UK Wildlife Podcast: Recent Episodes
Neil Phillips + Victoria Hillman
I chat to Becky Pullinger who is Head of Land Use Planning for the Wildlife Trust about the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and why it will be such bad news for wildlife in the UK and won’t help deliver more homes for people to live in, and what you can do to stop it.
We talk to Mark Anthony aka ATM Street Art about his amazing work, creating massive wildlife art pieces on human made structures and how it helps connect people to wildlife ATM Street Art Website here https://atmstreetart.com/street-art
In the 1st of our episodes recorded at Global Bird Fair, we talk to Luke Massey about the Wildlife haven he and his family have created in Spain: Wild Finca
We talk all about wildlife photography competitions – Vic gives some tips, from her perspective as a judge, on how to enter and we talk about our experiences in competitions and if it is worth entering them anymore.
We talk all about Golden Eagles, their ecology and the problems they face in the modern world
Neil goes for a walk back in May 2023 at Essex Wildlife Trust Thameside Nature Park, to see what bird species he can hear singing. A bonus episode before we start posting the normal episodes again soon!
The 2nd part of the interview with Mike Dilger (from episode 83) where we talk about dragonflies, garden visitors, getting into wildlife TV / media and book writing This episode was available back in May for our members. Check out our Buy me a coffee page to see how to become a UK Wildlife Podcast…
We talk to Peter Howe of 3rd Eye Technology about PROJECT CamTag, his plan to develop satellite tags used on birds of prey to more modern technology, including cameras to catch criminals persecuting them. Also in news Neil rants about the Grouse moor originations attacking Dr Amir Khan for calling their claims about benefiting conservation…
We all chat about what we’ve enjoyed about Birdfair, Hares, ladybirds, Red Kites, Grass Snake poo and anal secretions….
The 1st of our episodes recorded live at Global Birdfair, we talk to Nigel Marven about how in got into wildlife, his pet caiman, his journey to becoming a wildlife presenter and how he ended up being chased by dinosaurs. We also talk about why Birdfair is such a great event and the positive impact…
We talk to Steffan Walton warden for the Sandwich Bay Bird Observatory Trust, all about the wildlife that can be found in Sandwich Bay area, the species found there and the work carried out by SBBOT. To donate to their appeal to buy Jubilee Field, or to find out more about the site head to…
We talk all about the Cockchafer or May Bug. It’s lifecycle, habits, folklore and interesting historic relationship with humans In wildlife news we talk about Gannets changing eye colour, the water companies poor offer to clean their own mess and more Hen harriers being killed
We look look at Britain’s orchids and give an introduction to this fascinating group of plants
We talk to Mike Dilger about his quest to see 1000 plants species in a year, which he talks about in his book One Thousand Shades of Green
We Talk to Hilary Jeffkins, series producer on the Wild Isles, talking to her about this great new BBC Series on wildlife in the British Isles, stories from making the show, her favourite moments in the filming and how she got started in making TV programs helping to crate the Really Wild Show.
We talk all about Springtails aka collembola , the little jumpy used-to-be-but-are-no-longer-are-insects with the national recorder for the group, Dr Peter Shaw
To celebrate World Wetlands Day, here is an episode on a seriously underrated pond (and lake!) creature, the Phantom Midge Chaoborus sp. a transparent fly larva, the UK’s fastest striking predator and the only insect that is truly planktonic
We talk about the Lesser Celandine Ficaria verna, its adaptions to flowering in winter, its medicinal uses and how it spreads
We talk to Kat Mayer about the The Langholm Initiative and Tarras Valley Nature Reserve, what wildlife is there, how the community buyout happened, what projects are taking place to improve the site and the plans for the future
We catch you up on some recent British Wildlife News and update you on the some podcast news as well. Transcript:
We talk to Tony Whitehead who is one of the communications managers for RSPB England, and we discuss the Attack on Nature. Tony explains the concerns about the threat to the Habitats Directive (and what this directive does) from the Retained EU Law Bill, the harm that could come from ‘Investment Zones’ and the uncertainty…
Continuing our celebration of #Arachtober we speak to Meg Skinner all about Harvestmen. How they differ from spiders, how they feed, what they eat and how you can identify and help record these wonderful arachnids.
An arachnid species special for #Arachtober on a creature you may be surprised to here is found in the UK, the Yellow Tailed Scorpion. Covering where they live, how they feed, courtship and their lifecycle.
We talk to Vicki Hird about the topic of her book Rebugging the Planet. We discuss the subjects covered in her book, what we can do to help bugs and Vicki also explains the current situation with ELMs, the scheme to help farmers farm in an more wildlife and environmental friendly way which seemed to…
We catch up on the news we missed on our break and some current news as well covering legalising the dumping of sewage in our rivers, the environmental credentials of the new government, plans to rip up the regulations that protect our wildlife and bird flu sweeping the country. We also talk about the recent…
We talk to Bafta Award winning wildlife cameraman Doug Allan about how he started his career in natural history videography, what its like filming polar bears and leopards seals, filming in a pub garden, his favourite wildlife sites and his upcoming talks. We have also included an automated transcription of the episode below, you can…
A short episode on what’s going on with the Podcast, what we’ve been up to and when we will be back (Spoiler alert: its in autumn)
We talk to Dr George McGavin about the insects and arthropods that are the topic of his new audiobook All Creatures Small and Great. How he decided what to write and talk about, his guests and who else he would have liked to have included and generally chat about the wonderful world of invertebrates. We…
In part 2 of our chat with Chantelle Lindsay and Rory Crawford, we talk about the Albatross Task Force, the Great North Wood Project and breaking down barriers to nature for Black people. We finish with a more light hearted question of what their best ever wildlife encounter was. Links:Great North Wood ProjectAlbatross Task ForceChantelle’s…
We talk to the hosts of the Cbeebies show Teeny Tiny Creatures, Chantelle Lindsay and Rory Crawford, about how they got to be presenting the show, getting a job in conservation (and how hard it is!) and their dream creature to do a Teeny Tiny episode on. We also chat about how Dr Amir Khan’s…
Our guest this episode is Paul Williams from the BBC Natural History Unit, and director and producer on the latest BBC Nature Doc, The Green Planet.We talk about the Green Planet series, seeing the world’s biggest flower, the difficulties filming a cactus parasite, stories from working with Sir David Attenborough and how he got to…
We look at an invertebrate commonly found in ponds and ditches, the water lice. We cover the 3 native UK species Asellus aquaticus, Proasellus meridianus, Asellus cavaticus and the non native Caecidotea communis, their life cycle, feeding, breeding and predators. We also read out our listeners 2021 wildlife highlights and discuss our own too.
It is 2 years since the 1st episode of this podcast was released so we decided to do something a bit different, and interview each other! As we asked all the questions that were sent in, it lasted a bit longer than intended so here is part 1 of 2…
We talk to Eleanor Colver, Conservation Officer at the British Dragonfly Society, who gives us an update on the State of Dragonflies report, talking about the results and future plans informed by the results, while we chat about dragonflies in general
We talk to Lee Davies, mycologist and Fungarium Curator at the Royal Botanical Gardens Kew, all about Fungi! We finally talk about this whole kingdom of life so far largely ignored by this podcast, discussing what fungi are, their different ecologies, the mycorrhiza fungi and their symbiotic relationships with trees, and how many are poisonous…
We talk to 2 young naturalists Mya Bambrick and Ben Rumsby abut their experiences being a young naturalist in the UK today. We discuss what got them into wildlife, the upsides of social media from a young naturalist’s perspective, bird camps and Mya’s work with the Cameron Bespolka Trust, Vlogging and what Noc-Mig is.
We talk Craneflies with Pete Boardman, national organiser for the UK Cranefly Recording Scheme. We talk about what craneflies are, the confusion when using the name daddy long legs, the diversity and lifecycle of the craneflies, and why there are so many about at this time of year.
We talk to Dr Isla Hodgson about the sharks found in UK waters, including Basking Sharks. We answer your questions on sharks and talk how little we do know about these often misunderstood and unfairly maligned creatures. We also discuss Isla’s work with Basking Shark Scotland and the Save Our Seas Foundation which includes their…
We talk to Jack Wootton, Aquatic Ecologist for the Forth Rivers Trust, about European eels We discuss their lifecycle, diet and issues threatening their survival, and talk about the Forgotten Fish Project he started and the work they do to help eels and other fish.
A slightly different episode talking about Neil’s recent trips to Yorkshire, one with Zeiss to test out their Victory SF binoculars while enjoying the wildlife of Flamborough Cliffs and hoping to see the Albatross that had been seen there, and a 2nd trip to….well listen to find out! We also take a closer look at…
We talk to Fiona McKenna and Dave Smallshire of the British Dragonfly Society (BDS) and the work they and the BDS do to engage people, record and conserve dragonflies and damselflies. We also find out what their favourite species of this fascinating group is!
In this episode we look at the Emerald damselflies, the Lestidae, found in the UK. The Common, Scarce, Southern and Willow Emeralds, looking at how to identify them, their habitat preferences, egg laying and larva habits, the recent arrival and spread in the UK of the Willow and Southern Emeralds and some more geeky info…
Vic and Neil talk about our 9 resident Blue Butterfly species, looking at each species and their preferred habitats, larval food plants and their relationship that some have with ants, including how they trick the poor ant hosts into caring for their caterpillars.
The Legal Protection for some of the UK’s most vulnerable Wildlife, including adder, pine martens and mountain hares, is under threat from new proposals by the JNCC to only allow those that are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered, or a European Protected Species (EPS) to be protected by law. Neil and Steve Allain look…
Just a heads up In this episode we talk about women being subject to harassment and worse. We talk to Lucy McRobert about the subject of her ‘Call it out’ article she wrote for Bird Guides (do have a read if you haven’t already), how birding or simply being out in nature alone can make…
We talk to Jack Greenhalgh, who is studying a PhD on the wonderful underwater acoustic world of ponds & rivers. We talk about his research and listen to some of the noises made by freshwater invertebrates underwater.
Something a bit different for episode 50, we invited 7 other wildlife podcasters onto the show: Susy Buttress from Casual Birder , Ryan Dalton from Into the Wild, Emma Bridson from For What is Earth, Jack perks from the Bearded Tit, Rachael Horowitz from Hidden Wings and Bloodlust and Ellie and Ben from the Wildlife…
In this episode we talk to Dr Jenni Stockan about Wood Ants, which are 3 of our largest and arguably most interesting species of ants. We discuss how they live, what effect they have on the habitats they live in and the somewhat bizarre stories of people relocating them, sometimes to some far off places!
Our first ever in the field interview, and it is with Mike Coates, warden for RSPB Farnham, where we discuss the Back from the Brink backed Field Cricket reintroduction project and these wonderful insects. In news I cover dogs chasing deer, a bad few weeks for BOP persecution and a project to help the Twaite…
In the second of our spring flowers episodes we talk about the the Bluebell and the Wood Anemone; how and where they grow, why they spread so slowly and the neat trick bluebells use to get phosphorous. In news we talk about the Big Garden Birdwatch results, Large Marsh Grasshopper being reintroduced to Norfolk, the…
In the first of 2 spring flower episode we take an in depth look at the Pasque Flower and Snake’s-Head Fritillary, their ecology, native status and uses in history. In news we discuss Freddie the seal being attacked by a dog, Puffin numbers booming to 1940s-level high on Skokholm, Buglife’s investigation finding ‘I’m a Celebrity’…
We discuss cuckoos with Professor Nick Davies, field naturalist and author of the book ‘Cuckoo: cheating by nature’. We talk about the cuckoos diet, migration and their extraordinary nest parasitism. Over many years of study Nick and his colleagues have answered many of the questions around how the cuckoo gets away with laying it eggs…
We talk about bee-flies, the cute brown fuzzy flies that start to appear in Early spring. As guest host we have the only person we could have asked, the woman Nick baker that described as “the best thing that has ever happened to flies, Dr Erica McAlister! (Who was a great guest back in Ep26).…
We are joined by Prof. Helen Roy, President of the Royal Entomological Society, to discuss ladybirds. We talk about what ladybirds are, what they eat and their lifecycle. We also ask Helen some of your questions on the value of recording and impact of invasive ladybirds, and finally we talk about who the Royal Entomological Society are and…
Steve joins us again for another herpetological episode, this time we cover the Uk’s snake species: Adders, Grass Snakes, Smooth Snakes and Aesculapian Snakes.
We talk to Nick Gates, naturalist and natural history TV producer, vlogger and writer. We discuss the Ancient or Traditional Orchards, the topic of the book Orchard, which he co-authored. These orchards can hold a wealth of wildlife, including rare and declining species such as the noble chafer, lesser spotted woodpeckers and redstarts. We also, answer…
We are joined by James Harding-Morris, who is the Communications Manager for the Back from the Brink project, a large collaboration of UK nature conservation bodies which aims to save 20 species from extinction and benefit over 200 more through 19 projects that span England. We discuss the aims and achievements so far, some of the many…
We talk about tawny owls which are very active and calling at this time of year. In news we discuss The badger cull ‘halting’, using birth control to control squirrels, more raptor persecution and a strange arrangement between Natural England and BASC, a study showing half of all bird biomass in August is non native…
We talk to the fish twitcher himself, Jack Perks, about how he ended up filming freshwater fish and other wildlife, his quest to film every species of British freshwater fish and many other things. In news we cover the call by conservationists to monitor our smaller streams and ponds, andJack also gives his insights on…
We talk to entomologist and museum curator Ashleigh Whiffin, discussing how she got to being a museum curator and entomologist, the need for taking specimens in entomology and how entomological displays have changed over the years. We also discuss Carrion Beetles, their wonderful behaviours of this group, (which include a surprising amount of parental care),…
We talk about the 2 main winter flowers Snowdrops and Winter Aconites. Looking at the natural history of these 2 plants that are not native, but found in the wild of the UK We choose our favourite nature moment from 2020 and share some of yours. In news we discuss the last welsh Golden Eagle…
A bit of a different episode, with just Neil and he is talking about a much maligned group of animals, the leeches, and how his fear turned to fascination. With some cool facts and his personal experiences of these largely misunderstood creatures.
We chat to Kate MacRae about teaching children outside, about wildlife/nature (including remotely during the lockdown!), the remote wildlife cameras in her garden, tips on using trailcams and a host of other things!
We discuss Wildlife Photography Competitions and Ethics with our guest Rob Read who runs the Wild Art photography competition. We also talk about wildlife writing with his Purple Crow subscription service. We talk through how to set rules in competitions and how this links in with ethics of getting the shot and navigating the grey…
For our 1 year anniversary special we are joined by entomologist and wildlife presenter George McGavin, discussing how he got into entomology and then broadcasting, bot flies, the important conservation role that has been played by Scottish midges and what happened when he was left alone in a dark cave among many other subjects! Here…
We discuss the 2 British winter thrush species – Redwing and Fieldfare. Their identification, migration, feeding and breeding habits. In news we talk about the charging of an owner who let their dog kill a deer in Richmond Park, the rediscovery of the Great Fox-Spider and concerns about government interference of the post Brexit environmental…
We are joined by Cian Gill for a bit of a fun episode for Halloween. We discuss some of the weird and bizarre fantastical creatures (and monsters) that people claim to have seen in the UK. We delve into the world of Cryptozoology talking about sightings of Nessie the Loch Ness monster, Morgawr (the Cornish…
We are joined by Dr Amir Khan GP, known from Channel 5’s GPs Behind Closed Doors, BBC Breakfast and ITV’s This Morning, and ambassador for the Wildlife Trust and Butterfly Conservation, to discuss health benefits of wildlife, getting under represented groups access to nature and these benefits, the wonderful wildlife in his garden and Yorkshire,…
In this autumnal episode we discuss the changing colours of tree leaves and the science behind it. In news we cover the successful saltmarsh creation at Fingeringhoe Wick in Essex, pheasants wiping out adders, yet more raptors being killed and some swearing parrots!
In this species special we look at the social wasps. We discuss all 9 resident species (and the Asian Hornet), their habits, feeding, nest building, predators and parasites, along with their sting and what exactly is the point of wasps?
In this episode we talk flies with Dr Erica McAlister, Senior Curator of Diptera (true flies) at the Natural History Museum in London. She is also president of the Amateur Entomologists’ Society, and author of the The Secret Life of Flies and her new book The Inside Out of Flies.Erica answers listener questions on flies and tells…
We talk to Derek Gow about Beaver reintroduction and the story behind it, which is the topic for his book ‘Bringing Back the Beaver’ (available at all good bookstores).He tells the story of well evidenced projects that were stopped by the actions of an influential few, and the success that was won to keep the…
In this species special we look at the Wasp Spider Argiope bruennichi, discussing their feeding behaviour, the males struggling to not be cannibalised while trying to mate with females, the possible function of both their striped body markings and the zig-zag of silk in their web, which is known as a ‘stabilimentum’. We also look at…
We talk to Iolo Williams about raptor persecution and the wildlife found in Wales. We also discuss and Iolo answers questions on how he ended up as a wildlife presenter, his favourite wildlife encounter, the effects of cats and pheasants on wildlife, Mya Bambricks plan to get more wildlife habitat in schools, where to look…
Neil and guest host herpetologist Steve Allain discuss the UK’s Newt species. They talk about smooth, palmate and great crested newts, their habits, feeding and breeding and also look at the non native alpine and Italian crested newts, and neotony that sometimes occurs in UK species. In news they look at the pollution spill kills…
A (very) short episode where Neil talks about our freshwater Cnidarians, the usually marine group that include corals and sea anemones, which focuses on the freshwater Hydra species. With a brief look at the alien freshwater jellyfish that occasionally turn up in the UK as well.
We talk about Rockpools; the wildlife found there and the extreme environment in which they have to survive. In news we cover yet more BOP being killed in North Yorkshire and numerous cases of dogs attacking wildlife.
We talk about the cetaceans, whales and dolphins, found around the UK’s shoreline, discuss the species found there with details on the 4 most common species and where to see them. In news we discuss a bearded vulture appearing in the UK, restoring meadows at the white cliffs of Dover, and 200,000 incidents of sewage…
In a special short episode we talk about Stag Beetles and Lesser Stag Beetles. We discuss their life cycle, distribution, behaviour and how Neil determined if the males could bite or not! The links mentioned in the podcastPTES websiteStag beetle.infoStag beetles
We talk to ‘Ant Boy’ Xander about all thing Cairngorms and invertebrates included narrow headed ants, capercaillie, shining guest ant and pine hoverfly. We also discuss getting younger people into wildlife. In wildlife news we talk about the peregrine nests raided for their eggs/chicks, the better news that mountain hare culls are to be subject…
Part two of our chat/interview with Nick Baker, presenter from Really Wild Show, Nick’s quest, Springwatch, Weird Creatures and Nick Baker’s Wild West among others. We discuss his favourite UK Reptile or amphibian, what British animal we would love to see and chat away on various other topics! (If you missed part one/Episode 14 you…
A conversation between three naturalists driven slightly mad by the lockdown! We have Wildlife TV presenter Nick Baker on the show, famous for presenting Really Wild show, Nick’s Quest and Weird Creatures, and we discuss all sorts of wildlife topics and answer questions sent in by listeners. In news we cover ‘no mow May’, BOP…
A special episode where we look at photography ideas and projects you can do during the lockdown, most of which in your home or garden. Includes macro, garden bird and pond creature photography, mini indoor nature studio and an idea for your exercise walk are all discussed. Links for the sources for further ideas/projects mentioned…
We talk abut the 3 most commonly found ant species in gardens: the black garden ant Lasius niger, the red ant Myrmica rubra and the yellow meadow ant Lasius flavus. and answer some of your question on ants. WARNING contains ant puns! In news we discuss porpoises in a river, idiotic Chinese lantern releases and…
In this episode we talk to Stephen Moss, author of over 40 natural history books, producer of TV programmes such as Birding with Bill Oddie and Springwatch and lecturer in creative writing at Bath Spa University We talk about tips for writing nature books, his experiences in broadcasting, bird watching and Birdfair being cancelled among…
Main topic is what to do in your garden during the lockdown. We have some good feedback/follow up on the mole topic and a sound clip from a friend of the show. In the News we look at a new way to age Great Crested Newts, irresponsible grouse moors setting fires during a time of…
The main topic is the mole Neil mentions and excellent toad surveying session and Vic discusses Frog and toad spawn appearing.In news discuss a fishery owner killing an otter (and actually being jailed) and the badger cull being ‘phased out’ (or not). Above image of mole by Didier Descouens CC BY-SA 4.0 Podcast: Play in new…
We are joined by Steven Allain to discuss (and answer your questions) Frogs and Toads Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More News stories Beavers helping prevent flooding Sparrowhawk killed story 1 Sparrowhawk killed story 2 Coul Links development blocked Are you Team Frog or Team toad, vote on twitter below: To go with our…
A special episode where we answer your questions on wildlife photography, advice on the different camera options, macro lens advice and tips on photographing moving insects and pond life are among other questions answered. Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | TuneIn | Spotify | RSS | More
We talk to Adrian Thomas from the RSPB about the Big Garden Birdwatch 2020, projects he has worked on, bird song and wildlife gardening
What pond creatures, such as the pond oilve mayfly, do to survive the cold in winter, and give some tips on how to look after your pond when it freezes over. Kestrel decline and our first memory's of garden wildlife, and what surprises us about nature. Seal pup deaths and should dogs be allowed in nature reserves.
In News we discuss: The sad passing of David Bellamy Harvest Mice thriving on a reintroduction site Baby porpoise poisoned by pollution We answer Steve Bonds question about a magpie eating a mouse And our main topic is wildlife species associated with Christmas: reindeer, robins, holly and mistletoe Click here to play Subscribe here:Apple…
We discuss in News: Leaky Dams, rise in poisoned owl no.s in Epping Forest and dormouse decline. The main topic of discussion is Graham’s question: It was interesting and encouraging to hear in episode 1 of your podcast that the young children seem to be growing up with quite a good grasp of natural knowledge,…
We talk about at migration, but mostly in amphibians, reptile, insects, fish and bats, rather than birds.In news: Neil moans about Angling Trust trying to get cormorants on General license and we talk about better news on beaver reintroduction Podcast notes: Angling Trust Cormorant added to general license campaign page (warning depressing and scientifically dubious…
Episode 1 - we discuss what we've been up to (SPOILER: Me lots, Vic not so much), Shorted owls, Skomer and how children are good at find fungi and inverts
We have a Podcast.
I and Victoria Hillman will be talking UK or British Wildlife.
In this episode we introduce ourselves and our plans for the podcast