Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcasts

Hear a robin singing boldly in a supermarket car park, showcasing its adaptability amid urban noise. Delve into the bird's courting rituals and winter habits, including how the males sing to establish territory and attract mates. Discover the shy woodcock's elusive nature and unique foraging techniques. Reflect on winter flocks of various birds for safety in numbers, while also noting early breeders like mallards. This lively exploration of nature's resilience offers a beautifully seasonal perspective.

Send us a textIn a festive yet contemplative midwinter visit to High Ash Farm, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin mark the approach of the shortest day with reflections on renewable energy's double-edged sword. Amid the bustling farmyard, tales of a bygone wind pump—installed in the 1930s to harness gusts for electricity and water—spark a journey into modern dilemmas, as they venture to the proposed East Pie Solar Farm in South Norfolk's undulating clay lands. There, amid ancient hedgerows teeming with hares and rabbits, and patchwork fields echoing centuries of cultivation, the vast scheme threatens to blanket over 1,200 hectares of fertile soil with towering panels, eclipsing wildlife corridors, historic footpaths, and food production in the name of fossil fuel reduction. Balancing the allure of sustainable power against the heartache of industrialising cherished landscapes—where barbastelle bats, white-clawed crayfish, and seasonal blooms thrive—Chris grapples with temptations for farmers facing inheritance taxes and the broader call for rooftop alternatives or brownfield sites. Back at the farm, listener shares add warmth: early bluebell shoots nibbled by garden visitors, a beaver's wanderlust stirring rewilding dreams, and heartfelt Christmas cards from afar, including Tasmanian treats evoking vineyard visions. Culminating in a twilight vigil within Woodcock Wood, Chris captures the cacophonous corvid roost—jackdaws, crows, and magpies chattering amid solstice shadows—interwoven with echoes of Druid gatherings, Iceni reverence for seasons and sustenance, and Anglo-Saxon legacies, as the farm's ancient rhythms pulse onward. This episode navigates the tensions of progress and preservation, ideal for pondering nature's enduring cycles amid human innovation.https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/18379730-episode-2-51-solar-shadows-and-solstice-songs.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 delightfully mild December, Chris and Matthew explore the intriguing European larch, a deciduous conifer with a rich history. They recount the Duke of Atholl's whimsical cannonball-seeding of these trees on Scottish hillsides. Recent rains have transformed the Tass Valley into a shimmering retreat, nourishing diverse wildlife. The duo highlights their overwinter wild bird seed mix, attracting a vibrant array of birds, while Chris describes the charm of a little owl soaking up the winter sun—an enchanting moment in nature.

Join Chris and Matthew as they explore a 350-year-old hollow oak, home to an astonishing abandoned hornet nest. Delve into the toxic allure of the English yew, whose beautiful arils hide a lethal secret. Witness the impact of avian flu with sick birds spotted around the farm and witness ash trees struggling against dieback. From the intriguing stinkhorn fungus to the hopeful emergence of bee orchids, this journey through winter encapsulates the beauty and harsh realities of nature.

Join Chris and Matthew on a contemplative walk through Norfolk as they uncover hidden histories, from WWII bomb shrapnel to the enchanting world of honey fungus. Discover the outrageous stinkhorn fungus, which grows rapidly and uses a stench to seduce flies for spore dispersal. Marvel at thousands of bee orchid rosettes quietly thriving underground, patiently waiting to bloom. The duo also tackles pressing issues like avian flu and provides insights on wildlife gardening. It's a blend of nature, history, and conservation that will leave you both informed and entertained.

Send us a textJoin Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin on a crisp November morning venturing to Lakenham Mill on Norwich's outskirts, exploring the historic River Yare's controlled sluices, ancient mill wheels, and granaries that once ground local grains, amid discussions on recent torrential rains unleashing 220 tonnes of water per acre and innovative flood management through managed retreat and river re-wiggling. Return to High Ash Farm to witness the aftermath of storm surges transforming streams into raging torrents, while examining avian flu's grip on isolated rooks and wood pigeons within control zones, and the farm's shift to water harvesting via blocked drains and wildflower fields to recharge chalk aquifers. Delve into fungal wonders in Fox's Grove, from deadly honey fungus bootlaces killing trees to gelatinous jelly fungi like yellow brain and crystal brain wobbling on decaying branches, alongside puffballs exploding spores like green smoke. Savour listener queries on identifying roe deer antlers shed during rutting and a seaside slime mould—actually a migratory protozoa—resembling scrambled eggs, alongside reflections on nature's raw power and avian vulnerabilities. A captivating cascade through watery wonders, microbial marvels, and seasonal struggles, ideal for pondering the interplay of history, hydrology, and hidden habitats.https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/18230059-episode-2-47-sluice-secrets-and-jelly-jiggles.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

Join Chris and Matthew for a delightful stroll along Boudica Way, exploring the evolution of countryside access and the historical significance of ancient footpaths. They discuss innovative stewardship schemes that enhance health and wildlife while examining charming herring gulls and migrating fieldfares. The duo shares insights on intriguing topics like sponsorship of seats, conservation efforts, and the benefits of wide permissive walks, all highlighting the importance of accessible landscapes for community well-being. Plus, discover the curious world of slime moulds and shed antlers!

Join a delightful exploration of autumn at High Ash Farm, where flocks of goldfinches feast on teasels amidst historical musings on Roman agriculture. Discover the fascinating life of a green woodpecker and the incredible displays of lapwings as winter approaches. Skylarks dazzle with courtship flights over vibrant nectar fields, while the podcast reflects on changing farming practices and the importance of biodiversity. Also, explore the habits of insects searching for winter hideaways, all under the warm glow of a mild November morning.

Send us a textJoin Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin on a damp November evening at High Ash Farm for a nocturnal safari, starting in the bustling farmyard where torchlight reveals smooth newts feasting on wriggling worms amid leaf litter, their amphibian lives split between aquatic springs and terrestrial nights, alongside dusky slugs grazing on fungi and leaving slimy trails up mossy walls. Venture into pitch-black fields to spotlight hares congregating in open grasslands, leverets born furred and alert, contrasting with burrowing rabbits bolting for cover, while moths flutter by, evoking night-time predators like bats with ultrasonic echoes and nightjars trawling the air. Encounter reflective-eyed little owls on short turf, elusive roe deer flashing white rumps, and bounding Chinese water deer vanishing into undergrowth, all amid discussions of historical warreners, myxomatosis impacts, and seasonal shifts in wildlife behaviour. Reflect on listener queries about hybrid horse chestnuts with empty conker cases, cover crops boosting soil health and skylarks, and speedy hedgehogs scouting hog houses for hibernation. An enchanting after-dark exploration of hidden habitats, mammalian marvels, and the intricate rhythms of countryside nightlife, ideal for uncovering the secrets that daylight conceals.https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/18116031-episode-2-44-nocturnal-newts-and-hare-havens.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

Join Chris and Matthew as they brave the gales of Storm Benjamin at High Ash Farm. Discover how young farmers face soaring costs and the shift from traditional ploughing to min-till methods that enhance soil health. Explore the vital role of hedgerows as wildlife corridors and dive into the world of earthworms, showcasing their importance in aeration and nutrient cycling. Marvel at ancient sweet chestnut trees and their historical significance while reflecting on the diverse avenues for modern farming, from school visits to public access.