Talk on the Wild Side

Iain Tolhurst NBE is a pioneering organic farmer and owner of Tolhurst Organic Farms. This farm has made quite a name for itself because it is able to feed 350 families on 14 acres of what is classified as poor quality agricultural land up to now, without any government subsidies. He manages this land with minimal external inputs to the farm. This means no chemical fertiliser or pesticides. He also does this without any livestock or external fertility from animals. Nearly 20% of his farm is trees and an additional 40% set aside for green manure. So how does he do it?Iain's farming methods have been so well recognised that he was awarded an Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to agriculture. Iain believes in using natural farming systems to create soil fertility and enhance biodiversity. Could this be the future of farming?Visit the Tolhust Organic website to find out more: https://www.tolhurstorganic.co.uk/

Once heard purring in every corner of Marden, the turtle dove is now under threat; both in Africa where it spends its winters, and here in the UK where it spends its summers. What happens when a passionate community of wildlife lovers decide to take action to bring this evocative bird back to its former glory? In this episode you will hear from farmers, ornithologists, scientists and community residents who have taken it upon themselves to make Marden a turtle dove haven.A project like this has many facets, so Rob interviews;local farmers Christine Cox and Lou Carpenter about how they're creating habitat for turtle doves with the help of Natural England,scientist Kirsty Swinnerton of Kent Wildlife Trust discussing the GPS tracking of turtle doves and more about their ecology,Lyndsay Whitby and Karen Latchford, volunteers and Marden Wildlife Group members who scour thousands of hours of footage of turtle doves to get a picture of their behaviour and learn about population numbers,and Ray Morris, one of the founding members of Marden Wildlife Group and resident ornithologist.Find out more: https://mardenwildlife.org.uk/

Bugs Matter is a national citizen science survey aiming to create a picture of insect decline in the UK by looking at the windscreen phenomenon. You may not remember this but there was once a time when our windscreens were covered in bug splats. Where have all the insects gone? And what could their demise mean for the rest of us!?Rob Smith interviews Dr Lawrence Ball of Kent Wildlife Trust to find out more. There's still time to help out with Bugs Matter's 2024 survey season so make sure to download the app and get counting now!

Rob Smith visits Moat Farm in Kent to figure out where the nightingales went and how farmer Michael Bax has been on a mission to bring them back. Learn all about nightingales, where they are found and how habitat is being created for them. Spoiler, you may even get to hear the exquisite night-time song of a nightingale in action!The common nightingale or Luscinia megarhynchos are rather plain birds who are difficult to spot in the foliage of a tree but their song is a great way to identify them. It's very melodic and rich! They winter in West Africa and arrive back in the UK around April time to breed so we are privileged to hear them call to maintain their territories and find their mates. Nightingales are on the UK Red list for conservation status as their numbers have shown a steady decline here. One of many migratory species who could find our colder, wetter springs unsuitable.Visit the Moat Farm Kent website: https://moatfarmkent.co.uk/

Meet Charlie Burrell, Co-Owner of the Knepp Estate and Chair of Rewilding Britain. Some 20 years ago, Charlie and his wife Isabella Tree decided they needed to take a different approach on their 3,500 acres of land. Their story is famous but where are they now and where do they hope the future is going? You'll have to listen to find out!

Join Rob Smith as he walks around Scotney Castle and Gardens learning about how the team here are managing the land for nature whilst welcoming 180,000 visitors a year. Rob meets Rebecca Rees, General Manager, Senior Gardener, Andrea Bennet and Richard Newman, Head Ranger to focus on different areas of the estate and learn how they're managed with nature in mind. Scotney manages 788 acres of land with 30 acres just dedicated to formal gardens and 300 acres designated as a SSSI! Well worth a visit if you haven't already been.Rob also joins a hedgerow laying workshop in Moat Farm, Shadoxhurst as he learns more about the importance of hedgerows for wildlife from Megan Gimber, Key Habitats Officer at People's Trust for Endangered Species and the self-proclaimed Hedgerow Geek! He also talks to many farmers who took part in the workshop to find out why they're changing the way they manage hedgerows on their farms.Finally, Rob speaks to Amy Fitzmaurice, Kent Wildlife Trust's Human Co-Existence Officer, Matt Phelps, Species Recovery Officer at Sussex Wildlife Trust and others, who introduce the South East Pine Marten Restoration Project. A multi-organisational partnership which is laying the ground-work to the potential reintroduction of Pine Marten in the South East of England. There's a lot that goes into a reintroduction project like this so if you're interested in finding out about pine martens and whether or not you think they will cope in a highly populated region such as a the South East, make sure to have a listen!

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