The Plodcast

350. A quest to find hidden urban wildlife with Amanda Tuke on the streets of Cardiff

Tue, 12 May 2026 02:00:00 -0000

We head into the city this week with urban naturalist Amanda Tuke. Amanda is a champion of the nature on your doorstep so Plodcast host Fergus Collins met her outside Cardiff Central station to begin a quest to find wildlife on a ramble through the busy city.
Listen on for a Plodcast full of surprises.
Amanda's book Wild Pavements: Exploring Britain's Cities with an Urban Naturalist is published by FLINT.
Photo by Lily Watts
Get in touch on Facebook! Search "BBC Countryfile Magazine - Plodcast Community" or join the discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/countryfilemagazineplodcast/?ref=share
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

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Sound Escape 272. Relax to the evening symphony of an oak woodland - led by a song thrush

Fri, 08 May 2026 02:00:00 -0000

Late afternoon meets the first tendrils of dusk and the oakwoods are empty of people. Instead, birdsong fills the half-light beneath the trees: song thrush, great tit, chiffchaff and blackbird weave their spring melodies into an enchantment.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

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349. Haunting folk tales and beautiful art inspired by nature with Jackie Morris and Tamsin Abbott

Tue, 05 May 2026 02:00:00 -0000

Head into a quiet, magical corner of Herefordshire to meet artists Jackie Morris and Tamsin Abbott who have collaborated to create Wild Folk: Tales From the Stones – stories of folklore, of nature, of landscape, love and sorrow.
Plodcast host Fergus Collins was lucky enough to meet the pair and hear their own wild tales – plus some enchanting readings from the book.
Wild Folk: Tales from the Stones is published by Chelsea Green and is out now.
For more on Jackie Morris' work visit: www.jackiemorris.co.uk
For more on Tamsin Abbott's work: www.tamsinabbott.co.uk
Our Facebook page is back! Search "BBC Countryfile Magazine - Plodcast Community" or join the discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/countryfilemagazineplodcast/?ref=share
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

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Sound Escape 271. Gaze over the sun-kissed sea on the South-West coast

Fri, 01 May 2026 02:00:00 -0000

It's a hazy morning on the South-West coast. The sun's rays disperse across the silent waves, glittering over passing boats. A choir of birds greet you, as you sit and watch the world awaken.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Lewis Dobbs and introduced by Hannah Tribe. Photo by Lewis Dobbs.
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

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348. A quest to discover the secret of painter John Constable's genius - with Susan Owens

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

Painter John Constable (1776-1837) is today one of the most celebrated painters of the English countryside. But in his lifetime his efforts to capture the true essence of nature and rural life were often rejected by his peers. What made him so special and why is he so revered now?
Now, on the 250th anniversary of Constable's birth, Plodcast host Fergus Collins meets art historian Susan Owen in 'Constable Country' on the Suffolk-Essex border to explore the great artists' world.
Susan Owens' brilliant new book Constable's Year: An Artist in Changing Seasons is published by Thames and Hudson.
Our Facebook page is back! Search "BBC Countryfile Magazine - Plodcast Community" or join the discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/countryfilemagazineplodcast/?ref=share
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

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Sound Escape 270. Be entranced by a sensational dawn chorus from Dorset

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

A cool dawn, dew-dampened and soft air. In these folds of West Dorset, it will be another hour before the sun reaches above the sharp-edged ridge in the south east, but below, where the blackthorn blossom is almost spent, the birds are in full voice.
The familiar voices, blackbird, song thrush and robin, now joined now by visitors from further south, the blackcap, chiffchaff and garden warbler, all singing for space as beneath a spring sends a stream away upon its first trickle.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Kevin Parr and introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

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347. A marvellous metal detecting quest with Lucy Gray and Ellie Bruce from Roman Found

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

Come metal-detecting in the Essex countryside with Ellie Bruce and Lucy Gray – who call themselves Roman Found. After taking up detecting during the first Covid lockdown, Lucy and Ellie have been sharing their exciting discoveries on social media and built up a huge following. Now they have written their first book: Thing We Found in the Ground (Harper North)
Plodcast host Fergus joined Ellie and Lucy for a morning's detecting – and to learn more about the world of detectorists. They even found something...
Our Facebook page is back! Search "BBC Countryfile Magazine - Plodcast Community" or join the discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/countryfilemagazineplodcast/?ref=share
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

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Sound Escape 269. Climb up among the skylarks and the meadow pipits

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

A track winds up onto a bleak hill top – or it looks from afar. As you get closer, you realise the land is rich in bilberries, heather and small, stunted hawthorns. Soon you are in the skylark zone – with meadow pipits singing their hearts out alongside their more famous avian cousins.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

346. A quest to find Britain's only venomous snake, the adder

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

This week we're in the Malverns in Worcestershire to try to find Britain's only venomous snake – the adder. Plodcast host Fergus Collins is guided by local adder expert Nigel Hand, who has spent much of his life working to protect these increasingly rare reptiles.
Discover the secret life of the adder and learn why we need to respect – and even love – this springtime jewel.
Photo: Steve Sayers
Our Facebook page is back! Search "BBC Countryfile Magazine - Plodcast Community" or join the discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/countryfilemagazineplodcast/?ref=share
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

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Sound Escape 268. Hear the spring song of the firecrest, Britain's smallest bird

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

A gentle walk at this time of year can suddenly throw up a surprise. A firecrest! The thin, accelerating song of Britain's smallest bird pipes among the robins, wood pigeons and blackbirds.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

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345. Discover an extraordinary mission to make humans more aquatic. The Plodcast visits DEEP project

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

Come with us through the high security gates of a flooded quarry in the Forest of Dean to explore Deep project. Here, in the deep waters of the quarry, DEEP is experimenting with creating habitats for long-term human existence underwater.
Plodcast host Fergus Collins meets Phil Short, DEEP's underwater research and training lead for a tour of this futuristic mission and its engineering wonders.
Learn more about DEEP at https://www.deep.com/
Photo: DEEP
Our Facebook page is back! Search "BBC Countryfile Magazine - Plodcast Community" or join the discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/countryfilemagazineplodcast/?ref=share
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

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Sound Escape 267. Gaze into the gentle currents of the Kennet and Avon Canal

Fri, 03 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0000

Watching ripples of river water swirl and overlap, you allow your mind to wander. The clear water’s constant stream is hypnotic as it makes the vivid green algae dance. The proud chirpings of birdsong send you into comfortable doze.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Lewis Dobbs and introduced by Hannah Tribe.
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

344. A thrilling night-time quest to experience the great spring toad migration

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 02:00:00 -0000

It's night in the woods deep in the Cotswold Hills. Plodcast host Fergus joins friend and environmental writer James Fair to see if they can witness the great spring toad migration, where toads leave their winter hideouts and head across land in huge numbers to find a pond or lake to breed in.
Have the daring duo left it too late? What will they find on this nocturnal ramble?
Our Facebook page is back! Search "BBC Countryfile Magazine - Plodcast Community" or join the discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/countryfilemagazineplodcast/?ref=share
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

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Sound Escape 266. Relax to the dusk melodies of a male blackbird

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

As dusk falls and human activity finally slows in a small market town, a blackbird decides now's the time to release his latest album of lullabies. Slow, beguiling and wistful, his songs lifts the spirits of all within earshot.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

343. Join the Plodcast team for a lazy day's fishing on the Kennet and Avon Canal

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Join the Plodcast team for a new fishing adventure, this time on the Kennet and Avon Canal in Berkshire. Writer, angler and naturalist Kevin Parr joins Fergus, Hannah, Jack and Lewis to see if they can catch an elusive but beautiful predator of the waterways. Better still, they've been given special access to a normally private stretch of this famous canal.
Listen on for a truly breathtaking encounter – and make sure you listen to the very end to hear the surprising finale to the adventure.
Our Facebook page is back! Search "BBC Countryfile Magazine - Plodcast Community" or join the discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/countryfilemagazineplodcast/?ref=share
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

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Sound Escape 265. Stirrings of spring on Llangorse Lake

Fri, 20 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

A rare day of sun across the lake transforms late winter into a hint of spring. Canada geese stir and honk, a great white egret chitters overhead and excitable peeps, churs and hums from the reedbeds suggest nestbuilding and courtship among the waterbirds.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

342. A journey through time, land and community with country writer Nicola Chester

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Award-winning countryside writer Nicola Chester joins the Plodcast this week in her home village of Inkpen in Berkshire to talk about her new book, Ghosts of the Farm.
In this amazing story, she weaves her own rural experiences with those of pioneering local farmer Julia White, who farmed in Inkpen in the 1940s and 50s and oversaw fundamental changes to agriculture and the landscape that have enormous ramifications today. Plodcast host Fergus Collins was lucky enough to venture out with Nicola to walk Julia's fields.
Nicola's book, Ghosts of the Farm, is published by Chelsea Green Publishing.
Our Facebook page is back! Search "BBC Countryfile Magazine - Plodcast Community" or join the discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/countryfilemagazineplodcast/?ref=share
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

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Sound Escape 264. Take the afternoon off by pottering in an allotment

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

After a long day, green fingers are calling. Sat beside a quiet allotment, you take in the gentle breeze. Watching over the freshly sprouting veg and blooming bulbs, you're soothed by the murmur of fellow growers.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Jack Bateman and introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

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341. Enjoy the thrill of coldwater swimming in midwinter in the Cotswolds

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Could you go coldwater swimming in the depths of winter? James Fair attempts to do just that in lake deep in the Cotswolds. He joins his wife Louise and four of her friends to hear about how swimming in freshwater, whatever the temperature, has a hugely positive impact on physical and mental health. It's an inspiring adventure.
Later, join the regular Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah, Jack and Lewis in the studio for a roundup of your messages, audio postcards and other nature nattering,
Our Facebook page is back! Search "BBC Countryfile Magazine - Plodcast Community" or join the discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/countryfilemagazineplodcast/?ref=share
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

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Sound Escape 263. Be lulled by the sounds of a 17th-century mill and water wheel in action

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Down a windy track in a small valley at the very point where Herefordshire meets Wales, you find a watermill, restored and still working. As water from the leat gushes onto the wheel, it slowly creaks into life. At first, you marvel at the throb of the wheels and gears within the mill before relaxing to the steady pulse of the wheel itself.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

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340. Discover the healing power of wild plants with Brigit Anna McNeill

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 03:00:00 -0000

After serious childhood trauma and a high-octane but destructive life as a model, Brigit Anna McNeill found solace and healing in the company of wild plants – and wise women.
Plodcast host Fergus Collins met Brigit in a peaceful corner of Devon to hear about her journey to become whole again – and her advice on how we can all rewild ourselves to improve our mental and physical health. It's an unmissable story.
Brigit's book, The Wild Within: What plants taught me about life, recovery and renewal is published by September, an imprint of Duckworth Books.
Our Facebook page is back! Search "Countryfile Magazine - Plodcast Community" or join the discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/countryfilemagazineplodcast/?ref=share
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

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Sound Escape 262. Be soothed by gentle rain and birdsong

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Very little is stirring in the deep dark winter woodland. That is until you come to a wide clearing on the edge of the wood, with slumbering farmland beyond. Here, inspired by the light, a song thrush sings over the chatter of a small flock of chaffinches – while a gentle rain falls on the leaf litter.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

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339. Hear the extraordinary stories of London's last gas lamplighters

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Did you know that, even today, some of London's streets are lit by gas? Annabel Ross heading into the city's twilight zone to meet Aran Osman whose job it is to maintain these Victorian relics, which still illuminate much of Central London.
Annabel also talks to Annelie Whitfield, who is writing a book about artificial light and its effect on humans and animals.
Find Aran on Instagram @london_lamplighters
Find Annelie on Instagram @lighthumanuk
Our Facebook page is back! Search "Countryfile Magazine - Plodcast Community" or join the discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/countryfilemagazineplodcast/?ref=share
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

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Sound Escape 261. Wander through a woodland listening to a stream's song

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

What's normally a gentle brook, winding through a peaceful woodland, has been transformed by many days of rain into a breathtaking torrent. You get your feet wet crossing the ford but the stream's exuberant song more than makes up for damp socks.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

338. Discover the bizarre tale of the last battle fought on English soil - with writer Ian Breckon

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Did you know that the last battle fought on English soil occurred in the early years of Queen Victoria – out in the Kent countryside? Historical novelist Ian Breckon has unearthed the extraordinary tale of Mad Tom and his 'rising' in the late 1830s and what it tells us about rural life at the time. Ian spoke with Plodcast host Fergus Collins on a walk in London's Highgate Woods.
Ian's book Mad Tom's Rising: The Revolutionary Mystic Sir William Courtenay and the Last Battle Fought on English Soil is published by Icon Books.
Our Facebook page is back! Search "Countryfile Magazine - Plodcast Community" or join the discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/countryfilemagazineplodcast/?ref=share
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 260. Hear a lost sound of the countryside: the clattering mill

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

This week we're featuring a lost sound of the countryside – the curious melodies of clattering mills. These were wind-powered devices on tall poles that made a racket to scare birds from the crops – especially starlings plundering cherry crops.
Thanks to Sonke Prigge for collecting these incredible sounds, which will be included in the British Library’s Very Rare and Lost Sounds collection. This is special strand within the Library's national sound archive dedicated to preserving audio that’s at risk of disappearing or already forgotten.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Sonke Prigge and introduced by Hannah Tribe.
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

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337. Head into the green lanes of Devon to discuss honesty boxes and mental health with writer Lucy Brazier

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

What is an honesty box? And how did it help writer Lucy Brazier understand her husband's serious mental health issues and save her marriage? And all this against a backdrop of a quirky and often challenging rural existence in deepest Devon. Plodcast host accepted Lucy's invitation for a walk and deep and meaningful talk on one of those rare, crisp winter days.
Lucy's book The Honesty Box: the diary of a broken marriage, a mental health crisis and a large marrow is published by Bloomsbury.
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 259. Enjoy the early morning crunch of footsteps in fresh snow

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

You awake to a strange silence, a deep calm. As you draw back the curtain, you are surprised to see a soft blanket of snow across the garden and beyond. This wasn't forecasted. But, like the boy in the Snowman, you quickly pull on warm clothes and dash out to explore – to be the first to lay down a trail of footsteps in the fresh snow. Sparrows, a gorgeous song thrush and distant barking hounds provide the commentary.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

336. Come for a wander in a winter woodland - and then enjoy the Big Garden Birdwatch

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 03:00:00 -0000

This week, Plodcast host Fergus sets out to find signs of spring in seldom-visited woodland in south Monmouthshire. Listen on for a mindful Plodcast full of eerie midwinter atmosphere. Later, Fergus returns to his garden to record a Big Garden Birdwatch for the RSPB.
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 258. Wild encounters and roaring waves on the Sussex coast

Fri, 30 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

The pipes and flutes of curlews, oystercatchers and redshanks rise occasionally above the rush and roar of breakers on this little visited haven along the Sussex coast. You walk along the high tide line, splashing through pools of cockle and limpet shells.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

335. Meet the rebel wilding lord trying to build the WildKingdom

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Hugh Crossley aka Lord Somerleyton has rewilded large parts of his estate on the Norfolk-Suffolk border. After initial success spreading his message across East Anglia – in what he and his rewilding partners called WildEast – Hugh is aiming to spread his 'Map of Dreams' across the whole of the UK.
Plodcast host Fergus Collins went for a wander with Hugh around his estate for an entertaining talk about his WildKingdom plans – and how he has needed to break convention and challenge tradition to make his voice heard.
For more about WildKingdom and the Map of Dreams, head to wildeast.co.uk
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 257. Hear a garden come alive with birdsong as it is warmed by the winter sun

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

After several days of intense cold deep in the Sussex countryside, a bright, warmer morning encourages a procession of birds to move through the garden in search of food – from rooks and jackdaws to dunnocks, robins and long-tailed tits. The resident sparrows seem to cheerfully welcome these visitors.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

334. Talking curlews and wild musical inspiration with singer-songwriter Merlyn Driver

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Head to the Severn Estuary to meets curlews and other wild waterbirds in the company of singer-songwriter Merlyn Driver. Merlyn's music draws on nature and folk traditions and he talks to Plodcast host Annabel Ross about why he needs this magical connection.
Later in the Plodcast, Annabel and Merlyn meet with writer and conservationist Mary Colwell, who has done so much work to save the curlew in the UK.
Plus, listen on for the Plodcast team who meet for the first time in 2026 to read your messages and play your recordings of nature.
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 256. The winter song of the River Severn, deep in the heart of Wales

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Just a few miles from its source, the River Severn is already a dashing, tumbling river, full of youthful promise and energy. You meet it while walking in a small market town – listening to the river's winter song as it cascades over rocks and through mini gorges before heading out into wide pastures and down into the borders.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

333. Prepare for the Big Garden Birdwatch with a walk in a special woodland with the RSPB's James Robinson

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

The RSPB's annual Big Garden Birdwatch is one of the world's biggest citizen science projects and provides incredible insights into the populations of our common birds.
To find out more, Plodcast host Fergus meets the RSPB's Chief Operating Officer James Robinson in beautiful RSPB Nagshead Nature Reserve in Gloucestershire. As they listen out for winter birdlife, James explains to Fergus why the Birdwatch matters and how to get involved – and provides a fascinating insight into the work of this great conservation organisation.
You can find out more about this year's Big Garden Birdwatch here: https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 255. A walk through a winter woodland, footsteps hushed by fallen leaves

Fri, 09 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

It's bright and sunny but it's an illusion: a gale is swirling through the treetops, the aftermath of last night's storm. Shielded among the trees, you enjoy a walk through piles of fallen leaves – even the most reluctant faller plucked from its twig by the wind.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

332. Blow off the cobwebs with a hike into the hills to find the legendary Chartists' Cave

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

Happy New Year and welcome to the first Plodcast of 2026. The Plodcast is a weekly adventure in the British countryside brought to you by BBC Countryfile Magazine.
In this episode, Plodcast host Fergus Collins sets out on a bright morning into a little known upland landscape in the Bannau Brycheiniog to search for the legendary Chartists' Cave. He is joined by friend and regular walking leader for the Crickhowell Walking Festival Andy Knifton. Listen on for an eerie walk into an atmospheric realm.
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 254. Wake up to gentle birdsong in a sleepy village

Fri, 02 Jan 2026 03:00:00 -0000

It's early morning and the winter's frost is receding as you step out into the brisk air. The low coos of wood pigeons greet you as you gaze at the mellow pink sky. The sounds of people to-ing and fro-ing tell you it's time to put the kettle on.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Jack Bateman and introduced by Hannah Tribe.
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com
And just a reminder, the BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is a media partner for the Speakies! The British Audio Awards from The Bookseller Magazine. The awards celebrate the best in audio books and the Plodcast is the partner for the non-fiction category.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

331. Enjoy an epic starling murmuration on the Somerset Levels with the Plodcast team

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

A very special Plodcast to end 2025. The Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah, Kev, Jack and Lewis head to the Somerset Levels in the hope of witnesses and recording one of Europe's most extraordinary wildlife spectacles: the great starling roost over the reedbeds of this wild and wonderful part of the West Country. It did not disappoint. Have a listen!

Thank you so much for listening and contributing to the Plodcast in 2025. Have a very Happy New Year and don't forget to get in touch with your own stories and recordings of the countryside.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 253. Hear the voices of a million starlings going to roost

Fri, 26 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Dusk is imminent and you're standing on a raised path, an old abandoned railway line through the marshes. For the past 30 minutes vast uncountable flocks of starlings have poured overhead and settled in the reedbeds. Now, millions of chattering voices sound like breakers on a distant shore while other wetland birds chur and chunter unseen.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com
And just a reminder, the BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is a media partner for the Speakies! The British Audio Awards from The Bookseller Magazine. The awards celebrate the best in audio books and the Plodcast is the partner for the non-fiction category.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

330. It's the Plodcast Christmas Special and team quiz 2025!

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Join the Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah, Jack and Lewis – with special guest and quiz master Kevin Parr. As well as tackling Kev's now legendary Plodcast quiz, the team gather by the fire to reminisce about the past year's adventures in nature and the countryside. Plus, Jack has some jokes...
Thank you so much for listening and contributing to the Plodcast in 2025. Have a very Happy Christmas and don't forget to tune in on 30 December for perhaps our most magical team adventure in nature so far!
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 252. Enjoy sunshine and peace along the seawall of the Bristol Channel

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

After climbing a few steps you're atop the sea wall and the vast skies and broad seascape of the Bristol Channel open before you. You're looking south from Wales across the water to Somerset and North Devon. It's eerily quiet with just a distant roar of water, a passing plane and the calls of occasional passing gulls, curlews and goldfinches.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

And just a reminder, the BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is a media partner for the Speakies! The British Audio Awards from The Bookseller Magazine. The awards celebrate the best in audio books and the Plodcast is the partner for the non-fiction category.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

329. Making a spun-iron frying pan at a family-run foundry in Shropshire

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Plodcast host Fergus heads to Cleobury Mortimer in deeply rural Shropshire to visit the Netherton Foundry. Here, Neil and Sue Currie and their team make beautiful spun-iron cookware using traditional skills and tools. And Fergus gets the chance to fashion frying pans from scratch – a magical insight into a thriving, family-run rural business.
A huge thanks to Neil and Sue, as well as Ryan, Toby, Colin and Maddie for their time – and patience!
Find out more about Netherton Foundry https://www.netherton-foundry.co.uk/.
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 251. Hear the song of the wind on the first icy morning of winter

Fri, 12 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

A cold front has swept down from the north overnight but it's a bright morning over the frosty marshes. A breeze pushes ripples across a lagoon of deepest blue and then gently jostles the dead rushes and reeds. Nothing else stirs.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

328. Hunting for mushrooms - and legendary animals - with Kevin Parr

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Plodcast regular Kevin Parr joins host Fergus Collins for a charming mushroom hunting walk in a wooded Welsh valley. Along the way, as the foraging basket with treats, they discuss Kev's extraordinary new book, An Unnatural History of Britain – his series of epic quests in search of animals that really shouldn't be here.

It's an unmissable audio delight. An Unnatural History of Britain is published by The History Press.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 250. Swollen by days of rain, the stream has a new song

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

After 36 hours of rain, the town floods and then the waters recede, surging down brooks such as this. You pause on a bridge above, hearing a stranger, bolder song in a stream you thought you knew so well.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

327. Venture out onto the wild Essex marshes with author Michael J Warren

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 03:00:00 -0000

This week, we're heading to the bleakly beautiful Essex marshes to meet historian and birder Michael J Warren – and thousands of waders and wildfowl in this stunning area of big skies, haunting calls and endless water.

Michael's celebrated new book, A Cuckoo's Lea (published by Bloomsbury) explores how our medieval ancestors included birds in so many of their places names (most of which survive today) and reveals how immersed in nature they were. It's a fascinating exploration, with the enchanting backdrop of wild Essex.

Also, the Plodcast is very proud to announce that it is media partner for the Speakies – the British Audio Awards from The Bookseller Magazine. These new awards celebrate the very best in audiobooks. The Plodcast is partnering in the non-fiction category.

Find the shortlists here: www.thebookseller.com/the-british-audio-awards

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 249. The haunting calls of waders and wild geese on forgotten Essex coast

Fri, 28 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Deep in the Essex Marshes, you find solitude on a path that skirts marsh and lagoon. But you're not entirely alone – from the creeks and open water the fluting calls of waders and ducks and the deeper gutteral utterances of Brent geese create a haunting soundtrack of true wilderness. Wilderness, that is, a sole fishing boat chugs by on its lonely morning mission.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

326. Join the Plodcast team for a round up of listener emails and nature chat

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Join the Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah, Jack and Lewis in a wild corner of the centre of Bristol for a long-awaited Plodchat – a round-up of our nature adventures plus listener emails, recordings and other funny moments we've had out in the countryside.

Photo taken from Ep. 312, where the team took on the Macmillan Mighty Hike (August 2025)!

Find the shortlists here: www.thebookseller.com/the-british-audio-awards

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 248. Soft sounds of autumn on the edge of the saltmarsh

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

It's a still autumn morning and you've headed to the sea wall along the edge of the saltmarsh. A gentle rain falls as robins sing in the scrub on the landward side of the wall while occasional redshanks peep and lament from the marsh.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

325. Roam a Hampshire woodland in search of rare hazel dormice

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

This week we're in Hampshire, looking for dormice. These tiny, charming little mammals are hard to find at the best of times but numbers have been declining for decades mainly due to changes to how we manage our woodlands.

Plodcast host Fergus joins Ian White from the People's Trust for Endangered Species, Charlotte Rimmer who is Senior Countryside Officer for Test Vally Borough Council and Richard Genn who owns the woodland to find out more about the plight of Britain's dormice – and hopefully meet one of these 'fairy' creatures.

Image from Getty

Find the shortlists here: www.thebookseller.com/the-british-audio-awards

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 247. A walk through autumn leaves on an ancient earthwork

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

A path winds on before you, running along the top of an ancient earthwork constructed over a 1000 years ago. To the west, the land falls away into a deep river valley, to the east, fertile farmland that this fortification once protected. Your feet crunch on this year's freshly fallen beech and hazel leaves while a wind blows up for the west, breaking over the dyke as an echo of an invading army.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

324. Enjoy a mindful walk along the mighty earthwork running through the Welsh Borders known as Offa's Dyke

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

From the end of Saxon England last week, we head to the height of Saxon power in Mercia and the reign of King Offa (757-796). Plodcast host Fergus takes a walk along Offa's great work – a massive defensive earthwork that ran along much of the Welsh Borders and can still be encountered today.

What is Offa's Dyke and why and how did Offa build it? Listen on to find out more.

Find the shortlists here: www.thebookseller.com/the-british-audio-awards

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 246. Kingfisher calls and dipper song on the rushing river

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

You've wandered down to the river to listen to its gentle song – but what's that strange birdsong? A metallic chirruping from the far bank... it's a dipper, it's while bib bobbing at the water's edge. And now a kingfisher zips past with a hoarse, high-pitched whistle. Moments of magic on an overcast autumn day.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

323. The Plodcast meets Norman and Saxon warriors at the Battle of Hastings

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Witness the reenactment of the Battle of Hastings – on the very site in Sussex where the future of England was changed forever in 1066. English Heritage invited the Plodcast to meet the people re-enacting Norman and Saxon life and then watch the battle unfold. So tune in with Plodcast host Fergus for an unforgettable day out in the countryside.

Find out more about English Heritage's work preserving and celebrating the nation's history at https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/

Find the shortlists here: www.thebookseller.com/the-british-audio-awards

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 245. Listen to the whispering reedbed as the sun sets over the wetland

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0000

A golden autumn sun is dropping behind the hills. A soft wind rides down from the uplands, over the lake and stirs the reedbed. Among the whispers carried on the breeze, you hear croaks, calls and gurgles of waterbirds and even frogs perhaps.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

322. Discover the history of England in 25 poems - with Catherine Clarke

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Explore the history and identity of England from Saxon times to the modern day through 25 poems. Host Annabel Ross meets author Catherine Clarke in the heart of England by the River Thames to discuss her work analysing famous and not-so-well-known verse that sheds light on how a nation sees itself.

A fascinating and highly relevant journey – with singing and strange herons!

Catherine's book A History of England in 25 Poems is published by Allen Lane

Find the shortlists here: www.thebookseller.com/the-british-audio-awards

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 244. Hear the song of the River Usk in Autumn

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0000

It's early in the morning and the human world is awake and bustling. But down by the river you pause to watch the water glide over its stony bed and listen as it composes a gentle, soothing chorus. Robins and long-tailed tits drop in from time to time with small, beautiful solos.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

321. Secrets of the darkness on a night walk with Andy Flack

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0000

As the evenings draw in, we're heading out with environmental historian Dr Andrew Flack to experience how the night change our sensory perception of the world. He has written a new book called Dark Natures: Finding Life in the Shadows, which is out soon. Annabel Ross is your host this week, looking at how humans and animals adapt to the dark – and how it can stoke fears and understanding of the natural world.

Andrew is Associate Professor in Environmental and Sensory History at Bristol University.

Find the shortlists here: www.thebookseller.com/the-british-audio-awards

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 243. The sounds of an English churchyard in early autumn

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0000

You've wondered down a country lane to find a small, ancient church with a square tower. Crumbling gravestones covered in moss or lichen lean here and there in the churchyard but no one is around. You find a welcome bench, sit down and simply listen.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

320. Wander the beaches of North Cornwall with artist Sarah Adams

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode, we head back to high summer and the North Cornwall coast. Plodcast host Fergus takes a beach walk with artist Sarah Adams. Venturing into murmuring caves, Sarah shares valuable insight into the inspiration she takes from the rock formations, the light and the shadows – and how she goes about her work. And she's brought art materials for Fergus to have a go himself.
To see Sarah's work, visit www.sarahadams.studio/
Also, the Plodcast is very proud to announce that it is media partner for the Speakies – the British Audio Awards from The Bookseller Magazine. These new awards celebrate the very best in audiobooks. The Plodcast is partnering in the non-fiction category.
Find the shortlists here: www.thebookseller.com/the-british-audio-awards
And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 242. Footsteps though a beechwood full of fungi

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0000

We're walking in beechwoods in a vale high up in the Welsh hills. Leaves are beginning to fall but the sound beneath your feet is the faint rustle of last year's leaves. Among them, an extraordinary variety of fungi are sprouting and the air is heavy with the scent of mushrooms.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

319. Why are wallabies living wild on the Isle of Man? The Plodcast investigates

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0000

The Plodcast has learned that hundreds wallabies are living wild on the Isle of Man? How did these Australian marsupials get there and what impact are they having on local ecology?

Friend of the Plodcast James Fair led the expedition into the Irish Sea to meet local experts - David Bellamy and Graham Makepeace-Warne from the Manx Wildlife Trust - and see if he could set eyes on these creatures from the other side of the world.

Find the shortlists here: www.thebookseller.com/the-british-audio-awards

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 241. Take a breather overlooking Exmoor's stunning coastline

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0000

With the sun high on a cloudless day, you listen to the rippling waves of the Exmoor coast. The gentle foam trickles over deep red seaweed and smoothed rocks. Everything feels calmer here.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Lewis Dobbs and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

318. Discover the power of old ballads with Amy Jeffs on a walk along an enchanted stream

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

A wonderful Plodcast walk this week – in Vallis Vale in the Mendip Hills. Plodcast host Fergus joins artist, historian and musician Amy Jeffs on a late summer walk along a beautiful stream discussing Amy's new book: Old Songs, which looks at the origins and importance of traditional ballads.

Listen on for some true Plodcast magic – some unexpected wildlife encounters, beautiful singing and a bone whistle!

Old Songs: Stories of Love and Death from Traditional Ballads by Amy Jeffs and Gwen Burns is published by Quercus Books

Find the shortlists here: www.thebookseller.com/the-british-audio-awards

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 240. Wind down to the evening song of a rural farm

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

As the day draws to a close, the cattle gather for their night-time routine, and the birds sing their final calls of the day. The pink-and-orange sunlight spills through the trees and onto the farmyard's vast fields.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Lewis Dobbs and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

317. Haunting poetry and crashing waves on the Cornish coast with poet Katrina Naomi

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

The Plodcast heads to Penzance in Cornwall this week to hear the haunting poetry of Katrina Naomi. Katrina met Plodcast host Fergus on a beach near the town to discuss her latest collection of poems Battery Rocks, inspired by the sea in all its dark beauty.

Poor Katrina had injured her foot so was on crutches – and the whole Plodcast team wish her a speedy recovery.

Battery Rocks is published by Seren.

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 239. Listen to the night-time snuffles of a garden hedgehog

Fri, 19 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Just as you're closing the back door as dusk falls, you hear a rustling in from the end of the garden. Is it a cat or a rat? No, it's a hedgehog foraging for slugs, beetles and worms around the compost heap. You sit quietly and listen to your visitor - its snuffles like the puffs of a tiny steam train.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

316. Inspiring conservation stories from the Global Birdfair 2025

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

This week we return to the Global Birdfair, held in summer at Rutland every year. Hear two inspiring conservation stories: the first interview is with Stephanie Borrelle who works with Birdlife International to conserve seabirds such as albatrosses in the Southern Hemisphere.

The second chat brings us back to the UK and efforts to save two endangered birds: the curlew and the corncrake. Nick Acheson is our guest, talking about his work with the Deepdale Conservation Trust.

Find out more about Stephanie's work: https://stephborrelle.com/

Find out more about Nick's work: https://deepdaleconservationtrust.org.uk/

These interviews were recorded live on the Swarovski Podcast stage – with thanks to Charlie Bingham and Oscar Henderson for helping organise and record the sessions.

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 238. Pause on a bridge over a late summer stream

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Deep in a cool woodland, you hear the rumour of a stream long before you see it. A small stone bridge crosses the water, just above a small waterfall. It's the perfect place to stop and dream.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

315. Relax with a dreamy day's fishing beside a sleepy Somerset lake

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Let the Plodcast take you to a peaceful lake deep in the Somerset countryside. Lily pads float in margins, dragonflies buzz past and kingfisher makes regular sorties across the water.

And you'll meet the Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah, Lewis and Kev chatting on the bank, and trying to catch the elusive tench – a mysterious fish of lazy summer ponds. Listen on for a joyful adventure...

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 237: Soak in the sounds of rushing rain through the drainpipes

Fri, 05 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

We're listening to the rain. Its been dry for weeks, and this shower feels like its washing the world clean. The water runs down the roofs and gurgles in the drainpipes.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

314. Meet the people behind the Merlin app that helps you ID birdsong

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0000

This week we're at the Global Bird Fair, held every summer on the edge of Rutland Water in the tiny county of Rutland.

Plodcast host Fergus met two of the people behind the incredible Merlin app which you can use to help you identify birdsong. Alli Smith and Ian Davies from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology on the podcast stage at Birdfair to hear how the magic happens.

With special thanks also to Charlie Bingham for organising the Birdfair podcasts, Oscar Henderson for recording and producing, and to Swarovski for sponsoring the podcast stage.

Credits for the birdsong recordings used in this episode:

Leach's storm petrel by Diane Tessaglia-Hynes; Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library

Bobolink recorded by Wil Hershberger Cornell Lab of Ornithology | Macaulay Library

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 236. Perch by a still Somerset lake

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Soothed by the gentle lapping of water, you pause by a quiet lake. It's a hot day, but you find refuge sheltered under the rustling willow trees. Moorhen families drift by as the lively fish swim beneath.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Lewis Dobbs, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

313. A quest to find storks and turtle doves at Knepp Wildlands - with Isabella Tree

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0000

An extremely special edition of the Plodcast this week as we head to Knepp Wildlands in Sussex to look for storks and listen for turtle doves in the company of Isabella Tree.

Isabella and her husband Charlie Burrell have transformed their former dairy farm into one of the best examples of rewilding in Europe – and it's a magical place to explore. Plodcast host Fergus was lucky enough to meet up with Isabella one midsummer evening.

Isabella's new book Wilding: How to Bring Wildlife Back is illustrated by Angela Harding. It is published by Pan Macmillan.

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 235. Listen to the distinct chorus of London's parakeets

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0000

We're on hampsted heath. A light shower has covered the trees in raindrops, and parakeets. As they gossip to pass the time before they're free to fly once more.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

312. Join the Plodcast team for a Mighty Hike around the Gower Peninsula

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0000

The Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah, Jack and Lewis embark on a 15-mile hike around the Gower Peninsular in South Wales as part of a Mighty Hike organised by the cancer care charity Macmillan.
The team explore the coast path, chat to fellow hikers and enjoy some rare wildlife encounters along the way. Have a listen to their charming adventure, and for more plodding along the Gower Peninsula, listen to Ep. 96 with Fergus and Hannah!
And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.
If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.
If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.
The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 234. Relax to the joyful gossip of ducks and hens

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Take time out to sit by a chicken pen and listen to the gentle gossip of the hens – plus a pair of ducks - as they go about their daily business. Meanwhile, wood pigeons, wrens, goldfinches and others pass comment from the surrounding trees.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.
Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

311. Explore the mysteries of the peat bog with Alys Fowler

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0000

This week we're heading out into the boglands of North Wales with writer and gardener Alys Fowler. Alys has a passion for these wild wetlands so host Fergus followed her into one of the strangest and most beautiful landscapes the Plodcast has ever visited. Join them for a journey into another world.

Alys's book, Peatlands: A Journey Between Land and Water is published by Hodder.

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 233. Embrace the surging sea on the North Cornwall coast

Fri, 08 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Following the South West Coast Path through North Cornwall, you chance upon the ruins of Wheal Coates tin mine at the cliff's edge. Below, the sea seethes and surges, a wall of salty sounds rising up and through the mine's towering engine house. Any stray cobwebs you may have had hanging around are blown clean away.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

310. Meet the monsters lurking in the corners of our landscape and imagination - with Nicholas Jubber

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Monsters haunt the myths and legends of almost every culture in the world. Take a walk along the Dorset coast with Nicholas Jubber looking for the footprints of ancient monsters, to explore why humans have felt the need to invent frightening beasts and beings to scare us from the shadows. Kevin Parr is your Plodcast host this week.

Nicholas's book, Monsterland: A Journey Around the World's Dark Imagination, is published by Scribe UK

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 232. Be lulled to sleep by the buzz of grasshoppers in a summer meadow

Fri, 01 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0000

It is late morning, the sun is high and the heat brings out butterflies, bees and, as your ear becomes attuned, grasshoppers fizzing and buzzing in the meadows. You lie down letting the sounds wash over you as you realise you can hear no human sounds at all.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

309. Connection to nature helps can help us tackle life's challenges says author Nic Wilson

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Discover how nature helped author Nic Wilson navigate chronic illness and childhood trauma as well as enabling her to develop a crucial sense of belonging. Plodcast host Fergus met with Nic on a walk through a wild park in North London where they discuss the life challenges that we can all relate to and learn how Nic coped with them.

Nic's book is called The Land Beneath the Waves and is published by Octopus

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 231. Rest by a cooling river on a hot midsummer day

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

It's one of the hottest days of the year and you are glad to find respite in a woodland beside a fast flowing river. You rest on the shady bank, watching trout pluck flies from the water's surface.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

308. Embark on a Big Butterfly Count on the Dorset coast with Butterfly Conservation

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Be inspired to join the Big Butterfly Count with a walk on the Dorset coast with Richard Fox, Head of Science at the charity Butterfly Conservation. Britain's butterflies are in trouble but you can help.

Richard leads this week's Plodcast host, Kevin Parr, on a magical butterfly walk at Bindon Hill on the Dorset coast – and shows how you can embark on your own Butterfly Count where you live.

Join the Big Butterfly Count at: bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/ - and remember, the count continues till 12 August this year.

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 230. The soothing gentle patter of rain in a Welsh oakwood

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

After many dry weeks, heavy rain falls and the oak woodland thirstily drink in the live-giving water. You pause at the base of a particularly magnificent tree and listen to the gentle fall of raindrops.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

307. Take a wander along Britain's most famous waterway: The River Test in Hampshire

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Take a springtime wander along the River Test, near the pretty Hampshire town of Stockbridge. Plodcast host Fergus Collins joins regular Plodcast listener and children's author Andrew Hussey to explore the wildlife along this most famous of trout fishing rivers. Listen on for some rare wildlife encounters – and some curious and disturbing tales from the river.

Andrew runs a small independent publishing company called Muddy Little Boots and his books are Any Trout About? and There's No Deer Around Here. Find out more at: www.muddylittleboots.com

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 229. Revel in the pure music of curlews at sunset

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

The sun is sinking low in the sky, its golden light glowing through the meadow grasses. As young swallows twitter in their maiden flights and a blackbird sings a lullaby, the eerie bubbling calls of curlews rise to meet the dusk.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

306. Walk a Viking battlefield and discover a forgotten turning point in English history - with Rupert Gavin

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

About 1150 years ago, on a ridge on the edge of Salisbury Plain, the Saxons defeated the Vikings in a battle that had a profound impact on the history of the English people and their language. And yet, the battle is surprisingly little known.

Discover what happened and why with writer and cultural historian Rupert Gavin. Rupert joins Plodcast host Fergus to explore the battlefield and discover how the English language, character and nation was formed.

Rupert's book Amorous or Loving? The Highly Peculiar Tale of English and the English is published by Unicorn and is out now.

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 228. The sheer delight of a nightingale singing at dawn

Fri, 04 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

This week's Sound Escape was recorded in Kent by Plodcast listener Jeanette Sharples. Jeanette was up early, walking along the edge of a field when she heard this wonderful male nightingale in full voice.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Jeanette Sharples, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

305. Discover the strangest relationships in the animal world - with Sophie Pavelle

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Enjoy a walk in Devon with Sophie Pavelle and discover the most unexpected relationships in the animal kingdom. In her new book, To Have or to Hold, Sophie explores why some species work together, while others exploit host animals as parasites. It's a fascinating world full of surprises – and even horrors.

Plodcast host Fergus joins Sophie for a meander along the River Otter – with a cast of wildlife turning up along the way.

To Have or to Hold is out now, published by Bloomsbury

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 227. Enjoy the conversations from a colony of sparrows

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

As you wander through an old farmyard, the incessant happy chatter of sparrows greets you. Nesting in the crumbling eaves, the colony has had a good year and the walls, shrubs and gutters teem with noisy fledglings and harassed parents.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

304. Meet some of the UK's most elusive animals - at the British Wildlife Centre

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Britain's wildlife is often extremely elusive and many species are rarely seen. Unless, of course, you head to the British Wildlife Centre in Surrey. Here, David Mills has an unrivalled collection of mammals, reptiles and other creatures that you can watch and photograph in semi-natural surroundings.

Join Annabel Ross who visited David and enjoyed a fabulous tour and some unique insight into our native wildlife.

For more about the British Wildlife Centre: https://britishwildlifecentre.co.uk/

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 226. Be seduced by the song of the blackbird

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

A male blackbird sings so seductively, you have to stop to listen. Perched deep in an elder tree, and with his mate snug on a second brood of eggs this year, he has time to croon, his notes sweet and lazy as the scent of the elderflower around him.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

303. Learn how to photograph gardens with award-winning photographer Jason Ingram

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Jason Ingram has photographed some of the world's finest gardens and is regarded as one of the very best in the business. His images of famous gardens, from the National Trust to those belonging to royalty have graced hundreds of magazines and books – and won numerous awards.

This week, he shares tips for taking better photos and for getting into the world of photography - with Plodcast host Fergus on a wander through the extraordinary Bristol Botanic Gardens.

Jason's new book, How to Photograph Gardens: Beautiful Images Made Simple is published by Ilex Press.

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 225. Skylarks and corn buntings on a Wiltshire downland

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

You're walking in the ancient kingdom of Wessex, across a stretch of wild downland that might have looked no different when Saxon warbands passed through 1200 years ago. The intense serenades of skylarks and the spring-loaded whirrs of corn buntings have replaced the clink of mail and swords.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

302. Roaming a magnificent unspoilt downland - and recording a very surprising bird

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Come with us to explore the magic of Martin Down, a glorious stretch of largely unspoilt chalk downland on the borders of Hampshire, Wiltshire and Dorset. It's Plodcast host Fergus's favourite place to escape to – and he's joined by Plod regular, naturalist Kevin Parr.

Join the pair for a gentle afternoon's adventure – some incredible birdsong and one extremely unusual sound captured on the recording.

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

UK Plodcast listeners can take advantage of a special subscription to BBC Countryfile Magazine where you can receive you first 3 issues for just £6. Head to www.ourmediashop.com/plodcast25

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 224. Take a moment in the serene woodland of the Hampshire Downs

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Overlooking the vast escarpment of Watership Down, you pause for thought. The sound of gently swaying beech trees is welcome relief from the hustle-and-bustle of daily life.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Lewis Dobbs, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

301. Explore the D-Day launch point at Lepe in Hampshire with Julian Humphrys

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0000

To commemorate D-Day and the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we met with historian Julian Humphrys at Lepe Beach in Hampshire. Lepe was one of the launchpads of Operation Overlord, the daring plan to open a western front and liberate Europe from the Nazis. BBC Countryfile Magazine editor Paul McGuinness is your host.

Julian works for the Battlefields Trust, a charity dedicated to the protection, research and interpretation of Britain's battlefields.Find out more at https://www.battlefieldstrust.com/

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

UK Plodcast listeners can take advantage of a special subscription to BBC Countryfile Magazine where you can receive you first 3 issues for just £6. Head to www.ourmediashop.com/plodcast25

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 223. Be charmed by the many voices of a moorland stream

Fri, 30 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Climbing a Peak District moor, you fall into step with a small stream tumbling down the hillside. As you walk, the song of the stream changes – from roaring chorus to trickling solo. Meanwhile, meadow pipits call from heather and willow warblers add their own liquid song to the morning.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Andrew Griffiths, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

300. The team return to Watership Down - the setting for episode 1!

Tue, 27 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

It's episode 300 of the Plodcast! To mark this momentous occasion, Plodcast regulars Hannah, Jack and Lewis join host Fergus for a return to the scene of episode one: Watership Down in Hampshire – setting for one of the best loved novels about nature, written by Richard Adams.

Back in that first episode, Fergus ventured alone in early January – this time the team are seeing what wildlife turns up in early spring.

Thank you so much to everyone who has been on this journey with us. Please do get in touch!

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

UK Plodcast listeners can take advantage of a special subscription to BBC Countryfile Magazine where you can receive you first 3 issues for just £6. Head to www.ourmediashop.com/plodcast25

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 222. Hear swallows chatter as they swoop over the farmyard

Fri, 23 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

A morning's walk leads you to a ramshackle farm where a bench has been left out for walkers. As you take advantage of this kindness and drink tea from a flask, chiffchaffs, swallows and collared doves compete for your attention – like a parade of avian buskers.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

299. Explore The Newt, a nature-friendly country house estate in Somerset

Tue, 20 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Plodcast host Fergus Collins returns to his Somerset roots this episode to explore a country house that he used to explore as a child. Now it has been transformed into The Newt, a world-famous country house hotel, garden and farm with innovation and environment at its heart.

In this part one of the visit, Fergus explores the farm, meets its livestock and gain insight into its ethos with The Newt's Arthur Cole. In part 2, to be broadcast later in the summer, Fergus and Arthur roam The Newt's extensive gardens.

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

UK Plodcast listeners can take advantage of a special subscription to BBC Countryfile Magazine where you can receive you first 3 issues for just £6. Head to www.ourmediashop.com/plodcast25

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 221. Be charmed by chiffchaffs and blackcaps beside a woodland pool

Fri, 16 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

A wander through a scrubby wooded cwm brings you out into a glade with a view towards the Preseli Hills of Pembrokeshire. But at your feet is a calm pool, tadpoles squiggling in the margins. Chiffchaffs, blackcaps, robins and others provide a dizzying spring soundtrack.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

298. A walk with Robert Macfarlane along a Cambridge chalk stream to its magical spring

Tue, 13 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

A special extended edition of the Plodcast this week as we embark on an adventure with celebrated writer Robert Macfarlane to walk the length of a chalk stream from the centre of Cambridge to its source.

Rob has long campaigned to tackle our polluted and degraded rivers and his magnificent new book Is a River Alive? explores inspiring ways to look after our waterways better – through a series of encounters and adventures. But what will we discover on this Plodcast quest? It's magical and surprising, for sure.

Robert Macfarlane's new book, Is a River Alive?, is published by Penguin.

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

UK Plodcast listeners can take advantage of a special subscription to BBC Countryfile Magazine where you can receive you first 3 issues for just £6. Head to www.ourmediashop.com/plodcast25

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 220. Sit back and enjoy a ride in a canalboat

Fri, 09 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Is there a more peaceful way to travel than by canal boat? You sit back and relax as you potter slowly along the Monmouth-Brecon canal. But what's this? It's action – you've got to operate the lock in order to continue your journey.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Mark Turner, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

297. A quest to find a solution to the climate crisis - with Tony Juniper

Tue, 06 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Come to the centre of Cambridge to walk along the River Cam with Tony Juniper. Conservationist and chair of Natural England, Tony is one of the world's most influential environmental campaigners and he has written a book, Just Earth, that addresses the critical and drastic change society needs to embrace to counter climate change and biodiversity loss.
Listen on to find out more. Fergus Collins is your host.

Tony's new book, Just Earth, is published by Bloomsbury.

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:
The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

UK Plodcast listeners can take advantage of a special subscription to BBC Countryfile Magazine where you can receive you first 3 issues for just £6. Head to www.ourmediashop.com/plodcast25

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 219. A sandpiper serenade on the River Usk

Fri, 02 May 2025 02:00:00 -0000

You pause beside the river, watching sunlight play on the rapids. Above the rush of the water, you hear the excitable snickering of common sandpipers – a pair are flying in wide circles, low over the water, their wingtips skimming the surface in a daring courtship flight.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

296. Discover a wilder way to garden - and to live - with Poppy Okotcha

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

Poppy Okotcha explains how to garden for contentment, health and deeper connection with nature and community. Plodcast host Fergus Collins met the fashion model-turned-horticulturalist at her beautiful spring garden in Devon to learn a simpler way to be.

Poppy's new book, A Wilder Way: How gardens grow us, is published by Bloomsbury.

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

UK Plodcast listeners can take advantage of a special subscription to BBC Countryfile Magazine where you can receive you first 3 issues for just £6. Head to www.ourmediashop.com/plodcast25

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 218. Dusk settles on a peaceful farmyard

Fri, 25 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

It's early evening on a remote sheep farm in Warwickshire. The orange sunset slants through the trees and the lambs are softly bleating.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Lewis Dobbs, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

295. Explore a Warwickshire farm at lambing time with Bizza Walters

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

This week we're heading to a sheep farm in Warwickshire just south of Birmingham. It's lambing time and young farmer Bizza Walters and her family reveal the ups and downs of this crucial, stressful, delightful few weeks in spring.

Plus we talk about why farmers need mental health support and discuss other big issues facing the farming community.

You can find Bizza on Instagram (@bizza.walters), other social media and her website www.bizzawalters.co.uk/

And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

UK Plodcast listeners can take advantage of a special subscription to BBC Countryfile Magazine where you can receive you first 3 issues for just £6. Head to www.ourmediashop.com/plodcast25

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 217. Enjoy the zipping song of a yellowhammer at the bottom of the garden

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

In a peaceful Dorset valley, a garden looks onto wide farmland. As a blackbird sings seductively from the hedgerow, a yellowhammer tests out his rising song of summer joy from somewhere out in the open landscape.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Kevin Parr, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

294. Take a walk on the Pennine Way with folk singer Johnny Campbell

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the opening of Britain's most famous long-distance footpath, Plodcast host Fergus met folk singer Johnny Campbell to walk part of the route.

Johnny is spending 19 days walking the entire route from Derbyshire to the Borders of Scotland – gigging almost every evening. His powerful songs are rooted in the landscape and the struggles of ordinary people to gain access to nature and fresh air. Listen on for a live rendition of one of Johnny's most famous songs.

You'll also hear the voice of Johnny's friend and walking companion 'sherpa' Freddie.

You can find out more about Johnny on his website www.johnnycampbell.co.uk and you can find his songs on all the major streaming services.

And now you can get in touch via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

UK Plodcast listeners can take advantage of a special subscription to BBC Countryfile Magazine where you can receive you first 3 issues for just £6. Head to www.ourmediashop.com/plodcast25

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 216. Winter fieldfares mix with spring skylarks and starling as winter yields to spring

Fri, 11 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

We're on the cusp of spring but winter clings on in rasping voices of ravens. As you walk in the cold sunlight of early March across a field to a stand of trees, starling song cascades, while skylarks erupt sporadically, dreaming of warmer days. But you also catch the chack-chack-chack of fieldfares, winter visitors escaping the deep cold of their Scandinavian homeland.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

293. A quest for spring birdsong in a Welsh woodland - plus a reading by author Kerri Andrews

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

This week, join Plodcast host Fergus Collins as he explores a local woodland for the first time in search of a legendary woodpecker – with gorgeous birdsong along the way.

Plus, author Kerri Andrews reads from her powerful new book: Pathfinding: On Walking, Motherhood and Freedom, published by Elliott and Thompson

And after all that, join the Plodcast team in the studio for a round up of listener messages and nature chat. And now you can get in touch via:

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.

UK Plodcast listeners can take advantage of a special subscription to BBC Countryfile Magazine where you can receive you first 3 issues for just £6. Head to www.ourmediashop.com/plodcast25

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 215. Listen to spring birdsong along a country lane

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

A muddy farm track separates willow woodland from a wide expanse of marshland. You pause to listen to linnets commuting from wood to water meadow while a chaffinch chortles a joyful tune, laughing at the sunshine. Meanwhile, the first chiffchaff of the year belts out his two-note song.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

292. Talking big farming issues in a walk through a forgotten landscape in Leicestershire

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0000

This week we're in Leicestershire exploring the beautiful Welland Valley with countryside writer and farming expert Tim Relf.

Plodcast host Fergus walks through this stunning, overlooked landscape with Tim and they discuss farming issues such as the controversial proposed changes to inheritance tax and the Sustainable Farming Incentive. To learn more about the Neville family, as mentioned by Tim, listen to The Plodcast Ep. 277 with Annie Garthwaite.

UK Plodcast listeners can take adventage of a special subscription to BBC Countryfile Magazine where you can receive you first 3 issues for just £6. Head to www.ourmediashop.com/plodcast25

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 214. Stand on an ancient bridge and listen to a clear stream flowing beneath

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

You've discovered a forgotten valley in the Blackdown Hills. After descending an ancient holloway, you arrive at a bridge over a chuckling stream. Wild daffodils are flowering along the path and emerald strands of water crowfoot sway in the clear, pure water below.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

291. Explore a rewilding project in Lincolnshire with artist Hannah Dale

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Head to Lincolnshire in the east of England to explore an exciting new rewilding project. Hannah Dale is an artist and farmer who struggled to make a living from her 300 acres – so has decided to return the land to nature. Hannah has written about her experience in a new book: A Wilding Year (published by Batsford).

Plodcast host Fergus visited to meet Hannah and some very special wild guests out on the farm.

For more about Hannah Dale's art, visit www.wrendaledesigns.co.uk

Afterwards, join the Plodcast team in the studio for a roundup of listener messages and questions.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 213. The atmosphere of the Giant's Grave, an ancient burial mound in Wiltshire

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

On a long, lonely walk across the windswept open lands of the Marlborough Downs, you come across a large, oval barrow partially hidden in a stand of trees. It is the Giant's Grave, a Bronze Age burial mound whose secrets are long forgotten. A ghostly breeze disturbs the spinney, a solitary crow calls, but the barrow broods in silence.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

290. How being in the moment in nature can bring lasting happiness

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Do we spend too much time thinking and not enough time simply being? Life coach Dr Giles Croft reveals how being out in nature and learning to not take our thoughts too seriously can lead to deeper contentment and happiness.

Plodcast host Fergus met Giles on the Monmouth-Brecon canal South Wales to explore why we overthink our lives...

Find out more at www.gilespcroft.com

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 212. A burst of early spring birdsong on a rare sunny day

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

After many days of wet, grey gloom, a hopeful sunny day hints at spring – and draws out the birds in a public garden deep in the Welsh borders. Great tits, nuthatches, goldcrests, robins and treecreepers are among the singers here – with a male chaffinch trying out his new songs, too. On the ground, drooping snowdrops are already giving way to brave crocuses,

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

289. Discover the extraordinary magnetism of the Welsh Marches, with writer Mike Parker

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Walk Hergest Ridge in Herefordshire on the Welsh border in the company of walker and writer Mike Parker who has spent years exploring the unique people, landscape and history of this borderland.

With Plodcast host Fergus, Mike talks Offa's Dyke, the Welsh-English divide and the reason why these 'Marcherlands' are so attractive to those looking for somewhere off the beaten track.

Mike Parker's book All the Wide Border: Wales, England and The Places Between is published by HarperNorth.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 211. Enjoy tawny owls calling in a woodland - recorded by author Polly Atkin

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

The winter calls of tawny owls pierce the night in a Cumbrian woodland. The wind roars through the trees like a stormy sea. This is a special recording made by author Polly Atkin to celebrate her new book, The Company of Owls, which is a record of the nature around her home in Grasmere in the Lake District. Her closest and most vocal neigbours are the owls.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Polly Atkin, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

288. A quest to explore the ancient burial mounds of the Marlborough Downs

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 03:00:00 -0000

It's a bright, beautiful morning so join Plodcast host Fergus for a wander into the soft chalk hills known as the Marlborough Downs of Wiltshire to hunt for burial mounds.

Known as barrows, these strange humps in the landscape are the graves of forgotten chieftains and warriors of ancient times and have a brooding mystery about them. Enjoy a late winter adventure into the Bronze Age – with wildlife encounters along the way.

Afterwards, join the team in the Plodcast studio for a big round-up of listener messages and questions.

The two organisations mentioned in the team discussion are:

Coflein – The online catalogue of archaeology, buildings, industrial and maritime heritage in Wales https://coflein.gov.uk/en/

Archwilio – The historic environment record of Wales https://archwilio.org.uk/wp/

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 210. The refreshing sound of rushing Dartmoor stream

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Swollen by winter rains, a tiny stream, known as a rill, swarms almost vertically down a cleft in the hillside. As you listen from a bridge above, the stream feels alive, its cleansing sound washing away all weariness.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Sarah Williams, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

287. A wander on the Cornish coast with wildlife presenter and podcaster Gillian Burke

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Enjoy a wander and deep dive into some of the big issues facing our wild world with zoologist and BBC tv presenter Gillian Burke during a beautiful walk along the Cornish coast near Falmouth.

Gillian hosts her own podcast If I Ruled the World which explores big ideas and big themes, looking at the challenges facing the modern world and finding potential solutions. Listen on for a fascinating discussion.

If I Ruled the World is available on all good podcast providers.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 209. Be beguiled by a song thrush singing at dawn

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Early morning on the farm and a song thrush's strident spring call rises above the chatter of starlings and jackdaws. Beautiful and haunting in the cool morning air, the clear notes herald warmer, longer days.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

286. Music and magic on the Dorset coast with folk musicians Ninebarrow

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Join intrepid folk duo Ninebarrow (Jon Whitley and Jay Labouchardiere) for a Plodcast wander over Ballard Down to Old Harry Rocks on the coast of Dorset. Along the way, they sing and play some of their song to evoke landscape, nature and old legends. Pure, unmissable magic.

See more of Ninebarrow on their Wandering Minstrels YouTube channel – and listen to their music on Spotify, Apple and other streaming services.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 208. Enjoy the restful pulse of waves crashing on a Cornish beach

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

It's a bright morning on the Falmouth seafront after a week of rain and wind. The air is still, the sunshine warm, yet the sea is still full of storm energy and crashes on the shore, followed by a seethe of pebbles as the waves retreat.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

285. A quest to find a mysterious ruined tower on a forgotten hill in the Bannau

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

We climb a little-known hill in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) called Allt yr Esgair to search for a mysterious tower lost in the woods. Who built it and why was it abandoned? Join us for a Plodcast of exploration, with wildlife encounters and signs of spring along the way.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 207. Be mesmerised the sound of thawing snow

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

After three days of snow and deep cold, a westerly weather front has swept in – a warm breath to thaw the frozen landscape. You stop outdoors among chirruping redwings, transfixed by the steady drip of meltwater and falls of slush from barn roofs and hedgebanks.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

284. How to train your dog to behave perfectly around livestock and wildlife

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Poorly trained dogs can be a menace to wildlife and livestock – and are a major issue in the UK countryside. This week, host Fergus is joined by friend of the Plodcast James Fair and his dog Dakota to explore the issue.

Dakota, James and Fergus spend a day with dog trainer extraordinaire Helen Merrett in the Gloucestershire countryside to discover the most effective methods for understanding and controlling your dog so that you can have enjoyable, stress-free walks.

Helen Merrett is the owners of Just Paws – find out more at https://justpaws.co.uk

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 206. Experience a landscape transformed by snow

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

It's not quite a white Christmas but early in the New Year, the land is transformed by a thick layer of snow. You can't resist the joyful urge to be the first to make footprints across the sheep fields. Ahead, smoke rises from farm cottages – everyone else is snug indoors.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

283. What lives in the wilds of Lancashire's Forest of Bowland?

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Writer, angler and Plodcast regular Kevin Parr is your host this week, exploring the wild of the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire.

Kev is on a quest for material for a mysterious new book and the object of his mission in Bowland is finally revealed in the studio with the Plodcast team at the end of the adventure.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 205. A winter morning's walk through fields of frost

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Overnight, temperatures fell sharply and you awake to fields made ghostly pale by frost. You put on your boots and shake off the cold with a tramp through the sheep fields accompanied by crows, redwings, ravens and, best still, the brooding calls of a distant stock dove.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

282. Join the Plodcast team for a Big Garden Birdwatch

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

As the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch approaches (24-26 January 2025), the Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah, Jack and Lewis explore what birds are visiting their own very different patches. Check in to hear their tales and local dramas.

And get involved in the Big Garden Birdwatch by visiting www.rspb.org.uk

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 204. Sit beside a crackling wood fire in the depths of winter

Fri, 17 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

It's bitterly cold outside but the fire is lit and crackling in the hearth. You sink into a favourite sofa and sip from a cup of hot chocolate – the gentle chatter of the fire providing all the company you need.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Annabel Ross, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

281. A quest to explore the mysteries of fog, with author Laura Pashby

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Explore the murky world of fog and mist with Laura Pashby. Laura has devoted much of her adult life to experiencing how these strange weather phenomena change ourselves as much as our surroundings.

Plodcast host Fergus Collins meets Laura at the mysterious hill fort of Uley Bury in the heart of the Cotswold Hills and discovers that there's a frightening modern-day story hidden in the fog.

Chasing Fog: Finding Enchantment in a Cloud is published by Simon and Schuster

Follow Laura Pashby on Instagram @circleofpines

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 203. Listen to the tides wash over the Gower shore

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

We're on the south coast of Gower. You’re using a rocky outcrop as a perch to watch the tide come in. The scene is a wash of grey and the sunshine is as watery as the sea.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

280. A quest to find a Templar church lost in the Herefordshire countryside

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

Join a quest in the little-visited no-man's land between Monmouthshire and Herefordshire to seek out a mysterious church built by the Knights Templar 800 years ago. Who were these warrior monks and what were they doing in this corner of the British countryside? And should we believe any of the modern legends about the Templars? As ever, there will be wildlife surprises along the way.

The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com. If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs.

The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 202. Take a pause next to a farm in the heart of rural Wales

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0000

After a long roam across the vast mountains of the Bannau Brycheiniog, you stop to catch your breath. The timid chirps of starlings echo through farmland overlooking the misty, early morning valleys.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Lewis Dobbs, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

279. Follow the Plodcast team as they climb a midwinter mountain to celebrate the New Year

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

The Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah, Jack and Lewis – with special guest Kevin Parr, attempt to climb a mountain in the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) with myths, wildlife and midwinter winter magic all the way to the summit.

Have a very happy new year from all of us at the BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast – may it be filled with wild adventures – and Plodcasts!

The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs.

The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 201. Wander in a misty valley of ravens and sheep

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

You're walking up a shallow valley, smoky with mist, on the border between Wales and Herefordshire. Ravens and jackdaws rule the airwaves here while hungry sheep gather around in the hope that you might be the farmer with a bag of feed. In the hedge, a dunnock gently calls.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

278. Join the the Plodcast Christmas Special and team quiz!

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

It's Christmas Eve and the Plodcast team of Hannah, Jack and Lewis have gathered at host Fergus' cottage on a farm in the Monmouthshire countryside. The fire is lit, the mulled wine is poured and guest Kevin Parr is about to deliver the infamous Plodcast Christmas Quiz. Plus, we take a look back at highlights from 2024.

So pour a drink, grab paper and pen, make yourself comfortable and join the festivities. And from all the team, have a wonderful and merry Christmas.

The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs.

The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 200. Be enchanted by the song of a Christmas stream

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

It's nearly Christmas, and you've escaped the preparations and the bustle to find a moment's peace on a short walk to your local woodland. In a tangled copse, a stream sings merrily, its waters cold and clear.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

277. Meet the women of the Wars of the Roses with novelist Annie Garthwaite

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

The siege of Ludlow in Shropshire was one of the earliest skirmishes in the vicious 15th-century civil known as the Wars of the Roses. It was also home to Cecily, mother of two kings and protagonist of Annie Garthwaite’s celebrated novels about the period.

Podcast host Fergus Collins meets Annie at the gates of Ludlow Castle to hear tales of betrayal and bloodshed - and the important, little-told stories of the powerful women at the heart of the action.

Cecily and The King’s Mother by Annie Garthwaite are published by Penguin.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 199. Listen to the soft patter of snowfall in a garden

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

When snow falls, all other sounds recede. All you can hear is the soft pattering and gentle hiss of millions of snowflakes falling onto the track ahead of you. For once, you stop to listen, to really listen, to the song of snow.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

276. Explore an innovative Welsh farm where nature thrives alongside the livestock

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Meet brothers Ben and Ethan who farm sheep and beef on the edge of Cardiff in harmony with nature. Annabel Ross is your host this week, learning how the farmers are making their land more welcoming to the local wildlife – and better for their livestock.

The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 198. A calming walk through fields of dewy grass

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

After a cold night, the sun rises brightly in a brilliant blue sky. You take advantage, walking across the nearby fields, wellies swishing through the long, dewy grass. The low dawn light makes long shadows of your footprints.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

275. What is the National Forest? Explore this magnificent project with historian Eleanor Barraclough

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 03:00:00 -0000

This week, we return to a summer Plodcast hosted and recorded by historian Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough. Here Eleanor visits the National Forest, a project transforming 200 square miles of the Midlands from industrial landscape into wildlife-rich habitats.

Eleanor meets Stuart Dainton, head of land management and estates in the National Forest, who explains the importance of this incredible transformation. Later, join the Plodcast team in the studio for listener messages and other nourishing nature chat.

Find out more about the National Forest at www.nationalforest.org

The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop. Image by Getty

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 197. Listen to the amusing chatter of starlings in a farmyard

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

It's a foggy, gloomy day on the hill and you've strayed into a quiet farmyard - quiet that is except for the mutterings of starlings. The gang's dark silhouettes are scattered across the rooftops of the cow shed and farmhouse. Their earthy conversations of whistles, rattles, whoops, cackles and chuckles helps dispel some of the heavy atmosphere.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

274. A walk in Roald Dahl country with environmental campaigner Guy Shrubsole

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Plodcast host Fergus walks with campaigner Guy Shrubsole in the Chilterns' woodlands that inspired Roald Dahl's famous children's book: Danny Champion of the World.

And rather like Roald Dahl's characters, Guy uses the issue of pheasant shooting to challenge conventional ideas of how land is owned and managed in Britain today and suggests that things need to change if our wildlife and wild habitats are to survive.

Guy's book, The Lie of the Land is out now and is published by William Collins.

The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs.

The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop. Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 196. Be soothed by the rush and fall of waves on a rocky coast in Wales

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

As the sun is setting over the Welsh coast, we’re sitting above a cleft in the cliffs. Rhythmically, the waves rush and recede in this open-roofed cave. The mist throws up the scent of salt and cold water. As the daylight fades, a blackbird scolds us to go home to bed.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

273. Discover how Empire shaped the British countryside with historian Corinne Fowler

Tue, 19 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Take a walk though the leafy suburbs of south Birmingham with historian Corinne Fowler.

Corinne's studies of how the British Empire impacted rural Britain and her report into how some National Trust properties are linked to slavery drew a chorus of protest from some quarters. Here she explains her work to Plodcast host Fergus Collins and reveals why an honest understanding of rural history is so important.

Corinne's book, Our Island Stories: Country Walks Through Colonial Britain is published by Allen Lane

The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 195. Hear the eerie bellows of red deer stags during the autumn rut

Fri, 15 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

It's a sound that seems more attuned to the uplands of the north and west: the deep haunting bellows of red deer. But we're on the edge of London, among the heaths and woods of Richmond Park. With a backdrop of rose-ringed parakeet chatter, it's a curious blend of wild and exotic.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

272. A wander in the Cambridgeshire Fens with ground-breaking broadcaster Catherine Carr

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Catherine Carr is a podcaster and creator of BBC Radio 4's famed 'About the boys' series on what it's like to be a teenage boy in 2024. Hear her insights on a wild walk through the Cambridgeshire Fens with Plodcast host Fergus Collins.

Listen to Catherine's award-winning podcast Where are you going? www.whereareyougoing.co.uk

And hear her ground-breaking Radio 4 series About the Boys https://bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001yshm

The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 194. Enjoy the beguiling patterns of rainfall in a back garden

Fri, 08 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Forbidding sheets of rain and flooding mean that outdoor adventures must be postponed until tomorrow. But there's something cosy and deeply comforting about being in the dry, listening to the torrent outside. And as you listen, the downpour eases and birds begin to sing with gratitude.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

271. A quest to go fishing on a lake where anglers are rarely allowed

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

We've gone fishing! The Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah, Jack and Lewis plus angler-writer Kevin Parr are given a unique opportunity to spend a day fishing at at lake where anglers are seldom allowed. Sutton Bingham Reservoir is a vast body of water just south of Yeovil in Somerset and is only usually open to flyfishers going after trout. So what else lives beneath the waves?

Under Kevin's mentorship, the team enjoy an extraordinary day... Listen on for magic and drama.

Huge thanks to Wessex Water and Rich the ranger for allowing us access to Sutton Bingham Reservoir. To find out more about fishing at the reservoir, visit: www.wessexwater.co.uk/visit-and-learn/fishing-at-sutton-bingham-reservoir

Also to the Angling Trust for granting day rod licences to the team. Visit https://anglingtrust.net/

The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 193. Sit beside a waterfall in a once-bustling landscape reclaimed by nature

Fri, 01 Nov 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Walking in a wide vale of crumbling relics of a long-lost industrial age, you stumble across a small stream, caught in the act of tumbling over a waterfall. For a moment there is mesmerising movement and sound, then the water disappears down the brackeny slope.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

270. Robert Macfarlane and Johnny Flynn join the Plodcast to celebrate their new children's book

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Nature writer Robert Macfarlane and singer-songwriter-actor Johnny Flynn take Plodcast host Fergus on a ramble along the River Lea in East London. Having collaborated on two albums, the two men are keen to talk about their new children's book of nature produced with illustrator Emily Sutton called The World to Come.

Set among the wilds of the River Lea, The World to Come is a message of hope and beauty. And listen on for a live performance from Johnny of the song that inspired the book.

The World to Come is published by Magic Cat Publishing.

Photo by Peter Flude.

The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 192. Relax to wind in the willows

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

It's early afternoon after heavy rain and you've followed a small brook past waterlogged fields and a stand of willows. The trees' feet, submerged in the swollen water, are tickled by the current while their leaves are tousled by the wind's long fingers.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

269. A wonderful walk and talk with Hamza Yassin

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Wildlife cameraman and TV presenter Hamza Yassin joins Plodcast host Fergus on a walk through an urban oasis deep in the city of Manchester. Hamza talks about his new book, Hamza's Wild World, and reveals the extraordinary determination and sacrifice he needed to get a break in the world of wildlife film-making. It's a piece of Plodcast magic.

Hamza's Wild World is published by Macmillan and available to buy now.

The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 191. Sit for a while in a sunny valley of sheep and fungi

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

You're in a small, steep sided valley with a clear stream fizzing through it. Sheep graze among anthills, and while buzzards and crows call from the clear blue sky, the grass is studded with parasol and waxcap fungi, revealing that autumn has swept in.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

268. Explore a haunted landscape of lost industry in Yorkshire with historian Eleanor Barraclough

Tue, 15 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

We welcome historian and BBC radio presenter Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough back to the Plodcast this week, with a walk through an ex-industrial landscape near Leeds in Yorkshire. With her historian husband John-Henry Clay, Eleanor looks for stories and echoes of lost lives in a landscape reclaimed by nature.

The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs.

The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 190. Escape to a mountaintop among buzzards and ravens

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

You're climbing a small mountain in the Bannau Brycheiniog – and it's hot. So hot, you stop early for your picnic. High on the peak, ravens, buzzards and a single red kite are enjoying the thermals, calling and mewing in the deep blue. From the moorland grass, meadows pipits peep and grasshoppers fizz.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

267. Join a Big River Watch to help save our waterways

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Plodcast host Fergus Collins enjoys an autumn walk by the River Avon near Bath with Emma Brisdion of the Rivers Trust to take part in a Big River Watch. This citizen science project hopes to make an important difference to the health of Britain's polluted waterways. But it's also a chance to pause, watch the world go by and see what wildlife characters might turn up. Join them for a marvellously mellow adventure.

For more on the River Trust and to take part in the Big River Watch, visit https://theriverstrust.org/take-action/the-big-river-watch

The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 189. Listen to life go by along a quiet country lane

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

It's late morning on a quiet autumn day and you're sitting on a welcome bench beside a small lane that winds between wooded pasture and a small estuary. Cheerful robin, chiffchaff and sparrow song blends with the distant laments of curlews, while the sea murmurs in the distance. Even the odd passing car seems strangely soothing.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

266. Take an early morning walk to explore a hillfort in the Bannau Brycheiniog

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Take a magical walk on the last day of summer to find a hillfort on the edge of the town of Brecon and the Bannau Brycheiniog. Plodcast host Fergus looks for ancient stories and nature along the way.

The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 188. Sitting by the banks of a canal

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

You're beside a canal, enjoying a few stolen hours fishing – but really it's an opportunity to relax alone beside the water after the busy summer. A September breeze jostles the weary leaves and the dark, damp, earthy smells of autumn rise with the songs of robins.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

265. Meet wildlife ranger and TV presenter Ajay Tegala

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

This week we return to our visit to the Global Birdfair in Rutland. In the second Plodcast interview of the festival, Plodcast host Fergus met wildlife expert, writer and TV presenter Ajay Tegala to talk about his extraordinary life as a wildlife ranger at legendary Wicken Fen nature reserve.

Later join the Plodcast team for a round up of listener emails and messages – and updates on the latest wildlife news.

Ajay's latest book Ranger Life and Rewildling Wicken Fen, published by The History Press, is out now in paperback.

Special thanks to Charlie Bingham for organising the podcasting at the Birdfair and to Oscar Henderson for the onsite production.

The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team. The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs.

The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop. Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 187. Take a break next to a rushing Dartmoor stream

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

This week, you're perched on a mossy bank, listening to a gentle stream pass through a Dartmoor forest. The water is crystal clear, revealing a microcosm of glistening stones and earthy weeds swaying along the bed.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Lewis Dobbs, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

264. Join the quest to return eagles to the skies of Wales

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Will eagles return to Wales in the next couple of years? Sophie-Lee Williams of Eagle Reintroduction Wales is confident that mighty white-tailed eagles will be soaring in Welsh skies very soon, just as they are in southern England and western Scotland. But how realistic is her plan and how will she deal with the objectors?

Plodcast host Fergus met Sophie-Lee at Kenfig Pool on the coast near Bridgend, where the eagles were last seen in Wales.

For more on Sophie-Lee's project visit eaglereintroductionwales.com/. And to take part in a survey about what you think about reintroducing eagles, www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/WTEPublicOpinionSurvey/

The Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop. Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 186. Listen to the tide rising over a saltmarsh in Carmarthen Bay

Fri, 13 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

It's early morning and we're alone beside the River Towy estuary just downstream from the ancient town of Carmarthen. The tide is rising in mini surges, softly smothering the saltmarsh and tickling the feet of the sea defences.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

263. A journey through the Highlands of Scotland

Tue, 10 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Head out on a Highland road trip with Plodcast regular Kevin Parr as he explores the wildlife of some of finest peaks and glens of Scotland. A marvellously mindful meander.

The Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop. Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 185. Be bewitched by the whispering leaves of aspen trees

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Walking through a lakeside woodland, you become aware of a shimmering, ghostly whisper rising snd swirling around you. A light breeze is gentle bewitching the leaves of a grove of aspen trees.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

262. Explore the strange music within ponds with Alice Boyd

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Join folk singer and sound designer Alice Boyd in Epping Forest on the eastern edge of London as she explores the eerie, little-know soundscapes of ponds with creative sound recordist Action Pyramid, AKA Tom Fisher. Prepare for sounds of the countryside you'll have never experienced before.

Find out more about Action Pyramid and his quest to explore and restore ponds: www.actionpyramid.com/ Image by Jon Rulton

The Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme music was written and performed by Blair Dunlop. Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 184. Relax to the rhythms of waves on the mysterious shores of the Severn Estuary

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

You're walking along a seawall above a forgotten stretch of the Severn Estuary – a gentle tang of seaweed is a reminder that the open sea is not far – as are the waves that surge against the shingly shore.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Lewis Dobbs, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

261. Join the Plodcast team for a train ride out to a forgotten wilderness near Bristol

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

The Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah, Jack and Lewis jump on a little train from central Bristol to explore a wilderness of mudflats, saltmarsh and wildflowers looking for adventure – and new bird species for the Plodcast. Join them for an entertaining wildlife ramble…

The Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. Music written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 183. Delight in the last birdsong of the summer woodland

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

It’s early evening as you follow a long path that disappears into the woods. The trees create a green tunnel high above you. A recent downpour has left the air fresh and the leaves shining. A song thrush celebrates a break in the weather with a song. Invisible at the top of a tall pine, it’s accompanied by the gentle purr of a wood pigeon and the wind in the trees.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Rachael Stiles, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

260. We're on stage at the Global Birdfair with naturalist and geese fanatic Nick Acheson

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

This week, we look back at the amazing Global Birdfair in Rutland, which took place in July. Plodcast host Fergus was on stage to record some plodchats – and in this episode he meets birder and naturalist Nick Acheson to talk about Nick's passion for geese in his native Norfolk. And what's the best way to raise attention about the state of the natural world?

Nick's book is called: “The Meaning of Geese”, published by Chelsea Green.

Later, join the Plodcast team in the studio for a round-up of listener messages, nature chat and sounds of the week.

The Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. Music written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 182. Be mesmerised by the songs of yellowhammers

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

It's a hot summer's day and you're heading from the open slopes of a small mountain to the welcome cool of woodland in the valley below. But before you reach sanctuary, the mesmerising songs of yellowhammers rise with the heat haze from the gorse and bracken.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

259. Find lost artefacts on the River Thames with mudlarker Lara Maiklem

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Join Plodcast host Fergus on the Thames foreshore with legendary mudlarker Lara Maiklem searching for historical artefacts and oddities among the sand, shingle and mud. What will they find? Listen on for a thrilling treasure hunt...

Read Lara's latest book: A Year of Mudlarking, published by Bloomsbury.

The Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. Music written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 181. Take a moorland stroll among pipits and skylarks

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

This week we're striding out across a wider moorland ridge with bilberry, bracken and heather flanking the path. It's a rare calm day in the uplands and the meadow pipits and skylarks sing their wild songs.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

258. Spend the day in a summer meadow at glorious Wakehurst in Sussex

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

This week we're exploring the Royal Botanical Gardens of Wakehurst in Sussex exploring why meadows filled with grasses, herbs and flowers are so vital for wildlife and for our own wellbeing. Annabel Ross is your host, exploring these all-too-rare delights with Wakehurst expert Iain Parkinson.

Later, join the Plodcast team for a 'studio' chat in the meadows of Severn Beach near Bristol to hear your emails and sounds that you've sent in.

Visit kew.org/wakehurst to find out more about Wakehurst, home to the Millennium Seed Bank.

The Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. Music written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 180. Be calmed by gentle rain on summer leaves

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0000

You're walking an ancient tree-line lane up a hillside when a brief summer rain shower takes you by surprise. Sheltering under a kindly horse chestnut, you are lulled by the gentle patter of raindrops on the broad leaves.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

257. A quest for beauty - and yellowhammer song - on a midsummer mountain

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

This week the Plodcast heads into the uplands of the Bannau Brycheinog to explore the summer wildlife that abounds there. Plodcast host Fergus is hoping to find and record the songs of yellowhammers, which dwell on the lower slopes. Or so it's said.

These once-common bright yellow birds have suffered a steep decline in recent decades. Do they still live here? Join the quest – and enjoy numerous other encounters along the way.

The Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. Music written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 179. Chill to a lazy symphony of birdsong in a lakeside woodland

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

The anglers have departed, the dog-walkers have gone home. The lake is still. You are alone by a strip of woodland on the edge of the water, listening to a gentle melodies of song thrush, blackcap and chiffchaff.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

256. One man's quest to drive back the dark woods with music

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Head into the deep dark wood with composer and pianist Alexander Chapman Campbell to hear about his quest to raise awareness of the perils of conifer plantations – and their impact on wildlife, landscape and the human spirit.

Plodcast host Fergus Collins meets Alexander in one of Wales' larger conifer plantations, Hafren Forest in Powys, to talk about trees and listen to some of Alexander's music.

Where Now A Dark Wood Stands - composed by Alexander (Chapman Campbell), featuring Alexander at the piano and vocals by Julie Fowlis. Lyrics written by Alexander (Chapman Campbell), and translated into Scots Gaelic by Raghnaid Sandilands.

Beneath The Northern Stars - composed and performed by Alexander, from the album Journey To Nidaros.

The music video for Where Now A Dark Wood Stands can be viewed, and more of Alexander's work discovered, on his website: www.alexanderchapmancampbell.com

The Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. Music written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 178. Relax in an overgrown churchyard on the mellowest of summer evenings

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

It's evening, just after midsummer's day, and a walk has taken you down a winding lane to a tiny medieval church. In the churchyard, lichen-crusted gravestones emerge from what has been left to become a flower-filled meadow. Only a few goldfinches break the mellow stillness.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

255. A quest to explore the magic of flight with Lev Parikian

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

The Plodcast heads to the dreamy surrounds of Richmond Park in south-west London to discuss the wonders of flights with author and conductor Lev Parikian. Along the way, Lev and Plodcast host Fergus Collins encounter a host of examples of strange and exotic winged creatures.

Lev's book Taking Flight: How Animals Learned to Fly and Transformed Life on Earth is published by Elliott and Thompson

The music Lev mentioned in the Plodcast was:

Olivier Messiaen – Catalogue d'oiseaux

Einojuhani Rautavaara - Cantus Arcticus

Igor Stravinsky - Right of Spring

The Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. Music written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 177. Sunlight and birdsong stream through a summer woodland

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Morning has broken. A wood pigeon coos its lazy welcome to summer, surrounded by a chorus of chaffinches, blackbirds, wrens and chiffchaffs. The new green leaves of June filter the sunlight into watery pools on the forest floor and the tall tree trunks create an acoustic effect of ancient columns and buttresses.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Caroline Greene, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

254. Discover the magic of weeds with artist Anna Chapman Parker

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Join an unusual Plodcast adventure in an urban car park with artist and author Anna Chapman Parker. Anna spent a year watching and drawing the wildflowers in her local town – plants normally dismissed as weeds. And she created an astonishing diary of overlooked beauty.

Here she take Plodcast host Fergus Collins an urban journey of discovery to open our eyes to the magic in every crack in the pavement.

Anna's book: Understorey: A Year Among Weeds is published by Duckworth Books.

The Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. Music written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 176. Enjoy perky parakeets on a walk in Richmond Park

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

This week we're walking across the open grassland of Richmond Park in south-west London. While jets grumble overhead, rose-ringed parakeets can't resist a bit of back-chat from the fringing woodland. And in the brambly scrub, we hear the gentle mutterings of chaffinches and whitethroats.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

253. Who is the Orchid Outlaw? And what is he up to in the wilds of Britain?

Tue, 02 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Take an adventure with the Orchid Outlaw – a man braving danger and risking his freedom to rescue Britain's endangered orchids.

Plodcast host Fergus meets Ben Jacob in the glorious meadows of the Stroud Commons to look for these incredible flowers – with a special quest to find the bizarre bee orchid.

Read Ben's book: The Orchid Outlaw, On a Mission to Save Britain's Rarest Flowers (John Murray).

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. Music written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 175. Spend dusk among the beechwoods of Hampshire

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

We're walking in a summertime Narnia of dappled pathways, whispering leaves and the tall, smooth-skinned trunks of beech trees. This is the Blackwood Forest in Hampshire and as dusk falls on an evening in early June, a woodland choir marks the passing of the day.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Caroline Greene, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

252. What can you find to eat on an urban foraging adventure in Bristol?

Tue, 25 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Savour the joys of foraging – this time in an urban green haven in the middle of Bristol. Plodcast host Fergus joins foraging expert Andy Hamilton for a journey into unusual flavours – and learns how to use wild plants to enhance everyday meals – and drinks.

Andy's latest book is The First-Time Forager, published by The National Trust.

Later, join the Plodcast team in the studio for a very special celebration!

Listen to Episode 192. A quest for rare wildflowers in the Avon Gorge - with Mike Dilger:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3PhEIpZDJZftG3a0b4B4U0?si=c0920a1075504655

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-plodcast/id886112661?i=1000611378135

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. Music written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 174. Spend midsummer beside a chuckling river teeming with life

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

It's a hot midsummer day and sunlight sparkles along a stretch of gentle rapids on the River Usk. On the riverbank, floods have carved small cliffs enticing a colony of sand martins to create a stronghold. The birds sally forth to hunt insects – chattering as they go.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

251. Should we cull some animals to save others - asks Hugh Warwick?

Tue, 18 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Should some animals be killed in order to protect rarer species or precious habitats? Everything from hedgehogs and mink to crows and deers has been targeted in recent years in order to 'save' something else and it's a controversial issue that has troubled conservationists and land managers in the UK for many years.

Naturalist and hedgehog champion Hugh Warwick discusses the rights and wrongs of culling wild animals with Plodcast host Fergus on a late spring walk in a Welsh meadow.

Hugh's book Cull of the Wild: Killing in the Name of Conservation is out now, published by Bloomsbury.

Produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. Music written and performed by Blair Dunlop. Don't forget you can claim a free copy of BBC Countryfile Magazine – simply head to try.countryfile.com/plodcast and sign up for the latest edition.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 173. Enjoy the sultry song of a blackbird at dusk

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Dusk is falling after a busy bank holiday and a welcome peace is settling over the neighbourhood. The flowering clematis and roses seem to breathe a sigh of relief, exhaling a calming perfume. As you sit down on a garden bench, a blackbird sings his sultry love song from the gable of next door's house.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

250. Hear migrant birds as they arrive in the UK at Portland Bill in Dorset - with one very special visitor

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Portland Bill in Dorset is famous as a first landing site for thousands of migrant birds as they arrive to breed in the UK this spring and summer. Join Kevin Parr as he wanders this peninsular meeting these avian travellers – and he makes some extraordinary finds along the way. How many bird species can you hear in this recording?

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 172. Let the waves of Luskentyre Beach wash all stress away

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

We're walking on the white sands of Luskentyre on the Isle of Harris. A gentle line of surf teases the beach. Above, a common tern bobs by on its strangely buoyant flight before suddenly plunging like a downed paper aeroplane to catch small fish in the shallows.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

249. Welsh language and landscape with Julie Brominicks

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Enter Rivendell – or what might as well be – a hidden valley on the edge of Eryri (Snowdonia) in North Wales. Plodcast host Fergus takes a nature ramble with the writer Julie Brominicks who lives off-grid with her partner here in a caravan beside a magical stream.

Julie is a passionate advocate for the Welsh language and explains how it is interwoven with the landscape, nature and the rural culture of Wales.

Produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. Music written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

Don't forget you can claim a free copy of BBC Countryfile Magazine – simply head to try.countryfile.com/plodcast and sign up for the latest edition.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 171. Relax to the gorgeous melody of a willow warbler

Fri, 31 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

We're on the edge of a settlement on the Isle of Harris - lochs and mountains flow from where the houses end. In the quiet of the morning, a willow warbler sings his descant; turning the music of a mountain stream into birdsong.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

248. A quest for eagles on the Isle of Harris

Tue, 28 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Explore a landscape of craggy mountains, turquoise seas and deep blue lochs on the Isle of Harris in search of rare wildlife – and especially golden and white-tailed eagles. Join Plodcast host Fergus on an epic search for these mighty birds – in a series of wild adventures in the Outer Hebrides.

Produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. Music written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 170. A peaceful morning in the Devon countryside

Fri, 24 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

It's bright early morning in East Devon, the ground is still damp from the rains during the night but the light brings an optimistic view of the day ahead. You are between open farmland and a small woodland, sitting with your morning brew and drifting away into the morning soundscape of beautiful birdsong.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Jack Bateman, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

247. Explore Heal, an ambitious new rewilding project in Somerset

Tue, 21 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

A new rewilding project has been announced in Somerset. Created by the charity Heal, the project aims to transform several hundred acres of farmland into wildlife-rich habitat that offers huge benefits for people, too.

Listen on as Plodcast host Fergus meets with Heal CEO Jan Stannard to hear about the plans and what wildlife to expect – and they find some real wildlife surprises along the way.

Find out more about Heal at www.healsomerset.org.uk

Produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. Music written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: www.countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 169. Relax to a song thrush singing by a beautiful stream

Fri, 17 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

After a healing night in a cabin beside a stream, you awake to a cup of tea and a glorious serenade from a song thrush. Wild garlic sweeps along the banks, the tang fresh and invigorating in the early morning.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

246. A quest for greater access to the countryside for people with disabilities

Tue, 14 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Plodcast host Fergus heads to deepest Herefordshire to meet Alice Sainsbury, who is championing greater access to the countryside for people with visible and invisible disabilities. Her own story is deeply moving – and offers powerful insight into the challenges so many people face in simply enjoying the outdoors. Plus, enjoy beautiful spring wildlife along the way...

The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 168. A misty evening in a Lake District forest

Fri, 10 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Hidden under the canopy of a Cumbrian forest, you sit, listening to the creaking of branches and snapping of twigs. Tiny closed-cup mushrooms are scattered across the brown-ish ground, shimmering in a gentle wash of rain. The dense evening fog descends and life beyond the wood is shrouded in mist.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Lewis Dobbs, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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245. A quest to find wild boar in the Forest of Dean with author Chantal Lyons

Tue, 07 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

It's dusk in the Forest of Dean and Plodcast host Fergus is on the trail of wild boar with author Chantal Lyons. Chantal has been studying these extraordinary mammals for 10 years. How did the boar get here, what impact do they have and will Fergus and Chantal ever set eyes on them?

Chantal's new book is Groundbreakers: The Return of Britain's Wild Boar, published by Bloomsbury. The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 167. Relax to the dusk chorus of birdsong deep in the Forest of Dean

Fri, 03 May 2024 02:00:00 -0000

You're sitting on a tree stump in a vast clearing, deep in the Forest of Dean. It's dusk and the rapidly failing light takes the last humans with it, leaving the stage free for the dusk chorus of song thrushes, blackbirds and robins.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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244. Enter the Golden Triangle in search of magical wild daffodils

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Enter the mysterious Golden Triangle on the borders of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire to discover one of Britain's glorious spring wildlife spectacle – the blooming of millions of wild daffodils through the woods and fields. Join Plodcast host Fergus for a special ramble to witness this rare wonder.

Later, join the Plodcast team in the studio for nature news, listener emails and a rare countryside joke.

Produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. Reading by Hannah Tribe. Music written and performed by Blair Dunlop.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 166. Relax to a reading about nightingales from a new Countryfile book

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0000

This week we're relaxing to a delightful piece of writing about nightingales by Dominic Couzens accompanied by the birds themselves – and read by Fergus Collins. Nightingales is from a collection of BBC Countryfile Magazine articles published new book Countryfile: A Year in the Countryside introduced by John Craven and edited by podcast host Fergus Collins.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Read by Fergus Collins.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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243. Embark on a pilgrimage to the River Thames with wild wanderer Phoebe Smith

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Join Plodcast host Fergus and adventurer Phoebe Smith as they take a day-long pilgrimage across the Oxfordshire countryside to explore spring nature - and experience the healing power of walking with purpose. It's a beautiful experience among the skylarks and red kites.

Don't miss Phoebe's fabulous new book about her life-changing experiences while on pilgrimage: Wayfarer: Life, Love and Loss and Britain's Ancient Paths

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 165. A peaceful meditation among the geese at an ancient Welsh lake

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0000

You're wandering beside a lake in early spring sunlight. A newly arrived chiffchaff sings from nearby willows while the plaintive calls from a scattered flock of Canada geese rise from the lakeside meadows. Celandines and marsh marigolds dance in the fringes.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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242. A quest to find spring wildlife on Sugar Loaf mountain

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Step out into spring with Plodcast host Fergus for a wander on his local hill to find who's up and about in the wildlife world on this early spring morning. Will we find the much longed for adders and merlins? Join Fergus for a mindful meander through woodland, moor and vale.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 164. Take a mindful moment beside a rushing stream

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0000

You're beside a stream at the bottom of a wooded valley. You're nearing the end of a long walk so you pause to rest. But soon the rushing water whispers spells and ancient charms of such power that time drifts away.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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241. Welcome to spring on the Plodcast - and hear our new theme tune created by Blair Dunlop

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to spring on the Plodcast and a new season of nature-themed episodes! But first, we have an exciting development! Musician Blair Dunlop and songwriter Duncan Haskell have created an utterly charming theme tune for the Plodcast – so host Fergus met them in a wild corner of Bristol to hear the music live and talk about the inspiration behind the songwriting. It's pure magic - with a natural accompaniment of wild birdsong. Discover more about Blair's music, his new album and upcoming tour dates on his website blairdunlop.com

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 163. Eerie soundscapes from inside a Roman amphitheatre

Fri, 05 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0000

You're on the edge of a the ruins of a Roman town lost in the Hampshire countryside. Only the crumbling outer walls remain, enclosing daffodil-fringed meadows. You plunge down an avenue of trees to emerge into a wide, oval space. You stop beathless, this is the amphitheatre. Half expecting the clash of weapons of ghosts of gladiators – you hear only the stirrings of spring.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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240. In search of the water wolf - the mighty pike - with TV presenter Will Millard

Tue, 02 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0000

This week we're spending the day on a waterway in Gloucestershire in search of a creature that has spawned a thousand myths and monster stories – we're hoping to meet the mighty pike, Britain's largest predatory freshwater fish.

Angler and TV presenter Will Millard is joined by the Plodcast team of Fergus and Jack – and later Annabel – to see if they can get close to one of these beautiful and extraordinary creatures.

Plus we discuss the ethics of fishing – is it cruel?

Listen on for a truly extraordinarily tense end to this season of Plodcasts.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 162. Relax to an amazing chorus of toads recorded underwater

Fri, 29 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0000

You're beside a small pond where toads are thronging the margins, jostling and tootling as they prepare to spawn. Through the magic of a hydrophone, you can hear the extraordinary symphony of the toads' underwater world.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded and introduced by Alice Boyd. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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239. Exploring Roman Silchester and discovering folk music with broadcasting legend Matthew Bannister

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0000

This week we're off to the Roman town of Silchester deep in the Hampshire countryside. Plodcast host Fergus meets legendary broadcaster Matthew Bannister to talk about folk music and the British landscape and his own podcast: Folk on Foot.

Plus, Matthew reflects on his astonishing career with the BBC – and has advice for the corporation and its future.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 161. The satisfying crunch of footsteps on fresh snow

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0000

We're in the Bannau Brycheiniog – and an overnight snowfall has dusted the hilltops. It's melting fast so we've headed to the nearest peak for a satisfying dog walk along snow-covered paths marred only by the footprints of foxes and pipits. A skylark rises and sings of warmer days.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

238. A special night walk in Epping Forest to bring communities together

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0000

This week we're off to Epping Forest on the eastern edge of London on a night walk to hear from those who encounter barriers to accessing nature and the countryside because of their social class, race, gender or sexuality. We'll also be talking to organisations that are trying to change things for the better, for everyone.

Our guide is folk singer and sound designer Alice Boyd – who joins the Plodcast for the first time. www.aliceboyd.info. Images by Getty.

The organisations featured include

William Morris Galley

https://wmgallery.org.uk/

The Hive

https://thehiveintheforest.co.uk/

Misery Party

https://www.instagram.com/miseryparty/

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 160. A gentle morning's chorus of birds in a leafy suburb

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Saturday in a suburb of gardens full of daffodils and crocuses - and the birds are awake long before the human population. House sparrows chatter in the hedges, a coal tit pipes from cherry blossom while goldcrests and jackdaws add their own joyful spring banter.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

237. Join the Plodcast team for a chat about rural issues and the best Plodcast listener recordings from the wild

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Join the Plodcast team of Fergus, Maria and Jack in the studio to chat about their latest wild adventures and discuss country matters and rural issues that have cropped up in recent Plodcast episodes. Plus, we share some brilliant emails and audio recordings sent in by listeners.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 159. Gorgeous woodland birdsong heralds the oncoming spring

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0000

We've stopped in a forgotten, overgrown green lane on a hillside. A bright sun sears deep into the woodland. Winter's blanket is being unstitched by the songs of three birds – a great tit calls, insistently, to his new partner. A song thrush tries out his phrases, testing and repeating them. A goldcrest in the ivy giggles at the throught of spring.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

236. On the trail of a water dragon known as the 'Sussex Knucker'

Tue, 05 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0000

This week we're off to Sussex in the great company of Plodcast regular Maria Hodson. Maria heads to the town of Lyminster to hunt for a terrifying creature called the Sussex knucker. What is the knucker, you ask? Listen on to hear an extraordinary tale drawn from the British countryside.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 158. The haunting cries of seals on a Norfolk beach

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 03:00:00 -0000

This week we’re at Horsey Gap, a long and sandy beach in Norfolk. Over the roar of the North Sea, we can hear the moans and growls of a nearby colony of grey seals. These seals have made their home here, and can be spotted year round on the beach or swimming nearby. Today, they’re sunbathing in the February sun.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded and introduced by Alice Boyd. Image by Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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235. A riverside walk with Wild Woman Philippa Forrester

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Enjoy a walk and talk with documentary maker, writer and TV presenter Philippa Forrester.

While exploring a flooded landscape between Bath and Bristol with Plodcast host Fergus, Philippa talks about her inspiring new book: Wild Woman – exploring the challenges and obstacles women face in the world of nature conservation.

If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 157. The delicious patter of rain as you shelter inside

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0000

This week we're stuck in the greenhouse. We came up to check on the winter salad leaves, and the skies darkened. It’ll only be a short shower, the edges of the cloud are visible through the veil of raindrops on the roof. So, we’ll wait here for a bit, breathing in the rich smell of the earth and listening to the irregular rhythm of the drips off the guttering.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded and introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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234. Explore a desolate graveyard of ships on the River Severn

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Between the villages of Purton and Sharpness on the River Severn, dozens of barges and ships lie on the riverbank, slowly decomposing into the landscape. But the reason why they're here will surprise you. Plodcast host Fergus takes a walk among the river with countryside writer Simon Heptinstall to learn the story of the Purton Hulks.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 156. Melodies of a Welsh stream flowing under ice

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Deep in the Cambrian Mountains, just outside Wales' remotest chapel, a small stream flows out of the barren hills. Now, in the depths of winter, a skin of ice has formed but the water still runs beneath, a soft voice in an empty landscape.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

233. Uncovering mysteries in the Buckinghamshire village of Brill

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Join Plodcast host Fergus and countryside writer Professor Fiona Stafford in the curious hilltop village of Brill to learn how to find hidden history in the landscape around you. Fiona's new book, Time and Tide (John Murray) is a series of fascinating adventures looking at how our countryside is transformed over time - and how quickly things are forgotten.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 155. Enjoy the music of melting icicles in the entrance to a cave

Fri, 09 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0000

You're walking an old tram road in an abandoned quarry in the Welsh hills. It's been deadly cold for weeks and water that normally cascades off the high ground has frozen into dramatic icicles as it runs down rock faces and over cave mouths. But this morning's warm sun has started a thaw and there is a gentle music of water released.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

232. Exploring a haunted ruined chapel lost in a Dorset woodland

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0000

This week, Plodcast regular Kevin Parr explores a lost church in Dorset. St Luke's Chapel was built to serve the village of Sterte near Abbotsbury, in the 1240s. The chapel remained in use until the mid 16th Century when it was abandoned following the Act of Supremacy (1534) that gave Henry VIII the power to disband religious buildings.

All that remains of the chapel (and the village) is a single wall and arch, which stands deep in the woodland of Ashley Chase, although a more recently constructed altar carries votive offerings and painted stones left by the handful of visitors who pick through the trees to pay homage. Kevin samples the atmosphere of this eerie place and looks for ghosts.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 154. Frosty footsteps on a bright and sunny midwinter morning

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0000

It's an icy cold morning and you're walking through a once-waterlogged meadow now made crisp by frost. Low winter sun slants across the surrounding hills, picking out shadows and contours, silhouetting lone trees. As you descend into a shallow valley, distant rooks call from an ancient woodland.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

231. A tale of bloody massacre in the peaceful Monmouthshire countryside

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Hidden in a peaceful corner of the Monmouthshire countryside is a site steeped in blood, treachery and revenge. Plodcast host Fergus and his son Owen set out one cold January morning to uncover the secret of medieval Castell Arnallt (Castle Arnold) - and track down what remains of this ill-fated and now forgotten Welsh castle.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 153. Bathe in stunning spring skylark song - all the way from New Zealand

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0000

You are on high country farm road in the Hakataramea Valley in deepest South Canterbury, New Zealand. Skylark song pours from the heavens, cascading over paddocks of ewes with noisy lambs at foot.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Nick Allen. Image by Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

230. Enjoy a day's beachcombing on Orkney and learn local tales of the sea

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0000

We're beachcombing on Orkney this week. Plodcast regular Annabel Ross meets Martin Gray who has been finding curiosities on the seashore here for several decades. What will they find today? And what are the greatest treasures Martin has ever found? Listen on for more tales from the landscape.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 152. Listen to the eerie calls of cranes on the Somerset Levels

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0000

You're walking a muddy track beside a farm on the edge of a vast expanse of flooded land, the water perfectly reflecting a rare January blue sky. From the barns, a heady odour of sweat and dung rises from the cattle within. Across the marshes, swans sail, occasionally taking to the air on heavy, whoomping wingbeats. And from out of the ancient landscape, the eeries cries of cranes rise above tractor and quad bike engine.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

229. A gentle day's fishing with Will Millard and Kevin Parr on the Mon-Brec Canal

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0000

The Plodcast goes fishing this week with plodcast regular Kevin Parr and author and TV presenter Will Millard. Host Fergus meets them on his local waterway, the Monmouthshire and Breconshire Canal, to talk about why fishing matters to much to them. It's the perfect combination of gentle adventure, chat and humour. But will they catch any fish?

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 151. Walk beside a wild river tumbling from the hills

Fri, 12 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0000

You're walking beside a stream swollen by rain, which tumbles through a wooded valley, crashing over rocks and weirs. Dippers chatter and dive for food, a heron hunts eels in the mill leat and watery sunlight breaks through the leafless canopy. A heavy scent of deep winter leaf decay fills the air.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

228: Walk in the footsteps of soldiers in bloody combat on a Civil War battlefield near Bath

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Plodcast host Fergus joins historian and battlefield tour guide Julian Humphrys at the site of a Civil War battlefield in the hills just north of Bath. It's a dark winter's day and fog descends creating an atmosphere of 'gunsmoke' and eerie sounds. Listen on to hear about how the dramatic battle unfolded...

Find out more about the Battlefields Trust of which Julian is a trustee at https://www.battlefieldstrust.com. And Julian's own website is full of great information: http://www.julianhumphrys.com/

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 150: Be uplifted by a chorus of New Year's robins

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0000

After weeks of rain, it's a clear, calm rosy sunrise. A pair of robins in neighbouring gardens welcome the early sun with wistful phrases as if chatting over the fence. It's a duet to warm the soul in the depths of winter.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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227: Tales of birding in wild places with naturalist and author Stephen Moss

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0000

Plodcast host Fergus joins broadcaster, writer and, best of all, brilliant birder Stephen Moss on a wild stretch of the Somerset coast to look for winter birds on the marshes and mudflats. Stephen also talks about his time as a BBC Natural History Unit producer and his lifelong love of wildlife. But what did they discover today?

Stephen's new book The Owl: A Biography is published by Square Peg. Link https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/455675/the-owl-by-moss-stephen/9781529908268

Image by Getty

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team. Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 149: Be soothed by the rhythms of the sea rising and falling in a remote Welsh cove

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -0000

This week we're on the Ceredigion coast - a lonely cove of shingle with the Irish sea rolling with a soothing rhythm. No one else is around, no one that is apart from a seal bobbing just offshore.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Catrin Collins.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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226: Brace yourself for a wild nighttime swim under a full moon in the depths of winter

Tue, 26 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -0000

What is it like to swim outdoors under a full moon in the depths of winter? Maria Hodson braves the inky waters of Clevedon Marine Pool with the Bristol Blue Tits to learn about what cold water swimming can do for you.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 148: A morning of gulls and rooks on the Somerset Coast

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Where the Somerset Levels meet the sea, broad, marshy pastures and forgotten fields host gulls, rooks, crows and egrets, foraging for food stirred up cattle and horses wintering here. But the birds are ever watchful – there are hunters here, peregrines roving the overcast sky ready to strike.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

225: It's the Plodcast Christmas special - join the team for the Christmas quiz and other seasonal silliness

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0000

Join Plodcast host Fergus and regulars Kevin Parr and Annabel Ross as well as editor Dan Kramer-Arden for a lighthearted look back at a year of recording nature – and take part in Kev's great Christmas quiz! Plus plenty more natural silliness to enjoy.

Wild wishes from the Plodcast team and have a very merry Christmas.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 147: Be calmed by the autumn song of a Welsh mountain river

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -0000

You're in a wintry valley following a boisterous stream high into the Welsh hills. After recent rain, the water boils and churns and the river's song is wild and free. Fighting against the current are huge salmon, leaping lightning fast through the rough waters to reach the calmer spawning grounds.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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224. A quest to see salmon leaping in a Welsh mountain stream

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Come with us deep into the Welsh hills, to Gilfach Farm, a magical Radnorshire Wildlife Trust reserve in Powys. Here, in the tumbling River Marteg, salmon still leap waterfalls and rapids to reach their spawning grounds. Will plodcast host Fergus spot this incredible natural spectacle. With huge thanks to naturalist Megan Shersby and Radnorshire Wildlife Trust's head of conservation Sylvia Cojocaru for the wildlife insights and expertise.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 146: Revel in the crackle and murmur of an autumn night's party beside a bonfire

Fri, 08 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -0000

It’s a chilly evening and you are gathered with a crowd of others next to a large bonfire. The warmth it provides is a welcome break from the chilly air and the glow lights up the faces of joy around the neighbourhood park.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Jack Bateman, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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223: Hear the mysterious tales of Orkney's might stone circle: The Ring of Brodgar

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Explore the magic and myth of the Ring of Brodgar – an astonishing neolithic stone circle on Orkney in the company of local ranger Sandra Miller and the Plodcast's own Annabel Ross. Enjoy a blend of history, mystery and folklore…

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 145: Let sea and birdsong transport you to a wild corner of Orkney

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 03:00:00 -0000

You're on the wild and windy beach of Orkney’s South Ronaldsay. You listen to the cry of turnstones, plovers, sanderlings and redshanks, competing for the lead solo part, as they take flight from the water’s edge with the grey seals peacefully watching on.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Annabel Ross, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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222: Follow in the footsteps of St Patrick on the stunning coast of County Down

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Join Plodcast host Fergus and wonderful storyteller Duane Fitzsimons as they following in the footsteps of St Patrick along the coastline of Co Down. As they search for St Patrick's Well and his final resting place, Duane recounts tales of local folklore, shipwrecks and chilling ghost stories. This is the final episode of 4 in 2023 exploring St Patrick's Way in Northern Ireland.

For more about Duane and the magical Lecale Peninsula see www.lecalepeninsula.com/

A huge thanks to Tourism Northern Ireland for making these adventures possible.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 144: Relax to the crackle of falling beechnuts in an autumn woodland

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -0000

As the fluttering of pigeons' wings loosen the last beech nuts of the season, you stand under a gentle shower of nature’s crackles and pops, reminding us that autumn is in full flow. Majestic beech trees envelop you, offering up their fruits to passing wildlife.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Annabel Ross, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

221: Experience a night walk in an ancient woodland in a forgotten corner of Gloucestershire

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Enjoy a night walk in an ancient forest in Gloucestershire with the Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah and Jack. What is it like walking in the pitch black – and what stories and wild encounters will they experience? To help them in their quest, they deploy night vision scopes…

The night vision devices used by the team were:

Bushnell Equinox X650

Nightfox Corsac Night Vision Binoculars

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 143: Be soothed by waves on pebbles in a small Scottish harbour

Fri, 17 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Where the Burn of Latheronwheel meets the North Sea, you sit silently on the ancient harbour wall soaking in autumn sun, The waves draw the pebbles back down into the the depths of the peaty water. Once home to fifty boats, where salmon was a regular catch, Latheronwheel is now a ghost of its past, with the voices of long gone fishermen whispering onto the shore.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Annabel Ross, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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220: Tales of ancient fossils and fossil hunters in Dorset

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0000

This week, the Plodcast tales are as ancient as can be. We’re in Dorset with Plodcast regular Annabel Ross hunting 500-million-year old fossils in the company of author and paelontologist Wolfgang Grulke, who has amassed an extraordinary collection of the strangest and rarest fossils on earth.

Join them for a weird and wonderful adventure into prehistory.

For more about Wolfgang Grulke, inclusing details on how to visit his collection, head to https://wolfganggrulke.com/author.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 142: Listening to a storm outside while sitting indoors by the fire

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -0000

We’re in a little cottage deep in the Dorset countryside. The fire is lit. Steam swirls from a mug of tea. The curtains are drawn and we wait. Outside, there is a moment of calm as though the world is taking a deep breath. A storm is rolling in off the Atlantic, but before the wind comes the rain. Thudding into the brickwork and flicking off leaves and guttering. In the warm, we cosy up to listen.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Kevin Parr, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

219: Meet Mark Beech – the new series editor of the Countryfile TV programme

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Meet the new boss of Countryfile and learn about what he has planned for the UK’s most popular countryside TV show. Plodcast regular Annabel Ross takes Mark for a walk in a wonderful Mendip vale in north Somerset – listen on for some fascinating insight into rural passion and programme making.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us: Plodcast, Countryfile Magazine Eagle House Bristol BS1 4ST

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 141: Pause beside a roaring and refreshing mountain stream

Fri, 03 Nov 2023 03:00:00 -0000

We're following a narrow mountain path through thickets of inpenetrable birch. It's been a long, hot, footsore day and so you are easily seduced by the sound of a tumbling stream. From a rocky cleft, ice-cold clear water pours. You stop to bathe your feet and splash your face. It is delicious.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

218: Spend an evening in the company of a deer stalker in southern England

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 03:00:00 -0000

It’s dusk in a valley somewhere in Dorset. Plodcast regular Kevin Parr has joined a local deer stalker to talk about why – and how – he culls these large mammals. Join the Plodcast team later in the studio to discuss some of the issues raised.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us: Plodcast, Countryfile Magazine Eagle House Bristol BS1 4ST

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 140: The dreamy sound of the autumn meadow

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 02:00:00 -0000

We're resting on a field gate. Late summer warmth spills into the autumn. The sun slow to rise but blazing when it does.

The overnight dew clings on in the shadows, while the long grass of the field margins rattle with the chirrup of grasshoppers.

Flies and bees buzz. A nuthatch bubbles from the hedgerow. A last hurrah before the first frost.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Kevin Parr, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

217: Hear the mysterious and magical songs of trees – with musician Tiny Leaves

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 02:00:00 -0000

In our latest quest seeking tales from the British landscape, musician Tiny Leaves takes Plodcast host Annabel Ross onto a mysterious hill in Shropshire known as the Long Mynd. Here, Tiny Leaves has discovered a way of recording the songs of trees and plants and incorporating them into his music. But what do the ‘voices’ of trees sound like? Listen on to find out – it’s pure magic.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us: Plodcast, Countryfile Magazine Eagle House Bristol BS1 4ST

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 139: Relax to the patterning of rain on autumn leaves

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 02:00:00 -0000

We’re on a small, wooded hill in Herefordshire. Sullen clouds gather over the trees, which cloak the brooding ramparts of an ancient hillfort. It’s silent now, its people long gone, replaced by birds and badgers. A gentle rain falls, pattering through the canopy of hazel and oak.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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216: Dark tales from a hillfort in deepest Herefordshire

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Come with us to a mighty hillfort, all but forgotten on a wooded hill deep in the Herefordshire countryside – and discover tales of dark deeds long ago.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us: Plodcast, Countryfile Magazine, Eagle House, Bristol, BS1 4ST

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 138: Take a wander around a bustling harbourside

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 02:00:00 -0000

It’s early autumn and the sunshine has brought bustle to a small harbour on the south coast. There is a light breeze and the air is soft.

Families find fun with crab-lines, lowering baits between the fishing boats and dinghies. The sea a gentle swell beneath the sound of footsteps on the flagstones.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Kevin Parr, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

215: Into the Deep Dark Wood with children's author Julia Donaldson

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Wander through a Sussex woodland with Julia Donaldson for a joyous mix of story-telling, mushroom foraging and Gruffalo-reenactment! Relive Julia’s journey to becoming one of the world’s most famous children’s authors as well as hearing the tales behind the Gruffalo and other family favourites, You’ll hear about her new book – The Oak Tree, illustrated by Victoria Sandøy who also joins the Plodcast along with Julia’s mushroom-hunting husband Malcolm.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 137: Enter a trance-like state to the song of a cicada in a French garden

Fri, 06 Oct 2023 02:00:00 -0000

We’re in the garden in a small village in Picardy in Northern France. The early evening warmth teases sweet scent from the lavender bushes and myrtles while a single cicada plays its eternal silvery zither, drawing down the night.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

214: A quest to find a mysterious standing stone in a Welsh desert

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 23:00:00 -0000

Welcome to a new season of Plodcasts, a new series of quests to explore overlooked corners of countryside where folklore and mystery create curious tales. And along the way, we’ll be encountering wonderful wildlife and fascinating human characters.

In this first episode, Plodcast host Fergus and his son Owen wander out into a corner of the Bannau Brycheiniog lost to the ravages of the industrial revolution in search of lost standing stone. Here’s what they found.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us: Plodcast, Countryfile Magazine Eagle House Bristol BS1 4ST

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 136: The delicious sound of rain on a porch while you shelter inside

Fri, 29 Sep 2023 02:00:00 -0000

What weather! At times like this you forget it can rain so hard; the clouds overturned and emptied like water buckets on the ground before you. You find a step in the porch of the old farmhouse and make yourself comfortable. The rain continues to cascade. Puddles sparkle. Leaves spiral down, caught up in the storm.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Daniel Graham, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

213: Join the Plodcast team as they look forward to a new season of adventures in the wild countryside

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 23:00:00 -0000

It’s the end of summer and the end of a season of Plodcasts. Join the Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah and Jack in the studio for a look forward to what you can expect over the autumn and winter months – plus a fabulous listener email… and cake.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us: Plodcast, Countryfile Magazine Eagle House Bristol BS1 4ST

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound escape 135: A lazy stroll along a beach of shingle in the sunshine

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 02:00:00 -0000

A late summer stroll through the shingle and sand of the south coast. There is warm sunshine between the cloud and a busy beach with families making the most of the holidays. Splash and laughter, ice-cream and sun-screen. And the gentle wash of the sea.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Kevin Parr, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

212: A charity hike through the Wye Valley – on the hottest day of the year

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Walk in the company of Jack and Fergus and they tackle Macmillan's Mighty Hike, a half marathon through the Wye Valley. Joining thousands of others, the Plodcast pair explore beautiful scenery, endure ferocious heat and hear the inspiring tales of cancer survivors and affected families along the way. A beautiful, uplifting adventure to end season 16 of the Countryfile Magazine Plodcast

For more information on Macmillan Cancer Support Mighty Hikes, visit https://mightyhikes.macmillan.org.uk/

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us: Plodcast, Countryfile Magazine Eagle House Bristol BS1 4ST

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 134: Pure clear water tumbles over a waterfall in a Irish fairy glen

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 02:00:00 -0000

You’ve wandered into a fairy glen where pure clear water tumbles from pool to pool though mini-gorges of moss covered rocks. As your eyes adjust, you spot small trout swaying in the current, illuminated by soft sunlight that has been sieved by the tree canopy.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

211: War, peace and woodpeckers in France's Ardennes forests

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Talk a wander through a forest in the Ardennes region of north-east France with Plodcast host Fergus – and discover unfamiliar woodland sights and sounds in a land once torn apart by war.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us: Plodcast, Countryfile Magazine Eagle House Bristol BS1 4ST

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 133: A heady summer's afternoon serenaded by goldfinches

Fri, 08 Sep 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Your path down through the meadow’s edge is transformed in late summer as thistles, comfrey and Himalayan balsam swallow up the human-made track. You push gently through, avoiding thorns and clouds of hoverflies while goldfinch song trickles down from ash trees.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

210: Walking St Patrick's Way 4: Biking in Tollymore Forest

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 02:00:00 -0000

It’s as close to a fairy glen you’ll ever experience. Plodcast host Fergus sets off into Tollymore Forest in County Down with local guide Vikki Canavan to find strange tales and curious wildlife along a river brimming with magic.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us: Plodcast, Countryfile Magazine Eagle House Bristol BS1 4ST

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sound Escape 132: A cool woodland walk beside a racing river

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Your cool, shady walk through a riverside woodland is pierced briefly by a kingfisher's wheezed whistle. The water roars as you approach rapids, then subsides as you turn away deeper into the trees. A wren sings and a robin scolds the earthy smells that tell of autumn.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

209: A quest to experience the autumn migration of birds on Cromarty Firth in Scotland

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Be transported to the tranquil shores of the Cromarty Firth on the east coast of Scotland. Here, thousands of waders and wildfowl gather as autumn approaches, providing a magical spectacle for human visitors. Join Plodcast regular Annabel Ross and birders Fiona and Graham Reid so see what might turn up in this wild estuary.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us: Plodcast,

Countryfile Magazine

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 131: Bask in the afternoon sun beside the sea

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 02:00:00 -0000

After a sunny afternoon of exploring the rock pools you take a seat and listen to the waves crash gently against the rocky shorefront. Down the beach visitors enjoy a quiet lunch whilst enjoying the sea breeze.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Jack Bateman, presented by Brittany Collie.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

208: Walking St Patrick's Way 3: a quest to climb the Mourne Mountains

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Enter the wild worlds of Narnia and Game of Thrones as Plodcast host Fergus and local outdoorsman John Keating seek out the great Mourne Wall deep in the magical Mourne Mountains of Northern Ireland. What is this strange monument and why was it built? And why is this land associated with great fantasy epics?

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us: Plodcast, Countryfile Magazine Eagle House Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 130: Start the day in a wild woodland

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 23:00:00 -0000

It's early morning and as the sun breaks through the canopy of leaves and the wrens, blue tits, robins begin their cheerful chatter.

A new day is coming to life and you're in the centre of it.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Jack Bateman, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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207: Conversations between a poet and his birds – on the Isle of Seil

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Island poet Kenneth Steven reveals the wildlife marvels on his doorstep – the Isle of Seal in the Inner Hebrides – and introduces us to a range of avian characters. Plus, enjoy his wonderful poetry. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us: Plodcast, Countryfile Magazine Eagle House Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 129: Paddle your way gently down the River Wye

Fri, 11 Aug 2023 02:00:00 -0000

This week we're paddleboarding on the River Wye, Leave all your worries on the riverbank and be lulled by the gentle, rhythmic swish of the paddle blade. The water swirls around you, shoals of fish shoot away from your bow, birds peep from the stooping alders.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Maria Hodson, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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206: Walking St Patrick's Way Part 2: The wildlife of the Newry Canal

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 02:00:00 -0000

In the second part of our exploration of the St Patrick's Way pilgrimage in Northern Ireland, Plodcast host Fergus Collins and guide Peter Rafferty walk south along the Newry Canal in Armagh. Abandoned in the mid 20th century, the canal is now a haven for wildlife – with whispers of history at every turn. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us: Plodcast, Countryfile Magazine Eagle House Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 128: Wild winds and calm waters in the Highlands

Fri, 04 Aug 2023 02:00:00 -0000

We're in Beinn Eighe (Ben Ay) in the Scottish Highlands

The mountains this morning are ill-manner; the trails rough, the gullies deep, the mist consuming. Winds elbow by like rushing commuters, and with them they bring rain. But such is the nature of summer in the Scottish Highlands that just as afternoon breaks the skies clear and a new day appears. Jubilant with the sparkling light, you pause by a high loch among even higher peaks to dry off and soak up the scene.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Daniel Graham, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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205. A quest for one of Britain's rarest birds in the Cairngorm mountains

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 02:00:00 -0000

This week we’ve invited a former Plodcast guest to take the reins. Back in episode 199, I met James MacDonald Lockhart to hear the songs of skylarks in the Cotswolds.

This week, we’re releasing him into his natural habitat – the wilds of Glenfeshie and surrounding Cairngorm mountain range – in a quest to meet one of Britain’s most unusual birds: the dotterel.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us: Plodcast, Countryfile Magazine Eagle House Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 127: The delicious patter of rain on a tent – on the Pembrokeshire coast

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 23:00:00 -0000

It’s night in a tent on the coast of Pembrokeshire. At some point during the dark hours, you stir. The rain is still falling, and there are layers to its sound. Great marbles of water fall from the beech tree above the tent; the wind throws buckets; then both become consumed by a deluge like no other, a shower so heavy that you could be in the raincloud itself. You’re grateful for your warm sleeping bag, and before you know it you’ve dropped once more into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Recorded by Daniel Graham, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team - and send your sound recordings of the countryside - to: editor@countryfile.com

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204: Adventure into the Welsh hills on an electric bike

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 02:00:00 -0000

This week we’re heading back to early spring in the Welsh hills. But for the second Plodcast in a row, we’re not on foot. Following last week’s paddleboarding on the river Wye, plodcast host Fergus takes to two wheels to explore the hills of his beloved Bannau Brecheiniog.

Borrowing an electric bike, he follows an old railway line into the wild to see how far he can get on a single battery charge – and get home again.

This is episode 13 of season 16: Get Active in Nature

Thank you to Merida for supplying the Merida eBigNine model for this podcast.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us: Plodcast,

Countryfile Magazine

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 126: Relax beside a magical woodland stream on the edge of Cardiff

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Huddled between the urban brawn of Cardiff, Caerphilly and Newport is small woodland of spruce and birds and dank gullies. There is a stream in this woodland, the kind of you may not even notice, should your mind be elsewhere. Out of view beneath the path, it is the cool air welling up from its jostling waters that first alters you to it. You soon smell it, all earth and minerals, before finally reaching it with sight.

Recorded by Daniel Graham, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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203: Drift gently down the River Wye on a paddleboard

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 02:00:00 -0000

This week we’re out on the water – a two-day paddleboarding adventure on the Wye the great river that flows through the borders of England and Wales. Maria Hodson is our host, and with an enthusiastic raft of fellow paddlers she meets the river’s wildlife and explores some of the darker issues facing this troubled waterway.

This is episode 12 of season 16: Get Active in Nature

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

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Sound Escape 125: Relax to birdsong in a woodland glade on the Isle of Wight coast

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 02:00:00 -0000

It’s a sunny evening in a wooded glade on quiet stretch of the Isle of Wight's northern shore. Just beyond the trees, the sea bustles. But here, jolly holiday makers, blackbirds, woodpeckers and even bees are celebrating the end of a fine day.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Jack Bateman, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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202: Listen to the poetry of moss in a Dartmoor rainforest with Elizabeth-Jane Burnett

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 02:00:00 -0000

This week Annabel Ross ventures forth to the tangled rainforest of Wistman’s Wood on Dartmoor to meet poet Elizabeth Jane Burnett.But their mission isn’t to celebrate the revered twisted oak trees or the famous song birds – nor even the ferns and flowers. It’s the mysterious, magical and mesmerising… mosses – especially wonderful when heard through the words and verse of Elizabeth-Jane. Her new book, 12 Words for Moss champions these unsung heroes of the plant world.

This is episode 11 of season 16: Get Active in Nature

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

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Sound Escape 124: A mindful few minutes beside a rockpool in Wester Ross

Fri, 07 Jul 2023 02:00:00 -0000

You spot a shelf of rock at the far end of the moon-shaped bay and make for it, the fine sand giving way to warm, angular, salt-rough ground. The scramble comes almost without thought, your bare feet gripping nimbly to the rock. You soon come to rest in a nook facing back to the shore. Kelp rolls in the mineral-blue waters at your toes; beyond that is the moon beach, your footprints already washed clean by the gently shelving waves.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Daniel Graham, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

201. Finding music in nature with composer Erland Cooper

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Plodcast host Annabel Ross is on a musical mission, discovering how nature and wild sounds can influence a modern composer – in

this case, acclaimed musician Erland Cooper. Hailing from the Orkneys, Erland combines field recordings and environmental messages with electronica and classical motifs and we’ll be hearing some of his music later: Solan Goose and then Movement 5 from his new album Folded Landscapes.

But first let’s go with Annabel to meet Erland to have a nature ramble at a studio just outside of bath –a studio belonging to that legendary music maker Peter Gabriel.

This is episode 10 of season 16: Get Active in Nature

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

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Sound Escape 123: Soothing waves on shingle – on the Isle of Wight

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 02:00:00 -0000

It's a still summer's evening on a beach on the Isle of Wight. It’s still very warm and the heat seems to affect the sea itself. Wavelets sweep lazily onto the beach and then flop and sink into the shingle.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Jack Bateman, presented by Fergus Collins.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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200. Episode 200 Special: A quest for kingfishers in the heart of Bristol

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 02:00:00 -0000

The Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah and Jack explore the River Frome in search of kingfishers, which some of the team have never seen. Along the way, they discover delightful urban wildlife, glorious wildflowers and a series of curious encounters… but do they find complete their mission?

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 122: Chris Yates reads from the Secret Carp

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 02:00:00 -0000

This week we're heading deep into the Sussex countryside in the company of writer and angler Chris Yates. In this, the first chapter from his book The Secret Carp, Chris heads out on an eerie late summer's evening to find the perfect pool for fishing. The whole work is now available as an audiobook from merlineunwin.co.uk/products/”

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.Presented by Hannah Tribe.Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.comVisit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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199. A quest for skylark song in the Cotswold Hills with James MacDonald Lockhart

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 02:00:00 -0000

This week we’re going back to early spring and a trip to the north Cotswolds in Warwickshire to meet James Macdonald Lockhart who has written a book inspired purely by birdsong. Rather like our Plodcasts, James has spent several years on quests to listen to some of Britain’s most famous – and curious – avian melodies – and his book Wild Air reveals his adventures and the little known stories behind each species.

In this quest, we were after perhaps the most written about – the most composed about – bird of them all: the skylark.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 121: A dreamy dawn chorus in a remote Scottish valley

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 02:00:00 -0000

We’re near Loch Maree in western Scotland. You’re not sure what woke you first, the light or the birds. Either way, you stir peacefully in your bed, the sun casting half-light across the stone walls of the cottage as the lilts of Scotland’s avian world pour in through the open windows. A wood pigeon, a cuckoo, a blackbird. Sparrows in the eaves.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Daniel Graham, presented by Fergus Collins. Image by Getty

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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198. A wander in a bird of prey sanctuary with Megan McCubbin

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 02:00:00 -0000

This week we’re meeting naturalist Megan McCubbin who listeners will know from co-hosting TV shows such as Springwatch alongside her step-father Chris Packham. Plodcast host Fergus met up with Megan at the Hawk Conservancy Trust centre in Hampshire to talk about her new book – An Atlas of Endangered Species – and to find out more about her message of hope and action for a better future for our wild world.

This is episode 7 of season 16: Get Active in Nature.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 120: Soothing waves rising and falling on a beach in Wester Ross

Fri, 09 Jun 2023 02:00:00 -0000

We're in Wester Ross in the Highlands. The drive to road’s end is long and leisurely, the statuesque mountains and island-scattered lochs of Wester Ross giving way to the persuasions of the sea. Tiny ocean inlets, sail boats, seaweed shores. By the time you reach Red Point, you hear the waves calling, and within moments you’re sat on the sand, the breaking water pulling all your senses towards it.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Daniel Graham, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

197. Why rewilding can save Britain's wildlife – an interview with Isabella Tree at Knepp Wildlands

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Plodcast host Fergus meets Isabella Tree, who with her husband Charlie Burrell, transformed a loss-making dairy farm at Knepp in Sussex into one of the most remarkable havens for nature recovery in Europe. Hear the incredible story – and the ongoing projects to further enrich the estate and the wider countryside with nature.

Look out for Isabella's new guide to bringing nature back to the land: The Book of Wilding, published by Bloomsbury.

Photograph by Anthony Cullen

This is episode 6 of season 16: Get Active in Nature.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 119: An astonishing nightingale duet in a Dorset woodland

Fri, 02 Jun 2023 02:00:00 -0000

We’re tucked deep in the folds of the north Dorset countryside. As the light fades the dusk chorus rises. In a dense thicket of thorn, a single nightingale starts to sing - drowning out the tractor mowing the year’s first silage. Its performance attracts the attention of another male, who moves in closer and soon a competitive duet fills the night.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Robert Ashington, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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196. A quest for nightingales at Knepp Wildlands in Sussex

Tue, 30 May 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Plodcast host Fergus camps overnight at the most famous rewilding estate in Britain in the hope of finally hearing nightingales on the Plodcast. But as the birds remain elusive, he joins nightingale surveyors Ivan and Alice at the crack of dawn to explore the extraordinary landscapes of Knepp, learn about the astonishing wildlife revival happening here and maybe, just maybe, catching the most magical birdsong to be heard in Britain.

This is episode 5 of season 16: Get Active in Nature. With thanks to Ivan, Alice and all the team at Knepp.

In next week's episode, we talk with Isabella Tree who, with her partner Charlie Burrell owns Knepp and has pioneered the rewilding project. Look out for her guide to bringing nature back to the land: The Book of Wilding, published by Bloomsbury.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 118: Relax to spring birdsong in a Dorset garden

Fri, 26 May 2023 02:00:00 -0000

It's late morning in a springtime Dorset garden. The morning was cool and rainy, but as the wind blows in the trees and mist clears; you look out over the hills as the bird song comes to life. Wood pigeons coo from trees now bright with fresh spring leaves. Blue tits and starlings land on the gently swaying bird feeders to eat their fill. A proud robin bounces across the stone steps into the garden, inviting you to explore.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Daniel Kramer-Arden, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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195. A quest for peace with Charlotte Church in deepest Wales

Tue, 23 May 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Head with us to deepest Powys in mid Wales to The Dreaming. This wonderful house and surrounding landscape has been opened up as a place of retreat by sing-songwriter Charlotte Church. Our own Margaret Bartlett went to meet Charlotte and learn how she uses the natural landscape and its wild sounds to help heal visitors – and herself. It's a wonderfully uplifting conversation.

This is episode 4 of season 16: Get Active in Nature

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 117: Celebrate the stunning dawn chorus at Knepp Wildlands

Fri, 19 May 2023 02:00:00 -0000

It's early and you're sitting outside a small tent deep the Knepp Wildlands of Sussex. A pre-dawn glow smudges the eastern sky. Elsewhere it is resolutely dark – but not quiet. Like a spring storm torrent, the blended voices of robins, blackbirds, blackcaps and thrushes wash away the woodsmoke tang of last night's campfires. It is urgent, passionate and fleeting.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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194. A quest to find St Patrick in Northern Ireland

Tue, 16 May 2023 02:00:00 -0000

We’re in Armagh in Northern Ireland, following in the footsteps of St Patrick. The patron saint of Ireland lived in the 5th century and his incredible story has helped shape Ireland since then. But why was he drawn to Armagh? Fergus Collins set out on a new pilgrimage route called St Patrick’s Way to find out more, beginning at the mysterious ancient site of Ewain Macha – known today as Navan Fort – that was a powerful spiritual centre in preChristian Ireland and a key site in the tale of St Patrick.

This is episode 3 of season 16: Get Active in Nature

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 116: A stream sparkles through Silent Valley

Fri, 12 May 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Ebbw Vale in South Wales holds many secrets, not least within the water-rucked hillsides that feed the valley. On one such slope there is an ancient woodland. At its base a river sparkles beneath a canopy of fresh beech leaves. You cross it and climb steeply, first through trees then heath and grassland. Bluebells bob in the May breeze; a lizard rustles in the warm bracken; streams gurgle in the sun.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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193. An unlikely pilgrimage with Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton

Tue, 09 May 2023 02:00:00 -0000

In episode 2 of season 16, we’re talking about walking, but in the context of a curious new film: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry starring Penelope Wilton and Jim Broadbent – about a man in his 60s who embarks on an unlikely 450 mile pilgrimage across Britain to see a dying friend.Plodcast regular Maria Hodson went to see the film – and meet Penelope and Jim, as well as the original book’s author (and writer of the screen play) Rachel Joyce to talk about the project – and their own connections to countryside. Later, Maria and Plodcast host Fergus test the power walking with a trip to the Mendip Hills near Bristol…

This is episode 2 of season 16: Get Active in Nature

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 115: Wistful mistle thrushes and willow warbers in a Mendips vale

Fri, 05 May 2023 02:00:00 -0000

We're in Velvet Bottom nature reserve in the Mendips where woodlands and wildflowers have overun the old lead mines. It's still early spring and mistle thrushes, willow warblers, goldfinches are establishing territories in the most enchanting fashion.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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192. A quest for rare wildflowers in the Avon Gorge – with Mike Dilger

Tue, 02 May 2023 02:00:00 -0000

In the first episode of a new season, the Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah and Jack meet up with naturalist and One Show regular Mike Dilger to search for some of Britain’s rarest plants in the magnificent Avon Gorge on the edge of Bristol.Along the way Mike shares some astonishing stories from his quest to find 1000 plant species in the UK in the course of a single year. His book about this adventure is called 1000 Shades of Green and is published by Bloomsbury.

This is episode 1 of season 16: Get Active in Nature

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com.

If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 114: Skylarks ascending over a field of barley

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 02:00:00 -0000

We're on the northern edge of the Cotswolds in South Warwickshire – a vast open field of young barley stretches to the horizon. Quietly at first, then all of a rush, a hidden chorus of skylarks rises from the vegetation, singing exultantly, ever higher until they become specks in the cloudy heavens.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 113: Enjoy the stirring cacophony of a rook colony

Fri, 21 Apr 2023 02:00:00 -0000

We wandering in deeply rural County Armagh. It's early spring and the rooks rule the woodlands. Nesting close together in the canopies of a dozen roadside trees, the birds create a bustling city of more than 300 birds. Pairs greet each other and squabble with neighbours – and all the while the excitement rises as the first chicks begin to hatch.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewherebeautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Fergus Collins, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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191. Introducing season 16 of the Plodcast – getting out into nature

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to the Plodcast – the nature and countryside podcast from BBC Countryfile Magazine. This is a preview of season 16 of the Plodcast where the regular team of Fergus, Hannah and Jack celebrate early spring, talk about upcoming episodes and invite you, the listener, to get involved. The new season of the Plodcast begins on 2 May.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 112: Relax to the gentle babble of spring in the Lake District

Fri, 14 Apr 2023 02:00:00 -0000

We're in Blawith Fells in the Lake District. he walk up to the tarn felt a little like a dream; the sun-warmed lane rising gently – rhythmically – between trickling brooks and beds of bracken, beyond which rolled the flaxen commonlands of the Blawith Fells. You reach the pool and settle on a tussock of grass beside it. Water trickles and birds sing as Lakeland’s higher fells glow to the north in the rare spring sun.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 111: Eerie birdcalls from the Avalon Marshes

Fri, 07 Apr 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Sun spills over the Avalon Marshes, driving away the last vestiges of winter. Chiffchaffs have arrived, bringing their flinty song two-note song to the reedbeds and willows. Across the water comes the hysterical giggling of courting little grebes.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 110: The start of spring in South Wales

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 02:00:00 -0000

The first inklings of spring are stirring in the Rhymney Valley in South Wales. Down at the foot of the dell, where the two streams meet, there is a mossy bank. You lay down your jacket and sit upon it to gaze up at the trees, which soar like skyscrapers into the plain white sky, as spring rain and birdsong spiral down.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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190. Discovering a fabulous project to bring nature into our towns

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 02:00:00 -0000

Nature Isn't Neat is a project pioneered in South-east Wales to bring wildlife and a bit of wildness into public parks, gardens and other commonly used spaces. Plodcast host Fergus met Elliot Waters who leads the projects to talk about how the project works and what it does for our wellbeing as well as addressing the terrible loss of biodiversity in Britain. Not everyone is happy however – and we look at some of the challenges the project has faced. Along the way, the Plodcasters encounter the first wonderful surge of spring nature… Image by Getty.

This is the last of 12 episodes of season 15: Mindful walks in nature

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 109: Soothing sounds of spring stir in a Welsh rainforest

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0000

You're among the moss and ferns of a Welsh rainforest in early spring. Against the backdrop of a stream swollen with rain, the trees are dripping – and the birds stirring. A song thrush's voice rings out from the top of an oak tree while coal tits mutter and a green woodpecker yaffles.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere

beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Fergus Collins, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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189. Walking in nature with Dr Amir Khan, President of the RSPB

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Dr Amir Khan is a well known GP and TV doctor but has recently been appointed president of the RSPB. We sent Plodcast regular Annabel Ross to meet up with the DR to talk about his new role – and discover just how important the link between nature and health really is.

This is episode 11 of season 15 of the Plodcast: Mindful Walks in Nature. Image by Getty.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 108: Exotic sounds of spring on a New Zealand river

Fri, 17 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0000

We're in New Zealand at the top end of the South Island. The nature reserve on the Pelorus river has the last stands of river-flat native forest in the region These beautiful, shaded glades of broadleaf woodland have a dense undergrowth of ferns, tree-ferns and lianas and epiphytes. The chorus of cicadas is the summer song of the forest.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded and presented by Margaret Bartlett. Image by Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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188: Plodcast Special! Explore the wildlife paradise of Zealandia in New Zealand

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0000

In the heart of Wellington, capital of New Zealand, a brilliant wildlife haven has brought a host of rare species back from the brink of extinction. Margaret Bartlett joins CEO of Zealandia, Danielle Shanahan to meet and hear some of the inhabitants and find out what lessons other countries – especially the UK – can learn from the project.

This is episode 10 of season 15 of the Plodcast: Mindful Walks in Nature. Image by Getty.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 107: The soothing calls of wildfowl through the mist on the Avalon Marshes

Fri, 10 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0000

It's a wintry afternoon on the Somerset Levels. In the pre-dusk light, you watch as a thin mist evolves from the reeds and settles on the ice. It’s not all ice, there are sections of the surface that have been broken open by the many waterbirds that live in this winter-gold enclave of the Levels. Undeterred by the by the frigid conditions are coots int their scores. Moorhens call, geese clamour, a marsh harrier rises silently from the din.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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187. Spring poetry and magic from the Inner Hebrides

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Enjoy a gentle ramble with poet Kenneth Steven who lives and breathes the wild landscapes on his doorstep on the Isle of Seil. Recorded in early spring last year, this mini adventure includes some wonderful poetry celebrating the joy of nature – and warning us that we must all do more to look after it.

Later, join the Plodcast team to talk birds of prey, den building and tomatoes…

This is episode 9 of season 15 of the Plodcast: Mindful Walks in Nature. Image by Getty.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 106: Relax in the sun beside a beside a Dartmoor stream

Fri, 03 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0000

We're at Becky Brook on Dartmoor. It's the first day of the year where you can feel the warmth of the sun on your face.

The light breeze floats through the trees causing the dappled sunlight to shimmer on the water.

A dog barks happily while playing in the water.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere

beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Annie Sanderson. Presented by Hannah Tribe

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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186. Explore the seabird cities of the Yorkshire coast

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Listen to the thrilling bustle of a seabird colony as naturalist Megan Shersby visits RSPB Bempton Cliffs on the Yorkshire coast in the company of visitor experience manager Abbie Ferrar. This marvellous haven for nature is one of the few mainland seabird colonies in the UK and anything can turn up, as you'll hear. Later, join the Plodcast team for a gentle chat about nature and countryside.

This is episode 8 of season 15 of the Plodcast: Mindful Walks in Nature. Image by Getty

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 105: The soothing crunch of leaves on a late winter's day

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 03:00:00 -0000

We're in a wooden vale in the Black Mountains of south wales. It’s very late winter but recent bright and dry weather has crisped the autumn leaves – so while your feet crunch in the litter of oak litter, the first birds are singing and raven croaks rain down from the wide blue sky.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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185. Join the Plodcast team for a lazy day's fishing on a Somerset canal

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Join the Plodcast team as we go fishing with Plodcast regular Kevin Parr on the Bridgewater and Taunton Canal in Somerset. For Jack and Hannah it was the first time fishing – did we catching anything? Did we enjoy it? Listen on for a quite magical day in the countryside.

Find out more about Kevin Parr's new book: The Quiet Moon: Pathways to an Ancient Way of Being

This is episode 7 of season 15 of the Plodcast: Mindful Walks in Nature.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 104: Sheltering in a long barrow during a storm

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 03:00:00 -0000

We're high on the Wessex Downs. A long barrow broods on a lonely ridge – a tomb that has stood here for 5000 years. Caught in a storm while walking the Ridgeway, you are forced to shelter in the barrow's entrance, listening to the raindrops falling from the ancient stones.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Fergus Collins. Presented by Hannah Tribe. Image by Oliver Edwards.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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184. We’re off to Dartmoor – scene of the biggest countryside story of the year so far.

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Back in January, a high court upheld an action brought by local landowners and ruled that there was no right to wild camping in Dartmoor National Park. In response, thousands of protesters headed to the moors to protest about access to the countryside – and the right to camp. Our own Maria Hodson was there to explore the issue for us.

Later, Maria spoke to folk singer and right to roam campaigner Sam Lee about why so many people are angry at the court's decision. And you can hear one of Sam's songs at the end of this podcast.

This is episode 6 of season 15 of the Plodcast: Mindful Walks in Nature.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 103: The crunch of footsteps on snow on the Devon coast

Fri, 10 Feb 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Walking the coast path around Hartland Point after snowfall Winter’s cold brings many pleasures. Frost-enshrined thorns, glinting in the light of a low sun; nights so silent you could hear a snowflake drop; the lifting lilt of the robin song through icy dawn air. And snow underfoot, a so sound so evocative of being a child that you become one again… for a short while at least.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Daniel Graham. Presented by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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183. A delightful walk with Cerys Matthews in Kew Gardens

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Cerys Matthews shares her love of nature, music and poetry on a wonderful walk in Kew Gardens with our own Margaret Bartlett. Cerys reveals her deep love from the words of Dylan Thomas and her own retelling of his great work, Under Milk Wood, for children.You can hear Cerys on BBC Radio 6 every Sunday from 10am. Catch up on previous episodes on BBC Sounds.

This is episode 5 of season 15 of the Plodcast: Mindful Walks in Nature.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 102: Enthralling spring birdsong from New Zealand

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 03:00:00 -0000

In this episode we've travelled to the otherside of the world. It's late spring at the Karori Sanctuary near Wellington, New Zealand and the kakas – a large species of parrot – are singing their eerie dusk chorus.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Margaret Bartlett. Presented by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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182. A soothing wander around the hidden coves of Anglesey

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 06:56:00 -0000

We're heading to Cemlyn Bay on the northern coast of Anglesey for a gentle walk around lagoons and quiet coves where birds rule and grey seals sleep. Podcast host Fergus voices a wildlife ramble around this remote haven on a beautiful Welsh island. Recorded in August 2022.

This is episode 4 of season 15 of the Plodcast: Mindful Walks in Nature. Image from Getty.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 101: The patter of hail on an old farm roof

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 03:00:00 -0000

We're back on a farm deep in the Devon countryside. At some point in the night you stir, woken by the patter of hail on the slate roof. The barn is old, built hundreds of years before your time, and as the minutes pass by you think of the many stories made, and the many told, within these thick stone walls. It’s a comfort – from your warm, cosy bed – and you soon drop back into a deep, dreamless sleep to wake up to clear skies.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere

beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Daniel Graham. Presented by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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181. An adventure into the underworld of folklore and magic with Amy Jeffs

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Head deep into Goatchurch Cavern in the Mendips with historian and artist Amy Jeffs and Plodcast host Fergus to hear ancient tales, myths and legends as we enter the bowels of the earth. Amy's new book, Wild: Tales from Early Medieval Britain explores how our ancestors viewed nature and landscape through their stories, poetry and song. Listen on as ancient magic is conjured deep in the earth.

A huge thank you to Daniel Matthews from the Mendip Caving Group for leading the adventure.

This is episode 2 of season 15 of the Plodcast: Mindful Walks in Nature

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 100: Underwater with grey seals in the Outer Hebrides

Fri, 20 Jan 2023 03:00:00 -0000

In the 100th edition of Sound Escapes, we're on a boat in the Outer Hebrides at anchor near a small island. An underwater microphone captures grey seals swimming around the hull of the small boat while a full moon hangs in the still night. Enjoy a specially extended audio experience to celebrate our 100th episode.

Recorded by musician David de la Haye.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere

beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Presented by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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180. Along the Ridgeway with archaeologist Mary-Ann Ochota

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Take a wander along on of Britain's oldest roads: the Ridgeway. TV presenter, writer and archaeologist Mary-Ann Ochota is the patron of the Ridgeway National Trail, and takes host Fergus on a circular walk from the stone circle at Avebury onto mysterious Fyfield Down before walking along the Ridgeway to magnificent West Kennet Long barrow – where a big surprise is awaiting them in the prehistoric burial mound. Photograph by Oliver Edwards.

This is episode 2 of season 15 of the Plodcast: Mindful Walks in Nature

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

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Sound Escape 99: The first birdsong of the year in a garden on Gower

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 03:00:41 -0000

You're in a large wildlife-rich garden on Gower, a small and beautiful peninsular in South Wales. At this time of year, the beech hedges are orange, the leaves are curled, crisp and dry. At their base, blackbirds turn over the ones that have fallen, looking for treasure.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere

beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded and presented by Hannah Tribe. Image by Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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179. Enjoy a New Year wildlife ramble along the River Usk

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 03:00:00 -0000

Our new season of mindful walks in nature explores the power of the green outdoors to bolster physical and mental health. In episode 1, Plodcast host Fergus transports you to his favourite haven of peace along the River Usk. It's early January and the river is high – but the wildlife is stirring on this magical Welsh waterway including a special guest right at the beginning of the recording…

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

PPA Podcast of the Year!

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Sound Escape 98: Relax by a log fire in an old farmhouse kitchen

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 03:00:31 -0000

We're sitting beside a log fire in a farmhouse in Devon. There’s something at once inconstant and rhythmic about fire. Each flame unlike the next, each ember on its own wild course, yet its heartbeat is as regular as yours. Perhaps that’s what lures you in, what comforts you; two beats aligning. Or perhaps the flames reveal a memory inherited from centuries prior. Either way, for those few precious moments, there’s nothing but you and the fire.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere

beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Daniel Graham. Presented by Fergus Collins. Image by Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 97: Enjoy a melody of waterwall and waves on the North Devon coast

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 03:00:53 -0000

We're at Hartland Quay, Devon. The day is late by the time you reach the Hartland coast and all you can do is run. Breathless, you reach the shore to see the sun sitting low amid a bed of coral clouds. You settle on a rock. A waterfall spills beside you, lit by the winter sun. Waves roll pebbles up and down the beach. The air feels cold on your cheeks.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere

beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Daniel Graham. Presented by Hannah Tribe

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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178. Celebrate the best of 2022 in the Plodcast Christmas special!

Tue, 27 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0000

Welcome to our last Plodcast of 2022 – the Christmas special issue. Plodcast regular Kevin Parr joins author Patrick Galbraith and Brittany Collie in the studio with Plodcast host Fergus. We talk favourite moments of 2022, look ahead to the New Year and, best of all, invite you to join us for Kevin's special Christmas quiz. A lovely way to round off the Plodcast year. Image from Getty.

Find out more about Kevin's book, The Quiet Moon

And for more information on Patrick's Book One Last Song…

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

PPA Podcast of the Year!

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Sound Escape 96: The astounding sounds of a starling murmuration

Fri, 23 Dec 2022 03:00:08 -0000

We're at Ham Wall in Somerset for the great starling murmuration. At first they come in small flocks, barely discernible against the winter sky. But as the light begins to fade, their numbers strengthen; a thousand here, two thousand there. They gather like mercury, then split and bind again, growing ever larger until soon there are half a million of them throwing forms across the sky. A strand suddenly breaks free, plummeting into the reedbeds, and the rest follow. The sound absorbs you.

Image by Getty.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere

beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Daniel Graham. Presented by Hannah Tribe

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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177. In search of the Christmas partridge with author Patrick Galbraith

Tue, 20 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0000

In this our last episode before Christmas – we are appropriately talking about partridges, one of the famous birds of the festive season. In Britain, our native grey partridge is not doing well – so met up with writer, nature lover and editor of the shooting times Patrick Galbraith to search for them in the Hampshire countryside and talk about what can be done to turn the tide.

Find out more about Patrick's book: In search of one last song: Britain's disappearing birds and the people trying to save them

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Write to us:

Plodcast, Countryfile

Eagle House

Bristol BS1 4ST

PPA Podcast of the Year!

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Sound Escape 95: A cold, crisp winter's walk along the Severn Estuary

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 03:00:44 -0000

We're beside the River Severn in South Gloucestershire on a cold, quiet, crisp, sunny winter afternoon. The air is fresh and still and your breath steams in front of you. A gentle breeze moves through the last remaining leaves on the hedgerows and few birds sing. The occasional dog walker potters past.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere

beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Annie Sanderson. Presented by Hannah Tribe

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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176. Out in the Black Mountains with the Crickhowell Walking Festival

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0000

In this week’s episode, we're discovering the joys of walking groups. Back in March Plodcast host Fergus joined up with a gang of hikers from the Crickhowell Walking festival to exploring the history and wildlife of the Black Mountains. We began our adventure at the medieval ruins of Llanthony Priory – under the wise instruction of walk leader Andy Johns…

2023's Crickhowell Walking Festival takes place 4-12 March. Click here for more information.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

PPA Podcast of the Year!

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Sound Escape 94: An early Christmas present of spring birdsong at Llanthony Priory

Fri, 09 Dec 2022 03:00:08 -0000

We may be in the depths of winter but in this episode we're giving you a little Christmas present of hopeful spring birdsong. We're outside the ruins of Llanthony Priory with the ridges of the Black Mountains of Wales rising on either flank. Robins and song thrushes are singing lustily…

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere

beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Fergus Collins. Presented by Hannah Tribe

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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175. Explore mysterious Eggardon Hill in Dorset – and hear a poignant conversation with the local farmer

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0000

Head to Dorset in the ever-amiable company of Plodcast regular Kevin Parr. Angler and nature writer Kev takes us up onto Eggardon Hill to explore its wildlife and its mysterious hillfort. On the way, he meets a local farmer with some stark insights into life in the modern countryside. Beautiful and thought-provoking…

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 93: The invigorating roar of the River Usk in spate

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 03:00:57 -0000

It's rained for days but there's a gap in the cloud cover this late autumn morning. You wander down to the river to find it in full spate. Another 50cm rise and it will burst surrounding fields. Its voice, a whisper in summer, is a roar now – the surging water unleashed and cleansing. And if you listen very closely, you might even hear the peeping calls of kingfishers.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere

beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded and presented by Fergus Collins

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

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174. A woodland wander with 'naked campaigner' Hannah Bourne-Taylor

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 03:00:00 -0000

Meet nature writer and campaigner Hannah Bourne-Taylor who hit the news in recent weeks after walking from Hyde Park Corner to the Houses of Parliament to call for urgent action to help our declining swifts. So what you might ask? Well, Hannah walked the two miles naked, covered only in paintings of feathers…

We met up in a forgotten woodland in South Wales to about her extraordinary “Feather Speech” – and to go looking for wildlife.

Find out more at Hannah's website.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 92: The joy of lying in bed and listening to the countryside waking up

Fri, 25 Nov 2022 03:00:01 -0000

You wake in the small village of Butterton in the Staffordshire Peak District. With the window of the cottage set ajar, you return to bed, rest your head on the pillow and listen as the village slowly wakes. The brook plays like the wind in the trees, which in turn mimics the brook. Blackbirds trill. A garden gate clunks. A milk truck crosses the ford.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere

beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Daniel Graham, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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173. A wild walk with choughs and curlews on Anglesey

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 03:00:00 -0000

Explore a wild and craggy stretch of the Anglesey coast path with Plodcast host Fergus as he wanders in search of rare choughs and curlews.

Later, in the studio, the team discuss the good, bad and ugly of Bonfire Night. Is this traditional UK festival of fire and fireworks a big problem for pets and wildlife?

Image from Getty.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 91: Enjoy autumn moods in a forgotten Welsh valley

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 03:00:23 -0000

Come with us to the gentle pasturelands that link the summit of Y Fal with the bustle of Grwyne Fawr far below. Pause a while amid the patchwork of sheep field, farmyard and hedgerow, and a version of bliss envelopes you; a light wind picks hazel leaves from the hedge and sends them down the lane.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio

postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere

beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Daniel Graham, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the

countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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172. A quest to hear the mysterious corncrake on the island of Tiree

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 03:00:00 -0000

This week we’re off to the Hebridean island of Tiree, a stronghold of one of Britain’s rarest and strangest birds. Naturalist James Fair heads out into the wilds to search for the corncrake with local expert John Bowler of the RSPB. It’s a bird not famed for its looks – but it’s voice – well, that’s a different matter.

Back in the studio, the team enjoy a very eerie sound of the week – recorded deep in an ancient burial mound.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com. If read out on the show, you could win a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 90: Spend some precious time in a mossy woodland

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 03:00:44 -0000

On the southern flanks of the Usk Valley beneath the damp uplands of Mynydd Llangatwg are the remnants of an old limestone quarry. Paths slink between the stepped hillside, now a miscellany of meadow, scrub and tree. When rain falls, the stunted hazel and oak woods are a joy to be among.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Daniel Graham, presented by Hannah Tribe.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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171. Firecrests and other magical creatures in the New Forest with Dominic Couzens

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 03:00:00 -0000

Now the clocks have gone back in the UK and we’re heading into the dark days of winter it feels like a good time to let a burst of light and song into our lives. So this week we’re heading back to spring and an adventure I took in the New Forest with naturalist Dominic Couzens.

Dominic is brilliant at recognising birds by their song and he give some clever tips to help you learn them too – a neat trick for impressing friends and family on your next spring walk. Image by Getty.

Look out for Dominic's new book An Identification Guide to Garden Insects of Britain

Back in the studio, the Plodcast team 'interview' The British Cheese Awards Supreme Champion cheese and discuss how to cope with the dark nights of winter.

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Sound Escape 89: the simple tonic of a stream flowing through an autumn woodland

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 03:00:50 -0000

To be in an autumn woodland after rain is a tonic for a great many ills. Perhaps it’s the simple joy of the leaves so lustrous with rainwater, or the way the mosses swell like lungs. Or the maybe it’s the scent of the Earth – of leaf litter and microbes and fruiting fungi – that seems to connect the ground with the air, and thus you with all of it. It’s certain that the streams appear contented.

A short walk through woodland brings you to a small waterway, where you pause for a while and breathe it all in.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Daniel Graham, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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170. In conversation with actress Jenny Agutter

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 03:00:00 -0000

Jenny Agutter has been a household name since her starring role in the 1970 film The Railway Children. This year, she reprises her role in The Railway Children Return, set 30 years later in 1940. Hear all about her connections to the countryside and her very surprising choice of favourite wildlife species.

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 88: the mesmerising sound of steady rain in the garden

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 02:00:02 -0000

You open the back door and look out into the garden. Rain streaks down, steady and hypnotic. From a bush a robin sparks up occasionally but nothing else stirs in the downpour. It's a day to cosy up indoors by the fire.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Maria Hodson, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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169. More magic at the Folk by the Oak festival – including The Proclaimers and Spell Songs

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 02:00:00 -0000

We return for a second episode at the Folk by the Oak Festival in Hertfordshire. Annabel Ross talks to Karine Polwart from Spell Songs and we hear their song Jay. We also meet nature guide and folklorist Sherloak as he leads a tour in Hatfield Forest and finish with an interview with the great Proclaimers – and listen to two of their most famous songs.

We'd like to say a huge thank you to the organisers and the musicians for their time and beautiful music. Photo by Tammy Marlar

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Sound Escape 87: An amazing paddleboarding journey – with geese

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 02:00:40 -0000

Enjoy a relaxing experience paddleboarding on a stretch of the River Wye in Herefordshire, where a flock of about 300 Canada geese begin an extraordinary evening chorus. The gentle swish of the paddle and the evocative cries of the wildfowl create a haunting river music. Pure delight.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Maria Hodson, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty.

Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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168. Enjoy music inspired by the countryside at the Folk by the Oak Festival: Part 1

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Enjoy the delights of the Folk by Our festival In part one of two brilliant episodes, Annabel Ross visits the Folk by the Oak festival in Hertfordshire to meet musicians and hear music steeping in landscape, wildlife and countryside lore. In this podcast, you’ll hear Magpie by The Unthanks, Trouser Worrier by We are the monsters and The Same Land by Salthouse. But first Annabel talks to Caroline and Adam Slough who founded Folk by the Oak…

We'd like to say a huge thank you to the organisers and the musicians for their time and beautiful music. Photo by Tammy Marlar

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Sound Escape 86: the thrilling sounds when waves meet a rocky headland

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 02:00:02 -0000

Besieged by gales and restless sea, a rocky peninsula holds firm on the northern Anglesey coast, unchanged through many millennia of daily assaults. Meanwhile, seals sleep in the quiet bays that it protects. Beyond the breakers, the Skerries lighthouse keeps watch from the largest of a group of raw-looking islets.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded and presented by Fergus Collins.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

PPA Podcast of the Year 2022

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167. A walk with Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall at River Cottage

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Catch up with writer, presenter, farmer, forager and campaigner Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, 20 years after his first adventures into smallholding which inspired millions to grow their own, keep chickens and live the good life.

Plodcast regular Annabel Ross heads to River Cottage HQ on the Dorset/Devon border to walk around the farm and learn how Hugh's new book River Cottage Good Comfort offers healthier – and tastier – takes on classic country dishes. There are plenty of adventures along the way – including meetings with strange squashes, hungry pigs and a Hugh-special picnic.

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Sound Escape 85: be mesmerised by the soft burble of a Welsh stream

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 02:00:34 -0000

Between the great, lumbering bulk of the Cambrian Mountains and Shropshire’s autumn-kissed hills there is a landscape of quiet repute. Here the ground rolls and tilts. Sheep graze the knolls, and between these there are cwms; pinched, deep and green.

You make your way into one, leaving the low autumn sun for the coolness of a mossy, earthy woodland. At its bed is a stream, so vibrant and cheerful that not even the end of rain could quell its tune.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Daniel Graham and presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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166. Meet puffins, guillemots and skuas on the seabird sanctuary of Handa Island

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode podcast host Fergus Collins heads to a wild island off the coast of Scotland. Called Handa, it is managed entirely for wildlife by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and is an enchanting, sometimes haunting place to explore.

The main quest was to witness the massive seabird cities – but there were plenty of other wildlife surprises along the way. You’ll also hear the voices of fellow explorers Joel Burden and Gavin Meredith. So come us for a very privileged wander into a truly wild place. Image from Getty.

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Sound Escape 84: a mellow moment beside a sleepy Somerset canal

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 02:00:32 -0000

It's a lazy September afternoon on a Somerset canal. You've found an enchanted place to rest beside a bridge – where a robin's wistful song sweetens the stillness. Even the dragonflies are dawdling. Clouds puff in the blue sky, perfectly reflected in the water and the last of summer's house martins are hawking for small insects high above. Nearby, a pair of anglers are catching small fish.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded and presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from Hannah Tribe.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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165. Wandering among wildflowers with botanist Leif Bersweden

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to a new season of mindful escapes into the green outdoors in search of wildlife and wild people. As well as heading out into beautiful landscapes as autumn stretches into winter, we’ll be enjoying some episodes that the team and I recorded over the spring and summer – so expect some soothing escapism at this dark time of the year.

Our first episode is one such adventure. Plodcast regular Annabel Ross heads to a fabulous meadow in Oxfordshire with a remarkable young botanist Leif Bersweden to meet some of the wildflowers and talk about the importance of allowing more nature into our lives. Listen on for an absolute treat. Image by Trevor Ray Hart.

Leif's new book is called Where the wildflowers grow: my botanical journey through Britain and Ireland – Hodder and Stoughton

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 83: relax to enchanting robin song beside a Welsh stream

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 02:00:51 -0000

Deep in a wooded cwm in Powys, there’s a spot down by the brook, half in the trees, half out, where the sunlight falls in ribbons onto the water. You go to it and settle on the pebble bank. Somewhere above, hidden among the broken canopy that staggers up the steep valley, a robin reels out its morning song.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Daniel Graham, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from Graham.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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We preview season 14 – mindful rambles in nature

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Season 14 of the Plodcast is all about mindful explorations of wild places – so you can get close to nature and feel like you're walking in wild places, even if you're stuck at work or on the commute. Come with us to the wild islands of Seil, Tiree and Anglesey as well as the New Forest and the Welsh Borders.

Plus we have special guests including Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall and Leif Bersweden as well as music from The Unthanks and the Proclaimers.

So join the Plodcast team of Fergus, Jack and Hannah for a brief preview of the wonders to come.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

The Plodcast is the nature and countryside podcast from BBC Countryfile Magazine

Visit the BBC Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 82: soothing sounds of waves and seabirds in Anglesey

Fri, 16 Sep 2022 02:00:51 -0000

It's early morning in a secretive bay on northern Anglesey. You're walking on a shingle bank that separates a serene, reed-fringed lagoon from the restless rising tide. The pipes and skirls of oystercatchers, redshanks and curlews rise over the wash of the waves but above them all, the sulphurous scents of beached seaweed.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Kevin Parr, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

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164. How a gin maker has created a wildlife haven

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 02:00:00 -0000

We return to gin makers Warners in the Northamptonshire countryside to roam the gardens and grounds with conservation and sustainability officer Johnny Easter. Planting a huge variety of herbs, aromatics and fruits has the knock-on effect of attracting extraordinary numbers of insects and other life – so enjoy this magical safari and learn about how gins are flavoured using natural ingredients.

Later, join the Plodcast team in the studio where they test a special bottle of Plodcast host Fergus's home-made wine – is it better than cheap shop-bought red? Listen on for a very entertaining discussion.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 81: the chilling night-time lullaby of the nightjar

Fri, 09 Sep 2022 02:00:36 -0000

It's a sultry summer's night on a lowland heath in southern England. A warm waft of heather and the gentle chirrup of a cricket break the stillness. And then, as the moon rises, the mechanical churr of a nightjar.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Kevin Parr, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

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163. Discover the secrets for making great gin

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Head deep into the Northamptonshire countryside to visit the Warners Gin distillery near Rothwell, Northamptonshire. Warner’s Gin was set up by Tom and Tina Warner on their family farm in 2012 with an emphasis on natural, locally grown ingredients. Since then, things have taken off – especially the transformation of much of the farm for nature. Hear Tom’s fascinating insights into why "booze made humanity" and explore the history and lore around gin.

Later we meet Rachel Sutherland, who has the enviable job of tasting the gins for quality – and for devising new flavours.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 80: the curious and creepy calls of pipistrelle bats

Fri, 02 Sep 2022 02:00:52 -0000

You're in Dorset and it's dusk beside a lily-strewn tench pool. The light fades, moths begin to flutter and the martins and swallows cede the sky to the dance of pipistrelle baits. These are the curious calls of these nocturnal flyers as picked up on angler Kevin Parr's bat detector.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Kevin Parr, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

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162. Sample the wildlife and wine in an organic vineyard in Kent

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Head to the garden of England – the country of Kent – to visit family run Terlingham vineyard. Jackie Wilkes only moved to the UK from South Africa in 2007 but since then she and her family have converted the land to grow vines and they farm without herbicies and pesticides. This is their story of their journey and why they farm in harmony with nature. Recorded in June 2022.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 79: take time to appreciate the crackle of a camp fire

Fri, 26 Aug 2022 02:00:55 -0000

It's a warm summer's evening and after a tiring day you relax by the crackling campfire. The damp wood from the previous day's storm sizzles from the heat and the popping of twigs fills the peaceful space. You look up at the bat fluttering around plucking insects from the air. With a warm drink in hand you stop and reflect.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Jack Bateman, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

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161. Can cattle save the planet?

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Film-maker Peter Byck (left) reveals how cattle can be farmed to enhance the soil and biodiversity – and offer solutions to climate change. Annabel Ross interviewed him at a special screening of his films Roots So Deep at The Lost Gardens of Heligan with environmentalist Tim Smit.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 78: the satisfying patter of rain on a tent – while you're snug inside

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 02:00:00 -0000

The two-day spell of rain is reaching its conclusion. You've settled in your tent for the night listening to the final drops of rain bounce off the top of the canvas. The gentle rumble of late-night traffic accompanies the flourishes of water falling from the trees, drumming onto the fabric above you. All is quiet.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Jack Bateman, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

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160. Join a wild bee rescue mission near the New Forest

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 02:00:00 -0000

In this extraordinary episode, we head to the edge of the New Forest to meet Debs 'Totty' Cruttenden – a self taught beekeeper who rescues wild swarms of honeybees. She’s a quite magical person and her deep knowledge of the lives and behaviour of honeybees. We begin in the garden of neighbour who has spotted a swarm in a conifer tree.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

PPA Podcast of the Year!

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Sound Escape 77: the gentle rustle of summer wind through a cornfield

Fri, 12 Aug 2022 02:00:20 -0000

High above the summertime bustle of Pembrokeshire’s south coast, the lanes are quiet. No people here, just wind and hedge and crops for miles. It’s now noon, and after several hours of walking you look for a place to rest a while. A corn field beside a reef of yellow and white chamomile catches your eye. Here you sit, the corn stems crowding around you, their leaves rustling against themselves.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Daniel Graham, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

PPA Podcast of the Year 2022

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159. An inspiring walk and talk with Wilfred Emmanuel Jones aka The Black Farmer

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Wilfred Emmanuel Jones shares his gripping story of his life's journey – from arriving from Jamaica and living in inner city Birmingham to owning a farm on the Devon-Cornwall border. His brand – The Black Farmer – has been a huge success and now he wants to encourage other children from ethnic minority or deprived backgrounds into finding careers in the countryside: The New Face of Farming. Listen on for more understanding of town vs country attitudes, race in the countryside and the two things you need to make a success in business.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

PPA Podcast of the Year!

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Sound Escape 76: relax to the lullaby of a Welsh river

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 02:00:34 -0000

It's a welcome cool, overcast day by the River Usk – there is rain in the air. The water is clear and bubbling through a small set of rapids in a gently calming series of swirls and eddies. A dipper flies upstream low over the water.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, presented by Hannah Tribe

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

PPA Podcast of the Year 2022

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158. A summer's day in a Somerset cider orchard

Tue, 02 Aug 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Head to the sleepy hamlet of Shepton Montague in Somerset to meet Oliver Dowding – dairy-farmer-turned-cider-maestro. Discover the magic of apple trees and their different characters and learn the lore of Somerset cider making. Plus, Oliver reveals a novel – and natural – method of rodent control. Annabel Ross is your host.

Later the Plodcast team discuss cider vs beer, taste a Dowdings tipple and hear a rare Sound of the Week.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

PPA Podcast of the Year!

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Sound Escape 75: relish the atmosphere of an ancient sunken lane

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 02:00:21 -0000

It’s summer, yet the bruised skies and pulsing winds don’t seem to know it. As if blown over by the squalls; a farm gate clunks. After walking the fields, you drop into a deep sunken lane and a version of quiet hits you, the wind no longer on your skin, in your ears. You sit on the grassy, furrowed lane and take breath. Around you now are tall hedgerows of hawthorn and blackberry. A wren sings from a tree above.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Daniel Graham. Image from Getty.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

PPA Podcast of the Year!

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157. Wander among butterflies and birdsong on a wildlife-friendly farm

Tue, 26 Jul 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Is it possible to farm profitably and have abundant wildlife on your land? George and Elaine Morris take us on a tour of their mixed farm in Buckinghamshire where they raise cattle, Wiltshire horned sheep as well as oats and barley but where over 10 per cent of the land is devoted to wildflowers, insects, birds and other creatures. Due to a deal with Jordans Cereals, the Morris's are, essentially, paid to farm wildlife, too.

Does it work? Listen on for a magical insight into how our farmland should look – and sound!

The Jordans Farm Partnership (JFP) represents a coming together of specialists to create a holistic model for long term farm sustainability. Within the partnership, the Wildlife Trusts help create bespoke farm wildlife plans & consumer understanding and LEAF bring a whole-farm sustainability approach, supporting the integration of business planning and delivery of environmental benefits with farmers.

Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: editor@countryfile.com

Visit the Countryfile Magazine website: countryfile.com

PPA Podcast of the Year!

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Sound Escape 74: by memerised by waves lapping a sandy beach on a holy island

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 02:00:39 -0000

Boarding a small passenger ferry at Tenby, you set sail for Caldey Island through a swell that rocks the boat like a toy in the bath. Before long, you reach the holy island. A 1,000-year-old Catholic monastery sits hidden within its wooded heart, but your first instinct is to walk the beach that stretches east from the tiny harbour wall. The sand is soft, warmed by the summer sun, and the breeze gentle. You find a spot to sit, down by the waves.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Daniel Graham. Image from Getty.

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156. Enjoy a dreamy summer's day at the Cerne Abbas Brewery in Dorset

Tue, 19 Jul 2022 02:00:00 -0000

It's a glorious summer's day in Dorset and Plodcast regular Kevin Parr heads to the village of Cerne Abbas to visit the local brewery. Meet Vic, Jodie and Matt who run the brewery hear their wonderful tales. Kevin also meets local farmer Will who grows barley for the brewing process and shares his deep love of the wildlife that thrives on his farm.

Later, Kevin joins the Plodcast team in the studio to discuss beer, Dorset eagles, Chesney Hawkes and what's the best food to pack for a country walk.

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Sound Escape 73: be soothed by a breeze through the canopy of an ancient oak tree

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 02:00:16 -0000

You're climbing an oak tree and its rough, weathered branches reach down like the arms of an aiding grandfather to pull you up. The coarse, lichen-dusted bark coats your hands, your nostrils fill with the subtle scent of decay and before you know it you’ve emerged through the dark-leaved canopy to a scene of wind and light. Carmarthenshire’s pastoral hills fold out to the west. Cattle on the move. A dog barks. A wren sings. And all the while the wind whips through.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Daniel Graham, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty.

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155. One man's plan to revolutionise fish and vegetable farming in Britain

Tue, 12 Jul 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Could hydroponics be the future of farming? Ex-chef Antonio Paladino welcomes Annabel Ross onto Bioaqua Farm, his smallholding in the Somerset Levels, where he farms trout and vegetables within a mutually supportive system that has very few costs, produces no pollution and creates delicious nutritious food. Is this a blueprint for more sustainable farming or an unattainable dream? Listen on for a fascinating adventure into food.

Plus, the Annabel joins the Plodcast team to reveals some secrets from the day at Bioaqua Farm and the team discuss the big issue of: what's the best food to pack for a country walk.

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Sound Escape 72: relax on the shore of the Hebridean island of Eigg

Fri, 08 Jul 2022 02:00:22 -0000

You hear the waves on Eigg’s rocky shores, a distant breeze, perhaps. But lazing silently on one of the tiny island’s floating in the tiny harbour there a seals; two eiders rise and fall on the turquoise swell, so loyal to one another it’s as if they’re tethered by an invisible thread. A cloud drifts by; a fishing boat nods. All is silent, save the lapping waves that meet the rocks.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.

Recorded by Daniel Graham. Presented by Hannah Tribe. Produced by Jack Bateman

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154. Exploring a marvellous wildlife haven on Dartmoor and discussing the marvels of soil

Tue, 05 Jul 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Explore a magical wildlife haven tucked in a fold on the edge of Dartmoor. Meet Tony Bayliss of the Langaford Farm Charitable Trust who manages the site; soil scientist Tim Harrod (pictured) and Hannah Bowley of the British Society of Soils Science – and hear how the more we understand about soil, the better we can plan farming to be both profitable and sensitive to wildlife.

Plus we hunt for the magical marsh fritillary butterfly and wander through meadows of stunning orchids.

Back in the studio, the team celebrate their recent PPA Podcast of the Year award by testing English sparkling wine and French champagne.

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Sound Escape 71: the soothing sounds of a canoe paddling up a river

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 02:00:00 -0000

You're in a canoe, paddling slowly upstream against a gentle current. The sounds of the oars dipping and sweeping is mesmeric – while birds sing from the tangles of scrub, willow and reeds that flank the waterway.

Recorded by Annabel Ross, presented by Hannah Tribe

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153. A perfect taste of the countryside at the British Pie Awards

Tue, 28 Jun 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Every year, the British Pie Awards judges meet for one day in Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire to taste hundreds of pies in order to crown a supreme pie champion. The Plodcast's Maria Hodson was invited to be a judge in 2022 and in this episode she meets the judges, tastes the pies and discovers the long and rather marvellous history of what has now become a staple of British cuisine.

The Plodcast is the PPA Podcast of the Year. As ever, you can contact the Plodcast team at editor@countryfile.com with your thoughts.

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Sound Escape 70: listen to the thrilling rumble of a storm rising over Dorset

Fri, 24 Jun 2022 02:00:03 -0000

Enjoy an audio escape into the British countryside, wherever you are. It's a summer evening in a Dorset coomb near the coast. The shadows are long but the dusky sun will be short-lived as clouds threaten. For several days the earth has baked and leaves have sagged. But behind the plume of heat is a wall of electricity – a mighty storm. Building over the English Channel to the south, a distant rumble and faint patter builds into tempest.

Recorded by Kevin Parr. Image from Getty.

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152. Explore a traditional Devon dairy farm and home of award-winning cheddar cheese

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Smell the hay, meets the cows and hear the skylarks on Quicke's farm in Devon where they produce award-winning cheddar cheese using traditional methods. Tanya Jackson meets farmer and cheesemaker Mary Quicke and discovers that some of the secrets to producing great-tasting cheese lie in the way Mary works with nature and her landscape. Image from Getty.

Later in the Plodcast, the team test whether Devon's method of eating scones (cream first then jam) is superior to that of Cornwall (where the jam goes on first). And we hear from folk singer Original Spruce who has written a song celebrating the wild wonders of Martin Down and we include some of this sweet song in the Plodcast. To listen to the whole song and see the video of Martin Down, visit You Tube.

As ever, you can contact the Plodcast team on editor@countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 69: the magical trinity of pied flycatcher, restart and wood warbler in a Welsh oak wood

Fri, 17 Jun 2022 02:00:11 -0000

Wandering deep into the oak wood, you find yourself serenaded by a magical trinity of birds. First a wood warbler, then a redstart and finally a pied flycatcher. All three have migrated here from Africa for a brief season of courtship and nesting among the ancient trees.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty.

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151. Enjoy a marvellous adventure foraging and fishing in the far north of Scotland

Tue, 14 Jun 2022 02:00:00 -0000

The Plodcast team head to Assynt in Sutherland in the far north of Scotland to fish for brown trout on remote lochs and forage for edible treats on wild beaches. To a backdrop of cuckoos and black-throated divers, Plodcast host Fergus Collins tries his hand at flyfishing and, with friends, enjoys a feast of wild trout before a few less palatable food samples from the nearby coast.

Back in the studio, the Plodcast team sample a Scottish legendary food – and we hear a wonderful Sound of the Week.

Image from Gavin Meredith

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Sound Escape 68: be enchanted by the evocative chatter of a huge seabird colony

Fri, 10 Jun 2022 02:00:31 -0000

Be transported to the wild cliffs of Handa, off the coast of Sutherland, and the swirling whirling city of seabirds. It's the beginning of the breeding season and guillemots, razorbills and fulmars jostle for the best spots to nest while puffins makes themselves at home in borrows at the top of the sea stacks. The noise is constant as birds constantly commute between cliffs and the wider ocean to feed.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty.

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Preview of season 13: A taste of the countryside

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 02:00:24 -0000

Introducing a new season of plodcasts exploring food and farming across the countryside. We'll be foraging in northern Scotland, meeting farmers who work alongside nature to produce fabulous cheese, honey, wine and wheat. We'll be learning about the importance of soil, learning how gin is made and even discovering the winner of the Great British Pie awards. The team will also be sharing their own grow-your-own experiences throughout the season…

The Plodcast is hosted by Countryfile Magazine editor Fergus Collins

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Sound Escape 67: a tree pipit singing exultantly in Wentwood Forest

Fri, 03 Jun 2022 02:00:16 -0000

Mid May in Wales largest ancient woodland – Wentwood in Gwent – and the birds are singing in the morning sunshine. Enjoy the excitable song flight of the male tree pipit as he flies from his perch at the top of a tree high into the air before circling down like a paper aeroplane, singing all the while. Recorded by Fergus Collins, presented by Hannah Tribe

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150. Canoeing with beavers at dawn on the River Avon near Bath

Tue, 31 May 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Beavers are being spotted more frequently in the wild in Britain. In this adventure, Annabel Ross joins beaver expert Bevis Watts at dawn on the River Avon near Bath in north-east Somerset to paddle a canoe in search of a small population of beavers that have mysteriously appeared on the river. Enjoy fabulous birdsong and curious encounters.

Bevis is also CEO of Triodos Bank UK and has written a book River Journey about his adventures with beavers on the river.

Image from Getty.

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Sound Escape 66: sit down on the shore in Arisaig and be soothed by waves and oystercatchers

Fri, 27 May 2022 02:00:41 -0000

Be charmed and relaxed by a few minutes on a blissful shore in Arisaig, Scotland. The road to the Isles squeezes between Lochaber’s high mountains like a burn in spate, bending this way and that past stone byres and pine woods and tortuous lochs. It’s not long before the road delivers its promise. Islands. Eigg and Rum, and the hazy, elevated profile of Skye. Yet despite the drama of the horizon, it’s the peace and humility of the foreshore that tempts the senses. The lapping waves, the piping oystercatchers, and the scent of crushed bladderwrack and seashells, and driftwood drying in the sun.

Recorded by Daniel Graham and presented by Hannah Tribe.

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149. How the River Severn is being unlocked to allow fish to migrate once more

Tue, 24 May 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Once upon a time, millions of fish would migrate up the River Severn to spawning grounds – including the beautiful twaite shad or mayfish. But weirs built for navigation meant that fish routes were blocked and fish numbers have declined drastically. Now the Unlocking the Severn project has built fish passes around the biggest obstacles. Jenny Hermolle and her team reveal how things are already improving for the river and its fish – plus, we get to explore the astonishing window into the fishes' world.

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Sound escape 65: be enchanted by the little-known song of the garden warbler

Fri, 20 May 2022 02:00:53 -0000

As the scrubby hillside hawthorns burst into burst into bloom, the musky vanilla perfume of the white mayflowers encourages a male garden warbler into his fluted song. This little-known migrant's song is often overlooked (or overlistened) so take this chance to get to know a charming, if rather frenetic, spring song.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, presented by Hannah Tribe

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148. Stunning spring nature in the New Forest with Dominic Couzens

Tue, 17 May 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Enjoy a delightful wander around one of the naturally richest corners of the New Forest in early spring with naturalist and writer Dominic Couzens. Discover how to identify common birdsongs with Dominic's clever and very simple guides – and enjoy a couple of encounters with birds of prey that surprise Dominic himself.

Dominic also talks about his latest book with Gail Ashton: Identification Guide to Garden Insects of Britain and North-West Europe

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Sound Escape 64: the spine-tingling songs of wood warblers

Fri, 13 May 2022 02:00:34 -0000

A still morning on the hill, the strange aniseed scent of cow parsley rises as the lane to the woods is warmed by the sun. Among the ancient, twisted oaks, the wood warblers have arrived, the male's song dripping from the canopy like molten silver and offering competition to a resident song thrush. A redstart chortles in the background.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, presented by Hannah Tribe.

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147. A sensational evening among nightingales in a Sussex woodland - with singer Sam Lee

Mon, 09 May 2022 23:00:00 -0000

Wrap up warm, wear your softest clothes and step out into the night with folk singer Sam Lee and violinist Anna Phoebe to listen to nightingales singing in a Sussex woodland. Sam and Anna Phoebe sing and play while the birds respond with bursts of incredible natural music. A spellbinding experience.

Presented by Tanya Jackson with Maria Hodson. Photo by Maria Hodson

Find out more with Sam's superb book on Nightingales

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Sound Escape 63: enjoy a cuckoo chorus in a Dorset vale

Fri, 06 May 2022 02:00:21 -0000

A damp and dank May morning. Mild and mizzled. A robin feeds its young while the song of blackbird, song thrush and chiffchaff fills the air. There is a gentle buzz of insects, the chatter of house sparrows and goldfinches. While from the faint mist of the valley comes the unmistakable call of a cuckoo.

Recorded by Kevin Parr and presented by Hannah Tribe

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146. Harriers and hares on Wiltshire downland – with naturalists Chris Yates and Kevin Parr

Tue, 03 May 2022 02:00:00 -0000

On the cusp between winter and spring, Plodcast regular Kevin Parr meets his friend and legendary angler-naturalist Chris Yates to explore a little visited but wild corner of the Wiltshire and Dorset downs. Here, at Chris's favourite spot, they attempt to find one of Britain's most beautiful and controversial birds of prey: the hen harrier.

Plus unmissable discussions about tea, harrier poetry, adders and warbler song.

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Sound Escape 62: sunrise in a riverside woodland – with a heron colony

Fri, 29 Apr 2022 02:00:44 -0000

It’s an hour after dawn when the sun finally rises above the head of the valley. There’s an eagerness to the light, keen to get going after its slow start, and within moments the entire valley – the trees, the river and the banks of snow-white blackthorn – is a cauldron of light and life. Birdsong bubbles from the woods, the conversation of herons and their newly hatched young staccato from the melodious tones of wrens, great tits, and blackbirds.

Recorded by Daniel Graham and presented by Hannah Tribe.

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145. Celebrate the magic of early spring in a hidden valley in Wales

Tue, 26 Apr 2022 02:00:00 -0000

In the first of a new season of Plodcasts celebrating audibly beautiful landscapes – the songs of Wild Britain, Plodcast host Fergus takes us into a little visited valley near his home in the Brecon Beacons to explore oak woods and meadows off the beaten track – and meet spring birds in full voice.

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Sound Escape 61: be delighted by birdsong in a Brecon Beacons' oakwood

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 02:00:21 -0000

An inviting path winds through an oak woodland high on the slopes of a hill in the Brecon Beacons. As morning sun slants into the valley below, a host of birds sing lustily and seem to stir the ancient trees into life. Chiffchaffs, great tits, coal tits, goldcrests, song thrushes, blackcaps, robins, chaffinches, redstarts and even a green woodpecker provide the chorus. At the bottom of a valley, a stream sings its soft backing vocals.

Recorded by Fergus Collins, presented by Hannah Tribe.

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We preview Season 12: the wild sounds of Britain

Tue, 19 Apr 2022 02:00:43 -0000

The Plodcast team introduce Season 12 of the Plodcast: The Wild Sounds of Britain. This is an opportunity to capture audibly beautiful landscapes, gorgeous birdsong and the wise words of nature lovers as explore glorious countryside in spring and summer.

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SE60: Enjoy an extended recording of the dawn chorus from a Wiltshire village

Fri, 15 Apr 2022 02:00:32 -0000

Deep in a Wiltshire vale, the comforting tang of woodsmoke hangs over a slumbering village. It's 5am and still dark but a magical chorus of blackbirds, robins, dunnocks and great tits greets the coming dawn.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a gentle postcard from the British countryside each week that allows you a soothing few minutes escape into the wild, wherever you are.

Recorded by Tanya Jackson, presented by Hannah Tribe

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144. Creating natural flood defences in Dartmoor with the Environment Agency

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 02:00:00 -0000

How natural flood defences can prevent flooding and increase biodiversity. Annabel Ross takes a walk with the Chair of the Environment Agency Emma Howard Boyd and Tom Dauben who is the Environment Agency’s lead for the natural flood management scheme.

The Dartmoor Headwaters Natural Flood Management project aims to reduce flood risk to communities on and around Dartmoor using natural solutions. It is a partnership between the Environment Agency and Dartmoor National Park Authority, working in collaboration with many community, landowner groups and other partners.

Annabel also explores the subject of river pollution in England and the Environment Agencies role in tackling it.

Please do send comments and questions to editor@countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 59: the uplifting sounds of spring on the allotment

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 02:00:46 -0000

It's a sunny Sunday afternoon on the allotment with a cool, gentle breeze. You can hear the murmur of allotmenteers at work with a backdrop of birdsong and the occasional barking dog. As the smell of cut grass raises the spirits, you can hear that the new season has given everyone a spring in their steps.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a gentle postcard from the British countryside each week that allows you a soothing few minutes escape into the wild, wherever you are.

Recorded by Jack Bateman, presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty

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143. Tales from the riverbank part 2: we meet perch and talk pike and adders

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 02:00:00 -0000

In part two of our special angling adventure on the Rivers Isle and Parrett in Somerset, Kevin Parr and plodcast host Fergus continue their gentle meander along the water chatting about wildlife and occasionally catching a fish.

Later, Kevin joins the plodcast team in the studio to talk pike, adders, otters and other wildlife joys of spring.

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Sound Escape 58: the soothing lullaby of raindrops falling on a pond

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 02:00:35 -0000

It hadn’t rained for a week, but just as the garden was beginning to show its thirst, a single drop falls. Then two more. The sky releases a long, slow rumble then spills open like a long-held breath finally being freed. The sound of the rain is most satisfying down by the pond, somewhere to sit a while and enjoy the gentle patter of the year’s first spring shower.

Recorded by Daniel Graham, presented by Hannah Tribe

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142. Tales from the riverbank part 1: a relaxing day's angling in Somerset

Tue, 29 Mar 2022 02:00:00 -0000

Angler and writer Kevin Parr leads a gentle day's angling on the River Isle. Plodcast host Fergus joins Kev to learn the art of coarse fishing in the peaceful surrounding of the Somerset Levels. Listen on for a marvellous day in very early spring with birdsong, fish and the voice of the river.

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Sound Escape 57: relax to spring birdsong by a woodland pool deep in the New Forest

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 03:00:42 -0000

Where the heath meets the woods by a pool, deep in the New Forest, the warm spring sun stirs many birds into song. A marsh tit sings and then a stock dove repeats its prudish crooning to a backdrop of blue tits and robins. A Forest pony comes closer to investigate. Recorded by Fergus Collins and presented by Hannah Tribe

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a gentle postcard from the British countryside each week that allows you a soothing few minutes escape into the wild, wherever you are.

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141. Rewilding could transform the countryside for wildlife and people, says Rebecca Wrigley

Tue, 22 Mar 2022 03:00:00 -0000

Head for a wander around RSPB Otmoor in Oxfordshire in late winter with Rebecca Wrigley from Rewilding Britain argues the case for huge change across the countryside to provide space for nature and opportunities for local people. Annabel Ross is your host.

Later the Plodcast team discuss how to rewild a city plus the power of the urban peregrine.

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Sound Escape 56: relax to the sounds of waves on a hidden cove on Shetland

Fri, 18 Mar 2022 03:00:12 -0000

It's high tide on the northern coast of mainland Shetland – a bitterly icy day but the sun is out, puffins are on the water offshore and fulmars are scouting breeding sites on the nearby cliffs. In a small, seldom visited cove, the waves surge up and down the shore.

Recorded by Megan Shersby and introduced by Hannah Tribe.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a gentle postcard from the British countryside each week that allows you a soothing few minutes escape into the wild, wherever you are.

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140. Meet Alix Chiddley-Uttley on her magical family farm at lambing time

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 03:00:00 -0000

Alix Chiddley-Uttely helps run her family's 100-acre farm in the stunning Shropshire Hills. In this episode, she invites Plodcast host Fergus to meet her ewes and newborn lambs as well as a host of other colourful animal characters during the morning rounds of feeding and checking. She reveals how it's still possible to make a good living from a small family-run farming business and tells some wonderful stories about local legends. Plus, everything you need to know about sheep.

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Sound Escape 55: soothing woodland birdsong and the chanting of herons

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 03:00:00 -0000

A day of rain has left the river running high and fast. The path on the bank is muddy. The air dank and cold. It could be deepest winter, if not for the riot of dusk birdsong spilling down from the trees beside the track. Gulls, blackbirds, wrens, great tits, and at one point a buzzard. There’s something about chatter of a heron – perched on his huge nest in the trees – that brings the greatest joy. Recorded by Daniel Graham and presented by Hannah Tribe.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a gentle postcard from the British countryside each week that allows you a soothing few minutes escape into the wild, wherever you are.

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139. The magic of eBiking through the Forest of Dean

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 03:00:00 -0000

Why eBikes can make a huge difference to how you explore the countryside. Plodcast host Fergus enjoys a day's cycling in the Forest of Dean in the depths of winter with Tom Marvin from BikeRadar to talk about the joys of mountain biking and the magic of riding the woodland paths on an electric bicycle.

Plus, later, the Plodcast team meet to discuss the day out, enjoy listeners' emails and the Sound of the Week.

Image from Getty.

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Sound Escape 54: the soothing conversations of a flock of house sparrows

Fri, 04 Mar 2022 03:00:06 -0000

The happy, mesmerising chirping of a colony of house sparrows. As crocuses bloom in a small front garden, a dozen sparrows bubble with an incessant chatter full of infectious excitement – a sure sign that this little colony is turning its thoughts to the breeding season. Recorded by Fergus Collins. Introduced by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty

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138. How the people of Langholm took control of their local countryside

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 03:00:00 -0000

Meet Angela Williams and Jenny Barlow who are helping the people of Langholm in south west Scotland make the most of their purchase of 5,200 acres from the Duke of Buccleugh. Rob Yorke walked some of the moors and woodlands to talk about what plans the community has to provide renewable energy, local jobs, wildlife habitat and an attractive destination for tourists. Recorded in autumn 2021. Image by Rob Yorke.

More on the Lanholm Initiative and the creation of the Tarras Valley Nature Reserve

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Sound Escape 53: the soft trilling of greenfinches on the edge of an overgrown farm

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 03:00:59 -0000

Relax to the gentle trilling of a party of greenfinches. Walking an old footpath on the edge of a town, you stumble across a ruined farmhouse. Trees and scrub have invaded the farmyard creating a haven for birds including a group of 10 greenfinches. As the first warmth of spring stirs the air, the males chatter and wheeze their songs, while the females forage. These birds have undergone a decline in the UK in recent years so their once-familiar songs are harder to find on a country walk.

Image from Getty.

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137. Wild moors and wild moods: how walking in nature can inspire stunning art

Tue, 22 Feb 2022 03:00:00 -0000

Enjoy a wild winter's walk around the town of Mossley in Greater Manchester where the surrounding moors, woods and crumbling industrial heritage inspire two local artists. Meet Liz Ackerley and her partner Hugh Winterbottom to hear how the ever-changing seasons and atmospheres influence their very different styles of work.

You can see their work in an exhibition called: Landscape Inside Out, Gallery Oldham, Oldham, Greater Manchester from 5 March to 4 June.

For more information, see their You Tube videos:

Later, the Plodcast team talk about artistic inspiration, video games based on the British countryside and listen to a chilling Sound of the Week.

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Sound Escape 52: Make yourself comfortable and cosy beside an open fire

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 03:00:48 -0000

After a cold and wet day in the hills, you light a fire in the stove and make a welcome cup of tea. You settle into a favourite armchair to watch the dancing flames and relax to the crackle of the wood.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a gentle postcard from the British countryside each week that allows you a soothing few minutes escape into the wild, wherever you are. Image from Getty

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136. A beautiful and relaxing walk on the Isle of Seil with poet Kenneth Steven

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 03:00:00 -0000

Poet and BBC Radio regular Kenneth Steven takes us on a gentle winter's walk through the lanes and fields of his home island of Seil in the Inner Hebrides. Enjoy meetings with kestrels, buzzards and robins, plus a special poem A Winter Light. Later join the Plodcast team for some Sounds of the Week and the latest from the Plodcast Postbag. Image of Seil from Getty.

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Sound Escape 51: Relax to the soft chatter of starlings on a Wiltshire dairy farm

Fri, 11 Feb 2022 03:00:45 -0000

A horde of starlings descends on a dairy farm in the Vale of Pewsey to forage among the piles of gently steaming fodder and manure while cattle shelter inside the barns. The birds' voices create a waves of soft chatter to warm up this bitter winter's day while tractors come and go.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a gentle postcard from the British countryside each week that allows you a soothing few minutes escape into the wild, wherever you are. Recorded by Tanya Jackson and presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty

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135. Getting lost among hillforts and ravens on a winter's walk in Monmouthshire

Tue, 08 Feb 2022 03:00:00 -0000

Setting out to give voice to forgotten lowland landscapes of Monmouthshire overlooked by visitors, plodcast host Fergus instead get lost as the little-used footpaths have disappeared or been blocked. With ravens and skylarks for company, he finds that the countryside can sometimes be a frustrating place to explore on foot. Back in the studio, we meet Jack Cornish, Head of Paths for the Ramblers, to discuss what can be done when footpaths go missing…

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Sound Escape 50: a gentle walk along the Kennet and Avon Canal in Wiltshire

Fri, 04 Feb 2022 03:00:19 -0000

It's a cold, clear day with frosted grass and glass. You're walking beside the very-full Kennet and Avon canal and water rushes noisily through a loch. But soon, this serene waterway leads you past moored boats and out into the wider Wiltshire countryside.

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134. Enjoy a walk with the boss of the Countryfile TV show: Jane Lomas

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 03:00:00 -0000

Take a wander in wooded coombe near Bristol with the Jane Lomas, series producer of the Countryfile TV show. The Sunday evening programme is one of the most important voices on countryside matters in the UK and Jane, talking to our own Annabel Ross, reveals some valuable insight into the ethos of the show and how it is put together. Photo by Oliver Edwards

Don't forget you can catch up on any recent episodes of Countryfile on iPlayer.

We'd also like to thank Radio Lento for their help with the recording of muntjac deer in this podcast. Radio Lento a podcast of immersive everyday beautiful soundscapes with no music or talking to get in the way.

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Sound Escape 49: soothing waves crashing on an empty beach in Devon

Fri, 28 Jan 2022 03:00:55 -0000

Be soothed by the gentle rise and fall of waves. On the north coast of Devon, where the high cliffs of Hartland plunge into the Atlantic Ocean, is the small village of Buck’s Mills. The road in is steep and winding, flanked with white-washed cottages and banks of deep-green ferns and bare trees. You have to walk the final stretch down to the sea, but it’s worth it. Winter beaches are quiet, and down here, among the boulders and churning waves, there isn’t a soul in sight.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a gentle postcard from the British countryside each week that allows you a soothing few minutes escape into the wild, wherever you are. Recorded by Daniel Graham and presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from Getty

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133. Explore the greatest music inspired by the British countryside – while wandering in the Cotswold Hills

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 03:19:00 -0000

Discover how the British countryside has inspired great composers over the centuries – and how their music helps us evoke landscapes and their wildlife. BBC Music Magazine's Jeremy Pound takes our own Fergus Collins for a walk over Leckhampton Hill to meet his countryside musical heroes, from Delius to Vaughan Williams and from Holst to Elgar. Image from Getty.

Enjoy listening to the music discussed on this podcast on our Spotify playlist

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Sound Escape 48: be transported to a lowland farm where ravens kronk and cattle low

Fri, 21 Jan 2022 03:00:16 -0000

Ravens call over the stark winter landscape of farmland in deeply rural Monmouthshire. Robins sing and, from a distant barn, cattle low.

Photo from Getty Images.

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132. The wonderful song of the winter marshes with naturalist Ben Hoare

Tue, 18 Jan 2022 03:00:00 -0000

In the first episode of the new season, Voices of the Countryside, plodcast host Fergus heads to the wild marshes of WWT Steart on the Somerset coast with author and naturalist Ben Hoare. The two old friends recount the joys of walking in nature and have a surprise encounter with one of Britain's great wildlife spectacles – a swarming flock of small wading birds called dunlin. With a backdrop of curlew and lapwing song, this is a podcast to transport you into the wild. For more on Ben's new book, visit here

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Sound Escape 47: enjoy the first birdsong of the year on a frosty green lane

Fri, 14 Jan 2022 03:00:41 -0000

You're walking up a old green lane carved into a frosty hillside, and your feet sink deep into the waterlogged leaf litter. Early January sunlight is driving off a cold mist, encouraging roving parties of blue tits and goldfinches to forage in nearby oak trees. High above, redwings call softly from the canopy.

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a gentle postcard from the British countryside each week that allows you a soothing few minutes escape into the wild, wherever you are. Recorded by Fergus Collins and presented by Hannah Tribe Photo from Getty Images.

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Voices of the Countryside – we preview our new season of Plodcasts

Tue, 11 Jan 2022 03:00:31 -0000

Join the Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah and Jack to hear about upcoming adventures in the countryside in season 11 of the Countryfile Magazine Plodcast: Voices of the Countryside. From the sounds and songs of wild creatures to the wise words of farmers, conservationists, artists and writers, we're heading out for 12 joyful episodes celebrating the wonders of the land.

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Sound Escape 46: listen as a song thrush sings in the new year

Fri, 07 Jan 2022 03:00:20 -0000

On a winter's morning in Dorset, a song thrush starts up its first practise songs of the new year in preparation for the coming breeding season – to a backdrop of sparrows and other garden birds. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a gentle postcard from the British countryside each week that allows you a soothing few minutes escape into the wild, wherever you are. Recorded by Kevin Parr and presented by Hannah Tribe Photo from Getty Images.

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Sound Escape 45: the soothing calls of roosting lapwings on a coastal lagoon in Somerset

Fri, 31 Dec 2021 03:00:06 -0000

Dusk falls on a still, winter's day at Steart Marshes WWT on the Somerset coast. On a lagoon near the mouth of the River Parrett, a host of wading birds is settling down to roost. You can hear the strange murmur and wheeze of lapwings, the fluting cries of redshanks and the occasional plaintive notes of curlews as the darkness falls. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a gentle postcard from the British countryside each week that allows you a soothing few minutes escape into the wild, wherever you are. Photo from Getty Images.

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131. Plodcast plans for 2022 – and festive games – in the Christmas party

Tue, 28 Dec 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Enjoy part two of our plodcast Christmas party where we make plans for wildlife adventures in 2022, play a Christmas bird spotting game and remind ourselves of Fergus's worst countryside jokes of 2021. With guests Kevin Parr and Annabel Ross and regular team members Hannah Tribe, Jack Bateman and Fergus Collins

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Sound Escape 44: the delightful song of a robin at dawn on Christmas Eve

Fri, 24 Dec 2021 03:00:57 -0000

Relax to the exquisite song of a robin singing in a country garden at dawn on Christmas Eve – with a chorus of next door's chickens for company. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a gentle postcard from the British countryside each week that allows you a soothing few minutes escape into the wild, wherever you are. Presented by Hannah Tribe, photo from Getty Images.

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130. It's the Plodcast Christmas special! Join the team to celebrate a year exploring the UK countryside

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 03:00:34 -0000

Join the Plodcast Christmas special where the team gather in the studio to discuss favourite episodes, guests and wildlife moments from 2021. We talk bitterns, beavers, badgers and nightingales. Part 1 of 2.

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Sound Escape 43: unwind to the song of silver birch trees

Fri, 17 Dec 2021 03:00:00 -0000

You've clambered down from a Peak District ridge to take shelter in a silver birch woodland. The wind, the tail end of Storm Arwen, whooshes through the stark winter canopy - a deeply calming rise and fall of sound. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a gentle postcard from the British countryside each week that allows you a soothing few minutes escape into the wild, wherever you are.

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129. PLODCAST SPECIAL: talking Lost Words and Spell Songs with the great Robert Macfarlane

Tue, 14 Dec 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Robert Macfarlane is one of the foremost British nature writers. His recent collaboration with Jackie Morris, The Lost Words, was a celebration of nature words and has since inspired two albums of music: The Lost Spells. In this podcast, Annabel Ross meets Robert at Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire to explore a living celebration of the books and songs and talk about the power of nature to inspire us all. Photo by Jon Cartwright

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Sound Escape 42: be gently charmed by mewing buzzards in a forgotten valley

Fri, 10 Dec 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Wander through a hidden valley in the Welsh Borders listening to a pair of buzzards mewing to each other as they stake their claim on the territory in preparation for next year's breeding season. In the background, a mountain stream gushes. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a gentle postcard from the British countryside each week that allows you a soothing few minutes escape into the wild, wherever you are.

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128. Hear the ancient stories of Britain with historian Amy Jeffs on the Avalon Marshes

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Come for a wander through the Somerset marshes in late autumn with author and historian Amy Jeffs. Amy has written Storyland, a retelling of the ancient and medieval myths and legends of the British Isles. Here she retells some of them against the wild and evocative backdrop of the wetlands of Avalon. She's also illustrated the book with her own linocuts – you find out more about these here. Photograph by Oliver Edwards

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Sound Escape 41: the magical music of a mountain stream

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Be calmed by the relaxing giggle of a stream tumbling off Sugar Loaf mountain in the Brecon Beacons near Abergavenny. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a gentle postcard from the British countryside each week that allows you a soothing few minutes escape into the wild, wherever you are.

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127. Foraging for fungi and other mysteries in Dorset with John Wright

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Learn about the magic and mystery of fungi with expert mushroom hunter John Wright. He joins our own Kevin Parr for a ramble in a hidden corner of Dorset. John's book A Spotters Guide to Countryside Mysteries is out now. Later in the plodcast, the team talk about the etiquette of saying 'hello' (or not!) to strangers on a country walk – and we capture on tape a strange bird singing in the depths of November.

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Sound Escape 40: the delicious sound of feet crunching on fallen leaves in an ancient woodland

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Enjoy an autumn dog walk through a beech and oak woodland and listen to feet crunching on leaves while the wind seethes through the canopy. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside giving you a taste of the season wherever you are – and a chance for a few minutes mindful reflection. Recorded by Fergus Collins and presented by Hannah Tribe

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126. The big issues facing the English countryside – a discussion with Tony Juniper at Wicken Fen – PART 2

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Hear about the big issues facing the English countryside from and Chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper. The conservationist and environmental campaigner reveals the actions being taken to protect our landscapes and wildlife – and some of the challenges we all face in the coming years. Rob Yorke asks the questions – at Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire

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Sound Escape 39: Relax to the rhythm of the sea swirling on a rocky shore

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Slow down the pace of your day with this short audio postcard from the countryside – waves swooshing and swirling around rocky outcrops of a rugged Gower coastline. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes give you a chance to relax to the sounds of the countryside – wherever you are. Recorded and presented by Hannah Tribe

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125. Talking with Tony Juniper, the Chair of Natural England, at Wicken Fen – PART ONE

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 03:00:00 -0000

A plodcast special – in two parts. Rob Yorke meets conservationist, environmental compaigner and now Chair of Natural England Tony Juniper at Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire to talk about how England's wildlife and landscape can be better protected and enhanced in the face of development and pressure from agriculture. Enjoy part one of this special interview.

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Sound Escape 38: the eerie and dramatic fallow deer rut on a dark Dorset night

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 03:00:00 -0000

It's 3am on an autumn night in West Dorset and an oily blackness beneath a moonless sky. There's a hush in the cold still air but the atmosphere is thick with testosterone. A fallow buck is staking his claim, warning off rivals and guarding his does. A guttural bellow that bursts the quiet and echoes through the combes and hills. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are postcards from the countryside to give you an inspiring taste of nature wherever you are. Recorded by Kevin Parr.

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124. Strange tales of family and folklore from the wilds of Dartmoor with author Tom Cox

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Take a wander through the wild tors and misty valleys of Dartmoor in the company of Tom Cox. Tom has gathered dozens of stories of folklore and the supernatural and he shares some of them with our own Annabel Ross in a hugely entertaining walks across the moors. Find out more about Tom's writing here And please do send your thoughts about the podcast to editor@countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 37: be soothed with a riverside walk in South Wales

Fri, 05 Nov 2021 03:00:00 -0000

In this brief adventure in the countryside, you're walking along a stretch of shingle beside the River Usk in South Wales – the water has risen after recent rain and will son cover this little beach. Just upstream, rapids gurgle and swirl hungrily. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes give you a chance to relax to the sounds of the countryside – wherever you are. Recorded by Fergus Collins

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123. Looking for historical artefacts on the River Thames with London mudlarker Lara Maiklem

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 03:00:00 -0000

The London Mudlark – Lara Maiklem – spends her free time combing the River Thames foreshore for fascinating objects that each have a story to tell. From buttons and beads to shoes and coins, her finds help build a picture of the people who have lived along the river for the past few centuries. Listen on to hear about this curious hobby. And you can see more of Lara's finds on Instagram, Twitter and facebook – search for the London Mudlark. If you are tempted to go mudlarking yourself, check tide times and weather conditions. And, on the River Thames, you need permission from the Port of London Authority. Image by Jon Cartwright

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Sound Escape 36: Peace and birdsong in a Gloucestershire churchyard

Fri, 29 Oct 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Take a moment to enjoy the gentle chorus of wild birds and foraging insects on a still autumn day. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a short postcard from the British countryside for you to relax to wherever you are. This week's episode is recorded by Fergus Collins and presented by Hannah Tribe

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122. Giant vegetables and other rural delights at the Malvern Autumn Show

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Join the Plodcast team as they explore the magical Malvern Autumn Show and meet world record giant vegetables, noisy steam engines, champion bulls, chuckling chickens, the National Rabbit Council and a host of great country characters. A wonderful celebration of the best of British countryside. Find out more at Malvern Autumn Show

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Sound Escape 35: cheerful sparrows singing through a rainstorm

Fri, 22 Oct 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Enjoy the drama of an autumn storm hitting a Dorset cottage while the garden sparrows – and a robin – bravely sing through the tempest. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a short postcard from the British countryside for you to relax to wherever you are. Recorded by Kevin Parr and presented by Hannah

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121. Uncovering the secrets of a graveyard in Gloucestershire

Tue, 19 Oct 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Sitting on a small hill above the River Severn, St Arilda's Church has a magical churchyard full of old gravestones – and each one tells a curious tale. We meet with Sarah Williams of Who Do You Think You Are magazine to decipher some of the stories in the stones in this Gloucestershire village and learn how to trace our own rural ancestors. Please do leave feedback and likes – and send messages to editor@countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 34: gentle and relaxing sounds of waves on a pebble beach

Fri, 15 Oct 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Be charmed and soothed by the ebb and flow of waves on a pebble shore. It's an overcast autumn day at Pwll Du on Gower – a hidden smugglers' cove where you can find deep peace. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes offer you a chance to take a few minutes with nature, wherever you are and whatever you are doing. Recorded and presented by Hannah Tribe

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120. Tales of nature and protest in the North Wessex Downs with writer Nicola Chester

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Roam Gallows Down on the Witshire, Hampshire, Berkshire border and hear tales of ancient and modern history – as well as the battles to defend the precious natural wonders of the area from new roads, American air bases and nuclear missiles. Author and activist Nicola Chester introduces Annabel Ross to the wonders of the North Wessex Downs. Nicola's brilliant new book On Gallows Down is available now.

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Sound Escape 33: Relax to robins singing in autumn beside the swish and swirl of the River Usk

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Ease yourself into the day with the song of robins from a riverside woodland in South Wales. Enjoy the background swirl of the River Usk in the latest calming Sound Escape from BBC Countryfile Magazine. Recorded by Fergus Collins

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119. Join a music festival on the River Wye and meet the folk trying to save the "Queen of Rivers"

Tue, 05 Oct 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Enjoy wonderful folk music beside the River Wye and listen to the story of campaigners "Walking with the Wye" to raise awareness of the river's sad plight due to pollution. Recorded by Maria Hodson. With thanks to the Plump Hill Band, Tracey Dixon, Rob Swannack, Dick Brice and Rob Barnaville for allowing us to use their music in this podcast. Please do leave likes and reviews and you can contact the podcast team at editor@countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 32: listening to cries of terns from a bird hide at Hodbarrow, Cumbria

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Shelter from autumn rain in a wooden bird hide and listen to the exotic cries of terns at RSPB Hodbarrow nature reserve in Cumbria. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a postcard from the countryside every week, offering your a chance to relax to the sounds of nature. Recorded by Martin Maudsley, presented by Hannah Tribe.

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118. On the hunt for mystery big cats on the loose in the Cotswolds

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 02:00:00 -0000

There are tales of mysterious black panthers from almost every corner of the land – so we head out with writer and naturalist James Fair to look into one particular story: the Cotswold Cat. Could large felines really be on the loose in the modern British countryside? Don't forget to leave likes and reviews and you can contact the Countryfile Magazine team on editor@countryfile.com

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Sound Escape 31: the calming patter of rain on autumn leaves

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Listen to the calming sound of a gentle rain on the leaves of beech and hazel trees while you shelter in a green lane in the Cotswolds. Recorded by Fergus Collins, introduced by Hannah Tribe. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes offer a soothing postcard from the countryside to help you relax, wherever you are in the world.

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117. Poetry, peace and corncrakes on the sacred Scottish island of Iona

Tue, 21 Sep 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Relax to the gentle tones of poet Kenneth Steven as he explores the history and magic of Iona: likely birthplace of the ancient Book of Kells, resting place of Scottish kings and queens and sanctuary for the endangered corncrake. Find our more about Kenneth’s work at his website https://kennethsteven.co.uk/ And join the team at the end for the Podcast Postbag and discussions about wild swimming, hedgehogs and sparrowhawks. Image by Getty

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Sound Escape 30: Tranquil footsteps along a woodland path and stream in autumn

Fri, 17 Sep 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Relax as you walk beside a stream at the bottom of a valley of beech and oak woodland in the Brecon Beacons – known as St Mary's Vale. This is episode 30 of BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound escapes – your chance to escape into nature and relax to the wild sounds of the countryside, wherever you are. Recorded by Fergus Collins and presented by Hannah Tribe.

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116. Unearthing the strange histories of the yew trees of Kingley Vale with poet Hugh Dunkerley

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Poet Hugh Dunkerley explores mysterious Kingley Vale in the South Downs of West Sussex in search of a bunker created to house resistance fighters in the event of the Nazis ever invading Britain. Along the way he enters the dark and eerie yew woods and reveals tales of Viking massacres and other chilling local legends. With poems from Hugh and Vicki Feaver plus wildlife expertise from Natural England's Steve Walker, this is a joyful summer's adventure in the countryside.

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Sound Escape 29: relax on a Gower headland while gulls call above and a tractor gathers hay

Fri, 10 Sep 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Listen to gulls as you sit on a headland overlooking the sea on the south Gower coast. Nearby a tractor bales hay as the last rays of afternoon sun light the fields. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes give you a gentle, relaxing postcard of the countryside for you to enjoy when you can't get there yourself. Recorded and presented by Hannah Tribe.

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115. Climbing the epic peak of Suilven in Assynt in northern Scotland

Tue, 07 Sep 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Suilven is one of Scotland's most impressive peaks. Fergus Collins joins two old friends for an expedition to climb this magnificent mountain in Assynt and discover some of the intriguing and sometime brutal history of the region. Along the way they encounter fantastic wildlife in stunning wild surroundings. Image Gavin Meredith

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Sound Escape 28: unwind to late summer swallows above an Iron-Age hillfort in the Brecon Beacons

Fri, 03 Sep 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Atop the Iron-Age hillfort known as Pen y Crug high above the edge of Brecon, you can relax to the calls of the last of summer's swallows. Wind and sheep sigh in the bracken and holiday traffic makes its way home on the main road in the Usk Valley below. Sound Escapes – from BBC Countryfile Magazine – are your chance to catch an audio postcard of the countryside and be soothed by the sounds of nature wherever you are. Recorded and presented by Fergus Collins

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114. Exploring the lost town of Old Sarum in Wiltshire with writer Christopher Somerville

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Legendary walker and writer Christopher Somerville joins our own Annabel Ross to explore the ruins of Old Sarum near Salisbury in Wiltshire and tells the curious tale of the dark forces at work that led to the medieval town being abandoned. A charming summer adventure in the countryside with a backdrop of skylarks and corn buntings. Find out more in Christopher's book Ships of Heaven: the private life of Britain's cathedrals

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Sound Escape 27: be calmed by the wild song of the ash tree

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Relax to the rustle of a summer breeze through the leaves of an ancient ash tree in the Brecon Beacons. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes offer a mindful few minutes of escape into nature – a few minutes of restful sounds of the countryside to enjoy wherever you are.

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113. Investigating the chilling Pool of Witches on a Brecon Beacons mountain

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Lost on a lonely, trackless mountain lies Pwll Gwy-Rhoc – the Pool of Witches – a mysterious lake that is the source of strange tales. Come with us on a quest to find the stories hidden in this untamed, ancient landscape.

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Sound Escape 26: slow down with the sounds of a narrowboat passing through a lock on the Peak Forest Canal

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Enjoy the gentle drama of a narrowboat passing through a lock on the Peak Forest Canal on the western edge of the Peak District. This slow radio is the latest Sound Escape from BBC Countryfile Magazine. Each one allows you to be soothed by the sounds of nature.

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112. Strange tales at a Dorset henge… Part 2 of the Knowlton Circles mystery with Mary-Ann Ochota

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Explore the extensive earthworks or Knowlton Circles in Dorset and the eerie ruined church at their centre. Archaeologist, anthropologist and broadcast Mary-Ann Ochota looks for answers in this ancient landscapes and meets local people with tales of strange encounters within the circles. Find out more in Mary's new book: Secret Britain: Unearthing Our Mysterious Past

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Sound Escape 25: be charmed by the gentle babble of a farmland stream

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 23:00:00 -0000

Cool off beside a babbling brook on the border of Cheshire and Derbyshire. In Countryfile Magazine's latest Sound Escape, it's early afternoon on a hot summer's day and you find yourself on the banks of a tiny but lively stream – a calm place for cooling off. Recorded by Andrew Griffiths, image by Getty.

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111. The mystery of Knowlton Circles in Dorset with Mary-Ann Ochota – part 1

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Join archaeologist, anthropologist and broadcaster Mary-Ann Ochota on the Dorset downs as she ventures across an ancient landscape of mysterious pathways, burial mounds and unexplained earthworks. She's on a quest to explore the secrets of enigmatic Knowlton Circles - a little-known neolithic henge. Mary-Ann is the author of Secret Britain: Unearthing Our Mysterious Past. Afterwards, join the Plodcast team to talk about the adventure and a very special listeners' Sound of the Week.

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Sound Escape 24: sit back and relax to the sleepy hum and buzz of a midsummer meadow

Fri, 06 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Chill out to the hum and buzz of a summer meadow. In Sound Escape 24, you find yourself waist deep in glorious midsummer wildflowers in a meadow in the Gwent Levels in South Wales. Crickets and grasshoppers chirrup and sing, bees bumble by, while blackcaps, chiffchaffs and a reed bunting sing from the nearby hedges. A lazy aeroplane dones overhead. Recorded by Fergus Collins and presented by Hannah Tribe.

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A new season of Plodcasts: explore the histories and mysteries of the countryside

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Join us for 13 thrilling adventures of discovery as we head out into the countryside to explore ancient sites, hear haunting tales and enjoy atmospheric walks in strange and beautiful places.Guests includes archaeologist Mary-Ann Ochota, walker and writer Christopher Somerville, nature writer Nicola Chester, treasure hunter Lara Maiklem, writer Tom Cox and many

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Sound Escape 23: a walk among birdsong in Dovedale in Derbyshire

Fri, 30 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Enjoy the delights of Dovedale in this mindful walk through one of the Peak District's most beautiful valleys. Deeply relax to the gentle melodies of nature – including summer blackbirds and robins – in the latest Sound Escape from BBC Countryfile Magazine. Recorded by Andrew Griffiths and presented by Hannah Tribe. Image from

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Sound escape 22: the joyful song of summer on the allotment

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Sit back and relax to soothing birdsong on a gentle summer’s morning on the allotment. In this Sound Escape, a meditative short podcast that celebrates the seasonal melodies of nature, relax to the tinkling song of a charm of goldfinches as they forage on the edge of the veg plot while gulls drift over on a lazy breeze. Recorded and presented by Hannah Tribe

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Sound Escape 21: the song of the River Dove in the Peak District

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Relax to the song of the Peak District's most beautiful river. Sit on the banks of this gentle bubbling stream with delightful birdsong raining down – in this short Sound Escape: mindful moments of nature brought to you by BBC Countryfile Magazine. Recorded by Andrew Griffiths and presented by Hannah Tribe.

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110 . Rewilding in the Black Mountains with woodsman Rob Penn

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Hear how a massive tree-planting project will transform the Black Mountains peak of Bryn Arw in the Brecon Beacons. Woodsman and writer Rob Penn explains how the Stump Up For Trees project has convinced local farmers and landowners to embrace nature and reveals how making the hill more nature-friendly will benefit the visitors and the local community.

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109. A Yorkshire River Journey with Radio 3's Petroc Trelawny

Fri, 09 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Presenter of "Breakfast" on BBC Radio 3 Petroc Trelawny talks about his week of live shows following a Yorkshire river from source to sea. Petroc reveals how the show will blend the evocative sounds of nature with chosen pieces of classical music including local composers and performers. In this podcast, Petroc also shares his favourite pieces of music – and those works that best evoke the British countryside. A Yorkshire River Journey runs from 12-16y from 6.30-9am. And you can catch up on BBC Sounds.

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108. Take a boat adventure onto a beautiful loch in wild and rugged Assynt, Scotland

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0000

In the last of the current series, we head to the far north of Scotland to explore a remote loch and its wildlife – plus we attempt to fly-fish for brown trout in the beautiful waters while serenaded by cuckoos and buzzards.

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Sound Escape 20: the mesmerising churring of a nightjar on a summer's night

Fri, 02 Jul 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Sound Escapes from BBC Countryfile Magazine: your chance to relax to the seasons sounds of nature wherever you are – and however busy your day. In this episode, it's a warm June evening on a hill in the Brecon Beacons and the strange churring of a nocturnal bird called the nightjar rises above the heady scent of honeysuckle and foxgloves. Presented by Hannah Tribe and produced by Jack Bateman. Image from Getty

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107. Searching for a very rare butterfly in Rockingham Forest

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Extinct in England, the chequered skipper has been reintroduced to a secret site in Rockingham Forest in Northamptonshire by the Back from the Brink project The plodcast's Megan Shersby tells this heartening story and explores the forest in the hope of seeing one of these jewel-like butterflies. Listen on also for our podcast chat and Sound of the Week.

The plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and the image is from Getty.

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Sound Escape 19: The hum of busy bumble bees

Fri, 25 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Sound Escapes from BBC Countryfile Magazine – your chance to relax to soundtracks of glorious nature wherever you are and whatever you are doing. In this episode, take a break in the shade at the bottom of the garden, and let nature do all the hard work . Image from Getty.

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106. Meet the wildlife of a beautiful, unspoilt stream in a Peak District valley

Tue, 22 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Take a springtime wander up a Peak District valley called William Clough in the company of angler and naturalist Andrew Griffiths. Meet some of the aquatic residents as Andrew tries his hand at stream dipping and hear tales of battles over access on nearby Kinder Scout. Plus, the delightful songs of skylarks, meadow pipits and curlew

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Sound Escape 18: the beguiling songs of warblers from a reedbed by a lake in the Brecon Beacons

Fri, 18 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Sound Escapes from BBC Countryfile Magazine – your chance to relax to soundtracks of glorious nature wherever you are and whatever you are doing. In this episode, we're beside a sleepy lake deep in the Brecon Beacons. Wind rustles through the golden reedbed as reed warblers sing their charming songs. Image from Getty.

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105. Discover the mysterious lives of cuckoos in a Cambridgeshire fen

Mon, 14 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Megan Shersby heads to the East of England to one of Britain's oldest nature reserves, the wetland wonder of Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire. Here she meets Professor Nick Davies of Cambridge University, an expert on the lives of cuckoos, to talk about these remarkable birds and how they use foster parents to raise their young. Later, Megan joins the regular plodcast team to talk cuckoos, sounds of the week and other nature news.

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Sound Escape 17: Be transported to a wooded Welsh valley to hear redstarts and song thrushes

Fri, 11 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Sound Escapes, your chance to relax to the sounds of the British countryside no matter busy you are. In this episode, enjoy the song of one of our migrant birds, the redstart, plus backing singing from chiffchaffs, blackcaps, song thrushes and blackbirds. A gentle, calming delight. Hosted by Hannah Tribe

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104. Explore the Dorset heaths in search of Britain's rarest reptile

Tue, 08 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Meet the spring wildlife of one of Britain's rarest habitats – lowland heaths. Roam the heath-clad landscape in search of rare reptiles including the elusive smooth snake in the company of Owain Masters and Nick Dobbs from the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust. Plus a host of rare insects, plants and the gorgeous Dartford warbler. Plus, a special guest appearance from plodcast favourite Kevin Parr.

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Sound Escape 16: listen to the cascade of wood warbler song in an ancient oak wood

Fri, 04 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Sound Escapes, your chance to relax to the sounds of the British countryside no matter busy you are. In this episode, you're on a path rising up a steep-sided wooded valley in South Wales. The endless May rain has stopped and a male wood warbler is singing his extraordinary song from the emerald canopy of tangled oak trees. The air is fresh, the leaves are fresh and there is a sense that spring can begin again in earnest.

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103. A joyful spring chorus of birdsong in a West Country oak woodland

Tue, 01 Jun 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Somerset artist Lucy Pendrick gets up early to listen to the whole of the dawn chorus of resident and migrant birds in a deciduous woodland on the edge of the Somerset Levels. Revel in this incredible spring orchestra of natural music that most people sleep through. Plus, Lucy also captures the dusk chorus as the birds wind down at the end of the day. Pure magic. Find out more about Lucy's work at her website The Whispering Wild

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Sound Escape 15: relax to the gentle patter of rain in a Maytime bluebell wood

Fri, 28 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Sound Escapes – your chance to relax to the sounds of nature no matter how busy you are. In this episode, we take you to Bickley Wood on the River Avon the outskirts of Bristol where bluebells are freshly in bloom. A gentle rain is falling. Recorded by Daniel Graham and presented by Hannah Tribe

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102. Forgotten tales, ancient woods and fairytale creatures on the loch – enjoy spring on the Hebridean Isle of Seil

Tue, 25 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Join poet Kenneth Steven for an early spring adventure in an ancient hazel wood, a mysterious glen and a beautiful loch on his home island of Seil in the Inner Hebrides. Along the way Kenneth recounts tales of history and mystery – and finish with one of his own marvellous poems. Find out more about Kenneth's work

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Sound Escape 14: relax to the dawn chorus from a West Country oak wood

Fri, 21 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes offer you a short meditative journey into the natural world this spring to find peace, beauty and relaxation. In this episode, you're transported to an oak woodland on a small hill in the West Country. It's 5am and the weather is cool and dry. Bluebells carpet the woodland floor while blackbirds, wrens, robins and goldcrests lead the dawn chorus to welcome the new day. Recorded by Lucy Pendrick.

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101. An adventure to hear a booming bittern in the magnificent marshes of Avalon

Tue, 18 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Explore the lagoons, reedbeds and woodlands of Somerset Levels with two of the regular podcast team as they try to hear the mournful yet powerful boom of the bittern. This waterbird was once critically endangered but has made a dramatic comeback with 30 pairs in what is known collectively as the Avalon Marshes. But will the team hear it? Listen on for gorgeous spring birdsong, history, mystery and even slithering snakes.

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Sound Escape 13: a few minutes of total peace deep in the Somerset Levels

Fri, 14 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes offer you a short meditative journey into the natural world this spring to find peace, beauty and relaxation. In episode 13, you are transported to a woodland on the edge of a lagoon and reedbed deep in the Avalon Marshes of Somerset where the spring birdsong is in full voice. Sit back and let your mind wander into nature. Recorded by Jack Bateman and presented by Hannah Tribe

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100. A wander along the Dorset coast in search of adders and spring migrants

Tue, 11 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Join naturalist, writer and angler Kevin Parr as he explores the little-known coastal scrublands near Chesil Beach in Dorset to encounter Britain's only venomous snake, the rare and beautiful adder. Along the way, he meets many other wildlife inhabitants of this lost world. Later, Kevin joins the podcast team to talk about the adventure and share more of his stories.

We would also like to invite you to take part in a very short survey about your podcast listening habits. Everyone completing the survey will be entered into a prize draw to win one of seven £100 Voucher Express Gift Card. Terms and conditions are available in the survey link.

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Sound Escape 12: lesser spotted woodpeckers and spring songbirds in a Celtic rainforest

Fri, 07 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes – your chance to enjoy a delightful few minutes of spring wildlife no matter how busy you are. In this episode, we're sitting in an oak woodland mid April, listening to the songs of many species but the star performance is the drumming of the lesser spotted woodpecker. The location is the RSPB's Ynys Hir reserve near Machynlleth in mid Wales, famed for its Celtic rainforest. Recorded by Fergus Collins and presented by Hannah Tribe.

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99. A spring adventure in a wildlife paradise – and the quest for a legendary woodpecker

Tue, 04 May 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Explore a fabulous spring day among the atmospheric woods, meadows and salt marshes of RSPB Ynys Hir on the Dyfi Estuary in mid Wales. Containing a magnificent example of Celtic rainforest, Ynys Hir is home to a fabulous arrays of birds, insects, wildflowers and reptiles. Fergus Collins met manager David Anning for a magical day, culminating in a mystery wildlife encounter deep in the woods.

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Sound Escape 11: the glorious song of nightingales from a Dorset wood

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Sound Escapes from BBC Countryfile Magazine – your chance for a relaxing escape into nature no matter how busy you are. In this episode, it's evening at Alners Gorse, a nature reserve in Dorset run by Butterfly Conservation. As the dew falls, the extraordinary song of nightingales rises from the thickets. Recorded by Martin Maudsley and presented by Hannah Tribe

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98. Spring on a Cotswolds farm with Countryfile's Adam Henson

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0000

In the second episode of our Spring Across Britain series, we meet Countryfile's farmer Adam Henson. Adam farms in the Cotswolds and he reveals the extraordinary burgeoning of life on the farm – from serenading skylarks to bleating newborn lambs. Plus, we discuss the role of farmers in creating a sustainable and accessible countryside. Adam's new book, A Year on Adam's Farm is out now. Plus, enjoy listeners' sounds of the week in our Podcast postbag and a beautiful poem by John Clare.

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Sound Escape 10: the soft crooning of nesting geese on the Dyfi Estuary

Fri, 23 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Sound Escapes from BBC Countryfile Magazine – your chance to sit back and relax to the sounds of nature wherever you are and whatever you are doing. In this episode, we're sitting on a wooded promontory above the Dyfi Estuary in the RSPB's magical Ynys Hir reserve. It's early April, there's a chill in the air but the wind has dropped allowing the gentle murmuring of Canada geese to rise over the salt marshes. In the distance, the Tarren mountains of southern Snowdonia glow in the sun.

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97. A quest for curlews in Somerset's meadows – and a magical talk with singer David Gray

Tue, 20 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0000

In the first of the new season: Spring Across Britain we meet with RSPB expert Damon Bridge and author and curlew champion Mary Colwell. Listen on as they explore spring wildlife in the fabulous RSPB reserve of Swell Wood and West Sedgemoor – in the hope of hearing the enigmatic curlew on the eve of World Curlew Day. Later, we meet singer-songwriter and nature champion David Gray. David talks about his own curlew experiences and how wild places have influenced his new album Skellig – of which you can hear the title track in this podcast. Annabel Ross is your host.

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Sound Escape 9: peregrines calling from crags in the Brecon Beacons

Fri, 16 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to Sound Escapes from BBC Countryfile Magazine – your chance for a relaxing escape into nature no matter how busy you are. In this episode, it's late afternoon in early April 2021 and we're at a rocky escarpment in the southern Brecon Beacons. It's a clear sunny day and a pair of peregrine falcons are prospecting for a nest site on the crags of old quarried cliff faces. Their cries and calls can be heard above the early evening chorus of robins, blackbirds and sheep. Presented by Hannah Tribe and recorded by Fergus Collins.

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Spring across Britain – a new season of delightful podcasts from BBC Countryfile Magazine

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to season 9 of the BBC Countryfile Magazine Podcast. Your chance for a weekly escape into the wild and beautiful countryside.

Season 9 is our most ambitious project yet – capturing Spring Across Britain as it unfurls in 12 different wild landscapes.

From mountain to heath and coast to meadow, we’ll be sharing the joys of the new season with you and encountering some wonderful wildlife and marvellous people along the way. In this trailer, the podcast team get excited about the upcoming episodes and special guests.

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Sound Escape 8: the soothing rush of the incoming tide on a Gower beach

Fri, 09 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes – your chance to relax into nature for a few precious moments. In this episode, it's late afternoon and we've arrived at a small cove on the South Gower coast to hear waves rising and falling on an empty beach. Recorded and presented by Hannah Tribe

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Sound Escape 7: a mistle thrush and friends greet a crisp March morning in a Gwent woodland

Fri, 02 Apr 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes, beautiful short episodes of natural sound from the British countryside. They're your chance for a burst of wild freedom when you can't get out there yourself. In this episode, it's a crisp morning in mid March and we're sitting beside a dark pool in a pocket of ancient woodland called Goytre House Wood. Celandines and wild daffodils brighten the damp woodland floor while a male mistle thrush, great tits and wrens provide beautiful song. Presented by Hannah Tribe

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96. Enjoy a wild wander along a Gower stream to the sea – with a treasure hunt!

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 02:00:00 -0000

Follow a sparkling stream through a hidden valley on the Gower Peninsular in South Wales to arrive at a smuggler's cove. Along the way, the podcast team hunt for treasures in the stream, meet the local wildlife and encounter a very mysterious fish.

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Sound Escape 6: the gentle chatter of house sparrows and dunnocks in a Gower hedgerow

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Welcome to our latest Sound Escape, a chance to relax to the calming sounds of nature. In this episode, we’re pausing beside a hedgerow on the edge of a small field in Gower, South Wales. It’s a bitterly cold and overcast Sunday morning but the house sparrows and hedge sparrows (dunnocks) are busily chatting at the beginning of their nesting season.

So sit back and be transported into the delightful soundscapes of spring.

Recorded and presented by Hannah Tribe.

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95. A delightful morning on a Devon river with wildlife photographer Jim Brown

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Storyteller Martin Maudsley meets wildlife photographer and countryman Jim Brown on Jim's local river, the Axe, which flows from Somerset into East Devon. They discuss otters, swans, folklore and farming – and the dedication wildlife photographers need to catch their quarry. Their delightful conversation is set against the bubbling backdrop of the Axe and its tributary, the Yatty. Otter image by Jim Brown

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Sound Escape 5: wandering along an ancient holloway in the Brecon Beacons

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Welcome to the Countryfile Magazine Sound Escapes – your chance to spend a blissful five minutes in the countryside however busy you are. In this episode, ramble along an ancient track through a steeply banked holloway down into a wild valley. Enjoy the sounds of robins, song thrushes and wrens above the babble of a mountain stream.

Presented by Hannah Tribe

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94. A soothing walk at dawn along a Brecon Beacons canal – with gorgeous spring birdsong

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Enjoy listening to the delightful songs of song thrushes, robins and treecreepers as we wander along the towpath of the Monmouth-Brecon canal high up in the Brecon Beacons. Listen out for an extremely early chiffchaff and encounters with narrowboats and a very strange duck

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Sound Escape 4: an evening chorus of birdsong on the River Avon near Bristol

Fri, 12 Mar 2021 03:00:55 -0000

Welcome to our latest Sound Escape, a chance to relax to the calming sounds of nature. In this episode, it is dusk on a flood-swollen River Avon on the outskirts of Bristol and the melodies of robins and song thrushes soothe the watery twilight. So sit back and be transported into the soundscapes of early spring. Recorded by Daniel Graham and presented by Hannah Tribe. Photo credit: Geograph

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93. A riverside wander in search of Britain's most mysterious fish – the eel

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 03:56:07 -0000

Annabel Ross wades through floodwater in the Severn Valley near Tewksbury to meet Andrew Kerr of the Sustainable Eel Group and talk about the astonishing serpent-like eel and its still unexplained life story. We meet a traditional Severn Elver fisherman, hear a glorious eel poem by Hugh Dunkerley and cap it all off with folk singer Kitty Macfarlane's delightful song Glass Eel. Listen on for a perfect podcast.

Image by students of Plymouth University as part of the the Eel Suitcase project, which raises awareness of the plight of the European eel.

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Sound Escape 3: listen to waders, wildfowl and skylarks on the wide marshes of Lancashire's Ribble estuary

Fri, 05 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Welcome to theSound Escape from BBC Countryfile Magazine – a chance for a few minutes relaxation as you listen to the sounds of nature and the countryside. In this episode we head along the sea defences of the Ribble Estuary in Lancashire on a bright February morning. Big skies dominate the low-lying marshes and farmland. The birds you can hear are mostly wigeon and skylarks. Presented by Hannah Tribe

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92. Discovering curious tales of folklore from Britain's rivers and seas

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Dee Dee Chainey has been collected stories and legends about folklore from around the world during her Folklore Thursday sessions on social media – in this episode she reveals tales of ghosts, monsters, spirits and superstitions that abide around our waters. Listen on if you dare. Dee Dee and Willow Winsham have a great book on the subject: Treasury of Folklore: Seas and Rivers. Plus, a brilliant Sound of the Week from Texas and we introduce our new Sound Escapes podcasts.

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Sound Escape 2: new lambs and early birds on a frozen Monmouth-Brecon canal in Wales

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Welcome to the second Sound Escape from BBC Countryfile Magazine, a short meditative journey into the countryside right now to immerse yourself in the sounds of nature. In this episode, we take an icy dawn walk along the frozen Mon-Brec canal in Monmouthshire to hear song thrushes, siskins, tits, a great spotted woodpecker and even a brief burst of treecreeper. Plus, we meet the first of this year's lambs. Presented by Hannah Tribe

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91. A charming ramble along Derbyshire's River Govt to talk wildlife, angling and local history

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Angler and writer Andrew Griffiths takes us for a charming summer's ramble around his local waterways on the Cheshire-Derbyshire border. He chats to passers-by, goes pond-dipping with children and meets a man hoping to catch the first salmon on the River Govt. Plus, don't miss the latest Listeners' Sound of the Week

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Sound Escape 1: calming birdsong in a Welsh woodland

Fri, 19 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Welcome to the first Sound Escape from BBC Countryfile Magazine – five minutes' blissful peace in the countryside as we wind down for the weekend. Every week, we'll upload some beautiful and relaxing sounds of nature. We will capture the spirit of the moment to give you a perfect audio snapshot of what's going on in the countryside right now.

This week, we are escaping to a little wooded valley on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales to hear robins, mistle thrushes, great tits and a great spotted woodpecker proclaiming early spring. The sound of the sea blends with a gentle breeze in the treetops. Hannah Tribe is your host.

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90. Adventuring in floods and ice along the River Usk in Monmouthshire

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0000

After the heavy rain and floods of mid January, we head out on a cold, clear morning into the waterlogged woods and farmland along the River Usk in Monmouthshire to discover how the landscape has changed and how the wildlife and livestock are coping. Listen on for an evocative walk in the countryside accompanied by the very first stirrings of spring. Plus don't miss the Podcast Postbag and two wonderful sounds of the week sent in by listeners.

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89. Wild waters and whirlpools of the Western Isles with poet and story teller Kenneth Steven

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0000

We return to the island of Seil in the Inner Hebrides to spend a day with poet Kenneth Steven exploring the wildlife and wild waters that swirl around his island home. He tells of terrifying power of the nearby Corryvreckan whirlpool and recounts the tale of a prince and his ship lost beneath the writhing currents. Plus, join us for nature sound of the week and the Plodcast postbag

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88. A cold and beautiful winter's day by a Dorset lake in search of peace – and perch

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Join angler and writer Kevin Parr as he spends a day at a local lake in Dorset explaining the joys and frustrations of angling. His quarry is the predatory perch, a fish that become more solitary and elusive as it grows larger. Kevin also enjoys some gentle wildlife encounters along the way. Plus, don't miss the Plodcast postbag and sound of the week…

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87. Spend a blissful, calming day by the river with a Somerset artist

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Lucy Pendrick is an artist and nature lover who is a keen listener to the Countryfile Plodcast. In this episode, she takes us to her local river to explore how nature's calming power – especially moving water – can bring peace and mental clarity to our lives. She also reveals how she finds inspiration for her art in her wild surroundings. A delightful, personal and uplifting podcast – and you can see her work at Whispers of the Wild. Plus listen on for how you can send in your own audio recordings to feature in future Countryfile Plodcasts.

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86. Join the quest to find an ancient holy well deep in the Welsh hills

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Holy wells are a magical feature of the Welsh landscape – places where people have found dependable clean water and made offerings since ancient times. But over time, many have been forgotten or overlooked in the modern landscape. So in this episode, we head into the hills north of Pontypool to try to track down a well that has been used since Roman times – and trace its fascinating story through history. If you enjoy the podcast, please do leave feedback and ratings

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85. Encountering the surging Severn Bore on an atmospheric walk beside Britain's longest river

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Meet the Severn Bore – a dramatic tidal wave that surges up the River Severn on rare occasions each year. Plodcast host Fergus joins local resident and naturalist James Fair for a wander along the river just before the Bore struck. A fantastic audio adventure with some great wildlife and surprise guests…

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Explore rivers, lakes, ponds and streams in this special season of podcasts devoted to water

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 03:00:00 -0000

Explore rivers, lakes and canals in this special season of podcasts. From meeting the Severn Bore and climbing remote hills in search of holy wells to finding treasure in streams and reflecting on the healing power of water, we enjoy the magic of our waterways over the next 12 episodes

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84. It's the Christmas special! Enjoy a virtual fireside chat with the team about nature and the countryside

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Join the Countryfile Magazine plodcast team as we celebrate how the natural world has helped us – and you – through 2020. Plus, we reveal the podcast highlights of the year and what to look forward to in 2021. So pour yourself a warming drink, find a comfy armchair and enjoy a gentle chat and ramble through rural Britain.

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83. Make your rural dream come true with Escape to the Country host Jules Hudson

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Jules Hudson has been helping people find their rural dream for over 13 years as host of the BBC's show Escape to the Country. Now he's written a book full of practical advice on how anyone can make the leap from urban stress to country retreat. Fergus Collins met Jules at his home in Herefordshire to discuss the dos and don'ts…

Find out more in Jules's Escape to the Country Handbook, published by the National Trust. Plus don't miss our bonus Plodcast Postbag feature where we answer our listeners' letters and emails

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82. Mackenzie Crook on his new Worzel Gummidge film this Christmas – and why nature is the true star

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Star of The Office, Detectorists and several blockbuster films, Mackenzie Crook has also written, directed and starred in a new adaptation of Worzel Gummidge. Christmas 2020 sees the third episode in the series and Mackenzie joins Maria Hodson to discuss why he loves this countryside character and how nature infuses his life. Plus, we introduce the Plodcast postbag – our listeners reviews and comments on recent podcast episodes.

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81. "We need greater freedom to roam in the countryside," argues Nick Hayes

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 03:00:06 -0000

Come with us to a narrowboat on the Kennet and Avon canal to talk to Nick Hayes, author of the The Book of Trespass, about how little of the English countryside is open to walkers, riders and canoeists. Learn how our landscapes came to be owned by so few people – and how it might benefit the nation's health to open them up to the public

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80. Exploring the RSPB's Hope Farm in Cambridgeshire where agriculture and wildlife work together

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0000

20 years ago, the RSPB bought Hope Farm in Cambridgeshire to explore how best to farm sustainably and profitably while also creating a home for nature. Meet lapwings, linnets and wildflowers as we wander the farm in the company of manager Georgie Bray to discover that it is possible to create wildlife habitat and make a living from the land.

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79. Autumn foraging for free food and simple cures with a modern herbalist

Tue, 17 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Join Maria Fernandez-Garcia as she walks the riverbank and woodlands of Conham River Park on the edge of Bristol in search of autumn edibles. From ruby rosehips and hawthorn berries to lush lichens and nettle seeds, Maria discusses the many medicinal plants that can be gathered in autumn and used to make herbal medicine. Expect seasonal jams, root-based coffees, and hot, healing teas. Find out more about Maria’s work as a herbalist at Healing Weeds

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78. A tranquil ramble with curlews and rare butterflies on the Menai Straits in North Wales

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0000

We escape back to summer in this podcast to explore a forgotten peninsula near the town of Caernarvon in North Wales. Enjoy beachcombing, plus a ramble over salt marshes and wildflower-filled sand dunes accompanied by curlews, oystercatchers and other seabirds. Pure wildlife delights!

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77. Wisdom, wizards and wise-cracks with Detectorists and Horrible Histories star Simon Farnaby

Tue, 03 Nov 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Horrible Histories, Ghosts and Detectorists star Simon Farnaby talks to Maria Hodson about his new book for children – where a Dark Age wizard turns up in the 2st-century countryside. Funny and thoughtful, Simon reveals his own rural childhood and his hopes for a wilder childhood for his own family.

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76. Be thrilled and chilled with folk tales for Halloween on a dusk walk in Dorset

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Storyteller Martin Maudsley takes a walk along Blood Lane and other ancient Dorset tracks telling tales old and new that celebrate the countryside and its people. Prepare to be thrilled and chilled as Martin explores the twilight world of spirits, strange events and weird wildlife. Find out more at https://martinmaudsley.co.uk/

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75. Rewilding over breakfast in the Black Mountains with hunter-naturalist Rob Yorke

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 02:00:00 -0000

The Black Mountains are the northern, often overlooked corner of Brecon Beacons National Park in south-east Wales – a land of seldom visited peaks and hidden valleys full of tales. Editor Fergus Collins meets Black Mountains resident and rural commentator Rob Yorke to discuss wildlife, farming, hunting and rewilding over breakfast on the Gaer, an ancient hillfort. Find out more robyorke.co.uk

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74. A friendly and fascinating chat with nature writer Helen Macdonald about her new book Vesper Flights

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Nature writer Helen Macdonald is best known for her critically acclaimed book: H is for Hawk. While this award-winning tome focuses on Helen's efforts to train a goshawk, it struck a chord with many in the way it deals with family, belonging and grief – as well as the beautifully drawn explorations and adventures in the British countryside. Helen has a new book out, Vesper Flights, and she talks about both works and her love of the natural world with Maria Hodson with readings by Hannah Tribe.

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73. Meet the amazing Birdgirl – Mya-Rose Craig – for a birding adventure in Somerset

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Mya-Rose Craig – aka Birdgirl – is rapidly become one of Britain's leading environmental campaigners and an eloquent and persuasive voice for nature and for young people. Having just finished school, she talks about her hopes for our wildlife while taking Countryfile Magazine's Annabel Ross on a birdwatching tour of her home in the Chew Valley in North Somerset.

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72. Honey buzzards in a Welsh forest – a truly special encounter to start the new season of Plodcasts!

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Welcome to episode 1 of season 7 of the BBC Countryfile Magazine plodcast – and meet the honey buzzards in a secret forest in South Wales. Honey buzzards are scarce summer migrants to the UK – a bird of prey that feeds mainly on wasps. Here Fergus Collins joins an expedition led by ornithologist Steve Roberts to locate a honey buzzard nest and ring the chicks in order to monitor their progress as they attempt to colonise the region.

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Nature, wild walks and rural magic! Find out what's coming up in season 7 of the BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 02:00:00 -0000

From honey buzzards to Dark Age wizards and Napoleonic battles to the incredible Birdgirl, Season 7 of the Plodcast begins this autumn with 12 brand new adventures into the countryside for encounters with wildlife, chats with farmers, naturalists, campaigners and writers plus tranquil wanders into beautiful landscapes. Escape into the green outdoors wherever you are with the Plodcast. The new season begins on 29 September 2020 and runs for 12 episodes.

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71. A celebration of the common toad on the River Usk in Monmouthshire

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 02:00:00 -0000

In the final episode of series 6, we return to spring on the beautiful River Usk to celebrate the marvellous common toad – our cleverest amphibian. Follow Fergus Collins as he explores pools along the River Usk in the Brecon Beacons to meet hundreds of these warty wanderers as they gather to spawn. Plus, we explore some of the literary associations of the toad – from Shakespeare to Orwell. Find more about Britain's amphibians at the Countryfile Magazine website

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70. Exploring the amazing life of a Hampshire chalk stream with Dr George McGavin

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Wade up the Candover Brook in Hampshire in the company of insect expert George McGavin and Zam Baring of the Wessex River Trust. Meet the hidden life of this beautiful waterway from mayflies and leeches to damselflies and bullheads. It's a truly delightful and entertaining adventure in one of Britain's most precious wild habitats. Annabel Ross is your host. Find out more about the Wessex Rivers Trust

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69. Oystercatchers in the rye – the poetry of a Scottish island with Kenneth Steven

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Enjoy a summer morning on the island of Seil in the company of poet Kenneth Steven and a chorus of oystercatchers. Kenneth reveals the wild history of his home and reads three beautiful poems amid the enchanting atmosphere of the island. You can find out more about Kenneth and his poetry here

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68. Finding asylum in nature: Lucy Jones on why our minds, hearts and bodies need wildness

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Lucy Jones is the author of Losing Eden, a book the exploring the science behind why we need nature in our lives – and what happens to us when we lose contact with the wild universe. Listen on for some fascinating insight into what the green outdoors can do for us - and hear Lucy's own journey from addiction and depression with the help of the natural world.

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67. Churring nightjars – an eerie adventure on a Welsh hill at dusk

Tue, 28 Jul 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Enter the strange world of the nightjar in a dusk adventure on a secret Welsh hillside. Fergus Collins meets ornithologist Steve Roberts and listens to the strange song and stranger stories of this bizarre nocturnal bird. Steve rings the nestlings and tracks the species' progress in Wales. With thanks also to Hannah Tribe for giving voice to various readings throughout. You can find out more about nightjars at the BBC Countryfile Magazine website

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66. The delight and mystery of rural churches with historian Emma Wells

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Medieval historian Dr Emma Wells reveals the secrets and mysteries hidden in our rural chapels and churchyards. She talks about their importance in the history of the countryside, the power of sanctuary and what to look for on your next visit. For more on rural churches, visit the Countryfile website special section on great churches to visit

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65. On the trail of an assassin in the ancient holloways of Dorset

Tue, 14 Jul 2020 02:00:00 -0000

We join storyteller Martin Maudsley in the ancient lanes of Dorset tracing in the footsteps and the hideout of The Rogue Male – the title character of the renowned 1930s spy thriller written by Geoffrey Household. So follow Martin as he wanders into these strange and enticing holloways, delves into local folklore and reveals some the literary magic woven into our landscapes. Plus along the way, Martin tells some of his own fabulous little tales. More on Martin's storytelling

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64. Cuckoos on Dartmoor – and why it's possible to farm with wildlife and make money

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 02:00:00 -0000

In this episode we head to Dartmoor to wander through landscapes where local farmers have worked tirelessly to bring wildlife back to their fields and hills. Listen on for cuckoos, encounters with rare butterflies and some truly uplifting conversation with Tim Martin of Farm Wilder. A former producer at the BBC’s natural history unit, Tim set up Farm Wilder to help farmers work more sustainably with the land and, as you’ll hear, his work is really paying off. Our own Annabel Ross met him for a walk in the dramatic Devon wilds. For more information, visit Farm Wilder

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63. Head to a poet's wild retreat on an enchanting Hebridean island

Tue, 30 Jun 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Enjoy a peaceful retreat to the gentle island of Seil in the Inner Hebrides in the genial company of Scottish poet Kenneth Steven. Hear Kenneth's reflections on writing, life in lockdown and some of the wild encounters he has every day with wild geese and marsh harriers. Plus, listen on for one of his own award-winning poems. For more about Kenneth, visit https://kennethsteven.co.uk

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62. A gentle morning's ramble with rabbits and wood warblers in the Brecon Beacons

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 02:00:01 -0000

Take a May-time wander with editor Fergus Collins to a distant unexplored woodland – meet the local rabbit populations along the way, listen to a chorus of linnets and listen to the fabulous exotic melody of the wood warbler deep among the oaks. A sublime, gentle adventure in the countryside. For more days out and articles on British wildlife, head to the BBC Countryfile Magazine website

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61. Take a hedgerow safari with TV naturalist Dr George McGavin

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Join TV naturalist Dr George McGavin as he explore the incredible life along a hedgerow near his home in Berkshire. Known for his regular slots on the One Show and many other BBC nature programmes, George is fascinated by insects and shares his discoveries – and some brilliant stories – with our own Annabel Ross in this delightful spring adventure. Find out more about hedgerow wildlife at our website countryfile.com

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60. Nightingales at dawn in Dorset – magical, beautiful and moving

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Kevin Parr heads to a secret common and woodland in Dorset to at the crack of dawn to hear Britain's most famous songster – the increasingly scarce nightingale. Listen on for a memorable and stunningly beautiful audio experience. Plus, we hear from one of the 20th century's greatest nature writers and poets, Edward Thomas, on the power of the nightingale's song. For more on nightingales and other British songbirds, visit our website countryfile.com

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59. Delightful tales of red squirrels, sparrows and classic British countryside

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Do red squirrels make little boats to sail on? Nature writers of the 19th century thought so. In this episode, writer Caroline Greene explores some of the ideas and beliefs early nature writers had regarding our wildlife. Reading from a variety of amusing and bizarre sources, Caroline reveals the curious thinking of early observers of the natural world.

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58. Walk the River Tame in Manchester to see a river restored to glorious life

Tue, 26 May 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Once a heavily polluted river, running though heavily industrialised landscapes, the River Tame is being restored from its source on the Pennine moors along its entire length in the Greater Manchester area and is now one of the best trout rivers in Britain. Follow angler and writer Andrew Griffiths as travels along the river meeting heroes from Moors for the Future, the Mersey Rivers Trust and the Wild Trout Trust for an incredibly heartening story of a river's resurrection. And for more on river walks, wildlife of our waterways and great conservation projects, visit countryfile.com

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57. Finding edible and healing plants with a modern herbalist in Bristol

Tue, 19 May 2020 02:47:49 -0000

Explore a forgotten forest on the edge of Bristol in the company of herbalist Maria Fernandez Garcia. Learn about the exciting flavours and healing powers of common plants such as dandelion and nettle and discover how to turn wayside weeds into useful cures.

Find out more at Healing Weeds

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56. A wild wander with cuckoos and bluebells – on Sugar Loaf mountain

Tue, 12 May 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Enjoy the wild magic of a spring morning walk deep into ancient bluebell woods with cuckoos, redstarts, pied flycatchers and wood warblers. Plus a supporting cast of spring lambs and many other species. Beautiful and unmissable.

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55. Journey into spring on Exmoor with nature writer Tim Dee

Tue, 05 May 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Meet acclaimed author, naturalist and broadcaster Tim Dee. At this time of year, the heart of springtime in Britain, Tim would normally be exploring his favourite oakwoods on Exmoor and the astonishing birdlife to be found there but, due to the COVID-19 lockdown, he is having to experience autumn in the southern hemisphere instead. Here he relives some of his memories by reading a rather magical chapter of his new book, Greenery: Journeys in Springtime. Listen on for a profoundly beautiful escape.

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54. A gentle nature ramble in rural Dorset – with a magnificent dawn chorus

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0000

We head to Dorset this episode with nature writer and angler Kevin Parr to hear a magnificent dawn chorus in his village, tucked away in the hills. Kevin then takes us on his favourite local walk onto a local hill to hear find singing skylarks and stunning views of the Jurassic Coast. Listen out for the surprise finish when Kevin discovers fantastic beasts in his very own garden… It's a perfect escape into the countryside when you can't get there yourself. And don't forget to visit our website for all your countryside needs

Image from Getty Images

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53. Climb into the Brecon Beacons and wander springtime oak woods

Tue, 21 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Climb a hill into the heart of the Brecon Beacons to encounter sparrowhawks, treecreepers and tangled oak woods full of mystery. Join Fergus Collins for a restorative blast of fresh air, nature and beautiful landscapes as spring bursts into life.

Recorded on 30 March, 2020.

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52. Explore the wild ways of Wessex and meet a gentle rural rogue – in a classic book of the countryside

Tue, 14 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Settle down for a beautiful reading from The Amateur Poacher by Richard Jefferies and go back in time to the Wiltshire downs of the late 19th century. Follow the life of an almost forgotten countryside character, the moucher, a gentle who rogue roams the byways of the countryside finding a living and communing with nature. A total delight. Discover more about Richard Jefferies at https://richardjefferies.org/

And for more about the countryside wherever you are visit Countyfile.com

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51. Visit an inspiring community farm near Bristol

Tue, 07 Apr 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Learn about The Community Farm at Chew Magna near Bristol and how it works to create a sustainable, nature friendly farming business that makes money and provides opportunities for work and training for a wide variety of local people. Margaret Bartlett visited to hear the inspiring story. For more information, visit The Community Farm Website

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50. A gentle springtime stroll along a stream in Monmouthshire

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 02:00:00 -0000

Listen to delightful birdsong at the spring equinox. Fergus Collins wanders along a winding stream through a woodland in his homeland of Monmouthshire picking litter and identifying a variety of birds by their song. A lovely listen if you are currently unable to leave home and explore the countryside. For more information on how to bring the countryside to your home and garden, visit our website countryfile.com

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49. Celebrate spring and the wonderful song of the woodlark on Chobham Common in Surrey

Tue, 24 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Recorded before the current lockdowns due to Coronavirus, this podcast allows you to take a wild wander across the heathland of Chobham Common in Surrey to hear the fabulous song of the woodlark in all its glory. Welcome in the first songs of spring in the last in the current season of the Countryfile Magazine podcast. We will be back soon to bring a bit of countryside joy to everyone who needs it. Please share

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48. Enjoy a marvellous otter adventure in Shetland

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Otters are elusive, elegant fish hunters but are becoming more common across the UK. But in Shetland, they are seen commonly all round the coast so naturalist James Fair headed to otter central to watch otters with expert John Campbell. And what John doesn't know about otters you could write on the back of a bullhead. Listen on for otter wonders…

And if you'd like to find out more about Shetland and its wildlife, please visit our website

Otter image from Getty Images.

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47. National Park special: what does the future hold?

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Join a fascinating discussion with Corinne Pluchino of the Campaign for National Parks looking at how our most famous protected areas are faring and what needs to be done to ensure wild habitats and human inhabitants are provided for in the future. Will the Government follow the recommendations of the Glover Report? Plus, we answer whether the Norfolk question: are the Broads a national park or not?

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46. Take a pilgrimage to an ancient shrine in a remote Welsh valley

Tue, 03 Mar 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Discover the 6th-century saint Melangell who defied a Welsh prince and created a sanctuary for people and wildlife in stunning Cwm Pennant on the edge of Snowdonia. Julie Brominicks takes a pilgrimage across the hills to find the hidden valley – where she meets with the Guardian of the Shrine the Reverend Christine Browne. Julie also encounters a modern threat to the tranquility of this sacred place that parallels the ancient story of Melangell. Image of the Church of Melangell from Getty Images.

For more on the Shrine of Melangell, visit here

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45. A delightful adventure searching for rare truffles deep in the woods

Tue, 25 Feb 2020 03:00:00 -0000

An utterly delightful adventure with truffle hunter Tom Lywood and his dog Tobacco as they track down truffles in a woodland in south-west England. Learn about the ancient art of hunting these rare and much-prized treasures and why they are so special. And be envious of host Annabel Ross as she gets to taste one of nature's greatest treasures.

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44. The quest to find the true source of the Thames continues…

Tue, 18 Feb 2020 03:00:00 -0000

After last episode's adventure finding the official source of the River Thames near Cirencester, the team head north deeper into the Cotswolds in search of the beginnings of the River Churn, which some people believe is the true source of England's greatest river. But there's a further surprise in store. Listen on to find out how they got on.

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43. Search for the true source of the River Thames – a mystery adventure part 1

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 03:00:00 -0000

The River Thames is Britain's most famous river but how many people have actually journeyed to its source? Fergus Collins braves floods and marshes to head upstream into the Cotswolds and track down the very beginnings of what Churchill described as the "golden thread running through our history". But what if the official spring at Thameshead isn't the true source? Listen on to hear a journey of watery discovery. Thank you to Jack Bateman and Hannah Tribe for helping create and produce this podcast.

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42. On the trail of killer whales in Shetland

Tue, 04 Feb 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Shetland is becoming increasingly well known for its killer whale population – learn more about them as travel writer James Fair heads to Shetland mainland to talk to Hugh Harrop of Shetland Wildlife They also chat about the realities of life in winter so far north and other wildlife treasures of these magical isles. We are also pleased to announce that the BBC Countryfile Magazine podcast has been shortlisted for a Publisher Podcast Awards 2020. Image from Getty Images

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41. Escape to south Devon in the company of broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Writer, broadcaster and farmer Jonathan Dimbleby discusses his grand vision for the countryside, his love of horses and hunting and his life on TV and radio, while walking with our own Annabel Ross in the south Devon countryside.

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40. A delightful chat about natural history and fly fishing in the Peak District

Tue, 21 Jan 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Jim Dixon collects and sells classic books on fly fishing from his bookshop in the Peak District town of Bakewell. Angler Andrew Griffiths meets with Jim to discuss the greatest book of fishing and natural history ever written – The Compleat Angler by Isaak Walton. Join them for a delightful chat about fly fishing, natural history and the British countryside

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39. Should we eat more game? A fascinating discussion at stunning Stourhead in Wiltshire

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 03:00:00 -0000

Meet Annette Woolcock who promotes the eating of game through the organisation Taste of Game. Listen on for a fascinating discussion of the merits of eating wild meat PLUS the pros and cons of shooting in the modern British countryside. You can vote in the Eat Game Awards mentioned in the podcast until 29 February. Editor Fergus Collins hosts this podcast in the wonderful setting of the National Trust's Stourhead Estate in Wiltshire.

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38. Take a stunning clifftop walk along the Glamorgan Coast

Tue, 07 Jan 2020 03:00:46 -0000

Escape the stress of daily life for a taste of fresh air and unusual wildlife with a wild winter walk along the clifftops of Glamorgan. Join Fergus Collins in a walk from Dunraven Bay to Monknash on a glorious Friday in early winter to encounter coughs, kestrels, gulls and the heartening song of the sea. For more information on the countryside and BBC Countryfile Magazine, visit countryfile.com

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Season 4 of the BBC Countryfile Magazine Podcast is coming soon!

Thu, 02 Jan 2020 16:00:54 -0000

Listen out for the start of season 4 on 7 January 2020. Here's a quick taste of what to expect…

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37. It's the Christmas special – our round up of the best of 2019!

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Join us for a gentle chat with the team at BBC Countryfile Magazine discussing the best wild experiences of 2019, what we would change about the countryside if we could and what makes the perfect Christmas present for lovers of the green outdoors. We'll be back with Season 4 of the podcast on 7 January 2020.

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36. A tranquil ramble along the River Usk in autumn

Tue, 12 Nov 2019 03:12:52 -0000

Listen to the song of the River Usk in autumn as you follow editor Fergus Collins on a gentle ramble through a recently flooded landscape to find wildfowl, waders and other creature. Plus, discover a blood-soaked story of treachery hidden in a peaceful riverside earthwork.

This is the last of the series in season 4. We'll be returning with more podcasts in January 2020.

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35. Wander the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall with Tim Smit

Tue, 05 Nov 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Explore the wonderful Lost Gardens of Heligan with its finder and restorer Tim Smit (who also established the Eden Project). Prepare yourself for some entertaining surprises as Tim discovers some of the more unusual produce of the magical vegetable garden. Tim is talking to Annabel Ross. You can find out more about the Lost Gardens by visiting the website

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34. Spend a night on a remote Shetland island listening to seabirds

Tue, 29 Oct 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Naturalist James Fair heads to the island of Mousa to experience an eerie and wonderful wildlife encounter: life inside a colony of storm petrels . These sparrow-sized seabirds nest among the stones of an Iron Age fortress and await the return of their mate each evening after a day's fishing. James also speaks to local boatman and wildlife expert Rodney Smith of the Mousa Boat https://www.mousa.co.uk

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33. Find tranquility with a mindful autumn walk in the Forest of Dean

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Take a wander through the autumn glades of the RSPB's Nagshead Nature Reserve in the company of Sarah Orme from In the Moment magazine to talk about mindfulness and how nature can provide us with the head space to cope with the stresses of modern life. However, there is an unexpected wildlife encounter to get the heart racing! In the Moment produce a brilliant podcast themselves talking to people from all walks of life about finding calmness and improving mental health. Thank you for listening!

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32. Relax with a Cotswold wildlife ramble and hear how wind and solar may provide all of the UK's future energy needs

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Take an autumnal ramble with Simon Pickering, naturalist and ecological advisor to the green energy company Ecotricity. As we wander through restored wildflower meadows, Simon describes how wind, solar and aerobic digestion can supply all of Britain's energy needs in the future. For more about the British countryside, great walks and the latest rural news visit our action-packed website countryfile.com

Cover photo by Alex Tyler

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31. Take a woodland walk to learn bushcraft, tracking and survival skills in the National Forest

Tue, 08 Oct 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Take a fascinating woodland walk with Lisa Fenton, a tracker, forager and bushcraft expert who can read the stories of a woodland. Here she talks to our own Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough at the Timber Festival in the National Forest in Leicestershire. Find out more at timber festival.org.uk

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30. Explore Bear Wood near Bristol, where wolves, lynx AND bears roam an ancient woodland

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Bear Wood, part of Bristol's Wild Place is the location of a surprising new project where bears, wolves, lynx and wolverines will be allowed to roam free in a vast enclosure of deciduous woodland as would once have done in Britain's ancient past. Our own Daniel Graham explored the new attraction in the company of Will and others from the Wild Place project. And don't forget to visit our website countryfile.com for everything you want to know and more about the British countryside.

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29. Find inner calm with green woodworker Peter Wood in the National Forest

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Peter Wood creates beautiful furniture from natural materials using traditional skills and tools. Our own Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough joins him at the Timber Festival in the National Forest in Leicestershire to watch him teach others to learn this deeply satisfying woodland craft. Find out more about the British countryside at countryfile.com

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28. Meet the local vicar who saved the town of Whaley Bridge from a bursting dam

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 02:00:00 -0000

In early August, storms and exceptionally heavy rain overloaded a reservoir about the town of Whaley Bridge in Derbyshire – but it was the local vicar Father Jamie Macleod who first spotted the danger, raised the alarm and led the community response. He talks to our own Andrew Griffiths about these few summer days of epic drama.

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27. Digging for ancient relics in the mountains of West Wales

Tue, 10 Sep 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Come with us to the Cambrian Mountains in Ceredigion in West Wales to the ruined Cistercian abbey of Strata Florida. Here locals historians are setting up an archaeology school where anyone can come along and dig among the 800-year-old ruins to help them build a better picture of this beautiful, mysterious and important site for Welsh culture and politics. So enjoy a day of treasure hunting deep in medieval Wales. For more on the British countryside, please visit countryfile.com

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26. Can we manage our woodlands without machines? Meet the horse-logger and his four-legged sidekick

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Stuart Freeman and his horse Breeze work closely together to manage woodlands where big machines are impractical or cause too much damage. It's a charming story about our woods, wildlife and the friendship between one man and his horse – as told to Eleanor Rosamund Barraclough at the Timber Festival this summer in Leicestershire. For more on the British countryside, please visit our website countryfile.com

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25. Enter the mysterious world of the river with film-maker Jack Perks

Tue, 27 Aug 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Jack Perks is the first man to film or photograph every one of the UK's 54 species of freshwater fish. In this episode, we go fish watching with him on the River Frome and meet a host of wild creature, learn how he found and filmed all these elusive animals and discover some of the stranger 'fisherman's tales' from his adventures. This is the first of 12 episode in season 3. Find out more on countryfile.com

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Season 3 is coming: trailer!

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Listen out for the start of season 3 on 27 August. Here's a quick taste of what to expect…

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24. A delightful chat with comedian Paul Whitehouse about his new fishing series with Bob Mortimer

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Gone Fishing with Mortimer and Whitehouse was a surprise hit in 2017 – and now they're back for a second series to discuss life, death… and fish.

Paul Whitehouse talks about why a series about "two old gits sitting on a riverbank" has been so popular and reveals a few secrets and funnies from the forthcoming series. The series begins in August 2019.

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23. Discover the glorious sounds of an English summer on Martin Down in Hampshire

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Is Martin Down on the Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset border the best nature reserve in England for spring and summer wildlife? Editor Fergus Collins thinks so – he spends one fabulous evening wandering through orchid-filled meadows and serenaded by skylarks. Plus, listen out for an extraordinary encounter…

For more on Martin Down, visit here

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22. Exploring the beaches of north Somerset and tackling the menace of litter

Tue, 09 Jul 2019 02:00:00 -0000

The Countryfile Magazine team head out to the coast at Clevedon in North Somerset to tackle the menace of litter and help launch the litter heroes campaign led by Julia Bradbury and The Outdoor Guide . Meet great local characters changing the countryside for the better and enjoy a gentle day by the sea. For more on the Litter Heroes campaign and how you can make a difference, visit www.countryfile.com

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21. Take a Lake District walk with Dave Willis to discover the art of outdoors photography

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 02:00:00 -0000

High on a Lake District peak, outdoors photographer Dave Willis discusses what makes a great photograph, tips for improving your own shots of the countryside and how to make it as a professional photographer in the digital age. For more on the British countryside, please visit www.countryfile.com

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20. In search of the lake monster of Llangorse in the Brecon Beacons

Tue, 25 Jun 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Surrounded by mountains, woods and meadows, Llangorse is Wales' most beautiful natural lake – but do its depths hide a secret? Fergus Collins goes in search of a mystery monster and discovers a watery wildlife paradise thronging with birdsong. But just what is 'Gorsey'?

For more on the British countryside, please visit www.countryfile.com

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19. Discover tasty treats to forage from the hedgerow. Part 2 of our foraging special with Adele Nozedar

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Part 2 of Adele Nozedar's wise and wonderful foraging walk in the Brecon Beacons in Monmouthshire. Learn the edible and medicinal uses of many common wayside flowers and other plants and listen to funny and curious tales from folklore.

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18. A brilliant day's foraging in Monmouthshire with naturalist Adele Nozedar: Part 1

Tue, 11 Jun 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Adele Nozedar shares wonderful stories and wisdom about edible wild plants while wondering through a Monmouthshire meadow.

This is part one of a joyful two-part podcast with a wonderfully wise country woman – you'll learn a huge amount of folklore and the practical uses as food and medicine of many common plants. For more information, please visit https://www.countryfile.com/

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17. Wander a Gloucestershire wood at night in search of nightingales

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Take a night-time nature ramble through a Gloucestershire woodland in the company of Countryfile Magazine editor Fergus Collins and wildlife-writer James Fair in the hope of hearing a nightingale. Plus, discover the best wildlife experiences you can have in the UK.

For more information, visit our website https://www.countryfile.com/

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16. Why our National Parks desperately need more wildlife

Tue, 28 May 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Andrew Hall from the charity Campaign For National Parks says our most famous protected areas aren't doing enough for nature. He reveals a plan for how they can be reformed to become strongholds for the nation's wildlife and be revitalised for the people living and farming there, too.

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15. How a lucky date led Sally Urwin to leave the city to become a farmer

Tue, 21 May 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Meet Sally Urwin who met a farmer on a dating website and ended up leaving her dead-end marketing job in the city to run his farm in the wilds of Northumberland. She's written a book about her experiences and reveals the big challenges she's faced – especially as she describes herself as "Britain's shortest farmer". For everything you need to know about the British countryside, please visit https://www.countryfile.com/

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14. In search of King Arthur's England – with military historian Jim Storr

Tue, 14 May 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Following on episode 1's walk on the mysterious Wansdyke in Wiltshire, we talk to military historian Jim Storr, author of King Arthur's Wars, to discuss his intriguing theory as to why England is criss-crossed with ancient linear earthworks. Plus, we discover the real location of the mythical Camelot.

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13. Explore a mysterious ancient site in Wiltshire – plus amazing spring birdsong

Tue, 07 May 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Roam the woods and downs of ancient Wiltshire in search of the Wansdyke – the Hadrian's Wall of southern England dug in Arthurian times to defend the south west from Saxon attackers. Plus enjoy glorious birdsong and butterflies as spring truly emerges on this glorious escape into beautiful British countryside. For everything you need to know about the British countryside, visit countryfile.com

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12. Listen to how nature and the countryside heals body and mind

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 02:00:00 -0000

Artist and naturalist Emma Mitchell talks about how she uses natural materials and inspiration from walks in the countryside to craft beautiful things. She also highlights the powerful healing power of nature for mental and physical health issues. Find more from Emma on Instagram at silverpebble2 and on Twitter @silverpebble

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11. Pilgrimages and parish churches – a podcast for Easter with Dr Emma Wells

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 02:00:00 -0000

This Easter, medieval historian Dr Emma Wells discusses great historic walks across the countryside: pilgrimages to holy sites and how we can follow these amazing journeys today. Plus she talks about the enduring value of visiting parish churches when we're out in the countryside

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10. Nick Baker tackles big rural issues plus shares his love of swifts and scones

Tue, 02 Apr 2019 02:00:00 -0000

TV naturalist Nick Baker talks about the best and worst things he's seen in the British countryside – plus he tackles the town versus country debate, celebrates the wonder of swifts and discusses the BIG scone question: jam or cream first… And there's so much more.

Find out more about the British countryside from latest news stories to great walks at countryfile.com

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9. Naturalist Nick Baker on sharks, rural heroes and which animal he'd like to be! Part 2 of 3

Tue, 26 Mar 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Part two of our hugely entertaining discussion with TV naturalist Nick Baker. In this episode, he talks about which British animal he'd like to be, his rural heroes and an extraordinary encounter with the world's second largest fish – plus so much more.

Find our more about the British countryside and the subjects Nick talks about at countryfile.com

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8. Nick Baker talks countryside, wildlife and favourite music part 1 of 3

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 03:00:00 -0000

A joyful chat with TV naturalist Nick Baker about the wonders of wildlife, his connections with the countryside and favourite things to do outside. This is part one of three chats with Nick – all are unmissable treats.

And to find walks, holidays and information on the Countryfile TV programme, visit countryfile.com

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7. Meet owls and wild geese in the wilds of Lancashire's Ribble Estuary

Tue, 12 Mar 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Enjoy a late winter wander through the Ribble Estuary National Nature Reserve taking in RSPB Hesketh Out Marsh and Marshside reserves and enjoy the evocative calls and songs of waders, wildfowl and even an owl. And to find more countryside walks, great holidays and exclusive information on the Countryfile TV programme, visit countryfile.com

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6. Roam the magical marshes of the Gwent Levels – with surprise wildlife encounters

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Explore the watery wonders of South Wales and roam the wildflower-rich meadows in the company of Gwent Wildlife Trust. Plus, hear about a major threat to the Levels from a proposed M4 relief road. We also hear from the Welsh Government on why they want to build the new road.

And to find walks, holidays and information on the Countryfile TV programme, visit countryfile.com

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5. Rewilding is vital for our wildlife AND good for farmers says Alastair Driver of Rewilding Britain

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Our natural world is in trouble and Rewilding Britain's Alastair Driver of Rewilding Britain argues that we must recreate wildlife-rich habitats on a huge scale and reintroduce lost species – and that this will be good for landowners and local people, too. Hear his impassioned argument here. And don't forget to visit countryfile.com for walks, adventures in the outdoors, wildlife stories and much, much more

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4. Farmer Dafydd Morris Jones argues against rewilding his native Cambrian Mountains.

Tue, 19 Feb 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Rewilding the countryside by restoring habitats and reintroducing key species is seen by many conservationists as the best way to restore Britain's depleted nature – but not everyone is happy with the idea. Sheep farmer Dafydd Morris Jones argues passionately against rewilding in his native Cambrian Mountains, saying that it threatens Welsh culture – what do you think? And in the next episode we hear the case for rewilding from Alastair Driver of Rewilding Britain. Don't forget to visit countryfile.com for walks, stories and debates about the countryside

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3. She sings to sheep! Meet the sheep-farming opera singer Gwawr Edwards

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 03:00:00 -0000

As lambing season approaches, acclaimed soprano Gwawr Edwards talks about growing up on farm in the Welsh hills and how she practises by singing to the sheep – plus she sings a Puccini aria (courtesy of Gwawr's record label Sain)! You can read more about Gwawr in the April edition of BBC Countryfile Magazine, on sale from 5 March. And to find walks, holidays and information on the Countryfile TV programme, visit countryfile.com

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2. Go birdwatching in Somerset with Mike Dilger

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 03:00:00 -0000

Head to Chew Valley Lake in north Somerset in the company of BBC naturalist and enthusiastic birder Mike Dilger in search of wildfowl and waders – and also meet his lovely Border Collie Bramble. Find out more about the wonders of the countryside and its wildlife with BBC Countryfile Magazine at countryfile.com

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1. A quest to find the real Watership Down - in Hampshire

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 03:00:00 -0000

You've seen the film and read the book, now explore the real landscapes of Watership Down. Escape with Countryfile Magazine editor Fergus Collins to the beautiful and mysterious hills of north Hampshire in search of wildlife, ancient history and very famous rabbits

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Exploring Britain's most beautiful river – the River Dove

Fri, 07 Sep 2018 08:00:00 -0000

Take a stroll along a Peak District river in the company of Andrew Griffiths and meet local people with a passion for protecting their local – and very famous – waterway

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Discover how a great Peak District river is being restored to life

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 08:00:00 -0000

The Peak District's River Dove has been blighted by dozens of artificial weirs. Andrew Griffiths talks to local people about what can be done to bring the sparkle back to this famous trout stream

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Look for the first signs of spring in Silent Valley in South Wales

Thu, 15 Mar 2018 08:00:00 -0000

Wander Silent Valley national nature reserve listening to spring birdsong and looking for other signs of the new season with Countryfile Magazine's Fergus Collins and Rebecca Ward from the Gwent Wildlife Trust

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"How a tick bite changed my life," reveals England rugby legend Matt Dawson

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 08:00:00 -0000

England rugby world cup winner Matt Dawson talks to editor Fergus Collins about how he contracted lyme disease from a tick – and the drastic effect on his health. Photo by Oliver Edwards

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Why woodburning stoves are better than open fires

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 09:00:00 -0000

Woodsman Vincent Thurkettle reveals why wood burning stoves are so much more efficient then open fires when you want to heat your house.

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Which firewood is best to use in a domestic fire or stove?

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 08:00:00 -0000

Forester and wood fire expert Vincent Thurkettle reveals the best wood species for using in a domestic fire

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TV naturalist Mike Dilger on his new book Nightingales In November

Mon, 16 May 2016 08:00:00 -0000

Naturalist and One Show regular Mike Dilger talks about his new book – and all things wild and beautiful – with Countryfile Magazine editor Fergus Collins

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Let's talk about Britain's woodlands – with forester Vincent Thurkettle

Wed, 20 Apr 2016 08:00:00 -0000

Woodsman Vincent Thurkettle talks about Britain's woodlands in the 21st century with editor Fergus Collins. To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com

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Enjoy a chat with bushcraft expert Ray Mears

Tue, 19 Jan 2016 08:00:00 -0000

In this podcast we hear from bushcraft expert, survivalist, author and TV presenter Ray Mears . To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com

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Search for the earliest signs of spring in the Brecon Beacons

Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 -0000

Search for the earliest signs of spring in the Brecon Beacons with BBC Countryfile Magazine editor Fergus Collins. To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com

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Enjoy a glorious dawn chorus in the Brecon Beacons

Thu, 05 Jun 2014 08:00:00 -0000

Find it hard to get up to listen to the dawn chorus? Then follow editor Fergus Collins on a three-hour walk listening to birdsong on the Blorenge Mountain in Monmouthshire. To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com

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How to get the family out into the countryside – plus rural news stories

Fri, 14 Mar 2014 15:30:00 -0000

The BBC Countryfile Magazine team talk about their March 2014 issue, the latest rural news stories and ideas for getting the whole family out and about in the British countryside. To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com

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Springwatch presenter Martin Hughes Games reveals behind the scenes secrets

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 15:30:00 -0000

BBC Springwatch presenter Martin Hughes Games joins editor Fergus and the team in the studio, to talk about the secret life of rabbits, how bats have babies and how he broke into the world of wildlife TV. To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com

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Countryfile's Matt Baker talks sheepdogs and Jules Hudson learns ancient skills

Thu, 03 Mar 2011 16:20:00 -0000

This month, Countryfile’s Matt Baker talks about his bizarre methods for training sheepdogs, fellow presenter Jules Hudson learns prehistoric skills in Worcestershire, and Abigail Whyte walks and scoffs with the Pudding Club in the Cotswolds. To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com

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Jules Hudson explores the Preseli Hills, plus the art of wassailing

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 11:00:00 -0000

This month Countryfile’s Jules Hudson discovers a new way of walking and an ancient landscape in Pembrokeshire’s Preseli Hills, while BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s Vernon Harwood indulges in one of England’s oldest January traditions – wassailing the apple trees to ensure a good crop of cider this autumn. To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com

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Join a pub quiz and visit the Somerset Levels to see dancing starlings

Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:30:00 -0000

This month the team challenge you to the Countryfile Magazine Pub Quiz, while editor Fergus goes in search of one of Britain’s most breathtaking winter spectacles: hundreds of thousands of starlings swirling above the Somerset Levels. To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com

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Discover Britain's most romantic ruins and roam the Yorkshire Wolds

Fri, 22 Oct 2010 15:30:00 -0000

This month the team challenge you to find Britain’s most romantic ruin and discuss the ones that got away, while editor Fergus explores a magical market town deep in the Yorkshire Wolds. To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com

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Countryfile Magazine: Waterways special

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 12:00:00 -0000

The team discuss Britain’s most enticing waterways and riverside experiences. A fly fishing expert shares tips on how to catch grayling and trout on the River Severn and a real life witch from Stratford-upon-Avon gives an insight into rural witchcraft today. To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com

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Discover a year in the life of a gamekeeper

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:30:00 -0000

This month the team discuss extreme challenges verses leisurely British breaks and pick their favourite features from the August issue, from Daphne du Maurier’s Cornwall to the fate of the Cuckmere Valley. Plus, gamekeeper John Cowan shares a rare insight into his profession. To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com

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Explore the mysterious Marlborough Downs in Wiltshire

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:30:00 -0000

This month, the team discuss the brand new Easter issue of Countryfile magazine and magazine editor Fergus heads out into rural Wiltshire to explore the ancient landscapes of the Marlborough Downs, Wiltshire. To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com

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Talking about how BBC Countryfile Magazine helps you explore the British countryside

Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:00:00 -0000

It's a return of the Countryfile Magazine podcast as we celebrate the 400th Countryfile Magazine route card. To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com

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