Trees A Crowd

Tim Kendall & Fiona Mathews (PART TWO): Eye spy an eco-engineer! Deep in the Forest of Dean in search of the contentious Wild Boar...

Jun 18, 2024

In this captivating discussion, Professors Fiona Mathews, an environmental biology expert and mammal conservation advocate, and Tim Kendall, a creative writing guru, venture into the Forest of Dean to explore the controversial topic of Wild Boar reintroduction. They reflect on the ecological impact of these creatures, share amusing wildlife encounters, and dissect the intricacies of conservation, including the complex dynamics of public perception and genetic diversity. Their insightful tales are both humorous and thought-provoking, blending science with storytelling.

34:51

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Episode guests

Tim Kendall

Fiona Mathews

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The management and perception of wild boar populations in the Forest of Dean reveal significant challenges and misalignments among conservationists and stakeholders.

Reintroduction initiatives for mammals like beavers and pine martens highlight the need for strategies addressing public fears and ecological contributions while preserving genetic diversity.

Deep dives

The Arrival and Management of Wild Boar

Wild boar populations in the Forest of Dean have a complex history, having reappeared relatively recently after being nearly wiped out. These animals were likely introduced through various incidents, including alleged petty disputes and careless releases by the public. While there is a population management system in place to control their numbers, discussions around the efficacy and strategy of these measures highlight a lack of clarity and agreement among conservationists and local stakeholders. The current estimates suggest a significant decline from approximately 2,500 to around 600-700 individuals, raising concerns about both their survival and the ethics of their management.

Intro

3min

Wildlife Management and Reintroduction in the Forest of Dean

23min

Unexpected Wildlife Encounters and Folklore Insights

4min

Conservation Challenges and Childhood Inspirations

2min

Exploring the Legacy of John Clare and the Intricacies of Nature Writing

2min

In the second part of David Oakes' interview with Professors Fiona Mathews and Tim Kendall, the mammal-enthused trio head into the Forest of Dean in search of Wild Boar!

Fiona Mathews is a professor of Environmental Biology at the University of Sussex and the founding Chair of Mammal Conservation Europe; Tim Kendall is a professor of English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Exeter, and; their dog Charlie Brown is an especially trained labrador with the talent for locating the bodies of bats that have been killed or injured by wind turbines, all in the name of conservation science. Together, they wrote the Wainwright award-nominated book “Black Ops & Beaver Bombing: Adventures with Britain’s Wild Mammals”. In this two part interview, hear how Fiona’s construction of the Red List for British Mammals informs our Government and has lead to cutting edge mammal conservation projects. They discuss the British Coypu population that caused concern in the 1980s, the effectiveness of the mysterious “Beaver Bombers” secretly releasing animals across Europe, and the tale of the lone Scottish Pine Marten that ended up in Georgia, USA (a fate subjectively worse than the Beech Marten who got stuck in the Large Hadron Collider!) The trio of Fiona, Tim and David (alas without Charlie Brown) then head into the Forest of Dean to locate the most contentious of Britain’s mammals – the Wild Boar!

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