National Trust Podcast: Recent Episodes
National Trust
The National Trust Podcast takes you on an audio adventure through some of the UK’s greatest landscapes, walks, gardens, homes and collections. You’ll uncover the hidden stories, learn about the fascinating characters and meet the wonderful people that make all our places so special. New episodes are released every two weeks.
To learn more about audio programmes from the National Trust go to http://nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts
Join National Trust ranger Ajay Tegala in a Wild Voices conversation with veterinary surgeon, conservationist and founder of the Ealing Wildlife Group, Dr Sean McCormack. Recorded live at the Global Bird Fair in Rutland, Sean shares the remarkable story of bringing beavers back to London for the first time in 400 years and explains why community-led rewilding is transforming urban landscapes.
Together, Sean and Ajay explore what it means to reconnect people with nature, why access and belonging matter, and how local action could shape a wilder future for us all.
Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts
Production Host: Ajay Tegala
Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris & Ajay Tegala
Sound: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Dr Sean McCormack
You can find out more about the Ealing Beaver Project here: The Ealing Beaver Project – Bringing Beavers Back to London
And you can discover more about Dr Sean McCormack here: https://www.instagram.com/thatvetsean/ https://linktr.ee/thatvetsean
Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Every spring, the unmistakable call of the cuckoo echoes across Wicken Fen Nature Reserve in Cambridgeshire. But behind that familiar sound lies one of nature's most extraordinary deceptions. Join ranger and naturalist Ajay Tegala as he uncovers the astonishing lengths a cuckoo will go to raise its young.
Production
Host : Ajay Tegala
Narrator : Rosie Holdsworth
Producer : Nikki Ruck
Location Sound : Claire Hickinbotham
Sound Design : Nikki Ruck
If you would like to learn more about the habitat of Cuckoos and Reed Warbler
we recorded this episode at
Wicken Fen Nature reserve
Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Coral reefs are among the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth, yet climate change, pollution and overfishing are driving their rapid decline.
In response, Formula One champions McLaren Racing and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation have joined forces, combining engineering, data analysis and marine science to help restore coral reefs before they are lost.
National Trust ranger Ajay Tegala is joined by Anna Marsden and Kim Wilson to explore how this innovative partnership is accelerating reef restoration and what it could mean for the future of coral conservation.
Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube:
https://youtu.be/ZT4mlDD6j8U
Production Host: Ajay Tegala
Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris
Sound: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Kim Wilson, McLaren Racing
**Anna Marsden, Great Barrier Reef Foundation
Image: Yongala Dive exploring an underwater wreck.
Copyright credit: Tourism and Events Queensland**
Discover More:
If you’d like to learn more about McLaren Racing’s Sustainability work, you can do so here: McLaren Racing - Committed to Sustainability
You can learn more about The Great Barrier Reef Foundation and it’s work here: Restoring coral reefs - Great Barrier Reef Foundation
McLaren Racing and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation fast‑tracking reef recovery - Great Barrier Reef Foundation
And you can become a reef defender here:
https://give.barrierreef.org/donate/reef-defender
Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
What do you do when a capybara escapes into the Shropshire countryside?
In this episode, ranger Rosie Holdsworth joins Will Dorrell, co-founder of Hoo Zoo in Telford, to uncover the remarkable story of Cinnamon, the runaway capybara, and the efforts to bring her home.
They also discover how Cinnamon’s adventure turned her into a global social media star. Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts
Production Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Jesus Gomez Albiach
Sound: Jesus Gomez Albiach
Contributor: Will Dorrell
For more info:
Hoo Zoo is a fascinating wildlife park where your favourite animals are mixed alongside impressive life-sized dinosaurs in a unique and immersive setting. If you want to learn more about the park and its conservation and education projects, please visit https://www.hoo-zoo.com/
Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt
Follow Hoo Zoo on Instagram @hoozooanddinosaurworld
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
As the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup gets underway, we're heading to Wembley Stadium, the home of the England national team, to explore the crucial role the pitch plays in the beautiful game. With Wembley setting the benchmark that World Cup venues across North America are looking to emulate, Ranger Rosie Holdsworth joins Karl Standley, Head of Grounds and Surface Transitions, to uncover what it takes to maintain this world-famous playing surface. From UVC lights and surgically sharp mower blades to turf grown at secret locations, we discover the science, skill and precision behind one of football's most iconic pitches.
Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube: https://youtu.be/RwmqQoFgUSk
Production Host: Rosie Holdsworth Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris Sound: Jesus Gomez Contributor: Karl StandleyIf you’d like to learn more about the pitch at Wembley Stadium, you can book onto a tour here: https://bookings.wembleytours.com/stadiumtours/home.htm
Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Deep in the forests of Transylvania, one of Europe’s largest populations of brown bears still roams freely, often surprisingly close to busy towns and cities. Join National Trust ranger Rosie Holdsworth and her family as they hunt for signs of bears in the forests near Brașov, Romania. There, they discover what it really means to share a landscape with Europe’s largest land predator.
Production
Presenter: Rosie Holdsworth and Hebe
Producer : Nikki Ruck
Sound design: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Csaba Domokos from the Milvus Group
Discover More
Find out more about conservation of the European Brown Bear in Romania
https://milvus.ro/en/mammals/brown-bear-conservation-and-research-program-in-a-model-area-in-romania/
Follow us @wildtalesnt Instagram account
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Red Squirrels were once a common sight in woodlands around the Uk but now, they’re one of our rarest Mammals.
In this episode of Wild Tales, we head to Plas Newydd on the island of Ynys Môn in Wales, where a remarkable effort to bring them back is underway.
For the Welsh transcript of this episode please click here.
Red squirrel, Anglesey, Wales
©National Trust Images/Rob Coleman
Production
Narration: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Nikki Ruck
Sound Recordist: Marnie Woodmeade
Sound Design: Jesus Gomez
With thanks to Carol Thomas at Plas Newydd
**Find out more
Visit the red squirrels at Plas Newydd:**https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/plas-newydd-house-and-garden/red-squirrels-at-plas-newydd
Learn more about Red Squirrel Conservation
The Red Squirrels Trust Wales is working to protect red squirrel populations on Ynys Môn and across North Wales. If you would like to read more about some of the points raised in this episode, look here.
https://www.redsquirrels.info/about/faq/
See red squirrels on Brownsea Island (Dorset):
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/brownsea-island/the-rare-red-squirrel-on-brownsea-island
Listen to our episode on pine martens (Wallington, Northumberland):
https://ntpodcasts.org/WT25
Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
White-clawed crayfish were once common in Britain’s waterways. But thanks to a restaurant craze in the 1970’s, that brought the American signal crayfish to our shores, our only native freshwater crayfish is under threat from this invasive species.
White-clawed crayfish are eco system engineers keeping rivers and streams clean and they also have amazing limb re growing superpowers. But they’re being outcompeted for food and habitat by the American signal crayfish and succumbing to a killer plague being spread by them. But, with a little help from Ranger Nick Allen and the team at Wallington estate in Northumberland, habitats are being created where white-clawed crayfish can thrive.
Join Rosie and follow the story and the lives of the plucky little characters fighting for survival in England’s Northeast.
Production:
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producers: Michelle Douglass and Katy Kelly
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Nick Allen
Discover more:
Find out more about Wallington and their work with the white-clawed crayfish:
Saving the native white-clawed crayfish | National Trust
Follow us @ wildtales Instagram account
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or a story idea, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Ever hunted for fossils on a beach and felt like you might actually find something?
Rosie heads to the Isle of Wight to the scene of the most complete dinosaur discovery in the UK in a hundred years.
She’s joined by Dr Jeremy Lockwood, part of the original dig team and now casually known as a “namer of dinosaurs,” as they retrace how this once‑buried giant came back into the light.
Production:
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Claire Hickinbotham
Sound Recordist: Nikki Ruck
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez
With thanks to Dr Jeremy Lockwood
Rosie and Jeremy went for the dinosaur walk at Compton Bay and Downs | Isle of Wight | National Trust
They parked at Compton car parking information | National Trust
You can see Comptonatus Chasei at the Dinosaur Isle Museum on the Isle of Wight.
Welcome to Dinosaur Isle - Dinosaur Isle Museum
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
As winter turns to spring , toads, frogs and newts across Britain begin their annual journey, making their way back to the ponds where they breed.
For many, that journey means crossing busy roads and not all of them make it to the other side.
In this episode of Wild Tales, we spend the night with the Charlcombe Lane Toad Patrol, discovering the dedication and determination it takes to give these remarkable animals a fighting chance.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more. Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Production:
Narrator: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer and sound designer: Nikki Ruck
photo courtesy : Charlcombe Toad Rescue Group
With thanks to Mike Collins, Sheila Gundry, Lance, Lucy and Angela from the Charlcombe Lane Toad Group
Discover more:
https://www.froglife.org/what-we-do/toads-on-roads/how-to-become-a-toad-patroller/
The Bewick’s or ‘Tundra’ swan has eluded ranger Ajay Tegala for years. It's hardly surprising: the swan’s epic migration is under pressure, and their numbers are dwindling. Can Ajay find them at their winter retreat of WWT Welney?
Ajay speaks to fellow swan lover, artist and zoologist Dafila Scott and site manager Lizzie Bruce to aid his search for these hardworking swans.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more. Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Production: Host and Co-producer: Ajay Tegala
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez
Music: Swan Song by Charlotte Eve
With thanks to: Dafila Scott, Lizzie Bruce and the staff and volunteers at WWT Welney
Discover more:
Visit WWT Welney: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/welney
Visit Wicken Fen: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cambridgeshire/wicken-fen-national-nature-reserve
Learn more about wetland swans: https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/wetland-wildlife/meet-the-family/swans-found-in-uk-wetlands
This week we’re sharing another of our podcasts we think you’ll enjoy. Nature Fix takes you on adventures with people whose lives have been shaped by the outdoors.In this episode, wrap up warm and turn your eyes to the skies for a stargazing tour from the middle of Manchester.
Nature Fix Host Claire Hickinbotham joins astronomer and adventure enthusiast Nazanin Jahanshahi, to discover how there’s lots to see in the night sky wherever you live.
On this awe-inspiring city celestial voyage, you'll be wowed by a rare planetary parade, learn how to start navigating the stars, and hear top tips for hunting the northern lights.
Production
Producer: Michelle Douglass
Sound Designer: Nikki Ruck
Contributor: Nazanin Jahanshahi
Get your Nature FixFollow Nature Fix on your favourite podcast app: https://podfollow.com/nature-fix
Discover the best National Trust spots for stargazing: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/outdoor-activities/top-spots-for-stargazing
Learn about night sky locations and activities:
https://gostargazing.co.uk/
Orford Ness is well practiced at keeping secrets; in the 1940s it was classified military research, but now it is a brand new colony of grey seals.
Countryside Manager Matt Wilson guides us around the bomb craters to try and find the newest and blubbery-est residences. We find out how they came to be on this moon-like beach and how they’re faring on this remote site.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more. Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Production:
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade
Hosts: Rosie Holdsworth
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez
With thanks to: Matt Wilson and the staff at Orford Ness
Image © National Trust Images/Rob Coleman
Discover more:
Visit Orford Ness, looked after by the National Trust https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/suffolk/orford-ness-national-nature-reserve
Find out more about the seals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6ti7BaNKpU&t=523s
Pine martens were once common in Britain but now, they're one of our rarest carnivores.
These slinky, tree-dwelling predators had virtually disappeared in England and Wales by the turn of the 20th Century.
But pine martens are making a comeback.
We follow Ranger Dan Iceton at Wallington estate in Northumberland, as he tries to encourage pine martens to make these woodlands their forever home.
And we discover conservation success in other parts of Britain where the animals have returned.
Follow the story and secret lives of the mysterious mammal making a comeback in our forests.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more. Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Production: Producer: Michelle Douglass
Hosts: Rosie Holdsworth and Dan Iceton
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
With thanks to: Dr Stephanie Johnstone and Vincent Wildlife Trust
Image © Caroline Legg Discover more: Visit Wallington, looked after by the National Trust https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/wallington
Find out more about pine martens with Vincent Wildlife Trust: https://www.vwt.org.uk/species/pine-marten-2
Read about Martens on the Move: https://pinemartens.uk/
Report your sighting and help citizen science: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/a8c5d8e084dc4ecb9b92c57c42769d1f
The Farne Islands in the North Sea, off the coast of Northumberland, have a very special species of seabird during the summer that fiercely protects its young with its dive-bombing technique.
However, it’s the Arctic Terns’ ability to fly thousands of miles during their migration from the Arctic Circle to the Antarctic Circle that really sets them apart.
Join Rosie and Rangers Dan Iceton and Tom Hendry on Inner Farne as they spend time with the Arctic Terns and experience their dive-bombing tactics first-hand.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts
Production:
Hosts: Rosie Holdsworth and Dan Iceton
Producer: Katy Kelly
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Tom Hendry
Discover More:
Find out more about The Farne Islands:
Our work at Farne Islands | Northumberland | National Trust
Follow us @wildtales Instagram account
If you’d like to get in touch with feedback or a story idea you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Just outside Belfast, lie the Mourne Mountains - a land of granite peaks and wide skies, but also a place of witches, fawns and lions. Protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, an Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a UNESCO Global Geopark, this remarkable landscape is also a doorway to imagination.Join National Trust ranger Kate Martin as she journeys from the streets of Belfast to the Mourne Mountains, exploring the places that shaped C.S. Lewis’s childhood and inspired his creation of Narnia. Discover how city, story and landscape came together to form one of the most beloved worlds in children’s literature.
(AD) Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. www.cotswoldoutdoor.com
Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/_Smzdtsh_tM
Production
Presenter: Kate Martin
Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez
Contributors: Dr Sarah Waters, Director of the Sterling College C.S. Lewis Center
Lolly Spence, Blue Badge Tourist Guide and historian
James Fisher, Lead Ranger NI Castle Ward
Actor: Ethan Hughes courtesy of Prime Theatre
Thank you to The CS Lewis Company Ltd for permissions to use quotes from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis © copyright CS Lewis Pte Ltd 1950, in this episode.
Discover More
If you’d like to know more about visiting The Mournes, please visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/the-mournes
You can listen to more of Kate’s Northern Ireland adventures here: Northern Ireland Adventure | Beyond the Bridge - Wild Tales | Nature Podcast | Podcast on Spotify Northern Ireland Adventure | Sea Safari at Rathlin Island - Wild Tales | Nature Podcast | Podcast on Spotify
If you'd like to book a tour with Lolly Spence you can here: www.hiddenulstertours.com
If you’d like to read Dr Sarah Waters’ work on C.S. Lewis, you can do so here: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9681-3361
And you can learn more about the Sterling College C.S. Lewis Center here: https://www.sterling.edu/academics/cs-lewis-center
If you’d like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
The rock faces of Cwm Idwal are cold, dark and uninhabitable; unless what you love is to dangle off the frozen cliffs. Ice climbing takes you into a winter playground, but as the climate crisis thins the ice, how can climbers and conservationists work together to save one of the UK’s rarest flowers?
Join ecologist and botanist Barbara Jones and ice climber Tom Carrick to scale one of Wales' most dramatic mountains and discover how the precious Lili'r Wyddfa (Snowdon Lily) can survive in this isolated location.
For the Welsh transcript of this episode please click here
Or copy this link: https://audioboom.com/posts/8820822-dringwyr-eryri-stori-am-ia-a-blodau/transcript
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Production
Presenter: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez
Contributors
Barbara Jones
Tom Carrick
Image credit: ©National Trust Images/John Millar
Discover more
If you want to visit Cwm Idwal you can find out more at the National Trusts website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/carneddau-and-glyderau/cwm-idwal-walk
To see the temperature sensors, you can find them at the BMC website https://www.thebmc.co.uk/en/cwm-idwal-welsh-winter-monitoring-system-live-and-upgraded
You can also find the white guide and more winter mountaineering information here: https://www.thebmc.co.uk/en/mountaineering-resources
For more on arctic alpines, here are some resources:
Plants on the Edge: Arctic Alpines in Wales / Ar y dibyn: Planhigion Arctig Alpaidd yng Ngymru
https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/mountain_plants_in_the_uk__undervalued_and_under_threat-13605
Follow us @wildtalesnt Instagram account
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
As the festive season unfolds, one familiar face keeps appearing – the little robin. But behind its cheerful presence, is there more to this charming bird’s story?
National Trust ranger Rosie Holdsworth chats to garden wildlife specialist Sean McMenemy about the remarkable life of robins, revealing their fascinating year-round behaviour and why this beloved bird deserves to be celebrated all year long.
(AD) Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. www.cotswoldoutdoor.com
Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts
Production
Presenter: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Sean McMenemy
Discover more
You can read Sean’s garden wildlife blog here: Sean McMenemy Wildlife Blog
Follow us on our @wildtalesnt Instagram account
If you’d like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
How can a golf course become a place for nature and people to thrive? Ajay Tegala visits Sandilands in Lincolnshire over its first year as the once manicured lawns transform into a wetland habitat. But with one of the driest springs on record, can Sandilands go from one birdie to another? Will there be enough water for wading birds return?
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts
Production
Presenter: Ajay Tegala
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade
Sound designer: Jesus Gomez
Contributors
Carl Hawke
Kirsty James
Dave Miller
Special Credit: A big thanks to Jannis Bonner, composer student at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, for their collaboration to this episode with the track "Breath of the Canopy".
Eurasian booming bittern sfx:
Author: Niels Krable
Link: https://xeno-canto.org/100296
Discover more
If you want to visit Sandilands or keep up to date with their progress you can find them here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/nottinghamshire-lincolnshire/sandilands
Follow us @wildtalesnt Instagram account
Image credit: ©National Trust Images/Rob Coleman
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
What happened to the animals who served in the First World War?
Uncover the extraordinary story of Warrior the war horse who survived the Western Front. General Jack Seely's horse, Warrior, was anything but ordinary. He carried his master through some of World War One's most brutal battles, including the Somme, Ypres and Passchendaele. Despite more than eight million horses, donkeys and mules losing their lives during the war, Warrior somehow survived. Join General Jack Seely's grandson and broadcaster, Brough Scott and historian, James Grasby, to retrace Warrior's incredible journey.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts
Production
Host : James Grasby
Producer and sound designer: Nikki Ruck
Contributors
Brough Scott
**Discover more
To visit Mottistone**Mottistone
To find out more about WarriorWarrior The War HorseIf you would like to follow in the footsteps of warrior check out the
Warrior Trail
Follow us @wildtales Instagram account
If you’d like to get in touch with feedback or a story idea you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Is your cat the devil in disguise? Probably not, although they may act like it sometimes! But once upon a time, they would have been accused of luring you into witchcraft.
In Britain in the 16th and 17th centuries witch hunting became an obsession and supposed ‘witches’ were put on trial, and some were even sentenced to death.
Being an animal lover was considered a sure sign that someone was practicing witchcraft. Friendliness towards cats, rabbits or dogs could lead to accusations of witchcraft, as these animals, known as familiars, were suspected of working for the devil.
One of those accused of witchcraft and seen with familiars was Elizabeth Clarke, a poor, disabled woman from Essex.
Join Rosie and historian Dr Romany Reagan as they uncover Elizabeth’s story and the strange tale of the witches’ familiars.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more. Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Production:
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producers: Rosie Toy and Katy Kelly
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Dr Romany Reagan
Discover More:
Find out more about witchcraft:
https://essexwitchmuseum.co.uk
Uncover folklore, legends, myths and lost histories from the British Isles with Dr Romany Reagan:
https://blackthornandstone.com
Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts
If you’d like to get in touch with feedback or a story idea you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
A new series of Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers is here. Awooo! Follow the adventures of Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers, a crew of colourful creatures who use their skills to solve curious cases.
Beaver’s a super engineer. Sleepy Bat’s skill is sonar. Wildcat’s a proud predator. Deer’s strong and speedy. Fox has a nose for trouble. Shy Mole’s an expert digger, and Dragonfly’s always buzzing.
In Series Two, 12-year old Roxy has finally become a real Wildlifer and can talk to animals. But she's got a lot to learn to be a top Ranger like her hero Rae.
Luckily the Wildlifers are back on the trail solving puzzles, where they find old friends and new ones too like inventor Luca.
Join the crew on new adventures in destinations from under the sea to beautiful forests, from cruising the canal to exploring the city after dark. And meet a host of weird and wonderful characters along the way.
Perfect for 5-8 year olds.
Grown ups, follow Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers kids' podcast by finding the show on your favourite podcast app including Apple, Spotify and Yoto.
Or follow this link: podfollow.com/national-trust-kids-podcast
Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers is a podcast from the National Trust, Europe's Biggest Conservation Charity, produced by Fun Kids.
Taiwan is known for its technology — from the chips that power our phones to the satellites orbiting above us, but just beyond the city of Hsinchu, there’s a small forest that tells a different story. Trust in Nature Foundation Taiwan is Taiwan’s first environmental charitable trust — a place where protected wildlife and local communities are working side by side to protect some of the island’s natural habitats.
In this episode presented by Rosie Holdsworth, producer Jesse Edbrooke visits the people caring for this forest, meet the protected animals that live there, and explore how conservation can thrive and inspire in one of the most high-tech regions on Earth.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Nature Valley Environmental Trust Taiwan - https://teia.tw/natural-valley-en
Trust in Nature Founation - https://tnf.org.tw/en
International National Trust Organisation - https://www.into.org
Jhih Han Lyu was a participant in the INTO Incubator programme in 2024, which supports emerging heritage leaders across the globe.
Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts
Production:
Hosts: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Jesse Edbrooke
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Contributors: Jhih Han Lyu, Wing Lo,
Translation: Joshua Edbrooke
Discover More:
Includes music from Wing Lo’s Aha Moment - https://music.apple.com/gb/album/%E8%AB%8B%E8%AA%AA%E5%AE%A2%E8%AA%9E/1826949430?i=1826949431
Follow us @wildtales Instagram accountIf you’d like to get in touch with feedback or a story idea you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Warning: This episode contains the unusual mating habits of spiders. Autumn is the time for spiders, and the colder months mean our eight-legged friends are searching for something vital: sex. Join arachnologist Anna Maka and author and broadcaster Lucy Cooke to uncover the fascinating and freaky sex lives of spiders and what it teaches us about evolution itself.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts
Production
Presenter: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer and sound designer: Marnie Woodmeade
Contributors:
Lucy Cooke
Anna Maka
Discover more
You can find Lucy’s book Bitch: On the female of the species here.
You can find out more about Anna’s work with rare diamond back spiders here.
Follow us @wildtalesnt Instagram account
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Join producer and barge dweller Marnie as she leaves London’s canals behind to explore the Wey Navigations. Along the way, she meets the people who care for it, discovers its wildlife, and finds out why this waterway matters so much to so many.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts
Production
Presenter: Marnie Woodmeade
Producer and sound designer: Nikki Ruck
Contributors
Derek Croucher
Emily Curtis
Emma Goodwin
Stephen
Perdita
Discover more
Explore the Wey Navigations by electric boat from Dapdune WharfRiver Wey Navigations boat trips
Wey River Festival takes place on Saturday 27th September 25 at Dapdune Wharf. Expect food and craft stalls, live music, children’s activities, and a colourful illuminated pageant. River FestivalLearn more about nature prescriptions and the mental health benefits of connecting with the natural world.
Dose of Nature
Follow us @wildtalesnt Instagram account
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
On 20th July 1969 the world watched as humans first set foot on the Moon. More than half a century on, the view of Earth from space has given rise to a profound idea: the Overview Effect — the shift in perspective that astronauts experience when they see our planet from orbit.
From 250 miles above, the Earth appears as a fragile, glowing sphere suspended in the darkness of space. Borders vanish, noise falls silent, and what remains is a single, shared home.
But what happens when astronauts return to Earth and can never see the world in quite the same way again?
Join Ranger Ajay Tegala as he explores the Overview Effect with artist Luke Jerram and astronaut Tim Peake, and discover how this cosmic perspective might change the way we care for the places closest to us.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more. Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Production:
Host: Ajay Tegala
Producer: Jesse Edbrooke
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Contributors: Luke Jerram, Tim Peake
Discover More:
Find out more about Luke Jerram’s artwork: https://www.lukejerram.com
Discover Tim Peake’s story: https://www.esa.int/peake
Picture:
Gaia at Inside Out Dorset, 2021. Photo (c) Roy Riley
Special credit:
A big thanks to Jonathan Goldsmith, composer student at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, for their collaboration to this episode with the track "Flying Nymphaea".
Follow us @wildtalesnt on Instagram
If you’d like to get in touch with feedback or a story idea you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
In 2018 a team of intrepid explorers came in to the possession of a treasure map - one which would see them venture half way around the world to the Australian island of Tasmania. Those explorers were a team of garden experts from across the UK and Ireland who were now on a historic mission to save and catalogue plants for the benefit of people and the planet.
Following in the footsteps of the historic plant hunters, find out what was in store for the team of modern-day collectors and how natural history has helped to shape gardens around the world.
Production
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Jack Glover
Sound Design: Jesus Gomez
Contributors
Charlie Bancroft and team BIBET
Caroline Ikin
Images courtesy and with thanks from the Royal Botanic Gardens of Tasmania. All Rights Reserved.
Discover More
Explore a garden lovers home at Nymans in West Sussex where some of the collected species are now flourishing https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/nymans
Read Charlie’s report here: https://merlin-trust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/718-Charlie-Bancroft-compressed.pdf
Find out more about historic plant hunters from our friends at Kew Gardens https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/adventure-and-discovery-around-the-world-with-plant-hunters
BIBET Botantic Gardens
Republic of Ireland https://www.botanicgardens.ie/kilmacurragh/
Northern Ireland https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/mount-stewart Wales https://botanicgarden.wales/
Tasmania https://gardens.tas.gov.au/
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
On 10th August 1925 the Farne Islands came into the care of the National Trust. A hundred years on and this wildlife haven off the coast of Northumberland is home to a breeding colony of 23 different species of seabirds.
But perhaps its most colourful characters, in looks as well as behaviour, are the 15,000 pairs of puffins that return to the Farne Islands to breed in the spring and summer months each year.
Join Rosie and Rangers Dan Iceton and Tom Hendry on a unique quest to uncover the secret lives of the Farne Islands' feisty puffin population.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more. Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Production:
Hosts: Rosie Holdsworth and Dan Iceton
Producer: Katy Kelly
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Tom Hendry
Discover More: Find out more about The Farne Islands:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/farne-islands/our-work-on-the-farne-islands
Follow us @wildtales Instagram account If you’d like to get in touch with feedback or a story idea you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
The UK’s largest bird of prey is making a comeback. It’s now possible to spot white-tailed eagles, or sea eagles, as they’re also known, in many parts of the country thanks to an ongoing re-introduction programme. Join Ranger Rosie Holdsworth as she sets out with Forestry England’s Steve Egerton-Read, a pair of binoculars, and a lot of hope, as they try and spot them on the Isle of Wight.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/ Production
Presenter: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Claire Hickinbotham
Sound: Nikki Ruck and Jesus Gomez
Contributor Steve Egerton-Read, Forestry England.
Forestry England are working with the Roy Dennis Foundation to bring the White-tailed eagle back to the English Landscape.
If you’d like to read more about some of the points raised in this episode, have a look at this. White-tailed Eagle Project - Frequently Asked Questions - Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation Visit Rosie visitedBembridge and Culver Downs | Isle of Wight | National Trust and Newtown National Nature Reserve | IOW | National Trust
If you fancy visiting, why not have a look at Isle of Wight Holidays | Places to stay | National TrustAnd why not check out Wild Tales on Instagram Wild Tales | Nature Podcast (@wildtalesnt) • Instagram photos and videos
Every summer, swifts return to our skies, screaming overhead in joyful, acrobatic flight. But behind their spectacular aerial displays lies a stark reality: these much-loved birds are in serious decline.
Join ranger Rosie Holdsworth in Sheffield as she meets two swift lovers doing everything they can to keep them flying high.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts
Production
Presenter: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer and sound designer: Nikki Ruck
Contributors
Flora Jeferzade
Chet Cuñago
Discover more
Find out more about swift conservation at Sheffield Swift Network
Find out about swift bricks and boxes at Action for Swifts
Follow us @wildtalesnt Instagram account
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Bioluminescent tides are often described as the northern lights of the ocean.
Marine biologist, Dr Yasmin Meeda, has only witnessed this natural phenomenon once. She says seeing bioluminescence is one of the most magical things she’s ever experienced.
Yaz takes us into the strange world of bioluminescent life to meet the species whose bodies light up from the inside, due to a chemical reaction.
From bioluminescent tides caused by microscopic dinoflagellates to angler fish and glow worms, uncover nature's light displays in the dark.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Production:
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Michelle Douglass
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Special thanks to Dr Yasmin Meeda @marinebiologywithyaz for exploring the weird world of bioluminescence with Wild Tales.
Follow Yaz @marinebiologywithyaz on instagram
Image (c) Kezan24 | iStock
Discover more:
Find out about the UK Glow Worm Survey and look for organised walks:
https://glowworms.org.uk/
Follow Wild Tales on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a wild tale you’re like to hear, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
How did two beetles cause a gay panic? There's much more to a cockchafer or ‘maybug’ than meets the eye. Join ecologist, Connor Butler, to find out more about what these charismatic creatures can teach us about science, humanity and the fluidity of the natural world.
Discover more:
You can find out more about Connor’s work and the queer ecology walks here: https://www.connorbutler.co.uk/
To visit Osterley Park and House and gardens, or to find out more about its spectacular grounds, find out more here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/london/osterley-park-and-house
Further reading:
This is a HUGE topic of which we’ve only scratched the surface. As part of our research and if you wanted to dig a little deeper, we read:
Of Maybugs and Men: A History and Philosophy of the Sciences of Homosexuality by Pieter R. Adriaens and Andreas De Block
and
Biological Exuberance by Bruce Baghemil
Special thanks to Laine Kaplan-Levenson from A Field Guide to Gay Animals for taking the time to speak with us while we developed the episode.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Production:
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez
Follow Wild Tales on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected to our wild world, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Wild Talk: In this bonus episode Ajay chats with wildlife legend Chris Packham about their shared love of birds.After 3 weeks of filming Springwatch at the Longshaw Estate, Ajay wants to hear more about the stunning cast of characters on this year's show.
In particular, the black and white birds that choose to spend their summer here: the migrant pied flycatchers.
Ajay meets Chris for a walk on the Springwatch set where they share their passion for birds, birding and what we must do to help wildlife.
Production:
Host: Ajay Tegala
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez
Special thanks to Chris Packham for recording with us and the Springwatch TV team for being so welcoming!
Discover more:
Find out more about Chris Packham’s work and what’s coming up: https://www.chrispackham.co.uk/
Learn more about pied flycatchers from the British Trust for Ornithology website: https://www.bto.org/learn/about-birds/birdfacts/pied-flycatcher
Follow Wild Tales on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a wild tale you’re like to hear, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
There’s not a lot better than getting out in nature and it’s something Linda Stuart realised 40 years ago.
She visits Packwood House and Garden almost daily to get a nature fix, and credits it with getting her through some really challenging times.
Join Linda as she shares her story with Heather Birkett.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Production
Presenter: Heather Birkett
Producer: Claire Hickinbotham
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez
Contributors
With thanks to Linda for sharing her story
And to Robyn Booth for being so open about her mental health
And to Liz Ware, Founder of Silent Space.
Discover More
Walking in nature for wellbeing | National Trust
Silent Space | Peaceful time in green places
GROW: Fill your world with plants by Robyn Booth – Collins
It’s the 1980s and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise has burst onto the scene, scoring millions of young fans.
Half-human, half-turtle fighters Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael and Michelangelo originated as comic book characters before spawning phenomenally popular films and cartoons.
But “turtlemania” also inadvertently sparked a pet craze that ultimately led to an invasive species problem.
Red-eared terrapins were a particularly popular pet. But many people didn’t realise they would grow from a matchbox-sized hatchling to a dinner-plate sized adult that lives for more than 40 years.
As a result a significant number of freshwater turtles were illegally released in the late 80 and 90s.
Rosie joins Turtle Tally UK’s Suzie Simpson to uncover the wild origin story of how invasive freshwater turtles became a familiar sight in our waterways.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/Production:
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Michelle Douglass
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Contributor:
Suzie Simpson, Turtle Tally UK
Image:
(c) Suzie Simpson / Turtle Tally UK
Discover More:
Head to Turtle Tally UK citizen science project to discover more about freshwater turtles in the UK and submit your sightings
https://www.turtletally.co.uk/
Find out about the National Trust’s work protecting our waterways and how you can help
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/our-cause/nature-climate/climate-change-sustainability/protecting-coasts-and-rivers
The National Trust cares for places so people and nature can thrive. Everyone can get involved, everyone can make a difference. Nature, beauty, history. For everyone, for ever. You can donate to us at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/donate
Follow Wild Tales nature podcast on your favourite podcast app or Youtube @nationaltrustcharity. And join us on Instagram @wildtalesnt.
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story idea you’d love to hear, contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
On September 27th 2023, the famous Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland was felled overnight in an act of vandalism, triggering a far-reaching wave of shock and sorrow. Join Heather Birkett, as she goes behind the scenes to explore the enduring impact of this beloved landmark, the aftermath of its loss, and the community’s efforts to preserve its memory.
This episode has been updated from an previous release; National Trust Podcast - Sycamore Gap |One Year on
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more. Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/ProductionHost: Heather BirkettProducer: Nikki Ruck, Katy Kelly, Pippa Tilbury-Harris
Sound Design: Nikki Ruck
Discover more
To find out the latest information surrounding The Sycamore Gap Tree including The Trees of Hope campaign
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sycamore-gap
Find out what’s on in Northumberland Park and The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre
https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/whats-on/
Follow Wild Tales on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected to our wild world, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
When Ajay Tegala discovers that chaffinches, a small songbird, have a different accent every 30 miles, he’s intrigued. However, under threat from disease these birds are dying out in urban areas, and their unique urban songs may be lost for ever. But all is not lost. There's a way to find out how this disease is spreading...by recording their song.
Follow Ajay and ecologist and UKYouth4Nature advocate Şeniz Mustafa as they search for this disappearing birdsong.
To send Joe a chaffinch recording: * Identify a chaffinch. You can use apps like Merlin to help you make sure it’s the right bird.
* Point your phone at the chaffinch. Be safe and don’t do anything you wouldn’t normally do!
* Record for anywhere up to 5 minutes.
* Send to joe.cooper@bto.org
* Your recording will be added to the database!
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Production:
Hosts: Ajay Tegala and Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade
Assistant Producer: Katy Kelly
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez
Contributors:
Şeniz Mustafa
Joe Cooper
Ian Johnson
Discover more:
Find out more about chaffinches and the British Trust for Ornithology here: https://www.bto.org/understanding-birds/birdfacts/chaffinch
It’s the mid-1800s and pteridomania – or fern frenzy – is the new big craze. Across the UK, plant enthusiasts are heading into the countryside to pick all the prized specimens they can find.
And fern fans far and wide are avidly creating collections and displays of the leafy green plants to show off.
Uncover the truth about this Victorian phenomenon and how it influenced our love of house plants.
But who were the pteridomaniacs? What did ferns secretly symbolise about young women and sex? And how can we learn from the conservation consequences of the craze?
Join Presenter and Ranger Rosie Holdsworth and Curator Clara Woolford to unfurl the curious story of Victorian fern fever.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Discover more:
Visit Cragside in Northumberland for a taste of fern fever. See the fernery, rockery and glass houses designed by Lady Armstrong in the 1800s, now cared for by the National Trust.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/cragside
Production:
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Michelle Douglass
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Follow Wild Tales nature podcast on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story idea you’d love to hear, contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Beneath the waves of West Wales lies a complicated network of relationships that determines not only who’s belly rolling who, but which calf survives. Join Katrin Lohrengel and her team at Sea Watch to search for one of the ocean's most loved and misunderstood creatures: bottlenose dolphins.
For the Welsh transcript of this episode please click here.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Production:
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez
Discover more:
Find out more about the dolphins in Cardigan Bay: www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/
Did you know , you can see dolphins from the shore at Cardigan Bay? Explore the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s coastal walks: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/strumble-head-to-cardigan
Special thanks to Katrin Lohrengel for extra fact checking work and the whole team at Sea Watch.
Follow Wild Tales on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected to our wild world, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Join Ranger Rosie Holdsworth to uncover the mystery of the leaping shark. On a boat off Cornwall, wildlife guide Jenny spots a huge animal she’s never seen before jumping out of the water. But what exactly has she witnessed?
Across the world in Florida, shark-obsessed Dr Molly Kressler sets off on a mission to discover more about what is beneath the calm of the surface. More than that, she wants everyone else to be able to get to know and love creatures of the deep too.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com
Production:
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Additional research: Funbi Bakare
Discover more:
Find out more about thresher sharks at sharkstrust.org.uk.
If you want to be kept up to date with Molly’s research, you can find her on X, Instagram or TikTok at @marinemollyk.
For incredible views of the Cornish coast, why not visit Trevose Head? Jutting out into the Atlantic, you can see for miles. Shark sightings not guaranteed (but possible!)
Special thanks to Dr Molly Kressler and Jenny from Padstow Sea Life Safaris.
Follow Wild Tales on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story idea, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Seagulls have a bad reputation. But is it deserved? Join Ranger Rosie Holdsworth to meet the gulls in Poole Harbour known for their chip-stealing behaviour. Are these birds feathered thugs or smart survivors? We’ll discover the myths and surprising truths about one of Britain’s most controversial birds.From their behaviours to their vital role in coastal ecosystems, uncover just what makes these ‘Gangster Gulls’ tick. Plus, we take part in a citizen science survey that helps track how these much-maligned seabirds are surviving in a changing world.
[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/
Production
Presenter: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer and sound designer: Nikki Ruck
Contributors
Mya Bambrick
Dr Viola Ross-Smith
Paul Morton
Emma Caulfield
Katy
Sophie
Discover more
Find out more about bird conservation in Poole harbourBirds of Poole Harbour
Take part in citizen science survey in your area BTO – British Trust for Ornithology
Follow us @wildtalesnt Instagram account
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story idea, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Imagine being a fly on the wall throughout history.
Historians Helen Antrobus and James Grasby take you inside the stories of the people, places and moments that made us.
Experience the Great Stink of London. Make an entrance onto the Georgian dating scene. Find out if you'd survive a medieval battle. And unlock the secrets of Britain’s space race.
Our past is all around us. Be transported behind the scenes at landmarks from castles to dance halls and WWII bunkers to workhouses. You’ll meet people from all walks of life whose fascinating stories help us make sense of who we are now.
Lean in for a tale from time: introducing Back When, a new history podcast from the National Trust, launching 2 April.
Follow Back When on your favourite podcast app and never miss an episode: podfollow.com/back-when
Wild Tales is launching 26 March. Immerse yourself in intriguing stories from our weird, wonderful and utterly wild world.
Experience nature in a whole new way, from untangling the strange world of spider sex and digging up the greatest fossil finds, to meeting mysterious ocean giants and finding out why there’s no such thing as a seagull.
Join nature experts Rosie Holdsworth, Ajay Tegala and Heather Birkett on adventures around the UK’s diverse habitats and uncover fascinating tales that connect us with wildlife.
New Wild Tales will be released twice a month.
Follow us on your favourite podcast app to keep up with every episode.
www.instagram.com/wildtalesnt
Journey to Addis Ababa in Ethiopia and Mottisfont garden in Hampshire, to discover a story of heritage and horticulture through two of the world’s most prestigious rose collections.
We meet Princess Esther Selassie Antohin, founder of Heritage Watch Ethiopia, to explore the Tsegereda Rose Garden Project, an initiative that restores a link to Ethiopia’s imperial legacy and also tackles climate conservation challenges. The International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) has twinned the Tsegereda rose garden with one of the most important rose gardens in the world, the National Trust’s Mottisfont.
Uncover surprising connections between Ethiopia and the UK – from Emperor Haile Selassie’s wartime exile in Bath, to Sylvia Pankhurst, an English activist who championed Ethiopia’s independence. Follow the fight to keep this heritage alive through extraordinary roses.
Discover a story of gardens that have transcended borders to become symbols of heritage, resilience, and international collaboration.
[Ad] Open the door to more with a National Trust membership. As well as free entry and parking at over 500 places we care for, you’ll receive:
• Access to our online Members’ Area, full of exclusive member-only content,
• A yearly handbook packed with visit inspiration,
• And our award-winning member magazine 3 times a year. Now also available digitally.
Become a National Trust member:
nationaltrust.org.uk/become-a-member.For a taste of the digital magazine, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/historic-recipes, or if you're a member and you'd like to switch, look for My Account on the website.
Production
Producer and host: Jesse Edbrooke
Sound Design: Jesus Gomez
Discover more
We protect and care for places so people and nature can thrive. Everyone can get involved, everyone can make a difference. Nature, beauty, history. For everyone, for ever.
You can donate to us at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/donate
Read more about International National Trust Organisation Twinning (INTO) project www.into.org/withstanding-change-twinning/
Visit Heritage Watch Ethiopia website www.hwethiopia.org
Find out more about Mottisfont’s Rose Garden, Hampshire, England www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/hampshire/mottisfont/the-rose-garden-at-mottisfont
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
One of the simple pleasures in life is getting outdoors for a walk, taking in the world around you with some fresh air and then nipping into a cosy pub for a well earned treat.
Claire Hickinbotham takes you on some of our favourite walks from our book ‘100 Great Pub Walks’ and finds out why caring for our planet, is necessary for the good of the humble pint.
From floodplains to fens, from peatlands to pubs, discover the work that goes on to look after our planet.
Click here to read these episode notes in Welsh
*[Ad] This podcast is sponsored by Starling Bank. Peatlands are essential for people and the planet in lots of incredible ways - they act like natural sponges, storing more carbon than all of the world’s rainforests put together. And they’re a habitat for a whole host of wildlife. And they act as flood defences in the face of climate change.
Starling Bank have been funding the National Trust’s work towards saving our peatlands since 2023, supporting projects that’ll restore and protect over 400 hectares of the UK’s precious peatland – that’s 372 football pitches. Find out more about Starling and the National Trust’s conservation work: https://www.starlingbank.com/about/partnerships/starling-and-the-national-trust/*
ProductionHost: Claire Hickinbotham
Producer: Jack Glover Higgins
Sound editor: Jesus Gomez
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2025 marks our 130th birthday. In each chapter of our history, we've adapted to the needs of the day. Now, it’s time for a vision that takes us into the future. Our new strategy sets out our aims and ambitions for the next decade and beyond. Find out how we are restoring nature, ending unequal access to nature and taking action here.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/our-strategy
Learn about our peatland habitats and the work we’re doing to protect them here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/our-cause/nature-climate/climate-change-sustainability/preserving-our-peatland
Pick up a copy of 100 Great Pub Walks by visiting https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-100-great-pub-walks.html or by popping into your local bookshop.
For more on wetlands, including Peat bogs, floodplains and fens, check out our friends at the Wetland Wildlife Trust https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/wetlands
Find out how the climate is affecting the taste and cost of our beer.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-67078674
Find your local People, Planet, Pint here; https://small99.co.uk/people-planet-pint-meetup/
Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
From March 2025 the National Trust Podcast will look a little different, so that we can bring you more stories in nature, history and adventure.
We're splitting the National Trust Podcast into two dedicated shows for nature and history lovers.
Stay with the National Trust Podcast for our nature podcast Wild Tales. You'll be immersed in intriguing stories from our incredible natural world.
Love history? Look out for our brand new podcast Back When. Step inside the stories of the people, places and moments that made us.
Remember to follow both Wild Tales and Back When on your favourite podcast app, to be the first to hear new episodes as they arrive. We'd love to know what you think. Please get in touch with your feedback, questions and ideas for stories by emailing podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Just beneath our feet lies a hidden world of centuries-old curiosities and undiscovered treasures.
But laying your hands on these forgotten items and figuring out exactly what they are requires some special underfloor sleuthing, to sort the rubbish from the rarities.
An archaeological adventure awaits in the story of the Dust Detectives, as the team uncover early medieval music and learn about the lives of ordinary people who played an important but unwritten part of Oxburgh Hall's history.
[Ad] Open the door to more with a National Trust membership. As well as free entry and parking at over 500 places we care for, you’ll receive:
• Access to our online Members’ Area, full of exclusive member-only content,
• A yearly handbook packed with visit inspiration,
• And our award-winning member magazine 3 times a year. Now also available digitally.
Become a National Trust member:
nationaltrust.org.uk/become-a-member.For a taste of the digital magazine, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/historic-recipes, or if you're a member and you'd like to switch, look for My Account on the website.
ProductionHost: James Grasby
Producer: Jack Glover Higgins
Sound editor: Jesus Gomez
Discover more
Thank you to Anna Forrest, Matthew Champion, and Dr David Skinner DPhil (Oxon) for contributions to this episode.
Among the music featured is a performance of early Tudor Choral song by Dr Skinner’s Choir ‘Alamire’.
For more episodes and information please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts
To find out about Oxburgh Hall please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburgh-hall
Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Experience life on Blakeney Point in Norfolk as it transforms throughout the year, in this classic episode. From the mass arrival of seal pups in winter to the noisy feathered-frenzy of summer, discover how a remote stretch of shingle coastline is home to some of the UK's most unique marine wildlife.
[Ad] Open the door to more with a National Trust membership. As well as free entry and parking at over 500 places we care for, you’ll receive:
• Access to our online Members’ Area, full of exclusive member-only content,
• A yearly handbook packed with visit inspiration,
• And our award-winning member magazine 3 times a year. Now also available digitally.
Become a National Trust member:
nationaltrust.org.uk/become-a-member.For a taste of the digital magazine, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/historic-recipes, or if you're a member and you'd like to switch, look for My Account on the website.
ProductionHost and Producer: Michelle Douglass
Sound editor: Jesus Gomez
Discover more
Please follow our seal-spotting guidance
nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/nature/wildlife/seal-spotting-guidance
Find out more about visiting Blakeney National Nature Reserve
nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/norfolk/blakeney-national-nature-reserve
Read about the Sea Mammal Research Unit’s work
www.smru.st-andrews.ac.uk
Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
In 1848 an image of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their children decorating an evergreen caused a sensation, and sparked a Christmas tree trend in Britain.
Many people began to bring trees into their homes and decorate them with homemade ornaments, sweet treats and naked candles tied with ribbons.
The Victorians can be credited with inventing our modern Christmas. In this episode, Clara Woolford, Curator at Cragside in Northumberland, takes us to the mid 1800s to discover how the “Cult of Christmas” and the centrepiece, the Christmas Tree, entered into millions of homes.
Discover more
See the UK's tallest living Christmas tree, a 42m giant redwood at Cragside, Northumberland:
nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/cragside/christmas-at-cragside
Read about the history of the Christmas tree:
www.findmypast.co.uk/blog/history/queen-victoria-christmas-tree
[Ad from our sponsor] This podcast episode is sponsored by family history website Findmypast. What was life like for domestic servants, workers and local communities at our most fascinating heritage sites? Discover how people from all walks of life lived and worked, and who with, in hundreds of census records, for free, by signing up with Findmypast. And find out about the free trial that you could use to explore your family history. See where the past takes you at: findmypast.co.uk/national-trustProduction:
Host and producer: Michelle Douglass
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Heritage sites like the medieval palace Bayt Al Razzaz in Egypt and the picturesque Blickling estate in the UK, are under threat from climate change.
What connects these vastly different places? And what can the guardians of these historic treasures learn from each other as they battle extreme weather, social upheaval and other challenges?
Discover the global fight to protect our heritage.
You can watch a video of this podcast on National Trust Youtube:
https://ntpodcasts.org/Video
[Ad] Open the door to more with a National Trust membership. As well as free entry and parking at over 500 places we care for, you’ll receive:
• Access to our online Members’ Area, full of exclusive member-only content,
• A yearly handbook packed with visit inspiration,
• And our award-winning member magazine 3 times a year. Now also available digitally.
Become a National Trust member:
nationaltrust.org.uk/become-a-member.For a taste of the digital magazine, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/historic-recipes, or if you're a member and you'd like to switch, look for My Account on the website.
ProductionHost: James Grasby and Jesse Edbrooke
Producers: Jesse Edbrooke
Sound Design: Jesus Gomez
Further InformationINTO - The International National Trusts Organisation
https://www.into.org/
Withstanding Climate Change
https://www.into.org/withstanding-change-project/
Blickling and Bayt Al Razzaz in partnership
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/norfolk/blickling-estate/blickling-estate-twins-with-bayt-al-razzaz-in-cairo
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
As a wheelchair user, Melissa rarely has the opportunity of spending time on the beach with the rest of her family; and an activity for them all in the water together was unimaginable.
But an ‘adaptive surfing for families’ session in South Shields in the North East, changed everything.
You can watch a video of this podcast on National Trust Youtube:
https://ntpodcasts.org/Video
[Ad] Open the door to more with a National Trust membership. As well as free entry and parking at over 500 places we care for, you’ll receive:
• Access to our online Members’ Area, full of exclusive member-only content,
• A yearly handbook packed with visit inspiration,
• And our award-winning member magazine 3 times a year. Now also available digitally.
Become a National Trust member:
nationaltrust.org.uk/become-a-member.For a taste of the digital magazine, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/historic-recipes, or if you're a member and you'd like to switch, look for My Account on the website.Production:Host: Claire Hickinbotham
Producer: Katy Kelly
Sound Design: Jesus Gomez
Discover More:
Find out more about South Shields Surf:
southshieldsurf.co.uk
Learn about Team England Para:
Adaptive/Para - Surfing England
If you’d like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at: podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Sir Isaac Newton is best known for coming up with the theory of gravity while relaxing in his orchard, thanks to an apple that fell beside him one afternoon – helping him to unravel one of the universe's great mysteries. But that story is only a small part of the tale...
Heather Birkett delves into one of the greatest minds of all time. Discover how a friendship with astronomer Edmund Halley helped to bring Isaac's ideas to the world and beyond.
[Ad from our sponsor]
This episode is supported by Blue Diamond Garden Centres. Fill your space with beauty and heritage with a collection of bulbs, seeds and plants, curated by Blue Diamond Garden Centres working with National Trust gardeners. A minimum of 10% of the retail selling price will be given to support the National Trust’s conservation work and ambitions to plant and establish 20 million trees by 2030.
https://www.bluediamond.gg/national-trust
ProductionHost: Heather Birkett
Producers: Jack Glover and Michelle Douglass
Sound Design: Jesus Gomez
Discover moreThis episode continues the story from a previous release 'Pips in Space | Featuring Tim Peake'. You could listen to that episode and hear more about the Newton Trees:
https://bit.ly/NTPod81
Find out more about Woolsthorpe Manor
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/nottinghamshire-lincolnshire/woolsthorpe-manor
Read a biography about Sir Issac Newton
www.newtonproject.ox.ac.uk/
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
On 18th March AD 978 at Corfe Castle in Dorset, a 16-year-old boy was brutally stabbed in the back and died shortly after. That boy was the teenage king, Edward the Martyr. But who was the murderer, or murderers?
Join James Grasby and author Anna Groves on this Halloween historical Whodunnit, as they try and figure out who committed the regicide, with the help of some other worldly encounters.
[Ad from our sponsor] This podcast episode is sponsored by family history website Findmypast. What was life like for domestic servants, workers and local communities at our most fascinating heritage sites? Discover how people from all walks of life lived and worked, and who with, in hundreds of census records, for free, by signing up with Findmypast. And find out about the free trial that you could use to explore your family history. See where the past takes you at: findmypast.co.uk/national-trust
Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts
Production
Hosts : James Grasby and Anna Groves
Producers : Pippa Tilbury-Harris and Nikki Ruck
Sound Design: Jesus Gomez
Actor voices :Caitlin Packer, Ethan Hughes, Louise Bray, Mark Powell courtesy of Prime Theatre
Discover More
If you’d like to read more about the ghosts of the National Trust, you can purchase Anna Groves’ book, ‘Britain’s Ghosts’ here:
https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-britain-s-ghosts.html
To find out more about Corfe Castle including details for visiting, please click here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/corfe-castle
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Join the adventures of Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers, the new kids' podcast from the National Trust.
Introducing the Wildlifers, a crew of colourful creatures who use their special skills to help where there's trouble in nature.
Beaver’s a super engineer. Sleepy Bat’s skill is sonar. Wildcat’s a proud predator. Deer’s strong and speedy. Fox has a nose for trouble. Shy Mole’s an expert digger, and Dragonfly’s always buzzing.
Ranger Rae’s the leader and can understand animals. And 12-year-old Apprentice Roxy dreams of becoming a real Ranger and being able to talk to wildlife too.
From catching an escaped pet rat on a remote island, to solving the mystery of a giant bat in a cave, or tracking a thief through city streets, the gang are put to the test in their quests to help the natural world.
Uncover stories of adventure and discovery with friends in the wild world.
Perfect for 5-8 year olds.
Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers is a podcast from the National Trust, produced by Fun Kids Radio. Artwork (c) Becka Moor.
Follow and listen to Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers via mobile on your favourite podcast app:
podfollow.com/national-trust-kids-podcast
Head to the National Trust Kids' Podcast website: nationaltrust.org.uk/kids-podcast
Historian David Olusoga tells the story of the children born to white British mothers and black American servicemen during the Second World War, dubbed Britain’s ‘Brown Babies’ in the African American press at the time.
Carol and Ann, now in their 80s, revisit their childhood home, Holnicote House in Somerset. During the 1940s, the building was used for the care of around 30 children of black GIs, from birth to the age of five.
Carol and Ann were among some 2000 children born in wartime Britain to black GI fathers and white British mothers. Under many pressures including social prejudice and US legislation banning interracial marriage, around half of these children were placed into care.
David also meets experts Prof Lucy Bland and Dr Chamion Caballero, to reveal this little-known history of the Second World War, and how modern DNA testing is helping families search for lost relatives 80 years later.
You can watch a video of this podcast on National Trust YouTube: ntpodcasts.org/NTP143Video
Production
Host: David Olusoga
Producer: Michelle Douglass
Sound editor: Jesus Gomez
Consultants: Lucy Bland, Professor of Social and Cultural History at Anglia Ruskin University, and Dr Chamion Caballero, Director and Co-Founder of The Mixed Museum
Discover more
Find out more about Britain’s ‘Brown Babies’ and hear oral histories, including more from Ann:
https://mixedmuseum.org.uk/brown-babies/
Explore the experiences of WWII black GIs in the UK:
https://mixedmuseum.org.uk/brown-babies/black-gis-in-britain/
Read Britain’s ‘Brown Babies’ by Professor Lucy Bland:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Britains-%60Brown-Babies-Stories-Children/dp/1526133261
Discover the Holnicote Estate’s diverse countryside, wildlife and walkways, looked after by the National Trust
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/somerset/countryside-woodland/explore-holnicote-estate
Visit the Holnicote House hotel website:
https://www.hfholidays.co.uk/country-houses/locations/selworthy-exmoor
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Introducing Step into the Past, a podcast from our sponsors at Findmypast.
What if you could follow in the footsteps of your ancestors and reveal the hidden tales behind some of the UK’s fascinating historical locations?
Professor Suzannah Lipscomb and her guest Sandy travel to the not-so-stately home of Calke Abbey in Derbyshire to discover Sandy’s family’s longstanding connection to the estate and its early Baptist congregation.
Calke Abbey has undergone many transformations in its long history, moving from religious priory to sprawling stately home, and forming the core of the community in all its guises for hundreds of years.
Sandy discovers that her family were skilled workers and faithful retainers, who honed their crafts over generations and were rewarded for their expertise and dedication
by their wealthy patrons. Over 200 years, members of the family were embedded in the fabric of this community, enjoying the employment opportunities and patronage offered by Calke Abbey. Sandy also learns of their non-conformist beliefs, at a time when Baptism was on the rise among skilled working classes, and how this threatened the established order.
Find out more about Findmypast's family history services at: www.findmypast.co.uk
Listen to more episodes and follow the series by searching for Step into the Past on your favourite podcast app.
Find out more about the series on the Findmypast website:
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/page/podcast
On September 27th 2023, the famous Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland was felled overnight in an act of vandalism, triggering a far-reaching wave of shock and sorrow.
Join Heather Birkett as she goes behind the scenes to explore the enduring impact of this beloved landmark, the aftermath of its loss, and the community’s efforts to preserve its memory.
A video version of this podcast is available on YouTube and Spotify. To watch it on YouTube please click here.
ProductionHost: Heather Birkett
Producers: Nikki Ruck, Katy Kelly, Pippa Tilbury-Harris
Sound Design: Nikki Ruck
ContributorsLuke Straszewski: NT RangerAndrew Poad: NT General Manager Northumberland Coast & Hadrian's Wall
Judith Ward: Twice Brewed Inn
Mark Robinson: NT Experiences and Partnership Manager
Chris Trimmer. NT Plant Conservation Centre Manager
Louise Teasdale
Charlotte Crowe
Tony Gates: CEO Northumberland National Parks Authority
Charlie Whinney
Nick Greenall
Discover more
Find out what’s on in Northumberland Park and The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre.
https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/whats-on/
Keep updated with all the latest Sycamore Gap news including details of The Trees of Hope campaign, Heartwood and activities at the stump.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sycamore-gap
Our lovely nature presenter and ranger Kate Martin is leaving to join our friends at the RSPB, helping to care for wildlife in Scotland.
Here are some of Kate's best bits and few moments from behind the scenes.
On behalf of everyone at the National Trust, from our listeners and from the podcast team, thank you and wishing you a great and adventure filled future.
A stretch of water between the mainland and Rathlin Island is home to some of the world’s most unique wildlife and infamous shipwrecks.
Ranger Kate Martin continues her adventure along Northern Ireland’s causeway coast, this time exploring life under water.
[Ad from our sponsor]
This podcast is supported by Tourism Ireland
Experience all of what Northern Ireland has to offer from standing on the rocks of the giants causeway, to hiking the Mourne Mountains with epic sea views, or enjoying the craic in Belfast city’s great pubs with some live music.
With amazing access from Great Britain by both air and sea, Northern Ireland is so easy to get to.
Find your next adventure visit ireland.com/northernireland
Production
Host : Kate Martin
Producer : Jack Glover
Sound Design: Jesus Gomez
Discover More
The causeway coast is part of the UK80, a must-see route of places cared for by the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland. You can discover every stop along the way inside the Grand Adventure Map, the ultimate map for planning a Great British adventure https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-grand-adventure-map.html
For info on visiting Rathlin Island please visit http://www.rathlincommunity.org/
Information on marine life around the Causeway coast and Rathlin can be found here https://www.ulsterwildlife.org/explore/sea-life
Prannie’s recipes and seaweed guides can be found here https://irishseaweedkitchen.ie
Survey We hope you’re enjoying listening to the National Trust Podcast and the stories we tell from the places we care for.
Please take 5 minutes to complete our survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/W2YJZWM and be in with a chance of winning a £50 National Trust online shop voucher. You must be over the age of 16 to enter.
Full terms and conditions are listed at the end of the survey.
Your feedback will help us improve the way we tell stories, share experiences and take you on an adventure through our landscapes and history.
Thank you,
The National Trust Podcast Team
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Don’t look down! Across a rope bridge over a stretch of water on Northern Ireland’s causeway coast lies the Island of Carrick-a-Rede and a fisherman’s cottage that has stood for centuries.
Ranger Kate Martin, heads off on her holiday, to make the crossing and to learn how this old bridge became the focal point for a community and rich coastal traditions.
[Ad from our sponsor]
This podcast is supported by Tourism Ireland.
Experience all of what Northern Ireland has to offer from standing on the rocks of the giants causeway, to hiking the Mourne Mountains with epic sea views, or enjoying the craic in Belfast city’s great pubs with some live music.
With amazing access from Great Britain by both air and sea, Northern Ireland is so easy to get to.
Find your next adventure visit ireland.com/northernireland
Production
Host : Kate Martin
Producer : Jack Glover
Sound Design: Jesus Gomez
Discover More
The Carrick-a-Rede is part of the UK80, a must-see route of places cared for by the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland. You can discover every stop along the way inside the Grand Adventure Map, the ultimate map for planning a Great British adventure https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-grand-adventure-map.html
For info on visiting Carrick-a-Rede please visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/carrick-a-rede
Mark’s Beyond the Bridge Tour and other experiences can be found at https://discovernorthernireland.com/travel-trade/experience/beyond-the-bridge-experience-p748851
A video version of this podcast is available on Youtube and Spotify. To watch it on Youtube please click here.
Survey We hope you’re enjoying listening to the National Trust Podcast and the stories we tell from the places we care for.
Please take 5 minutes to complete our survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/W2YJZWM and be in with a chance of winning a £50 National Trust online shop voucher. You must be over the age of 16 to enter.
Full terms and conditions are listed at the end of the survey.
Your feedback will help us improve the way we tell stories, share experiences and take you on an adventure through our landscapes and history.
Thank you,
The National Trust Podcast Team
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Jo and Katherine continue their bikepacking adventure, starting day two in Bude, with a surprise twist after breakfast, before heading up the coast to Devon.
They visit the National Trust’s smallest property, Hawkers Hut, on the way and join in an activity Jo last did at the age of eight.
With thanks to Raleigh UK
Production
Hosts: Jo Dyson and Katherine Moore, and introduced by Claire Hickinbotham
Producers: Sean Douglas, Pippa Tilbury-Harris, Claire Hickinbotham
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Discover moreTo visit Hawkers Hut there is a 40 minute circular walk across fields
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/morwenstow/hawkers-hut-walk
To find out about longer bike rides
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/outdoor-activities/best-places-for-a-longer-bike-ride
To find out about cycling on holiday
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/active/cycling
To find out about cycle hire at our places
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/outdoor-activities/cycle-hire-at-our-places
Follow the National Trust Podcast on your podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
What happens when you combine backpacking and cycling?
In this classic 2-parter we join Jo Dyson as she gets to grips with ‘bikepacking’ under the expert guidance of Katherine Moore and tackles the unforgiving hills of the north Cornish coast.
With thanks to Raleigh UK
Production
Hosts: Jo Dyson and Katherine Moore, and introduced by Claire Hickinbotham
Producers: Sean Douglas, Pippa Tilbury-Harris, Claire Hickinbotham
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Discover moreTo visit Hawkers Hut there is a 40 minute circular walk across fields
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/morwenstow/hawkers-hut-walk
To find out about longer bike rides
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/outdoor-activities/best-places-for-a-longer-bike-ride
To find out about cycling on holiday
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/active/cycling
To find out about cycle hire at our places
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/outdoor-activities/cycle-hire-at-our-places
Follow the National Trust Podcast on your podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
In this classic episode, you’re invited to a midnight party happening deep in the woods.
Meet the ravers, movers and shakers as they emerge from slumber to rule nature’s nightclub.
Ranger Kate Martin heads out into the twilight landscape of Cragside, Northumberland in search of bats, moths and underwater noise makers.
ProductionHost: Kate Martin
Producer: Michelle Douglass
Sound editor: Jesus Gomez
With thanks to Bat Conservation Trust; Kosta Manser from the University of Bristol; Dave Chesmore from the University of York.
Discover more
For information on visiting Cragside please visit:
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/cragside
Find out more about staying overnight at Cragside and other National Trust places: nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays
Learn more about moths, and take part in the Big Butterfly Count organised by Butterfly Conservation: Big Butterfly Count (butterfly-conservation.org)
Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
There’s loads more to come this season from the National Trust Podcast.
We’ll be exploring Northern Ireland, hearing how heritage properties in Norfolk and Egypt are working together, and marking one year since the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree.
But it's not just new adventures on the horizon.
We’ll be sharing one of our favourite ranger episodes to celebrate World Ranger Day, as well as a classic 2-parter to help inspire your summer travels.
And if that’s not enough, head to https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/virtual-visit/podcasts to check out past series and specialist playlists.
And if you’ve enjoyed our episodes so far this year, why not vote for us in the British Podcast Awards. You can do that here too https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/virtual-visit/podcasts. Just look for the picture of the girl on her phone in a tent!
Happy listening and have a great summer from the National Trust Podcast Team.
Deep under the hillsides of Carmarthenshire lie the remains of the UK’s only known Roman gold mines. With a head torch to guide the way, James Grasby ventures into the void to unearth the secrets that lurk in the darkness and finds out the pioneering efforts that the Romans went to in order to extract this precious metal.
Click here to view these show notes in Welsh
[Ad from our sponsor] This podcast episode is sponsored by family history website Findmypast. What was life like for domestic servants, workers and local communities at our most fascinating heritage sites? Discover how people from all walks of life lived and worked, and who with, in hundreds of census records, for free, by signing up with Findmypast. And find out about the free trial that you could use to explore your family history. See where the past takes you at: findmypast.co.uk/national-trust
Production
Host : James Grasby
Producer : Jack Glover
Sound Design: Jesus Gomez
Discover More
The Dolaucothi Roman Gold Mine is part of the UK80, a must-see route of places cared for by the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland. You can discover every stop along the way inside the Grand Adventure Map, the ultimate map for planning a Great British adventure https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-grand-adventure-map.html
For info on visiting Dolaucothi and it’s Roman History please visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/dolaucothi
Join in with this year’s festival of archaeology taking place at Dolaucothi and other National Trust properties nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/dolaucothi/events/01df4ea5-2586-4968-8836-84909387a9fd
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Ex-professional footballer Tayshan Hayden-Smith turned to the healing power of nature after the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy in 2017. Since then, he’s been on a journey to bring access to nature to all. He shows ranger Kate Martin around his local community garden and together they see that a garden can be anywhere and anything.
Later Kate heads to the National Trust’s Sutton House to see the garden they’ve created out of an old car scrapyard and learns how to grow in small and unusual spaces.
[Ad from our sponsor]
This episode is supported by Blue Diamond Garden Centres. Fill your space with beauty and heritage with a collection of bulbs, seeds and plants, curated by Blue Diamond Garden Centres working with National Trust gardeners. A minimum of 10% of the retail selling price will be given to support the National Trust’s conservation work and ambitions to plant and establish 20 million trees by 2030.
https://www.bluediamond.gg/national-trust
Production:
Host: Kate Martin
Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Discover more:
Find out more about gardener and activist Tayshan Hayden-Smith’s community work here: https://www.growtoknow.world/
You can read about growing in small spaces in ‘Small Space Revolution’ by Tayshan Hayden-Smith.
Inside Tayshan demonstrates 20 different practical projects you can create to positively change small outdoor spaces and pulls out inspiration from community gardens around the world.
You can buy the book here: https://www.dk.com/uk/book/9780241680445-small-space-revolution/
If you’d like to learn more about gardening with tips from our experts, you can here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/gardening-tips
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
If you didn’t have money and a way to support yourself and your family in the 1800s you might be forced to go into the workhouse. Find out what life was really like for the men, women and children who ended up there.
Heading into the Workhouse, even if modern times, feels ominous and foreboding. Walk alongside Curator James Grasby as he enters The Workhouse and Infirmary in Southwell and takes on the role of an inmate in 1871. He meets the tyrannical Master of the house and discovers what work he would have done, and whether he made it out alive.
[Ad from our sponsor] This podcast episode is sponsored by family history website Findmypast. What was life like for domestic servants, workers and local communities at our most fascinating heritage sites? Discover how people from all walks of life lived and worked, and who with, in hundreds of census records, for free, by signing up with Findmypast. And find out about the free trial that you could use to explore your family history. See where the past takes you at: findmypast.co.uk/national-trust
Production
Host: James Grasby
Producer: Claire Hickinbotham
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Discover more
Find out more about the history of The Workhouse and Infirmary www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/nottinghamshire-lincolnshire/the-workhouse-and-infirmary
Learn about the collections that tell the stories pf people who lived and worked at The Workhouse and Infirmary
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/nottinghamshire-lincolnshire/the-workhouse-and-infirmary/collections-at-the-workhouse-and-firbeck-infirmary
When one man set off on a walk around the UK coast, little did he know that adopting a rescue dog would change the course of his life.
Christian Lewis was at rock bottom when he embarked on a journey that would last 6 years, but it was ‘Jet’ and the power of nature, that would piece him back together to lead him onto a life that would otherwise have been unimaginable for this army veteran.
[Ad from our sponsor]
This podcast is supported by Forthglade natural pet food, founding partner of the National Trust’s Dogs Welcome Project. Improving dog-friendly places for you and your four-legged friend to explore and enjoy together, from dedicated off-lead open spaces to pet-friendly holiday cottages. Discover more about the Dogs Welcome Project, supported by Forthglade: forthglade.com/pages/national-trust
ProductionHost: Claire Hickinbotham
Producer: Claire Hickinbotham
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Discover more
In Memory of Jet:
With thanks to Christian Lewis for sharing his story, and his love of ‘Jet’ the rescue dog with us.
Christian Lewis was raising money for SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity - https://ssafa.org.uk/ and his story continues @wildernessfamilyuk
If what Christian talked about in this podcast resonated with you, you can get help on the MIND website.
https://www.mind.org.uk/
To find out about taking your dog to National Trust places.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dog-friendly
Or have a look at our new book 'Great British Walkies'.
https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-great-british-walkies.html
If this podcast has inspired you to get out and experience the coast, and get a blast of fresh sea air, with or without a dog, check out these suggestions.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/walking/top-coastal-walks
Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
The Philae Obelisk at Kingston Lacy in Dorset is an ancient reminder of a very different world. Learn about its origins, why it came to be in England and how its hand-carved inscriptions were key to unlocking the secrets of Egyptian hieroglyphs. Listen to this classic episode from our series 125 Treasures, presented by Alison Steadman.
[Ad from our sponsor] This podcast episode is sponsored by family history website Findmypast. What was life like for domestic servants, workers and local communities at our most fascinating heritage sites? Discover how people from all walks of life lived and worked, and who with, in hundreds of census records, for free, by signing up with Findmypast. And find out about the free trial that you could use to explore your family history. See where the past takes you at: findmypast.co.uk/national-trust
Discover moreWatchBBC Two's Hidden Treasures of the National Trust:
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001lttxRead about the Philae Obelisk and other treasures at Kingston Lacy:
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/kingston-lacy/the-treasures-at-kingston-lacyFind out more about Kingston Lacy:
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/kingston-lacy
This mini series shares it's name with a National Trust book. Find out more and browse other reads in our collection:
shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-125-treasures.html
Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Join us as we celebrate the season of blossom with poetry and music written and produced by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and his band LYR. In this episode, Simon shares the inspiration behind his poetry, and the band discuss how they produced the song Blossom: A CV and collaborated with community choirs as part of the Blossomise album.
Production
Producer: Jesse Edbrooke
Sound editor: Jesus Gomez
Discover more
Find out more about Simon Armitage and his poetry
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/who-we-are/news/poet-laureate-simon-armitage-creates-blossom-inspired-poem
Watch videos about the Blossomise project shot by young film makerswww.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLgonOCHSWf0I_a_fhmX2K_r_3MoKXA2c
Listen to the full tracks of Simon and LYR’s Blossomise music in collaboration with the National Trust and funded by the People’s lottery post code lyrband.bandcamp.com/track/blossom-a-cv
[Appeal]
Plant a tree with the National Trust and help us establish 20 million trees by 2030. Whatever the size of your donation to the Plant a Tree appeal, you’ll be helping to create beautiful green spaces for people and wildlife to thrive. And why not dedicate your donation to someone in your life? You’ll receive a digital certificate to customise and gift. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/support-us/plant-a-tree
Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
In the 1930s, the mysterious Ferguson’s Gang captivated the British public with their daring and unusual stunts. Led by the enigmatic “Bill Stickers”, the group was unlike any other gangsters of the era. They were mask-wearing, all-women activists who gave money in quirky ways to help save the countryside.
In this docudrama, uncover the identities of the people behind the secretive Ferguson's Gang, and unravel a tale of intrigue, mischief and mayhem that made a lasting impact on British heritage.
[Ad from our sponsor]
This podcast episode is sponsored by family history website Findmypast.
What was life like for domestic servants, workers and local communities at our most fascinating heritage sites? Discover how people from all walks of life lived and worked, and who with, in hundreds of census records, for free. And find out how to explore your family history. See where the past takes you at: findmypast.co.uk/national-trust
Actor voices
Lizzie Crarer, Rae Alexander, Sally Rudd, and Caitlin Packer, courtesy of
https://www.primetheatre.co.uk/
Ric Jerrom and James Turton.
Production
Producer and sound designer: Nikki Ruck
Sound editor: Jesus Gomez
Explore Further
Discover more about the gang www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/history/people/who-were-fergusons-gang
Learn more about Ferguson's Gang and their legacy on Polly Bagnall’s website, where you can discover more about the book- Ferguson's Gang: The Remarkable Story of the National Trust Gangsters.
www.pollybagnall.com/ferguson-s-gang
Copies of Ferguson’s Gang’s ‘Boos’ are available for viewing at The Wiltshire & Swindon History Centre by prior arrangement.
www.wshc.org.uk/visiting-the-centre.
Ferguson’s LegacyWhile Shalford Mill remains closed to the public, you can still explore the legacy of Ferguson's Gang by visiting Newtown Old Town Hall on the Isle of Wight, Mayon and Trevescan cliffs in Cornwall, and Stonehenge.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/isle-of-wight/newtown-national-nature-reserve-and-old-town-hall/history-at-newtown-old-town-hall
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/coast-beaches/discover-mayon-cliff
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wiltshire/stonehenge-landscape
Google Podcasts is coming to an end between April and June this year.
To keep up with the National Trust Podcast please follow or subscribe using an alternative app.
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/4a88H3d
Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/4a1nH2N
Youtube (Coming Soon) - https://www.youtube.com/nationaltrustcharity
More - https://audioboom.com/channels/4957126-national-trust-podcast
Info from Google:
After April 2, 2024, users in the US will no longer be able to listen to podcasts in Google Podcasts.
* After June 24, 2024 this will be the case for all users in all regions.*
More info from Google/Youtube Music - https://bit.ly/3xeM8vd
National Trust Podcast is back with a new collection of immersive tales in nature, history and adventure. Look out for Series 8 launching 4 April.
Travel to the 1930s to unmask the eccentric Ferguson’s Gang, find out how the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree impacted the community, and discover what life was like for ancient workers in the UK’s only known Roman gold mine.
Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app to catch new episodes every fortnight.
We’d love to hear from you. Please share your ratings and reviews on your podcast app. Or get in touch at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Discover more about podcasts made by the National Trust at nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts
For the past few years Holnicote Estate, Exmoor National Park, has been home to furry inhabitants engineering a solution to local flooding, and developing a habitat not seen in the UK for centuries.
In this episode we revisit the site to check in on its charismatic residents. And discover the exciting news of a growing brood of babies, just in time for Christmas.
ProductionHost: Kate Martin
Producer: Katy Kelly
Sound editor: Jesus Gomez
Discover more
Learn more about Holnicote Estate and take a 360 degree tour of the beaver enclosure, which features trail camera footage of the beavers’ everyday lives.
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holnicote-virtual-tour
For more information about beavers visit nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/nature/wildlife/our-guide-to-beavers
Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.ukAppeal
Plant a tree with the National Trust and help us establish 20 million trees by 2030. Whatever the size of your donation to the Plant a Tree appeal, you’ll be helping to create beautiful green spaces for people and wildlife to thrive. And why not dedicate your donation to someone in your life? You’ll receive a digital certificate to customise and gift. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/support-us/plant-a-tree
Growing up, Drag Queen Misty Monique thought it was a bit unfair that at the weddings she went to, men wore suits while women could wear a variety of outfits and costumes. Discovering drag opened a whole new world of expression and also a means to entertain.
Misty heads to the stage at Smallhythe Place, Kent, where she uncovers the history of drag and its roots in British theatre and pantomime. And she even puts on a show of her own.
ProductionHost: Misty Monique
Producer: Jack Glover
Sound editor: Jesus Gomez
Discover more
To find out more about Smallhythe Place please visit:
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/smallhythe-place
Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Embark on the last voyage of an Anglo-Saxon burial ship and learn how its discovery changed our understanding of a civilisation.
In 1939, archaeologists uncovered a “ghost ship” under the acidic sandy soil of Sutton Hoo, in Suffolk. Now, presenter James Grasby reimagines the last journey of that vessel, and who was aboard, as it was hauled from the water and dragged to its final resting place at Sutton Hoo some 1,400 years ago.
ProductionHost: James Grasby
Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris
Sound editor: Jesus Gomez
Discover more
Free guided tours of the Royal Burial Ground are available daily from February to October. You can book onto a tour with the Visitor Welcome team when you arrive at Sutton Hoo.
The replica ship is being built by the Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company. To follow the progress of the project and how you can support it, please visit saxonship.org
The Sutton Hoo Ship’s Company are using authentic Anglo- Saxon ship building methods in their build and are supporting the Heritage Crafts apprenticeship programme. This programme is aimed at tackling the heritage skills shortage and is made possible thanks to a £6.2 million gift from the Hamish Ogston Foundation. The programme is open to people of all ages and provides the skills and experience to embark on a career that will make a significant contribution towards protecting and preserving the nation’s heritage.
Find out more: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hamish-ogston
Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
In March 1939 a group of 23 children and their two adult guardians stepped off a coach in Waddesdon Village, Buckinghamshire. The arrivals were Jewish refugees who had escaped Nazi Germany, where they’d been forced to leave behind their homes and loved ones. With support from their sponsors James and Dorothy de Rothschild and the local community, the children began a new life in England. Presenter Diane Kenwood uncovers an extraordinary story of survival and hope in one of history’s darkest periods, and with the help of their families retraces the steps of the Cedar Children.
Resources
The Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR)
Read more about the Kindertransport: www.ajrrefugeevoices.org.uk/Historical-Background
Explore the AJR’s interactive UK Holocaust map: www.ukholocaustmap.org.uk/
Visiting Waddesdon
Find out more about the history and visiting experience at Waddesdon house and gardens: waddesdon.org.uk/
The Jewish Country Houses project
Read about the Jewish Country Houses research project led by the University of Oxford: jch.history.ox.ac.uk/home
A major publication based on the Jewish Country Houses research project is currently being prepared for publication in 2024 by Profile Books in association with the National Trust
The Country Houses, Jewish Homes mobile exhibition will be on display at the following National Trust properties in autumn 2023.
Upton House – 'Country Houses, Jewish Homes' | National Trust
Ightham Mote – Exhibition: Jewish Country Homes | National Trust
The consultant for this episode was Marcus Roberts, founder of JTrails - Jewish Heritage Routes: www.jtrails.org.uk/
Join a global tech treasure hunt and explore an unusual ancient landscape.
Discover the thrills of Geocaching and peer into hidey holes at Brimham Rocks, a 320 million year old site, once home to ancient reptiles the size of cars, Druids and Victorian day trippers.
For more on geocaching you can explore the official site: https://www.geocaching.com/ or find plenty of places to explore with family and friends at https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/outdoor-activities/geocaching-for-families
To find out more about Brimham Rocks please visit:https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/yorkshire/brimham-rocks
And if you’re a little too far away from our audio geocache but would still like to hear it please visit https://link.chtbl.com/NTABrimham
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Join a tour of a garden designed for pleasure, as we relive its party heyday. Claremont in Surrey once played host to events described as the lovechild of a festival and a Palace garden party. Presenter James Grasby uncovers the best spots, the shenanigans they elicited, and the most incredible views.
Find out more about Claremont Landscape Garden and download a map to follow the route taken by James and Curator Rebecca Wallis: nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/claremont-landscape-garden Discover National Trust places used for Film and TV: nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/film-tv *With thanks to Author David Coke and Hannah Greig, Professor of History at Royal Holloway, University of London.
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk*
Journey to a tiny island renowned for adventure.
Brownsea Island, off England’s southwest coast is the birthplace of the Scout movement and where history and the outdoors collide for a favourite British pastime, camping.
Join presenter Jo Dyson as she spends the night in a tree tent and discovers what this unique island has to offer after dark.
This podcast is supported by Vango, connect with nature in a sustainable way with the National Trust camping collection. The collection is available to purchase at https://www.vango.co.uk/gb/content/141-national-trust-collaboration. A minimum of £50,000 from the sales of the collection will be given to support the National Trust’s vital conservation efforts.
Discover unforgettable locations in Britain’s Wild corners with the Wild Escapes book, written by Sian Lewis. You can purchase a copy here:
https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/wild-escapes-incredible-places-to-unwind-and-explore.html
If you’d like to book a stay at the Brownsea Island campsite, you can do so here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/dorset/brownsea-island-campsite
Join us on a journey through time as we explore the rich past and promising future of Castlefield Viaduct – a Victorian railway bridge transformed into a green oasis along the Manchester city skyline.
Find out more about visiting Castlefield Viaduct:
nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cheshire-greater-manchester/castlefield-viaduct
Visit the "About" section of the webpage to read about supporting the Castlefield Viaduct project:
nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cheshire-greater-manchester/castlefield-viaduct
Discover more National Trust audio programmes:
nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts
Revisit a favourite episode from our mini series 125 Treasures. Join actor Alison Steadman and explore the story behind Hambletonian, Rubbing Down, a painting by George Stubbs at Mount Stewart in County Down. Delve into the world of horse racing and uncover the hidden criticisms of this treasure's past owner.
This mini series shares it's name with a National Trust book, to find out more and to browse other reads in our collection please visit: https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-125-treasures.html
*To find out more about Mount Stewart please visit:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/mount-stewart*
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Discover how the rolling hills of Stockbridge Down in Hampshire give up their secrets after nightfall.
Join Ranger Kate Martin on the trail of a mysterious species you might be surprised to meet in the UK, and uncover why this high vantage point was a perfect spot for grisly goings on.
For more audio programmes from the National Trust, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts
Meet the buzzing birding community in the unlikely location of Leeds city centre.
This podcast episode is supported by CJ Wildlife, caring for nature and bringing joy to your garden. Their National Trust Garden Wildlife Range is available for purchase at birdfood.co.uk/national-trust-garden-wildlife-range. A minimum of £190,000 from sales of the range will be given to support the National Trust’s vital conservation efforts.
Find out more about birdwatching and creating a wildlife garden
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/nature/wildlife
Meet the University of Leeds peregrines and watch the live webcam
sustainability.leeds.ac.uk/our-work/biodiversity/university-of-leeds-peregrines/
Thank you to Paul Wheatley, Les Arkless, Linda Jenkinson and Mary-Beth Whittingstall for contributions to this episode.
Join us as we celebrate the beauty of blossom. Hear the story of how an eccentric Victorian and a potato helped save Japan’s lost blooms, visit an international Hanami party in London and wander through an underwater flowering meadow.
This episode is supported by Blue Diamond Garden Centres. Celebrate the unsung heroes of the tree world with the National Trust Native Tree Collection, available to purchase in store and from National Trust Native Tree Collection | Blue Diamond. A minimum of 10% of the retail selling price will be given to support the National Trust’s conservation work and ambitions to plant and establish 20 million trees by 2030.Find the best places to see blossom:
nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/gardens-parks/best-places-to-see-blossom
And share your blossom experience on social media with #blossomwatch
Be transported on a brand new series of immersive expeditions to the UK's most remarkable spaces and landmarks, uncovering fascinating histories and compelling stories connecting people and place.
In episodes spanning history, nature, art and adventure, you'll join an Anglo Saxon army to re-enact the journey of the Sutton Hoo ship; traverse bizarre rock formations in a geocaching quest on the Yorkshire moors; discover the thrills of birding in the unlikely urban centre of Leeds; and be invited backstage to explore the colourful history of drag performance.
Series 7 of the National Trust Podcast is launching on 2nd May 2023.
Find, follow and review the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app.
And discover more about National Trust audio series on our website:
nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/virtual-visit/podcasts
You can contact the National Trust Podcast team at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Get set for adventure with the National Trust Kids’ Podcast. Join a host of colourful characters in stories exploring the world around us, from going wild outdoors to uncovering scientific marvels.
Dive into our first story, Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers. When some humans get in a pickle on a kayak, Ranger Rae and a band of animal heroes rush in to help with the rescue. Discover the wonderful world of the waterways and get to know one charismatic critter with the unique skills needed to help in an aquatic quest.
Listen to Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers, from the National Trust Kids’ Podcast, available on your favourite podcast app and at the link below.
https://link.chtbl.com/NTKP1
We’re trying out special audio adventures for 5-8 year old and their families as part of a pilot project in 2023. And we’d love to know what you, our valued listener, think. Please share your feedback with the National Trust podcast team at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Discover how a remote stretch of shingle coastline is home to some of the UK’s greatest natural spectacles: from the mass arrival of white-coated seal pups in winter, to the noisy feathered frenzy of summer. Experience life on Blakeney Point as it transforms through a year of wild seasons.
Please follow our seal-spotting guidancenationaltrust.org.uk/discover/nature/wildlife/seal-spotting-guidance
Find out more about visiting Blakeney National Nature Reserve
nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/norfolk/blakeney-national-nature-reserve
Read about the Sea Mammal Research Unit’s workwww.smru.st-andrews.ac.uk
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
*A disco ball, a pirate ship and portraits with speech bubbles are perhaps not what you’d expect to see when visiting a historic property, but at the UK’s first Children’s Country House, anything could happen. Join Curator James Grasby, as he explores this place filled with surprises at every turn.
Find out more about visiting the Children's Country House at Sudbury
nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/peak-district-derbyshire/the-childrens-country-house-at-sudbury*
Listen to more episodes of the National Trust Podcast and other audio series at nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
A covert and secretive wilderness lies just off the Suffolk coast.
Endangered plants and animals make their home alongside eerie abandoned buildings, with rumours of strange goings-on having shrouded this place for years.
Uncover the truth about the dangers lurking beneath the surface at one of our most unusual places, Orford Ness.
Look out for a new series of the National Trust Podcast in spring 2023.
Until then you can find out more about National Trust audio series at: nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts If you’d like to share feedback on our podcasts with us, or would like to tell us about your story connected with the National Trust, please contact: podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk For more information on visiting Orford Ness go to: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/suffolk/orford-ness-national-nature-reserve
Many of us grew up reading about Peter Rabbit and Mrs Tiggywinkle, but how much do you know about the woman behind the stories?
In this episode we explore the lesser-known sides of Beatrix Potter. Discover how her love of natural science, fascination with fungi and knack for sheep farming formed the author we know and love.
*Experience the remarkable world of Beatrix Potter for yourself at the Drawn to Nature exhibition at the V&A Museum in partnership with the National Trust, on display until 8 January 2023.
To find out more, go to: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/whats-on/beatrix-potter-and-the-drawn-to-nature-exhibition
Listen to more episodes of the National Trust Podcast and other audio series at nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk*
Just beneath our feet lies a hidden world of ancient curiosities and undiscovered treasures.
But laying your hands on them and figuring out exactly what they are requires some extra special underfloor sleuthing to sort the rubbish from the rarities.
An archaeological adventure awaits in the story of the Dust Detectives…
Thank you to Anna Forrest, Matthew Champion, and Dr David Skinner DPhil (Oxon) for contributions to this episode.
Among the music featured is a performance of early Tudor Choral song by Dr Skinner’s Choir ‘Alamire’.
For more episodes and information please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts
To find out about Oxburgh Hall please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburgh-hall
There’s a midnight party happening deep in the woods. Meet the ravers, movers and shakers as they emerge from slumber to rule nature’s nightclub.
To explore Cragside by daylight listen to Episode 110: The Inventor's Playground.
Find out more about staying overnight at a National Trust place here: nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays
Browse all our podcast series here: nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts
With extra thanks to Bat Conservation Trust; Kosta Manser from the University of Bristol; Dave Chesmore from the University of York.
Buckle up for a safari through a land where nothing is at it seems, and uncover the story of an audacious Victorian inventor known as the Magician of the North.
*To explore Cragside after dark listen to Episode 111: A Wild Night Out.
Discover all the National Trust's audio series here: nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts*
If historic houses are the treasure boxes that keep the jewels within them safe, what happens when the box starts to fall apart?
Find out how one precious item was left hanging when unusual activity in the area caused the walls around it to buckle and crumble.
Hiking, running, and cycling can be great ways to get from A to B for the environmentally conscious traveller.
And if you’re feeling very adventurous, for a truly alternative mode of transport you could even embrace the power of the paddle.
Paddlesports at National Trust places
Discover more about paddlesports at National Trust places.
Some National Trust locations which are accessible by water may not be featured on this list. Please check with individual properties about their facilities.
Paddleboarding resources
We hope this episode has inspired you to begin your own paddleboarding adventure. However, this podcast is not a comprehensive guide.
It’s important to research dos and don’ts to stay safe when you take to the water. Here are some useful resources to get you started:
British Canoeing: all you need to know to stay safe on the water
RNLI: Stand-up paddleboarding safety
For more inspiration
National Trust book Slow Adventures features Psyched Paddleboarding and lots of other ideas for your next wild expedition.
Mae'r Gymraeg yn un o ieithoedd byw hynaf Ewrop, ond pa ran chwaraeodd ffermdy bychan ger Penmachno yng ngoroesiad yr iaith hyd heddiw? Ymunwch a Betsan Powys wrth iddi fynd ar siwrne i Dŷ Mawr Wybrnant i ddysgu mwy am Esgob William Morgan, un o gewri'r genedl sy'n cael ei adnabod gan lawer fel gwaredwr yr iaith Gymraeg.
Click here to hear this story in English
Speaking and reading the language of your country of origin is something many people take for granted. But for many in the country of Wales, being able to engage with these elements of Welsh heritage takes on a much greater significance. That's because if it wasn’t from a very special man and a very special book, these elements of Wales' culture could have been lost to the sands of time.
At Knole house in Kent, there’s an endangered red list species lurking amid the antique furniture. And after remaining at the property for hundreds of years, the house team are doing all they can to ensure its survival for the future.
To find out more about Annabel Westman's book you can click here https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/fringe-frog-and-tassel-9781781300756/
After 5 years of climate change and fluctuating weather, we catch up with the highs and lows of our fluttery friends.
If you stumble upon 20 Forthlin Road, without knowing its history, you may assume it’s an unremarkable house, on an unremarkable suburban street. But it’s when you meet its former resident you realise, there’s much to this house than meets the eye.
What started as a family trip out took a surprising turn when a mysterious encounter changed the course of National Trust member Sally’s life.
To discover more audio from the National Trust go to nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts
As a Black Brit from London, for Sean going out for a hike used to feel like an alien concept. However, after 4 years working at the Trust, he’s now developed a love for all things Wilderness. His sister, like many others, has never been for a hike in her life. Can Sean convince her to embrace the outdoors on her first ever hike or will she be on the first train back to London?
If this podcast has inspired you to venture into the great outdoors, you may find this list of walking groups and outdoor resources helpful https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/blackhiking
Jo and Katherine continue their bikepacking adventure along the Cornish and Devon coast.
This time, they’re given some unexpected assistance, come face to face with some curious creatures and visit one of the Trust’s most Quirky properties.
You can find terms and conditions for our our bikepacking competition here:https://nationaltrust.org.uk/ntp100
You’ve probably heard of backpacking and/or bike touring, but BikePacking is a combination of the two that makes for an exciting and exhilarating way to explore the great outdoors. In this episode join Jo Dyson on her two day bikepacking adventure along the North Cornish Coast.
Three years after her first visit to Wicken Fen, Ranger Kate Martin catches up with wildlife photographer Richard Nicoll, for whom lockdown has presented some unique photographic opportunities.
In this episode we catch up with Shaw’s Corner, a property we visited in Season 2, to find out how things have changed since we were last there and how the house team have being tackling the challenge of Covid 19.
Exmoor National Park is known for its rolling hills, green pastures and flowing rivers, but these natural features also pose an ecological threat. To engineer a solution, our area rangers have sought the help of a rather mischievous workforce. To discover more audio from the National Trust go to nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts
Try to think of the most idyllic woodland your mind can imagine; the dappled sunlight, chirping birds and babbling brooks. Now image you could visit this paradise, without ever leaving your home. Imagine no more, welcome to Wellbeing Walks! To discover more audio from the National Trust go to nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts.
Join Actress Alison Steadman as she explores some of the most intriguing objects in the National Trust’s collections. Listen to 125 Treasures, a new 5-part miniseries by visiting nationaltrust.org.uk/125pod
While the stories of our houses are well researched and archived, now and again we discover the alternate past of a place we thought we knew. Volunteer Mavis Laird understands this well, as she unknowingly stumbled upon the fascinating story of the secret past of Hughenden Manor.
In the first episode of a brand-new series of the National Trust podcast. We take a look at the fashion and photography of Rainham Hall’s Anthony Denny; a name you’ve probably never heard, but one that’s likely influenced the clothes you wear, how you decorate and furnish your home and even the food you eat.
Whilst we continue to prepare for the launch of Season 5, we’re revisiting some of our favourite episodes.
This month we brave the North Sea and head to the remote Northumbrian Farne Islands. Whilst there, we encounter one of Britain’s most entertaining bird species, and learn just what it takes to secure their feathery future.
While we prepare for Season 5 of the National Trust Podcast, we’re revisiting episodes from the archives. This month, as it's February, we’ve chosen an episode that celebrates a rather unusual symbol of love. Back in 2018, we sent our Senior Producer Sean Douglas, to the National Trust’s annual apple grafting festival at the Cotehele Estate, to see if he could cultivate his very own symbol of love.
While we’re on a break busily preparing for season 5, we’re taking this opportunity to listen back to some of our favourite episodes. This month it’s ‘Caring for the Country’s Rarest Plants’ from Season 3. In this episode Alan Power, former Head gardener at Stourhead, navigates his way to the Trust‘s secret Plan Conservation Centre to see exactly what it takes to look after some of the planets most important plants. We’d also like to know what you think of the podcast so we can make Series 5 the best series yet. You can help us do this by filling in our short survey, which you can find at nationaltrust.org.uk/podsurvey
Whilst we break for the holidays and prepare for the launch of series 5, we’re revisiting some of our favourite episodes from the archives. This month it’s ‘A Mystery Guest at the Beatles Childhood Homes’ from Series 3. In this episode, a famous mystery guest joins a public tour of John Lennon’s childhood home. So, can you guess who the mystery man is before he is revealed? Listen to see if you’ve got what it takes.
To find more episodes or a series you may have missed go to nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts.
We’d also like to know what you think of the podcast so we can make Series 5 the best series yet. You can do this by filling in a short survey which you can find at nationaltrust.org.uk/podsurvey
In our first taste along episode, Ranger Kate Martin and her mystery guest experience a Lake District walk in an intriguingly new way. If you’d like to taste along with Kate, you’ll need some fruit chews, mac & cheese, mint bubble filled chocolates and some cream soda. We are currently planning and producing episodes for season 5 of the National Trust Podcast. To help us improve the show we’d love your feedback. So to help us shape future episodes of this podcast we’d be grateful if you could spare a few minutes to fill in our end of season survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NTpodsurvey Extracts from this episode were taken from Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guides to The Lakeland Fells.
After one of the most challenging years, the Trust is starting to nurture the green shoots of a new normal. Let us take you behind the scenes to witness the events and people that made our reopening possible.
For more audio programmes from the National Trust, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts.
Edible nettles, sweet shop flavoured berries and deadly carrots are just some of the culinary, and not so culinary delights, Ranger Kate Martin encounters when she meets Fred the Forager for a late summer stroll. This episode aims to inspire you to explore nature in a new way. And should not be used as a reference for instructions on how to forage. Fred is an expert with decades of experience. If you would like to experience foraging for yourself we recommend you join a reputable course and only forage under expert guidance.
For more audio programmes from the National Trust, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts.
While many of us are familiar with Agatha Christie’s characters, just how well do we know Agatha the person? As we celebrate 100 years of Christie publications, we take a look back at the woman behind the books, through the eye of her grandson, at her beloved Greenway House.
Listen to more audio programmes from the National Trust at nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts.
In 2017 Teleri Fielden started her National Trust shepherdess scholarship deep in the valleys of Snowdonia. We revisit her three years on to find out if the early mornings, harsh winters and constant rain have dampened her spirits or given her the drive to prove she’s got what it takes.
Listen to more audio programmes from the National Trust at nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts.
While we were all indoors during lockdown, stories of our wild neighbours bouncing back emerged across the globe. In this episode, podcast producer, Sean Douglas visits the Isle of Wight to investigate reports of wildlife taking over the island while humans were away. We also explore whether there will be a long-term positive impact on how we co-exist with the nature around us. Find out more about how scientists are tracking wildlife during the great 'anthropause' in Nature journal. Listen to more audio programmes from the National Trust at nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts.
From small seeds grow mighty oaks. This a phrase that astronaut Tim Peake knows well. In this episode we’ll explore how nature inspired and enabled man’s (and woman’s) most epic adventures.
For more audio programmes from the National Trust, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts.
Zoom, Whatsapp, Instagram and TikTok are no longer just Millennial buzzwords. For many senior citizens social media has become a part of daily life. Negotiating our new world over the past few months has meant many of those who may have traditionally shunned technology are learning new skills. In this episode, over-60s share how their lives have been transformed by tech, from keeping in touch with loved ones to adventuring to far-flung parts of the world. 😊 💪🌈 Advice on coping with lockdown, including using technology and the internet, can be found at Age UK.
For more audio programmes from the National Trust, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts.
For millennia, midsummer has been steeped in tales of mystery and magic. It inspired the construction of great temples, the lighting of bonfires and was even said to have caused people to act in strange and surprising ways. In this episode, we explore the meaning behind the legends of the longest day of the year. And we discover why so many people feel a mystical connection to this time of year. This year to limit the speared of COVID-19, Stonehenge and Avebury will be closed for solstice and we’d respectfully ask that you stay away from these sites and the surrounding areas on that day. You can watch a live stream of the solstice on English Heritage’s social media channels. And if you’d like to experience the solstice in nature, please watch from your garden or from a viewpoint local to your home. For more audio programmes like this from the National Trust, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts.
In this episode we’re bringing you another story to inspire you during lockdown. Paul Zabel, an engineer and novice gardener, was sent to work in his first greenhouse in one of the most extreme locations on Earth. At the end of his isolation, as Paul eased his way back into society, he realised he had discovered some valuable life lessons which we could learn from as we go through the same motions. For more podcasts from the National Trust, visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts
In this episode we continue to bring you ideas and advice on how to keep in tune with nature during lockdown. This time Andy Beer, author of Every Day Nature, gives us his top tips on how to grow a deeper understanding of the dawn chorus and to get better acquainted with your favourite feathered neighbourhood songstress. You’ll also learn how to get involved with DAWNS, one of the Trust’s most ambitious musical mass participation events happening in the early hours of 16 May. To sign up go to DAWNS to https://dawns.live/
For more podcasts from the National Trust, visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts
When faced with heartache, music journalist Alice Vincent found a surprising remedy in her tiny balcony garden at her London flat. A complete gardening novice, Alice made the most of the little space and resources she had. What started as a distraction became an obsession and Alice slowly built a small urban sanctuary teeming with greenery and heady blooms. She quickly came to realise the almost magical healing power of planting and growing. A new and life-changing kind of love story blossomed… In this episode, Alice explains how even the most unlikely spaces – from concrete yards to windowsills - can be transformed into beautiful ‘micro-gardens’. And she shares her personal experience of the positive effect of gardening on our wellbeing.
You can follow Alice on Instagram @noughticulture
To read Alice’s top tips for gardening in small spaces, go to:
nationaltrust.org.uk/balconygardens For more podcasts from the National Trust, visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts
In this episode, presenter Jo Dyson heads to the Lake District for a night of camping and stargazing. But unfortunately for Jo things don’t quite go to plan.
Jo swaps her tent for a tripod to try her hand at some astrophotography on a night time stroll. Jo turns to astrophotographer, Steven Hanna for a masterclass in photography. Listen to discover how you can use your camera to shed light on the secrets of the night.
Please note, this episode was recorded before UK restrictions to stem the spread of coronavirus. Please check current guidance before planning any activities. For more podcasts from the National Trust, visit: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts
With its icy winds, relentless hail and plunging temperature, are you prepared for a winter mountain walk? Armed with a map, compass and warm flask, presenter Jo Dyson embarks on a walk to experience the remote and barren beauty of the Lake District. Jo meets the Wasdale Mountain Rescue team to learn how to stay safe on a mountain walk and discovers why the winter months are a surprisingly rewarding time to explore the outdoors. To find out more about staying safe in the mountains and beyond, go to adventuresmart.uk and for more podcasts from the National Trust go to https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts
As spring approaches and trees across the UK burst into blossom, why not make this special time of year a regular date in your nature calendar?
Britain’s answer to a housing crisis caused by the industrial revolution, Back to Back houses were once a prominent feature of northern towns. An early type of social housing, the Back to Backs became known for their poor conditions, with their cramped design and bad sanitation. But what was life really like for the people that lived there? Join us as we visit the last remaining Back to Back houses in the UK. Listen as we take an immersive look into the lives of the families that called these places home. To find more podcasts from the National Trust go to https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts and to find out more about the Birmingham Back to Backs go to https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/birmingham-back-to-backs
Nature is under threat! So we’re calling on the public to take one small step to protect the natural world. This leap day we’re asking you to make a promise for nature. So how will you use your extra 24 hours to make a difference?
This week, we bring you a special episode from our Countryfile Live 2019 podcast. This new series brings you some of the best moments from debates at the BBC’s Countryfile Live event at Blenheim Palace. In this episode, Countryfile presenter Tom Heap and a panel of experts consider how we might fix the plastic problem. If you enjoy this episode, you can subscribe to the rest of the series on your favourite podcast app or at nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts
The beginning of this year marks the start of a year-long celebration of our 125th anniversary. This January we’re bringing you two special episodes from the podcast series we’re launching on sustainability. The series ‘50% Renewable’ explores how the National Trust is working towards meeting 50% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2021. If you enjoy this episode, you can subscribe to the rest of the series on your favourite podcast app or at nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts In next week’s special episode we’ll be learning about the problem that is plastic pollution.
Tucked away off a busy street in London lies a sanctuary for endangered sounds. The Benton Fletcher Collection at Fenton House and Garden is a rare treasure that boasts restored and working early keyboard instruments, some of which are nearly 500 years old. Guided by the Keeper of Instruments, National Trust curator, James Grasby finds himself transported to key moments in our musical past and learns what it takes to preserve these exquisite instruments and their unique sounds. We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts, so please do give us your feedback, via social media or drop us a line at: podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Wild swimming isn’t just for summer. As winter approaches, the hardiest swimmers enjoy the benefits the off-season brings. In this episode, Coastal Officer Kate Martin heads to Carding Mill Valley where she’s introduced to the Shropshire Wild Swimmers and Dippers. She’s challenged to a “refreshing” dip and discovers how open waters bring a sense of freedom to your mind, body and soul. To find out more about enjoying wild swimming safely, go to: https://www.rlss.org.uk/open-water-swimming-safety-guide
We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts, so please do give us your feedback, via social media or drop us a line at: podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
Time spent in the great outdoors can be an immersive experience. But how often do we stop and take the time to really absorb the sounds, touch and feel of nature? Walker Julian Jackson senses things differently to most people. In this episode, he shows us how to create a deeper connection with the natural world.
In Tudor times disease and death were never far away, as were other more mysterious terrors that many claimed were lurking in the dark. In this Halloween special, curator James Grasby visits 500-year old Little Moreton Hall in Cheshire, to find out how the Tudors protected their homes against evil. James meets house staff who reveal strange relics of our past and he comes face to face with a mystery that lay hidden in plain sight for centuries until someone looked closer. Guided by folklore experts, James journeys beyond the veil to the stranger side of history. And he discovers why Halloween’s roots are more ancient than we might think.
We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts, so please do give us your feedback, via social media or drop us a line at: podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk
National Trust places are great to spend time at with those we know and love, but they can also be places where new friendships are born. In this mini episode we follow Joanna and Rachel, two mothers that met at a charity-run buggy walking group at Stourhead, as they embark on one of the National Trust’s most unique adventures.
We'd love to know what you think of our podcasts, so please do give us your feedback, via social media or drop us a line at: podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk This episode of the National Trust podcast was made possible by Cotswold Outdoor, recommended outdoor retail partner for the National Trust
Taking time away from his expeditions to the Amazon, professional tree climber James Aldred leads presenter Jo Dyson on a treetop adventure in the slightly less exotic garden at Tyntesfield in Somerset. Jo realises that tree climbing is not just for kids and discovers that we are all more connected to trees than we might think.
In this special episode we bring you part one of our People’s Landscapes podcast series. It’s Northey Island, 991 AD. Viking raiders clash in bloody battle with the Anglo-Saxon army defending their land. Dr Eleanor Barraclough, lecturer in medieval history at Durham University, explores how this violent incident resulted in a mashup of cultures we can still see today. People’s Landscapes is part of a National Trust programme telling the stories of places that have shaped the nation, marking the 200th anniversary of the Peterloo Massacre. If you enjoyed this, you can listen to the whole series here:
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/peopleslandscapes/history
As thousands of places across the UK open their doors for Heritage Open Days, we head to Blackpool to explore what heritage means to us as individuals and as a nation. In this episode, National Trust curator James Grasby goes behind the scenes to witness the thrill of the Blackpool Illuminations – a spectacle that’s firmly rooted in the past but continues to shape our heritage today.
This time we’re delving deeper than ever before into the stories of extraordinary places and the people connected to them. We’ll gaze at stars from the hills, explore secret treetop worlds and uncover unexpected histories at some of our most unusual buildings. Escape with us and immerse yourself in our search for new perspectives, breathtaking experiences and hidden histories. To learn more about podcasts from the National Trust go to nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts
In this mini episode, we’re back at Divis and the Black Mountain to meet Ned Clarke who has walked on the mountain for thirty years. Hear what it’s like to live side-by-side with these giants and discover how the mountain has been an escape in times of trouble. Listen to Ned’s moving story in the final episode of this series.
In the penultimate episode of this series, we take a bracing walk with ranger Kate Martin as she battles against howling winds and biting rain to the summit on Divis Mountain, 1,500 feet above Belfast. As we cross this wild landscape we’ll discover blanket bogs that are as dangerous as they are healing, ruins that hold the secret to 2,000 years of life and death, and awe-inspiring views of the city and hills beyond.
This week we’re at the annual apple grafting weekend at Cotehele. We’ll uncover the mysteries of apple grafting and learn how you can grow your very own Crimson Queen, Pendragon and even a Pig’s Nose. All will be revealed in this mini episode.
This week we’re at the Trust’s most secretive location: the Plant Conservation Centre.
Join us as we go beyond the locked gates of this well-guarded site to find out how we protect our rarest and most historically-significant species of plant. Along the way we’ll brush shoulders with famous trees that have lined the pages of literature, and try our hand at grafting.
In this mini podcast, we’ll meet the man who welcomes visitors from around the world to John Lennon’s childhood home, and hear about his encounter with one very famous daytripper.
Join us in Liverpool as we step inside the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
We’ll take you on a trip down Penny Lane to visit the houses where John and Paul grew up, fell in love with rock and roll, and wrote some of the Beatles’ first songs.
We’re delving into the military history of Box Hill in Surrey in this mini podcast, with a behind-the-scenes tour of an old fort that was used to protect London from invasion in the late nineteenth century.
In this episode we’re at Box Hill, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty just a short train ride from Central London.
You’ll hear what makes this corner of Surrey so special for the cyclists, walkers and children that flock here every year, and discover how getting out into the countryside might be easier than you think.
In this mini episode we’re back in North Wales exploring the sights, sounds and scents of Bodnant Garden with a group of dog-walkers and their four-legged pals.
This week we’re in the foothills of Snowdonia National Park for a crisp winter stroll through the world-famous Bodnant Garden.
Join us to explore dramatic waterfalls, romantic dells and towering trees, and hear from the gardeners who care for this exotic and ever-changing landscape.
Find out more about this horticultural gem: nationaltrust.org.uk/bodnant-garden
As there are five Thursday’s in this month, this week we’re giving you a bonus episode. To fill the gap until our next regular episode on the first Thursday of next month, we thought you might like to hear the first episode of a mini series we launched earlier this year called Women and Power.
Women and Power looks at the Trust’s links to the suffrage movement and is narrated by broadcaster and Journalist Kirsty Wark.
To learn more about this series go to: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/suffragepodcast
In this mini episode we’ll hear about the famous friends of T.E. Lawrence.
From artists and writers like Thomas Hardy to fellow soldiers from the army, Lawrence welcomed an array of visitors to his rustic retreat. Learn how he entertained them, and gain a new perspective on his life from one of his relatives who helps keep his story alive today.
In this episode we’re at Clouds Hill, the rustic retreat of T.E. Lawrence.
Nestled among pine trees in the Dorset countryside, this dilapidated cottage is where Lawrence of Arabia fled his new-found fame, following his adventures in the desert during the First World War. We’ll take you on a tour of the intimate spaces where he entertained friends, listened to music, and kept his beloved motorbike.
In this mini episode we follow the wild ponies that roam Wicken Fen. Introduced to the fen 100 years ago, these hardy animals graze the land, enabling plants and wildlife to thrive. Later we investigate the smaller creatures that call this ancient landscape home, including dragonflies and water voles.
We’re at Wicken Fen in East Anglia for a walk through the National Trust’s oldest nature reserve.
We’ll set off on foot, exploring the multi-use trails that allow easy access to this other-worldly landscape, before venturing down the narrow waterways on boat. Along the way, we’ll discover how a place created thousands of years ago is still providing a crucial home for thousands of animals, birds and plants today.
In this mini episode we meet one of Glendurgan’s longest-serving volunteers. Sylvia describes her memories of this special place - from navigating the mind-boggling maze as a child, to sharing her love of the garden with visitors today.
In this episode we’re at Glendurgan Garden to discover its unusual microclimate, centuries-old history and fiendish maze.
Join us on a journey through this tropical Cornish paradise – where lush rolling valleys meet the sea, and exotic plants grow alongside native wildflowers. We get to know the Fox family, who laid down the plans for the garden back in the 1820s, and still live in the house today.
In this special episode, we join composer Michael Price as he records his new classical album in some of the Trusts most unlikely places.
Michael Price is best known for the scores he creates for film and popular television shows like Sherlock Holmes. For his latest album, Tender Symmetry, he’s swapped the comforts of Abbey Road studios for the varied acoustics of several Trust places. In this episode we join Michael and his team on the last day of recording at Fan Bay in Dover.
In this mini episode, we’ll discover the secret creations hidden behind a wardrobe in William Morris’s former home.
We’re at Red House in South East London, once home to one of Britain’s most celebrated designers of the 20th Century, William Morris. Famous for his iconic floral wallpaper designs, Morris’s prints and patterns are still in fashion today. But his story doesn’t end there – among other things, he was also a poet and a political figure - fascinated with all things medieval. Join us to explore the house where Morris’s creativity blossomed, and uncover the intriguing twists and turns in the life of this prolific printmaker.
We’re hopping on a boat to the remote Farne Islands off the Northumbria coast this week to take part in a special count of one of the nation’s favourite seabirds: the puffin. We’ll hear how a hardy team of rangers conduct the five-yearly survey and find out what the future holds for these much-loved birds.
We’re off to the Northumberland coast this week for a bracing and beautiful walk along Long Nanny beach. Join ranger Kate Martin as she strolls over sand dunes and past a freshwater stream, exploring the wildlife that calls this spectacular shoreline home. Learn to identify the birds that breed here each year – including ringed plovers and rare little terns - and hear from the dedicated staff who camp out under the stars to protect them.
In this mini episode of the National Trust Podcast, we take a look at Sheringham Park’s military past.
This week we’re at Sheringham in Norfolk to discover 1,000 acres of glorious parkland, woods and clifftops. Learn about the designer who sculpted the landscape, Humphry Repton, and meet the staff and volunteers who keep his vision alive today. We’ll take you on a stroll through Sheringham’s magnificent rhododendron gardens as we unearth the colourful history of these exotic flowers – from the adventures of the plant hunter who sourced them to their starring role in the Upcher family’s 1950s champagne parties.
n 2018, Nostell will hear the 300-year-old Harrison clock chime for the last time. This mini episode celebrates the ticks, tocks, and bongs of a clock made by a man who changed the world. The clock is the product of ‘out-the-box’ thinking, and suitably, it is exhibited at Nostell Priory out of it’s case with all it’s inner-workings exposed to visitors.
In the first episode of the new series, we’ll explore how the rich owners of Nostell used furniture, architecture and interior design to elevate their status. At the centre of the story is a local man named Thomas Chippendale, known today as "The Shakespeare of Furniture”. Through exploring his exquisite craftsmanship and the magnificent interiors that he designed and sourced - we get to know a man of talent, ambition and business nous.
Season Three of the National Trust Podcast is almost here…
We’ll be exploring some of the Trust’s most spectacular locations, from wild walks to flourishing gardens - not to mention the world class collections.
We’ll be releasing a new episode on the first Thursday of each month, starting in May . And there’ll be a mini-episode being released the third Thursday of each month.
So don’t forget to subscribe to the series.
In this Episode, James Grasby meets Greenway's writer in residence, Roselle Angwin, and Community Involvement Officer, Carly Mays, to learn how the former holiday home of crime-writing extraordinaire, Agatha Christie, continues to inspire writers today.
In this episode James Grasby explores the intriguing military past of Agatha Christie's home in Greenway, Devon. A stronghold throughout history, the house and grounds feature many relics – most notably from the Second World War when the site was requisitioned for use by the 10th Flotilla of the U.S. Coast Guard, in the preparations for D-Day.
Agatha Christie called Greenway in Devon 'the loveliest place in the world' and treasured it as a holiday home for her and her family. In this episode James Grasby explores house and gardens that inspired some of Poirot and Miss Marple’s most famous tales.
In this mini episode, we’ll be heading to Allan Bank – the former home of William Wordsworth – to see how the place continues to inspire and nurture today’s creative minds.
In this mini episode, James goes back in time - via the kitchen - to sample the foods that a young Wordsworth might have enjoyed.
This week, join James on a journey into the homeland of Romantic poetry, in the Lake District. We’ll explore the places that inspired of one of the nation’s best loved poets, William Wordsworth.
In this mini episode, Producer Michael Friend explores his deep personal connection to George Bernard Shaw's writings, at Shaw's Corner in Hertfordshire.
In this mini episode we meet Evelyn Ellis – a key member of the Shaw Society – a group celebrating the work of George Bernard Shaw with performances at the playwright's country home in Hertfordshire.
This week we visit the Hertfordshire home of Bernard Shaw, one of the most photographed and quoted men in the world.
In the last of our episodes from Formby we join Kate on her home turf as she reveals some of the secrets hidden in Formby’s shape shifting dunes.
In this mini episode, we accompany Formby’s squirrel feeders on their morning rounds, as we learn of the challenges they face maintaining the area’s red squirrel population.
For this episode of the National Trust Podcast, we head north west as we explore the walks that criss-cross the pine forests, dunes and golden sands of Formby Point, Liverpool. Whether you’re seeking secluded beaches, rare sightings of endangered species or want to get better acquainted with Liverpool’s past, Formby has something for everyone.
You’ll be familiar with the red dragon that proudly adorns the Welsh national flag. But how did it get there and what’s its significance? All will be revealed…
Meet Sabine Nouvert, a National Trust Ranger in Beddgelert who’s been working on a rather unusual project: conserving seaside butterflies in inland Wales!
Episode 5 of the National Trust Podcast heads to picturesque Snowdonia in North Wales. Join Kate in the village of Beddgelert, located at the base of Mount Snowdon and a gateway to some of the UK’s most exciting walks. Find out how the Trust is making some of this spectacular landscape more accessible.
Kinder Scout's magical mermaid pool is steeped in legend. The pool, an icy body of water nestled within the folds of Kinder Scout’s rugged terrain, has been associated with beautiful mermaids and Celtic water rituals for millennia.
Paul Besley, author and Mountain Rescue volunteer, shares stories from his 40-plus years of walking in the Peaks. In this mini-episode, he explains just why Kinder Scout’s pleasures keep him coming back, and warns of its perils.
In the first of our ‘walking’ podcasts, presenter and National Trust ranger Kate Martin takes listeners on a pilgrimage to Kinder Scout, in the Peak District – the birthplace of the 'right to roam' movement and a landscape that has come to symbolise walking freedoms in the UK.
If you venture into Mount Stewart’s shamrock garden, you’ll find an intriguing mythical tale clipped into its ornate hedges. In this mini episode Neil Porteous, Mount Stewart's head gardener, unravels the mystery of the figures in the topiary.
The colour purple is often associated with power, royalty and wealth, which may be one of the reasons it is so prevalent in the gardens at Mount Stewart. In this episode of the National Trust Podcast, we learn why there is more to purple than meets the eye
This week we’re at the uniquely exotic Mount Stewart, County Down. Described as the ‘scratch and sniff’ garden, Mount Stewart is a multi-sensory experience that is not to be missed. In this episode we explore the style, motivation and vision of the garden’s creator, Edith, Lady Londonderry, and learn about the ingenious techniques the Trust is using to keep her garden legacy alive today.
In this mini episode, we explore ‘The Sleeping Wood,’ a secluded, disorientating and illicit corner of the gardens at Stowe, Buckinghamshire. Listen and find out the secrets and mysteries that still linger in its winding paths today.
In this mini episode from Stowe, we meet Ranger Isabelle Thompson, to learn about the conservation and ecology of the grasslands within Stowe’s picturesque Grecian Valley.
In this episode of the National Trust Podcast, we’re at Stowe. We marvel at the unbroken views and ornate temples of this Capability Brown inspired landscape, while digging into the past to understand the people and the politics that have given Stowe its distinctive style and character
Do you know your buzzard from your blackbird or your bullfinch from your barn owl? Join Josh Turner, Cliveden’s resident birder, as he acquaints us with some of Cliveden’s feathered residents. In this mini episode from Cliveden, you’ll hear the sounds and learn about the sights that await you once you venture into some of the more secluded spots.
In this Cliveden mini episode, we learn of the mysteries and myths surrounding the world famous Sancy Diamond. This 55.23 carat diamond has travelled the world, passing through the hands of aristocrats, kings, queens and even the British Royal Family. The diamond also spent some time with the Astor family at Cliveden House.
In this episode of the National Trust Podcast we’re at Cliveden, Buckinghamshire. Set high above the Thames, the grounds of Cliveden House are home to a world famous parterre, Japanese Garden and topiary-lined long walk. Around every corner you’ll find stories of mystery, decadence and the fame and misfortune of Britain’s political elite.
We take you behind the scenes of the Trust and shed light on some of the techniques our staff and volunteers use to keep the gardens at Cliveden looking spectacular all year round.
In our two Cliveden mini episodes we unlock the secrets of the Sancy diamond, and get you better acquainted with some of Cliveden’s feathered residents.
With tricky clay soil – our gardeners in the veg garden at Sissinghurst explain how no dig gardening has worked deliciously well to provide fresh vegetables to our restaurant… even when it’s snowing outside!
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Alan meets Josh Sparkes – one of our gardeners at Sissinghurst and self-proclaimed meadow obsessive. He explains how a return to traditional practises has revitalised the wildlife at Sissinghurst. Scythe at the ready!
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PLANTS AND TREES IN ORDER OF REFERENCE
Leucanthemum vulgare – Oxeye daisy
Lychnis flos-cuculi – Ragged robin
Alan visits Sissinghurst in Kent, previously home to poet and novelist Vita Sackville-West and her husband, diplomat Harold Nicolson. Working from ruins, the couple’s personalities collided and combined to create this dramatic, world-renowned garden. It comes complete with 300 varieties of rose, an area that’s planted to sparkle at twilight, and a castle tower with views to take your breath away.
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PLANT LIST
Sweet chestnut coppice woodland – Castanea sativa
Azalea mollis
The Himalayan blue poppy – Meconopsis betonicifolia
Polyanthus – various
Pleached lime trees - Tilia platyphyllos ‘Rubra’
Fritillaria imperialis
Tulips – various
Narcissus – various
Alba rose – various
Bourbon rose – Mme. Lauriol de Barny, Souvenir de la Malmaison
Centifolia rose – various
Damask rose – various
Gallica rose – Tuscany Superb, Cardinal de Richelieu, Belle de Crécy
Moss rose – Général Kléber
Peony
Iris
Eremurus – various
Phlox paniculata 'David'
With Christmas on its merry way, we learn from the volunteers at Croome on how to make the perfect festive wreath from your own garden at home.
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PLANTS AND TREES IN ORDER OF REFERENCE
Eucalyptus
Lavender – Lavandula angustifolia
Pyracantha
Holly – Ilex aquifolium
Yew – Taxus baccata
National Trust works in partnership with land owners and tenant farmers all round the country. Alan meets the owners of the walled garden at Croome Court who have turned this wild and derelict space into a beautiful and productive garden for us all to enjoy.
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Alan visits Croome in Worcestershire – the first landscape that Capability Brown got his capable hands on. With a diverse history – from a secret RAF base, to a home for Hare Krishna devotees, Croome’s seen it all; and we hear about the challenge of restoring it back to Brown’s 18th century vision. How can you take inspiration from the evergreen shrubbery and transform your garden into a winter wonderland? And what is it about Croome that attracts all kinds of feathered friends?
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PLANTS AND TREES IN ORDER OF REFERENCE
Daphne – Daphne odora
Portuguese laurel – Prunus lusitanica
Common holly – Ilex aquifolium
Rosemary – Rosmarinus officinalis
Sage – Salvia officinalis
Winter jasmine – Jasminum nudiflorum
Guelder rose – Viburnum opulus
Witch hazel – Hamamelis
Heather – Erica
Common broom – Cytisus scoparius
Pine - Pinus
The walled garden at Stourhead is home to a superb collection of pelargoniums, from the geranium family. Alan Power and Emily Utgren discuss how they protect and manage these beautiful plants, and what they tell us about the estate’s history.
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GERANIUM CAKE RECIPE
Serves: 8 Cook Time: 50 minutes Prep Time: 25 minutes Effort: easy
INGREDIENTS 6-8 rose geranium leaves 240 g butter 240 g caster sugar 4 eggs 140 g self-raising flour, sieved 120 g semolina Caster sugar, for dusting Fresh cream and rose petals, to serve
METHOD 1. Preheat the oven to 180C/gas 4. Grease and line a 23cm spring-form cake tin with baking parchment.
- Lay the geranium leaves around the base of the tin, upside down, stalk-end pointing towards the centre of the tin.
- Cream together the butter and sugar until very pale and fluffy, and then gradually beat in the eggs, a little at a time.
- Fold in the flour and semolina. Spoon the cake mixture into the tin, taking care not to disturb the leaves. Bake in the centre of the oven, for about 45-50 minutes, until the cake is firm but springy to the touch.
- Take the cake out of the oven, release the spring clip and carefully remove the sides of the tin. Turn the cake gently over onto a cooling rack set over a plate, bottom side up and carefully remove the base of the tin and the baking parchment.
- Leave until completely cold, dust with caster sugar, and serve with fresh cream and rose petals.
PLANTS AND TREES IN ORDER OF REFERENCE
Pelargonium tomentosum - mint chocolate scented
Pelargonium triste
The first of our little extra “Cuttings”. Autumn is the perfect time to build a compost heap. Join the staff at Stourhead to learn the science behind “cooking” the perfect organic compost.
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Beginning the series on his home turf, Alan takes a walk around Stourhead in Wiltshire, one of England’s greatest landscape gardens. Its fabulous tree collection make autumn a favourite time of year for visitors, volunteers and staff alike. We find out what the walled garden tell us about life in the 18th century, and how dormice are thriving on the Stourhead Estate.
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PLANTS AND TREES IN ORDER OF REFERENCE
Lavender – Lavandula angustifolia
Agapanthus africanus
Variegated Tulip Tree – (Liriodendron tulipifera aureomarginata)
Poplar trees / Trembling Poplar – European Aspen)
Birch – Betula
Cherries – Prunus Taihaku
Red Maple – Acer rubrum
Willow – Salix alba ‘Britzensis’
Japanese Maple – Acer palmatum
Handkerchief tree – Davidia involucrata seedlings – for tree nursery
Katsura trees – Cercidiphyllum
Guelder Rose – Viburnum opulus
Rowan – Sorbus aucuparia, commonly known as the Rowan or Mountain-ash
Whitebeam – Sorbus aria
Alan Power introduces the National Trust Gardens podcast.
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