This episode goes off with a BANG as Chris Skinner introduces us to an unofficial experiment he's conducting on a field full overwinter wild bird seed mix at High Ash Farm.

He's highlighting a loophole that currently exists whereby shooting is still allowed on areas like this that are supposed to be dedicated to promoting wildlife. 

Matthew Gudgin then joins Chris and Rat at Foxes Grove to continue their fungal foray from last week's episode. They look at the deadliest mushroom in existence before answering questions in the farm truck.

Stay tuned until the very end of the podcast to join the ducks at dinner time.

Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode.

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
Join the SOUNDYARD newsletter

Autumn has definitely arrived at High Ash Farm. Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin begin the podcast at Foxes Grove and they get up close and personal to some of the fungi making an appearance on the woodland floor.

Chris explains the many uses and existence of fungi within our diet, lifestyle and health care.

The pair revisit an enormous ash tree that's being slowly devoured by different fungi in succession of one another, starting with honey fungus.

They avoid the seasonal showers and take listener questions in the farm truck. This week  they covering questions on cormorant poo, foaming ash trees and chaffinch feet.

Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode. 

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
Join the SOUNDYARD newsletter

Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin are distracted early on in their journey around High Ash Farm. They spot Norfolk's largest black bird, busy preening it's feathers in a nearby tree.

They keep a safe distance as they admire the work of a hornet queen who has built an enormous nest all by herself! Chris describes the fascinating but difficult life cycle of Britain's largest wasp.

Chris then marks the official start of autumn by showing Matthew a yellow plant that celebrates the sun known as the Autumn Hawkbit. 

Back in the truck the pair answer the sack load of letters and emails sent in. They include the identification of a strange growth on a wild rose, bird boxes, bees and Jimi Hendrix.

Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode.

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
Join the SOUNDYARD newsletter

Chris Skinner is giddy to show Matthew Gudgin a new species that's causing quite a buzz at High Ash Farm.

The pair then survey the hallmark left behind from a special visitor who wandered through the farm last night. 

Chris explains how ivy is a plant for all seasons. Sometimes an undesirable plant for some but Chris describes how valuable it is for butterflies and birds all the year round.

Listener questions cover goldfinches, territory marking of birds, moth identification and photos from afar.

Rat the terrible terrier is up to his usual mischief throughout the episode!

Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode.

Click here to watch the videos from the farm on High Ash Farm's Facebook Page.

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
Join the SOUNDYARD newsletter

Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin begin by watching a charm of goldfinches busy feeding on their favourite food.

They head to a different part of the farm to watch the latest colony occupying a hole in a sweet chestnut tree. Chris describes the various species that trees can support throughout their lives.

Chris quietly admits to Matthew a plant that has appeared in his wild bird winter seed mix that's grown in error at High Ash Farm.

They get excited as they talk about a moth species that has been rediscovered after a 50 year absence!

Out of the wind and in the warmth of the farm truck, the pair answer listener questions; this week featuring a photo of a wheatear, a video of congregating swallows, migrators and pollinators.

Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode.

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
Join the SOUNDYARD newsletter

It's a big birthday for Chris Skinner this week and to celebrate he shares the starlings at High Ash Farm with us.

Chris then continues the bird theme and shows Matthew Gudgin other birds gathering in the fields including jackdaws, carrion crows and rooks.

The pair then give the answer to last weeks conundrum as well as answering questions about bats and moths.

Click here to listen to MP3 file of this episode.

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
Join the SOUNDYARD newsletter

This episode marks a special one year anniversary for Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast.

Chris has a gift for you in way of a tricky conundrum for you to have a go at:

Today, Sunday the first of September, I am safe. Why should I be worried tomorrow, the second of September and why shouldn't I worried tomorrow, the second of September?

Answers can be emailed to [email protected]

Chris introduces Matthew Gudgin his favourite woodland butterfly. The pair discuss the amount of rainwater recorded in the county and Chris explains what this means for sycamore trees.

The pair drive to successional wood to look at the devastating impact of grey squirrels at High Ash Farm.

Back at the farm truck Chris and Matthew answer questions about ragwort and watercourses.

Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode.

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
Join the SOUNDYARD newsletter

Chris Skinner shows Matthew one of the oldest ponds at High Ash Farm. Chris dunks his hands in and demonstrates the pottery qualities of the clay in the pond. He describes how wild oats can grow in the cracks when it dries out.

Chris is extremely excited and proud to show Matthew the holes in nearby trees that have been drilled by woodpeckers. The three different sizes of the holes created prove that all three species of woodpecker native to this country are residing in one area of woodland at High Ash Farm.

Listener questions cover an array of subjects including spiders, hares, hungry caterpillars and swifts.

Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode.

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
Join the SOUNDYARD newsletter

Chris Skinner tells a story and shares the practicality of farmers.

Matthew Gudgin joins Chris on the lawn and they answer a curious question all about moles. Chris describes the antisocial qualities of the underground inhabitants, how they move and how they changed the course of history.

It's all go at High Ash Farm at the moment with all the mowing and it allows Chris to reflect on the impact of technology in farming. Growing up, he remembers the thirty-two men employed full time to do the tasks now completed by one man on a mower.

Chris takes Matthew to the highest point at High Ash Farm to share the site where he unearthed something that's now exhibited in the Natural History Museum.

Before answering listener questions, the pair enjoy the row of rowans and the berries on display.

Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode.

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
Join the SOUNDYARD newsletter

Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin begin the podcast at a local supermarket that is protecting the wildlife nesting there.

Back on the farm the pair trudge through a field overwinter wildbird seed mix when they come across an exploding thistle. Chris explains how pioneering species establish and how they can colonise.

They look at various properties of nearby plants including Red Shank, the menthol scent of Field Mint, and answer how the Greeks utilised Woundwort.

Back in the truck they endeavour to answer questions sent in from listeners which include seaweed recipes, kestrel feeding calls and an unsolved mystery.

Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode.

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
Join the SOUNDYARD newsletter