Undercurrent Stories

Nestled safely behind  strong railings alongside the London to Edinburgh East Coast main line railway, just south of Grantham, lies a little known hidden treasure!In this on site live interview Dr Patrick Candler tells us the inspiring story of how 5 acres of woodland was transformed into an adventure playground . Once used as a source for local clay the land had been disused for a number of years and had become overgrown. From obtaining grants, determining land ownership and  researching archives,  what makes this story truly inspiring is how the team overcame the many challenges faced in bringing their vision to fruition.  Over the next few years glades were cleared and new native trees and shrubs planted.  The site boundary was fenced and a native hedgerow planted alongside the fence. A range of environmentally-sympathetic play equipment was installed, including a zip-wire, slides, swings, see-saw and a playhouse. More recent projects include establishing a living roof and rainwater harvesting system, planting a heritage orchard and creating a sensory garden.If you are facing challenges and want to be inspired in the face of adversity this episode is for you, a truly remarkable story!LInks;http://bythamspinney.co.uk/Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

In today’s show I'm joined once again by Quint Starkie. Quint is an English musician originally from Accrington, Lancashire now based in  Stockholm, Sweden. Quint is about to embark on a UK tour with Francis Dunnery's It Bites from 18th January '23.We talk about Quint's latest solo album, his recent UK tour with blues based Tombstone Dunnery, his musical career and how he ended up living in Sweden.Links;http://www.quintstarkie.net/For updates on all new episodes subscribe at;https://www.undercurrentstories.com/IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE PLEASE  SHARE WITH FRIENDS!THANKYOU.Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

James Cooper, a Christmasologist, (Yes there is such a word!), reveals the history of Christmas traditions in the UK over the last 1500 years.From the origins of the mince pie, the banning of Christmas and the secret of the mistletoe, James takes us on a journey of discovery as he shares the unexplained stories behind the celebration of Christmas.Find out more on James's website;https://www.whychristmas.com/Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

The amazing story of how a disused quarry was bought for £1.00 and is being transformed into a wildlife haven.Set in the English Lincolnshire village of Langtoft, Augy Harrison takes us on a guided tour of Penfield Nature Reserve. We hear how a team of village volunteers are working to maintain and develop the former quarry into an area where wild plants, insects, birds and animals can flourish.The 20 acre site already boasts an abundance of wildlife and throughout this interview, you will hear an assortment of birds acting as a backdrop to this educational and informative conversation - quite therapeutic!For those listeners that wish to become involved in similar projects, we hear how there are many opportunities throughout the UK and in other countries where giving a few hours a week can make all the difference.Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

Today's show features Lisa Westcott Wilkins.With her interest and passion for archaeology, Lisa is founder and CO-CEO of DigVentures, a social enterprise, which organises crowdfunded archaeological excavation experiences.Always wanted to try archaeology? This is your chance! Lisa explains how you can become involved and  can get hands-on and support great archaeology. The digs are all lead by experts and on unexplored sites. Whether you want to get your hands dirty in the trenches or keep them clean while watching online, there are loads of different ways to join in.Find out more;https://digventures.com/https://www.instagram.com/digventures/https://www.facebook.com/DigVenturesQuestion or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

In today’s show  I am joined by Alex Gardiner ex SAS Squadron Commander and author of ‘The Devil’s Magistrate’ his first book.Alex  served as an officer in the Royal Greenjackets, and then as a troop and squadron commander in 22 SAS before leaving the British Army to command 1st Regiment The Sultan’s Special Force in Southern Oman. Since then, he has covered conflict in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen. As well as hearing about Alex's life in the Army, we discuss his new book, an exciting thriller, which I thoroughly enjoyed and can recommend to those listeners who relish a fast moving, plot twisting and intriguing tale!Alex's links;https://www.facebook.com/alexgardinerauthorhttps://www.instagram.com/alex_gardiner_53/Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

In today’s show we welcome Barbara Calvano. Barbara  is an intuitive angel and life coach as well as being an actor and artist. In addition  she also hosts her own weekly podcast, ‘Lets ask the Angels.’We have covered many topics on Undercurrent Stories and this is the first time that we have explored a spiritual theme. The conversation was enjoyable and interesting and one in which I am sure will stimulate our listeners' curiosity.Barbara also tells us about when she saw The Beatles play live in Japan!Barbara's links:https://bcalvanocoaching.com/Artwork: http://barbarakiddcalvano.com/https://www.youtube.com/c/BarbaraCalvano444https://open.spotify.com/show/02HbxM6NFrUw7MMGQO5VTt?si=41266d6b63674f5dhttps://www.blogtalkradio.com/letsasktheangelshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-ask-the-angels/id673579317https://www.audible.com/pd/Lets-Ask-the-Angels-Podcast/B08JJMQ4GWhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/bcalvanohttps://www.facebook.com/barbarakiddcalvano/https://www.instagram.com/bkiddcalvano/?hl=enhttps://www.pinterest.com/bkiddcalvano/Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

In today’s show  I am once again delighted to be joined by Colin Crabbe. Colin is a former Formula 1 Team owner, a racing driver and an eminent restorer and dealer of historic classic racing cars. In this interview Colin talk’s about how he became known as one of the last privateer’s in Formula 1 setting up his own team for the 1969 and 1970 Formula 1 seasons with the first race being the Monaco Grand Prix.Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

Tucked away just 2 miles east of the famous Great North Road near Clipsham in Rutland, lies one of England’s great hidden gems, Yew Tree Avenue.Yew Tree Avenue is over 200 years old, consisting of over 150 clipped Yew Trees in all manner of unusual shapes. Once the carriage driveway to Clipsham Hall, the Avenue was a famous tourist destination until lack of funding and maintenance caused it to fall into obscurity.Recently  under the stewardship  of Dr Patrick Candler and the Clipsham Yew Tree Avenue Trust it is now being restored to its former glory.On a beautiful Autumn day last year I was invited to visit Yew Tree Avenue and had a conversation about the restoration and upkeep of this iconic English landmark with Dr Patrick.To get a true picture of the splendour, majesty and meditative tranquility of the area I would encourage you to visit www.undercurrentstories.com where there are links to pictures for you to enjoy and if you are ever travelling up or down the A1 and fancy a break, consider a visit. You won’t be disappointed!Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

Today’s show features international Record Producer Mark SevenV and international Soul Music presenter, Garry Williams.In the show we discuss Mark’s musical journey. First raised on classical music and big bands as a drummer in his native country of France, Mark’s life has been involved in  music production in the UK, USA and other countries where he has worked with many artists.Mark tells us about his own music through his Never Sleep Boy project. The music is uplifting and positive and NSB influences include Soul, Funk, Disco, Dance, Jazz and Pop. Think Studio 54 in the New York of the 1970s. Lots of glamour, discos and parties!The show also features Garry Williams who tells us about how he discovered Mark’s music through Never Sleep Boy and how it fits perfectly in his world renowned International Soul Show.Mark's Links;Never Sleep Boy | FacebookNeverSleepBoy aka NSB (@neversleepboy) / TwitterNeverSleepBoy aka NSB (@neversleepboyakansb) • Instagram photos and videosGarry's links;Garry Williams's Stream | MixcloudGarry Williams | FacebookQuestion or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com