Who better to close the series than the one and only, Chris Packham CBE? Chris is a world-renowned naturalist, campaigner, broadcaster and science communicator. He makes waves across the conservation sector for championing the natural world, and we couldn't think of a better guest to help us understand the big stuff: beavers, biodiversity, climate - and the road ahead. Also coming up: Producer Emma makes an appearance as judge to deliver overall series winners of the #FactOff and the QUIZ. Need we say more? Dive on in!  Would you like to discuss anything from this episode or the series wi ..read more

This week we're joined by Professor Richard Brazier - a leading academic in Earth Surface Processes at the University of Exeter and an authority on how beavers interact with a changing landscape. Richard co-directs the University’s Centre for Resilience in Environment Water and Waste (CREWW), which pioneers research projects that find out how we can better protect the environment and live alongside it. Most notably, Richard was also a key figure in the research that led to the success of the River Otter Beaver Trial in 2020! Also coming up: the #FactOff challenge and Eva might be leaving Sophi ..read more

Following the news that 2023 was officially Earth's hottest year on record, Eva and Sophie want answers. This week, we return to ecohydrologist, assistant professor and science communicator, Dr Emily Fairfax  - world-renowned beaver researcher and Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota, and our go-to for all things beaver and wildfire. Emily is leading groundbreaking research in the States into how beaver wetlands can act as natural firebreaks, and mitigate against extreme climate-induced megafires. Since she came on The Lodge Cast back in Series 2, it's time for an update. Wh ..read more

Greetings fair listeners! And welcome back to a brand new, shiny series of Beaver Trust's The Lodge Cast! In our sixth series join us on an international journey of discovery, where, with the help of leading experts we navigate the global crisis of climate change, how it is playing out locally here in Britain and where beavers fit into the conversation. It’s a highly complex subject, so in this series we hope to illuminate why that is. To start us off, we welcome none other than Bob Ward  - Policy and Communications Director of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change a ..read more

Who better to close the fifth series of #TheLodgeCast than the man, the myth, the legend - Gerhard Schwab?! Regarded by many as the ‘Beaver Godfather’ of Europe, with a lifetime of dedication to beaver reintroduction and human/wildlife coexistence gaining him major prominence in the beaver restoration movement across Europe.  In 1988 Gerhard began what started as a four-year review of Bavarian beavers. And ever since then he has been involved in reintroduction programmes across Europe. He’s designed and implemented a beaver management system for Bavaria, and a training system attended by ..read more

In this episode, we are joined by two key voices in the beaver management world. To help us better understand the Scottish lived experience with beavers, and to unpack the opportunities presented by the landmark Scottish Beaver Strategy, we speak to Dr Jenny Bryce a Wildlife Ecologist for NatureScot. We then pull on our boots, and hit the ground running in a conversation with Dr Roisin Campbell-Palmer - Beaver Trust’s Head of Restoration and the Lodge Cast’s debut returning guest! Roisin offers a reality check on the management of beavers on the field, and reminds us of the hierarchy of mitiga ..read more

Greetings fair listeners! And welcome back to a brand new, shiny series of Beaver Trust's The Lodge Cast! In our fifth series, join us on an international journey of discovery, where, with the help of leading experts we navigate the complexities of beaver mitigation and management - among the most topical discussions surrounding beaver restoration in Britain today.  To kick-off Series 5 with a bang, we are joined by Mike Callahan. Based on the east coast of the United States, Mike’s career and experience is as varied as a thriving beaver wetland. A background in human medicine equipped hi ..read more

Hello, Lodge Casters! We interrupt our series break with a lovely little audio surprise for you. We sent our friend, the actor, environmentalist and Trees A Crowd podcast host, David Oakes, up to RSPB Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve. Meeting RSPB Site Manager, Paula Baker, David finds out how the beavers are doing six months after arrival, exploring how the landscape has changed, and what’s next for this unique beaver project in Scotland. Tune in for the next 15 minutes to find out more!  Would you like to discuss anything from this short-but-sweet episode with our expert team? We wan ..read more

Well, listeners, that's nearly it for Series 4! We have one treat left for you to round-off our debut foray into the essential topic of 'beavers and farming.' We are joined by Lee Schofield, acclaimed author of Wild Fell and Senior Site Manager atRSPB Haweswater in Cumbria.  Lee is a master at managing vast areas of intensively worked land in a way which favours both people and nature, finding it a test of patience, economics and bravery to embrace change. Wild Fell explores the fragility of the British countryside and discusses the many impacts that humans and farming ..read more

In this episode, we hop into driver's seat behind crucial environmental decisions, and talk money. It might not sound like a hot topic, but it’s a vitally important one. Money, as is so often the case, is the backbone of species reintroduction programmes. And this topic is also a great opportunity to sit across the table and explore the importance and role of government departments like DEFRA and their advisory organisations like Natural England, in ensuring a robust and positive future for nature in Britain. We are joined by Delphine Pouget, Principal Adviser for the Species Reintroduction Pr ..read more