Talk on the Wild Side

The Government has made legally-binding commitments to end nature declines and they've mandated local councils to propose actions and priorities for their areas through a Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Rob Smith speaks to Liz Milne who is developing the LNRS in Kent (called 'Making Space for Nature') and Emma Loder-Symonds of Nonnington Farms who is already Making Space for Nature on her 3000 acre farm.Rob also escapes Kent to travel to Rothamsted Research in Hertfordshire and speak to James Clarke about the oldest continually operating agricultural research station in the world founded as far back as 1843. Learn about some of the research that is helping farmers work with nature using some of the longest scientific field experiments in the world.Finally, Rob heads to Westminster to meet Sir Roger Gale, MP of North Thanet who is another voice in opposition of the Sea Link cable that National Grid wants to run through Sandwich and Pegwell Bay with a converter station in Minster Marshes. Save these internationally important sites by having your voice heard in our Rethink Sea Link campaign!Making Space for Nature website: https://www.makingspacefornaturekent.org.uk/Nonnington Farms: https://www.noningtonfarms.co.uk/LEAF Farming: https://leaf.eco/Rothamsted Research: https://www.rothamsted.ac.uk/Sir Roger Gale: https://members.parliament.uk/member/87/contactRethink Sea Link Campaign: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/campaigns/rethink-sea-linkSave Minster Marshes: https://www.minstermarshes.com/

In this episode of Talk on the Wild Side, we explore the wetlands. First, we visit Elmley Nature Reserve, a private estate owned and managed by Gareth Fulton and his family. The reserve has been managed for nature since the 80's and is now an eco-tourism spot with luxurious private accommodation that brings people close to nature that wouldn't ordinarily visit. Rob also speaks to a volunteer about the reserve's owl population.In his second interview, Rob talks to Kent Wildlife Trust's first apprentice Bella Sabin-Dawson about eco-anxiety and some of the ways we can all combat that feeling of helplessness. She is just a wonderful young person to listen to. Whilst at the University of Kent, Rob also spoke to Sam Maddison about the ongoing newt monitoring project that the Uni is doing and more.Finally, Rob meets George Cooper, the founder of the Save Minster Marshes campaign. He's an avid bird lover whose contributions to bird ringing have helped make Minster Marshes a very well-documented site. Rob talks to him about the Save Minster Marshes campaign as well as touching on a more controversial topic - his work as a game-keeper.Show links Gareth Fulton LinkedInElmley Nature ReserveBella's blog on being an education and wellbeing apprentice at Kent Wildlife TrustSave Minster Marshes websiteSign the petition

🦭The 7th episode of Talk on the Wild Side touches on a very important topic. The Sea Link cable National Grid are proposing will run through Sandwich and Pegwell Bay with a converter set to take up 13ha of Minster Marshes. Rob talks to the Kent Wildlife Trust team about what the risks are and what we can do about it.🏘️Also in this episode, Rob talks to Sustainability Director of Thakeham Group about sustainable development. Is it all it's cracked up to be? You can really hear the passion in Josie Cadwallader-Hughes as she talks about how she is fighting to make development as sustainable as possible.🚸Finally Rob is at Goat Lees Primary School talking to the teachers and children about some of the ways that the kids are making the school more sustainable. Rob even interviews a few of the kids and all I'm saying is get ready to have tears in your eyes. The next generation is so amazing!Show Links:Rethink Sea Link campaign page: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/campaigns/rethink-sea-linkJose Cadwallader-Hughes LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcthornewill/Thakeham Sustainability: https://thakeham.com/sustainability/Goat Lees Primary School: https://www.goatlees.kent.sch.uk/

Rob Smith heads to Brightlingsea Marina in Essex to talk oysters with Matt Uttley, Restoration Project Manager at Blue Marine Foundation. He discovers the difference between our native oyster and the Pacific oyster and why Matt is on a mission to boost the population numbers of our native oyster, the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) with a number of partners forming a group known as ENORI. He also visits the Wilder Blean project in Canterbury for another safari, this tracking Exmoor pony footprints through the forest led by bison ranger Tom Gibbs. Find out the Blean forest is being managed naturally by bison and grazing animals.Finally, Rob heads to RSPB's Dungeoness Nature Reserve to meet Reserve Warden, Craig Edwards. The site is set near an airport and nuclear power station, a bleak desert landscape and yet home to an incredible array of life! Learn more about the great conservation work happening on the site. Links:Oyster Reintroduction Project - Blue Marine FoundationBison Ranger Experiences - Kent Wildlife TrustRSPB Dungeoness

As the Autumnal months set in, we return for the 4th instalment of Kent Wildlife Trust's podcast; Talk on the Wild Side. In this episode, we head to RSPB Northward Hill Nature Reserve on the Hoo Peninsula to hear from Area Manager Alan Johnson about the site's incredible journey of transformation and its value for wading birds such as lapwings and redshanks.Rob talks to Paul Hadaway, Director of Conservation at Kent Wildlife Trust about river pollution and the State of Nature Report. And finally, Rob joins the team at National Trust's Emmett's Garden for their fungi festival where they discuss the role that fungi play in our ecosystem and why they should be celebrated!Northward Hill Nature Reserve: https://www.rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/northward-hill/Save Our Stour: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/blog/save-our-stourState of Nature Report: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/campaigns/election-manifestoEmmetts Garden: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/emmetts-garden

Join us as we head deep into the Natural History Museum to private access areas where scientists are lurking. We meet Piotr Cuber, Senior Molecular Microbiologist at the Natural Museum to discuss soil science, in particular at West Blean and Thornden Woods, where Piotr and his team are looking to find out how the soil there will change as a result of the bison presence. In this episode, we also speak to Ellen Wilson, Farmer Cluster Officer at Kent Wildlife Trust about how she works with farmers in the Upper Beult and we also speak to Elizabeth Watts at her wildlife-friendly garden in Bearsted to discuss tips and tricks for welcoming wildlife to your garden.Links:Natural History Museum Molecular Lab Team: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/departments-and-staff/core-research-labs/molecular-laboratories/molecular-lab-team.htmlPiotr Cuber on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/piotr-peter-cuber-816279a2/Nature friendly farming, Kent Wildlife Trust: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/our-work/farmingWild About Gardening, Kent Wildlife Trust: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/wilder-gardensNote: This scientific effort from the Molecular Labs at the Natural History Museum still needs support so if you can help fund the research, please get in touch with Piotr!

As part of our second installment of Talk on the Wild Side, Rob visits GrowUp Farms in Sandwich; an unassuming building where the future of farming is being successfully implemented. Rob will be talking with GrowUp's impact director, Gillon Dobie, discussing this cutting edge of agriculture.Nearer the start of the programme, Rob visits our private Ham Fen reserve to learn about its beaver population, their reintroduction and give us all an update on how the project is progressing. And, linking in with the site's importance as a store of carbon, he then talks to our Director of Development, Sarah Brownlie, about our Wilder Carbon initiative, education and just how should we work with large businesses to protect and restore the environment.So, please, join us as we take another... Talk on the Wild Side!Links:Sarah Brownlie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-brownlie-nee-thienel-acipd-855a774b/Gillon Dobie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillondobie/?originalSubdomain=ukKent Wildlife Trust's Safaris: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/safarisWilder Carbon: https://www.wildercarbon.com/GrowUp Farms: https://growupfarms.co.uk/Kent Wildlife Trust's Beaver Project: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/beaver-project

In the first ever episode of Talk on the Wild Side, hosted by Rob Smith, you'll hear from Kent Wildlife Trust CEO, Evan Bowen-Jones, you'll join Rob on safari as he takes a tour of Oare Marshes with Area Warden Nadia Ward and you'll hear from Martin Richmond-Coggan of Green Farm. A regenerative farmer who teaches us about the value of mob grazing. Links:Evan Bowen-Jones LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-bowen-jones-72377677/Evan Bowen-Jones on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EcoLlogikWilder Kent 2030 Strategy: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/wilder-kent-strategyKent Wildlife Trust Safaris: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/safarisOare Marshes Nature Reserve: https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/oare-marshesGreen Farm: https://www.greenfarmkent.co.uk/