Second Nature

Send Lizzie a message! Hello, lovely listeners! Welcome back to Second Nature. Willow the corgi and I are coming to you after an absolute whirlwind couple of weeks. If you’ve been tracking the UK weather lately, you know we've been melting in a serious summer heatwave, but that hasn't slowed things down one bit. I recently had the absolute joy of being an ambassador for the Great British...

Send Lizzie a message! This week, Tim and I are digging deep, quite literally, into the fascinating layers of the Dorset landscape. I caught up with Tim on a blazing hot summer afternoon while he was out in his tractor wrapping up fresh bales of haylage (or as I used to call them when I first joined farming: the giant cheese wheels in the field 🧀🚜). Once we sorted out the geometry of square bale...

Send Lizzie a message! Welcome back to Down in Dorset , a special series within the Second Nature podcast. I’m your host, Lizzie McLaughlin, and today I’m joined once again by my co-host and local eyes-and-ears on the ground, Tim, for a look at how Dorset is opening its farm gates to the public this summer. Tim has been absolutely running himself ragged across the county, catching up with the farm...

Send Lizzie a message! Welcome back to Down in Dorset , a special series within the Second Nature podcast. I’m your host, Lizzie McLaughlin , and today we are joined by my co-host and local farming expert, Tim , for a deep dive into one of West Dorset’s most iconic industries: Dairy Farming . The sun is finally shining over the rolling hills, the cows are out on grass, and while the winter slog is...

Send Lizzie a message! Hello and welcome back! I have a very special episode for you today—one that has been on my podcasting bucket list since the very beginning. I finally headed to Diddly Squat Farm to sit down with the team everyone knows and loves: Jeremy Clarkson, Kaleb Cooper, and Charlie Ireland. With the massive Cereals event coming to the Cotswolds this year, I wanted to find out what it...

Send Lizzie a message! Hello and welcome back! It has been such a whirlwind of a week. I’ve officially travelled down to Dorset to host a session for the Dorset Local Nature Partnership Annual Forum , where Tim was actually one of our guests! It was such an inspiring morning, seeing everyone from farmers and gardeners to the NHS coming together to talk about nature recovery. That spirit of collabo...

Send Lizzie a message! It officially feels like spring! The sun has finally made an appearance here in the UK, and there is nothing quite like that shot of positivity that makes you want to get back into the garden and out onto the farm. I’ve been busy in my own greenhouse—planting "tennis ball" melons and edible flowers (fingers crossed they actually grow!)—but I knew I couldn't le...

Send Lizzie a message! It is officially March! 🌷 The sun has finally made an appearance (though my greenhouse plans are currently on hold thanks to the rain!), and I have been so excited to share this week’s episode with you. A few weeks ago, I was scrolling through social media and saw an incredible video of a rider on the set of the new Wuthering Heights movie. I went down a total rabbit hole r...

Send Lizzie a message! Following the incredible response to our launch, we are back with the second episode of our Down in Dorset mini-series! This month, I’m joined once again by my guest co-host, local farmer Tim Gelfs , for a deep dive into the wild side of the county. In partnership with Nature Recovery Dorset , we are exploring the delicate balance between productive agriculture and thriving...

Send Lizzie a message! ⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains deeply personal discussions regarding mental health, depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention. If you are currently struggling, please consider listening with a friend or reaching out to the resources listed below. ------------------------ Welcome back to your usual episode of Second Nature! I am still pinching myself after seeing...

Send Lizzie a message! Welcome to the very first episode of Down in Dorset , a brand-new mini-series brought to you by Second Nature ! I am so excited to launch this special project in partnership with Nature Recovery Dorset , as we explore the vital work being done across the county to restore our landscapes and celebrate the incredible food produced right here on our doorstep. Joining me as my g...

Send Lizzie a message! Welcome back! With December in full swing, I'm getting into the festive spirit the best way I know how: talking food! This week, we're diving into the history of the classic British Christmas turkey and getting advice from two incredible, successful guests. 🥪 The Social Media King: Fraser of Sensational Sandwiches I head down to London to celebrate the launch of m...

Send Lizzie a message! Hello, hello! 👋 I hope you're very well! Can you believe it's already November? Where has the year gone?! Things have been busy, but I've managed to clear the decks for a very exciting announcement: I'm launching a collaboration! 🥳 I'm partnering with the incredibly talented Annie Gray of Curly Wurly Creations to launch a brand new pattern celebrat...

Send Lizzie a message! Hey everyone, Lizzie here! 👋 It feels great to be back with a new episode, and this one is a special spooky-season celebration! I headed to Essex to catch up with my brilliant friend, the finalist for this year's British Farming Awards, Chloe from @chloe_at_the_farm! Chloe is a former city girl (just like me!) who found her passion for farming and Highland cows during...

Send Lizzie a message! If you enjoyed the Gardener's World episode, welcome back! If you're new, thank you for joining me for a very special look behind the scenes of one of the UK's most beloved shows. I was thrilled to return to the beautiful Kew Gardens for the In Conversation Live with BBC CountryFile event! I managed to sit down with the incredible team of Matt Baker, John Crav...

Send Lizzie a message! Hey everyone, it’s Lizzie! This week on Second Nature, I’m bringing you something really special. I recently got to visit the incredible Kew Gardens for the In Conversation with BBC Gardeners' World event!  I felt completely immersed in the greenery of Kew Gardens, and what a fantastic setting for an intimate chat with some of the best minds in gardening. I had the abso...

Send Lizzie a message! Hello and welcome to Second Nature! Get ready to celebrate the seasons as I take you on an autumn adventure to BBC Gardeners' World Autumn Fair ! This episode is a fantastic celebration of all things gardening and homegrown, filled with amazing conversations and plenty of inspiration. I was lucky enough to walk around the event and catch up with some incredible people....

Send Lizzie a message! In this week's episode, I'm so excited to be back for a new season of Second Nature ! It's been a busy few months in my garden, and I can't wait to share some of the highlights from my greenhouse, including updates on my first tomato and cucumber harvests. But that's not all—I'm thrilled to be joined by a very special guest, the incredibly talen...

Send Lizzie a message! Hello and welcome to Second Nature! What a couple of weeks it's been – full of fun experiences that I can't wait to share with you. Join me, Lizzie McLaughlin, as we talk all things food, farming and homegrown. First, I'm taking you behind the scenes of Farm Safety Week . I was so privileged to attend a powerful lunch hosted by the Farm Safety Foundation (Yell...

Send Lizzie a message! "Hello and welcome to Second Nature!" Oh my goodness, what an event! Join me, Lizzie McLaughlin, as I take you on an exciting journey to Groundswell , which is just the most vibrant and inspiring gathering for regenerative agriculture in the UK. I recently spent time completely immersed in this incredible festival of farming, and I honestly can't wait to share...

Send Lizzie a message! Welcome back to Second Nature! I'm Lizzie McLaughlin, and in this episode, I'm bringing you even more vibrant insights and exciting interviews from my visit to BBC Gardeners' World Live which ran from June 12-15th. This is Part 2 of our special series, diving deeper into the worlds of gardening and cooking with a focus on creativity, community, and sustainabil...

Send Lizzie a message! Join me, Lizzie McLaughlin, as I share my exciting experiences and discoveries from BBC Gardeners' World Live ! I recently visited the show, which ran from June 12-15th , and in part one, this episode of Second Nature, we're diving deep into the vital theme of sustainability in both gardening and cooking . I chat with incredible guests, including Nick Bailey , who...

Send Lizzie a message! Join me, Lizzie McLaughlin, as I share the highlights from my recent visit to BBC Gardeners' World Live ! I had the incredible opportunity to chat with a variety of gardening experts and enthusiasts, uncovering innovative techniques and hearing the heartfelt stories behind beautiful garden designs. The show is running until Sunday, June 15th, so make sure to catch it if...

Send Lizzie a message! Welcome to Second Nature! I'm Lizzie McLaughlin, and in this episode, I'm taking you on an incredible journey to Open Farm Sunday ! Willow and I headed down to Somerset to help Sophie Gregory, organic dairy farmer, and MarshwoodVale Farmers with their fantastic event. It was truly inspiring to see firsthand the amazing efforts farmers are making to educate the publ...

Send Lizzie a message! Join me, Lizzie McLaughlin, as I welcome Pippa Streatfeild to the show! We discuss her fascinating transition from a London PA to managing her family's farm, exploring the power of regenerative agriculture in boosting soil health and welcoming back wildlife. We also touch on how glamping and camping are bringing new life (and families!) to the farm. One of the most exci...