Nature's Architects

ADHD isn't simply a disorder — it's a fundamentally different way our brains are wired. This perspective lies at the heart of our candid conversation with Natalie Sabian, Senior Ecologist and passionate advocate for workplace neurodiversity. Through personal anecdotes that will resonate with many, Natalie reveals the paradoxical experience of being both celebrated and penalised for the s...

This week it's a doubleheader, as we chat with the Principal Advisor on Net Gain to Natural England and champion of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) plus a good friend and expert on BNG. So welcome to Nick White of Natural England and Paul Whitby of The Ecology Co-op . With the full mandating of BNG on 12th February 2024 timing is everything, so if you want to learn more about BNG and the impact i...

We all know the impact of green space has been on our mental health particularly in the last 15 months and how much we appreciate it due to the pandemic, but how important is it to our actual health and psychology! Dr Liz Sparkes personal friend and expert in heart-based meditation  and compassion practices, a health and spiritual coach.   She is a real-life Doctor with PhD is in pain psychology a...

Ben and I met at Myerscough College in 2000 and since studying our careers have gone in two different directions but what we have both achieved is both managing successful companies while  doing what we love, and that is working with trees! We cover so many topics in such a short amount of time so I hope you all enjoy this one. I  learnt a lot. So grab a drink and enjoy listening to Ben Southall....

This week we chat with my old line manager and now the Acting Assistant Director of Planning at Birmingham City Council, a true brummie, born and raised in Birmingham and now taking the City to 2040 with its new plan. Simon is a a real character and enthusiast within the urban design world and someone who truly has a passion for promoting a completely holistic approach to urban design and place ma...

This week we have a real collaborative podcast and the reason why this series was developed. I'm really pleased to have managed to get 30 minutes of Sally Hayns time. She is the current Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management and is really passionate about the natural environment.  We’re going to be looking at, how we as professionals can a...

This week we have a real collaborative podcast and the reason why this series was developed. I'm really pleased to have managed to get 30 minutes of Dr Wei Yang 's time. She is the current President of the Royal Town Planning Institute and is really passionate about the natural environment and bringing her experience of garden towns and cities into everyday planning.  We’re going to be l...

This week its a double header, as we chat with the Principal Advisor on Net Gain to Natural England and champion of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and our very own in-house Senior Ecologist and expert on BNG. So welcome to Nick White of Natural England and Matt Wall of Wharton Natural Infrastructure Consultants . We’re going to be looking at biodiversity net gain in detail and how it can be implement...

Well the shoe's on the other foot this time and it's my turn to talk to the tree lady. I have personally watched and admired the work of Sharon Durdant-Hollamby for many years, and I love listening to her podcast Tree Lady Talks . She has a knack of saying it how it is and always getting the right message across.  Her best one liner "I don't wear tweed or have a beard". Sh...

Now this is a great chat, with Glampitect Director Ali Young . This was a chat of real interest to us being keen campers and general outdoor living.  With experience in setting up sites for himself and for Glampitect's clients, Ali is able to provide some great insight into the pros and cons of being a glamping site owner and the lessons he's learned along the way. We  try to cover a wid...

This week we chat to Jonathan Cocking Director of JCA and President of the European Arboricultural Council (EAC). This is part 2 and specifically looking at the EAC and Jonathan's planning for JCA. This discussion goes in a great direction and if you are interested in arboriculture in Europe and the European Treeworker Certificate, or simply want to understand more about business management,...

Now this is a fascinating chat, with a good friend and director. We cover so many topics in such a short amount of time and I hope you all enjoy this one. I learnt a lot. So grab a #Yorkshire tea and enjoy this.   This week we chat to Jonathan Cocking Director of JCA and President of the European Arboricultural Council (EAC) . We spoke to technical director Charles a couple of weeks back. Jonathan...

Now this is a great chat, with urban forester and real tech entrepreneur from PlanIT Geo and TreePlotter . This is a system as a company we have been using for 18 months and see it as the most powerful tree data capture system for both our team and most importantly our clients.  This week we CEO and Founder of PlanIT Geo, a person who is passionate about the recovery of nature in cities across the...

Now this is a fascinating chat, with a man who has travelled the world both managing and assessing parks from Dudley to the desert parks in the United Arab Emirates.   This week we  welcome to the Parks & Grounds manager from Rugby Borough Council, someone with enormous passion for green space and its use, and has been recognised by royalty for his exceptional work with Green Flag for deliveri...

Now this is a fascinating chat, with two good friends and company directors. We cover so many topics in such a short amount of time and I hope you all enjoy this one. I learnt a lot. So grab a drink and enjoy this.   This week we chat to two great company directors, Charles Cocking of JCA and Luke Fay of Treework Environment Practice . Both have successfully steered their respective companies to h...

This week we chat with Design Director of Barton Willmore , a real character and enthusiast within the urban design world and someone who truly has a passion for promoting a completely holistic approach to urban design and place making, which is designed and developed to provide many multifunctional purposes. So welcome to Luke Hillson , Urban Designer. We’re going to be looking at, how we as prof...

And for this, our first ever episode, we are setting the bar high with our guest. I have personally watched and admired the work of Jane Findlay from afar for many years, and I was delighted when I saw the announcement during the lockdown in June, that she had become President of the Landscape Institute .  We’re going to be looking at, how we as professionals can actively promote green infrastruct...

And for this, our first ever episode, we are setting the bar high with our guest. I have personally watched and admired the work of Jane Findlay from afar for many years, and I was delighted when I saw the announcement during the lockdown in June, that she had become President of the Landscape Institute .  We’re going to be looking at, how we as professionals can actively promote green infrastruct...

Hello and welcome to 'Nature's Architects', you’re in the right place if you want to understand more about the interaction between the natural and built environments. 2020 was a strange year for many of us, and the start of 2021 looks pretty similar. It has resulted in so much change and many new challenges, with many of us working from home, home-schooling again and possibly review...