Talk on the Wild Side

May 01 2024 7
Talk on the Wild Side Podcast artwork

Learn about UK nature, conservation and rewilding in this immersive podcast hosted by award-winning BBC broadcaster and journalist, Rob Smith. Rob meets people and visits projects on the ground that are helping to tackle the nature and climate crisis by reintroducing species, rethinking farming, managing landscape-scale conservation projects, teaching and educating the public and even studying cultures of soil in a lab. There are so many ways people are making a difference - join Rob to find out more.
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Conservation at Scotney Castle and Gardens

May 01 2024 64 mins  
Join Rob Smith as he walks around Scotney Castle and Gardens learning about how the team here are managing the land for nature whilst welcoming 180,000 visitors a year. Rob meets Rebecca Rees, General Manager, Senior Gardener, Andrea Bennet and Richard Newman, Head Ranger to focus on different areas of the estate and learn how they're managed with nature in mind. Scotney manages 78

Making Space for Nature at Nonnington Farms

Mar 28 2024 56 mins  
The Government has made legally-binding commitments to end nature declines and they've mandated local councils to propose actions and priorities for their areas through a Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Rob Smith speaks to Liz Milne who is developing the LNRS in Kent (called 'Making Space for Nature') and Emma Loder-Symonds of Nonnington Farms who is already Making Space for Nature

Eco-Tourism at Elmley Nature Reserve

Feb 26 2024 62 mins  
In this episode of Talk on the Wild Side, we explore the wetlands. First, we visit Elmley Nature Reserve, a private estate owned and managed by Gareth Fulton and his family. The reserve has been managed for nature since the 80's and is now an eco-tourism spot with luxurious private accommodation that brings people close to nature that wouldn't ordinarily visit. Rob also speaks to a

It's time for National Grid to "Rethink Sea Link"

Jan 25 2024 62 mins  
🦭The 7th episode of Talk on the Wild Side touches on a very important topic. The Sea Link cable National Grid are proposing will run through Sandwich and Pegwell Bay with a converter set to take up 13ha of Minster Marshes. Rob talks to the Kent Wildlife Trust team about what the risks are and what we can do about it.🏘️Also in this episode, Rob talks to Sustainability Direct

Reintroducing Chough in Dover

Dec 21 2023 65 mins  
We're choughed to bring you our 6th episode of Talk on the Wild Side, featuring the reintroduction of the red-billed chough to the Kent countryside thanks to a partnership with Kent Wildlife Trust, Wildwood Trust and English Heritage. We speak to Liz Corry, Chough Release Supervisor at Wildwood Trust who knows the first chough to be reintroduced very well and treats Rob to the spec

Reintroducing Oysters in Essex

Nov 24 2023 64 mins  
Rob Smith heads to Brightlingsea Marina in Essex to talk oysters with Matt Uttley, Restoration Project Manager at Blue Marine Foundation. He discovers the difference between our native oyster and the Pacific oyster and why Matt is on a mission to boost the population numbers of our native oyster, the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) with a number of partners forming a group kno

Farming for Waders at RSPB's Northward Hill

Oct 27 2023 56 mins  
As the Autumnal months set in, we return for the 4th instalment of Kent Wildlife Trust's podcast; Talk on the Wild Side. In this episode, we head to RSPB Northward Hill Nature Reserve on the Hoo Peninsula to hear from Area Manager Alan Johnson about the site's incredible journey of transformation and its value for wading birds such as lapwings and redshanks.Rob talks to Paul Hadawa

Soil Science at the Natural History Museum

Sep 28 2023 44 mins  
Join us as we head deep into the Natural History Museum to private access areas where scientists are lurking. We meet Piotr Cuber, Senior Molecular Microbiologist at the Natural Museum to discuss soil science, in particular at West Blean and Thornden Woods, where Piotr and his team are looking to find out how the soil there will change as a result of the bison presence. In this epi

Low Carbon Lettuce at GrowUp Farms

Aug 25 2023 61 mins  
As part of our second installment of Talk on the Wild Side, Rob visits GrowUp Farms in Sandwich; an unassuming building where the future of farming is being successfully implemented. Rob will be talking with GrowUp's impact director, Gillon Dobie, discussing this cutting edge of agriculture.Nearer the start of the programme, Rob visits our private Ham Fen reserve to learn about its

Mob Grazing in Shadoxhurst

Jul 28 2023 50 mins  
In the first ever episode of Talk on the Wild Side, hosted by Rob Smith, you'll hear from Kent Wildlife Trust CEO, Evan Bowen-Jones, you'll join Rob on safari as he takes a tour of Oare Marshes with Area Warden Nadia Ward and you'll hear from Martin Richmond-Coggan of Green Farm. A regenerative farmer who teaches us about the value of mob grazing. Links:Evan Bowen-Jones LinkedIn: h