Wilder Lincolnshire Podcast

Around 85% of the world's chalk streams are found in England, and about 11% of those are found in Lincolnshire. The geological conditions needed to form chalk streams are rare, but the slightly alkaline water that forms them provides an ideal habitat for many of the UK's freshwater species. In this episode, we catch up with Will Bartle, a Monitoring Officer for Lincolnshire Chalk Streams P...

The next episode in our 'a beginner's guide to' series with bird expert and Gibraltar Point Warden Richard Doan puts the spotlight on warblers. Learn the basics from calls and songs to easily identifiable characteristics of this group of birds. There are 13 species commonly found in Lincolnshire and 9 of those right here at Gibraltar Point where Melvyn and Richard explore different hab...

This month we hear from Mid-Lincolnshire warden, Kevin James, on one of our wonderful meadows in the heart of the Lincolnshire Wolds, Red Hill. From a sea of yellow cowslips earlier in the year to a burst of purples in June and July, Red Hill is as important for wildlife as it is beautiful to visit. In the latest episode, find out all about the history of this chalk grassland, learn what a meadow...

Enjoy the first episode in what will be an educational series of 'a beginner's guide to' with bird expert and Gibraltar Point Warden Richard Doan. The series is intended to help you learn the basics from calls and songs to easily identifiable characteristics of the particular group of birds featured in the episode. First up, it is our woodland birds. Audio credits Some bird sound recor...

In this episode of the Wilder Lincolnshire podcast, we look to the skies to celebrate one of our most extraordinary summer visitors: swifts. Joined by Viv Rhodie, Chair of the Horncastle and Woodhall Spa Area Group, we uncover what makes swifts so special, the inspiring local swift box project helping them thrive, and how people across the county can get involved in practical conservation. We also...

For our first episode of 2026, we head out to Crowle Moor to catch up with the Fens East Peat Partnership (FEPP) team to discuss their work, including increasing water retention on various sites and monitoring land changes in response to restoration, particularly through aerial surveys. Drones on nature reserves can be quite a controversial topic and in this episode we unpick the benefits of using...

In our last episode of 2025, Melvyn speaks to Paul Learoyd, Chief Executive of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, about some of the highlights for the Trust over the past year. We also hear from Professor Libby John, Chair of the Trust, who discusses the exciting potential of Hawthorpe, a large area of grassland that Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust is raising funds to acquire. Find out more about the ap...

In this latest episode of the Wilder Lincolnshire Podcast , we head out to Willow Tree Fen as dusk approaches to witness one of the county’s most spectacular wildlife events — the winter roost. Join us on the viewing area with Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust’s Deputy Head of Nature Reserves, Sarah Craythorne, as we explore how this remarkable reserve has transformed from arable farmland into a thrivin...

In this episode  Melvyn Prior  visits  Deeping Lakes Nature Reserve  in the far south of Lincolnshire with special guest  Ajay Tegala  — conservationist, environmentalist, broadcaster, and author. Ajay returns to the place where his life long passion for nature began. From volunteering as a teenager and braving icy winters by the River Welland, to studying countryside management and becoming a lea...

The first of our 'Hidden gems' series, showcasing beautiful nature reserves across the county that you may not even know exist! Recorded at Legbourne Wood, one of the largest ancient woods in eastern Lincolnshire, warden Matt Blissett explains what management is needed for these woodlands. You can also hear from Residential Volunteers, Dan and Jess, who are now half way through their placement wit...

Whisby Nature Park is a beautiful landscape near Lincoln, full of wildlife, walks and trails. Once barren and lifeless, this amazing place now abounds with wildlife. The park was created by quarrying for sand and gravel, but nature has reclaimed the pits and bare sand, creating habitats for many species. In this episode, find out more about the team behind the nature reserve. From education office...

This month, Melvyn Prior received an update from the warden of Far Ings on another year of successful breeding by our resident bitterns, before heading over to Crowle Moor to learn all about our carbon capturing peatlands in north-west Lincolnshire. Crowle Moor is one of Lincolnshire's last remaining lowland peatlands - a wild and wonderful landscape that's home to rare plants, insects and birds....

Our shorebird sanctuary at Gibraltar Point is in operation between the 1st of April and the 1st September each year, and is home to the only nesting site for little terns in the whole of Lincolnshire. Melvyn caught up with Gibraltar Point Warden, Richard Doan, and Assistant Warden, Beth McGuire, to discuss managing the sanctuary, the ever-changing landscape at the reserve and how volunteers help t...

In this episode we speak to bird expert, Steve Lovell, who discusses the fastest creature on the planet, the peregrine falcon. Find out all about the pair nesting on Lincoln cathedral and what a peregrine likes to eat. We also caught up with warden for Whisby Nature Park, Grahame Hopwood, who spoke about birds of prey more generally across Lincolnshire.

Wilder Humber is a five-year programme to restore marine habitats and species throughout the Humber estuary delivered through a pioneering conservation partnership between Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, and international green energy leader Ørsted. Learn more about the project live from the Sea View seagrass nursery launch as Melvyn speaks to Samir Whitaker from Ørsted, Ton...

In this episode we hear from the families who joined us on our guided hedgehog walk around Snipe Dales where we walked 3km - the same distance a hedgehog can cover in a night - all whilst fundraising for wildlife. We also chat to the Public Engagement and Communications team who talk on the importance of getting people out and about in nature to learn and develop that passion for it.

In this episode, we went to the University of Lincoln to speak to Chair of the Trust Prof. Libby John and a selection of students who are aspiring for a career in conservation. We also speak with Ed Kirby, a new Conservation Officer for the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust who found his role after completing a 6 month marine internship post university.

Woodhall Spa Airfield is a nature reserve where wildlife and wartime history quietly exist together. The site was formerly the home of four brave RAF squadrons in the second world war, including 617 ‘The Dambusters’ Squadron, but more recently was used as a sand and gravel quarry. As a nature reserve it is a haven for wildlife as well as a place where visitors can share in the unique and peaceful...

For our first Wilder Lincolnshire podcast episode of 2025, Melvyn visits the incredibly popular Donna Nook National Nature Reserve to learn about the grey seal colony that comes to the Donna Nook coastline to give birth to their pups each year. This wildlife spectacle attracts visitors from all across the UK and reserve warden for the site, Matt Blissett, discusses managing such a big operation an...

In our latest Wilder Lincolnshire podcast episode, Melvyn and Matthew look back at the work of the Trust over the past year and discuss their highlights from the previous episodes of the podcast. We are incredibly grateful for everyone who has listened to our podcast this past year, and we promise there are plenty more topics to cover in 2025. Have a great Christmas and New Year and we will see yo...

In this episode, we focus on our Goslings Corner Wood nature reserve, part of Lincolnshire's ancient limewood woodlands. Our reserve warden for the site, Sophie, discusses general woodland management and how the work changes heading into winter. We also discover how the Trust came to own the reserve and how crucial living legacies are for nature.

The weather didn't dampen spirits at our special high tide event at Gibraltar Point! On Saturday morning, visitors enjoyed views of the water and wader flocks from the top deck of the Visitor Centre and recovered from the early start with a full English breakfast in the cafe. Have a listen to our podcast recorded live at the event as Melvyn and Matthew spoke to Shorebird Warden Sam Goddard and att...

The latest podcast episode is brought to you straight from the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards 2024 where we speak to the three finalists about their community project. We also headed along to the winner's project to take a closer look.

Down in the south of the county, Bourne North Fen is an exciting new project that is getting underway, which will restore Lincolnshire’s lost peat-fenland, becoming a home for a wide variety of wildlife; linking up important nature reserves, creating a multi-purpose wetland which will store water for agriculture and improve water quality for consumers. Melvyn was at Thetford Farm Estate for the la...

The bird observatory at Gibraltar Point was opened all the way back in 1949 and is one of 21 observatories in the whole of the UK. In our latest episode, Melvyn set off to Gibraltar Point to catch up with Coastal Officer Kev Wilson to learn about migration, the importance of bird ringing and the value of keeping these records.