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⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains deeply personal discussions regarding mental health, depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention. If you are currently struggling, please consider listening with a friend or reaching out to the resources listed below.

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Welcome back to your usual episode of Second Nature! I am still pinching myself after seeing us hit #11 on the Apple Podcasts Top 200 for Home and Garden following the release of the Down in Dorset mini-series last week. Honestly, thank you so much for the support—it means the world to Tim and me.

This episode is a bit of a whirlwind. I’m catching you up on my "2026 bingo card" moment, meeting Jeremy Clarkson at his new pub and my recent deep dives into agronomy and wheat nutrition. But more importantly, as we head into Mind Your Head week with Yellow Wellies, we’re opening up a conversation that is incredibly close to my heart.

A Personal Reflection

A year ago today, I was in a very different place. I’m sharing the story of the night I had to call a crisis line, the role my little Corgi, Willow, played in pulling me back to the present, and why I believe it is so vital that we show the "bad days" alongside the highlight reels. I hope that by sharing my own story, I can show that things do get better.

 In farming, we know better than anyone that seasons change—and your headspace can, too.

The Suffolk Farming Community Group

This week, I’m joined by the brilliant Emily Whitmarsh and Ellis Blackmore. After losing a dear friend to suicide, they took action to ensure no one in their local agricultural community felt isolated. We chat about:

- Moving beyond Young Farmers and the "loneliness" of the tractor cab.

- The reality of current financial pressures and the recent inheritance tax changes.

- Why "pub yields" aren't always what they seem.

Their upcoming monthly meet-up on Friday February 27th at the Gardner’s Arms, Tostock.

You can follow Emily and Ellis on Instagram and Facebook at Suffolk Farming Community Group.

⚠️ Important Note

This episode contains honest discussions about mental health and suicide. If you are struggling, please don't suffer in silence. Help is available:

Samaritans: 116 123

FCN: 03000 111 999

R.A.B.I: 0800 188 4444

DPJ Foundation (Wales): 0800 587 4262

RSABI (Scotland): 0808 1234 555

N IRELAND: 0800 138 1678

Text Support: Text HAWKSTONE to 85258

Connect with the Campaign

Join the conversation next week using #MindYourHead, #Hope, and #SuicidePrevention. 

Find out more over on: https://www.yellowwellies.org/mind-your-head-9-13-february-2026/

Website: www.second-nature.co.uk

Email us: [email protected]

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

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Welcome to the very first episode of Down in Dorset, a brand-new mini-series brought to you by Second Nature! I am so excited to launch this special project in partnership with Nature Recovery Dorset, as we explore the vital work being done across the county to restore our landscapes and celebrate the incredible food produced right here on our doorstep.

Joining me as my guest co-host for this series is local farmer Tim Gelfs. Together, we’re heading out to meet the fantastic people doing incredible things for the local area.

Make sure to mark your calendars, as new episodes of this mini-series will be available on the last Friday of every month!

In This Episode:  From Dorset Fields To Dorset Plates

In our series premiere, we sit down with two experts who are dedicated to the connection between healthy land and healthy people.

• The Heritage of Watercress: We chat with Tom Amery, CEO of The Watercress Company, based at Waddock Farm, south of Dorchester. Truly a jewel in Dorset’s crown, Tom’s business is the largest of its kind in Europe, supplying all the major UK retailers. Tom shares the fascinating history of this "super-leaf"—from its Roman roots to how his team currently produces up to 45 tonnes a week for half a million customers across the UK.
• Pesticide-Free Pioneering: Tom discusses the massive shift they made 25 years ago to stop using pesticides entirely, turning their spring-fed gravel beds into thriving habitats for thousands of invertebrates. It’s a brilliant example of how commercial farming can work hand-in-hand with nature recovery.
• Reconnecting the Next Generation: Claire King, a former headteacher and founder of the Nutrition Advisory Team (NAT), joins us to talk about the vital importance of food education. We discuss her "NutriKit" and why it is so critical for children to understand food provenance—moving beyond the supermarket shelf to the water, soil, and the people who grow our food.
• Building Resilient Food Systems: We dive into the complexities of modern agriculture and the importance of shortening supply chains to support both the local economy and the environment.

Meet the Team:

• Lizzie McLaughlin: Your usual host
• Tim Gelfs: Guest co-host and local poultry farmer, bridging the gap between farming reality and consumer tables.
• Tom: A watercress champion managing a unique crop that provides nutrition to half a million customers weekly.
• Claire: An education specialist dedicated to teaching the nitty-gritty of health, provenance, and sustainability.

This series is all about how we can help nature recover while still producing world-class food. Whether you're a Dorset local or a food lover from further afield, there is so much to learn from these incredible guests.

What does "nature recovery" mean to you? Get in touch at [email protected] or find me on social media at @LizzieMuddyHeelsMac.

This podcast mini-series has been produced with help from Nature Recovery Dorset, a Dorset Council led initiative helping communities, landowners and organisations work together to restore nature across Dorset. Any views or opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers and should not be taken as representing Dorset Council.

Website: www.second-nature.co.uk

Email us: [email protected]

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

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Welcome back! With December in full swing, I'm getting into the festive spirit the best way I know how: talking food! This week, we're diving into the history of the classic British Christmas turkey and getting advice from two incredible, successful guests.

🥪 The Social Media King: Fraser of Sensational Sandwiches

I head down to London to celebrate the launch of my good friend Fraser's (Sensational Sandwiches) first-ever shop! Fraser has built a massive following (over 1 million on Instagram!) by making incredible, mouth-watering food content. He sits down with me to talk about:

• 🔑 The secret to making it big on social media and turning a creative passion into a real-life business.
• 🗣️ Why saying "YES" to opportunities is the only way to succeed.
• 🍗 Last year's unusual Christmas-time sandwich 

🦃 The Turkey Expert: Kate Martin from Treeway Farm

Next, I catch up with Kate Martin from Treeway Farm, first-generation farmers who supply thousands of turkeys for Christmas dinners across the UK. Kate shares the incredible, year-long process of raising these birds and the challenges the industry faces. Learn about:

• 🗓️ Why their Christmas prep starts all the way back in February.
• 🍳 The best way to cook your turkey (Kate shares the ultimate secret for a juicy bird, and yes, we talk about my disastrous defrosting methods!).
• 🦃 The 500-year history of turkey being the centerpiece of the British Christmas table.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, wherever you are and whatever you're eating! Let me know if you'll be having turkey on your dinner this year!

Website: www.second-nature.co.uk

Email us: [email protected]

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

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Hello, hello! 👋 I hope you're very well! Can you believe it's already November? Where has the year gone?!

Things have been busy, but I've managed to clear the decks for a very exciting announcement: I'm launching a collaboration! 🥳

I'm partnering with the incredibly talented Annie Gray of Curly Wurly Creations to launch a brand new pattern celebrating the countryside, gardening, and my life at home! We've poured months into designing a beautiful pattern featuring everything from garden tools and homegrown veggies to my very own Corgi, Willow, riding in a wheelbarrow!

But the best part? We are doing this to raise money for a charity very close to our hearts: Yellow Wellies (The Farm Safety Foundation).

In this episode, you'll hear from Steph Berkeley, founder of Yellow Wellies, about the incredible work they do for the physical and mental well-being of the next generation of farmers. Plus, I sit down with Annie Gray to chat about:

• 🐑 Her deep farming roots and why lambing is her absolute favourite (and most intense!) time of year.
• 🎨 The inspiration behind Curly Wurly Creations, how her kids influence her designs, and the challenge of drawing different sheep breeds.
• 💖 The story behind our collaboration, why 50% of the profits will support Yellow Wellies, and where you can find this exclusive design on everything from aprons to tea towels!

I've had a difficult year with my own mental health, and I am so proud to be giving back to this amazing cause. We're doing a huge giveaway to celebrate the launch, so be sure to check my social media!

Website: www.second-nature.co.uk

Email us: [email protected]

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

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Hey everyone, Lizzie here! 👋

It feels great to be back with a new episode, and this one is a special spooky-season celebration! I headed to Essex to catch up with my brilliant friend, the finalist for this year's British Farming Awards, Chloe from @chloe_at_the_farm!

Chloe is a former city girl (just like me!) who found her passion for farming and Highland cows during the pandemic. We meet her incredibly gentle, fluffy fold—including Murphy, Dally, and Beatrix—who are currently on a very special Halloween residency!

We're at Scotts of Southend Garden Centre's massive pumpkin patch, where Chloe's Highlands are stealing the show! I talk to Chloe about:

• 🐂 Her incredible journey from being a nurse to becoming a smallholder and farm worker of the year finalist.
• 🧠 How working with livestock has been vital for her mental health and helping her recover from burnout.
• 🌱 Her mission to bridge the gap between urban life and farming to help people understand where their food comes from.

I also catch up with Alice from Scotts of Southend to hear the inside scoop on how they built one of the UK's biggest and best pumpkin patches, including the logistics of growing 21,000 pumpkins, the challenges of putting a price tag on a farm experience, and how the Highland cow collaboration came to be.

It's a fantastic, fun chat with cows, pumpkins, and a lot of heart!

A Huge Well Done! P.S. I just want to shout out a massive congratulations again to Chloe! Neither of us won our British Farming Award categories, but being finalists in Farm Worker of the Year and Content Creator of the Year is a huge achievement we are both incredibly proud of! Well done, Chloe!

Website: www.second-nature.co.uk

Email us: [email protected]

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

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If you enjoyed the Gardener's World episode, welcome back! If you're new, thank you for joining me for a very special look behind the scenes of one of the UK's most beloved shows.

I was thrilled to return to the beautiful Kew Gardens for the In Conversation Live with BBC CountryFile event! I managed to sit down with the incredible team of Matt Baker, John Craven, and Anita Rani for a group chat where we discussed the show's massive shift to prime time, the power of connecting urban and rural audiences, and why CountryFile has become such a cross-generational program.

Join me as I connect with these TV legends and hear how their work truly inspires people to get outside. It’s a joy to be part of the "convert" club, moving from town to country, and I know you'll love this inspiring chat!

Don't forget to listen to the sister episode of In Conversation with BBC Gardeners' World! 

Website: www.second-nature.co.uk

Email us: [email protected]

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

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Hey everyone, it’s Lizzie!

This week on Second Nature, I’m bringing you something really special. I recently got to visit the incredible Kew Gardens for the In Conversation with BBC Gardeners' World event! 

I felt completely immersed in the greenery of Kew Gardens, and what a fantastic setting for an intimate chat with some of the best minds in gardening.

I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with three of my favourite BBC Gardeners' World presenters: Frances Tophill, Adam Frost, and Nicki Chapman! It genuinely felt like catching up with old friends, and we covered everything from their own projects to some of their best gardening advice.

In this episode, you’ll hear us chat about:

• Frances Tophill's new book, A Wildflower Year, and her fantastic advice on how to start gardening on a budget, no matter how small your space.
• Adam Frost's top tips for planning your garden this autumn and how getting outdoors has positively affected his own wellbeing.
• Nicki Chapman's perspective on how to design a garden that’s your own personal sanctuary.

So grab a brew and get ready to hear some fantastic tips and behind-the-scenes stories!

Get in touch! I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode. You can always get in touch with me on social media at @LizzieMuddyHeelsMac or by emailing [email protected].

Don't forget to listen to the sister episode of In Conversation with BBC Countryfile! 

Website: www.second-nature.co.uk

Email us: [email protected]

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

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Hello and welcome to Second Nature! Get ready to celebrate the seasons as I take you on an autumn adventure to BBC Gardeners' World Autumn Fair! This episode is a fantastic celebration of all things gardening and homegrown, filled with amazing conversations and plenty of inspiration.

I was lucky enough to walk around the event and catch up with some incredible people. You'll hear from the much-loved TV presenter, Rachel de Thame, who shares her top tips for autumn gardening and how to deal with the changing weather. I also got to relive my poultry past and have a cuddle with a chicken or two, chatting with Susannah from Pip & Chick Poultry about starting a flock of your own.

I couldn't leave without catching up with Gardening with Ish, who shares his journey to social media stardom and gives us some great ideas on what to be planting this season. And on the food side, I spoke with Riverford Organic Farmers about the power of seasonal, British produce, and chatted with the wonderful entrepreneurs behind Fruit Shack Blends about their mission to provide healthy, real juice options while supporting school children.

This episode proves that gardening, food, and home-grown passion truly build connections. Come with me and get inspired to make the most of your garden this autumn!

Website: www.second-nature.co.uk

Email us: [email protected]

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

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In this week's episode, I'm so excited to be back for a new season of Second Nature! It's been a busy few months in my garden, and I can't wait to share some of the highlights from my greenhouse, including updates on my first tomato and cucumber harvests. But that's not all—I'm thrilled to be joined by a very special guest, the incredibly talented Josh Smalley, a contestant from the Great British Bake Off.

Josh and I dive into a fascinating conversation about the intersection of gardening, baking, and science. We'll chat about his life after the Bake Off and his passion for science communication, especially when it comes to getting kids interested in food and chemistry. We also get into the nitty-gritty of gardening challenges (hello, unpredictable weather!) and share some practical tips for making the most of seasonal produce.

You'll hear all about how Josh's family influenced his baking journey and some of the creative ways we can use up a surplus of things like apples and courgettes.

 And in a true Second Nature first, we even team up to make a pizza using fresh ingredients straight from my garden. Plus, you'll get a sneak peek into Josh's new book feature, 'The Science of Flavour'. It's a fun and jam-packed episode with plenty of laughs, stories, and a whole lot of deliciousness. I can't wait for you to listen! 🎧

Website: www.second-nature.co.uk

Email us: [email protected]

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

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Hello and welcome to Second Nature! What a couple of weeks it's been – full of fun experiences that I can't wait to share with you. Join me, Lizzie McLaughlin, as we talk all things food, farming and homegrown.

First, I'm taking you behind the scenes of Farm Safety Week. I was so privileged to attend a powerful lunch hosted by the Farm Safety Foundation (Yellow Wellies). Hearing the raw, honest stories from individuals who've faced immense physical and mental challenges in farming was incredibly moving. We delve into the often-overlooked dangers of this vital profession and discuss why powerful campaigns like 'Who Would Fill Your Boots?' are so profoundly important. It was an emotional and inspiring day, and I share a very personal moment from it.

Then, get ready for an adventure to the stunning Lake District! I was lucky enough to stay with the wonderful Davidson family – Ange, Baz, and their incredibly dedicated 13-year-old son, Seth. You'll hear all about my delightful stay (I genuinely felt like a Disney princess with cows right outside my window!). We dive deep into the fascinating world of calf showing as I follow Seth through his meticulous preparations for the Penrith Show. You'll discover just how much effort goes into getting those calves show-ready – from shampooing and grooming to even "makeup"! I even tried my hand at walking calves (spoiler: it's much, much harder than it looks!).

You'll hear directly from Seth about his passion for his calves, his showmanship, and what it takes to win ribbons. His dad, Baz, a dedicated hoof trimmer, shares insights into his crucial role in animal welfare and his immense pride in Seth. Plus, Seth's mum, Ange, takes us through her diverse farming journey, from relief milking to her blooming passion for floristry and homegrown produce.

This episode is a true celebration of the dedication, resilience, and diverse talents within our farming community, from ensuring safety to preparing prize-winning livestock.

Tune in to hear all the stories, my hands-on adventures, and reflections on the unwavering spirit of those who feed our nation!

Website: www.second-nature.co.uk

Email us: [email protected]

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac