As the Season Turns

January. A Welsh carol for the new year. Caneuon y Flwyddyn is an album of Welsh folk songs by Gwilym Bowen Rhys first compiled for the 2023 edition of As the Season Turns. Mastered for Ffern by Geoff Bird. Artwork by Gemma Koomen. © Gwilym Bowen Rhys Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our final episode of 2023 explores the sleepy but still vibrant natural world of December - from newts and frogs hibernating in the garden pond to colourful toadstools in the woods. Alice visits the Cairngorms in Scotland to retrace the steps of nature writer Nan Shepherd, while we mark the winter solstice and watch the Geminids meteor shower. To close, we hear one last Welsh folksong from Gwilym Bowen Rhys, the very old Christmas carol 'Ar fore dydd nadolig'. As the Season Turns is an award-winning podcast presented by Lia Leendertz and created by Ffern, makers of small-batch, seasonal perfume. To find out more visit www.ffern.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In November, we get up before dawn to watch the stars and stay out past sunset to light bonfires for Samhain. In between, we head to Dorset for some birdwatching, to Sussex for people watching and out into the lanes to pick hawthorn berries and sloes. At the end of the day, we sit by the fire and hear a comforting song about home, 'Cartref', sung by Gwilym Bowen Rhys. As the Season Turns is an award-winning podcast presented by Lia Leendertz and created by Ffern, makers of small-batch, seasonal perfume. To find out more visit www.ffern.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In October's episode we visit a 'ghost' island, explore the history of trick or treating, and hunt for mushrooms and dryads in the woods. Hedgehogs and frogs are preparing for their winter sleeps, and Gwilym sings 'Y wasgod goch', the red waistcoat - the spookiest song he knows. As the Season Turns is an award-winning podcast presented by Lia Leendertz and created by Ffern, makers of small-batch, seasonal perfume. To find out more visit www.ffern.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For September we hear the tale of Ganesh and the moon. We visit the Farne Isles, perform rituals to mark the equinox and head to Cornwall for one last day at the beach. Gwilym sings a threshing song and we gather herb robert from the hedgerows. As the Season Turns is an award-winning podcast presented by Lia Leendertz and created by Ffern, makers of small-batch, seasonal perfume. To find out more visit www.ffern.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In August's episode we wander country lanes at night - coming across glow worms, observing the Milky Way, and hearing the haunting love song 'Gwen Lliw'r Lili', or 'Gwen the Colour of the Lily'. We visit the rivers of the Peak District, explore the uses of meadowsweet and climb the cliffs of St Kilda. As the Season Turns is an award-winning podcast presented by Lia Leendertz and created by Ffern, makers of small-batch, seasonal perfume. To find out more visit www.ffern.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For July we go stargazing during the dog days, hear the Cornish myth of Lyonesse and swim along mackerel migration routes. Zoe is picking wild roses, Alice visits an exciting rewilding site and Gwilym sings 'Moliannwn', a joyous song that's often sung in the pub. As the Season Turns is an award-winning podcast presented by Lia Leendertz and created by Ffern, makers of small-batch, seasonal perfume. To find out more visit www.ffern.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In June, Lia marks the summer solstice with gift giving and a ritual. The waterlilies are out in the pond and life beneath the surface is thriving - as Alice finds when she dips her microphone beneath the water at Wakehurst Botanic Garden. Zoe explores the folklore of St John's wort for midsummer and Gwilym closes with a rendition of 'Daw hyfryd fis', a round featuring a familiar June bird. As the Season Turns is an award-winning podcast presented by Lia Leendertz and created by Ffern, makers of small-batch, seasonal perfume. To find out more visit www.ffern.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For May, Lia visits the island of Skomer to explore its distinctive and abundant wildlife, and Alice stays overnight in the National Forest, with thanks to Timber Festival. We listen to nightingales and the dawn chorus, and hear a Mayday wassail from Gwilym. Zoe delves into the folklore of stitchwort and Lia looks out for seasonal plants in the garden. As the Season Turns is an award-winning podcast presented by Lia Leendertz and created by Ffern, makers of small-batch, seasonal perfume. To find out more visit www.ffern.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In April's episode we learn about different degrees of sunrise, plant hardy annuals and make nests for bees. Zoe has foraged for Lady's Mantle, while in the pond the newts are out and about. Alice heads to Dover to record the sea, and we hear an Easter recipe for pace eggs. Gwilym plays 'Blodau'r flwyddyn', an example of 'old verses' - thousands of verses that can be fitted together in different combinations, all to the same melody. As the Season Turns is an award-winning podcast presented by Lia Leendertz and created by Ffern, makers of small-batch, seasonal perfume. To find out more visit www.ffern.co Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.