I met the Yonder Oak Wood team back in March to discover how this landscape will be transformed for people and wildlife, and what designing a new wood involves. The vision is to attract plentiful wildlife with healthy habitat that offers refuge from weather extremes and fights climate change. The local community has been involved from the off - volunteer Sally Burton joins us to explain what she gets up to, how excited everyone is about the future and what volunteering means to her. We also hear of efforts to make the site more sustainable, from re-usable fences to tree guard trials, and I get ..read more

You'll never look at a tree in the same way again after this episode. Our guest, Tristan Gooley, is known as the natural navigator and gives us fascinating insight into the stories nature is telling us and how they can help us find our way. At Eartham Wood, West Sussex, he teaches us how each part of a tree can tell us about the land, water and animals around us. I put his skills to the test as we read the captivating clues of brown leaves, leaning trunks, lichens, yew, blackthorn and more. Find out how to determine which way is south, why thorny branches could indicate small animals and if he ..read more

Did you know we have rainforest right here in the UK? Visit magical Bovey Valley Woods in Devon with us as we walk alongside a babbling brook and over a Tolkien-esque stone bridge among trees dripping with lichens and mosses and learn all about it. Site manager David Rickwood describes the features of UK rainforest, some of the fantastic species that live here and why this habitat is so important as he takes us on a lichen hunt, shows us an otter holt and much more. Find out what a rapid rainforest assessment involves with Tom, and meet Eleanor who is working hard to create a powerful alliance ..read more

Londonthorpe Wood has been a haven for wildlife and people for 30 years. Colourful meadows and lush grassland open out amidst trees both old and new, where butterflies, grass snakes, wildflowers and woodpeckers all live. Now the Woodland Trust and National Trust are working together to make it even more appealing and accessible. Project manager Heather Cook tells us all about it, including what’s been achieved so far, how local people have been involved, prioritising nature, history and visitors’ wellbeing, and plans for the future. We also hear from Edd, a volunteer wildlife monitor, on what ..read more

Join us for an episode of virtual time travel to visit Hatfield Forest, Essex and explore over 2,000 years of rich history. As we journey through this outdoor museum, we chat to Tom Reed, a Woodland Trust ancient tree expert, and Ian Pease, a National Trust ranger, who explain why the wildlife and cultural value of these trees makes them irreplaceable. Discover why ancient trees are so important, what makes a tree ancient, how people have lived and worked with them through the centuries and the urgent need to better protect them. Don't forget to rate us and subscribe! Learn more about the Wood ..read more

Much as I love a woodland walk, my tree identification skills leave a lot to be desired, so I travelled to Londonthorpe Wood, Grantham for a lesson from the experts. We join tree ID guru Sally to learn how to recognise common trees from their leaves, catkins, bark and berries. From apple and ash to hawthorn and hazel, she also tells us more about the trees’ value for wildlife. I learned so much during this episode, and I hope you do too. Don't forget to rate us and subscribe! Learn more about the Woodland Trust at woodlandtrust.org.uk ..read more

Charity Wakefield’s passion for the natural world shone through when we caught up at her local green space. I met the actor, environmentalist and Woodland Trust ambassador at Peckham Rye Park to talk about trees, wildlife and acting. Charity explains how nature has made her happy since the tree-climbing, den-building days of her childhood. She is concerned that people have lost their connection with the environment, but is hopeful for the future and encourages us to recognise that we can all make a difference. She believes in ‘people power’. We also talk eco-friendly fashion, filming comedy-dr ..read more

We join Elaine Paige, award winning actress, singer, producer and radio presenter, as she plants trees at London's Hainault Forest. Known as the First Lady of Musical Theatre with roles in Evita, Cats and many more, Elaine chats with us about the environment, theatre and her hopes for the future. She gives us insight into her years on stage, from the origins of her love of music to her rise to stardom in Evita in 1978, a role that changed her life forever. We also talk about why nature is important to her and her future plans, including a return to singing and planting more trees! Learn more a ..read more

Close to London, this urban oasis has a long and important history. It has provided wood to fire the capital’s bread ovens and venison for the king’s table, and is where the British conservation movement began. We join the Trust’s Jonathan Jukes and George Lewis for a tour of this special place, a remnant of the Forest of Essex once protected by the crown. Among stately hornbeams and oaks, you can almost imagine highwaymen charging through, Roman legions marching and local people managing the trees and grazing cattle. What remains was almost felled in the 19th century, but the local community ..read more

How do trees communicate? Which species' bark was used as a kind of antiseptic chewing gum in the Stone Age? These and other fascinating facts and stories came up during my chat with author, environmentalist and Trust ambassador, Jon Drori CBE. Jon's love of nature grew from childhood visits to Kew Gardens and parents who encouraged him to view nature scientifically and also for its beauty. Both perspectives shine through in his books, Around the World in 80 Trees and Around the World in 80 Plants. We're joined too by Leila who quizzes Jon on topics popular among young people, including climat ..read more