Alle afleveringen van Wild Tales | Nature Podcast

Obsessed with Barn Owls

29 oktober 2026 · 22 min

Afspelen

With silent flight and ghostly heart-shaped faces, barn owls are among Britain's most captivating birds. Join Ranger Ajay Tegala, as self-confessed barn-owl obsessive Jake Brass takes us into his wonderful world of barn owls. With expert insight from The Barn Owl Trust. Lees meer

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts

Production
Host: Ajay Tegala
Producer: Claire Hickinbotham
Sound: Jesus Gomez
Contributors: Jake Brass, photographer, and Kate Jellyman, The Barn Owl Trust

Jake walked on the Longshaw Estate in Derbyshire for this recording. Check out this map for walks on the estate -longshaw-map.pdf or head to the 'Top Trails' part of this page Longshaw, Burbage & the Eastern Moors | National Trust
You can get to the start point of many of the walks from Grindleford train station, which has trains from Manchester and Sheffield.

For other places to see Barn Owls at our sites, have a look at this page Our guide to barn owls | Wildlife | National Trust

Or plan your own walk at dusk or dawn, just please remember that barn owls are a protected species and disturbing them while they are nesting is illegal. There's more information here Legal protection of wild Barn Owls - The Barn Owl Trust

Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

The Metropolis in the Woods | Northern Hairy Wood Ants

15 oktober 2026 · 19 min

Afspelen

Beneath the trees at Hardcastle Crags, millions of tiny workers are busy building a city of their own.
Follow Rosie Holdsworth down to the forest floor, as she meets the northern hairy wood ants and discovers busy motorways, high-rise homes, and even an onsite food production line.
Production
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Nikki Ruck
Sound Recordist : Jesus Gomez
Sound Design : Nikki Ruck Lees meer

Contributors :
Anthony Arak
Steve Blacksmith
Alice James

photo credit : ©National Trust Images/Robert Morris

If you would like to visit Hardcastle Crags you can find out more here

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/yorkshire/hardcastle-crags

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt

Wild Voices | Trees for Tomorrow

8 oktober 2026 · 35 min

Afspelen

Join National Trust ranger Ajay Tegala in conversation with Zoe Hill, the National Trust’s first-ever Tree Nursery Officer. Zoe offers a fascinating insight into what it takes to grow climate-resilient trees for future generations, from caring for 50,000 young saplings to helping them thrive in an increasingly challenging climate. She also shares practical tips for growing and caring for trees in your own garden. Lees meer

Together, Zoe and Ajay look ahead to the British landscape of 50 years’ time, exploring how the trees we plant today could shape the future of our countryside, and the vital role they can play in tackling climate change.

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube: https://youtu.be/BrAcTeGQKJw

Production
Host: Ajay Tegala
Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris
Sound: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Zoe Hill

Image copyright: ©National Trust Images/ Trevor Ray Hart

Discover more:
If you’d like to visit Holnicote, you can find out more here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/somerset/countryside-woodland/explore-holnicote-estate

Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Bats | The Dark Knights Rise Again

1 oktober 2026 · 21 min

Afspelen

Bats are some of Britain’s most mysterious mammals. From caves and woodlands to parks and abandoned buildings, they’ve adapted to an astonishing range of habitats, and as night falls, you might spot them emerging from their roosts. Lees meer

National Trust ranger Rosie Holdsworth joins bat conservationist Steve Roe on a series of surveys across the Peak District, tracking these elusive creatures through winter and spring. Part of the National Bat Monitoring Programme, the surveys are helping to build a vital picture of how bat populations are faring across the UK.

Often feared and misunderstood, bats are far more fascinating than their reputation suggests. Join us on a journey into their hidden world to discover the remarkable lives of Britain’s bats, and why monitoring and protecting them matters.

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube:
https://youtu.be/ZT4mlDD6j8U

Production
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Jack Glover, Michelle Douglass, Jesus Gomez, Pippa Tilbury-Harris
Sound: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Steve Roe, Allan Roe, Jess Eades, Helen Ball

Cover image copyright: Steve Roe

Discover More:

Want to know more about bats? Why not listen to BatChat, a podcast dedicated to these amazing creatures and hosted by Steve Roe, our main collaborator in this episode.

If you’d like to learn more about The National Bat Monitoring Programme and the bat surveys, you can sign up here.

To find your nearest bat group search this page.

Follow Steve’s Instagram account @steveroebatman

Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Clever Corvids

17 september 2026 · 16 min

Afspelen

Corvids, such as Crows, Rooks and Jackdaws are known for their high intelligence, problem solving abilities and complex social behaviour. But they’re also often associated with folklore, scary stories and horror movies. Lees meer

Join us as we delve into the lives of the Clever Corvids, uncover the reasons behind their menacing image and find out that there’s more to these super brainy birds than a reputation for being frightening.

Production
Hosts: Rosie Holdsworth and Ajay Tagala
Producer: Katy Kelly
Sound design: Jesus Gomez
Contributors: Professor Nicky Clayton and Dr. Jo Wimpenny

Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

BONUS: Wild Voices | Can Social Media Save Birds?

10 september 2026 · 31 min

Afspelen

Join National Trust ranger Ajay Tegala in another Wild Voices conversation with conservationist and content creator Emily Askew, and naturalist and wildlife advocate Ben Rumsby.
Recorded live at the Global Bird Fair in Rutland, Emily and Ben explore how social media is reshaping the world of birding and inspiring a new generation to connect with nature. From balancing the demands of the algorithm with authentic storytelling to building welcoming online communities, they discuss the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities of sharing the natural world online. Lees meer

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube: https://youtu.be/1XeTSNw6dgs

Production
Host: Ajay Tegala
Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris & Ajay Tegala
Sound: Jesus Gomez
Contributors: Emily Askew and Ben Rumsby

Discover More
You can follow Emily on Instagram here: @emilyinnature_

And Ben here: @brnature1

Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

A Whole World on a Cabbage

3 september 2026 · 15 min

Afspelen

A two-hour ferry ride from the North Devon coast lies a tiny island often described as Britain's very own Galápagos. Lees meer

It's home to all sorts of wildlife, including a plant that grows nowhere else on Earth. And hidden among its leaves is a tiny beetle that only lives there too.

Join us as we head to Lundy to meet the people who spend their days counting cabbages, and discover why this little-known plant has become such an important conservation story.

Production
Narrator : Rosie Holdsworth
Producer and sound design by Nikki Ruck

Contributors

Tara McEvoy-Wilding - Assistant Warden Lundy Island
Laura Larkin – Buglife
Karim Vahed - Buglife
Joseph Pavitt – MS Oldenburg

We recorded this episode at Lundy Island
To find out more about the island and how to get there

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/lundy

www.landmarktrust.org.uk/lundyisland/

To find out more about the Lundy Cabbage
lundy-cabbage

To find out more about the Lundy Flea Beetle
www.buglife.org.uk

Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

The London Parakeet Mystery

20 augustus 2026 · 19 min

Afspelen

Brightly coloured ring-necked parakeets might now be a familiar sight in the London sky, but that wasn't always the case. Lees meer

Join Ranger Rosie Holdsworth and Johnathan Miller-McCall as we track down these acid-green birds and understand how they got here, and why they're thriving.

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts

Production
Hosts: Rosie Holdsworth with Johnathan Miller-McCall
Producer: Claire Hickinbotham
Sound: Nikki Ruck and Jesus Gomez

If you fancy seeing the parakeets, we recorded this podcast at Morden Hall Park | London | National Trust.

Or for some more ideas on where binoculars might come in handy
Best birdwatching walks in the UK | National Trust

Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Wild Voices | Nature and Belonging

6 augustus 2026 · 27 min

Afspelen

Join National Trust ranger Ajay Tegala in a Wild Voices conversation with veterinary surgeon, conservationist and founder of the Ealing Wildlife Group, Dr Sean McCormack. Recorded live at the Global Bird Fair in Rutland, Sean shares the remarkable story of bringing beavers back to London for the first time in 400 years and explains why community-led rewilding is transforming urban landscapes. Lees meer

Together, Sean and Ajay explore what it means to reconnect people with nature, why access and belonging matter, and how local action could shape a wilder future for us all.

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts

Production
Host: Ajay Tegala
Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris & Ajay Tegala
Sound: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Dr Sean McCormack

You can find out more about the Ealing Beaver Project here: The Ealing Beaver Project – Bringing Beavers Back to London

And you can discover more about Dr Sean McCormack here: https://www.instagram.com/thatvetsean/ https://linktr.ee/thatvetsean

Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

The Great Cuckoo Con

23 juli 2026 · 16 min

Afspelen

Every spring, the unmistakable call of the cuckoo echoes across Wicken Fen Nature Reserve in Cambridgeshire. But behind that familiar sound lies one of nature's most extraordinary deceptions. Join ranger and naturalist Ajay Tegala as he uncovers the astonishing lengths a cuckoo will go to raise its young. Lees meer

Production

Host : Ajay Tegala
Narrator : Rosie Holdsworth
Producer : Nikki Ruck
Location Sound : Claire Hickinbotham
Sound Design : Nikki Ruck

If you would like to learn more about the habitat of Cuckoos and Reed Warbler
we recorded this episode at
Wicken Fen Nature reserve

Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Racing for Reefs | From Formula 1 to Coral Conservation

9 juli 2026 · 21 min

Afspelen

Coral reefs are among the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth, yet climate change, pollution and overfishing are driving their rapid decline. Lees meer

In response, Formula One champions McLaren Racing and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation have joined forces, combining engineering, data analysis and marine science to help restore coral reefs before they are lost.

National Trust ranger Ajay Tegala is joined by Anna Marsden and Kim Wilson to explore how this innovative partnership is accelerating reef restoration and what it could mean for the future of coral conservation.

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube:
https://youtu.be/ZT4mlDD6j8U

Production
Host: Ajay Tegala
Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris
Sound: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Kim Wilson, McLaren Racing
Anna Marsden, Great Barrier Reef Foundation

Image: Yongala Dive exploring an underwater wreck.
Copyright credit: Tourism and Events Queensland

Discover More:
If you’d like to learn more about McLaren Racing’s Sustainability work, you can do so here: McLaren Racing - Committed to Sustainability

You can learn more about The Great Barrier Reef Foundation and it’s work here: Restoring coral reefs - Great Barrier Reef Foundation
McLaren Racing and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation fast‑tracking reef recovery - Great Barrier Reef Foundation

And you can become a reef defender here:
https://give.barrierreef.org/donate/reef-defender

Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Finding Cinnamon | A Capybara Gone Rogue

25 juni 2026 · 19 min

Afspelen

What do you do when a capybara escapes into the Shropshire countryside? Lees meer

In this episode, ranger Rosie Holdsworth joins Will Dorrell, co-founder of Hoo Zoo in Telford, to uncover the remarkable story of Cinnamon, the runaway capybara, and the efforts to bring her home.

They also discover how Cinnamon’s adventure turned her into a global social media star. Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts

Production Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Jesus Gomez Albiach
Sound: Jesus Gomez Albiach
Contributor: Will Dorrell

For more info:
Hoo Zoo is a fascinating wildlife park where your favourite animals are mixed alongside impressive life-sized dinosaurs in a unique and immersive setting. If you want to learn more about the park and its conservation and education projects, please visit https://www.hoo-zoo.com/

Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt
Follow Hoo Zoo on Instagram @hoozooanddinosaurworld

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Wembley Stadium | Football's Perfect Pitch

11 juni 2026 · 20 min

Afspelen

As the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup gets underway, we're heading to Wembley Stadium, the home of the England national team, to explore the crucial role the pitch plays in the beautiful game. With Wembley setting the benchmark that World Cup venues across North America are looking to emulate, Ranger Rosie Holdsworth joins Karl Standley, Head of Grounds and Surface Transitions, to uncover what it takes to maintain this world-famous playing surface. From UVC lights and surgically sharp mower blades to turf grown at secret locations, we discover the science, skill and precision behind one of football's most iconic pitches. Lees meer

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube: https://youtu.be/RwmqQoFgUSk

Production
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris
Sound: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Karl Standley

If you’d like to learn more about the pitch at Wembley Stadium, you can book onto a tour here: https://bookings.wembleytours.com/stadiumtours/home.htm

Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

European Brown Bears | Where are you?

27 mei 2026 · 26 min

Afspelen

Deep in the forests of Transylvania, one of Europe’s largest populations of brown bears still roams freely, often surprisingly close to busy towns and cities. Join National Trust ranger Rosie Holdsworth and her family as they hunt for signs of bears in the forests near Brașov, Romania. There, they discover what it really means to share a landscape with Europe’s largest land predator. Lees meer

Production

Presenter: Rosie Holdsworth and Hebe

Producer : Nikki Ruck

Sound design: Jesus Gomez

Contributor: Csaba Domokos from the Milvus Group

Discover More

Find out more about conservation of the European Brown Bear in Romania
https://milvus.ro/en/mammals/brown-bear-conservation-and-research-program-in-a-model-area-in-romania/

Follow us @wildtalesnt Instagram account

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Operation Nutcracker | The Return of the Red Squirrel

13 mei 2026 · 15 min

Afspelen

Red Squirrels were once a common sight in woodlands around the Uk but now, they’re one of our rarest Mammals. Lees meer

In this episode of Wild Tales, we head to Plas Newydd on the island of Ynys Môn in Wales, where a remarkable effort to bring them back is underway.

For the Welsh transcript of this episode please click here.

Red squirrel, Anglesey, Wales
©National Trust Images/Rob Coleman

Production
Narration: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Nikki Ruck
Sound Recordist: Marnie Woodmeade
Sound Design: Jesus Gomez

With thanks to Carol Thomas at Plas Newydd

Find out more

Visit the red squirrels at Plas Newydd:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/plas-newydd-house-and-garden/red-squirrels-at-plas-newydd

Learn more about Red Squirrel Conservation
The Red Squirrels Trust Wales is working to protect red squirrel populations on Ynys Môn and across North Wales. If you would like to read more about some of the points raised in this episode, look here.
https://www.redsquirrels.info/about/faq/

See red squirrels on Brownsea Island (Dorset):
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/brownsea-island/the-rare-red-squirrel-on-brownsea-island

Listen to our episode on pine martens (Wallington, Northumberland):
https://ntpodcasts.org/WT25

Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Crayfish Gladiator Battle

29 april 2026 · 12 min

Afspelen

White-clawed crayfish were once common in Britain’s waterways. But thanks to a restaurant craze in the 1970’s, that brought the American signal crayfish to our shores, our only native freshwater crayfish is under threat from this invasive species. Lees meer

White-clawed crayfish are eco system engineers keeping rivers and streams clean and they also have amazing limb re growing superpowers. But they’re being outcompeted for food and habitat by the American signal crayfish and succumbing to a killer plague being spread by them. But, with a little help from Ranger Nick Allen and the team at Wallington estate in Northumberland, habitats are being created where white-clawed crayfish can thrive.

Join Rosie and follow the story and the lives of the plucky little characters fighting for survival in England’s Northeast.

Production:
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producers: Michelle Douglass and Katy Kelly
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Nick Allen

Discover more:
Find out more about Wallington and their work with the white-clawed crayfish:
Saving the native white-clawed crayfish | National Trust

Follow us @ wildtales Instagram account

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or a story idea, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

The Dinosaur in the Cliff

15 april 2026 · 25 min

Afspelen

Ever hunted for fossils on a beach and felt like you might actually find something? Lees meer

Rosie heads to the Isle of Wight to the scene of the most complete dinosaur discovery in the UK in a hundred years.

She’s joined by Dr Jeremy Lockwood, part of the original dig team and now casually known as a “namer of dinosaurs,” as they retrace how this once‑buried giant came back into the light.

Production:
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Claire Hickinbotham
Sound Recordist: Nikki Ruck
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez

With thanks to Dr Jeremy Lockwood

Rosie and Jeremy went for the dinosaur walk at Compton Bay and Downs | Isle of Wight | National Trust
They parked at Compton car parking information | National Trust
You can see Comptonatus Chasei at the Dinosaur Isle Museum on the Isle of Wight.
Welcome to Dinosaur Isle - Dinosaur Isle Museum

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Toad Patrol | The Perilous Path

1 april 2026 · 16 min

Afspelen

As winter turns to spring , toads, frogs and newts across Britain begin their annual journey, making their way back to the ponds where they breed. Lees meer

For many, that journey means crossing busy roads and not all of them make it to the other side.

In this episode of Wild Tales, we spend the night with the Charlcombe Lane Toad Patrol, discovering the dedication and determination it takes to give these remarkable animals a fighting chance.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more. Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Production:
Narrator: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer and sound designer: Nikki Ruck

photo courtesy : Charlcombe Toad Rescue Group

With thanks to Mike Collins, Sheila Gundry, Lance, Lucy and Angela from the Charlcombe Lane Toad Group

Discover more:
https://www.froglife.org/what-we-do/toads-on-roads/how-to-become-a-toad-patroller/

Finding the Tundra Swan

18 maart 2026 · 23 min

Afspelen

The Bewick’s or ‘Tundra’ swan has eluded ranger Ajay Tegala for years. Lees meer

It's hardly surprising: the swan’s epic migration is under pressure, and their numbers are dwindling. Can Ajay find them at their winter retreat of WWT Welney?

Ajay speaks to fellow swan lover, artist and zoologist Dafila Scott and site manager Lizzie Bruce to aid his search for these hardworking swans.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more. Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Production: Host and Co-producer: Ajay Tegala
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez
Music: Swan Song by Charlotte Eve

With thanks to: Dafila Scott, Lizzie Bruce and the staff and volunteers at WWT Welney

Discover more:

Visit WWT Welney: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/welney

Visit Wicken Fen: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cambridgeshire/wicken-fen-national-nature-reserve

Learn more about wetland swans: https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/wetland-wildlife/meet-the-family/swans-found-in-uk-wetlands

You Might Like: Nature Fix | Stargazing in the City

4 maart 2026 · 18 min

Afspelen

This week we’re sharing another of our podcasts we think you’ll enjoy. Nature Fix takes you on adventures with people whose lives have been shaped by the outdoors. Lees meer

In this episode, wrap up warm and turn your eyes to the skies for a stargazing tour from the middle of Manchester.

Nature Fix Host Claire Hickinbotham joins astronomer and adventure enthusiast Nazanin Jahanshahi, to discover how there’s lots to see in the night sky wherever you live.

On this awe-inspiring city celestial voyage, you'll be wowed by a rare planetary parade, learn how to start navigating the stars, and hear top tips for hunting the northern lights.

Production
Producer: Michelle Douglass
Sound Designer: Nikki Ruck
Contributor: Nazanin Jahanshahi

Get your Nature Fix
Follow Nature Fix on your favourite podcast app: https://podfollow.com/nature-fix

Discover the best National Trust spots for stargazing: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/outdoor-activities/top-spots-for-stargazing

Learn about night sky locations and activities:
https://gostargazing.co.uk/

The Island of Secret Seals

18 februari 2026 · 16 min

Afspelen

Orford Ness is well practiced at keeping secrets; in the 1940s it was classified military research, but now it is a brand new colony of grey seals. Lees meer

Countryside Manager Matt Wilson guides us around the bomb craters to try and find the newest and blubbery-est residences. We find out how they came to be on this moon-like beach and how they’re faring on this remote site.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more. Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Production:
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade
Hosts: Rosie Holdsworth
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez
With thanks to: Matt Wilson and the staff at Orford Ness

Image © National Trust Images/Rob Coleman

Discover more:

Visit Orford Ness, looked after by the National Trust https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/suffolk/orford-ness-national-nature-reserve

Find out more about the seals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6ti7BaNKpU&t=523s

Pine Martens’ Return

4 februari 2026 · 19 min

Afspelen

Pine martens were once common in Britain but now, they're one of our rarest carnivores. Lees meer

These slinky, tree-dwelling predators had virtually disappeared in England and Wales by the turn of the 20th Century.

But pine martens are making a comeback.

We follow Ranger Dan Iceton at Wallington estate in Northumberland, as he tries to encourage pine martens to make these woodlands their forever home.

And we discover conservation success in other parts of Britain where the animals have returned.

Follow the story and secret lives of the mysterious mammal making a comeback in our forests.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more. Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Production: Producer: Michelle Douglass
Hosts: Rosie Holdsworth and Dan Iceton
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
With thanks to: Dr Stephanie Johnstone and Vincent Wildlife Trust

Image © Caroline Legg

Discover more: Visit Wallington, looked after by the National Trust https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/wallington

Find out more about pine martens with Vincent Wildlife Trust: https://www.vwt.org.uk/species/pine-marten-2

Read about Martens on the Move: https://pinemartens.uk/

Report your sighting and help citizen science: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/a8c5d8e084dc4ecb9b92c57c42769d1f

Arctic Terns | Globetrotting Dive-bombers

21 januari 2026 · 13 min

Afspelen

The Farne Islands in the North Sea, off the coast of Northumberland, have a very special species of seabird during the summer that fiercely protects its young with its dive-bombing technique. Lees meer

However, it’s the Arctic Terns’ ability to fly thousands of miles during their migration from the Arctic Circle to the Antarctic Circle that really sets them apart.

Join Rosie and Rangers Dan Iceton and Tom Hendry on Inner Farne as they spend time with the Arctic Terns and experience their dive-bombing tactics first-hand.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.

Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.

Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.

www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts

Production:
Hosts: Rosie Holdsworth and Dan Iceton
Producer: Katy Kelly
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez

Contributor: Tom Hendry

Discover More:

Find out more about The Farne Islands:
Our work at Farne Islands | Northumberland | National Trust

Follow us @wildtales Instagram account

If you’d like to get in touch with feedback or a story idea you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

The Man, The Book and The Mountains

7 januari 2026 · 19 min

Afspelen

Just outside Belfast, lie the Mourne Mountains - a land of granite peaks and wide skies, but also a place of witches, fawns and lions. Protected as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, an Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a UNESCO Global Geopark, this remarkable landscape is also a doorway to imagination. Lees meer

Join National Trust ranger Kate Martin as she journeys from the streets of Belfast to the Mourne Mountains, exploring the places that shaped C.S. Lewis’s childhood and inspired his creation of Narnia. Discover how city, story and landscape came together to form one of the most beloved worlds in children’s literature.

(AD) Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. www.cotswoldoutdoor.com

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel:
https://youtu.be/_Smzdtsh_tM

Production
Presenter: Kate Martin
Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez
Contributors: Dr Sarah Waters, Director of the Sterling College C.S. Lewis Center
Lolly Spence, Blue Badge Tourist Guide and historian
James Fisher, Lead Ranger NI Castle Ward
Actor: Ethan Hughes courtesy of Prime Theatre

Thank you to The CS Lewis Company Ltd for permissions to use quotes from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis © copyright CS Lewis Pte Ltd 1950, in this episode.

Discover More
If you’d like to know more about visiting The Mournes, please visit https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/the-mournes

The Climbers of Eryri | A Story of Ice and Flowers

24 december 2025 · 20 min

Afspelen

The rock faces of Cwm Idwal are cold, dark and uninhabitable; unless what you love is to dangle off the frozen cliffs. Ice climbing takes you into a winter playground, but as the climate crisis thins the ice, how can climbers and conservationists work together to save one of the UK’s rarest flowers? Lees meer

Join ecologist and botanist Barbara Jones and ice climber Tom Carrick to scale one of Wales' most dramatic mountains and discover how the precious Lili'r Wyddfa (Snowdon Lily) can survive in this isolated location.

For the Welsh transcript of this episode please click here

Or copy this link: https://audioboom.com/posts/8820822-dringwyr-eryri-stori-am-ia-a-blodau/transcript

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Production
Presenter: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez

Contributors
Barbara Jones
Tom Carrick

Image credit: ©National Trust Images/John Millar

Discover more
If you want to visit Cwm Idwal you can find out more at the National Trusts website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/carneddau-and-glyderau/cwm-idwal-walk

To see the temperature sensors, you can find them at the BMC website https://www.thebmc.co.uk/en/cwm-idwal-welsh-winter-monitoring-system-live-and-upgraded

You can also find the white guide and more winter mountaineering information here: https://www.thebmc.co.uk/en/mountaineering-resources

For more on arctic alpines, here are some resources:
Plants on the Edge: Arctic Alpines in Wales / Ar y dibyn: Planhigion Arctig Alpaidd yng Ngymru
https://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/features/mountain_plants_in_the_uk__undervalued_and_under_threat-13605

Follow us @wildtalesnt …

A Robin is not just for Christmas

10 december 2025 · 13 min

Afspelen

As the festive season unfolds, one familiar face keeps appearing – the little robin. But behind its cheerful presence, is there more to this charming bird’s story? Lees meer

National Trust ranger Rosie Holdsworth chats to garden wildlife specialist Sean McMenemy about the remarkable life of robins, revealing their fascinating year-round behaviour and why this beloved bird deserves to be celebrated all year long.

(AD) Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. www.cotswoldoutdoor.com

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts

Production
Presenter: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Sean McMenemy

Discover more
You can read Sean’s garden wildlife blog here: Sean McMenemy Wildlife Blog

Follow us on our @wildtalesnt Instagram account

If you’d like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Golf Course to Nature Reserve | Just Add Water?

26 november 2025 · 25 min

Afspelen

How can a golf course become a place for nature and people to thrive? Ajay Tegala visits Sandilands in Lincolnshire over its first year as the once manicured lawns transform into a wetland habitat. But with one of the driest springs on record, can Sandilands go from one birdie to another? Will there be enough water for wading birds return? Lees meer

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts

Production
Presenter: Ajay Tegala
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade
Sound designer: Jesus Gomez

Contributors
Carl Hawke
Kirsty James
Dave Miller

Special Credit: A big thanks to Jannis Bonner, composer student at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, for their collaboration to this episode with the track "Breath of the Canopy".

Eurasian booming bittern sfx:
Author: Niels Krable
Link: https://xeno-canto.org/100296

Discover more

If you want to visit Sandilands or keep up to date with their progress you can find them here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/nottinghamshire-lincolnshire/sandilands

Follow us @wildtalesnt Instagram account
Image credit: ©National Trust Images/Rob Coleman

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Warrior the War Horse | Survival Against the Odds

11 november 2025 · 22 min

Afspelen

What happened to the animals who served in the First World War? Lees meer

Uncover the extraordinary story of Warrior the war horse who survived the Western Front. General Jack Seely's horse, Warrior, was anything but ordinary. He carried his master through some of World War One's most brutal battles, including the Somme, Ypres and Passchendaele. Despite more than eight million horses, donkeys and mules losing their lives during the war, Warrior somehow survived. Join General Jack Seely's grandson and broadcaster, Brough Scott and historian, James Grasby, to retrace Warrior's incredible journey.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts

Production

Host : James Grasby
Producer and sound designer: Nikki Ruck

Contributors
Brough Scott

Discover more

To visit Mottistone

Mottistone

To find out more about Warrior

Warrior The War Horse

If you would like to follow in the footsteps of warrior check out the
Warrior Trail

Follow us @wildtales Instagram account
If you’d like to get in touch with feedback or a story idea you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Halloween Special | Witches' Familiars

29 oktober 2025 · 13 min

Afspelen

Is your cat the devil in disguise? Probably not, although they may act like it sometimes! But once upon a time, they would have been accused of luring you into witchcraft. Lees meer

In Britain in the 16th and 17th centuries witch hunting became an obsession and supposed ‘witches’ were put on trial, and some were even sentenced to death.

Being an animal lover was considered a sure sign that someone was practicing witchcraft. Friendliness towards cats, rabbits or dogs could lead to accusations of witchcraft, as these animals, known as familiars, were suspected of working for the devil.

One of those accused of witchcraft and seen with familiars was Elizabeth Clarke, a poor, disabled woman from Essex.

Join Rosie and historian Dr Romany Reagan as they uncover Elizabeth’s story and the strange tale of the witches’ familiars.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more. Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Production:
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producers: Rosie Toy and Katy Kelly
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez

Contributor: Dr Romany Reagan

Discover More:

Find out more about witchcraft:
https://essexwitchmuseum.co.uk

Uncover folklore, legends, myths and lost histories from the British Isles with Dr Romany Reagan:
https://blackthornandstone.com

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts

If you’d like to get in touch with feedback or a story idea you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers | New Series Trailer

22 oktober 2025 · 2 min

Afspelen

A new series of Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers is here. Awooo! Lees meer

Follow the adventures of Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers, a crew of colourful creatures who use their skills to solve curious cases.

Beaver’s a super engineer. Sleepy Bat’s skill is sonar. Wildcat’s a proud predator. Deer’s strong and speedy. Fox has a nose for trouble. Shy Mole’s an expert digger, and Dragonfly’s always buzzing.

In Series Two, 12-year old Roxy has finally become a real Wildlifer and can talk to animals. But she's got a lot to learn to be a top Ranger like her hero Rae.

Luckily the Wildlifers are back on the trail solving puzzles, where they find old friends and new ones too like inventor Luca.

Join the crew on new adventures in destinations from under the sea to beautiful forests, from cruising the canal to exploring the city after dark. And meet a host of weird and wonderful characters along the way.

Perfect for 5-8 year olds.

Grown ups, follow Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers kids' podcast by finding the show on your favourite podcast app including Apple, Spotify and Yoto.

Or follow this link: podfollow.com/national-trust-kids-podcast

Ranger Rae and the Wildlifers is a podcast from the National Trust, Europe's Biggest Conservation Charity, produced by Fun Kids.

Nature Valley, Taiwan | Technology and the Wild

15 oktober 2025 · 16 min

Afspelen

Taiwan is known for its technology — from the chips that power our phones to the satellites orbiting above us, but just beyond the city of Hsinchu, there’s a small forest that tells a different story. Lees meer

Trust in Nature Foundation Taiwan is Taiwan’s first environmental charitable trust — a place where protected wildlife and local communities are working side by side to protect some of the island’s natural habitats.

In this episode presented by Rosie Holdsworth, producer Jesse Edbrooke visits the people caring for this forest, meet the protected animals that live there, and explore how conservation can thrive and inspire in one of the most high-tech regions on Earth.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Nature Valley Environmental Trust Taiwan - https://teia.tw/natural-valley-en
Trust in Nature Founation - https://tnf.org.tw/en

International National Trust Organisation - https://www.into.org
Jhih Han Lyu was a participant in the INTO Incubator programme in 2024, which supports emerging heritage leaders across the globe.

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts

Production:
Hosts: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Jesse Edbrooke
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez

Contributors: Jhih Han Lyu, Wing Lo,
Translation: Joshua Edbrooke

Discover More:
Includes music from Wing Lo’s Aha Moment - https://music.apple.com/gb/album/%E8%AB%8B%E8%AA%AA%E5%AE%A2%E8%AA%9E/1826949430?i=1826949431

Follow us @wildtales Instagram accountIf you’d like to get in touch with feedback or a story idea you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Sex, Death and Spiders

1 oktober 2025 · 25 min

Afspelen

Warning: This episode contains the unusual mating habits of spiders. Lees meer

Autumn is the time for spiders, and the colder months mean our eight-legged friends are searching for something vital: sex.

Join arachnologist Anna Maka and author and broadcaster Lucy Cooke to uncover the fascinating and freaky sex lives of spiders and what it teaches us about evolution itself.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts

Production
Presenter: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer and sound designer: Marnie Woodmeade

Contributors:
Lucy Cooke
Anna Maka

Discover more
You can find Lucy’s book Bitch: On the female of the species here.
You can find out more about Anna’s work with rare diamond back spiders here.
Follow us @wildtalesnt Instagram account

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Riverside Reflections | The Wey Navigations by Boat

17 september 2025 · 20 min

Afspelen

Join producer and barge dweller Marnie as she leaves London’s canals behind to explore the Wey Navigations. Lees meer

Along the way, she meets the people who care for it, discovers its wildlife, and finds out why this waterway matters so much to so many.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts

Production

Presenter: Marnie Woodmeade
Producer and sound designer: Nikki Ruck

Contributors

Derek Croucher
Emily Curtis
Emma Goodwin
Stephen
Perdita

Discover more

Explore the Wey Navigations by electric boat from Dapdune Wharf
River Wey Navigations boat trips

Wey River Festival takes place on Saturday 27th September 25 at Dapdune Wharf. Expect food and craft stalls, live music, children’s activities, and a colourful illuminated pageant.
River Festival

Learn more about nature prescriptions and the mental health benefits of connecting with the natural world.
Dose of Nature

Follow us @wildtalesnt Instagram account
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

The Overview Effect with Luke Jerram and Tim Peake

3 september 2025 · 27 min

Afspelen

On 20th July 1969 the world watched as humans first set foot on the Moon. More than half a century on, the view of Earth from space has given rise to a profound idea: the Overview Effect — the shift in perspective that astronauts experience when they see our planet from orbit. Lees meer

From 250 miles above, the Earth appears as a fragile, glowing sphere suspended in the darkness of space. Borders vanish, noise falls silent, and what remains is a single, shared home.

But what happens when astronauts return to Earth and can never see the world in quite the same way again?

Join Ranger Ajay Tegala as he explores the Overview Effect with artist Luke Jerram and astronaut Tim Peake, and discover how this cosmic perspective might change the way we care for the places closest to us.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more. Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Production:
Host: Ajay Tegala
Producer: Jesse Edbrooke
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez

Contributors: Luke Jerram, Tim Peake

Discover More:
Find out more about Luke Jerram’s artwork: https://www.lukejerram.com
Discover Tim Peake’s story: https://www.esa.int/peake

Picture:
Gaia at Inside Out Dorset, 2021. Photo (c) Roy Riley

Special credit:
A big thanks to Jonathan Goldsmith, composer student at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, for their collaboration to this episode with the track "Flying Nymphaea".

Follow us @wildtalesnt on Instagram

If you’d like to get in touch with feedback or a story idea you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Plant Hunters | A Botanical Quest Down Under

20 augustus 2025 · 22 min

Afspelen

In 2018 a team of intrepid explorers came in to the possession of a treasure map - one which would see them venture half way around the world to the Australian island of Tasmania. Lees meer

Those explorers were a team of garden experts from across the UK and Ireland who were now on a historic mission to save and catalogue plants for the benefit of people and the planet.

Following in the footsteps of the historic plant hunters, find out what was in store for the team of modern-day collectors and how natural history has helped to shape gardens around the world.

Production
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Jack Glover
Sound Design: Jesus Gomez

Contributors
Charlie Bancroft and team BIBET
Caroline Ikin

Discover More
Explore a garden lovers home at Nymans in West Sussex where some of the collected species are now flourishing https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/nymans

Read Charlie’s report here: https://merlin-trust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/718-Charlie-Bancroft-compressed.pdf

Find out more about historic plant hunters from our friends at Kew Gardens https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/adventure-and-discovery-around-the-world-with-plant-hunters

BIBET Botantic Gardens
Republic of Ireland https://www.botanicgardens.ie/kilmacurragh/
Northern Ireland https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/mount-stewart Wales https://botanicgarden.wales/
Tasmania https://gardens.tas.gov.au/

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Clowns of the Sea | The Colourful Lives of Puffins

6 augustus 2025 · 20 min

Afspelen

On 10th August 1925 the Farne Islands came into the care of the National Trust. A hundred years on and this wildlife haven off the coast of Northumberland is home to a breeding colony of 23 different species of seabirds. Lees meer

But perhaps its most colourful characters, in looks as well as behaviour, are the 15,000 pairs of puffins that return to the Farne Islands to breed in the spring and summer months each year.

Join Rosie and Rangers Dan Iceton and Tom Hendry on a unique quest to uncover the secret lives of the Farne Islands' feisty puffin population.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more. Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor. https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Production:
Hosts: Rosie Holdsworth and Dan Iceton
Producer: Katy Kelly
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Tom Hendry

Discover More: Find out more about The Farne Islands:
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/farne-islands/our-work-on-the-farne-islands

Follow us @wildtales Instagram account If you’d like to get in touch with feedback or a story idea you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

The Return of the Eagle

30 juli 2025 · 20 min

Afspelen

The UK’s largest bird of prey is making a comeback. It’s now possible to spot white-tailed eagles, or sea eagles, as they’re also known, in many parts of the country thanks to an ongoing re-introduction programme. Join Ranger Rosie Holdsworth as she sets out with Forestry England’s Steve Egerton-Read, a pair of binoculars, and a lot of hope, as they try and spot them on the Isle of Wight. Lees meer

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Production
Presenter: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Claire Hickinbotham
Sound: Nikki Ruck and Jesus Gomez
Contributor Steve Egerton-Read, Forestry England.

Forestry England are working with the Roy Dennis Foundation to bring the White-tailed eagle back to the English Landscape.
If you’d like to read more about some of the points raised in this episode, have a look at this. White-tailed Eagle Project - Frequently Asked Questions - Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation

And why not check out Wild Tales on Instagram Wild Tales | Nature Podcast (@wildtalesnt) • Instagram photos and videos

Screaming Swifts | Living Life on the Fly

16 juli 2025 · 20 min

Afspelen

Every summer, swifts return to our skies, screaming overhead in joyful, acrobatic flight. But behind their spectacular aerial displays lies a stark reality: these much-loved birds are in serious decline. Lees meer

Join ranger Rosie Holdsworth in Sheffield as she meets two swift lovers doing everything they can to keep them flying high.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts

Production

Presenter: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer and sound designer: Nikki Ruck

Contributors

Flora Jeferzade

Chet Cuñago

Discover more

Find out more about swift conservation at Sheffield Swift Network

Find out about swift bricks and boxes at Action for Swifts

Follow us @wildtalesnt Instagram account

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Bioluminescent Bay Watch | Strange Things Light Up the Ocean

2 juli 2025 · 14 min

Afspelen

Bioluminescent tides are often described as the northern lights of the ocean. Lees meer

Marine biologist, Dr Yasmin Meeda, has only witnessed this natural phenomenon once. She says seeing bioluminescence is one of the most magical things she’s ever experienced.

Yaz takes us into the strange world of bioluminescent life to meet the species whose bodies light up from the inside, due to a chemical reaction.

From bioluminescent tides caused by microscopic dinoflagellates to angler fish and glow worms, uncover nature's light displays in the dark.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Production:
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Michelle Douglass
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez

Special thanks to Dr Yasmin Meeda @marinebiologywithyaz for exploring the weird world of bioluminescence with Wild Tales.

Follow Yaz @marinebiologywithyaz on instagram

Image (c) Kezan24 | iStock

Discover more:

Find out about the UK Glow Worm Survey and look for organised walks:
https://glowworms.org.uk/

Follow Wild Tales on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a wild tale you’re like to hear, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

The Queer Life of a Cockchafer

18 juni 2025 · 15 min

Afspelen

How did two beetles cause a gay panic? There's much more to a cockchafer or ‘maybug’ than meets the eye. Lees meer

Join ecologist, Connor Butler, to find out more about what these charismatic creatures can teach us about science, humanity and the fluidity of the natural world.

Discover more:

You can find out more about Connor’s work and the queer ecology walks here: https://www.connorbutler.co.uk/

To visit Osterley Park and House and gardens, or to find out more about its spectacular grounds, find out more here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/london/osterley-park-and-house

Chris Packham | Spring, Birding and Pied Flycatchers

13 juni 2025 · 13 min

Afspelen

Wild Talk: In this bonus episode Ajay chats with wildlife legend Chris Packham about their shared love of birds. Lees meer

After 3 weeks of filming Springwatch at the Longshaw Estate, Ajay wants to hear more about the stunning cast of characters on this year's show.

In particular, the black and white birds that choose to spend their summer here: the migrant pied flycatchers.

Ajay meets Chris for a walk on the Springwatch set where they share their passion for birds, birding and what we must do to help wildlife.

Production:
Host: Ajay Tegala
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez

Special thanks to Chris Packham for recording with us and the Springwatch TV team for being so welcoming!

Discover more:

Find out more about Chris Packham’s work and what’s coming up: https://www.chrispackham.co.uk/

Learn more about pied flycatchers from the British Trust for Ornithology website: https://www.bto.org/learn/about-birds/birdfacts/pied-flycatcher

Follow Wild Tales on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a wild tale you’re like to hear, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Green Therapy | The Healing Power of Gardens

4 juni 2025 · 23 min

Afspelen

There’s not a lot better than getting out in nature and it’s something Linda Stuart realised 40 years ago. Lees meer

She visits Packwood House and Garden almost daily to get a nature fix, and credits it with getting her through some really challenging times.

Join Linda as she shares her story with Heather Birkett.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Production
Presenter: Heather Birkett
Producer: Claire Hickinbotham
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez

Contributors
With thanks to Linda for sharing her story
And to Robyn Booth for being so open about her mental health
And to Liz Ware, Founder of Silent Space.

Discover More
Walking in nature for wellbeing | National Trust
Silent Space | Peaceful time in green places
GROW: Fill your world with plants by Robyn Booth – Collins

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Pet Craze

21 mei 2025 · 14 min

Afspelen

It’s the 1980s and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise has burst onto the scene, scoring millions of young fans. Lees meer

Half-human, half-turtle fighters Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael and Michelangelo originated as comic book characters before spawning phenomenally popular films and cartoons.

But “turtlemania” also inadvertently sparked a pet craze that ultimately led to an invasive species problem.

Red-eared terrapins were a particularly popular pet. But many people didn’t realise they would grow from a matchbox-sized hatchling to a dinner-plate sized adult that lives for more than 40 years.

As a result a significant number of freshwater turtles were illegally released in the late 80 and 90s.

Rosie joins Turtle Tally UK’s Suzie Simpson to uncover the wild origin story of how invasive freshwater turtles became a familiar sight in our waterways.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Production:
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Michelle Douglass
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez

Contributor:
Suzie Simpson, Turtle Tally UK

Image:
(c) Suzie Simpson / Turtle Tally UK

Discover More:
Head to Turtle Tally UK citizen science project to discover more about freshwater turtles in the UK and submit your sightings
https://www.turtletally.co.uk/

Find out about the National Trust’s work protecting our waterways and how you can help
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/our-cause/nature-climate/climate-change-sustainability/protecting-coasts-and-rivers

The National Trust cares for places so people and nature can thrive. Everyone can get involved, everyone can make a difference. Nature, beauty, history. For everyone, for ever. You can donate to u…

Remembering Sycamore Gap

14 mei 2025 · 29 min

Afspelen

On September 27th 2023, the famous Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland was felled overnight in an act of vandalism, triggering a far-reaching wave of shock and sorrow. Lees meer

Join Heather Birkett, as she goes behind the scenes to explore the enduring impact of this beloved landmark, the aftermath of its loss, and the community’s efforts to preserve its memory.

This episode has been updated from an previous release; National Trust Podcast - Sycamore Gap |One Year on

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure. Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more. Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Production
Host: Heather Birkett
Producer: Nikki Ruck, Katy Kelly, Pippa Tilbury-Harris
Sound Design: Nikki Ruck

Discover more
To find out the latest information surrounding The Sycamore Gap Tree including The Trees of Hope campaign
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sycamore-gap

Find out what’s on in Northumberland Park and The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre
https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/whats-on/

Follow Wild Tales on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected to our wild world, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Bird Accents | Saving Urban Birdsong

7 mei 2025 · 21 min

Afspelen

When Ajay Tegala discovers that chaffinches, a small songbird, have a different accent every 30 miles, he’s intrigued. Lees meer

However, under threat from disease these birds are dying out in urban areas, and their unique urban songs may be lost for ever. But all is not lost. There's a way to find out how this disease is spreading...by recording their song.

Follow Ajay and ecologist and UKYouth4Nature advocate Şeniz Mustafa as they search for this disappearing birdsong.

To send Joe a chaffinch recording:

Identify a chaffinch. You can use apps like Merlin to help you make sure it’s the right bird.

Point your phone at the chaffinch. Be safe and don’t do anything you wouldn’t normally do!

Record for anywhere up to 5 minutes.

Send to joe.cooper@bto.org

Your recording will be added to the database!

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Production:
Hosts: Ajay Tegala and Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade
Assistant Producer: Katy Kelly
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez

Contributors:
Şeniz Mustafa
Joe Cooper
Ian Johnson

Discover more:
Find out more about chaffinches and the British Trust for Ornithology here: https://www.bto.org/understanding-birds/birdfacts/chaffinch

Pteridomania | When Fern Frenzy Swept the UK

23 april 2025 · 13 min

Afspelen

It’s the mid-1800s and pteridomania – or fern frenzy – is the new big craze. Lees meer

Across the UK, plant enthusiasts are heading into the countryside to pick all the prized specimens they can find.

And fern fans far and wide are avidly creating collections and displays of the leafy green plants to show off.

Uncover the truth about this Victorian phenomenon and how it influenced our love of house plants.

But who were the pteridomaniacs? What did ferns secretly symbolise about young women and sex? And how can we learn from the conservation consequences of the craze?

Join Presenter and Ranger Rosie Holdsworth and Curator Clara Woolford to unfurl the curious story of Victorian fern fever.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Discover more:
Visit Cragside in Northumberland for a taste of fern fever. See the fernery, rockery and glass houses designed by Lady Armstrong in the 1800s, now cared for by the National Trust.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/cragside

Production:
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Michelle Douglass
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez

Follow Wild Tales nature podcast on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story idea you’d love to hear, contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Dolphin Social Networks | Mothers, Besties and Bodyguards

9 april 2025 · 25 min

Afspelen

Beneath the waves of West Wales lies a complicated network of relationships that determines not only who’s belly rolling who, but which calf survives. Lees meer

Join Katrin Lohrengel and her team at Sea Watch to search for one of the ocean's most loved and misunderstood creatures: bottlenose dolphins.

For the Welsh transcript of this episode please click here.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Production:
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez

Discover more:
Find out more about the dolphins in Cardigan Bay: www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/

Did you know , you can see dolphins from the shore at Cardigan Bay? Explore the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’s coastal walks: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/strumble-head-to-cardigan

Special thanks to Katrin Lohrengel for extra fact checking work and the whole team at Sea Watch.

Follow Wild Tales on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected to our wild world, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

The Elusive Leaping Shark | Searching for Cryptic Creatures

26 maart 2025 · 15 min

Afspelen

Join Ranger Rosie Holdsworth to uncover the mystery of the leaping shark. Lees meer

On a boat off Cornwall, wildlife guide Jenny spots a huge animal she’s never seen before jumping out of the water. But what exactly has she witnessed?

Across the world in Florida, shark-obsessed Dr Molly Kressler sets off on a mission to discover more about what is beneath the calm of the surface. More than that, she wants everyone else to be able to get to know and love creatures of the deep too.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com

Production:
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez
Additional research: Funbi Bakare

Discover more:
Find out more about thresher sharks at sharkstrust.org.uk.

If you want to be kept up to date with Molly’s research, you can find her on X, Instagram or TikTok at @marinemollyk.

For incredible views of the Cornish coast, why not visit Trevose Head? Jutting out into the Atlantic, you can see for miles. Shark sightings not guaranteed (but possible!)

Special thanks to Dr Molly Kressler and Jenny from Padstow Sea Life Safaris.

Follow Wild Tales on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story idea, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Gangster Gulls | Uncovering the Truth About Seagulls

26 maart 2025 · 23 min

Afspelen

Seagulls have a bad reputation. But is it deserved? Lees meer

Join Ranger Rosie Holdsworth to meet the gulls in Poole Harbour known for their chip-stealing behaviour. Are these birds feathered thugs or smart survivors? We’ll discover the myths and surprising truths about one of Britain’s most controversial birds.
From their behaviours to their vital role in coastal ecosystems, uncover just what makes these ‘Gangster Gulls’ tick. Plus, we take part in a citizen science survey that helps track how these much-maligned seabirds are surviving in a changing world.

[Ad] Wild Tales is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor, your outside retailer and epic guides to adventure.
Quick breathers, calming walks or heart-pounding hikes. We feel better when we get out more.
Find quality kit and 50 years of outdoor wisdom. Plus, supporters save 15% in-store and online. Feel in your element, in the elements, at Cotswold Outdoor.
www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/

Production
Presenter: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer and sound designer: Nikki Ruck

Contributors
Mya Bambrick
Dr Viola Ross-Smith
Paul Morton
Emma Caulfield
Katy
Sophie

Discover more
Find out more about bird conservation in Poole harbourBirds of Poole Harbour

Take part in citizen science survey in your area BTO – British Trust for Ornithology

Follow us @wildtalesnt Instagram account

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story idea, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk

Introducing Back When

19 maart 2025 · 1 min

Afspelen

Imagine being a fly on the wall throughout history. Lees meer

Historians Helen Antrobus and James Grasby take you inside the stories of the people, places and moments that made us.

Experience the Great Stink of London. Make an entrance onto the Georgian dating scene. Find out if you'd survive a medieval battle. And unlock the secrets of Britain’s space race.

Our past is all around us. Be transported behind the scenes at landmarks from castles to dance halls and WWII bunkers to workhouses. You’ll meet people from all walks of life whose fascinating stories help us make sense of who we are now.

Lean in for a tale from time: introducing Back When, a new history podcast from the National Trust, launching 2 April.

Follow Back When on your favourite podcast app and never miss an episode: podfollow.com/back-when