Welcome back to Agronomy Matters! In this latest episode, host Thomas Vaughan, Environment Manager at BASIS, ventures into the fascinating realm of insects , exploring why these tiny creatures play an outsized role in our ecosystems.

Joining Thomas is Kirk Mason, a passionate entomologist, science communicator, and wildlife photographer whose work has been featured by BBC Wildlife Magazine and Springwatch. Kirk has also collaborated with BASIS on a new microlearning series, shining a light on the often-overlooked champions of the insect world.

In this conversation, Thomas and Kirk explore the many services beneficial insects provide, from pollination and natural pest control to soil health, and delve into surprising lifecycles that reveal the complexity of these creatures. They discuss how insects interact with field margins, hedgerows and other landscape features, examine current population trends and successful conservation case studies, and consider which lesser-known groups deserve more attention.

Finally, they imagine what an ideal, insect-friendly UK countryside looks like and identify key species that signal a thriving ecosystem.