This year we're celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Cumbria Wildlife Trust's ownership of Eycott Hill Nature Reserve. In this episode Joe Murphy, host and Head of Nature Reserves is joined by Kevin Scott, Northern Reserves Officer, and they chat about Eycott Hill's transformation over this time into a much wilder farmed landscape. Producer Liz interviews Jack Dryden, Assitant Reserves Officer North and volunteer cattle checker Anne Burton, and finds out more about its transformation.  

This month Joe is in conversation with butterfly expert Martin Wain. Now North of England Conservation Manager with Butterfly Conservation, Martin explains how butterflies are great indicators of the state of habitats. Scott Petrek, our Southern Reserves Officer introduces you to the variety of invertebrates found at Lowick Common near Ulverston, including one very special resident (clue: it’s found in Leech Tarn …)

Despite covering much of Cumbria's uplands and areas around Morecambe Bay and the Solway, many people aren't aware of this special habitat. Close-up, peatlands are full of small but beautifully formed plants including insect-eating sundews. They're also our county's most important carbon-storing habitat. Listen to two of our peatland team, Mel and Grace, explain the work they do to restore damaged peatlands and learn more about these special places from our host and Head of Nature Reserves, Joe Murphy and his guest host and Acting Peatland Team Manager, Susie Webb.  

Learn more about our beautiful grasslands, species-rich grasslands and pollinators with the help of Tanya St Pierre, from our Grasslands and Pollinators team. Recorded at our Bowber Head Farm Nature Reserve, home to one of the rarest and most threatened wildlife habitats in Cumbria: northern upland hay meadows.

We are so lucky to have such a huge variety of wildlife on our coastline. In this episode, you’ll find out more about some of birds you are likely to see. We joined Steph Leow from the RSPB, who is working on monitoring and protecting ringed plover nests, Christian at Foulney Island Nature Reserve who talks all things terns, and Joe and Bekka at South Walney Nature Reserve as they discuss more of the bird species on our coasts.

Experience the dawn chorus at Smadale Nature Reserve with Reserves Officer Scott Petrek. He guides us through the bird song we're likely to hear in spring and why it's worth getting up early for the experience! Our host and Head of Nature Reserves, Joe Murphy, welcomes guest host Head of Marine, Georgia de Jong Cleyndert. Amber Gould takes producer Liz out to Walney Island to explain the process of restoring seagrass by planting seeds in the sediment around the island.

Have you ever thought about how nature lifts your spirits if you take time to stop, look and listen? Staff at Cumbria Wildlife Trust have been working with people with dementia and people suffering from loneliness and isolation to improve their health by spending time in nature. Our producer, Liz, gets chatting and finds out how people are benefiting. Our host, Head of Nature Reserves, Joe Murphy talks to Foulshaw Moss osprey expert and volunteer Alasdair McKee about enjoying the arrival of spring, all there is to see at this time of year and how we can all live happier lives by noticing the seasons' cycles.

Our host Joe Murphy, Head of Nature Reserves, talks to guest host Adam McGinley, Cumbria Wildlife Trust's Gosling Sike Manager & Horticulture Manager. In this episode hear about what goes on at Gosling Sike, our award-winning north Cumbrian base, from hedgehog-minding and volunteering in the wildflower nursery, to learning practical skills at our Men’s Shed and discovering how to increase biodiversity in your own garden. 

It's the start of a new year and in this episode you'll hear about how Cumbria Wildlife Trust helps young people make a start in a career in nature conservation. We hear from apprentices, and previous apprentices about their experiences getting their first role with us and their plans for their future. We also hear from students in Carlisle about what inspires them to make time to improve nature in their school grounds.   Our host Joe Murphy, Head of Nature Reserves, talks to guest host Danny Poland a previous young Trustee of Cumbria Wildlife Trust.

In episode 6, our host Joe Murphy, Head of Nature Reserves, welcomes CEO Stephen Trotter, and Head of Fundraising, Hazel Jones, to talk about the ups and downs of the 2024 year for Cumbria Wildife Trust - with significantly more ups! Hazel gives us insight into the raising the money to purchase Skiddaw Forest, the major event to mark our year. The conversation reflects on bog restoration, birds including osprey, hobby and bittern, beavers and red squirrels, welcoming people at Gosling Sike and growing rare plants.

Mammals are amoungst our most-loved wildlife. They are usually cute and we'll go to quite a lot of effort to see them as they give so much joy. In this podcast we talk to Elizabeth Ogilvie, Ecologist for the Lowther Farming Partnership, about the enclosed beaver trial on their estate, and with Joshua Adams, Cumbria Wildlife Trust's Red Squirrel Ranger. You'll learn about these secretive animals' behaviour and what's being done to help these species thrive in Cumbria into the future. 

In this episode we hear about life on the edge. In the far south west of Cumbria, on the southern tip of Walney Island is a very special nature reserve providing a haven to grey seals and many resident and migratory birds. Beth Churn, Marine Conservation Officer, takes us to a hide overlooking the seal colony and talks about their behaviour, what we're doing to protect them and the joy in seeing this colony thrive and grow over the last ten years. South Walney Nature Reserve is better known locally for it's colony of gulls. Bekka Watts, Shorebird Warden, talks to us about these and all the other birds that call it home, or that rely on the protection the reserve gives to birds on migration.

Can Cumbria Wildlife Trust bring nature back to the Lake District and create England's highest nature reserve? In this episode we hear about plans to fundraise and purchase Skiddaw Forest, a 3,000 acre wilderness in this iconic National Park. David Harpley, Cumbria Wildife Trust's Director of Nature Recovery, takes us on a tour of Eycott Hill Nature Reserve, explaining what he's learned about putting nature back into the uplands and how this knowledge can be applied at Skiddaw Forest. Danni Chalmers, Staveley Woodlands Officer, describes the Atlantic rainforest at Staveley Woodlands Nature Reserve and how this habitat will look in a much higher location. As usual Joe Murphy, Head of Nature Reserves, hosts the podcast with guest host and CEO of Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Stephen Trotter.

In our second podcast we visit Cumbria's amazing coast and hear about our annual celebration of marine wildlife at Seafest. Listen to two of our passionate and knowledgeable volunteer Marine Champions talk about what can be found on our shores and in the Irish Sea. Our host and Head of Nature Reserves, Joe Murphy, chats to Marine Officer Amber Gould about what makes the Irish Sea special and their favourite places on the coast to visit.  

It’s our first ever podcast! Listen to Keziah talk about our long-term restoration project at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve and volunteer Alasdair shares his amazing knowledge on ospreys.  Our host and Head of Nature Reserves, Joe Murphy, talks to Volunteering Co-ordinator Ruth Alcoft about the huge difference our volunteers are making for wildlife across Cumbria. Each gives a shout out to their favourite place to visit right now. Links:https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/foulshaw-mosshttps://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife/cams/osprey-camhttps://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/nature-reserves/barkbooth-lothttps://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/explore/gosling-sikehttps://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/save-roanheads-wildlife-2https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/general-election-2024 Thank you to everyone who has donated to the restoration of Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve. Much of the restoration works has been thanks to people who have left us a gift in their Will. Read about leaving a gift in your Will. Thank you to all our members who are helping put wildlife back into our land and seascapes to make Cumbria a wilder county with more space for nature. If you’re not yet a member, you can sign up here https://www.cumbriawildlifetrust.org.uk/join Music by Alan Whittle.