Messages from the Wild

This Scissor Bee is part of an installation, Voices from the Meadow, commissioned by Wakehurst (wild sister of Kew Gardens) for their Meadowland exhibition last year.

It has a slightly different feel to the usual recordings with Alice Boyd, composer and sound designer, providing the beautiful music and field sounds. 

These interviews with meadow animals were heard coming out of the giant Gramophone designed by sculptor, Donnacha Cahill.

Many thanks to Eva Owen for making it happen and Janine Griffiths-Lee for embodying the scissor bee.

"Hay meadows are tightly-woven landscapes interlaced with an intricate mix of plants, including wild flowers, grasses, some sedges and rushes, and even a couple of tiny yet fascinating ferns. With such a richly layered flora, it should be no surprise to learn that hay meadows also support and astonishing range of fauna." Iain Parkinson, Meadow

Producer/Presenter: [email protected] 

Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

This Grasshopper is part of an installation, Voices from the Meadow, commissioned by Wakehurst (wild sister of Kew Gardens) for their Meadowland exhibition last year.

It has a slightly different feel to the usual recordings with Alice Boyd, composer and sound designer, providing the beautiful music and field sounds. 

These interviews with meadow animals were heard coming out of the giant Gramophone designed by sculptor, Donnacha Cahill.

Many thanks to Eva Owen for making it happen and Francis Annette for embodying the grasshopper.

"Traditionally managed hay meadows are now exceptionally rare (in the UK), but, by virtue of their enduring character, surviving examples demonstrate a resilience to change that is worth celebrating." Iain Parkinson, Meadow

Producer/Presenter: [email protected] 

Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

This Dipper is part of a series commissioned by

University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness Research Group for The River Derwent. 

With many thanks to Mark Cocker, author and naturalist.

"I think it’s a fantastic quiet bit of politics because the central challenge of our entire species and our civilisation is to understand our dependence on the rest of life and this project allows those organisms, as close as possible, to speak for themselves about the issues that affect not only them but more centrally humans themselves and I think that’s the beauty of it.” Mark Cocker on Messages from the Wild

PRoducer, Presenter: [email protected] 

Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

Thank you to Teet Sirotkin for the beautiful sound of The Dipper.

This Mayfly is part of a series commissioned by

University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness Research Group for The River Derwent. 

With many thanks to Charles Foster, author and academic.

Producer, Presenter [email protected] 

Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

This Water Vole is part of a series commissioned by

University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness Research Group for The River Derwent. 

With many thanks to Christine Gregory, writer, photographer and painter.

The Water Vole: The Story of One of Britain's Most Endangered Mammals

Producer, Presenter [email protected] 

Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

This episode is especially made to accompany the work of the painter and print maker, Frances Gynn, for her exhibition on Fairy Shrimps as part of her Public Erasures series. It's powerful stuff so please go along if you can.

Public Erasures at the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) Bristol.

Featuring the Fairy Shrimp (Chirocephalus diaphanous)

Endangered translucent crustacean

Living in temporary ponds

Main source of food to many organisms

Important indicator of a healthy eco-system

With many thanks to Frances for inviting me along to open her Fairy Shrimp Public Erasure and for being such a great Fairy Shrimp herself.

Producer, Presenter [email protected] 

Earthworms are arguably our most vital animal. They're quite funny too. (This one has been added to the podcast for a second time to be used in Derby City as part of their Wildlife Festival.)

With many thanks to Nicky Scott, aka Dr Compost,

Food Waste Educator, Community Compost Expert

Dr Compost | Growing Devon Schools

"I may have trained as an agronomist but I learned something new about earthworms today - listen in!" John Meadley 

Producer, Presenter [email protected]

Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

Our largest ant species explains how vital ants are to our survival, despite his seemingly lazy life, he manages to make the effort.

With many thanks to Professor Adam Hart, Entomologist & Professor of Science Communication, University of Gloucestershire Adam Hart

And thank you to Gregory Ovenden for his ant recordings in this episode: http://www.thesoundfarmer.com

This one comes from the collection I made for The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

Producer, Presenter [email protected]

Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

www.messagesfromthewild.com 

Vital to our existence and yet maggots have never been a very popular creature but, Dr Erica McAlister makes this particular maggot seem almost adorable.

With many thanks to Dr Erica McAlister, Entomologist, Senior Curator at the Natural History Museum, Author, Presenter  @ericamcalister

This one comes from the collection I made for The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

Producer, Presenter [email protected]

Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

www.messagesfromthewild.com 

Curious creatures woodlice, well I think so. I'm so happy I finally got to talk to one, I'd always wondered if they actually did eat their own poo.

This one comes from the collection I made for The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

With many thanks to Lucy Lapwing, Wildlife Presenter and Campaigner @lucy_lapwing

Producer, Presenter [email protected]

Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

www.messagesfromthewild.com