Tim and Fleur talk with Lancashire Wildlife Trust Volunteer Reserve Manager, Noell Leather... Noell took on the management of Summerseat Nature Reserve over 40 years ago. The conversation covers what the Wildlife Trust was like back then and the joys and challenges of having your own nature reserve to manage. Thanks: Fleur Wilson, Stacey Body - Production Kelly Lomas & Gif Lemon - Artwork 'Still Pickin', Kevin Macleod - Theme tune Related links: Summerseat Nature Reserve https://www.lancswt.org.uk/nature-reserves/summerseat-nature-reserve New Zealand pigmyweed https://www.plantlife.org.u ..read more

Tim talks with Manchester Herbarium's Rachel Webster... The conversation covers the collection and the people who contributed to it as well as Rachel's role, her predecessors and other interesting characters from the herbarium, museum and science in general’s history. Thanks: Stacey Body - Production Kelly Lomas & Gif Lemon - Artwork 'Still Pickin', Kevin Macleod - Theme tune Related links:Manchester Museum Herbarium: Website: https://www.museum.manchester.ac.uk/collection/plants/ Twitter: @Aristolochia WordPress: https://herbologymanchester.wordpress.com/ Flowering plants: https://en.w ..read more

Tim and Fleur talk with Wirral & Cheshire Badger Group's Helen Bradshaw and Jane Cullen... The conversation covers the history and work of the group, their roles in it, the group’s ongoing badger TB vaccination programme and just badgers and badger conservation generally. Thanks: Fleur Wilson, Stacey Body - Production Kelly Lomas & Gif Lemon - Artwork 'Still Pickin', Kevin Macleod - Theme tune Related links: The Badger Group http://wcbg.org.uk/ Jane Ratcliffe https://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/jan/04/guardianobituaries.patrickbarkham Patrick Barkham @patrick_barkham https://www.am ..read more

Tim talks with Elouise Mayall of the UK Youth Climate Coalition It has never been more important to be engaged in the conversation about the climate crisis. In part 3 of this 3 part mini series  we look at climate change activism.  We discuss how to find the right fit for you to release your inner climate activist, how to avoid the perils of apathy and cycicism, why we need to see outselves as political beings rather than consumers, and why it doesn't matter if your parents are vegan. Thanks: Kelly Lomas & Gif Lemon - Artwork 'Still Pickin', Kevin Macleod - Theme tune Related ..read more

Tim talks with Tom Squires – Manchester Met PhD student studying mynah birds in Indonesia... In this interview we talk about his PhD and the Asian Songbird Crisis. We also talk about what its like doing a PhD generally, doing any kind of ecology further education really. We also discuss the merits of being a generalist, and about that most mysterious of attributes: being a birder. Thanks: Kelly Lomas & Gif Lemon - Artwork 'Still Pickin', Kevin Macleod - Theme tune Related links: IUCN – Species Survival Commission  https://www.iucn.org/commissions/species-survival-commission/about As ..read more

Tim talks with Caroline Hickman (Psychotherapist and member of the Climate Psychology Alliance). It has never been more important to be engaged in the conversation about the climate crisis. In part 2 of this 3 part mini series  we look at the psychology of climate change.  We discuss eco anxiety, how it doesn't have to be a bad thing, in fact it's healthy and can become a motivating force for action. Thanks: Kelly Lomas & Gif Lemon - Artwork 'Still Pickin', Kevin Macleod - Theme tune Images used for Instagram and Face Book posts - Sonia Shomalzadeh Related Links: Twitter @Ca ..read more

Tim talks with Dr Kathryn  Adamson (Senior lecturer in physical geography at Manchester Metropolitan University). It has never been more important to be engaged in the conversation about the climate crisis. In part 1 of this 3 part mini series  we look at the science of climate change.  We cover everything from what it is, the scale of the problem, how it works,  how did we get here, glaciers, ocean currents, mass extinction, analytical DeLoreans, and the importance of mucking about in your garden with beer bottles. Thanks: Kelly Lomas & Gif Lemon - Artwork 'Still Pi ..read more

Tim talks with Andy Harmer & Roy Leigh of Cheshire Mustelidae... The conversation covers their careers in ecology as well as their extensive extracurricular ecological exploits including Andy and Rachel Hacking’s now legendary Cheshire Active Naturalists (CAN) group. But the main thing I wanted to talk to them about was their current project, Cheshire Mustelidae: Coordinating the recording of mustelids in Cheshire, and sharing sightings, photos etc.  They say trying to see a stoat or weasel is like going out to find a rainbow, virtually impossible. So this project means cunning, stea ..read more

Tim talks with South Lancashire Bat Group's Clare Sefton & Steve Parker... The conversation covers what got them into bat conservation and how bats can completely change your life. How that first encounter with a bat can have you hooked, literally in minutes. The main topic though is the bat care network. Did you know that there is a network of volunteer bat workers across the country who care for injured bats? It's a fascinating world full of dedicated conservationists finding themselves in some often down right weird situations. Ever found a meal worm at the bottom of a packet of cornfl ..read more

Tim talks with Cheshire Wildlife Trust's Evidence & Planning Manager, Rachel Giles... The conversation covers Rachel's career, her interest in and work to conserve Cheshire's Local Wildlife Sites and the sometimes daunting, but very important subject of Net Gain. As we face an unprecedented global crisis for biodiversity, how can the government mandated net gain for biodiversity from development be successfully and measurably achieved? And what can we learn from some of the old giants of ecology as we go about making sense of it? Thanks: Stacey Body - Production Kelly Lomas & Gif Lemo ..read more