Share

cover art for Throwing shade: why you’ll never take trees for granted again

Reasons Revisited

Throwing shade: why you’ll never take trees for granted again

Season 1, Ep. 307
•

Hello! Join Ed and Geoff as they go down to the woods today. And boy, are they sure of a big surprise. It turns out Britain only has 2.5% of the ancient woodland it once had! These hubs of biodiversity are hugely important for tackling the nature and climate crisis, but they're not in a good way. Nick Phillips from The Woodland Trust talks to us about why it’s not too late to save them. Fancy some forest bathing? Suzanne Simmons tells us why urban trees do so much for us in our everyday lives. And finally, Rebecca Wrigley speaks to us about rewilding and how woodlands and forests can regenerate all by themselves, all with a healthy amount of Lord of the Rings chat. 


Plus: It’s our final episode before our summer break. Is it wise for Ed to head to Reading Festival? Get in touch!


We'd love to hear from you over the summer with your ideas, feedback or experiences of forest bathing, get in touch via email (reasons@cheerfulpodcast.com) or via the website!


Guests

Nick Phillips, Principal Forestry Policy Advocate, Woodland Trust (@treepolicy / @WoodlandTrust)

Suzanne Simmons, Projects Director, Trees for Cities (@TreesforCities)

Rebecca Wrigley, CEO, Rewilding Britain (@RewildingB)



More information 

Learn more about the work of The Woodland Trust, Trees for Cities, and Rewilding Britain

Woodland trust information on ancient woodland

Visit Fingle Woods 

Costa Rica restoring its forests (Guardian)

How to start forest bathing

More episodes

View all episodes

  • LABOUR'S FIRST MOVES: Keir Starmer Gives Away Power

     12:52
    In its first King's Speech, the Labour government said that "greater devolution of decision making is at the heart of a modern dynamic economy and is a key driver of economic growth."Historically, why has the UK been so insistent on hoarding power centrally? And what's the potential in Westminster giving away power?With Tony Travers (LSE), Sarah Longlands (IPPR North) and Neil McInroy (The Centre for Local Economic Strategies)

  • LABOUR'S FIRST MOVES: Rachel Reeves' National Wealth Fund

     13:48
    Ed has departed for government, and Geoff is left as custodian of the archive. As the Labour government makes its first raft of announcements and appointments, we delve into our back catalogue to find the ideas which might have influenced them. In this episode, we look at Rachel Reeves' announcement of the National Wealth Fund. What are public wealth funds? What different forms can they take? What are the potential benefits to our country?We revisit our episode Investment for the People from October 2022. First, we get the beginner's guide from UCL Associate Professor Josh Ryan-Collins. Then we hear from Professor Karin Thorburn about Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, which (due to specific historical circumstances) is very different to the one proposed for the UK, but illustrates how a public wealth fund could transform the way we finance Government spending. More infoNorway’s Sovereign Wealth FundUCL IIPP Report on Public Wealth FundsGuestsJosh Ryan-Collins, Associate Professor in Economics and Finance, UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (@jryancollins) (@IIPP_UCL)Karin Thorburn, Professor of Finance, Norwegian School of Economics (@karinsthorburn) (@NHHnor)

  • 28. ED & GEOFF HAVE LEFT THE CHATTEROO

     36:51
    The day is upon us. Maybe. In the words of the late Teddy Kennedy (uncle of Robert F. Junior, and real-life inspiration for Kendall Roy):"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."Thank you for keeping us cheerful.Email our sporadically monitored inbox: chat@cheerfulpodcast.comFull text of Ted Kennedy's 1980 Democratic National Concession address: https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/tedkennedy1980dnc.htm

  • TOMORROW: THE CHATTEROO STOPS HERE

     00:12
    We're giving you an extra 24 hours to don a black armband and stock up on Kleenex, as the Chatteroo approaches its final destination.

  • 27. CHATTEROO #25 - Cicada Ardor

    30:09
    From Highland Park, Illinois, we're joined by our cicada correspondent, who's keeping watch for the first dual emergence in 221 years. Plus, we find out more about this phenomenon with entomologist Professor Dave Bilton.Bigger than the beetles - more about Dave: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/david-biltonEmerge in the Chatteroo inbox: chat@cheerfulpodcast.com

  • 26. CHATTEROO #24 - with Lauren Child

     33:44
    Lauren Child (former Children's Laureate/creator of Charlie & Lola, Clarice Bean and Ruby Redfort) joins the Chatteroo.Buy Lauren's new Clarice Bean book, 'Smile': https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/smile-lauren-child/7462273?ean=9780008285548

  • 25. CHATTEROO #23 WILL HUTTON - This Time No Mistakes

     27:54
    Political economist and writer, Will Hutton joins the Chatteroo to talk about his new book, 'This Time No Mistakes: How to Remake Britain', and its parallels with his mid-90s bestseller, 'The State We're In'.Buy Will's book: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/this-time-no-mistakes-9781804549407/Email us: chat@cheerfulpodcast.com

  • 24. CHATTEROO #22

     34:28
    Vegetarian escalope at the Paris Olympics, energy nerds, The Boring Phone, Mid TV and your correspondence.Join the Chatteroo! Email us with thoughts, questions and any fodder: chat@cheerfulpodcast.com

  • 23. CHATTEROO #21 England: Seven Myths That Changed a Country - And How To Set Them Straight

     42:12
    Just in time for St George's Day, former Mili-gang members Marc Stears & Tom Baldwin join the Chatteroo to talk about their excellent new book 'England: Seven Myths That Changed a Country - And How To Set Them Straight'Treat yourself to a copy - you deserve it! https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/england-9781526646231/Email us: chat@cheerfulpodcast.com