Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Podcast

Episode 17: 2025 End of Year Round-Up

What an amazing year we've had at Cumbria Wildlife Trust! In this episode we re-visit some of the staff we've talked to over the last year and hear how their nature conservation projects and community work is progressing. Hosted by Head of Nature Reserves, Joe Murphy, with guest host and CEO, Stephen Trotter.

Episode 16: A Year On - Skiddaw Forest

It's been a year since Cumbria Wildlife Trust purchased Skiddaw Forest and created England's highest nature reserve. Joe, our host and Head of Nature Reserves, talks to the key people involved in the landscape scale transformation of this Lake District fell into a haven for wildlife. Listen and you'll learn about what we've discovered so far and how our 100-year vision is progressing.

Episode 15: Eycott Hill Nature Reserve

This year we're celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Cumbria Wildlife Trust's ownership of Eycott Hill Nature Reserve. In this episode Joe Murphy, host and Head of Nature Reserves is joined by Kevin Scott, Northern Reserves Officer, and they chat about Eycott Hill's transformation over this time into a much wilder farmed landscape.
 

Episode 14: Incredible invertebrates

This month Joe is in conversation with butterfly expert Martin Wain. Now North of England Conservation Manager with Butterfly Conservation, Martin explains how butterflies are great indicators of the state of habitats. Scott Petrek, our Southern Reserves Officer introduces you to the variety of invertebrates found at Lowick Common near Ulverston, including one very special resident (clue: it’s found in Leech Tarn …)

Episode 13 - Peatland, high and low

Despite covering much of Cumbria's uplands and areas around Morecambe Bay and the Solway, many people aren't aware of this special habitat. Close-up, peatlands are full of small but beautifully formed plants including insect-eating sundews. They're also our county's most important carbon-storing habitat.
Listen to two of our peatland team, Mel and Grace, explain the work they do to restore damaged peatlands and learn more about these special places from our host and Head of Nature Reserves, Joe Murphy and his guest host and Acting Peatland Team Manager, Susie Webb.
 

Episode 12 - Species-rich grasslands

Learn more about our beautiful grasslands, species-rich grasslands and pollinators with the help of Tanya St Pierre, from our Grasslands and Pollinators team. Recorded at our Bowber Head Farm Nature Reserve, home to one of the rarest and most threatened wildlife habitats in Cumbria: northern upland hay meadows.

Episode 11 - Protecting coastal birds

We are so lucky to have such a huge variety of wildlife on our coastline. In this episode, you’ll find out more about some of birds you are likely to see.
We joined Steph Leow from the RSPB, who is working on monitoring and protecting ringed plover nests, Christian at Foulney Island Nature Reserve who talks all things terns, and Joe and Bekka at South Walney Nature Reserve as they discuss more of the bird species on our coasts.

Episode 10 - Dawn chorus and seagrass at Walney

Experience the dawn chorus at Smardale Nature Reserve with Reserves Officer Scott Petrek. He guides us through the bird song we're likely to hear in spring and why it's worth getting up early for the experience!
Our host and Head of Nature Reserves, Joe Murphy, welcomes guest host Head of Marine, Georgia de Jong Cleyndert.
Amber Gould takes producer Liz out to Walney Channel to explain the process of restoring seagrass by planting seeds in the sediment around the island.

Episode 9 – Healing Nature

Have you ever thought about how nature lifts your spirits if you take time to stop, look and listen?
Staff at Cumbria Wildlife Trust have been working with people with dementia and people suffering from loneliness and isolation to improve their health by spending time in nature. Our producer, Liz, gets chatting and finds out how people are benefiting.
Our host, Head of Nature Reserves, Joe Murphy talks to Foulshaw Moss osprey expert and volunteer Alasdair McKee about enjoying the arrival of spring, all there is to see at this time of year and how we can all live happier lives by noticing the seasons' cycles.

Episode 8 – Gosling Sike, Our Wildlife Haven Near Carlisle

Our host Joe Murphy, Head of Nature Reserves, talks to guest host Adam McGinley, Cumbria Wildlife Trust's Gosling Sike Manager & Horticulture Manager.
In this episode hear about what goes on at Gosling Sike, our award-winning north Cumbrian base, from hedgehog-minding and volunteering in the wildflower nursery, to learning practical skills at our Men’s Shed and discovering how to increase biodiversity in your own garden.