Planet Pod's Podcast

Our National Parks are in crisis - just when we need them most to help us tackle the climate emergency, boost nature recovery and biodiversity.Rewilding Britain has called for 10% of the parks to rewild but can they or will they? Who owns our parks? Not the nation but private landowners. Are they listening? We talkto Guy Shrubsole, Policy and Campaigns Coordinator at Rewilding Britain (author of Who Owns England?) and Anita Konrad, CEO of The Campaign for National Parks.

The ancient art of silvopasture could be set to, quite literally, change the landscape of British farming.Currently the subject of a 12 year trial run by farmers, Rothamsted Research, The Woodland Trust, The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) and Innovative Farmers, silvopasture (a traditional method of farming livestock with trees) is thought to sequester additional carbon, reduce flooding, increase drought-resilience, improve animal health and wellbeing and boost biodiversity. But will it work in the UK? Scientists and farmers in Devon have combined forces to find out. We talked to two key people involved in the trial; Andy Gray, commercial farmer at Elston Farm in Devon and Dr Robert Dunn, a scientist at Rothamsted Research, who specialises on reducing the environmental impact of agriculture.This episode is supported by global law firmEversheds Sutherland.

In the aftermath of a pandemic which, for many of us, has fundamentally changed our relationship with nature, we talk to two people building on that capital: Dr Pavel Cenkl, Head of College at Schumacher College and Director of Learning, Dartington Trust and Trewin Restorick, Founder and CEO of Hubbub.We explore creative solutions to the climate crisis and how we can educate and influence behaviour in very different ways.

How to create an ecological garden that is people and nature friendly with Matt Rees Warren and Brigit Strawbridge Howard share their tips and advice for a friendlier gentler approach to gardening.Perfectfor no mow May!This episode has been produced with generous sponsorship from Chelsea Green Publishing

We discuss the new Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill with Caroline Lucas MP and Dr Richard Benwell from the Wildlife & Countryside LinkThis episode of Planet Pod is supported by leading international law firm Eversheds Sutherland

We discuss barn owls and beetles, tractors, ploughs and policies, economics and farmers markets.How can rethinking how we manage and live alongside the land and our approach to better stewardship help restore health to the soil, ensure continued productivity and bring back the birds and wildlife?[Owl photo credit: Keith Mullings]

We discuss the hows and whys of rearing beef cattle and explore some of the mythsaroundwhether beef is good for us and the planet. We ask our guests Nicolette Hahn Niman and Dr Michael Clark what this means in the context of the globalfood system.

Taking lessons from Wales, a small country, we discuss how significant changes can come about from making changes on the local level. Jane Davidson, architect of the Future Generations Act in Wales, author of #futuregen and a smallholder discusses sustainability, farming politics and how to make change happen with Chris Smaje, author of A Small Farm FutureThis episode has been produced with generous sponsorship from Chelsea Green Publishing

Pete Cairns from SCOTLAND: The Big Picture and author and farmer Patrick Laurie discuss whether bringing back the Lynx will benefit Scotland's countryside, economyand wildlife.We discuss the Lynx and the year long conversationSCOTLAND: The Big Picture are having with communities in Cairngorms and Argyll as well as the changing nature of Scotland's landscape, land ownership, the opportunities rewilding brings and what can be done to ensure its benefits are felt by all.