Counting the Earth
Episodes
17: The Burning Issue: 3.7 million
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Wildfires are evolving. Around the world they are becoming bigger, burning hotter, and harder to control with devastating impacts on humans, the econo...
16: Encounters of the Invasive Kind: 2,104
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do raccoons, purple pitcher plants, signal crayfish and the yellow-legged hornet all have in common? No, this is not a joke - far from it. They a...
15: Resistance Rising: 1.14 million
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Alice and Sue visit the River Kennet and the Reading Sewage Treatment Works to explore antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing glob...
14: Top of the crops: 2080
24 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Alice and Sue time travel to the year 2080, to explore what crops we might be growing in the UK, after 50 years of a changing climate...
13: Slow the flow: 5.7 million
12 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In England alone, an estimated 5.7 million properties are at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea, surface water and groundwater. Â In this episode...
12: Breaking down microplastics: 115
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Microplastics are everywhere—tiny plastic particles that permeate our soil, water, food, drinking supplies, and even our bodies. But how much do we ...
11: Chilling facts about forever chemicals: 1000
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Counting the Earth, we find out about forever chemicals – persistent pollutants that can pose serious environmental and health ri...
10: Into the woods: 30,000
08 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Alice and Sue take you on an exploration of the past, present and future of the UK’s woodlands. Sue visits the enchanting Heartwo...
9: Puffin patrol on the Isle of May: 52,000
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sitting at the mouth of the Firth of Forth in Scotland, the Isle of May is a sanctuary for nesting seabirds and the destination for this episode. Joi...
8: A deep dive into Windermere: 79
03 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Stretching over ten miles through Cumbria’s countryside, Windermere isn't just England's largest lake – it’s a real-life classroom, helping us t...
7: What's the buzz: 1500
06 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Alice Hope and Sue Nelson get knee-deep in flowers to hear which plants attract the most pollinators – those vital bees, butterfl...
6: Reflections on our rivers: 14
30 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Sue and Alice dive into the factors affecting the ecological health of our rivers. Â Alice goes wading in the River Kennet with Ann...
5: The secrets of the saltmarsh: 450
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sue and Alice explore these complex coastal ecosystems and discover their amazing benefits – from providing wildlife habitat to storing carbon. htt...
4: Soil Superheroes: 50 trillion
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Delve into the vital statistics of earthworms, as Alice and Sue uncover the unsung heroes of our soil. Worm resources Garden worm ID chart Earthworm...
2: Hedgelife: 390,000
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sue and Alice poke around that great staple of the British countryside - the hedgerow - and discover a surprising variety of residents, from mice to m...
3: Nature for net zero: 0
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sue and Alice visit Heartwood Forest and the Fens to explore how far nature-based solutions like planting trees and restoring peatlands can take us to...
1: Coming soon...Counting the Earth
22 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sue Nelson and Alice Hope will explore the numbers behind nature and pick apart the jargon and misinformation surrounding climate, nature and biodive...