Morning as you're talking about wellbeing, and in terms of actually, with your consumer journalist hat on talking about the gadgets you could buy to help with wellbeing and having lights I think that show, sort of, natural light. I mean, how important do you feel it's been for you and your family during these rather difficult times to have access to nature and the outside? Alice: It's been everything to me. Everything. I've got teenage girls in fact it's their birthday today, their 19th birthday today, so for them probably it spells isolation for them because they didn't grow up in the countryside, or this this particular part of the countryside, so you know this means being away from their friends, but for myself and my husband it's been, it's been really important. For me to leave the house and walk in space because in London everything has felt very close and very claustrophobic and I'm mentally not good at that at all! So, I'm incredibly lucky to be able to breathe and give myself sort of mental and physical space away from other people. I was able to work from here, so I did sixty live broadcasts from, in effect, my back garden during lockdown. Adam: It's really interesting that you talk about your girls sort of feeling a sense of isolation because they came from the city and now are in a very rural area. I often find that it's a curious thing to get one's head round because really the nature debate about sustainability and trying to be better for the world is often very strongly led by young people. Alice: Oh it's theirs, it's completely their campaign! But I'm not sure that they associate it with, I mean, I feel like I'm treading on dangerous territory speaking, you know, putting words into their mouths because they're both very eloquent, quite passionate girls. I feel that I'm not sure that they would stand out in a field and say “we must protect this”. Probably coming from the city, they feel more that they see stuff, they see things going into bins, they see landfill, smoke, pollution. So, they see the big preservation of our world from a city perspective, probably more than standing in a field and thinking “oh this must never have, you know, thousands of houses built on it”, which is what probably makes me panic as much as anything. Adam: Do you get a sense of a change in people's attitudes in the way they behave, I mean, I think people talk about the need for ecological sustainability. I see amongst my friends and family, I have to also be careful about what I'm saying, I see less actually willingness to change personal behaviour than a willingness to say it's important, but they don't do an awful lot. Do you see that real difference? Alice: I'm a huge hypocrite, but I am now suddenly, it was probably about six months ago I was putting something in the bin, and it sounds like a strange Greta Thunberg epiphany, but it slightly was. I was putting some plastic in the bin, and I was trying to clear out a room and I was thinking this is going nowhere! This can't be recycled. This has to go underneath the ground, and this is not going to break down. I had a sort of panic about the fact that well if I was doing this and everyone was doing this and though I sort of have had that epiphany and I am changing my behaviour, and nothing particular triggered that, apart from me clearing out a bedroom and realising I had too much stuff. You know, which is odd, but you know, in terms of the big picture in the world I think it's very hard to make individuals feel responsible when we see big companies not taking responsibility. It's that sort of, well what difference is little me gonna make? And I've sort of had that, well I'm going to make a difference, so I will. I've had that moment and I think we have to all have that moment and I'm just about to fall into the River Avon, which could be interesting! I'm trying to encourage the dogs to have a drink. There you go guys, come on, look Tilly have a drink! Yeah well they're sort of having a drink, but I'm the one that's most likely to go in here. Adam: Well look, Alice, I feel split because I quite like the sound effect of you going in to end this, it'd be a great end wouldn't it! But on the other hand not a great way of re meeting after all these years. Look I will let you get on with your walk but thank you very much, thanks a lot. Alice: Thank you, thank you. Adam: Well, let's leave Alice Beer there and indeed all our friends at Avoncliff Woods. I do hope you enjoyed that and if you want to find a wood near you, you can go to the Woodland Trust website, woodlandtrust.org.uk/findawood and you can find a wood that's local to you. So that's woodlandtrust.org.uk/findawood. I do recommend you do that. Until next time happy wandering! Voiceover: Thank you for listening to the Woodland Trust Woodland Walks. Join us next month when Adam will be taking another walk in the company of Woodland Trust staff, partners and volunteers. And 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. Why not send us a recording of your favourite woodland walk to be included in a future podcast. Keep it to a maximum of 5 minutes and please tell us what makes your woodland walk special, or send us an email with details of your favourite walk and what makes it special to you. Send any audio files to podcast@woodlandtrust.org.uk and we look forward to hearing from you.

Mark Steel returns to Radio 4 with a short series of shows recorded outdoors during the coronavirus pandemic. The bubonic plague didn't stop Shakespeare from working so for this second outdoor show, Mark performs on a tree stump in The Dell Gardens, Stratford-upon-Avon in front of a small but lovely local crowd. In between being interrupted by geese, Mark asks the people gathered on the grass in the RSC's outdoor performance area on the banks of the River Avon, just by the church where Shakespeare is buried, across from the Shakespeare ice-cream boat, not far from the Hamlet statue, if they've noticed any sort of theme to the place. Mark also looks at what else Stratford has to offer and visits the Butterfly Farm, the Tudor World museum and he discovers that the town was also once the home of the Teletubbies. Written and performed by Mark Steel Additional material by Pete Sinclair Production co-ordinator Beverly Tagg Sound Manager, Jerry Peal Producer, Carl Cooper A BBC Studios Production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in November 2020.

Vicki and Mikey explore Journeys. We hear from Cath Pendleton, who holds the Guinness World Record for the Most Southerly Ice Swim (female) in Antarctica, but she also likes Mermaiding and chitty chatting. Mikey leaps out of his sound booth to present this week and speaks to Sal Minty-Gravett, the oldest woman to do a 2-way English Channel swim. John Coningham-Rolls from SwimQuest tells us all about his passion for empowering people to start their swimming journey and stop punching below their weight. We all did a Pier to Pier swim and Hunter pops in to tell his story. Finally Vicki wants to follow her father down the River Avon on a very special Journey.

Welcome to Sound Escapes – your chance to relax to the sounds of nature no matter how busy you are. In this episode, we take you to Bickley Wood on the River Avon the outskirts of Bristol where bluebells are freshly in bloom. A gentle rain is falling. Recorded by Daniel Graham and presented by Hannah Tribe See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welcome to our latest Sound Escape, a chance to relax to the calming sounds of nature. In this episode, it is dusk on a flood-swollen River Avon on the outskirts of Bristol and the melodies of robins and song thrushes soothe the watery twilight. So sit back and be transported into the soundscapes of early spring. Recorded by Daniel Graham and presented by Hannah Tribe. Photo credit: Geograph See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Want to experience Stonehenge?See an incredible work of architecture that dates back to the 13th Century?Maybe you want to see an historic document from 1215?Then you'll want to tune into this episode all about Salisbury.This city in Wiltshire County in the South West region of England makes a great base for visiting Stonehenge.But stay so you can see the magnificent Salisbury Cathedral, gaze upon the Magna Carta and so you can wander the streets and have a pint with the locals.Salisbury is a very real English city with a fun, energetic vibe yet has loads of history to learn about.Get some great tips for traveling to the wonderful English city of Salisbury.And if you have more questions about this destination, hit me up at lynne@wanderyourway.comIf you haven't left a review, I'd love it if you would.In this episode:1:52 Tips on getting advice on a trip2:59 Putting Salisbury on the map3:47 Stonehenge10:33 Salisbury Cathedral16:25 The Magna Carta19:15 The Cathedral Close19:57 Queen Elizabeth Gardens20:51 River Avon path21:16 Butcher Row23:22 Cathedral View B&B23:42 Market Place Town SquareImportant links:Salisbury England: The Best Things To See and DoSalisbury Cathedral: One of the Best Reasons to Visit Salisbury EnglandCathedral View B&BStonehengeThe Stonehenge TourStonehenge Special Access ToursSalisbury CathedralWiltshire/Salisbury Tourism Don't forget to hit that subscribe button. And if you want more information on Europe travel, be sure to visit the Wander Your Way website.

The Road More Scenic Roads are often used as a powerful metaphor for our life's journey. M Scott Peck wrote the famous, “The Road Less Travelled.” Robert Frost wrote a favourite poem of mine, “The Road Not Taken.” https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44272/the-road-not-taken But I've chosen a different road that I'd like to share with you. It's the longer way to go, which I call, “The Road More Scenic.” I can share more with you if you watch the short 4 minute relaxation video I recorded. https://youtu.be/E6OIAUSZkVM On business that took me to Woodfalls in the New Forest last week, I deliberately took the Scenic Route allowing me the joy of the Avenue of Beech Trees at Moor Crichel (twice) as well as part of the Avenue of Beech Trees at Badbury Rings (twice though not shown on the video.) I suspect 25 minutes was added to my journey (with Lady Penelope riding shotgun). In return for that investment, my spirit and soul were fed, and my body too with a picnic in the car in the pouring rain outside St James' Church, Alderholt... magic (thought sad that St James is no longer, "Open for Prayer.") Other high points include the Pyramid of Moss and Brick near Hale Park House - I have no idea what this fascinating construction is for. Perhaps you can guess if you watch the video. Breamore Mill - stunningly squatting beside the River Avon and astride the mill race. The lit Christmas Tree was a nice touch too. The Tree of Life and Hope at Wimborne St Giles (my title... they may just call it, "Bob," or, "Uncle.") Ten thousand Snowdrops and enough Mistletoe to bruise your lips for a Century. I've never seen so much Mistletoe. En passant, spotting of the ruined Knowlton Church and the Philosopher's Tower (also not featured), Dorset landmarks dipped in history. To conclude, the Norman bridge at White Mill, over the River Stour, which is likely to be the oldest bridge in Dorset. On this day, the Stour swollen by so many showers… a raging, rushing, river commuting to the sea. Then there were Egrets. Egrets? I've had a few... My point? Enjoy the journey... the destination may be a bit grim and final. On our route we were overtaken several times by drivers clearly in more of a hurry... but for what? Press Pause and enjoy the journey. Now, it's your turn. What treasures do you delight in when you go out of your way to take The Road More Scenic? [And if you fancy another uplifting bonus, check out this gorgeous song by Darrell Scott, “And The River Is Me.” https://youtu.be/ZieYi8t_m3M ] I look forward to reading about your treasures. Thank You! If you'd like to say, "Thank You!" and fund the increased production of resources like this, you can support my work here: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/lexmckee

Let’s take an imaginary trip to see the Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, farmland, Tudor schoolrooms, Dr. Hall’s house and medicinal garden, Tudor streets, Holy Trinity Church, a world-class theatre, and swans on the river. In other words, let’s go strolling through Stratford with Shakespeare!As you get off the train at the Stratford Station, you can wander through the city, seeing the Town Square, Henley Street, High Street, and more on your way towards the River Avon and the Visitor Information center. You get maps and buy tickets there, and the guides can help you plan your day. I’m going to take you through just some highlights of the wonders of Stratford by following the map—of course, you could easily plan different routes, as the town is easily walkable!Along the River you’ll also find the world-famous Royal Shakespeare Company. The RSC typically welcomes more than a million visitors each year. The RSC is the only theatre company with its own armory right on-site; they produce breastplates, gauntlets, and all kinds of weapons for use in productions and education activities. The RSC runs three theatres: The Royal Shakespeare Theatre and the Swan Theatre, which share a building next to the River, and The Other Place, which is a short walk away.Continue your walk along the River, and you’ll come to Holy Trinity Church. The church holds many treasures for its visitors including the Thomas Becket chapel; the Crossing; the Altar, which features a medieval stone altar slab; a King James Bible published in 1611 that is chained in place to prevent it being stolen; and, of course, Shakespeare.This is the church where Shakespeare’s family worshipped. He was baptized here on 26 April 1564. It’s very likely he worshipped here with his family as a child and a young man, and that he returned to this church when he retired to Stratford after his life in London. Finally, Shakespeare was buried here on 25 April 1616, after his death on 23 April. It’s very likely he worshipped here with his family as a child and a young man, and that he returned to this church when he retired to Stratford after his life in London. And, of course, Shakespeare was buried here on 25 April 1616, after his death on 23 April. Getting to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage takes a mile walk, and it's definitely worth it. The cottage is a 12-room farmhouse where Anne lived with her family as a child. There are some items in the Cottage that will take you right back in time. The Hathaway Bed was made between 1580 and 1650. The Tester Bed is dated to the late 1500s, so it is likely associated with Anne’s family. In fact, it would certainly have been known to Anne while she lived there. The cottage is surrounded by nine acres of woodland, orchards, and gardens. You can take a woodland walk, visit the Shakespeare arboretum, and relax in a willow cabin while you listen to Shakespeare’s sonnets. Head to Henley Street and you'll find Shakespeare’s Birthplace. This is a true highlight of your day, as you’ll be able to get up close and personal with William Shakespeare and his family. John Shakespeare lived and worked in this house for 50 years. He married Mary Arden and they had eight children there. In 1568, John became Mayor of Stratford, a status that enabled his son to attend the King Edward VI school and also brought troops of traveling players to his home so he could approve their performances before they played in the Town Square. It’s easy to imagine young Will meeting actors and learning about play-making while living there. Stratford offers the opportunity to walk in Shakespeare’s footsteps, to get close to rare objects from his lifetime, and to explore the ways Shakespeare continues to shape our lives today.

3 rivers in 1 day around the Malvern Hills and Worcestershire. River Teme, River Severn and River Avon

Guests : Adam Haupt | Professor at UCT | Prof Duane Jethro | post-doctoral researcher at Centre for Anthropological Research on Museums & Heritage at Humboldt University| Yesterday, anti-racism protesters in England pulled down a statue of a 17th-century slave trader while demonstrating in solidarity with the US Black Lives Matter movement. The protesters in the city of Bristol, in southwest England, tied the bronze statue of Edward Colston with rope before toppling it to cheers from the surrounding crowd. Demonstrators were later seen rolling the statue to the nearby harbor and throwing it into the River Avon. The statue of Colston had stood in Bristol's city center since 1895 but had become increasingly controversial, with petitions created to demand its removal.

  As Black Lives Matter protests continue in the US and around the globe the issue of controversial statues has been raised. In Bristol over the weekend protestors pulled down the statue of Edward Colston, a 17th Century slave trader before dumping it in the River Avon.  Should controversial statues be torn down? Clare chats to Eamon Delaney, Author, commentator and the son of a sculptor, and hears from listeners Picture by: Ben Birchall/PA Wire/PA Images Listen and subscribe to Lunchtime Live on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.      Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.    You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Warwick Castle is a medieval castle developed from a wooden fort, originally built by William the Conqueror during 1068. Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England, situated on a bend of the River Avon. The original wooden motte-and-bailey castle was rebuilt in stone during the 12th century. During the Hundred Years War, the facade opposite the town was refortified, resulting in one of the most recognisable examples of 14th-century military architecture. It was used as a stronghold until the early 17th century, when it was granted to Sir Fulke Greville by James I in 1604. Greville converted it to a country house and it was owned by the Greville family, who became Earls of Warwick in 1759, until 1978 when it was bought by the Tussauds Group. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/allthingsplantagenet/support

Poet and wild swimmer Elizabeth-Jane Burnett joins Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough for an inspirational dip in the chilly River Avon. Elizabeth-Jane's latest book, The Grassling, is a nature memoir about her father, his illness and her attempts to reconnect with the fields and rivers that sustained and moulded his family for generations. Her poetry collection Swims describes a series of wild swims around Britain, connecting them to the environmental and political issues of the day. In Worcestershire she enjoys her first taste of the River Avon, braving the cold but enjoying the sand martins, the skylarks and a low flying heron which might just find itself immortalised in Elizabeth-Jane's next poetry collection. Producer: Alasdair Cross

Here they come, blowing up your phone, getting funniest looks from, everyone who hears;, hey hey it’s the Nerds. That’s right folks, look out, strap in and enjoy the ride of yet another fantastic fun filled episode of chaos and laughter. Also I know you started to sing along with us in that opening sentence, just go with it and enjoy. First up we look at a robot using origami to pick things up. It is truly spectacular! The boys get Nerdy and geek out over this and the applications it could be used for. When you look at what it can do you will understand. Then as we wander through the show the DJ giggles constantly like he fit to burst, we aren’t sure what was in his milk that morning but hey, it worked. The next stop on our magical mystery tour is Pokemon and the Brain, that’s right folks Pokemon and the Brain, not Pinky. Although this has been more successful in taking over the world then Pinky; note, we need to copyright that idea before….too late. Anyway, we take a look at how watching pokemon is affecting people’s brains, and we don’t mean the crazy people running out in traffic to catch Jigglypuff. The DJ continues to giggle as he tells us about Sonic the Hedgehog and the change that is happening to rectify the massive failure that was released to so much anger. This is serious folks, some idiot somewhere is trying to make something look even more ridiculous then Will Smith in body paint…and that is a really hard thing to do. Then as normal we have the shout outs, remembrances, birthdays and events of the week, which has some pretty funny moments for your enjoyment. We apologise if this is too informative for some listeners, also hello to the NSA, CIA and the rest of the alphabet soup, we know you are listening. Also we wish to acknowledge the Penguins as the Earths Alien overlords, they rule the galaxy. As always, take care of each other, stay safe and keep hydrated. EPISODE NOTES: Robotics and origami - https://www.sciencenews.org/article/origami-design-helps-robot-lift-delicate-and-heavy-cargoPokemon and brains - https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/05/theres-a-brain-region-for-pokemon-characters-if-you-played-a-lot-as-a-kid/ -https://www.futurity.org/pokemon-players-brains-2054662/Sonic the Hedgehog movie character changes - https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2471298/sonic-the-hedgehog-co-creator-thanks-fans-for-pushing-to-change-movieGames Currently playingBuck – Assassin’s Creed unity - https://store.steampowered.com/app/289650/Assassins_Creed_Unity/Professor– Minecraft - https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/DJ – Apex Legends - https://www.ea.com/games/apex-legendsOther topics dicussedFacehugger (Alien monster)- https://avp.fandom.com/wiki/FacehuggerSpot (Boston Dynamics robot)- https://www.bostondynamics.com/spot-classicFarmbot - Backyard robot for a fully automated garden- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqYrAWssrrY2019 video games hall of fame inductees- https://www.worldvideogamehalloffame.org/gamesWindows 1.0 (Operating Software)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_1.0Grandmother Cell also known as Jennifer Aniston neuron- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandmother_cellChina having more gamers than the American population- https://www.pcgamer.com/China-PC-online-game-market-report-2019/?utm_content=bufferc26c7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=buffer-pcgamertwStanford University- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_UniversityVarious Stanford university experiments- Stanford prison experiment - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_prison_experiment- Mozart effect - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozart_effectBaby bump headphones- https://www.amazon.com.au/BellyBuds-Baby-Bump-Headphones-Bellyphones-WavHello/dp/B01A6B3H9IDetective Pikachu director’s opinion on the Sonic the Hedgehog - https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/3/18528628/detective-pikachu-sonic-the-hedgehog-cgi-live-action-pokemonSonic the Hedgehog fans redesign live action Sonic- https://www.polygon.com/2019/3/6/18253330/sonic-the-hedgehog-live-action-fan-redesignMario movie in the works- https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendos-mario-movie-gets-a-release-window/1100-6464748/Nintendo movies Phase OneImage link - https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D5nCFkUXsAERrAG.jpg:largeTweet - https://twitter.com/AwestruckVox/status/1124143052287815683Apex Legends losing momentum- https://www.polygon.com/2019/4/12/18300950/apex-legends-content-decline-update-patch-fortnite- https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2019/04/26/respawn-has-a-very-good-reason-for-why-apex-legends-updates-are-coming-slowly/#7323db327d9eA Dangerous Method (2011 movie)- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Dangerous_MethodSigmund Freud Museum - https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/sigmund-freud-museumEdward Jenner - pioneer of smallpox vaccine, the world's first vaccine- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_JennerAli Maow Maalin - Last person known to be infected with smallpox- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Maow_MaalinThe Shane Oliver Experience (TNC podcast)- https://thatsnotcanon.com/shaneoliverexperienceShoutouts 5 May 2017 - “Baahubali 2: The Conclusion” becomes the highest grossing Indian box office film ever earning $120 million - https://deadline.com/2017/05/baahubali-2-the-conclusion-record-box-office-india-imax-north-america-worldwide-prabhas-1202079770/8 May 1885 - Suicide Woman floats safely - 22-year-old Sarah Ann Henley decided to end her life by throwing herself off the Clifton Suspension Bridge, originally designed by the great Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It stands 101 metres (331ft) above the River Avon and spans a 400-metre wide gorge. It has been considered an engineering marvel ever since it was opened in 1864. Sarah, a barmaid and a follower of fashion, was wearing a wide crinoline skirt, popular at the time. And according to the Bristol Magpie Newspaper: “There being a breeze blowing on Friday the young woman’s clothes were inflated and her descent was thereby considerably checked and the wind also prevented her falling straight into the water, and she was carried into the soft mud on the side.” - https://www.onthisday.com/articles/suicide-woman-floats-to-safety6 May 1994 – The Channel Tunnel, latest wonder of the world,linking England and France, was officially opened on this day, nearly 200 years after the idea was first suggested. There were many misgivings, the sea having protected for centuries what Shakespeare described as “this precious stone set in the silver sea . . . this fortress built by Nature for herself against infection and the hand of war”. But the demands of modern commerce prevailed and the completed tunnel – stretching 31.4 miles under the sea – was hailed as one of the “seven wonders of the modern world" by the American Society of Civil Engineers. They rated it alongside the Empire State Building, the Itaipu Dam in South America, the CNN Tower in Toronto, the Panama Canal, the North Sea protection works in the Netherlands, and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It took six years to build at a cost of £4.65 billion – £12 billion ($17 billion) in today’s money. There is no facility for vehicles to be driven through – everything and everybody goes by train. Up to 400 of them pass through the tunnel each day, carrying an average of 50,000 passengers, 6,000 cars, 180 coaches and 54,000 tonnes of freight on the 35-minute journey. The average depth of the tunnel is 50 metres below the seabed, and the lowest point 75 metres below. To accomplish the task, 11 boring machines were used, each as long as two football pitches. They weighed a total of 12,000 tonnes, which is more than the Eiffel Tower. One of the machines remains buried under the sea while another, amazingly, was sold on eBay in 2004 for £40,000 ($57,000). - https://www.onthisday.com/articles/latest-wonder-of-the-worldRemembrances30 April 2019 – Peter Mayhew, English-American actor, best known for portraying Chewbacca in the Star Wars film series. He played the character in all of his live-action appearances from the 1977 original to 2015's The Force Awakens before his retirement from the role. Mayhew was not in Star Wars: The Last Jedi but was listed in the credits as "Chewbacca Consultant". Mayhew retired from playing Chewbacca due to health issues. Joonas Suotamo shared the portrayal of Chewbacca with Mayhew in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and then replaced him in subsequent Star Wars films. He died of a heart attack at 74 in Boyd, Texas - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Mayhew2 May 2019 - Chris Reccardi, American cartoon director, graphic designer, animator, character designer, producer, writer and storyboard artist. He is best known for his work on the Nickelodeon animated series The Ren & Stimpy Show, and storyboarded many shows, including Samurai Jack,The Powerpuff Girls, Tiny Toon Adventures, and had directing duties on Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go! and SpongeBob SquarePants. He was also the supervising producer for the first season of Regular Show and creative director for the short-lived Secret Mountain Fort Awesome. In 2007, he co-created and developed a pilot for Nickelodeon called The Modifyers alongside Lynne Naylor, to whom he had been married to since 1994. He died of a heart attack at 54 in Ventura, California - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Reccardi6 May 1992 - Marlene Dietrich, German-American actress and singer. Throughout her long career, which spanned from the 1910s to the 1980s, she continually reinvented herself In 1920s Berlin, Dietrich acted on the stage and in silent films. Her performance as Lola-Lola in The Blue Angel (1930) brought her an international profile and a contract with Paramount Pictures. Dietrich starred in Hollywood films such as Morocco (1930), Shanghai Express (1932), and Desire (1936). She successfully traded on her glamorous persona and "exotic" looks and became one of the highest-paid actresses of the era. Throughout World War II, she was a high-profile entertainer in the United States. Although she still made occasional films after the war like Witness for the Prosecution (1957), Dietrich spent most of the 1950s to the 1970s touring the world as a marquee live-show performer. Dietrich was known for her humanitarian efforts during the war, housing German and French exiles, providing financial support and even advocating their U.S. citizenship. For her work on improving morale on the front lines during the war, she received several honors from the United States, France, Belgium, and Israel. In 1999, the American Film Institute named Dietrich the ninth greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema. She died of renal failure at 90 in Paris, France - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlene_DietrichFamous Birthdays5 May 1921 - Arthur Leonard Schawlow, Americanphysicist and co-inventor of the laser with Charles Townes. His central insight, which Townes overlooked, was the use of two mirrors as the resonant cavity to take maser action from microwaves to visible wavelengths. He shared the 1981 Nobel Prize in Physics with Nicolaas Bloembergen and Kai Siegbahn for his work using lasers to determine atomic energy levels with great precision. He was born in Mount Vernon, New York - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Leonard_Schawlow6 May 1856 - Sigmund Freud, Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, a clinical method for treating psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst. In creating psychoanalysis, Freud developed therapeutic techniques such as the use of free association and discovered transference, establishing its central role in the analytic process. Freud's redefinition of sexuality to include its infantile forms led him to formulate the Oedipus complex as the central tenet of psychoanalytical theory. His analysis of dreams as wish-fulfillments provided him with models for the clinical analysis of symptom formation and the underlying mechanisms of repression. On this basis Freud elaborated his theory of the unconscious and went on to develop a model of psychic structure comprising id, ego and super-ego. Freud postulated the existence of libido, a sexualised energy with which mental processes and structures are invested and which generates erotic attachments, and a death drive, the source of compulsive repetition, hate, aggression and neurotic guilt. In his later works, Freud developed a wide-ranging interpretation and critique of religion and culture. Though in overall decline as a diagnostic and clinical practice, psychoanalysis remains influential within psychology, psychiatry, and psychotherapy, and across the humanities. It thus continues to generate extensive and highly contested debate about its therapeutic efficacy, its scientific status, and whether it advances or is detrimental to the feminist cause. Nonetheless, Freud's work has suffused contemporary Western thought and popular culture. In the words of W. H. Auden's 1940 poetic tribute to Freud, he had created "a whole climate of opinion / under whom we conduct our different lives". He was born in Freiberg in Mähren, Moravia,Austrian Empire (now Příbor, Czech Republic). - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigmund_Freud6 May 1915 - Orson Welles, American actor, director, writer and producer who worked in theatre, radio and film. He is remembered for his innovative work in all three: in theatre, most notably Caesar (1937), a Broadway adaptation of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar; in radio, the long-remembered 1938 broadcast "The War of the Worlds"; and in film, Citizen Kane (1941), consistently ranked as one of the greatest films ever made. Welles was an outsider to the studio system and directed only thirteen full-length films in his career. He struggled for creative control on his projects early on with the major film studios in Hollywood and later in life with a variety of independent financiers across Europe, where he spent most of his career. Many of his films were either heavily edited or remained unreleased. His distinctive directorial style featured layered and nonlinear narrative forms, uses of lighting such as chiaroscuro, unusual camera angles, sound techniques borrowed from radio, deep focus shots and long takes. He has been praised as "the ultimate auteur". In 2002 Welles was voted the greatest film director of all time in two British Film Institute polls among directors and critics. Known for his baritone voice, Welles performed extensively across theatre, radio and film, and was a lifelong magician noted for presenting troop variety shows in the war years. He was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Welles8 May 1828 - Henry Dunant, Swiss businessman and social activist, the founder of the Red Cross, and the first recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. The 1864 Geneva Convention was based on Dunant's ideas. In 1901 he received the first Nobel Peace Prize together with Frédéric Passy, making Dunant the first Swiss Nobel laureate. During a business trip in 1859, Dunant was witness to the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino in modern-day Italy. He recorded his memories and experiences in the book A Memory of Solferino which inspired the creation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 1863. He was born in Geneva, Switzerland - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_DunantEvents of Interest6 May 1937 - Hindenburg Disaster, The German passenger airship LZ 129 Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed during its attempt to dock with its mooring mast at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in the United States. Of the 97 people on board (36 passengers and 61 crewmen), there were 35 fatalities. One worker on the ground was also killed, making a total of 36 dead. The disaster, caught on newsreel coverage and in photographs shattered public confidence in the giant, passenger carrying Zeppelins and marked the end of the airship era. - https://www.onthisday.com/photos/hindenburg-disaster7 May 1946 – Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering (later renamed Sony) is founded with around 20 employees. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Sony7 May 1952 – The concept of the integrated circuit, the basis for all modern computers, is first published by Geoffrey Dummer. - https://www.wired.com/2010/05/0507integrated-circuit-concept-published/8 May 1980 – The World Health Organization confirms the eradication of smallpox. - http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/dm79sp.html - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7044193IntroArtist – Goblins from MarsSong Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJFollow us on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NerdsAmalgamated/Email - Nerds.Amalgamated@gmail.comTwitter - https://twitter.com/NAmalgamatedSpotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6Nux69rftdBeeEXwD8GXrSiTunes - https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/top-shelf-nerds/id1347661094RSS - http://www.thatsnotcanonproductions.com/topshelfnerdspodcast?format=rss

Podcast 26: Canoeing down the Avon Journalism at its hard hitting best in this one. What started as 3 men in a boat on a summer’s day on the River Avon escalated into what has been described as, “One of the most insightful knot workshops of our time, a whole […]

One of the ways to explore a place is through its sounds - & in this episode, Dan Pope took me on a soundwalk along the River Avon to find out what we could hear. We talked about what soundwalks are, Dan's work as an acoustic consultant, how soundscapes can be added to places, and what people can use to explore sounds in their area. There are some resources, a map and lots of links on my website: https://avonstories.com/2018/04/26/podcast-23-soundwalking-dan-pope/

As you can guess, from the fact I make podcasts, I really love the medium, and one of the ones I enjoy is the Bristol History Podcast. This has been created by Tom Brothwell, and he interviews different historians and authors to cover a wide range of different subjects that he's interested in, and wants to find out more about. We talked about why he started, his approaches to history, and lots more, including some of the history about the River Avon. For links to Tom's podcasts and more things we talked about, click through to my website: https://avonstories.com/2018/04/18/podcast-22-tom-brothwell-bristol-history-podcast/

Shawn Sobers is a filmmaker, photographer, writer, curator and academic, and I always found his community-based practice and his range of interests to be completely inspiring. We walked along the River Avon at Lacock on a snowy day, and talked about what he does, and how and why he does it, about teaching photography, his film-making practice, projects about TransAtlantic slavery, the sinking of the SS Mendi and much more. There are links to Shawn's work, and things we talked about, on my website: https://avonstories.com/2018/04/05/podcast-21-shawn-sobers/

Bristol's New Cut was built to enable River Avon to be turned into the fixed-height Floating Harbour, to try to keep Bristol as one of the most important ports in the UK, while the tidal river would be diverted through a huge trench. Now, the Cut is an urban nature reserve, a green corridor that's home to a wide range of flora and fauna. Roy Gallop took me for a walk along the river, and told me about the history, nature and future of the Cut, and how the Friends of the Avon New Cut have worked to celebrate and protect it. Links, photos and maps that go with this podcast are on my website, https://avonstories.com/2018/01/11/podcast-16-avon-new-cut/

Black-tailed godwits are an elegant long legged bird about the size of a pigeon. In the summer they are found in the arctic where the Icelandic race of this species then migrates to Britain to spend the winter in relatively warmer weather. For this week's Living World Brett Westwood relives programmes from the Living World archives with an episode from 2013 which sees Chris Sperring visit a private estate in Hampshire where 2000 black tailed godwit visit their flooded water meadows along the River Avon in winter. Here Chris is guided by Pete Potts from Operation Godwit.

The first of a two-part podcast with Dr Peter Fleming of the University of the West of England talking about Bristol in Medieval times, and how the River Avon and the River Frome were integral in making it one of the most important cities in England and Western Europe. We talk about the physical city and the infrastructure, how the geography made Bristol so important, as well as how people lived, who had the power, and what the city would have looked (and smelled) like. There are maps, photos and links to things we talked about on my website https://avonstories.com/2017/06/27/avon-stories-podcast-3/

Avon Stories is a podcast exploring the River Avon in Bristol, and one of the best resources to learn about the city and the river is Know Your Place, where you can overlay maps going back to the early eighteenth century onto current maps, and view photos, paintings and all kinds of archive material in context - and add your own, to help build up the record of the city.. Pete Insole is the Historic Environments Officer who runs Know Your Place, and he how and why it was developed, how it has expanded across the whole of South West England, and how it helps us understand some of the key aspects of the city's history, including, of course, the River Avon. Find the links to things we talked about over at the Avon Stories website: https://avonstories.com/2017/06/03/avon-stories-podcast-1-pete-insole/

The DreamPod travelled to the fair city of Bristol in the UK to record a special edition in the shadow of Brunel's famous ship SS Great Britain. Regular hosts Tom, Rob and Mike got together on the banks of the River Avon to sit down and - for the first time in DreamPod history - speak face to face about the pertinent points from the Dreamcast scene. New Dreamcast multiplayer game Alice Dreams Tournament, Orion's latest release Escape 2042, the new Shenmue jacket from Insert Coin, and the upcoming Dreamcast book from Pix 'N Love are all discussed. Elsewhere, Tom discusses selling off large parts of his retro collection and the DreamStream Nintendo Switch April fools joke; while Mike and Rob discuss their experiences with Mass Effect Andromeda. Finally, questions from the Facebook group are tackled. Please excuse the background interruptions from seagulls, random trains, groups of drunk skateboarders and police sirens. This is DreamPod 49, and we hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed recording it!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dcjunkyard)

The River Avon and Pulteney Bridge

Jack rides with singer-songwriter and cycle-tourist Jet McDonald, setting out from Bristol on a summer evening, riding along the banks of the River Avon, through the industrial landscape of Avonmouth to the banks of the River Severn and beyond. Continue reading →

Professor Mike Parker Pearson (UCL Institute of Archaeology) has published a new timeline of the construction phases of Stonehenge from its use as a cemetery in 3000 BCE to its construction and subsequent decline. Professor Parker Pearson sheds light on how Stonehenge was part of a greater network of settlements linked by the River Avon and how the neighbouring village was used as a workers' camp with seasonal residents coming from as far away as northern Scotland. Further info: www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles…/130311-stonehenge Interactive meograph timeline: www.meograph.com/ucl/33276/rewrit…nehenges-history Featuring additional field recordings from Jaap Sijben (swallow birdsong) and Philip Goddard (river sounds). UCL is consistently ranked as one of the world's top universities. Across all disciplines our faculties are known for their research-intensive approaches, academic excellence and engagement with global challenges. This is the basis of our world-renowned degree programmes. Visit us at ucl.ac.uk.

Discover Stratford-upon-Avon! Situated on the banks of the River Avon amidst the beautiful Warwickshire countryside, the birthplace of William Shakespeare is one of the most visited tourist destnations in the UK. Susan Spence introduces you to the Holiday Inn, then takes you on a whirlwind trip of Stratford-upon-Avon, visiting along the way, Shakespeare's Birthplace and the Falstaff Experience, as well as discovering where Dame Judi Denich likes to eat when she comes to town!