Father Nature

The Father Nature team have decided it's the right time for a pause in proceedings. It's been an incredible journey over the past 18 months and we're so very grateful to you all for listening. We're not crying, you are!In this episode we celebrate everything Father Nature! We pick out the biggest lessons we've learnt, our personal highlights from the pod and how this project has changed our lives. It's been a great joy to bring you the pod but it does involve a lot of effort so if you have enjoyed our content please consider doing the following things:Sign up to Father's newsletter and book one of his brilliant nature walks (or gift a voucher to a friend!) here: https://jonnietaylor.com/Donate to Rob's marathon efforts for the excellent charity Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rob-rowe6We would also love to hear the impact the pod has had on you - get in touch the following ways:Insta: @FatherNatureHQEmail: fathernaturehq@gmail.comOr by leaving a review on your podcast providerAnd always remember to... #Enjoythenature

Happy festive season one and all - fittingly our final episode of the year saw us podding in a Winter Wonderland! This episode is a cracker:We make a last desperate attempt of 2022 to finally get some sense out of Father, as he tells us some of the things the natural world has to offer over the festive period. We'll be listening out for geese, eating seasonal veg and trying to spot the plant that has a long association with fertility! We also go back through our famous Winter Blues mnemonic from last year so we can equip ourselves with some tools to help beat off the blues. (Remember to go back to last year's mini-series on the Winter Blues for loads more on this.)Plus - Rob tells us how he's got on with the New Year's Resolutions we set on our first episode of the year. We'd love to know how many you managed to tick off as well!And Father Nature turns Father Christmas, as he talks us through the ultimate Christmas wishlist for nature lovers! Remember... #EnjoythenaturePLEASE NOTE: None of us have a medical background, we are just sharing advice that we think and hope will be useful. Remember to seek medical help if you are concerned about your mental health or the mental health of another person. Here is the link to the Seasonal Affective Disorder Association website: https://www.sada.org.uk/Take care.

October sees Father get another year older and another year... wiser? Potentially. More eccentric? Certainly. And he proves that by offering up a very eclectic range of topics in this episode including fungi, roadkill and two types of thrush!At one point he even finds himself talking about the people who are dispelling the myth of not eating yellow snow - and you thought it was too early to be feeling festive!!Speaking of festivities, Father introduces us to the ancient 'Samhain' celebration and its links to Halloween. Spoiler alert - he's not a big fan of trick or treat. Plenty of treats in this episode though!A note of caution - please take extreme care over some of the topics mentioned, particularly fungi and roadkill, where it is imperative that you consult experts before even thinking about putting it in your body!  Disclaimer: we are not liable for any illness or injury. As Father says, don't munch on a hunch! And remember... #Enjoythenature 

September is here and it's seen a big change in the weather - the dry heat of August seems to be behind us and the heavens have opened! In this month's episode, Father makes Jasper & Rob sample some of his homemade 'Elderberry Rob' - an ancient medicinal concoction for winter ailments that we like to think was somehow named with our Rob in mind. This traditional drink has fascinating health benefits and you can make it yourself! Father educates us about the bird whose name translates to 'chattering acorn gatherer' - you'll be stunned at how many acorns they can gather at once (and where they store them!) And he also tells us about the Autumn Equinox celebration in September called 'Mabon' and a friend's book launch that he's been invited to.  You can find the book here with all profits going to Teenage Cancer Trust and Suffolk Owl Sanctuary: https://www.ouraccidentalletters.com/ Get in touch with your September stories/pics:Insta: @FatherNatureHQEmail: fathernaturehq@gmail.comAnd remember...#Enjoythenature

It's a sizzling August and Rob faces a predicament - he's overrun by tomatoes but why aren't they ripening? Father tells us what our senses have to look forward to over the coming weeks, including some fascinating uses of straw and an amazing fact about a woodpecker's tongue.Speaking of woodpeckers, we end up in a state of pure confusion over the 'lesser spotted woodpecker'. Is it called this because it's never spotted or because it has fewer spots? Turns out it's neither!Father talks us through what he's going to be foraging this month and we finally address one of the big questions of the natural world - why is it good luck to be pooed on by a bird? Get in touch with your August stories/pics:Insta: @FatherNatureHQEmail: fathernaturehq@gmail.comAnd remember...#Enjoythenature

Parthenogenesis... viviparous... oviparous... Father might need a double operation later this month because he's clearly swallowed a dictionary preparing for this episode!!!Father talks us through what our different senses can look forward to in July including getting a good sniff of friend of the show Timothy Grass. What you'll learn about aphids will honestly astonish you. Plus we discover the bird that was the inspiration behind the noise of dial-up internet... maybe. Father also tells us about 'swan upping' - the event dating back to the 12th Century that you can get involved in this month - and gives his advice on hedge cutting and foraging in July. Get in touch with your July stories/pics:Insta: @FatherNatureHQEmail: fathernaturehq@gmail.comAnd remember...#Enjoythenature

The second of our new month-by-month previews sees us look at flaming June! Father gives us something to keep all five senses scintillated throughout the month. He dives into the weird world of cuckoo spit (you'll never guess where it comes from), tells us about a bird that he boldly claims is one of the most amazing in the world and shines some light on the curious job of an elderflower sniffer.  We also talk evening rambles and the Summer Solstice plus Father reveals exclusively to listeners exactly what he smells like (because we know you were all wondering). Get in touch with your June stories/pics: Insta: @FatherNatureHQEmail: fathernaturehq@gmail.com

Here at Father Nature it's time to shake it up a bit! We've got an all-new episode structure for you that will see us release a podcast at the start of each month. Each episode will expertly guide you through exactly what you need to know in order to enhance your connection with the natural world for the month ahead. Section 1 - 'Getting some sense out of Father' - sees Jon teaching us exactly what we can expect to see, hear, smell, taste and touch that month. Section 2 - 'What's in Father's diary?' - will give you the lowdown on the upcoming natural events for you to get involved in Section 3 - 'What on Earth is Father doing this month?' - will give you something seasonal to do that month, as well as offer an insight into the always entertaining world of Father Nature. What can you expect for May? Well let's just say, you'll never think about a cuckoo the same way again after listening to this episode... Enjoy! Insta: @FatherNatureHQEmail: fathernaturehq@gmail.com

It's official - Spring has nearly sprung! Longer days, warmer weather and... molehills?? In this episode Father Nature provides 5 early signs of Spring to detect, running through each of our senses! What can we see, hear, smell, touch and taste as we transition into the new season? As ever some of the choices are a touch unconventional... you might be a tad surprised as to which category molehills falls under...PLUS: The boys make the important distinction between frogspawn and frogs-porn and Jon talks us through a couple of incredible nature finds that you can discover at the beach. Insta: @FatherNatureHQEmail: fathernaturehq@gmail.com