Counting the Earth

Microplastics are everywhere—tiny plastic particles that permeate our soil, water, food, drinking supplies, and even our bodies. But how much do we actually understand about their long-term effects on our health and the environment?

In this episode, Alice visits UKCEH labs in Wallingford to explore these questions. Pollution scientist Dr Richard Cross shares insights into how microplastics impact the environment, and Dr Gbotemi Adediran introduces the innovative CoreMis facility, which is pushing the boundaries by studying even smaller particles: nanoplastics, which are so tiny they're invisible to the naked eye.

Also, Sue discusses how microplastics are present in the air we breathe and what that could mean for human health with Dr Stephanie Wright, from the Medical Research Council’s Centre for Environment and Health at Imperial College London.

Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope 

Producer: Rachael Buchanan

Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. 

In this episode of Counting the Earth, we find out about forever chemicals – persistent pollutants that can pose serious environmental and health risks. Alice and Sue brave the icy freezers of the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS) in Lancaster to meet UKCEH ecotoxicologist Lee Walker and discover how studying dead birds like buzzards and barn owls can offer critical clues about how these chemicals accumulate.

They discuss innovative projects ensuring that future chemicals are designed to be sustainable from the start, and explore what actions individuals can take to reduce their exposure.  

Listener discretion: this episode includes a detailed description of an autopsy performed on a dead bird.
 
Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme website

We are an independent, not-for-profit research institute and need your help to support this unique scheme: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/predatory-bird-monitoring-scheme

Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope 

Producer: Rachael Buchanan

Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. 

In this episode, Alice and Sue take you on an exploration of the past, present and future of the UK’s woodlands.  Sue visits the enchanting Heartwood Forest in Hertfordshire, where she meets Chris Nichols from the Woodland Trust to uncover the latest insights from the Bunce Woodland Survey. The survey reveals how our woodlands have changed over the past 50 years, and highlights the pressing challenges they face today, from climate change to shifts in land use.  

Looking to the future, Alice and Sue then speak with UKCEH scientist Stephen Cavers to discuss whether the UK is on track to meet the Government’s ambitious goal to plant 30,000 hectares of trees by the end of 2024 and investigate the role of genetics in building forest resilience. Tune in to discover how past lessons inform future strategies, and why every tree counts in the journey towards a more sustainable landscape.

Read the full report 
https://www.ceh.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2024-08/Final-Bunce-report-50-years-of-change-in-British-broadleaved-woodlands_08082024.pdf 

The Bunce Woodland Survey
https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/projects/bunce-woodland-survey 

Woodland Trust 
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ 

Future of UK Treescapes programme
https://www.uktreescapes.org/ 

Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope 

Producer: Rachael Buchanan

Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. 

Sitting at the mouth of the Firth of Forth in Scotland, the Isle of May is a sanctuary for nesting seabirds and the destination for this episode.

Join Alice and Sue as they journey to the island and meet UKCEH Field Manager Mark Newell and his dedicated team. Discover the critical work they do to monitor seabird colonies, including the iconic puffin, providing valuable insights into the health of our marine ecosystems.

Alice and Sue also chat with Assistant Reserve Manager Thomas Skinner to uncover the rich history of this National Nature Reserve, meticulously managed by NatureScot since 1989, and find out about the tireless efforts of the Isle of May Bird Observatory Trust volunteers.


UKCEH Isle of May Long Term Study (IMLOTS)
https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/projects/isle-may-long-term-study

Seabird Monitoring Programme
JNCC - https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/seabird-monitoring/
BTO - https://app.bto.org/seabirds/public/index.jsp

NatureScot – Isle of May National Nature Reserve
https://www.nature.scot/enjoying-outdoors/visit-our-nature-reserves/isle-may-national-nature-reserve

Isle of May Bird Observatory
https://isleofmaybirdobs.org/

Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope 

Producer: Rachael Buchanan

Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. 

Stretching over ten miles through Cumbria’s countryside, Windermere isn't just England's largest lake – it’s a real-life classroom, helping us to understand how our environment is changing over time. 
  
Join Alice and Sue as they venture onto the water with UKCEH scientists Eleanor Mackay and Heather Moorhouse. Together, they explore the deep waters and vibrant ecosystem of this iconic lake, where researchers have been monitoring everything from water quality to wildlife for nearly eight decades. 
  
They also catch up with Taylor Butler-Eldridge, from the University of Exeter, to discuss his fascinating research into the world of open water swimming.

UK Lakes Portal - https://eip.ceh.ac.uk/apps/lakes/

UKCEH Algal bloom app - https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/projects/bloomin-algae

Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope 

Producer: Rachael Buchanan

Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. 

In this episode, Alice Hope and Sue Nelson get knee-deep in flowers to hear which plants attract the most pollinators –  those vital bees, butterflies, wasps, beetles, flies and moths – and why.

UKCEH ecologist Dr Claire Carvell takes Sue on a tour of the office wildflower meadow in Oxfordshire, discussing how citizen science is enhancing what we know about pollinators, and the latest findings from the UK pollinator monitoring scheme. 

Alice and Sue also explore the gardens at RHS Wisley in Surrey, where wildlife specialist Helen Bostock explains why they’re introducing wildflowers into formal gardens and talks about the work of their dedicated volunteers.

For more details see:
The UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme

The FIT count app

The Royal Horticultural Society

Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope 

Producer: Rachael Buchanan

Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. 

In this episode, Sue and Alice dive into the factors affecting the ecological health of our rivers.  

Alice goes wading in the River Kennet with Anna Forbes from ARK to explore river health monitoring first hand, encountering some fascinating river residents along the way. 

Then Sue and Alice chat with Dr Mike Bowes and Dr Eleanor Mackay of UKCEH about how both the state of our rivers and our approach to monitoring them is changing over time.

https://www.riverflies.org/

Sue and Alice explore these complex coastal ecosystems and discover their amazing benefits – from providing wildlife habitat to storing carbon.

https://www.ceh.ac.uk/solutions/emerging-challenges/saltmarsh-blue-carbon

Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope 

Producer: Rachael Buchanan

Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. 

Delve into the vital statistics of earthworms, as Alice and Sue uncover the unsung heroes of our soil.

Worm resources
Garden worm ID chart

Earthworm Society UK diagram of worm habitats

Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope 

Producer: Rachael Buchanan

Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. 

Sue and Alice visit Heartwood Forest and the Fens to explore how far nature-based solutions like planting trees and restoring peatlands can take us towards net zero.

Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope 
Producer: Rachael Buchanan

Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.