This week Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin see and hear a wide range of wildlife at High Ash Farm including kestrels, Chinese water deer, and skylarks. They explore a field filled with hundreds of small mammals, particularly the long-tailed field mouse or wood mouse, which is the most common rodent in the UK. Chris explains the mouse's habits, favourite food, and predators. He describes the importance of blackthorn hedging and the complicated ecosystem it supports. The pair are then serenaded by a cacophony of bird song at the farmyard and Chris gets excited by the animated presence of red-wing birds and shares their travelling trends. Chris and Matthew conclude the episode answering listener questions on lapwings, yew trees and blue tit behaviour.Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode.Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices. Join the SOUNDYARD newsletter

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