In this episode, hosts Beki and Gillian explore the powerful connection between food and the natural world — and how what we grow, catch, and eat shapes the future of our planet.

Since the 1940s, UK farming and fishing have focused on feeding a growing population, often at the expense of habitats and marine life. But change is happening. Today, more people are working toward a future where food production supports biodiversity, strengthens communities, and tackles climate change.

We’re joined by Nielen from Grow Wild York, transforming a 2-acre brownfield site into a thriving community garden, and Joe from the Whitby Lobster Hatchery, helping build a more sustainable future for the Yorkshire coast.

Whether you’re a gardener, a food lover, or simply curious about where your food comes from, join us as we discover how food can reconnect us to nature.

#GreenCorridors #SustainableFood #NatureConnection #CommunityGrowing #OceanConservation 

In this episode, hosts Beki and Gillian explore how nature can be a sanctuary, a healer, and a source of empowerment for people with additional needs.

We’re joined by Kai, who has found joy and purpose working outdoors, and Jo from Blueberry Academy, a specialist provider supporting young people and adults with learning differences, autism, and other disabilities.

Together, we discuss how gardening, outdoor work, and time in nature can boost wellbeing, confidence, and connection.

Join us as we uncover the healing power of the natural world. 

#GreenCorridors #NatureHeals #Inclusion #Wellbeing

Blueberry Academy – Supporting people to progress into learning and employment

Hosted by Beki & Gillian

In this episode, we explore how nature deeply supports our physical, mental, and emotional health. In a world buzzing with screens and fast-paced routines, it’s easy to overlook the simple yet profound ways nature nurtures us — lowering stress, lifting mood, sharpening focus, and even boosting creativity.

We’re joined by Sefton and David, who share personal stories of transformation through nature’s healing power—from finding calm in woodland walks to gaining clarity beside rivers and tree canopies.

So press play, take a deep breath, and discover how reconnecting with nature can bring peace, balance, and well-being into your everyday life. For more about Sefton follow @seft_om on Instagram.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring the bell for our next nature journey!

 Hosted by Beki & Gillian

Join us for an enlightening conversation about how creativity connects us to nature. Discover how artistic expression — whether it’s art, music, writing, or simply presence — can deepen our bond with the environment and inspire us to protect and celebrate the natural world.

Featuring:

• Rich Corrigan of Dogeatcog, sharing how ecological awareness and creative collaboration fuel his work in festivals and design across York 
• Owen Turner from United by Design, whose thoughtful design practice integrates nature and strategic creativity to shape impactful brands in York’s creative community.

From artistic inspiration to environmental advocacy, this episode shows how creative practice and nature can support and elevate each other.

For more info about Dog Eat Cog- Dogeatcog | Creative Agency

For more info about United by design- United by Design - Strategic Brand Design Agency, York

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring the bell for our next nature journey!

Hosted by Beki & Gillian 

In this episode, we explore how science becomes a pathway to deep connection, not just understanding. Discover how scientific curiosity — paired with artistic insight — can enrich our experience of nature.

We’re thrilled to introduce our guests:

• Louise Cantley of Abundance York, bringing creativity and ecological vision to our local landscapes.
• Miranda Dunstan, Ecology Officer at St Nicks' Green Corridors York project, sharing how evidence-led approaches deepen our bond with place and nature recovery.

Whether you’re a scientist, artist, nature lover, or simply curious, join us as we reveal how science and art both illuminate the beauty and complexity of the natural world.

Find about more about Abundance York www.edibleyork.org.uk

Find out more about Citizen science at St Nicks St Nicks - Citizen Science

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring the bell for our next nature journey!

Hosted by Beki & Gillian

In this episode, we explore how nature acts as a living guide — shaping spiritual practices through the seasons, tree canopies, flowing rivers, and more. It’s not just scenery — it’s sacred.

Featuring:

• Craig Worrall from Edible Leeds and 4 Wild Seasons, sharing his passion for fungi, local ecology, and how edible landscapes connect us to the cycle of life 
• Lorraine Jones from Haxby Methodist Church, founder of the Whole Life Community Garden, who brings nature into spiritual and community life through healing gardens and shared green spaces 

Join us as we unveil how earth, sky, and sea can inspire connection, purpose, and the sacred in everyday life.

More info about Craig Edible Leeds - Wild Food Foraging Courses and 4 Wild Seasons Pop Up Dining Events

More info about Haxby Methodist Church: Haxby and Wigginton Methodist Church (HWMC) | York, United Kingdom

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring the bell for our next nature journey!

Hosted by Beki & Gillian 

Discover the magic of “sense of place” — how the smells, sights and stories of a landscape shape our emotional connection to the natural world. In this episode, we explore why feeling rooted in a location matters — and how it can inspire both personal well‑being and environmental care 

We’re joined by Alwyn and Tom from Forest of Flowers in Huby, whose deep bond with their local landscape shows how place-attachment can spark meaningful ecological action and personal transformation.

Listen in as we explore how personal stories and landscapes intertwine to create powerful connections.

Find out more about Tom and Alwyn’s work at Wildflower Seeds | Forest of Flowers | York

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring the bell for our next nature journey!

Green Corridors: Tune into Nature 

Nature and Time, Hosted by Beki & Gillian

Step back in time with us through the ancient city of York, where history and nature converge. In this episode, we explore how York’s medieval city walls and historic churches have shaped the way people connect with the natural world.

From the Roman foundations camouflaged in the medieval ramparts to Victorian restorations, York’s walls are not just historic structures—they’ve always bordered and blended with green landscapes, offering both protection and connection. Projects like the “York Walls in Bloom” initiative transform these ramparts into biodiverse corridors, supporting bees, butterflies, and wildflowers on ancient stone

We’re joined by Liam Dennis from City of York Council, and Andrew Nichols from Holy Trinity Church, both passionate about York’s heritage and ecology. Together we’ll uncover how these historic monuments continue to connect us to the natural world and ask: how can we carry forward this legacy of architecture intertwined with nature into the future?

Explore with us the evolving relationship between history, landscape, and the spaces we inhabit. Find out more about York Walls in Bloom The City Walls – City of York Council Find out more about Holy Trinity: Holy Trinity (Goodramgate) Church, York - Churches Conservation Trust

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring the bell for our next nature journey!

This episode of the Green Heart of York podcast is about volunteering. We will help people better understand how volunteering can benefit individuals, organizations, and communities. Hopefully, it will encourage you to volunteer, knowing that barriers can be addressed and broken down and that there is something out there for everyone, even if that isn't necessarily at St Nick's. We'll chat all about the positives of volunteering, why people volunteer in the first place, and try to bust some myths about volunteering too.

Featured participants:

Holly Hennell, Manager York Cares
Maria Gill, Senior Green Corridors Officer, St Nicks

This episode of the Green Heart of York podcast is about careers, whether that's in the charity or the environmental sector, and thoughts about entry into the sectors, as well as the benefits, the challenges, movement between sectors, and some of the realities that are involved every single day. 

Guest speakers:

Ellie Stead, CEO, St Nicks
Emma Williams, VCSE Sector
Harrison Green, Trustee, St Nicks
Maeve Milliken, Green Corridors Trainee, St Nicks