Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcasts

Send us a textJoin Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin on a crisp October morning for an away day to the serene Forncett St Peter Low Meadows, an SSSI beside the River Tas, where frost lingers and fog clears to reveal plans for re-wiggling the river—restoring ancient meanders to slow flows, curb flooding, and revive oxbow lakes. Explore this unimproved grassland's biodiversity, from four orchid species and quaking grass to barn owls, kestrels, and otters, amid discussions on historical straightening, pollution from nitrates and phosphates, and the delicate balance between nature and human needs. Chris shares childhood tales of fishing for roach and dace, evading pike torpedoes, and the 1912 floods that reshaped Norwich. Back at High Ash Farm, thrill to Chris's solo dawn quest spotting elusive goldcrests and firecrests—Europe's tiniest birds at 5 grams each—darting through conifer canopies, with folklore of "woodcock pilots" and their acrobatic feats. A captivating mix of river restoration, habitat wonders, and avian delights, ideal for savouring autumn's emerging chill.https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/17930758-episode-2-40-meandering-meadows-and-goldcrest-glimpses.mp3?download=trueSupport the showPlease email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast toChris@highashfarm.comThis podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm. Support us here:https://donorbox.org/podcast-12or from the Podcast page here:Podcast | High Ash Farm

On a vibrant September morning, the discussion unfolds at High Ash Farm, revealing unexpected treasures like yellow foxtail feeding winter birds. Witness dramatic kestrel hunts interrupted by territorial buzzards, showcasing the wildlife drama. Delve into reflections on farming missteps, including a surprising 105-year carbon offset timeline. The rhythmic sounds of haylage harvesting capture the essence of farming life, while wild hops in the hedgerows evoke brewing nostalgia. International greetings add a global touch, wrapping up a delightful exploration of rural insights and seasonal surprises.

Join a twilight wander where bats perform aerial acrobatics against a dusky backdrop. Discover the thrill of a mast year as thousands of acorns blanket the ground, enticing jays to cache their treasures. Delve into an active apiary, witnessing bees transform ivy nectar into golden honey. Explore fascinating plant tropisms, learning how roots seek water and shoots defy gravity. This delightful journey through nocturnal mysteries and autumnal harvests perfectly captures the countryside's seasonal charm.

Join the hosts at High Ash Farm as they marvel at the stunning sulphur polypore fungus and bid farewell to swallows, celebrating over a hundred fledglings raised this season. Wander through fields of sunflowers and mints, discovering the hidden beauty of aromatic plants and wildlife's essential roles. Delve into the complex dynamics between butterflies and hornets, and ponder the impacts of hunting on ecosystems. This exploration of nature's wonders captures both the joy and challenges of countryside life.

Join the hosts as they wander through High Ash Farm, celebrating the arrival of autumn with the vibrant autumn hawkbit and the striking Viper's bugloss. Discover the mysteries behind partridge populations and the unusual noppergalls affecting local oak trees. Hear captivating listener tales of nature's oddities like robin’s pincushions and tardy tadpoles. The episode blends personal anecdotes with vibrant descriptions of the changing landscape, all while emphasizing the importance of community engagement and the joys of seasonal transformations.

Join the hosts as they revel in the beauty of a lakeside ecosystem, witnessing a young mute swan and vibrant wildlife like kingfishers and swallows. Delve into the alarming effects of lead poisoning and the importance of preserving natural habitats. The rejuvenation of an orchard brings a bountiful harvest of plums and apples, intertwined with tales of wildlife interactions. Reflect on the bittersweet transition from summer to autumn, complemented by a poignant poem that captures the essence of changing seasons.

Send us a textIn this breezy episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin confront August’s slate-grey skies at High Ash Farm, where autumn’s approach stirs poignant reflections. The grey partridge, a red-listed farmland icon, haunts Chris’s memories—once shot in coveys of 50, now vanishing due to habitat loss, early harvests, and predator control, despite biodiversity plans. Chris’s experiment with bird scarers mimics shooting’s toll, revealing an 80% drop in bird numbers on disturbed fields, a call to halt the hunt. Swallows cluster on wires, juveniles dreaming of South Africa, their parents teaching the final flights. Listener queries on box moth woes, chaffinch displays, and dry ponds enrich this lament, as peregrines prowl and the farm’s live show looms on October 19th at Norwich’s Maddermarket Theatre under scudding clouds.https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/17722572-episode-2-34-grey-ghosts-and-autumn-winds.mp3?download=trueSupport the showPlease email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast toChris@highashfarm.comThis podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm. Support us here:https://donorbox.org/podcast-12or from the Podcast page here:Podcast | High Ash Farm

Send us a textIn this breezy episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin witness High Ash Farm’s summer crescendo, where flocks take flight. Mixed groups of goldfinches and linnets—up to 250 strong—swarm over chicory fields, their silvery undersides gleaming as they devour seeds, evading kestrels and peregrines in a dazzling display of survival. Clouded yellow butterflies, migrants from southern Europe, flutter over lucerne, their orange wings a rare treat in this drought year. A hollow oak harbours a hornet hive, its paper artistry humming with queens and workers, a marvel of nature’s engineering. Listener tales of hares, little owls, and swallows enrich this journey, as swallows skim low and the hay mower carves paths under a scudding sky.https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/17679645-episode-2-33-finch-flocks-and-clouded-wings.mp3?download=trueSupport the showPlease email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast toChris@highashfarm.comThis podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm. Support us here:https://donorbox.org/podcast-12or from the Podcast page here:Podcast | High Ash Farm

In a gusty exploration of nature, August reveals its charm at High Ash Farm. Discover the vibrant beauty of rowan trees and the bounty of sloes, perfect for a cherished family gin recipe. Fascinating tales unfold about wasps as vital pollinators and predators, intertwining humor with ecological insights. Listener stories paint a vivid picture of wildflowers struggling under drought conditions, all while preparing for an exciting live show in a clearing blue sky. Embrace the beauty and stories of countryside life!

Send us a textIn this tender episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin greet August’s first whispers at High Ash Farm, where summer fades into autumn’s embrace. Migratory swallows—juveniles from the north—sweep overhead in chattering flocks, while Barnfield’s wild bird seed mix bursts with flax, its Wedgwood-blue blooms echoing 1950s harvests, alongside thistles, mustard, and sunflowers yielding oil-rich seeds for winter’s hungry gap. A rare meadow clary, its deep purple spikes rising from chalky soil, surprises on a south-facing slope, its seeds once a remedy for clear eyes. New barn owl nesting boxes promise hope, as gatekeeper butterflies pirouette and listener tales of teasels and poppies enrich this dance of nature’s farewell under a low, golden sun.https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/17593715-episode-2-31-swallow-flights-and-flaxen-fields.mp3?download=trueSupport the showPlease email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast toChris@highashfarm.comThis podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm. Support us here:https://donorbox.org/podcast-12or from the Podcast page here:Podcast | High Ash Farm