Send us Fan Mail

In this enchanting episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin embrace a damp July morning at High Ash Farm, where a farm miracle unfolds. By the lake, tens of thousands of froglets and toadlets leap from their tadpole origins, abandoning the water in a breathtaking exodus, their tiny forms navigating metre-high grass to escape herons and owls. Half a mile away, a kingfisher’s azure brilliance—cobalt wings and halcyon hues—dazzles from a crafted perch, its dives snaring young rudd and gudgeon, a fledged nest now a silent triumph. The teasel maze stretches across five acres, a pollinator haven humming with bees and red admirals, its clay-cracked paths whispering Saxon history. Listener tales of parasitic wasps and sand martin boxes weave into this journey, as nature’s miracle thrives under a softening sky.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/17493040-episode-2-28-amphibians-to-azure-a-farm-miracle.mp3?download=true

Support the show

Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to
[email protected]

This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm.
Support us here:
https://donorbox.org/podcast-12
or from the Podcast page here:
Podcast | High Ash Farm

Send us Fan Mail

In this vibrant episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin revel in High Ash Farm’s sultry July heat, where nature pirouettes in a stunning display. The red admiral’s dance unfolds as this migrant aristocrat flutters over an oak tree’s amber sap, its orange-and-black wings a vivid spectacle, while common centaury’s pink blooms nod to ancient healing myths. A butterfly bonanza—peacocks, meadow browns, small whites, speckled woods, and a ragged-winged comma—graces wildflowers like corn marigold and feverfew, their courtship a summer ballet. A fierce aerial clash sees kestrels drive off a buzzard over a rabbit feast, showcasing nature’s raw balance. Listener tales of swift absences, box tree moths, and a rare marbled white enrich this journey, culminating in Chris’s whimsical new teasel maze, awaiting Matthew’s ribbon-cutting flourish under a softening sky.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/17449357-episode-2-27-admiral-s-dance-and-teasel-maze.mp3?download=true

Support the show

Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to
[email protected]

This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm.
Support us here:
https://donorbox.org/podcast-12
or from the Podcast page here:
Podcast | High Ash Farm

Send us Fan Mail

In this delightful episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin linger in High Ash Farm’s yard, where sparrows thrive amidst 42 nest boxes, their fledglings peeking out as parents deliver 2000 daily feedings—a red-listed revival from near extinction 25 years ago. Nearby, bouncing bet (soapwort) unveils creamy blooms with soapy leaves, a historical gem once used to cleanse ancient fabrics, while bladder campion’s balloon-like flowers and red ragged robin’s delicate pink petals grace the marshy lowlands. A new badger set, unearthed in Cantley Hill Plantation, reveals a family of four, their sandy digs captured on camera, adding to the farm’s wildlife tapestry. Listener queries—trapped church birds, solitary bees, skylark dives, and ladybird larvae—enliven this journey, as July’s gentle bloom heralds nature’s quiet triumph under a softening summer sky.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/17403341-episode-2-26-ragged-robins-and-rustic-nests.mp3?download=true

Support the show

Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to
[email protected]

This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm.
Support us here:
https://donorbox.org/podcast-12
or from the Podcast page here:
Podcast | High Ash Farm

Send us Fan Mail

In this captivating episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin embrace a radiant June morning at High Ash Farm, where nature’s might and beauty collide. Following a fierce storm that dumped 38 millimetres of rain in an hour and a half, the farm’s meadows reveal a tapestry of grasses—tall meadow fescue, Yorkshire fog’s purple haze, and sweet vernal’s perfumed blooms—standing resilient against the deluge. A buffer strip, crafted 20 years ago, proves its worth, halting floodwaters that once threatened the River Tas, a testament to working with nature’s power. At Brancaster’s salt marshes, Chris marvels at sea lavender and glasswort, their salt-tolerant forms thriving amidst tidal shifts, while cattle egrets and oystercatchers adapt to the high tide. Listener tales of early brambles, hedgehog hoglets, and a piebald jackdaw enrich this journey, as the longest day heralds summer’s peak under a sky of promise and memory.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/17351488-episode-2-25-salt-marshes-and-storms-a-summer-surge.mp3?download=true

Support the show

Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to
[email protected]

This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm.
Support us here:
https://donorbox.org/podcast-12
or from the Podcast page here:
Podcast | High Ash Farm

Send us Fan Mail

In this enchanting episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin ascend to the lofty heights of High Ash Farm, where June’s wild symphony reverberates across Norfolk’s landscape. On the historic gun field—once a wartime bastion with searchlights and artillery guarding Norwich from German bombers during the 1940s—a skylark soars, its trilling melody piercing the sky just yards away, a poignant echo of resilience. Nearby, pyramidal orchids rise from chalky clay, their deep purple spikes crafting nature’s pyramids, a rare bloom thriving amidst a wildflower haven shaped by centuries of human toil. In an elder wood atop an Anglo-Saxon cemetery, creamy blossoms whisper tales of ancient cremations and fires fuelled by hollow elder stems, a site of international significance where Roman chalk mining once supported early mortar works. From hedgehog hoglets foraging in daylight to debates on solar panels versus farmland, listener queries enrich this journey. With bees buzzing over sand vetch, rooks cawing from nest-laden Scots pines, and the farm’s living heritage unfolding, this episode celebrates a timeless connection under a lengthening summer sky.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/17325258-episode-2-24-skylarks-and-pyramids-june-s-high-harmony.mp3?download=true

Support the show

Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to
[email protected]

This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm.
Support us here:
https://donorbox.org/podcast-12
or from the Podcast page here:
Podcast | High Ash Farm

Send us Fan Mail

In this vibrant episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin brave a blustery June morning at High Ash Farm, where summer’s rhythm pulses through Norfolk’s countryside. By a windswept hedgerow, they marvel at field and dog roses, their delicate white and pink petals whispering tales of Roman introductions and heralding scarlet hips for autumn. A majestic red kite, mobbed by crows, glides over crimson-tinted soil, joined by buzzards relishing disc-churned invertebrates. In a young woodland, a lone common spotted orchid glows with pinkish-purple spikes, its ancient seed thriving in chalky clay through mysterious fungal bonds. Amidst pelting rain, four swallow fledglings dart through a stable, mastering flight in a whirlwind of wings. From cuckoo spit’s frothy secrets to a bee swarm’s rooftop haven, listener queries weave through vivid discoveries, celebrating June’s untamed symphony.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/17293128-episode-2-23-roses-and-red-kites-june-s-wild-waltz.mp3?download=true

Support the show

Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to
[email protected]

This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm.
Support us here:
https://donorbox.org/podcast-12
or from the Podcast page here:
Podcast | High Ash Farm

Send us Fan Mail

"Woodpeckers and Witches’ Brooms: Summer’s Secret Symphony"
In this captivating episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin dive into the early summer splendour of High Ash Farm, where nature hums with hidden wonders. From their bird hide, they marvel at great spotted woodpeckers—vivid parents darting to a lofty nest, feeding insatiable chicks in a slender sycamore’s embrace. Amidst the woodland’s rustle, they uncover the sticky allure of honeydew, as aphids coat sycamore leaves, fuelling swallows and swifts in their aerial dance. Venturing to a sunlit slope, the duo kneels before a dazzling display of bee orchids, their bee-mimicking petals thriving despite drought, alongside buzzing bumblebees on sainfoin. A listener’s query unveils the eerie folklore of witches’ brooms—fungus-sparked tangles in silver birch. Packed with tales of zygodactyl toes, pseudo pollination, and the relentless rhythm of June’s renewal, this episode is a joyful ode to the countryside’s unseen performers.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/17248014-episode-2-22-woodpeckers-and-witches-brooms-summer-s-secret-symphony.mp3?download=true

Support the show

Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to
[email protected]

This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm.
Support us here:
https://donorbox.org/podcast-12
or from the Podcast page here:
Podcast | High Ash Farm

Send us Fan Mail

Bask in the sunlit splendour of High Ash Farm’s wildflower meadows, where Chris Skinner guides us through a vibrant tapestry of nature’s small wonders. Marvel at the common blue butterflies, their Wedgwood-hued wings dancing over bird’s foot trefoil, a legume bursting into bright yellow bloom. Amid the meadow, yellow rattle thrives, subtly parasitizing grasses to foster a haven for declining insect species. Discover the rare shepherd’s purse and shepherd’s needle, crucifers with delicate, cross-shaped white flowers, their names echoing ancient sheepherding traditions and medieval practices of stitching lambskins to nurture orphaned young. By the farm’s tranquil lake, witness tadpoles in metamorphosis, their tiny hind legs sprouting as they edge toward froghood, while the scarce water soldier’s white blooms drift serenely, carried by the breeze. From drought-stressed fields to the resilience of Norfolk’s biodiversity, this episode celebrates the intricate connections of flora and fauna in a rapidly changing season. Join us for a heartfelt journey through the countryside, plus answers to your wildlife questions! 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/17202769-episode-2-21-shepherd-s-purse-soldier-s-float.mp3?download=true

Support the show

Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to
[email protected]

This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm.
Support us here:
https://donorbox.org/podcast-12
or from the Podcast page here:
Podcast | High Ash Farm

Send us Fan Mail

Join Chris Skinner in the verdant depths of Fox's Grove, where spring unveils a remarkable tale of coexistence: badgers and foxes sharing the same sprawling set, with cubs of both species thriving in harmony. Discover the delicate beauty of the early purple orchid, steeped in Shakespearean lore, and marvel at the ash trees’ surprising sex-switching as they produce a prolific crop of keys. Scots pines stun with their rapid growth spurts, while roe deer bark in the distance, adding to the woodland’s vibrant symphony. From drought-stressed landscapes to biodiversity’s resilience, this episode celebrates the intricate jigsaw of nature at High Ash Farm. Tune in for a journey through Norfolk’s countryside, plus answers to your wildlife questions! 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/17167691-episode-2-20-cubs-and-cones-woodland-s-shared-spaces.mp3?download=true

Support the show

Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to
[email protected]

This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm.
Support us here:
https://donorbox.org/podcast-12
or from the Podcast page here:
Podcast | High Ash Farm

Send us Fan Mail

Join Chris Skinner at High Ash Farm for a captivating exploration of nature’s quirks in Norfolk’s countryside. This week, Chris unveils the ghostly spectacle of a spindle tree shrouded in the webs of brown tail moth caterpillars, a phenomenon both eerie and fascinating, while warning of their irritating hairs. The journey continues with a dive into the world of oak galls—marble galls and oak apples—revealing the hidden lives of gall wasps and the historical charm of Oak Apple Day. Amidst the bluebells of Foxes Grove, a heartwarming tale unfolds as a vixen adopts four orphaned cubs, raising a bustling family of eight, captured on camera for all to see on High Ash Farm’s Facebook page. From drought-stricken hay fields to the rich biodiversity of oak trees, Chris shares the wonders and challenges of rural life in May. Tune in for a blend of history, wildlife, and nature’s marvels! 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/17123452-episode-2-19-fox-cubs-feast-galls-hidden-guests.mp3?download=true

Support the show

Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to
[email protected]

This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm.
Support us here:
https://donorbox.org/podcast-12
or from the Podcast page here:
Podcast | High Ash Farm