Wild Tales | Nature Podcast | Podcast Transcripts & Episodes

Dam Engineers | The Beavers of Holnicote

03 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Exmoor National Park and the Holnicote estate is known for its rolling hills, green pastures and flowing rivers, but these natural features also pose ...

Wellbeing Walks | Nature and Mental Health

20 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Experiencing nature and connecting with the world around us has been proven to have positive and lasting effects on our mental health and wellbeing. ...

Introducing: 125 Treasures | The Elephant in the Room

06 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Join Actress Alison Steadman as she explores some of the most intriguing objects in the National Trust’s collections. In the first episode from th...

Operation Hillside | Lifting the Official Secrets Act

15 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Once the home of British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, Hughenden Manor played an important role in helping to shape the outcome of World War 2. ...

The Dior Of Decor | Fashion and Photography

01 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Rainham Hall’s Anthony Denny; a name you’ve probably never heard, but one that’s likely influenced the clothes you wear, how you decorate and fu...

Counting out the Puffins | Farne Islands | Revisited

18 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Revisit a classic and one of our favourite episodes. Ranger and presenter Kate Martin braves the North Sea and head to the remote Northumbrian Farne...

The Juicy Details of Apple Grafting | Revisited

09 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Revisit a classic and one of our favourite episodes from the archives. Join Sean Douglas as he heads to the National Trust’s annual apple grafting f...

Inside the Secret Plant Conservation Centre | Revisited

21 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Revisit a classic and one of our favourite episodes from the archives. Presenter and gardener, Alan Power, navigates his way to the National Trust's ...

A Mystery Guest at the Beatles Childhood Homes | Revisited

24 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Whilst we break for the holidays and prepare for the launch of series 5, we’re revisiting some of our favourite episodes from the archives. This mon...

Taste Along With Wainwright | Synaesthesia & Nature

19 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In our first taste along episode, Ranger Kate Martin and her mystery guest experience a Lake District walk in an intriguingly new way. If you’d lik...

Behind the Scenes of Reopening

18 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

After one of the most challenging years, the Trust is starting to nurture the green shoots of a new normal. Let us take you behind the scenes to witne...

Nature's Tasty Secrets | Foraging

04 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Edible nettles, sweet shop flavoured berries and deadly carrots are just some of the culinary, and not so culinary delights, Ranger Kate Martin encoun...

100 Years of Mystery | Agatha Christie

27 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

While many of us are familiar with Agatha Christie’s characters, just how well do we know Agatha the person? As we celebrate 100 years of Christie...

A Portrait of The National Trust

25 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In 2017 Teleri Fielden started her National Trust shepherdess scholarship deep in the valleys of the Eryri National Park (Snowdonia). We revisit her...

The Great Anthropause

07 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

While we were all indoors during lockdown, stories of our wild neighbours bouncing back emerged across the globe. In this episode, podcast producer, ...

Pips in Space | Featuring Tim Peake

23 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In 2015, European Space Agency astronaut Tim Peake was headed to the International Space Station. On board with him were some pips from an Apple Tree,...

Meet The Silver Surfers

02 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Zoom, Whatsapp, Instagram and TikTok are no longer just Millennial buzzwords. For many senior citizens social media has become a part of daily life. N...

Midsummer Magic and Mayhem | Stonehenge

18 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

For millennia, midsummer has been steeped in tales of mystery and magic. It inspired the construction of great temples, the lighting of bonfires and w...

The Ice Shelf Garden

04 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Paul Zabel, an engineer and novice gardener, was sent to work in his first greenhouse in one of the most extreme locations on Earth. At the end of h...

In Tune With Nature | Dawn Chorus

07 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode we continue to bring you ideas and advice on how to keep in tune with nature during lockdown. This time Andy Beer, author of Every D...

Gardening in Small Spaces | How Gardens Heal

30 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

When faced with heartache, music journalist Alice Vincent found a surprising remedy in her tiny balcony garden at her London flat. A complete gardenin...

A Beginner's Guide to Night Photography

02 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, presenter Jo Dyson heads to the Lake District for a night of camping and stargazing. But unfortunately for Jo things don’t quite go...

A Beginner's Guide to Winter Walking

19 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

With its icy winds, relentless hail and plunging temperature, are you prepared for a winter mountain walk? Armed with a map, compass and warm flask, p...

Bonus | A Toast to Blossom

12 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

As spring approaches and trees across the UK burst into blossom, why not make this special time of year a regular date in your nature calendar? Produc...

Drama at the Back to Backs | Britain's Social Housing

05 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Britain’s answer to a housing crisis caused by the industrial revolution, Back to Back houses were once a prominent feature of northern towns. An ...

Bonus | A Promise for Nature

28 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Nature is under threat! So we’re calling on the public to take one small step to protect the natural world. This leap day we’re asking you to ma...

Fixing the Plastic Problem

30 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we bring you a special episode from our Countryfile Live 2019 podcast. This new series brings you some of the best moments from debates at ...

Introducing: 50% Renewable | Episode One

16 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The beginning of this year marks the start of a year-long celebration of our 125th anniversary. This January we’re bringing you two special episodes...

Musical Time Machines

12 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Tucked away off a busy street in London lies a sanctuary for endangered sounds. The Benton Fletcher Collection at Fenton House and Garden is a rare tr...

Wild Swimming at 'Miami Beach'

21 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Wild swimming isn’t just for summer. As winter approaches, the hardiest swimmers enjoy the benefits the off-season brings. In this episode, Ranger K...

Sensory Walking | The Sounds of Nature

07 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Time spent in the great outdoors can be an immersive experience. But how often do we stop and take the time to really absorb the sounds, touch and fee...

Halloween Special | The Secrets in The Walls

31 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In Tudor times disease and death were never far away, as were other more mysterious terrors that many claimed were lurking in the dark. In this Hal...

Adventures in Motherhood | Buggy Walks at Stourhead

21 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

National Trust places are great to spend time at with those we know and love, but they can also be places where new friendships are born. In this mi...

The Secret World of Treetops

03 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Taking time away from his expeditions to the Amazon, professional tree climber James Aldred leads presenter Jo Dyson on a treetop adventure at Tyntesf...

Introducing: People’s Landscapes | Episode one

26 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode we bring you part one of our People’s Landscapes podcast series. It’s Northey Island, 991 AD. Viking raiders clash in...

The Heritage Question | Blackpool Illuminations

12 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

As thousands of places across the UK open their doors for Heritage Open Days, we head to Blackpool to explore what heritage means to us as individuals...

Memories from Ned’s Mountain

18 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We’re back at Divis and the Black Mountain to meet Ned Clarke who has walked on the mountain for thirty years. Hear what it’s like to live side-...

Battling the Elements | Divis Mountain

04 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Against howling winds and biting rain to the summit on Divis Mountain, 1,500 feet above Belfast we find ranger and presenter Kate Martin battling the ...

The Juicy Details of Apple Grafting

21 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re at the annual apple grafting weekend at Cotehele. We’ll uncover the mysteries of apple grafting and learn how you can grow your ve...

Caring for the country’s rarest plants

07 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Join us as we go beyond the locked gates of the Trust’s most secretive location, the Plant Conservation Centre. At this well-guarded site to find ...

A Mystery Guest at the Beatles’ Childhood Homes

21 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini podcast, we’ll meet the man who welcomes visitors from around the world to John Lennon’s childhood home, and hear about his encounter...

Backstage at the Beatles’ Childhood Homes

31 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Four teenagers from Liverpool started meeting up to make music together. They went on to become the Beatles. Take trip down Penny Lane to visit the ...

Mysterious Military History in the Surrey Hills

17 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We’re delving into the military history of Box Hill in Surrey in this mini podcast, with a behind-the-scenes tour of an old fort that was used to pr...

Escaping the city at Box Hill

03 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and hear what makes this corner of Surrey so special for the cyclists, walkers and children that f...

Bodnant Garden’s Four-legged Friends

20 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini episode we’re back in North Wales exploring the sights, sounds and scents of Bodnant Garden with a group of dog-walkers and their four-...

A Winter Garden in Wales

06 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In the foothills of Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) is the perfect spot for a crisp winter stroll through the world-famous Bodnant Garden. Join us to ...

Introducing: Women and Power | Episode One

29 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As there are five Thursday’s in this month, this week we’re giving you a bonus episode. To fill the gap until our next regular episode on the firs...

Lawrence of Arabia’s Famous Friends

15 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

From artists and writers like Thomas Hardy to fellow soldiers from the army, Lawrence welcomed an array of visitors to his rustic retreat. Learn how...

Lawrence of Arabia's Woodland Retreat

01 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Nestled among pine trees in the Dorset countryside, this dilapidated cottage is where Lawrence of Arabia fled his new-found fame, following his advent...

The Wild Ponies of Wicken Fen

18 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Introduced to the fen 100 years ago, the wild Konik ponies of Wicken Fen graze the land, enabling plants and wildlife to thrive. Later we investigat...

A Walk Through Ancient Wetlands | Wicken Fen

04 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

We’re at Wicken Fen in East Anglia for a walk through the National Trust’s oldest nature reserve. We’ll set off on foot, exploring the multi-use...

Memories of Glendurgan

20 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini episode we meet one of Glendurgan’s longest-serving volunteers. Sylvia describes her memories of this special place from navigating the...

A Tropical Garden at Glendurgan

06 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Join us on a journey through this tropical Cornish paradise, where lush rolling valleys meet the sea, and exotic plants grow alongside native wildflow...

Special | Music from the White Cliffs

27 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this special episode, we join composer Michael Price as he records his new classical album in some of the Trusts most unlikely places. Michael Pric...

Design Icon Secrets | Inside the home of William Morris

16 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Behind a wardrobe in William Morris’s former home lies a secret that gives some detail into the designers life. Join James Grasby as he discovers th...

Patterns, Poetry & Politics | William Morris

02 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Once home to one of Britain’s most celebrated designers of the 20th Century, William Morris, Red house is now a celebration of his life's works. Fa...

Counting Puffins | Farne Islands

19 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A short boat ride off the Northumbrian coast lies the remote Farne Islands home to one of Britain's favourite seabirds, the Atlantic Puffin. Kate Ma...

Walking with wildlife in Northumberland

05 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Long Nanny beach is home to sweeping sand dunes, freshwater streams, and array of wildlife along this spectacular shoreline. Learn to identify the b...

World War Pillboxes | Sheringham's Park

21 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Norfolk coast has long been considered vulnerable to invasion and during the Second World war this threat was met with extensive fortification. ...

Repton’s vision | Sheringham Park

07 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Join us a stroll through Sheringham’s magnificent rhododendron gardens as we unearth the colourful history of these exotic flowers, from the adventu...

Thinking outside the box | Clock making at Nostell

17 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In 2018, Nostell will hear the 300-year-old Harrison clock chime for the last time. This mini episode celebrates the ticks, tocks, and bongs of a cl...

Chippendale at Nostell Priory

03 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

At the centre of Nostell's story is a local man named Thomas Chippendale, known today as "The Shakespeare of Furniture”. Through exploring his exq...

Agatha Christie | Greenway's Literary Legacy

08 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this Episode, James Grasby meets Greenway's writer in residence, Roselle Angwin and Community Involvement Officer, Carly Mays, to learn how the for...

Agatha Christie | Greenway's military past

01 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Agatha Christie's home in Greenway, Devon once had an intriguing military past. A stronghold throughout history, the house and grounds feature many re...

Authors of the National Trust | Agatha Christie

25 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Agatha Christie called Greenway in Devon 'the loveliest place in the world' and treasured it as a holiday home for her and her family. In this epi...

Wordsworth's Homes | A Place To Create

18 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini episode, we’ll be heading to Allan Bank, the former home of William Wordsworth. Learn how this place continues to inspire and nurture...

Culinary Time Travel | Wordsworth's Kitchen

11 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini episode, James goes back in time via the kitchen, to sample the foods that a young Wordsworth might have enjoyed. Discover more For i...

Authors of the National Trust | William Wordsworth

04 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Lake District is the homeland of Romantic poetry with it's sweeping vistas and stunning scenery. In this episode James Grasby explores the place...

The Magic of Writing | George Bernard Shaw

28 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The works of past writers can often inspire future creativity. Producer Michael Friend explores his deep personal connection to George Bernard Shaw'...

Shaw on Stage | George Bernard Shaw

21 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

During his life George Bernard Shaw wrote numerous high acclaimed plays including Heartbreak House, Pygmalion and the Millionairess. In this mini epis...

Authors of the National Trust | George Bernard Shaw

14 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

A prolific playwright, one of the most photographed and quoted men in the world and Nobel Prize winner George Bernard Shaw once called this pocket of ...

Shape Shifting Dunes | The Sands of Time

07 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Every year the sand dunes at Formby move and change with nature. When they do they can uncover secrets from the past that have lain hidden and lost to...

Formby's Red Squirrels

30 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini episode, we accompany Formby’s squirrel feeders on their morning rounds, as we learn of the challenges they face maintaining the area’...

Walks of the National Trust | Formby

23 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you’re seeking secluded beaches, rare sightings of endangered species or want to get better acquainted with Liverpool’s past, Formby has s...

The Tale of Two Dragons | Welsh Myths and Legends

16 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

You’ll be familiar with the red dragon that proudly adorns the Welsh national flag. But how did it get there and what is it's significance? The secr...

Wales' Seaside Butterflies

09 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Meet Sabine Nouvert, a National Trust Ranger in Beddgelert who’s been working on a rather unusual project, conserving seaside butterflies in inland ...

Walks of the National Trust | Beddgelert

02 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Located at the base of Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon) is the beautiful village of Beddgelert. A gateway to some of the UK’s most exciting walks. Join Ran...

The Mermaid Pool | Kinder Scout

26 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Kinder Scout's magical mermaid pool is steeped in legend. The pool, an icy body of water nestled within the folds of Kinder Scout’s rugged terrain, ...

Peaks and Perils | Mountain Rescue

19 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Paul Besley, author and Mountain Rescue volunteer, shares stories from his 40-plus years of walking in the Peaks. In this mini-episode, he explains ...

Walks of the National Trust | Kinder Scout

12 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of our ‘walking’ podcasts, presenter and National Trust ranger Kate Martin takes listeners on a pilgrimage to Kinder Scout, in the Pe...

The Shamrock Garden | Mount Stewart

05 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

If you venture into Mount Stewart’s shamrock garden, you’ll find an intriguing mythical tale clipped into its ornate hedges. In this mini episod...

The Colour Purple | Power and Royalty

28 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The colour purple is often associated with power, royalty and wealth, which may be one of the reasons it is so prevalent in the gardens at Mount Stewa...

Gardens of the National Trust | Mount Stewart

21 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This week we’re at the uniquely exotic Mount Stewart, County Down. Described as the ‘scratch and sniff’ garden, Mount Stewart is a multi-sensory...

The Sleeping Wood | Stowe

14 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini episode, we explore ‘The Sleeping Wood,’ a secluded, disorientating and illicit corner of the gardens at Stowe, Buckinghamshire. Lis...

The Grecian Valley | Stowe

07 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this mini episode from Stowe, we meet Ranger Isabelle Thompson, to learn about the conservation and ecology of the grasslands within Stowe’s pict...

Gardens of the National Trust | Stowe

31 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Stowe is the home of unbroken views and ornate temples inside a Capability Brown inspired landscape. In this episode we dig into the past to underst...

The Sweet Sound of Birdsong

24 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Do you know your buzzard from your blackbird or your bullfinch from your barn owl? Join Josh Turner, Cliveden’s resident birder, as he acquaints u...

The Secrets of The Sancy Diamond

17 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The Sancy Diamond is a 55.23 carat gem that has travelled the world, passing through the hands of aristocrats, kings, queens and even the British Roya...

Gardens of the National Trust | Cliveden

10 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Set high above the Thames, the grounds of Cliveden House are home to a world famous parterre, Japanese Garden and topiary-lined long walk. Around ev...