

Trees, Trains and Spiders
Sep 20, 2025
Chris Cathrine, an ecological consultant and spider expert, discusses the fascinating life cycles of spiders, explaining why they become more visible in autumn and why it’s harmful to release house spiders outside. Dawn Airlie, founder of Ballumbie Hedgehog Rescue, shares her experiences treating orphaned and injured hedgehogs, highlighting the emotional rewards of wildlife rescue and the community support involved. Together, they explore the incredible roles these creatures play in our ecosystem.
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Communities Kickstart Local Conservation
- Jane Smith travelled ten West Coast communities to document how local groups fixed nature problems themselves.
- Her book 'Community' shows small local actions can scale into landscape and cultural change.
Local Volunteers Dig Up Leslie's Past
- Leslie Heritage Group raised funds for a community dig to investigate their village green and medieval market area.
- Volunteers joined archaeologist Philip Karsgaard to uncover clay pipes, ceramics and industrial debris rather than the hoped-for 5th-century wooden church.
Interactive Segments Build Listener Community
- The programme's Mystery Sound segment highlights strong listener engagement and creativity.
- Recurring interactive features build community and give the show a light-hearted tone.