Wild Tales | Nature Podcast

Wicken Fen is the National Trust's oldest Nature reserve and home to some of England's most spectacular wildlife. 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. Production Host: Kate Martin Producer: Sean Douglas Sound editor: Jesus Gomez Discover more...

In this episode we catch up with Shaw’s Corner, the former home of celebrated playwright George Bernard Shaw.   We'll be finding out how things have changed since we were last there and how the house team have being tackling the challenge of Covid-19. Production Host: James Grasby Producer: Sean Douglas Sound editor: Jesus Gomez Discover more For more information about the places mentioned in this...

Exmoor National Park and the Holnicote estate 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 of Beavers. Once hunted to extinction, Beavers have now been reintroduced into Britain's Habitats to play a vital role in protectin...

Experiencing nature and connecting with the world around us has been proven to have positive and lasting effects on our mental health and wellbeing. Created by 3x students from Bristol using sounds and music created in the natural world, this episode aims to transport you away from the hustle and bustle, and into a calm, relaxing soundscape. Think of the most idyllic woodland your mind can imagine...

Join Actress Alison Steadman as she explores some of the most intriguing objects in the National Trust’s collections. In the first episode from this series we uncover an 18th century, mechanical marvel, hidden behind the doors at Waddesdon Manor. Once part of a prized collection by the Rothschild family and the creation of master clock maker Hubert Martinet, this treasure is an elephant in the roo...

Once the home of British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, Hughenden Manor played an important role in helping to shape the outcome of World War 2.   A chance encounter between a former British intelligence operative and a National Trust volunteer uncovers mysteries from inside a once top secret headquarters. Production Host: James Grasby Producer: Sean Douglas Sound editor: Jesus Gomez Discover m...

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. In the first episode of a brand-new series of the National Trust podcast. We take a look at the fashion and photography of an artist responsible for some of the most iconic covers of British Vogue and explore his...

Revisit a classic and one of our favourite episodes.  Ranger and presenter Kate Martin braves the North Sea and head to the remote Northumbrian Farne Islands.  There, she encounters one of Britain’s most entertaining bird species, the Atlantic Puffin and learns just what it takes to secure their feathery future. Production Host: Kate Martin Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris Sound editor: Jesus Gomez...

Revisit a classic and one of our favourite episodes from the archives. Join Sean Douglas as he heads to the National Trust’s annual apple grafting festival at the Cotehele Estate, Cornwall, to unravel the scions from the rootstocks and sow the seeds of love in this quaint cornish orchard. Production Host: Sean Douglas Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris Sound editor: Jesus Gomez Discover more Learn mor...

Revisit a classic and one of our favourite episodes from the archives. Presenter and gardener, Alan Power, navigates his way to the National Trust's Plant Conservation Centre, hidden away in a top secret location, to see exactly what it takes to look after some of the planets most important plant species. Production Host: Alan Power Producer: Sean Douglas Sound editor: Jesus Gomez Discover more Le...

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...

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.  Extracts from this episode were taken from Alfred Wainwright’s Pictorial Guides to The Lakeland Fells. Discover more For more...

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. Discover more For more podcasts from the National Trust, visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch wi...

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...

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. Discover more For more podcasts from the National Trust, visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/podcasts Follow the National Trust Pod...

In 2017 Teleri Fielden started her National Trust shepherdess scholarship deep in the valleys of the Eryri National Park (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. Discover more For more podcasts from the National Trust, visit: nationaltrust.org.uk/...

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. Discover more For m...

In 2015, European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake was headed to the International Space Station. On board with him were some pips from an Apple Tree, once belonging to a famous scientist whose discoveries had made his journey possible in the first place.  In this episode we find out the extraordinary journey of these seeds through time and space and learn how a chance idea can change the world. P...

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...

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. D...

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.  Discover more For more podcasts from the National Trust, visit: nationaltrust...

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 a...

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...

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...

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 reward...