Second Nature

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Website: www.second-nature.co.uk

Email us: [email protected]

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

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"From scorching summers to autumn named storms, the weather has been a relentless topic for all of us this year..."

Welcome back to another episode of Down in Dorset, the seasonal mini-series from Second Nature! It is so good to be back with Tim. Recorded right on the heels of our first major autumn storms, this episode tackles a subject that couldn't be more apt or urgent: how extreme weather patterns, from sun-baked droughts to heavy winter deluges, are impacting Dorset's land, livestock, soils, and local communities.

This time around, we did things a little differently! Tim and I were out and about in the field visiting local farms, as well as sitting down together in the studio with leading conservation experts.

To help us explore both sides of the coin, drought resilience and natural flood mitigation, we caught up with:

• Hannah Dyke, West Dorset farmer and soil health advocate
• Sophie Gregory, Organic Dairy Farmer (and a fantastic friend of mine!)
• Charlotte, Land Advisor at the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG South West)
• Ian Rees, Countryside Project Development Officer for Dorset National Landscape

In this episode, we chat about:

• Favourite Dorset Hidden Gems: Charlotte and Ian share their top local spots-from the majestic beech trees and bluebells at Lewesdon Hill Fort to the magical, tucked-away Kingcombe Nature Reserve in the Hooke Valley. 🥾🌸
• Farming Through Drought: Hannah and Sophie give us a candid look at what happens when grass growth stops during a heatwave. We explore the high costs of feeding winter forage in June, the resilience of herbal lays, and why building organic matter in our soils acts like a sponge for future droughts. 🌾🚜
• The Power of Livestock & Farmyard Manure: Why removing livestock isn't a quick fix for rural landscapes like West Dorset's steep hills, and how organic manure and grazing animals play a vital role in soil health and carbon cycle management. 🐄💩
• Heat Stress & Wildlife: How extreme summers extend far beyond farmland- affecting garden hedgehogs, foxes, and local wildlife struggling to find water and food. 🦔🦊
• Flooding & Catchment Management: Ian and Charlotte break down the difference between river flooding and overland surface runoff, the scary stats on sediment movement during autumn’s first big storms, and how natural flood management (NFM) is protecting both farmland and local homes. 🌊🌧️
• Future-Proofing British Agriculture: Sophie and Hannah discuss what true resilience looks like for the next generation of farmers operating on tight margins while absorbing increasing climate risks. 🇬🇧🌾

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

Send Lizzie a message!

It feels so good to be back in the podcast chair! After a super busy stretch with the Down in Dorset series, behind-the-scenes projects, and nursing my corgi Willow through a little operation (she’s doing great!), I am thrilled to share this week's episode with you.

Today, I’m joined by an incredible guest: Patrick Galbraith, Environment Correspondent for The Telegraph and author of Uncommon Ground and In Search of One Last Song.

Interviewing a seasoned journalist is always an exciting challenge, but Patrick and I had such a warm, wide-ranging, and insightful conversation. Bringing together our different backgrounds and perspectives, we dive deep into the real issues affecting farmers and the broader rural community today.

In this episode, we explore:

• Starting Young in Journalism: How Patrick became the editor of Shooting Times in his early twenties, how he navigated critics early in his career, and what he learned about listening to his audience.
• The Social Fabric of the Countryside: The important role that seasonal gatherings and countryside traditions play in bringing rural communities together and combating isolation.
• Birds, Memory & Connection: The moving human stories behind his book In Search of One Last Song, and how our relationship with birdlife connects us to land, legacy, and loved ones.
• Translating Rural Issues to the Public: What it takes to distil complex agricultural topics-like the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI)-for a national audience, plus a fun chat about heritage cattle breeds (and my dream of owning Belted Galloways!).

This episode is packed with great stories, humour, and honest reflection on what life and work in the countryside really mean. Grab a warm drink, settle in, and enjoy the episode!

Website: www.second-nature.co.uk

Email us: [email protected]

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

Send Lizzie a message!

"When you think of the British countryside, it’s the hedgerows and towering trees that truly define the landscape..."

Welcome back to another episode of Down in Dorset, the mini-series from Second Nature! Autumn is officially setting in across the county, and after a busy couple of months, Tim and I are back together to tackle one of the most vital-and topical-conversations in farming and conservation today: the state of our hedges and trees.

From the historic decline of UK woodlands to the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and the practical realities of farming through extreme weather, we’re exploring how nature recovery and food production can go hand in hand.

To help us break it all down, Tim and I were joined in the studio by three brilliant guests:

• John Calder, Project Manager for The Great Big Dorset Hedge Project
• Jo Garlick & Holly Savage, From the Forestry Commission

Together, we look at what’s currently happening across the Dorset landscape, how farmers can practically integrate trees and hedges onto their land, and what we can all do to help restore our natural corridors.

In this episode, we chat about:

• Our Favourite Dorset Hidden Gems: The team shares their absolute favourite local spots-from the spooky, beautiful holloways at the Symondsbury Estate and pub lunches after walking Golden Cap, to the breathtaking beech tree avenue at Kingston Lacy. 🍃🌊
• A Brief History of UK Woodlands: Jo breaks down how England’s woodland cover dropped to a shocking 5% after WWI, leading to the creation of the Forestry Commission, and why we’re now pushing for 16.5% tree cover by 2050. 🌲
• The Great Big Dorset Hedge Project: John shares the incredible work being done by 400+ volunteers across 150 farms to survey, restore, and replant hedgerows as vital ecological building blocks for wildlife and carbon capture. 🦔🌾
• Shade, Shelter, and Willow Forage: Why trees and hedges are becoming a complete necessity for livestock welfare during summer heatwaves and droughts-and why cows love browsing on nutrient-rich willow trees! 🐄🌳
• Right Tree, Right Place: How small changes, like filling hedge gaps, planting field corners, or establishing shelterbelts, can transform a farm's resilience without taking valuable land out of food production. 🚜
• Bridging the Town and Country Divide: How volunteer projects are getting local residents out into fields, sparking conversations about where our food comes from, and building stronger rural communities. 🤝

🌳 If you would like to learn more about the Great Big Dorset Hedge Project, please email: [email protected]

🌲 If you would like to learn more about the work of the Forestry Commission:

Email [email protected] Or
Complete  Get support to plant trees and woodland – GOV.UK

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

Send Lizzie a message!

"I brought twenty day-old chicks, the Northern sunshine, and plenty of excitement!"

Tim and I are back together in person, broadcasting straight from the heart of West Dorset at the legendary Melplash Agricultural Show! Hosted on the NFU Mutual stand, this episode is a celebration of rural community, agricultural heritage, and connecting people of all ages to where their food really comes from.

We kick things off by chatting with the Society’s President and Chairman to uncover the fascinating history of the show- from its origins in a friendly 19th-century ploughing match to becoming one of the premier one-day agricultural shows in the country. Then, we dive into the bustling crowd to speak with local farmers, council representatives, and NFU experts about community resilience, local food production, and how to navigate current industry challenges such as milk pricing and soil health.

My absolute highlight? Stepping into the buzzing Discover Farming Tent! From hand-milking wooden cows and cuddling day-old chicks with young showgoers to getting our hands dirty exploring compost and soil structure with local experts, this episode is packed with energy, learning, and local pride.

Inside this episode:

• Behind the Melplash Show: The President and Chairman share what makes this one-day showcase so special, from annual ploughing matches to local educational scholarships. 🏆🚜
• Connecting Community & Policy: We sit down with NFU Mutual hosts and local representatives to talk about supporting West Dorset's rural network, local governance, and building agricultural resilience. 🤝💬
• Hands-on at Discover Farming: A walk through the interactive education marquee-milking mock cows, meeting day-old chicks, and seeing how kids connect with where their food starts. 🥛🐣
• The Secret Life of Soil: Hannah walks us through soil health, comparing monoculture grass to diverse herbal leys, clay vs. sandy retention, and how thermophilic and vermicompost supercharge topsoil. 🪱🌱
• Cultivating Future Careers: How the show is inspiring the next generation to pursue rewarding careers across agriculture, engineering, and food production. 🛠️🌾

Whether you're a lifelong showgoer, a passionate foodie, or just love a bit of countryside buzz, join Tim and me for a stroll around one of Dorset's best days out!

A huge thank you to NFU Mutual for hosting us and sponsoring this episode!

How to listen:

🎧 Search Second Nature on your favourite podcast app.

📲 Get in touch: Did you visit the Melplash Show this year? Let Tim and me know your favourite moments or drop us a message on our social channels!

#DownInDorset #SecondNaturePodcast #MelplashShow #WestDorset #DiscoverFarming #NFUMutual #SoilHealth #BritishAgriculture #RuralCommunity #DorsetFarming

Website: www.second-nature.co.uk

Email us: [email protected]

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

Send Lizzie a message!

"When you think of summer in the countryside, the iconic scene is always a combine harvester rolling through a golden field of wheat..."

It is the end of July; it is absolute sweltering heat here in Dorset, and harvest is in full swing! In this episode of Down in Dorset, Tim and I are diving headfirst into the fast-paced, high-stakes world of arable farming during one of the hottest, driest summers we've seen in years.

To kick things off, Tim headed out into the field to jump right into the cab of a 10-ton combine harvester with our fantastic guest, Nigel Friend. Nigel is a second-generation farmer managing 500 acres up on the Cranborne Chase in Northeast Dorset, and he gave Tim an amazing behind-the-scenes look at how these incredible machines actually work, from harvesting tiny clover seeds to bread-making wheat.

While they were up on the downlands taking in views where you can see Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, and the Isle of Wight all from a single field, they talked through the reality of this year's heatwave: earlier harvest dates, low grain moisture, and the very real danger of field fires.

Afterwards, Nigel joined us in the studio to talk about the bigger picture of the British arable industry and what it’s really like farming in Dorset today.

In this episode, we cover:

• Life Inside the Combine Cab: Tim and Nigel break down the mechanics of harvesting- from sharp header knives and threshing drums to precision yield mapping on the go. 🌾⚙️
• The Harvest of 2026: Why crops are coming off weeks ahead of schedule, how the dry spell affects overall yields, and how farmers carefully cool hot grain once it's in the barn. ☀️🌡️
• Tinderbox Danger: The very real fire risks facing farmers in this weather, including a wild story about how a single dropped mobile phone sparked a field fire! 🚜🔥
• Dorset's Secret Powerhouse Crop: Why grass (and grass seed!) is actually our biggest crop, powering everything from local dairy herds to premier sports turf at Wembley and Wimbledon. 🏟️🌱
• Soil Health & Regenerative Tips: Why Nigel chops straw back into his fields to boost organic matter, protect soil moisture, and keep the earthworms thriving. 🪱🪨
• From Field to Pint: Where our crops go after leaving the farm- from winter wheat for our daily bread to spring barley for brewing beer, shipped from our local docks across Europe. 🍺🚢

Whether you’re a farmer yourself or just love watching the combines roll past on your countryside walks, this episode gives such a brilliant look into what it takes to bring the harvest home.

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

Send Lizzie a message!

Hello, lovely listeners! Welcome back to Second Nature. Willow the corgi and I are coming to you after an absolute whirlwind couple of weeks. If you’ve been tracking the UK weather lately, you know we've been melting in a serious summer heatwave, but that hasn't slowed things down one bit.

I recently had the absolute joy of being an ambassador for the Great British Farm Fest alongside the Clarkson’s Farm crew- sharing the stage with Charlie Ireland, Harriet Cowen, and Countryfile’s Adam Henson to talk about my own journey from town girl to agriculture advocate. But hot on the heels of that, I packed my bags for BBC Gardeners’ World Live (in collaboration with the BBC Good Food Show).

It is a fantastic event for bridging that beautiful journey from field to fork, and while I was there, I caught up with five incredible minds to talk herbs, magic, kid-friendly gardening, and why nature is the ultimate reset button for our mental health.

• In this episode, we’re diving into four incredible chats:
  • 🌱 The Queen of Herbs, Jekka McVicar: Jekka completely blew my mind with a reality check about our spice racks. Did you know dried herbs only stay good for six months? We also talk about how to start your own herb journey, why you need to feed your potted herbs weekly, and a genius hack using rosemary water to boost your memory.
  • ✨ Folklore and Magic with Frances Tophill: Catching up with Frances is always like talking to a best friend. We dive into the "goth element" of her latest book, exploring the darker history and folklore of poisonous plants. She shares beautiful ways to bring magic into your space (from fairy gardens to miniature trains) and opens up about how nature provides the ultimate perspective shift when life and mental health get overwhelming.
  • 🍉 Small Spaces & Kettle-Boiled Eggheads with De-Graft Mensah & Lucy Chamberlain: I sat down with the BBC Newsround presenter and master horticulturist to tour their brilliant "Make a Metre Matter" border.  Plus, DeGraft shares a hilarious behind-the-scenes story about hard-boiling display eggs in his hotel room kettle! 🥚🧼
  • 🍅 The Big Seed Search with Catrina Fenton: We round out the day with the Heritage Seed Library, chatting about how heirloom vegetables are being preserved and how you can get your hands on rare varieties to grow at home.

Whether you have acres of land, a rental balcony, or just a tiny kitchen windowsill, this episode is a beautiful reminder that every day is a school day in the garden, there is no "wrong" way to grow, and the seasons always keep turning.

Grab a cold drink, find some shade, and let’s get into it.

How to listen:
🎧 Search Second Nature on your favourite podcast platform.

📲 Get in touch: Have you checked your spice cupboard yet? Did you try the rosemary tea? Drop me a message right here in the caption to chat with me directly!

Website: www.second-nature.co.uk

Email us: [email protected]

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

Send Lizzie a message!

This week, Tim and I are digging deep, quite literally, into the fascinating layers of the Dorset landscape. I caught up with Tim on a blazing hot summer afternoon while he was out in his tractor wrapping up fresh bales of haylage (or as I used to call them when I first joined farming: the giant cheese wheels in the field 🧀🚜).

Once we sorted out the geometry of square bales, we sat down for an absolutely mind-blowing episode all about Dorset's incredible geology and what it actually means for the food on our plates, the machinery in the fields, and the soil in our back gardens.

To help us break down the ground we walk on, we are joined by two incredible local experts: Sam Scriven, a geologist from Dorset Council who has spent twenty years protecting the world-famous Jurassic Coast, and Dougal Hosford, a brilliant second-generation tenant farmer managing 2,000 acres of diverse chalkland and clay near Blandford.

In this episode, we’re digging into:

• The Reality of the Clay Cap: Dougal explains the absolute nightmare of farming "clay with flints"- a tricky, ancient soil harder than steel that eats through tractor tyres and machinery metals in a flash. 🛠️💥
• A 50-Million-Year-Old Flat Horizon: Sam reveals why the tops of Dorset's highest hills are all perfectly flat, mapping out ancient rivers that used to flow all the way from Cornwall.
• From the Bahamas to West Dorset: How our famous chalk cliffs were formed by layers of microscopic plankton skeletons back when the whole of Europe was underwater. 🌊🦴
• Regenerative Farming & Direct Drilling: Why Dougal stopped ploughing his fields at the turn of the century, and how direct drilling is finally pushing the flint back down to let the topsoil heal.
• The Lifeline of Local Abattoirs: We take a quick detour into local food logistics, exploring Dougal’s high-welfare beef system and why supporting local small-scale abattoirs like C&S Meats keeps the whole Dorset farming fabric alive. 🥩🚚
• The Pure Power of Aquifers: The fascinating science behind the chalk aquifers that supply our drinking water, and how that intense lime scale plays havoc with farm plumbing! 🚰⚡

We also touch base with Michael French from the Grounded Community in Bournemouth to talk about growing vegetables on a smaller scale, because whether you’re managing thousands of acres or a tiny backyard patch, soil health is the absolute foundation of life.

I’ve been doing a lot of agronomy and vegetable growing courses myself recently, but listening to Sam and Dougal completely reframed how I look at our landscape.

Grab a cider, sit back, and get ready to look at the British countryside in a whole new way.

How to listen: 🎧 Search Second Nature on your favourite podcast app. 

📲 Get in touch: Want to ask a question? Click "Send Lizzie a message" right here in the caption to chat with Tim and me directly!

A massive thank you to Nature Recovery Dorset for supporting this series and making these episodes possible.

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

Send Lizzie a message!

Welcome back to Down in Dorset, a special series within the Second Nature podcast. I’m your host, Lizzie McLaughlin, and today I’m joined once again by my co-host and local eyes-and-ears on the ground, Tim, for a look at how Dorset is opening its farm gates to the public this summer.

Tim has been absolutely running himself ragged across the county, catching up with the farmers, teachers, and organisers who are working tirelessly to connect town and country. From bustling spring shows to interactive farm visits, this episode is all about the magic that happens when the public gets a taste of real rural life. As someone who came into farming from a town myself, you all know this is a topic incredibly close to my heart!

In This Episode:

We hear from a fantastic lineup of local voices who are passionate about education, engagement, and top-tier Dorset produce:

• Barbara (Love Local, Trust Local) & Steve (Steve’s Bees): Catching up in the demo theatre at the Spring Show to talk local honey, the power of social media, and why bees are vital to our survival.
• George Hosford & Schoolteacher Jane: Pulling back the curtain on a brilliant on-farm classroom funded by the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) scheme, welcoming year-one students from Portland.
• George Strepfield (Coppet Hill & Melplash Show): Gearing up for Open Farm Sunday and sharing how the Discover Farming initiative is inspiring the next generation into countryside careers.
• James Cox & the County Show Team: A massive shoutout to James, the powerhouse organiser behind the Spring Show and Dorset County Show. 

What We Dig Into:

• The Buzz About Bees: Steve explains his dream of creating a dedicated education hub on the farm where kids can suit up, get hands-on with the hives, and learn where real honey comes from. Plus, Tim and I talk about why local honey flies off the shelves- and I promise to send him a photo of me in my own beekeeping suit!
• Chasing Farmers with Microphones: Barbara shares the secrets behind her successful social media channels, proving that sometimes it takes a farmer's wife chasing her husband across a field with a camera to finally get the public engaged online.
• Soup, Tractors, and Turnips: We listen in on a bustling farm visit where school children get to ride in trailers, see beef herds up close, and learn how to use safety knives to chop home-grown potatoes and carrots into a massive farmhouse soup.
• Open Farm Sunday: George Strepfield previews the upcoming, completely free national event organised by LEAF. We talk about what the general public can expect, from watching sheep shearing to seeing massive agricultural drones and regenerative direct-drills in action.
• Interactive Learning at the Melplash Show: We look ahead to August and the incredible Discover Farming marquee-a completely interactive space where kids of all ages can try their hand at milking a dummy cow, grinding wheat, or making smoothies.

Supporting Nature Recovery: A huge thank you to James and the County Show team for supporting this episode and helping us tell the stories of the people who work this land.

Join the Conversation: Do you have a question for Tim or me about how to get involved with a farm visit near you? We want to hear from you! You can send us a message directly through the link in the show notes.

Listen now to find out how you can explore the Dorset countryside this summer!

Ready to Get Involved? Links & Resources:

• Find an Open Farm Sunday Near You: Open Farm Sunday is happening on Sunday 7th June 2026! It is completely free to attend. Pop your postcode into the LEAF Open Farm Sunday Farm Finder to see which local farms are unlocking their gates near you. 
• Bring Farming into the Classroom: Tim mentions the incredible work the NFU does to link agriculture with school curriculums. Teachers can find free science packs, STEM resources, and live streaming opportunities at the NFU Education Portal.
• Explore Countryside Careers & School Visits: Learn more about the incredible interactive marquee at the show and their year-round school programs over at the Melplash Agricultural Society Discover Farming Website.
• Support Genuine Dorset Produce: Check out how local independent businesses are championing real food provenance at the Love Local Trust Local Website.
• Connect Your Group to a Farm: Teachers, parents, or community group leaders looking to organise a visit can find accredited farms and resources by heading to LEAF Education.

Website: www.second-nature.co.uk

Email us: [email protected]

Social media: @second_natureuk

Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

Send Lizzie a message!

Welcome back to Down in Dorset, a special series within the Second Nature podcast. I’m your host, Lizzie McLaughlin, and today we are joined by my co-host and local farming expert, Tim, for a deep dive into one of West Dorset’s most iconic industries: Dairy Farming.

The sun is finally shining over the rolling hills, the cows are out on grass, and while the winter slog is over, "farm busy" has taken on a whole new meaning. Before we head into the milking parlour, we take a moment to address some listener feedback regarding water abstraction and sewage in our chalk streams- reminding us all why transparency in our countryside is so vital.

In This Episode:

We are incredibly lucky to be joined by two powerhouse local farmers who represent the past, present, and future of Dorset agriculture:

• James Bowditch: A fourth-generation dairy farmer at Bowden Farm, bringing over a century of family history and a "high-input, high-output" conventional perspective.
• Tom Gregory: A first-generation success story running both organic and conventional herds near Forde Abbey.

What We Dig Into:

• Organic vs. Conventional: What does it actually mean? Tom and James break down the "Holy Grail" of organic farming versus the efficiency of conventional systems, discussing everything from antibiotic usage to the sheer acreage required to make it work.
• The Vanishing Dairy Farm: Tim and our guests reflect on the staggering contraction of the industry. We explore how we went from 25 dairy farms in a single river catchment down to just six, and what that means for the "fabric" of our local communities.
• The Supermarket Struggle: We pull back the curtain on the "Loss Leader"-why your four-pint bottle of milk is so cheap and how the shift from the Milk Marketing Board to retailer control has changed the game for farmers.
• Global Cheddar & Local Pride: From the export power of Barber's Cheese to the international popularity of Dorset cheddar in Costco, we discuss how West Dorset feeds the world.
• Health & Raw Milk: Is the secret to a hardy immune system found in the tank? We discuss the nutritional differences between pasteurised and raw milk and reminisce about the days of fighting for the cream on the doorstep.

Stay tuned to hear James’s secret for escaping hay fever (it involves a boat and lobsters!) and Tom’s recommendation for the ultimate "Dorset" experience: the International Nettle Eating Competition.

Supporting Nature Recovery: A huge thank you to Nature Recovery Dorset for supporting this series and helping us tell the stories of the people who work this land.

Join the Conversation: Do you have a question for Tim or me? We want to hear from you! You can send us a message directly through the link in the show notes.

"96% of the population still drinks cow's milk... there are more households with milk in the fridge than toilet roll by the toilet!"

Listen now to hear the "real" story of Dorset dairy.

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