Podcasts about Wye

Fresh from her recent BAFTA success – the award-winning actress, writer and producer - Ruth Jones is with us. Ruth's latest book of fiction is a story where the main character embarks on one last investigation for a council's Unclaimed Heirs Unit... and along the way, the character discovers the importance of holding onto friendship and community.He's the architectural alchemist who has guided us through communities around the UK, where people who turn their creative dreams into homes. The TV presenter and writer - Kevin McCloud – is with us under the canvas of this delightful Hay Festival tent. And GT Karber is the mastermind behind the phenomenon – Murdle – a series of murder mystery puzzle books. Greg is the son of a judge and a civil rights attorney who grew up in the community of Arkansas in the United States. But he's taken a break from conjuring up his puzzling and logical creations to join us in the Hay-on-Wye countryside. Plus the Inheritance Tracks of the comedian Ivo Graham. Presenters: Huw Stephens and Kiri Pritchard-McLeanProducer: Gareth Nelson-Davies

Die Namibia Stud Game Breeders-veiling vind plaas op Saterdag, 10 Mei om 18:00 by die Nedbank Sky Garden in Windhoek. 'n Wye verskeidenheid wild sal aangebied word, insluitend teel- en jagbulle, verse en koeie van spesies soos swartwitpens, goue wildebeeste, swart en witflank springbokke, rooibokke, roan, lechwe, nyala, kameelperde, elande, rooihartbeeste, blesbokke, en zebrafamilies. Hoogtepunte sluit in 'n renosterkoei met kalf, 'n 51' swartwitpensbul en 'n 50'+ koedoe-bul. Kosmos 94.1 Nuus het gesels met Paul Klein van Agra Auctions, wat ons meer vertel.

Werkersdag word landwyd gevier met 'n sterk klem op swart bemagtiging en die jeug. 44 Ethiopiërs word uit 'n huis in Sandton, Johannesburg, gered. Wye reaksie op die regering se besluit om 'n kommissie van ondersoek aan te stel in verband met apartheidsgruweldade.

Artist Jack Hilton talks about leading with color, how failure begets momentum, the literary touchpoints that have been informing his practice, and much more.Jack Hilton, b.1996, is a London-based painter.Hilton's work explores history, literature and mythology. Often a real historical episode is presented like a myth or biblical drama, riffing on the long tradition of History Painting. Subjects vary from the Tower of Babel to Bayeux Tapestry ships on fire. In the process Hilton aims to give a fresh sense of emotional resonance or comedy to these scenes.Hilton uses these intense narratives as a leaping-off point for a more formal exploration of colour and pattern-making. He used figuration in a heraldic, patchwork kind of way, with large parts of the canvas blocked out by flat colour, interrupted by layered shapes. In art as in life, what you take out is sometimes more important than what you put in.Following a degree in English Literature at the University of Sussex, Hilton began painting professionally in 2020. He has been part of many group exhibitions including with Felt Collections (London) and Reuter Bausch (Luxembourg). His first solo show came in the winter of 2023 at The Table, Hay-on-Wye followed by another at Galleriet Agnes in Copenhagen in summer 2024.Hilton comes from a family of painters. His grandparents were the acclaimed St Ives artists Rose and Roger Hilton.Jack's work: jackhilton.co.ukJack's Instagram: @jackhilton_art

Send us a textIn this month's delayed episode, Col Andy Taylor and Rev Paul Roberts take a walk out to Hoarwithy, between Hereford and Ross-on-Wye on the banks of the river Wye.  The impressive Byzantine / Romanesque / Tuscan beauty of St Catherine's Church catches their eye and they explore then local men commemorated on the War Memorial there.The great great uncle of regular listener Steve Parkes was one on those commemorated here.  George Edwards of the Herefordshire Regiment is buried in St Catherine's Churchyard and in 2018 a service was held to rededicate his repaired headstone.  George was wounded at Gallipoli and in Palestine and died of wounds in Bristol.  Other men Andy and Paul look into include 61 year old Royal Naval Reserve officer Ernest Baker, who died in September 1945.The next port of call is the New Harp Inn below the church in the centre of the village.  In 1908 the newly formed Herefordshire Regiment of the Territorial Force camped behind the pub as part of a recruiting drive.  The men repaired to the New Harp and managed to drink the pub dry.  A contemporary newspaper account reports that a fracas ensued and several windows were broken, which had to be paid for by the Regiment.    Despite their best efforts Paul and Andy weren't able to repeat this feat!Support the showIf you like what you hear, don't forget to like and subscribe to help us reach a wider audience. Visit our website - Herefordshire Light Infantry Museum; follow us on Facebook Herefordshire Regimental Museum | Facebook or visit our Youtube channel Herefordshire Regimental Museum - YouTube.Support the Museum? Become a Patreon supporter or a Become a FriendTheme Tune - The Lincolnshire Poacher, performed by the outstanding Haverhill Silver Band. This podcast generously supported by the Army Museums Ogilby Trust.

We begin a week of selections from Lyrical Ballads with today's nostalgic and pastoral poem, “Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, on Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour, July 13, 1798.” Happy reading!Jonathan Kerr of the Wordsworth Trust writes about the revolutionary context of the Lyrical Ballads and the revolutionary nature of the project itself:“Wordsworth and Coleridge's first major literary undertaking and a pioneering work of English Romanticism – came into being at a tumultuous moment in England's history…Not since the English Revolution had the country faced such alarming upheaval and discord within its borders.On first glance it might not seem like the little collection authored by Wordsworth and Coleridge has much to do with this heady and factional atmosphere. Lyrical Ballads came about in the spring and summer of 1798, when the Coleridge and Wordsworth families lived as neighbours in the secluded village of Holford, Somerset. Wordsworth and Coleridge had only known one another a short time, but they became quick friends and mutually-admiring colleagues. The small village provided both poets with a break from the spirited goings-on of cities like London and Bristol, which could often be dangerous places for young men with unorthodox opinions. Coleridge and Wordsworth, both committed reformers through the early years of the French Revolution, knew this is as well as anybody, and their retreat into the country was motivated as much by concerns for their personal security as anything else.…Whether or not Wordsworth and Coleridge continued to sympathize with the revolution abroad, there can be little doubt that with Lyrical Ballads the two were committed to one kind of revolution at least, a revolution in the sphere of poetry and art. Lyrical Ballads is among other things an attempt to purify poetry of the cold conventions which had come to dominate the literary scene, at least according to both poets; in place of this, Wordsworth and Coleridge wanted to bring poetry back to what is most common and recognizable, and also most important, within our emotional, social, and imaginative lives. If this doesn't seem like such an extraordinary undertaking today, this might owe to the remarkable success of Wordsworth and Coleridge's quiet revolution on the literary front.” This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

Leila Johnston and Fraser Allen are back to take you behind the scenes at the Library of Mistakes. And in this packed episode we...•Hear from theatre director and actor Liam Rees about his show The Land That Never Was. It's based on the adventures of 19th century Scottish conman Gregor MacGregor, who sold bonds on behalf of a South American country that was a figment of his imagination!•Explore what happened at the Weekend of Mistakes in Hay-on-Wye (including clips from speakers).•Chat to the team behind Leavers' Money Skills, helping Scottish school-leavers to cope with the life of finance ahead of them.•And our Librarian Helen Williams discusses our books on Russia, Putin and Trump!If you have any feedback, ideas or can name the song briefly alluded to at the end of this episode (and the band that originally sung it) – you could win a Library of Mistakes mug! – simply email fraser@libraryofmistakes.com or leila@libraryofmistakes.com

In this edition of the Money Makers Investment Trusts Podcast, Jonathan Davis, editor of the Investment Trusts Handbook and winner of the 2024 AIC Best Broadcast Journalist Award, is joined by two experts on financial history, Russell Napier, global market strategist and founder of the Library of Mistakes in Edinburgh, and Edward Chancellor, historian and author of The Price of Time, to put the dramas of Trump 2.0 in context. This discussion was recorded on 25 March 2025 at the Weekend of Mistakes in Hay-on-Wye. *** Out now: The 2025 Investment Trusts Handbook *** The Investment Trusts Handbook is an independent educational publication designed to provide investors with a handy annual reference book that summarises all you need to know about investment trusts. Now in its eighth year, the Handbook is a high-quality, full-colour hardback of more than 340 pages, the largest yet, with reviews of the past year, extensive interviews and commentary, plus nearly 80 pages of “how to” information and performance data. Available to order from Harriman House (https://harriman-house.com/ithb2025) or Amazon. There is also a free e-book version you can read on a PC, tablet or smartphone, plus an audiobook version. Next week Jonathan will be speaking and signing copies of the Handbook at the Master Investor show in London on March 29th. *** Section Timestamps: 0:00:24 - Introduction 0:01:33 - Putting the Trump presidency into historical context 0:04:36 - Market reactions 0:06:50 - Trump's motivations and agenda 0:11:52 - Will Scott Bessent reign in Trump's more extravagant proposals? 0:16:00 - A short break 0:16:56 - Returning to capital controls and a loss of independence in central banks? 0:22:21 - Anticipating a change in market style 0:25:34 - Gold 0:27:58 - Putting on a hard hat 0:29:50 - The Library of Mistakes, London 0:30:36 - Close If you enjoy the weekly podcast, you may also find value in joining The Money Makers Circle. This is a membership scheme that offers listeners to the podcast an opportunity, in return for a modest monthly or annual subscription, to receive additional premium content, including interviews, performance data, links to third party research, market/portfolio reviews and regular comments from the editor. A subscription costs £12 a month or £120 for one year. This week, as well as the usual features, the Circle features a profile of Baillie Gifford US Growth (USA). Future profiles include Invesco Global Equity Income (IGET) and RIT Capital Partners (RCP). Our new expanded weekly subscriber email includes a comprehensive summary of all the latest news plus the week's biggest share price, NAV and discount movements. Subscribe and you will never miss any important developments from the sector. For more information please visit money-makers.co/membership-join. Membership helps to cover the cost of producing the weekly investment trust podcast, which will continue to be free for the foreseeable future. We are very grateful for your continued support and the enthusiastic response to our more than 260 podcasts since launch. You can find more information, including relevant disclosures, at www.money-makers.co. Please note that this podcast is provided for educational purposes only and nothing you hear should be considered as investment advice. Our podcasts are also available on the Association of Investment Companies website, www.theaic.co.uk. Produced by Ben Gamblin.

Although it's still a few months away I'm already getting excited about this year's FyneFest. It's one of the most important dates in my calendar, not just because we head up there to host our Meet the Brewer panel discussions, but because it's simply one of the best beer-focussed events that the UK has to offer.While I tend to get misty-eyed over glorious pints of Jarl from the source, I also recognise it as a chance to try some truly special beers that I don't normally get to enjoy. The Origins Bar, where our talks take place, is a great example of this. Here you'll find plenty of funky wild beers and mixed ferments from several breweries including Fyne's own Origins project, plus wild-fermented ciders from producers such as Ross-on-Wye. For this discussion we decided to focus on the biggest beers pouring at the festival: stouts, barleywines, strong saisons and biere de garde—the kind of beers a situation like FyneFest is the perfect place to treat yourself too. On the panel I'm joined by Gareth Young from Glasgow's Epochal Barrel Fermented Ales, Lally Morrison from Polly's Brew Co in Mold, North Wales, and Sean Knight from Siren Craft Brew in Berkshire. Each brewer brought something truly special for us to taste, in addition to their wealth of knowledge and experience in producing these kinds of beers. Tune in for a little bit of ‘how' but plenty more ‘why' and, indeed, why we can expect lots more big beers from these breweries in the future.We're able to produce The Pellicle Podcast directly thanks to our Patreon subscribers, and our sponsors Loughran Brewers Select. If you're enjoying this podcast, or the weekly articles we publish, please consider taking out a monthly subscription for less than the price of a pint a month.

An anxiety pulling up of my socks, with Martin Johnson We continue to mine our families for quality cider content, and this time it's Albert's turn to provide a relative, in the shape of his fellow @rosscider maker, @yewtreepeterstow supremo and, coincidentally, brother, Martin Johnson. We discuss the running of a perfect cider pub, and everything Martin has done to transform the Yew Tree into just that. Storage and service of cider, how to get drinkers to give new things a try and bringing cider together with food. (Stand by for a wet sandwich supper club now that Albert has rightly fallen for the mighty Italian Beef). Featuring a swathe of Broome Farm ciders as you'd expect, we test Albert's knowledge of his own batches and discover just how hard we can plug Ross-on-Wye.

Wye reaksie op die nuwe onteieningswet wat deur President Cyril Ramaphosa bekragtig is. Die Wes-Kaapse onderwysdepartement reageer op die skietdood van 'n skoolhoof in Kraaifontein. Kollega Annamarie Jansen van Vuuren berig uit Los Angeles waar die jongste benoemings vir vanjaar se Oscars aangekondig is. Volgens die VN is sowat 2 000 kinders in Gasa wees gelaat sedert die oorlog tussen Israel en Hamas in Oktober 2023 uitgebreek het.

Albert Johnson on Ross on Wye Cider & Perry Offerings This is the 3rd time we have featured Albert Johnson because it is always a treat to hear about the happenings at Ross on Wye Cider and Perry. In particular, we catch up on the accommodations on site for visitors and of course the wide range of single varietal ciders. Albert Johnson In this Cider Chat Visitor Experiences and Accommodations Discussion on camping, bed & breakfast options, and orchard chalets. Includes details on the Yew Tree pub and its offerings. Cider Offerings and Unique Styles Explanation of single varietal ciders, dry cider philosophy, and production techniques. Events and Festivals Highlights of monthly cider clubs, Ciderganza, Summertime Soiree, and the Ross Cider Fest. Cider Pairing Insights Recommendations for pairing cider with specific dishes, including creamy pastas, fish, and spicy curries. Social Media and Community Engagement Albert's approach to outreach via tastings, social media, and fostering personal connections. Future Plans and Challenges Focus on growth strategies, challenges in the UK cider market, and maintaining the unique identity of Ross on Wye. Conclusion and Final Thoughts Reflection on the importance of community, passion for cider, and welcoming visitors to Ross on Wye. B&B Breakfast by Aunt Hillary at Broome Farm B&B Event Calendar at Ross Ross Cider Fest: Starts the Thursday after the August Bank Holiday (varies yearly, e.g., August 28 in 2025). Ciderganza: Easter weekend. Summertime Soiree Ross-tober-fest: Contact for Ross on Wye Cider and Perry Company Yew Tree Pub, Ross on Wye Cider and Perry Co. Website: rosscider.com Mentions in this Cider Chat Totally Cider Tour to the UK – send an email to info@ciderchat.com to get on the wait list for this 2025 tour taking place August 25-31, 2025 Snowcapped Cider | Colorado CiderCon2025 Promo Code –  Once you get to the registration form, towards the end of the first page you'll reach a section in the form that says “additional registration information” and there is a question: If you have a coupon, please enter code here (case-sensitive): CiderChat Past Episodes with Albert Johnson 410: International Perry Panel | CiderCon 2024 404: Ross Cider and Perry is Lit! 194: The Reason for Being | Ross on Wye Cider & Perry, UK

Send us a textEpisode 264 with Peter ArfieldI catch up with Peter to talk about a wide range of subjects that he answers in his own, inimitable and humorous way.He talls me about how he first started fishing the Wye in Derbyshire and the lessons he learnt while observing the trout in the clear water.We talk casting and why he decided to take a qualification and the impact it had on his fishing.Many will know of his tackle shop that was in Bakewell and I learn how it started and the challenges he faced.Please forgive the slight issues with sound that I hope don't detract from an interesting and amusing interview.Free to download and enjoy!

Jane Peyton, author of The Philosophy of Cider and founder of the School of Booze, brings her deep knowledge of cider and its cultural history to the forefront in this enlightening conversation. Jane Peyton at Hereford AppleFest Banquet 2024 Key Points Covered Cider's Cultural Significance The apple as a symbol in global traditions and languages.   Historical mentions, from Norse mythology to Captain Cook's voyages. Defining Cider Cider is pressed, not brewed, differentiating it from beer.   Diverse expressions of cider, from tannic and dry to sweet and fizzy. The Legacy of Susanna Forbes A heartfelt tribute to Susanna Forbes' impact on the cider world. Jane's Philosophy on Cider Advocating for better representation of cider on menus.   Mainstream vs. artisanal cider perspectives. The School of Booze Jane's initiative to educate on cider, beer, and more.   Her work as a writer and accredited pommelier. Highlights from the Philosopher of Cider Recommended Reads and Tastings: The Philosophy of Cider and Jane's other publications.   Examples of cider diversity, including champagne-method ciders.   Memorable Quotes: “Slow cider is sunlight in a glass, the liquid expression of the orchard's soul.”   “Cider is not apple beer—it's pressed, not brewed.”   Ciders and Perries Mentioned: Little Pomona's offerings   Ross on Wye ciders Contact for Jane Peyton Website School of Booze   B.A. Summers novels Sole Brethren: Left To Their Own Devices & Sole Brethren: If The Shoe Fits Mentions in this Cider Chat Hereford Applefest 2024 film - https://www.herefordshirelifethroughalens.org.uk/cider-perry/   CiderCon2025 Promo Code –  Once you get to the registration form, towards the end of the first page you'll reach a section in the form that says “additional registration information” and there is a question: If you have a coupon, please enter code here (case-sensitive): CiderChat   Totally Cider Tour to the UK - send an email to info@ciderchat.com to get on the wait list for this 2025 tour taking place August 25-31, 2025

How do you make a nation regenerative? What does it take to transform the Wye and Usk catchments? Jyothi Banerjee and North Star Transition are asking some of the most complex questions of our time, with three clear objectives: to propose a plan which is transformative, locally owned and investable. This is a fascinating conversation about systems change from an incredibly articulate communicator. Your Hosts:Tom Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-constable/Chloe Constable: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chloe-constable-24155821b/Grange Project Contact & Social Media:Email: hello@grangeproject.co.ukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/grange.project/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/grangeprojectYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GrangeProjectLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-constable/Our Guest: Jyoti Banerjee, Co-Founder and CEO of North Star TransitionJyoti was part of the team that created the Integrated Reporting movement globally. He has been an impact investor for two decades and used to be an entrepreneur in the tech sector. He taught technology entrepreneurship at Said Business School, University of Oxford. He grew up in New Delhi and lives in London.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyoti-banerjee/?originalSubdomain=ukWebsite: https://www.northstartransition.org/Helpful Links:Website: https://www.grangeproject.co.ukPodcast Journey Page: https://www.grangeproject.co.uk/wilder-podcastCitizen Zoo Conference Details: https://www.citizenzoo.org/https://sites.google.com/citizenzoo.org/2025rewildingconferenceListen out for:[00:00:00] Tom and Chloe update on the project, including our new ‘podcast journeys' (find them on the Grange Project podcast webpage), a new floor for the Wilder Hub and the Citizen Zoo Conference: Rewilding Our Future.[00:05:20] Jyoti introduces himself and the origin of North Star Transition.[00:10:55] We hear about the approach of North Star Transition and their ambition to make Wales a regenerative nation.[00:17:20] Jyoti sets the context for the Wye Usk Transition Lab by describing why this landscape is in crisis. [00:21:30] Tom asks why the landscape is still deteriorating despite over 20 years of understanding and Jyoti describes the risk of the ‘silver bullet' and the importance of asking the right question.[00:25:53] We discuss the role of the...

Family life is a constant series of changes and transitions as our kids grow and family dynamics change. But what about when a big change hits us, whether something that we've discerned as God's best for our family, or something unplanned and uncontrollable? Dan Hawken is a church Families and Outreach worker in the Forest and Wye valley. His family has been through a number of major life changes in the last couple of years including relocation, serious illness, home education, new job and new school. Sharing his story with us, Dan helpfully guides us back to the God who never changes, who knows the future and who cares for us so well. Links: Postal Bible school: https://postalbibleschool.com/ Join our forthcoming Babies and Toddlers Zoom course: https://www.brfonline.org.uk/collections/events/products/babies-and-toddlers-course-online-2024 This podcast costs over £400 per week to produce. If you value its ministry, please would you consider giving so that others can benefit? www.brf.org.uk/get-involved/give/ Parenting for Faith is part of the charity, BRF. We are reliant on donations from individuals and churches to make our resources available to as many people as possible. We are grateful for all donations, big or small. They make a real difference. Thank you so much for partnering with us.

Craig our guest returns after episode 72 when he re-lived his Exmoor big cat encounters in the 1980s.Now based in Herefordshire, Craig explains the big cat reports and potential activity occurring in his own village, right where he walks his dogs. He has been followed by an animal with large piercing eyeshine which alarmed his dogs, and he has recently found two fresh deer carcasses, one freshly devoured, and the other was still warm, had a severed windpipe, and showed claw marks raked down the muzzle and throat.  Craig also had a close view of a puma crossing his path in the Black Mountains, near Hay on Wye, in 2023. His photos and videos of these incidents, showing his immediate reactions, can be viewed on the podcast website…   https://bigcatconversations.com/refs-links/Word of the week:   kleptoparasite4 October 2024

Ein angesehener Anwalt, ein unscheinbares Leben und ein tödliches Geheimnis: Herbert Rowse Armstrong, der einzige Anwalt in der britischen Geschichte, der für Mord gehängt wurde. Der Fall Armstrong ist bis heute ein faszinierendes Rätsel in der Welt der Kriminalistik. -- Die Geschichte beginnt im beschaulichen Hay-on-Wye, einer Kleinstadt an der Grenze zwischen England und Wales. Armstrong, ein respektierter Anwalt und Familienvater, führt ein ruhiges Leben. Doch hinter der Fassade der bürgerlichen Normalität verbirgt sich ein düsteres Drama: Seine Ehefrau Katharine erkrankt schwer und stirbt 1921 an einer mysteriösen Vergiftung. Zunächst glaubt niemand an ein Verbrechen, doch bald darauf wird Armstrong beschuldigt, seine Frau mit Arsen vergiftet zu haben. Die Gerüchteküche brodelt: War er ein berechnender Mörder oder nur ein Mann, der sich in einer unglücklichen Ehe wiederfand? Der Wendepunkt kommt, als Armstrongs Anwaltskollege, Oswald Martin, nach einem gemeinsamen Tee bei Armstrong plötzlich ebenfalls an den Symptomen einer Arsenvergiftung erkrankt. Die Polizei wird misstrauisch und beginnt, Armstrongs Vergangenheit genauer zu untersuchen. Bald wird klar: Armstrong hatte Arsen gekauft und es könnte mehr als nur ein Zufall sein, dass zwei Menschen in seinem Umfeld plötzlich vergiftet wurden. Im Prozess, der die Nation in Atem hält, streitet Armstrong alle Vorwürfe ab. Doch die Beweise – die Arsenkäufe, die seltsamen Umstände von Katharines Tod, die Vergiftung von Oswald Martin – sind erdrückend. Schließlich wird er für schuldig befunden und 1922 gehängt. -- Bis heute gibt es offene Fragen: War Herbert Rowse Armstrong wirklich der skrupellose Mörder, als den ihn die Justiz darstellte? Oder wurde ihm ein Verbrechen angehängt, das er nicht begangen hat? Der Fall Armstrong bleibt ein Mysterium, das bis heute die Gemüter bewegt und in die Geschichte als eines der größten Kriminalrätsel Großbritanniens eingegangen ist. -- BRITPOD CRIME - Englands Mystery Crime Stories: Alexander-Klaus Stecher und Claus Beling präsentieren wahre Kriminalgeschichten, die Großbritannien in Angst und Schrecken versetzten. Ab sofort alle paar Wochen! -- Ein ALL EARS ON YOU Original Podcast.

Skip the Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. Your hosts are Paul Marden and Oz Austwick.If you like what you hear, you can subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and all the usual channels by searching Skip the Queue or visit our website rubbercheese.com/podcast.If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review, it really helps others find us. Show references: https://ukthemeparkawards.com/winners https://ukthemeparkawards.com/sponsorsWatch the UK Theme Park Awards 2024 on YouTube. Interviewed Guests:Paul Kelly: BALPPA  Neil Poulter: Thorpe ParkRoss Ballinger: Drayton ManorDanielle Nicholls & Sophie Tickle: Alton TowersJennifer Howlett & Charlotte Peirce-Gregory: Legoland https://www.linkedin.com/in/sineadwaldron/Sinead Kimberley is the Senior Client Success Manager of Rubber Cheese and has a background in digital marketing, engagement software and all things client satisfaction. She guides clients through the various stages of their project, ensuring they have the information they need when they need it, as well as being the link between our developers and clients. https://x.com/MrTicketeerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/andypovey/ Transcription:  Paul Marden: Welcome to Skip the Queue, a podcast for people working in and working with visitor attractions. I'm your host, Paul Marden. Paul Marden:  Hello and welcome to our first Skip the Queue Season Six Rubber Cheese get together. And we've got a corker. Today, there's four of us virtually together for our meetup after having been together yesterday in real life at the UK Theme Park Awards. So that's what we're going to talk about today. Paul Marden: We're going to talk a little bit about all the cool stuff that we saw yesterday at Thorpe park and enjoyed those theme park awards. But before we do that, should we do some introductions? Because I think everyone knows me and others, don't they? Oz Austwick: I'm here again. Paul Marden: You can sound more pleased. Everyone will love you. I'm thrilled. Oz Austwick: Absolutely thrilled. I couldn't wish to be anywhere nicer. Back in my office, not surrounded by monkeys. Paul Marden:  We are also joined by Sinead Kimberley, who is the Senior Client Success Manager here at Rubber Cheese. Say hi, Sinead, and tell everyone what you do. Sinead Kimberley: Yeah, so I work with our clients and making sure they've got everything they need for the website and try and act as the voice of the client, essentially with our developers, so that what you ask for, they know how to make it technical. I can pass it back to you and make it all visible on the website and get everything done. Paul Marden: That you need the glue that binds us together. And today we are also joined by the probably I've got to prove this. I'm going to have to do the counting because I know that other people do count. I'm thinking Dom from Mary Rose for sure counts the number of times he's been there. Andy Povey: So am I. Paul Marden: But I think Andy Povey, roaving ticketing expert and gentleman of leisure, joins us today possibly as the most frequent guest on Skip the Queue. But today you get upgraded to co host status because you joined us. Andy Povey: Well, I feel honoured, Paul. Thank you. Oz Austwick: Is that actually an upgrade? Paul Marden: I definitely think co host is an upgrade. For sure. For sure. Oz Austwick: Speaking of co hosting, I'll just point out that also in this episode we have some interviews recorded at the awards, some with winners, some with prize givers. It'll make more sense in the YouTube version where you can actually see them. But if you're listening to this just as an audio podcast, you need to know that when the room gets noisy or you can hear people screaming in the background, that's a clip from Thorpe Park itself. So that's coming up throughout the podcast today. But as always we start with where we've been recently, other than Thorpe Park. Paul Marden: Why don't I start with you, Andy, because I know you've been on a few trips just recently with the family. Where's an attraction you've been to recently that sticks in your mind as being pretty cool? Andy Povey: So most recently was a couple of weekends ago. We took the kids Tower of London on a Sunday afternoon or a sunny Sunday afternoon. It's absolutely superb experience. We've been members of Historic Royal Palaces for six months, eight months, something like that. And it's one of those that just sits in the dusty corner of a drawer somewhere and didn't get used. So we dusted it off and said, "All right, let's go to the tower.". Brilliant experience, absolutely superb. The kids loved it and they really engaged with all of the interpretation there. And it's probably my third or fourth time of taking my ten year old girls there. And there's something new every time or something different every time that we haven't picked up on, we haven't seen so great experience. Paul Marden: I love it. And I love it going there with membership because I think when you go the first time, you get wowed by all the really big stuff, you know, the shiny jewels and all of that kind of good stuff. By the time you go there second or third time, you begin to notice some of the other stuff. There's some lovely little regimental museums hidden off in the corner. Aren't there lots to find in there? Which if you only go the once and you do it as a set piece, you don't necessarily notice it because you want to go and look at the court stuff. Andy Povey: Yeah, it's just the single visit. It's just a high pressure environment, isn't it? You want to catch everything, you want to get the best value out of it. I mean, we got there at 02:00 in the afternoon. I don't think I'd have done that if I was just paying for the single day entry. Paul Marden: What about you, Sinead? Where have you been recently? Sinead Kimberley: Mine is up north, Wyresdale Park. And it's just an outdoor park, so not kind of a ticket place that you need to kind of buy a ticket for. But I loved it because when went, it felt like we'd just gone into a normal park, but you felt like you were at some kind of holiday camp and you could hear kids playing in the water on the paddle boards and the kayaks and then you had all the dogs running around and then you had the hikers going past you to go up. And we did go for a walk. So went, I think it was maybe two and a half hours up to the peak and it was just lovely to see all the families as well on a sunny day. Rare up in Lancaster. No rain for once. Sinead Kimberley: And, yeah, it was just a lovely place to be. You had a really nice feel of just people having fun and enjoying nature, which I think is really lovely. So, yeah, that was my favourite recently, besides Thorpe park, obviously. Paul Marden: Oz, what about you, mate? Oz Austwick: Goodrich Castle. We took the family away and we did a couple of nights glamping. Amazing place. I won't go on too much about that, but went to Goodrich Castle, just outside Ross on Wye, and it's the first time I've ever been. It's amazing. So many of these castles are just a series of small walls and there's nothing to actually see, but it's a proper castle. There's a moat and a bridge over it to get in, and there are dungeons and towers. You can go up and it's. Yeah, it's fantastic. If you're in the area, definitely go check it out. It's well worth it. Paul Marden: Lovely for the kids, isn't it? Because I do think, whilst it can be a really lovely day out to go to some of these castle ruins, it can be pretty tough to imagine as a ten year old what it was actually like and what that low wall over there actually was. Oz Austwick: There's definitely a trade off, though, because the more castle there is, the more the older kids love it. But I've got a four year old as well and I'm much happier when it's a flat bit of grass with a couple of stones in it than when she's trying desperately to scale up a spiral staircase that has been worn down for 500 years. Paul Marden: We did the wall around Warwick Castle a few years ago and I was at a heightened state of anxiety, I think it's fair to say. Oz Austwick: Yeah. Paul Marden: So mine is the National Marine Aquarium, which is one of the Rubber Cheese clients down in Plymouth, and it's my first time of actually going and seeing it. And were there. We were coming back from a holiday in Cornwall, so it was a stop off on the way back and it was such a lovely stop off. My memory of it is we've been. We were avid watchers of the anime show that was on at Christmas last year. We really enjoyed watching that. Millie loves animals and she loved the turtle that was in the show last year. And went and I. We were there. It must have been ten minutes before closing time. They were trying to get people to leave. Paul Marden: We were one of the last families there, but were just sat on the floor, on the top floor looking into the tank where the turtle was. It was just so relaxing to just watch this turtle coming in and going out and the sharks that were in there. It was a really beautiful place. Lovely place. Really enjoyed that. So going from serene, calm aquarium, let's talk about Thorpe Park and the National Theme Park Awards. How was it for you guys? I hasten to add, I didn't make it Hyperia yesterday, which we did. Oz Austwick: Notice that Sinead and I did. Sinead Kimberley: My eyes were closed. Paul Marden: So what was Hyperia actually like then? Was it, was it as scary as I thought it might be? Oz Austwick: Yes. Sinead Kimberley: Yes. But also as incredible. Yeah. I was sad I didn't go on twice. Oz Austwick: You know, all of those feelings you get when you go on a roller coaster, that kind of the adrenaline and the sense of fear and all of that you get that gives you a bit of a buzz when you get off it. Imagine just dialing all of that up to eleven and. Yeah, mind blowing. It's too far, it's too big, it's too high, too scary. No, I'm glad I did it. Paul Marden: They did say yesterday, didn't they, when they were talking about the ride itself, that it was the tallest roller coaster in the UK, I think. But also the one with the most weightlessness in the UK, which I can't imagine how you measure it and I can't imagine what it's like. So can you put into words what the weightlessness was like? Oz Austwick: You know, if they've got these big over the shoulder harnesses that come down and you're in the seat and, you know you're safe, you know you're trapped and you're sitting with all your weight on a seat because that's just how you sit. Right? Paul Marden: Yeah. Oz Austwick: But for most of this ride, you're not. You're somewhere in between the two. You're not sitting and you're not pushed up against the harness, you're just being flung around constantly. Sinead Kimberley: Yeah, yeah, it is weird. I think I didn't notice when the harness thing you get is different to the normal one, so you don't have that big thing pushing your shoulders back. It just goes around your waist and then there's like a bar you can hold in front. It is safe, we can confirm because we are here, but it did make you feel like you weren't quite as stuck to something as normal. And then add to that you were moving faster, and you were dropping from higher heights. You realise that you were still falling, which you don't normally do on a roller coaster. Normally you realise you're falling and then you're done, whereas this, you realise you're falling. You start to be like, okay, but I'm still safe. And then you maybe open your eyes and you look around this I couldn't. Sinead Kimberley: I carried on realising I was falling a lot longer. You really felt it in your body. Oz Austwick: That first peak where you go and it starts to move, and then it literally, it takes you up and you're lying backwards and you're going up, and you can just about see the track ahead of you up there. And then you get to the top, and it's such a tight curve that as you drop, you can't see the track, and you just drop. Yeah. Sinead Kimberley: I loved it, though. Paul Marden: Should we go back to the podcast and move away from therapy session? Oz Austwick: Yeah, we can come back to therapy later, though, right? Because I think I need it. Paul Marden: So yesterday was the third year that we've sponsored one of the awards, so it was the third time I've been to the awards. Third time it was in real life, fifth year of running, and it was just lovely, wasn't it? It was such a nice industry get together. I think you were commenting this morning, Andy, on LinkedIn, about the networking effect of it. Andy Povey: Yeah. The industry we're in is a very physical, actual industry. People go to attractions because they want to do something so well. Virtual is great, and digital is great, obviously. I mean, it's what I've been doing for a very long time. There's nothing that really gets to the heart of what this industry is all about better than the face to face physical interactions. And that was a real sort of epiphany away, I think I said on a message to someone the other day, yesterday, that's just really important. It was the first event I've been to since May. Very good. Oz Austwick: Good. I thought it was a real eye opener how you kind of going there as an exhibitor. And it was my first time. I kind of assumed that I'd stand next to a stall and people would come over and I'd try and talk to them, and all they'd want was whatever free merch I'd have on this. But it wasn't like that. It was like being in a big room with a bunch of people who were friends and they were happy you were there, too, and it was just a really lovely experience. It didn't feel like a corporate trade show type event, which is exactly what I was expecting. Paul Marden: And it is fiercely competitive. So everybody does want to win in the categories they're in. Oz Austwick: Yes. But Alton Towers wins them all. Paul Marden: Right, so I am here with Sophie and Danielle from Alton Towers. It's been a successful day for you guys, hasn't it? Did you manage to count the number of awards or did you just lose count? Danielle Nicholls: I think it was a level, maybe round and fair. Paul Marden: Definitely double figures. Definitely double figures. We saw both of you going up and down the stage. Up and down the stage. Highlight, which was the one for you, Danielle, that you really appreciated. Danielle Nicholls: You know, what it was between two. So super proud of everything we did with Nemesis. Like Nemesis Reborn has been such a momentous campaign throughout. Paul Marden: Yeah. Danielle Nicholls: And so I'm super proud of that one. But for me, I think the one that has my heart in, it's our community award. So I was super proud to play silver for that one. Paul Marden: It was brilliant to get you up on the stage, bring the band back together again with you and Ross up there. And Sophie, what about you? What was the biggest highlight for you? Sophie Tickle: So I was really keen for the Best Marketing Campaign purely because I know how hard our team works on it. So I was really kind of brutal. And the nemesis story is just incredible. So we felt like that was. That was a really good win for us. And then best ride storytelling is always a nice one just because we feel like it just captures everything. The resources. Paul Marden: I really enjoyed watching when we had the. ad campaigns that came on and we saw everything that everyone had produced and you could see the storytelling that goes into something like nemesis reborn. And then the room was just quiet at the end of it because were all just captured by all of these videos. Danielle Nicholls: Everyone could have won that one, genuinely. But we're so proud. Like, Alton is such a lovely, friendly community in itself. Like, there's hundreds of people that work all the towers. Like, you can never just put it down to one person. It's such a big team effort. Everyone pulls together for everything. So, like, Alton After Dark winning golf best of event, that was amazing as well. I'm super proud of that one. Paul Marden: Everyone loves an after dark event, don't they? Yeah, it's awesome. Awesome. Danielle Nicholls: They do. Paul Marden: Thank you for joining me, ladies. It's been really good to talk to you all. Cheers. So, yes, it is fair to say that Alton Towers did make a lot of trips onto the stage. Danielle and her yellow jacket was seen going up on stage quite a lot yesterday. But there's a real diversity of different attractions that were nominated. So I think they said more than 30, nearly 40. I think it was attractions that were nominated. 20 attractions overall. Yeah, 20 attractions overall. One prizes. There was one that was really close to my heart. Brean Theme Park. It was where my granddad and my dad played golf 45 years ago. I would go to Brean Leisure Park, as it was then, and go down helter skelter all the time. So to see that up on the awards for a nomination was really lovely. Paul Marden: And there's quite a few other smaller attractions like that got nominated. Talk a little bit about the categories or the memories that we got yesterday that stuck in our minds. Andy, was there a category for you that you were really impressed by? Andy Povey: Yeah, there was. For me, it was the Accessibility initiative the Katapult sponsored. Obviously, Merlin were very heavily represented in the nominations for that category. I think there were five out of the eight nominations were for either for Merlin Parks or things that Merlin were doing as a bigger or as a cross group activity. But there were also some really quite simple things from much smaller parks. So noticeably there was a Camel Creek, again, down in deepest, darkest Cornwall, who were nominated for their changing places facility. And that just really brought home to me. Yes, it's important that Merlin, as the largest operator in the country, are leading the way and they've got the resources to put behind this and all that kind of stuff. But it's not just about doing those big things. Andy Povey: Small things can make a difference and can make a really significant difference. And that's really key to. Was one of the key messages in the industry, I think. Paul Marden: Yeah, I thought it was an interesting category. First time that it appeared in the awards, as you say, Katapult sponsored it, and it was quite a nice match between Katapult and that category because they've been doing quite a lot of work in designing spaces and attractions that are more accessible to people. So that was really. It was quite a nice match between sponsor and category. And as you say, there was some really lovely stories to be told around. What was there? I loved there was a Merlin initiative where they were taking the characters and the stories of the parks out to hospitals and places where they were terminally ill children, which there's lots of stories that have existed for a long time of kids being taken to the parks themselves. Paul Marden: But what about when they can't make it to the park and can you bring the magic of the park to them? I thought that was a really lovely idea. Andy Povey: Magic tour, they call that. And it's actually run by the Merlin charity, Merlin's Magic Wand. Paul Marden: Yeah. It's a cracking idea, isn't it? Yeah. But then you take it down to the changing places toilets and the initiatives to make places and make it clear what the accessibility of the place actually is, because we know that's really important, that people that have accessibility needs will not go to new places if they're not completely sure that it is accessible to them. And having a space on your website and winning an award, or even being shortlisted for an award for having that information on your website, I think is amazing. It's a cracking idea and there's so much that the sector is doing that has opened my eyes just in the last year, from the M&H show that were at six months ago to just seeing some of the stuff yesterday, thought it was brilliant. Oz Austwick: Shall we have another interview from the awards? Paul caught up with another Paul. Paul Kelly from BALPPA. Paul Marden: So, Paul, you've just come from the first session of giving out awards and you on stage giving out bridge award. Paul Kelly: I was doing the best theme park for toddlers, both in the small category. And the large category. Paul Marden: And who was winning? Paul Kelly: Well, unsurprisingly, I think it's not the first time they've won small categories won by Paulton's Park. And considering the amount of investment they've done, and I'm not surprised, they also won the large as well. So, really good taking off. Paul Marden: It is, yeah. We were talking on our table that they've been doing this now for a very long time, able to get up on stage and win awards. Still, they must really be investing in what they're doing. Paul Kelly: Continuous investments. I mean, if you get a chance like I do, look behind the scenes, they're investing infrastructure, their staff, for how they run the park, but think of ten years ahead. So, yeah, incredible family, incredible journey. So, yeah, good luck. Paul Marden: Behind the scenes, Pickworld must be quite the operation. Paul Kelly: Yeah. I mean, again, well, one of the things they've done, although it is photographers, they do very well in bandits now, builds them on that because they have invested in trying. I don't think they might be saying, "They do very well in bandits now," builds them on that because they have invested in trying. I don't think they might be saying. Paul Marden: That it is just about having. Paul Kelly: Well, but, yeah, paddlings are well deserved. Paul Marden: Amazing. Well done. Thank you. Paul Kelly: Yeah, no problem. Paul Marden: Sinead, what about you? What was the category that jumped out to you? Sinead Kimberley: Yeah, so for me, I think it was the sustainability, partly because it's something that I am kind of working on, looking at a lot at the minute with clients and also a thing that I've been kind of getting myself up to speed on within the industry, because I think everyone talks about sustainability, but often it will be either a really big initiative or it's something that's just what everybody else is doing. So, you know, more recyclable packaging or that kind of thing. And I really loved. There was a roller coaster, I think it was Greenwoods, was it, Andy? Andy Povey: Yes. Sinead Kimberley: They had like a people powered or counterbalanced roller coaster. And I was sat on a table and kind of asked what that was. And the person next to me explained that it doesn't use electricity, it just uses people. So as you're going up, you're powering people, going around the roller coaster, essentially. And it just sounds incredible. I've never heard of anything like that before. And I was also talking to some of the people about the sustainability of a website and something that we don't think about. You think about how many clicks to get tickets sold or to get you to see the video or whatever, but you don't necessarily think about the server powering every single click, empowering every single page view. Sinead Kimberley: And so to kind of see how different places have worked with sustainability, whether it's the reusable cups or roller coaster that's literally using people to power it and then enjoy it at the same time, was really interesting to kind of complete my picture of what sustainability looks like in the industry and all the different things it could touch on from the website to literally on the park itself. And when the parks are by nature not going to be the most, you know, energy efficient, maybe because you've got these massive roller coasters you need to power safely. It's really interesting to see that the small things, like you mentioned, Andy, with accessibility, the small things really can altogether make a really big impact on how you as an organisation can be more sustainable. Sinead Kimberley: So, yeah, that was really eye opening, I think, seeing those different nominees. Paul Marden: Yeah, absolutely. Oz Austwick: I think the one that won it as well is a lovely example of however much you ask people to do something because it's the right thing to do. If you actually make it in their interests to do it, suddenly it becomes much more viable. So you can. Everyone's got recycling bins, but if you've got this reverse vending machine where you put your empty plastic bottles in and you get something back out of that, then clearly people are going to do. If you were there with your kids, they're going to be collecting bottles they find lying around and making sure they go in the right bin because they get something. Paul Marden:  And it wasn't just a little something, was it? It wasn't just a couple of tokens. You could win some pretty amazing prizes out of it. Oz Austwick: Absolutely. Yeah. Andy Povey: Yeah. I was at the Latitude Festival last year and they were charging a temp deposit on every waxed paper cup. And the number of kids running around collecting huge stacks of these cups. Oz Austwick: Yeah. Andy Povey: And they were even going into the bins and taking them out of the bins, which I'm not sure was the real driver behind, but they were making. It must have been hundreds of pounds. Oz Austwick: Absolutely. It was the same. I used to go to the rugby quite a lot before my rugby team disappeared. And they would charge a one pound deposit on plastic reusable cups and you could either keep it as a one pound cup or give it back and get your pound back. And most people just. They'd have a few beers and they'd leave them. But at the end of the match, kids, just like you say, would be running around collecting these and they'd be walking away with 20, 30 quid's worth of cups. You know, what an amazing thing for the kids to do. Just makes it worth their while, doesn't it? Paul Marden: So I'm here with Jennifer and Charlotte from Legoland. So you've been at the awards today with us. How's it been? Was it a successful day for you guys? Jennifer Howlett: Pretty successful, yeah. A few wins across the category. Paul Marden: Yeah. So what. What categories did you. Did you get awards for? Charlotte Peirce-Gregory: So we've got new band, which I was Ninja tonight, which is really exciting. That was our summer first year. Jennifer Howlett: We've done it as well. So it's really exciting to see that. Paul Marden: So I love Ninjago. The ride itself. What's the event all about? Charlotte Peirce-Gregory: So, literally, we had loads of different things going on. We had dragons, drumsy, we had loads of different entertainments. We had characters, meet and greets, and were new characters, which was really exciting. Aaron and Sora. So, yes, that was great. And that finished quite long ago. Sarah's missing to see that. Paul Marden: Excellent, excellent and highlight of the day for you guys. What did you see that has really got you excited? Charlotte Peirce-Gregory: Do you know what, thing is for me with the map? I look after all things catholic events and stuff, and that was quite nice that you see. Paul Marden: It's funny because everyone was laughing a little bit. I know award for the maps, but actually, the maps and the attraction is so important. It is, it is. If you walk in and you don't get a map, it's like, How do you figure out where you're going, you're always going and looking at the map on the wall instead of having it in your hand. So, yeah, it's a bit of a laugh, but actually I think it's a really important. Yeah. Lovely to meet you guys. Thank you for joining us. Cheers. Paul Marden: So, Oz, tell us what was the standout moment for you yesterday? Oz Austwick: I thought it was really lovely to see in amongst all of these theme parks and massive organisations getting up there to win awards, that there was an award specifically for content creator of the year, that these people are out there producing content that literally markets and drives visitors to these attractions to go on these rides and they were actually recognised a change. And I thought that was both a lovely thing as a concept, but also as a YouTuber myself, within a very small and specific niche, it was really nice to get to chat to some other YouTubers from an equally small niche and spend a bit of time with them. I thought it was really. It was lovely. So I just want to shout out to Andy from Coaster Crazy and Digital Daniel, lovely people. Sinead Kimberley: Thank you, Andy, for helping me on the roller coaster as well. It was needed. Paul Marden: You were with those influencers, weren't you, during the awards itself? I think. I think it's a bit of a challenge having a daytime awards, that it can be a bit of a struggle to get some life out of the audience. And George, the compare does graft to try and get us into the mood. But I've noticed every year I've been there that if you sit anywhere near the influencers, that's usually the naughty table with lots going on. Sinead Kimberley: They were very well behaved. Oz Austwick: Because you were sat with them at the award. We went with them round the park later and it was lovely to see people visiting the park, recognizing them and coming up to say hi and that this is genuinely a thing that really works. Yeah, I just thought it was. It was great. Let's recognize these guys because I doubt any of them are making a full time living out of this. They're doing it in their own time because they love her. So if you're. If you're from a theme park, support them a little bit more, get them in there, let them. Let them do this stuff because it does benefit you. Paul Marden: You say they're not making a full time living. I can't remember what the couple are, Andy, who have every year at theme park awards, they're never there to collect their award because they're always somewhere in Florida or California, because September is a perfect time for them to go and do all the recordings. I guess parks are a little bit quiet. Weather's still good. Oz Austwick: Yeah, but that's the thing. Maybe they go in then because it's cheaper. Paul Marden: Yeah. Still having a good time recording to make a good living.Oz Austwick: You can make a good living from social media, but it's pretty rare. Paul Marden: So I am going to claim. Yeah. Executive prerogative and I'm going to take two memories and talk about them. Oz Austwick: That is definitely cheating. Paul Marden: So I'm going to talk first about the. The main awards, the best theme park, which, strangely, last year were at Chessington, won by Chessington. This year were at Thorpe park, won by Thorpe park. Oz Austwick: What are you saying? Paul Marden: I don't know. I don't know. But what I am. I guess what I am saying was what I really loved was the recognition of the whole thought pop team. Now, it wasn't the whole thought pub team because that would probably be hundreds of people and the stage wouldn't take it, but we had a little kind of troop of different people from across the park come and collect the award and I just. I really liked that. I thought that was a lovely thing to see those people being recognized. Neil Poulter: And that's exactly. It's a team effort, there's no doubt about it. Obviously, many people in the room, but the people behind the scenes as well. And we've had a fantastic year. It's been a journey. You don't just arrive at winning best theme park and best new attraction. It's a journey that we've been on for the last three and a half years. We haven't previously won that award, so I think it's testament to where we've come from, but hopefully where we're going as well. So, super excited. Paul Marden: Highlight for you? Neil Poulter: I think, obviously, Best Theme Park. I think winning the big one is something that, you know, is. Feels like new territory for us, but I think, you know, we deserve our seat at the table. Neil Poulter: But, you know, across the awards, you know, best new attraction, obviously, for Hyperia is that also some entertainment in terms of stitches and Friday nights, which we're so proud of, you know, a fantastic maze. The team that do our social, which, again, you know, allows us to speak with our audience, our most passionate audience and really, you know, them winning the gold was also a huge highlight for me as well. Paul Marden: Awesome. So time for some food and then some fun after Hyperia. And here's some screaming. Neil Poulter: Yeah, absolutely. Can't wait to ride it. I actually wrote it yesterday for about only the 6th time and I went on the back. It was amazing. But, yeah, hoping people that haven't even experienced it yet will get a chance to. And if people have, which I'm sure many have, they will come back and enjoy it. And the sun's shining, so what better time to be at the Thorpe Park? Paul Marden: So congratulations, Neil. Thank you for talking. Neil Poulter: Thank you very much. You're welcome. Paul Marden: But then the other memory for me was our own award. We sponsor the Social Media Content Category and I nearly missed my queue. I was quite happy sitting there listening to all of these parks being nominated, thinking, well, that's interesting. Well, that sounded very good. And then I realized it was me and I was supposed to get on stage and hand the award out, so there's a little rush to the stage. But what I really liked, it was lovely to hand over the gold award to Thorpe Park, meet the social media team there. Paul Marden: But it was also really nice because it was an opportunity to meet a couple more Skip the Queue alumni, Danielle and Ross, they used to work together at Drayton Manor and as we've already said, Danielle is now at Thorpe Towers and was up and down like a fiddler's elbow on the staircase yesterday. Oz Austwick: She's a full time award collector. Paul Marden: But it was lovely to get the band back together again up on stage. Handsome. Some bronze and silver awards out to Ross and Danielle. I really enjoyed that. It was just nice. It's really nice because Kelly first met them at the awards three years ago. Again, she was sat on the naughty table at the back with the two of them making lots of noise and enjoying themselves. But just, we got immediately the sense of enjoyment and fun that the two of them had and that they bring to the work that they do. And it was lovely to see that recognised yesterday on stage because we have nothing to do as sponsors of the award, we have nothing to do with choosing who the winners actually are as a team of esteemed judges. And then the public vote also counted this time. Paul Marden: But, yeah, to see, to see the growth of people that have been on the podcast, their careers growing, and then seeing them back on stage again yesterday, that was really lovely. I enjoyed that. Paul Marden: It's a bit weird, isn't it, because the awards are in the daytime, it's. All a little bit where we can. You always come and you bring the energy to the room, don't you? Yes. We got the band back together up on the stage with you and Danielle. Ross Ballinger: Yeah. Paul Marden: Both in the social media category. So that was nice. To see what have you got in your hands at the moment? Ross Ballinger: I've actually just got pleasure Wood Hills award because I'm representing them today as well as part of the luping UK contingency. Paul Marden: Okay, so what did they win? Ross Ballinger: They got bronze for Best Theme Park. Paul Marden: Oh, wow. Ross Ballinger: Which they have overhauled their map this year, which is really fantastic. So we're getting too excited never to excited about. Paul Marden: No. Ross Ballinger: But maps are a great addition to any park. Paul Marden: Do you know when you walk in the gates and you don't get the map and it's like, oh, people have got it. Yeah. People will complain. Absolutely. And everyone loves a map. Ross Ballinger: They take a lot of. It's no easy task. They can take six to twelve months to get a really, you know, popping man. Yeah, yeah. And it's obviously all down to the illustrators and everything like that. Paul Marden: And the life of the park as well, because you're telling stories. Andy Povey: Oh, yeah. Ross Ballinger: You've got to bring the paper to life. Paul Marden: So highlight for today for you. Ross Ballinger: Highlight, obviously, being on the show, on stage, being on stage for the social media category. Close to my heart, that kind of category. I love socials. I love doing what we do on socials. And it's a big core team for Drayton Manor. Paul Marden: Is it really? Ross Ballinger: It's the whole team that really. It doesn't really channel itself into one person. We have a great executive, Morgan McHenry, that looks after the top end of all the social media. So she's the goddess that orchestrates it all. But she will be. She will say that it's not just her, but everyone just contributed to making sure our social media channels are like, just absolutely fantastic and great for people to watch. Paul Marden: I think they're most authentic, aren't they? When you get everybody involved all across the park, all the people telling their little stories and showcasing what party's like. Ross Ballinger: That's what it's all about. A lot of other departments do their job. They think they're just having fun on TikTok again. But we're not, you know, we're really like behind the scenes thinking of content, going out, filming the content, you know, putting the content together, scheduling it to go out. Paul Marden: It doesn't just happen by itself. Ross Ballinger: It doesn't happen. Paul Marden: You don't just walk out with a phone and get yourself a smash hit video that just goes viral. Ross Ballinger: Well, the more fun we have, the more engaging it is. So it's our job to be fun. You have fun. Paul Marden: It's a tough life. Right. Lovely. See you again. Bringing the alumni back together again. Ross Ballinger: Great. Thank you. Thank you. Paul Marden: So that was the UK theme park awards yesterday, but that's not the only thing happening in the industry at the moment, is it, Andy? Something big and important is happening next week. Andy Povey: You mean my trip to Amsterdam? Paul Marden: Well, I was thinking more about the IAAPA conference that was at Amsterdam as opposed to your particular trip to the. Andy Povey: Yeah, so it's the 20th 30th instance of the IAAPA Europe show, IAAPA Europe Expo, this time taking place in the RAI at Amsterdam, or in Amsterdam from Tuesday to Thursday next week. Lots of great stuff, lots of great people. All about the attractions industry. There might be an occasional beer or two while we're there on the short. Paul Marden: I think it is important to note for Mrs. Povey, if she actually does listen in, that this is an important work event and there will be lots of networking. And if you're not networking, you're not working. We know that. However, it is also worth mentioning that on numerous occasions yesterday I heard you talking to people about the after parties that you were planning to attend. And yeah, it's a busy social calendar that you've got signed up to next week. Andy Povey: It certainly is. I think I might need to cut down on the pre party work to give time for the after party to take the best. Paul Marden: So you're going to enjoy yourself and do lots of important networking next week. But I guess the call to action for listeners today is if you are planning on being at IAAPA next week, hunt down Andy. He's a tough guy to miss and everybody knows him. So go and find him, have a chat with him and enjoy yourselves in IAAPA and we will be back in two weeks time. Thank you very much guys. It's been delightful having a foursome as co hosts and I think we get to do this again. Oz Austwick: I quite like this. We should do this more often. Paul Marden: Absolutely. Paul Marden: Thanks for listening to Skip the Queue. If you've enjoyed this podcast, please leave us a five star review. It really helps others find us. And remember to follow us on Twitter for your chance to win the books that have been mentioned. Skip The Queue is brought to you by Rubber Cheese, a digital agency that builds remarkable systems and websites for attractions that helps them increase their visitor numbers. You can find show notes and transcriptions from this episode and more over on our website, rubbercheese.com/podcast.   The 2024 Visitor Attraction Website Survey is now LIVE! Help the entire sector:Dive into groundbreaking benchmarks for the industryGain a better understanding of how to achieve the highest conversion ratesExplore the "why" behind visitor attraction site performanceLearn the impact of website optimisation and visitor engagement on conversion ratesUncover key steps to enhance user experience for greater conversionsFill in your data now (opens in new tab)

NonCensored is back with a bang - Harriet Langley-Swindon and Producer Martin are joined by new Chancellor Rachel Reeves - that's not our fault - and by Eshaan Akbar, who explains why we need more shame in our lives. Harriet also speaks to the Honourable Sir Lord Hughdith Anglesey Jones Vaguely-Blythe IV, 132nd Baronet of Little Lower Upminster-on-Wye, about how he can save British democracy by remaining in the House of Lords. If you enjoy NonCensored, please consider supporting us on Patreon - patreon.com/NonCensored - where you'll get full video segments and bonus content except this week because there's been some illness and it's a miracle there was even a show. We have a live show at the Cheerful Earful festival on the 16th October - tickets are available at cheerfulearful.co.uk Any questions? Send them to noncensoredpodcast@gmail.com. With thanks to Rosie Holt (@RosieisaHolt), Brendan Murphy (@notmurphy), Eshaan Akbar (@eshaanakbar), Davina Bentley (@DavinaBentley), Marcus Brigstocke (@marcusbrig) and Ed Morrish. Rosie's book, Why We Were Right, is available now. Brendan is taking his show, Buffy Revamped, on tour all over Britain, and you can see dates and buy tickets here. Eshaan has a stand-up special, The Pretender, available to watch for free on YouTube, and he is going on tour next year with his show Yum. Davina posts very funny sketches on Instagram, and has a 'video podcast' with Freya Mallard called Binks & Hebrides Whine Time. Marcus has a podcast with Rachel Parris called How Was It For You?, and you should listen to it. Ed also produces Sound Heap With John-Luke Roberts. If you like improvised character comedy, it's probably your sort of thing. Show photography is by Karla Gowlett and design is by Chris Barker. Original music is by Paddy Gervers and Rob Sell at Torch and Compass. NonCensored is a Lead Mojo production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a year since we relaunched Cider Voice and to celebrate, Albert's holding a massive festival at the farm and launching 14 special edition ciders. In this episode we run through all the festival releases, from the last of a particular perry pear ever to be grown on the farm to an apple that isn't called Hagloe Lobster. Has Albert been coerced into releasing a perry by Adam? And is Ross-on-Wye just becoming a sea of acid. Have a listen to discover this year's full festival release rundown, and if you haven't booked your festival ticket yet, hie thee to rosscider.com

In this Summer edition we discuss pumas encountered in the wild on the England & Wales border in the Wye Valley, but we also visit a special sanctuary for re-homed exotic pets, also in the Wye Valley area. Our first guest Grant, explains how he and friends were advanced on by a puma when they were out lamping foxes one night. Grant describes the intense eye shine and what happened as the cat got closer…Our second guest Lindsay has experience with large cats from South Africa. Now she runs Wildside Exotic Rescue, where pumas, lynx and a serval are amongst the rescued animals cared for. She explains the challenges of looking after the cats and the other animals, and she reflects on the consequences of people owning and needing to give up their exotic pets. The pumas are sometimes fed deer, and will be involved in a special scientific experiment to help big cat studies in Britain…Visit www.wildsideexoticrescue.co.uk to learn more about Wildside and support the work of Lindsay and the team there. Words of the week:   scientific controls21 August 2024

Floodplain meadows are a beautiful and natural landscapes that are found alongside rivers on larger flat areas that dry out sufficiently in the summer, through well drained soils. However their value goes way beyond their beauty and wildlife - the many benefits we get include storing floodwaters, keeping soil and nutrients out of rivers and helping to protect water quality. A project is underway to increase our knowledge of Welsh floodplain meadows and promote and conserve them for the future. The Welsh floodplain meadows partnership is focusing on south-east Wales, Carmarthenshire, and the Wye catchment, building connections with communities and organisations working in the floodplain. Caroline Evans meets with members of the project to discover what the work involves and what they hope to achieve.

Welcome to our first intermission episode. August is an especially busy recording month for us so while we are away, we want to share with you some specially blended soundscapes from the past year of Lento. This week's theme is streams and rivers. There are four sections that blend effortlessly into each other. The sound-view into each watery place lasts around eleven minutes.    209 Downstream of the old mill Steep meadows all about, sloping down into a water meadow in the Derbyshire hills. The water's running fast. So much rain. The woodland birds are singing across the valley in their full spring song. This is dawn, on a wonderfully bright spring morning.  184 River rilling through Millers Dale  Here's the night sound of the river Wye flowing through Miller's Dale in the Derbyshire Dales. Open country water. Cool. Refreshing. Consistent.  226 Perhaps a perfect upland stream  This stream follows a country road high in the empty hills above the small town of Ceri in the Welsh county of Powys. We've shared many sections from this 2019 recording over the four years of Lento. The area feels magical, being very near to the Ceri Ridgeway (Kerry in English) an ancient route used for trading between Wales and England. This section of time is from the dead of night where no wildlife is audible, the entire focus is of the stream, and the acoustical properties of the hidden dell ankle deep in dry leaves.  203 Dartmoor stream  Below a stone circle high on Dartmoor called the Nine Maidens there is this racing stream. It threads down through steep sloping pastures, enters an area of dense forest, and Becomes enmeshed with the sound signatures of tall, reflective, overhanging trees. 

Bestselling writer Paula Brackston is back to discuss her newest book The Haunting of Hecate Cavendish which is about a young, feisty librarian in England in 1881. The library, attached to an ancient cathedral, houses a special medieval map.  Little does she know how much the curious people and mythical creatures depicted on it will come to mean to her. Nor does she suspect that there are lost souls waiting for her in the haunted cathedral. Some will become her dearest friends. Some will seek her help in finding peace. Others will put her in great peril, and, as she quickly learns, threaten the lives of everyone she loves.Paula Brackston is the New York Times bestselling author of The Witch's Daughter and The Little Shop of Found Things, among others. Paula lives with her family in the historical border city of Hereford in the beautiful Wye valley. When not at her desk in her writing room, she enjoys long walks with the dog in a sublime landscape filled with the imprints of past lives and ancient times.For more information, check her out at paulabrackston.comClick here for her etsy shop which will soon be up and running. Click here to follow her on instagram.Thanks for listening. Have a great week!

Ahead of this year's Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, we talk to the Welsh Government's Climate and Rural Affairs minister, Huw Irranca Davies about policy, farm protests and the future for agriculture in Wales.People are being asked to avoid the River Irfon, near Builth Wells over fears of a suspected case of 'crayfish plague'. The Wye catchment, including the River Irfon, is a key habitat for the white-clawed crayfish. The plague is harmless to humans but it is a highly infectious disease that is fatal to the crustacean that is already under threat from the non native crayfish. We visit a new nature reserve that has just been opened at the Gwent Levels. Bridewell Common was purchased by Gwent Wildlife Trust four years ago, but it has been closed to the public until now, to allow the charity to restore the area.and for our Bird of Conservation Concern this month it's a charismatic and striking bird of prey, that is unfortunately the UK's most persecuted bird of prey in relation to its population size - the Hen-Harrier

Embracing Challenges: David Skinner's Epic Solo Cycle Ride Across Wales Welcome to another episode of Monday Night Live (MNL)! We're thrilled to bring back David Skinner, a long-time friend of MNL who has shared his incredible adventures with us each year. This week, David takes us on an extraordinary solo cycle ride across the length of Wales. Introduction by Derek ArdenHello everybody, I'm Derek Arden, your host for Monday Night Live, where we share stories of extraordinary people who often stay under the radar. Tonight, we have David Skinner, an adventurer who has conquered mountains like Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and the Andes. Now, he has taken on a new challenge: cycling the length of Wales. I followed David on the Garmin app during his journey, and we'll delve into his motivations and experiences. Whether you're an adventurer or a fan of human determination, this episode will inspire and motivate you. Motivation Behind the RideDavid begins by sharing what inspired this challenge. It started with a Christmas gift from his wife: a guidebook for "Lôn Las Cymru," a remote cycle route from the southern to the northern tip of Wales. The idea of traversing such a varied and challenging landscape intrigued him. Despite the demanding nature of the ride, David saw it as a personal challenge worth undertaking. The RouteDavid's route included some of Wales' most stunning parts, such as the Brecon Beacons, the Cambrian Mountains, Cader Idris, and Snowdonia National Park. He shares breathtaking images of Snowdonia, highlighting the stark contrast between the lush, green landscapes and rugged mountain terrains. Day-by-Day Breakdown of the Journey Preparation and PlanningPreparation was key to David's success. He discusses the importance of health, fitness, motivation, nutrition, recovery, weather, mechanics, route finding, and safety. He emphasizes that meticulous planning and having contingencies in place were crucial for navigating the unpredictable Welsh weather and challenging terrain. Day 1: Cardiff to GlasburyDavid's adventure began in Cardiff, starting at the Cardiff Bay docks. The first day's journey followed the Taff Trail, taking him out of the city and into more remote areas. The transition from urban to rural was stark and exhilarating. He cycled 114 kilometers, climbing about 5,000 feet, and ended the day in Glasbury, near Hay-on-Wye, known for its second-hand bookshops. Day 2: Glasbury to LlanidloesThe second day was deceptively challenging. Despite being a shorter route, David felt the fatigue setting in. He crossed the River Severn at Builth Wells, cycled through lush landscapes near Rhayader, and ended the day in the charming town of Llanidloes. The cumulative effort of the previous day made this leg particularly tough. Day 3: Llanidloes to BarmouthDay three presented the most climbing, with David navigating the Hafren Forest and ascending to the high point near Cader Idris. The weather was unpredictable, with heavy showers giving way to sunshine, creating a surreal cycling experience. He navigated through the slate valleys and reached the historic Barmouth Bridge, ending his day in the coastal town of Barmouth. Day 4: Barmouth to HolyheadThe final day was the longest and featured the greatest ascent. David cycled along the coast, through Porthmadog, and up towards Carnarvon. The views of the Snowdon mountain range were breathtaking, but fatigue and soreness set in, making the final leg to Holyhead a true test of endurance. Despite the challenges, he reached his destination, feeling a profound sense of accomplishment. Reflections and Lessons LearnedBalancing Go-for-it and PlanningDavid reflects on the importance of balancing enthusiasm with meticulous planning. While a positive attitude and willingness to take risks are essential, having a well-thought-out plan can make all the difference. Value of ContingencyHaving contingency plans provided David with the confidence to commi...

Join us in this spine-tingling episode as we delve into the eerie world of haunted hotels. Discover the chilling tales of five of the most haunted hotels around the globe. I'm joined by my 11 year old and can only apologise for the sound quality - we have snuck off for a few days in Hay-on-Wye.We'll share the history and ghost stories behind each location, from spectral piano players to phantom footsteps. Perfect for true crime and paranormal enthusiasts, this episode will give you chills and fascinating insights into these haunted retreats.Please follow, comment, like and share The Monday Night Revue with your friends. Leaving a review wherever you listen to your podcast makes such a huge difference so I would love it if you did. You can email the show at themondaynightrevue@gmail.com or find us on social media @themondaynightrevue .If you want to support me further you can check out The Monday Night Revue on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/themondaynightrevue where you can get all episodes ad free, minisodes, discount on merch and moreAll episodes written and edited by Corinna Harrod with support from Holly Clarke. Artwork by Jessica HolmesMusic is The Mooche 1928 recording by Duke EllingtonBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-monday-night-revue--4921180/support.

Ben In Crediton and Scotty in Ross on Wye take on the quiz but who will reign supreme?

Emma Nelson, Charles Hecker and Isabel Hilton on the weekend's biggest talking points. We also speak to Monocle's editorial director, Tyler Brûlé, in Sweden and Monocle's Balkans correspondent, Guy de Launey, in Ljubljana. Plus: Monocle's Georgina Godwin and Hay Festival CEO, Julie Finch, join from Hay-on-Wye to look back at this year's event. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're kicking off the festival season in style, and in the sun, with three very different books…but who's authors have more in common than you may think. This week's events haven't stopped Mishal Husain making her way to us this weekend – for what will surely be the only down time she'll have over the next 6 weeks. Mishal's new memoir charts her families experiences through partition and the events which have allowed her to become one of the UK's most trusted journalists. Stephen and Anita Mangan have promised not to steal each other's pocket money or put bubblegum in eachother's hair and behave for the next hour. The brother and sister writing duo have cracked the code for what it takes to work with your sibling having written 5 books together – but it was their debut work that allowed them to channel familial grief. The emperor of historical fiction, Conn Iggulden, has taken a break from playing his fiddle whilst ancient Rome burns to join us in the Hay-on-Wye countryside. But for someone who has made a living from writing about the history – it's the story of his parents who both lived it and taught it that perhaps should All that plus the Inheritance Tracks of the actor, comedian and new host of the Great British Sewing Bee – Kiell Smith-Bynoe. Presenters: Huw Stephens and Kiri Pritchard-McLean Producer: Ben Mitchell

Spam! Weakened by FOMO! Game changing powerhouses! The nichest email! parkrun Portugal! Collabs! And parkrun tourism, such as Nicola at Tokoinranta parkrun in Helsinki and then onto Haga parkrun in Stockholm, whilst Danny was at a dry Ross-on-Wye parkrun in Herefordshire.

This episode my guest is Alan Heeks, former corporate world inhabitant, organic farmer, coach and author of the book ‘Natural Happiness'. After his transition into organic farming, Alan realised that “a cultivated organic ecosystem is a profound guide to tending human nature, and that organic growth methods have parallels for people: such as composting your stress, and using crop rotation to avoid burnout.” We explore the idea further… About Alan Heeks Alan Heeks had a baptism by mud at age 42, when he dropped out of a successful business career and followed a wild impulse to start an organic farm as an education centre where young people could find their roots and direction as they entered adult life.       Despite Alan's lack of any relevant experience, the project succeeded, and gave him a huge education too. He explains, "I realised that a cultivated organic ecosystem is a profound guide to tending human nature, and that organic growth methods have parallels for people: such as composting your stress, and using crop rotation to avoid burnout."       Alan's new book about this approach, Natural Happiness, also draws on the workshops he has led for hundreds of people sharing his insights, from troubled teenagers to super-stressed NHS doctors. Alan and his wife Linda live in Hay-on-Wye, and grow many of their own vegetables.   Links www.naturalhappiness.net  Twitter  Facebook  LinkedIn  YouTube  Other episodes if you liked this one: Forest Bathing - Forest Bathing, or Shinrin Yoku, is the practice of immersing yourself in nature as therapy. It's the perfect antidote for those who feel disconnected from the land and unattached from nature, which is increasingly likely to happen in a world where 55% of us live in urban areas. In this episode, I speak to Stefan Batorijs who founded Nature and Therapy UK in 2017, as a response to a growing need to foster a spiritual and psychological connection to the land. If you've always wondered what Forest Bathing, or Shinrin Yoku, entails, this is the episode for you! 
Gardening for Your Senses - This week I'm chatting with writer Kendra Wilson. Kendra has written a vast amount about gardening but I was particularly interested in speaking to her about her book Garden for the Senses. Engaging all your senses can lead to a deeper connection with the landscape and it can be an unusual and transformative experience. I wanted to find out how we can all learn to better use our senses and firstly, what prompted Kendra to write the book.  Support the podcast on Patreon

In the second part of our series on the drinks that shaped our journey in cider, it's Albert's turn to reveal the bottles that have most impacted him. Shockingly, three of them are Ross-on-Wye – though Albert didn't actually press the apples in any of them, though he helped bottle and shape the latter two. Even more shockingly however, two of the ciders aren't Ross-on-Wye's at all! In this episode we learn the bottle ‘that did it' for Albert and the two Ross-on-Wyes that shaped his cider making trajectory. Plus the British cidery that's most impacted him and a recent cider that inspired him to keep learning and evolving. A lovely conversation with one of aspirational cider's modern greats (Adam's words, not Albert's!) Ciders by @rosscider @littlepomona and @haykinfamilycider Albert makes cider @rosscider Adam writes about it @adamhwells and @cider_review

After farmers held protest against post-Brexit agricultural policy in Wales, is the new Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs ready for the challenge? In his first interview for the programme, Anna Hill asks him about the 10% tree policy, how they plan to tackle bovine TB and whether they're doing enough to clean up Welsh rivers.The Government has published its long awaited River Wye Action Plan, which includes the doubling of grants for farm slurry stores and up to £35 million worth of funding for poultry manure combustors. Campaigners say the river is in an ‘ecological death spiral' and blame the spreading of manure from intensive chicken farming onto fields in the catchment, resulting in pollution going into the river. Research led by Lancaster University showed that 70% of the excess phosphate in the Wye, comes from agricultural waste.And many farms have ventured into retail and hospitality in the hope of selling some of their produce direct to customers. We visit a farm which has gone one step further, and as well as having a farm shop, butchery and cafe, it also rents farm buildings to other small businesses.Presented by Anna Hill Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Heather Simons

Adam has written a book! It's called Perry: A Drinker's Guide (guess what it's about), and it's out at the start of May. So in this episode we're indulging him by chatting all about it. Why write a book about perry? How did it all come together? What were the challenges and surprises? And who wrote that AMAZING foreword? Meanwhile Justin is on his own mission for perry. Listen out for crunching sounds next time you pass a hedgerow, that's all we'll say! You can pre-order a copy of the book here: https://shop1.camra.org.uk/product/perry-a-drinkers-guide/ Book a ticket to the launch event at Ross-on-Wye's The Yew Tree here: https://shop.rosscider.com/product/perry-a-drinker-s-guide-by-adam-wells-launch-party-perry-tasting-friday-3rd-may-at-7pm/816 Other launch events include: Big Apple, Much Marcle, 11:30am 5th May CAMRA Launch event, London, week commencing 13th May (date TBC) Station House, Durham, 22nd May Artistraw Cider, Hay on Wye, afternoon 26th May Castle Tap, Reading, evening 26th May By The Glass, Cardiff, 11th June Little Pomona, Bromyard, 6pm 22nd June Manchester Cider Club, 8th August London Cider Club, 26th September Plus look out at all big CAMRA festivals. And we hope to add a few more events soon! Albert runs the book @rosscider Adam smudges pages @cider_review Justin (hawthorn) leafs through @justinwellsjustin Contribute to Our Pomona

Featuring Albert Johnson of Ross Cider and Perry Company Ross Cider and Perry is a family owned business located in the West Country of the United Kingdom in the region of Heredfordshire. The Johnson family have been farming this land now with 45 acres of bush orchards and another 10 acres of standard trees and perry pears. The apple trees were planted between 1978 and 2001. And the Perry Pears about 35 years ago by Albert's father Mike. Pictured above: Cider Chat Host Ria, Mike and Albert Johnson - at Ross Cider Fest 2019 Today you can visit the newly remodeled Yew Tree Inn which is situated next to the orchards and all under the Ross Cider ownership. At the pub find 18 taps. They make a wide range of single varietal ciders (upwards to 90) and blends. One will always be guaranteed to be amazed by the offerings when visiting. In this Cider Chat with Albert Catching up since the first interview in 2019 with Mike and Albert – listen to Episode 194 Cider Making Practices The orchards Events Ciderganza A spring cider festival at The Yew Tree Inn Blossom Walk A charity fundraising blossom walk around the Broome Farm orchards Summertime Soirée A weekend drinks festival at The Yew Tree Inn Cider Challenge A charity cider competition and festival at The Yew Tree Inn Ross Cider Festival A summer cider festival at Broome Farm Ross-tober-fest An Octoberfest event held at The Yew Tree Inn Yew Tree Inn, Ross on Wye Contact Info for Ross Cider & Perry Company Website: https://rosscider.com/ For general and cider enquiries: info@rosscider.com For Yew Tree Inn related enquiries: yewtree@rosscider.com For Yew Tree adult only caravan & motorhome enquiries: camping@rosscider.com For Broome Farm family friendly & group camping enquiries:info@rosscider.com Telephone: 01989 562 815 Address: The Yew Tree Inn, Peterstow, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 6JZ Mentions in this Cider Chat Kordick Family Farm – Listen to Episode 369 featuring the Kordick Family New York International Cider Competition 2024 French Cider Tour 2024

Pollack fishermen are selling their boats after quotas for pollack were cut to zero. Defra says it's to safeguard fish stocks and have announced a £6 million scheme to help. However fishermen and the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation say the government announcements won't make any difference to fishing families who are losing their livelihoods.All this week we're talking about rivers. The River Wye has been badly polluted over the years. In 2020 phosphorous pollution from large-scale chicken farms along the Wye was blamed for algal blooms that appeared on the higher reaches of the river. So what's the situation on the River Wye today? We speak to a campaigner who's striving to protect the waterway and a poultry farmer who's changed the way she farms to help keep the river clean.Farmers have been protesting, on the Continent and in the UK, at changes to the way they are being encouraged to farm. However one academic is calling for the industry to focus on the positives, and work together to achieve both increased food production and environmental protection. We speak to Jack Bobo, Director of the Food Systems Institute at the University of Nottingham who believes more should be done to encourage farmers to take up the challenge of farming more sustainably - in a way that benefits their business and nature.Presenter = Anna Hill Producer = Rebecca Rooney

Another small abattoir has announced it's to close its doors for good. McIntyre Meats in Bainbridge in the Yorkshire Dales has been working with local farmers for the last 23 years and is just the latest small abattoir to decide to call it a day. Between 2018 and 2022 the number of small abattoirs processing red meat dropped by a quarter according to DEFRA. Right now in the Cotswolds, a group of farmers are trying to raise three million pounds to save Long Compton Abattoir from closure by buying it themselves. Why does it matter? Well, if you like to buy your meat local, direct from the farm or from a farmers market, the livestock your beef or sausages comes from will most likely have been slaughtered and possibly butchered at a small abattoir. Graham Bottley produces Mutton from his flock of Swaledale sheep in the Yorkshire Dales, and until now, has been using McIntyre Meats regularly We are looking into the business side of farming this week, now for most non-farming companies or organisations, training, appraisal and continuing professional development is the norm. But if you're a small family farm business, already dealing with rising costs, increasing paperwork, as well as the unpredictability of markets and weather, training courses can come a long way down the priority list. Ernie Richards is a shepherd from Hay on Wye and he argues that taking time out for training courses off the farm is an important investment. Mariclare Carey-Jones has been to meet him.

Marnie Chesterton & Victoria Gill embark on a science-themed version of the classic Christmas song ‘The 12 Days of Christmas' in this festive edition of BBC Inside Science. Twelve of the biggest moments of the year in science include discussion about a very special treefrog discovered in the Ecuadorian Andes. We also hear about two new promising drugs for Alzheimer's disease. An astronomer and visualisation scientist tells us about three new sonifications of space data. There's more on the discovery of a 476,000 year-old wooden structure found earlier this year in Zambia and how it has changed archaeologists' understanding of ancient human life. The year has also seen 5,000 new species discovered in a deep ocean abyssal plain. Saturn has 62 new moons and is now the planet with the most moons in our solar system. A report was published deeming 75% of UK rivers as posing a risk to human health. We gathered together experts from Natural Resources Wales, Cardiff University, Bangor University and the Wye and Usk Foundation who discussed why the help from citizen science is essential for their work. And a new record has been set which is really worrying scientists - the highest average global ocean surface temperature, which reached 20.98 degrees centigrade. Other notable moments from the year include: a Japanese twelve-legged robot, eighteen video-calling parrots, proposals for the 10km long Einstein telescope and the theory behind why one player in every football team views the world slightly differently. To help us along the journey the BBC's Radio Drama Company put all the science together into a brand-new rendition of the well-known 12 days of Christmas song. Presenter: Marnie Chesterton & Victoria Gill Producer: Hannah Fisher Assistant Producer: Emily Bird Editor: Richard Collings Production Co-ordinator: Jana Bennett-Holesworth  BBC Inside Science is produced in collaboration with the Open University.

Die Regshulpsentrum het vanjaar 'n tweede landswye strokiesverhaal kompetisie onder skole gehou om bewustheid van omgewingsbeskerming te verhoog. Die sentrum het 53 inskrywings van 28 skole ontvang, uit tien streke. 'n Wye verskeidenheid onderwerpe is gedek, onder meer wildstropery, onwettige visvang, waterbesoedeling, die onwettige myn van sand en rommelstrooiery. Die wenstrokiesprente is gekies op grond van oorspronklikheid, kuns, karakter, storielyn en die teenwoordigheid van wetlike komponente. Kosmos 94.1 Nuus het met Hans-Christian Mahnke van die sentrum gesels, wat sê die pryse het tot 30 000 Namibiese dollar beloop.

River health has captured the public imagination, particularly as overspills from sewers have been getting more attention in the media. But the condition of a river is so much more complicated than what flows into it from our water treatment systems. Agriculture, roads, how we use our drains, what we buy and even the medicines and drugs we take can all have an impact on our rivers and the plants and animals that call them home. So how are UK rivers doing? And what needs to happen to help those waterways that are drowning in pollution? Joining the BBC's Marnie Chesterton on stage at Green Man Festival in Wales to discuss all this is: Dave Johnston, team leader of environmental reporting at Natural Resources Wales, whose responsibility it is to monitor Welsh rivers. Joanne Cable, head of organisms and environment division at Cardiff University, whose focus is on biodiversity and what we at home can do to support our rivers. Simon Evans, chief executive of The Wye and Usk Foundation, who runs citizen science projects to support these two rivers local to the festival. Christian Dunn, wetland biologist at Bangor University, who is keen to explain the power of wetlands and has also done some surprising research into the river near Glastonbury Festival. Presenter: Marnie Chesterton Producers: Harrison Lewis and Hannah Robins Research: Liam Collins-Jones Studio Managers: Mike Cox and Duncan Hannant Editor: Richard Collings

The largest poultry processor in the Wye catchment area has announced litter from its supply chain will no longer be available for sale, as fertiliser, within the Wye catchment, as a way to help better manage their supply chain, in relation to the health of the River Wye. A conservation group responds to the news. NFU MIdlands members are asked for their thoughts on the government's hedgerow consultation. And a fifth generation farmer in Kendal shares why hedgerows are not just important for farming, but local history and culture, too. Presented by Caz Graham and produced by Rhiannon Fitz-Gerald.

Rural pride celebrations are transforming what it means to be LGBTQ+ in rural areas. Team Homo Sapiens travelled to the tiny market town of Hay on Wye for their second-ever pride event to see for ourselves. Tune in to hear all of our coverage from the event which includes everything from farmer drag queens to dog shows. This episode was hosted by the brilliant Ben Andrews, our resident gay farmer who delves brilliantly into the fascinating stories of the thousands of LGBTQ+ people and allies who attended Hay Pride from across rural Wales.Producer: Katie GrantEditor: Steve Folland Social Media: George Kimm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen as Paul Abernathy, CEO, and Founder of Electrical Code Academy, Inc. the leading electrical educator in the country, as he answers more questions from the Let's Ask Paul Portal over at www.PaulAbernathy.com.In this episode, Paul will tackle the questions submitted by a listener. The topic covered in this episode is about what is a delta high-leg, how it is derived and a little about delta and wye transformers and where one might be a better fit over another.If you are looking to learn more about the National Electrical Code, for electrical exam preparation, or to better your knowledge of the NEC then visits https://fasttraxsystem.com for all the electrical code training you will ever need by the leading electrical educator in the country with the best NEC learning program on the planet.

This week we're heading back to early spring in the Welsh hills. But for the second Plodcast in a row, we're not on foot. Following last week's paddleboarding on the river Wye, plodcast host Fergus takes to two wheels to explore the hills of his beloved Bannau Brecheiniog. Borrowing an electric bike, he follows an old railway line into the wild to see how far he can get on a single battery charge – and get home again. This is episode 13 of season 16: Get Active in Nature Thank you to Merida for supplying the Merida eBigNine model for this podcast. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@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. Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com Write to us: Plodcast, Countryfile Magazine Eagle House Bristol BS1 4ST Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Janey share some info about her work recommending natural brands, and the platinum awards, (lots of great competitions) at www.imperfectlynatural.com Vote for your fave brands now that you are sober you prob care about the holistic picture! If you have a sustainable brand enter now www.platinumawards.co.uk Janey's guest is Christy Osborne who is known for her blog American girl in Chelsea, now she is a lifecoach, and sober, and writing a book called Love Life Sober, for Christian women, her podcast is 'But Jesus drank wine and other stories that kept us stuck. Janey is speaking at Russell Brands community festival in Hay on Wye, Sat 15 July We're hosting a 250 episode meet up with special guests in London on Tues 15 Aug and on Sat Aug 19 its Sober by the sea, along the way we will have an online Family constellations too For all events go to The Sober Club Join us for connection, inspiration and connectivity, its low cost, v high value  Reach out on social media @janeyleegrace

Earlier this month at Hay-on-Wye's annual Hay Festival of Literature & Arts, one of the world's most prestigious literary events, Dua sat down with 'Shuggie Bain' author Douglas Stuart for a fascinating discussion and podcast taping in front of a live audience about Service95 Book Club's first book of the month. Whether you've read 'Shuggie Bain' or not, this episode is filled with crackling conversation you won't want to miss. This episode contains strong language. To get in touch, please send us an email to podcast@service95.com — and if you're enjoying the show, make sure to subscribe so that you are the first to hear about any new episodes of At Your Service. You can follow @service95 on Instagram and Twitter for all Dua Lipa: At Your Service updates. To receive the Service95 newsletter, introduced each week by Dua, subscribe at www.service95.comSee omny.fm/listener for privacy information.

At Hay-on-Wye's annual Hay Festival of Literature & Arts, one of the world's most prestigious literary events, Dua sat down with 'Shuggie Bain' author Douglas Stuart for a fascinating discussion and podcast taping in front of a live audience about Service95 Book Club's first book of the month. Whether you've read 'Shuggie Bain' or not, this episode is filled with crackling conversation you won't want to miss. This episode contains very strong language. To get in touch, please send us an email to podcast@service95.com — and if you're enjoying the show, make sure to subscribe so that you are the first to hear about any new episodes of At Your Service. You can follow @service95 on Instagram and Twitter for all Dua Lipa: At Your Service updates. To receive the Service95 newsletter, introduced each week by Dua, subscribe at www.service95.com.

No one is in Police, Fire, EMS or the Military for awards and commendations. We do it because it is what it is expected of us. Sure some recognition is nice, but when is it just too much?This week is EMS week and your pals at WYE stocked your local EMS break room with 4 LOCOs and pamphlets about other agencies hiring in the area. But really, what does a week of recognition mean? Awards? Medals? Lunch? Do they matter?This week the guys ask what is it really all about and why is it always Scott and Gary gunning for the big award this month/year/etc, and not the folks actually making a difference.While your hosts have their own accolades to hang on the wall, they discuss the importance of recognition but also the risk of over rewarding mediocrity.Then they're off for their own recognition, a 36-hour stint away from the families at the Strawberry Bluegrass Music Festival.This week we ponder:Why does Scott always seem to be getting awards and medals?Is it OK to avoid the recognition or should we lean into it?Have your hosts ever earned a medal?What is a Dadberry?Support the showJoin our Facebook Community!Buy us a beer!Email Us! (Justin or Jason)Thanks for listening and please share the show!