Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcasts
Nature, Wildlife and Countryside Living with Chris Skinner from High Ash FarmChris Skinner, a Norfolk farmer, takes a unique approach to farming, prioritizing biodiversity and wildlife conservation in every practice.Tune in every Sunday morning as Chris, alongside broadcaster Matthew Gudgin, explores topics on nature, wildlife, and rural life.Join them for strolls through High Ash Farm and beyond, spotting wildlife and addressing your queries about the natural world. Email questions for Chris to answer to Chris@highashfarm.com
Episode 2.35 - Lakeside Moults and Orchard Opulence
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Join Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin on a sun-drenched late August morning at High Ash Farm in the Norfolk countryside. This episode explores the serene beauty of the farm’s lake, where a majestic young mute swan is moulting amid darting swallows, vibrant kingfishers, and upending mallards. Discover the perils of lead poisoning for swans and the thriving aquatic plants like gipsy wort and flag iris. Venture to bountiful hedgerows laden with hawthorn berries, blackthorn sloes, and rose hips, signalling a spectacular mast year for wildlife. Delight in the orchard’s overflowing harvest of V...
Episode 2.34 - Grey Ghosts and Autumn Winds
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In this breezy episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin confront August’s slate-grey skies at High Ash Farm, where autumn’s approach stirs poignant reflections. The grey partridge, a red-listed farmland icon, haunts Chris’s memories—once shot in coveys of 50, now vanishing due to habitat loss, early harvests, and predator control, despite biodiversity plans. Chris’s experiment with bird scarers mimics shooting’s toll, revealing an 80% drop in bird numbers on disturbed fields, a call to halt the hunt. Swallows cluster on wires, juveniles dreaming of South Africa, their parent...
Episode 2.33 - Finch Flocks and Clouded Wings
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In this breezy episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin witness High Ash Farm’s summer crescendo, where flocks take flight. Mixed groups of goldfinches and linnets—up to 250 strong—swarm over chicory fields, their silvery undersides gleaming as they devour seeds, evading kestrels and peregrines in a dazzling display of survival. Clouded yellow butterflies, migrants from southern Europe, flutter over lucerne, their orange wings a rare treat in this drought year. A hollow oak harbours a hornet hive, its paper artistry humming with queens and workers, a marvel of nature...
Episode 2.32 - Sloes and Stings A Wild Farewell
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In this gusty episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin embrace August’s wild turn at High Ash Farm, where autumn whispers through the breeze. Rowan trees (mountain ash) dazzle with orange-red berries, a thrush feast and historical charm against witches, while blackthorn hedges yield a bumper sloe crop, ripe for Chris’s granny’s sloe gin recipe. A thriving wasp nest nestled in railway sleepers showcases nature’s paper artistry, balancing pollination and predation. Listener tales of deer ticks, drought-hit wildflowers, and wild angelica weave into this harvest tale, as the f...
Episode 2.31 - Swallow Flights and Flaxen Fields
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In this tender episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin greet August’s first whispers at High Ash Farm, where summer fades into autumn’s embrace. Migratory swallows—juveniles from the north—sweep overhead in chattering flocks, while Barnfield’s wild bird seed mix bursts with flax, its Wedgwood-blue blooms echoing 1950s harvests, alongside thistles, mustard, and sunflowers yielding oil-rich seeds for winter’s hungry gap. A rare meadow clary, its deep purple spikes rising from chalky soil, surprises on a south-facing slope, its seeds once a remedy for clear eyes. New ba...
Episode 2.30 - Burnet Wings and Knapweed Crowns
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In this vibrant episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin revel in a glorious late July morning at High Ash Farm, where nature dons its finest. Over a purple knapweed sea—its hard heads buzzing with bees—six-spot burnet moths dazzle with jet-black wings and crimson spots, emerging from reflective cocoons after a cyanide-rich diet of birdsfoot trefoil. Parasitic wonders like yellow rattle and lesser broomrape thrive, their seeds hinting at future life, while the regal wildflower field bursts with poppies, yarrow, and cornflower blue, a Van Gogh palette revived from...
Episode 2.29 - Bluebell Seeds and Bindweed Bells
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In this captivating episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin explore High Ash Farm amid its third heatwave, where nature’s cycle thrives. In Fox’s Grove, bluebell stalks release shiny black seeds, their retractile roots pulling bulbs deeper into gravelly soil, a silent promise for 2026’s bloom. Along the hedgerows, large bindweed’s bell-shaped flowers—white with pink stripes—curl anticlockwise in a thigmotropic dance, feeding moths, while hogweed’s umbrella heads grace the chalk pit field, their seeds poised for wind’s dispersal. Chris pans for gold in a digger bucket...
Episode 2.28 - Amphibians to Azure A Farm Miracle
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In this enchanting episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin embrace a damp July morning at High Ash Farm, where a farm miracle unfolds. By the lake, tens of thousands of froglets and toadlets leap from their tadpole origins, abandoning the water in a breathtaking exodus, their tiny forms navigating metre-high grass to escape herons and owls. Half a mile away, a kingfisher’s azure brilliance—cobalt wings and halcyon hues—dazzles from a crafted perch, its dives snaring young rudd and gudgeon, a fledged nest now a silent triumph. The te...
Episode 2.27 - Admiral’s Dance and Teasel Maze
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In this vibrant episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin revel in High Ash Farm’s sultry July heat, where nature pirouettes in a stunning display. The red admiral’s dance unfolds as this migrant aristocrat flutters over an oak tree’s amber sap, its orange-and-black wings a vivid spectacle, while common centaury’s pink blooms nod to ancient healing myths. A butterfly bonanza—peacocks, meadow browns, small whites, speckled woods, and a ragged-winged comma—graces wildflowers like corn marigold and feverfew, their courtship a summer ballet. A fierce aerial clash sees k...
Episode 2.26 - Ragged Robins and Rustic Nests
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In this delightful episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin linger in High Ash Farm’s yard, where sparrows thrive amidst 42 nest boxes, their fledglings peeking out as parents deliver 2000 daily feedings—a red-listed revival from near extinction 25 years ago. Nearby, bouncing bet (soapwort) unveils creamy blooms with soapy leaves, a historical gem once used to cleanse ancient fabrics, while bladder campion’s balloon-like flowers and red ragged robin’s delicate pink petals grace the marshy lowlands. A new badger set, unearthed in Cantley Hill Plantation, reveals a family of four, th...
Episode 2.25 - Salt Marshes and Storms, A Summer Surge
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In this captivating episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin embrace a radiant June morning at High Ash Farm, where nature’s might and beauty collide. Following a fierce storm that dumped 38 millimetres of rain in an hour and a half, the farm’s meadows reveal a tapestry of grasses—tall meadow fescue, Yorkshire fog’s purple haze, and sweet vernal’s perfumed blooms—standing resilient against the deluge. A buffer strip, crafted 20 years ago, proves its worth, halting floodwaters that once threatened the River Tas, a testament to working with nature’...
Episode 2.24 - Skylarks and Pyramids, June’s High Harmony
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In this enchanting episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin ascend to the lofty heights of High Ash Farm, where June’s wild symphony reverberates across Norfolk’s landscape. On the historic gun field—once a wartime bastion with searchlights and artillery guarding Norwich from German bombers during the 1940s—a skylark soars, its trilling melody piercing the sky just yards away, a poignant echo of resilience. Nearby, pyramidal orchids rise from chalky clay, their deep purple spikes crafting nature’s pyramids, a rare bloom thriving amidst a wildflower haven shaped by...
Episode 2.23 - Roses and Red Kites - June’s Wild Waltz
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In this vibrant episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin brave a blustery June morning at High Ash Farm, where summer’s rhythm pulses through Norfolk’s countryside. By a windswept hedgerow, they marvel at field and dog roses, their delicate white and pink petals whispering tales of Roman introductions and heralding scarlet hips for autumn. A majestic red kite, mobbed by crows, glides over crimson-tinted soil, joined by buzzards relishing disc-churned invertebrates. In a young woodland, a lone common spotted orchid glows with pinkish-purple spikes, its ancient seed thriving in c...
Episode 2.22 - Woodpeckers and Witches’ Brooms Summer’s Secret Symphony
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"Woodpeckers and Witches’ Brooms: Summer’s Secret Symphony"
In this captivating episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin dive into the early summer splendour of High Ash Farm, where nature hums with hidden wonders. From their bird hide, they marvel at great spotted woodpeckers—vivid parents darting to a lofty nest, feeding insatiable chicks in a slender sycamore’s embrace. Amidst the woodland’s rustle, they uncover the sticky allure of honeydew, as aphids coat sycamore leaves, fuelling swallows and swifts in their aerial dance. Venturing to a sunlit s...
Episode 2.21 - Shepherd’s Purse, Soldier’s Float
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Bask in the sunlit splendour of High Ash Farm’s wildflower meadows, where Chris Skinner guides us through a vibrant tapestry of nature’s small wonders. Marvel at the common blue butterflies, their Wedgwood-hued wings dancing over bird’s foot trefoil, a legume bursting into bright yellow bloom. Amid the meadow, yellow rattle thrives, subtly parasitizing grasses to foster a haven for declining insect species. Discover the rare shepherd’s purse and shepherd’s needle, crucifers with delicate, cross-shaped white flowers, their names echoing ancient sheepherding traditions and medieval practices of stitching lambskins to nurture...
Episode 2.20 - Cubs and Cones, Woodland’s Shared Spaces
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Join Chris Skinner in the verdant depths of Fox's Grove, where spring unveils a remarkable tale of coexistence: badgers and foxes sharing the same sprawling set, with cubs of both species thriving in harmony. Discover the delicate beauty of the early purple orchid, steeped in Shakespearean lore, and marvel at the ash trees’ surprising sex-switching as they produce a prolific crop of keys. Scots pines stun with their rapid growth spurts, while roe deer bark in the distance, adding to the woodland’s vibrant symphony. From drought-stressed landscapes to biodiversity’s resilience, this episod...
Episode 2.19 - Fox Cubs’ Feast, Galls’ Hidden Guests
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Join Chris Skinner at High Ash Farm for a captivating exploration of nature’s quirks in Norfolk’s countryside. This week, Chris unveils the ghostly spectacle of a spindle tree shrouded in the webs of brown tail moth caterpillars, a phenomenon both eerie and fascinating, while warning of their irritating hairs. The journey continues with a dive into the world of oak galls—marble galls and oak apples—revealing the hidden lives of gall wasps and the historical charm of Oak Apple Day. Amidst the bluebells of Foxes Grove, a heartwarming tale unfolds as a vix...
Episode 2.18 - May’s White Veil, Swifts’ Sickle Flight
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Embark on a captivating journey with Chris Skinner as he ventures from High Ash Farm to the Suffolk coast at Aldeburgh to witness the awe-inspiring arrival of swifts. Marvel at these sickle-shaped marvels as they soar above the marshes, hoovering up aerial plankton and clocking millions of miles in their lifetime. Back at the farm, Chris explores the delicate white blooms of hawthorn, alive with bees and flies, and shares its eerie historical ties to the scent of death. The episode blooms further with the pungent aroma of garlic mustard and wild garlic...
Episode 2.17 - Bluebells in Peril, Swallows in Flight
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Join Chris Skinner at High Ash Farm for a vibrant spring morning filled with the tireless energy of returning swallows and the delicate beauty of the countryside. In this episode, Chris captures the dawn chorus as over 20 swallows busily build nests with mud and straw in the farm’s stables, marking the true arrival of summer. Venturing further, we explore the farm’s woodlands, where drought has left its mark on the bluebells, stunting their iconic display, though their resilience shines through. Amidst the blooms of blackthorn, wild cherry, and bird cherry at Notr...
Episode 2.16 - Kisses of Mistletoe, Blossoms of Crab Apple
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Join Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin on a rain-soaked adventure at High Ash Farm, where the long-awaited spring showers bring life to the Norfolk countryside. Under dripping umbrellas, they explore the sticky secrets of mistletoe, a semi-parasitic plant thriving on ancient trees, and marvel at the delicate pink-tipped blossoms of the native crab apple, a spiny ancestor of modern orchards. At the lake’s edge, witness the magical hatching of thousands of tadpoles, forming living clouds in the shallows—a fleeting spectacle of nature’s renewal. From emails about house martins to the promis...
Episode 2.15 - Wings of Summer The Swallow’s Return
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In Episode 2.15 of The Countryside Podcast with Chris Skinner, we’re back at High Ash Farm, where the first swallows of the season have arrived, heralding the promise of summer with their daring aerial acrobatics. Chris’s infectious enthusiasm shines as he shares the miraculous 5,000-mile migration of these tiny birds, weighing less than a sugar cube, and their pinpoint return to the farm’s stables. We also discover the delicate beauty of the common storks bill, a wildflower thriving in Norfolk’s drought-stricken sandy soils, with a surprising seed-dispersing trick that screws itself i...
Episode 2.14 - Windflowers, Wings, and Wily Ash
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April unfurls its wonders at High Ash Farm as Chris Skinner guides us through a sun-dappled tapestry of nature’s finest. From the slither of a grass snake basking in the warmth to the ancient whisper of windflowers carpeting the woodland floor, this episode is a celebration of spring’s slow and swift marvels. We chase the delicate dance of brimstone butterflies, marvel at the sex-shifting ash trees in coral bloom, and uncover the secrets of dandelions and violets—all while Rat the dog keeps us on our toes. Join us for a ramble...
Episode 2.13 - Stoats, Sloes, Snipe and Spawn
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In "Episode 2.13 - Stoats, Sloes, Snipe and Spawn," Chris Skinner ushers us into a misty late March morning at High Ash Farm near Norwich. A trail cam unveils the stealthy common snipe, its long beak probing the lake’s edge, while frog and toad spawn teems in the shallows—high ash caviar aplenty. Blackthorn hedges burst with blooms, promising sloe gin delights, and a bold stoat patrols the pasture with flair. A grumpy little owl and elusive green woodpeckers add to the mix, as Chris fields listener questions on hedgerows and wildlife, sharing his...
Episode 2.12 - Deer Dances and Ant Armies
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Join farmer Chris Skinner for another enchanting journey through the wilds of High Ash Farm in this week’s Countryside Podcast. As spring unfolds, Chris shares a magical early morning encounter with Roe deer—fairies of the wood—dancing through the undergrowth, their velvet antlers catching the first light. Back at the farm, the porch comes alive with tiny black garden ants, emerging from hibernation to feast on honey and prepare for their annual marriage flight, a spectacle that links them to the farm’s green woodpeckers, or yaffles, whose haunting calls echo through...
Episode 2.11 - Leverets and Lent Lilies: A March Awakening
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In this exhilarating episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin venture across High Ash Farm on a crisp mid-March morning, where spring begins to unfurl its wonders. From a windswept hill, they marvel at the elusive mad March hares—tawny-gold giants lounging on their seats, mere yards away—joined by Chinese water deer in a fleeting chase across the fields. The journey shifts to a secretive woodland hide, where nuthatches, blue tits, and jays flaunt their breeding plumage, feasting on feeders amidst the rustle of sycamores and sweet chestnuts. As the...
Episode 2.10 - Nest Builders and Seed Seekers
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In this vibrant episode of the Countryside Podcasts, recorded on a glorious spring morning in early March at High Ash Farm, Chris Skinner and his co-host immerse listeners in the thriving world of nature. From the mobile bird hide (Chris’s farm truck), they observe the bustling High Ash Rookery, where rooks are busy rebuilding nests and laying eggs in ash and oak trees, adapting to the loss of their beloved elms due to Dutch Elm disease. The episode captures the rooks’ fascinating social dynamics, including their pecking order and playful thievery, set agai...
Episode 2.9 - Gravestones and Orchids: Echoes of Earth
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Episode 2.9 - Gravestones and Orchids: Echoes of Earth
Step into the shadow of Caistor St. Edmund’s ancient churchyard with Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin, where weathered gravestones murmur tales of High Ash Farm’s toilers—men like “Happy” Holden and a boy who ploughed with horses before sailing to New Zealand. History fades into nature’s embrace as the duo tread a pollen field ablaze with bee orchids, their sudden bloom a riddle from centuries past, whispered through soil and fungal threads. Redwings flicker like embers across the hillside, woodpeckers...
Episode 2.8 - Travelers Above, Toilers Below
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"Travelers Above, Toilers Below" bids adieu to winter’s visitors and unearths the quiet laborers of the countryside. Join Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin at High Ash Farm under February’s low sun as they watch fieldfares and redwings fuel up for their North Sea journey, their cinnamon-speckled breasts aglow. Beneath the pastures, moles toil in darkness, shaping the soil with their velvet-clad strength and leaving mole hills as evidence of their unseen empire. From the warmth of apricity to tales of a mole felling a king, this episode weaves natural hist...
Episode 2.7 - Hidden in Plain Sight: The Silent Work of Nature’s Tiny Heroes
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"Hidden in Plain Sight: The Silent Work of Nature’s Tiny Heroes" dives into the often overlooked yet crucial roles played by nature's smallest inhabitants. Join hosts Chris Skinner and Matthew as they explore High Ash Farm, uncovering the secrets of the ecosystem. From the heat of compost heaps teeming with brandling worms to the fascinating hares that roam the fields, this episode celebrates the foundational species that support the entire ecological pyramid. Discover the unseen beauty of mosses, lichens, and the surprising world of snail hibernation in oak trees. This podcast not on...
Episode 2.6 - Barking Up the Right Tree - From Orchids to Old Oaks
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Join Rat Skinner, Farmer Chris and Matthew Gudgin at High Ash Farm for the latest episode of 'Gulps of Fresh Air,' where the countryside comes alive. This week, we're treated to the lively antics of Chris's boisterous terrier, not quite the sheepdog the flock behind us would prefer, as they prepare to move off the farm after a successful winter. Dive into the world of lambing with a remarkable 182% lambing rate, explore the rich tapestry of local history, from WWII radar stations to the transformation of farming practices, and enjoy the natural...
Episode 2.5 - Moss Magic Exploring the Miniature Forest
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Join Chris Skinner on another enlightening episode of "The Countryside Podcast" at High Ash Farm. This week, Chris takes us on an adventurous journey, starting by exploring the unique life cycle of the moss Tortula muralis, perched high on an old roof accessed by a cherry picker. Discover how this resilient plant thrives in extreme conditions and its ecological importance. Later, Chris delves into the world of lichens, showcasing the vibrant Xanthoria parietina on old Norfolk clay pantiles. The episode concludes with a dawn chorus led by the Mistle Thrush in Cantley Hill...
Episode 2.4 - The Tangled Roots of High Ash
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In this episode, Chris Skinner takes us through the enchanting yet challenging winter landscape of High Ash Farm in Norfolk. The podcast begins with an evening exploration where Chris discusses the mysterious fall of mature ash trees, potentially due to ash dieback affecting their roots. Despite the grim start, the episode transitions to a more uplifting note as Chris introduces listeners to the playful antics of badger cubs, observed through his wildlife cameras. The narrative then shifts to the early morning, where the dawn chorus, led by a melodious Robin, signifies the start...
Episode 2.3 - The Duck Pond Serenade
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In this episode of The Countryside Podcast, Chris and Matthew witness the breath-taking spectacle of waterfowl arrivals at the pond, reminiscent of Heathrow Airport with birds coming from all directions. Chris observes Mallards with their distinctive bottle-green heads, Egyptian geese, and Teal, all descending from high above, circling around before making their approach. The pond, a historical feature dug in the early 1600s, serves as a central hub for these birds, their numbers reaching up to 250 by evening. Chris discusses the challenges these birds face with habitat loss due to land drainage and...
Episode 2.2 - The Hazel's Whisper and the Jackdaw's Call
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Chris and Matthew delve into the history of Hazel at the farm and some of the common uses before Chris heads out for an evening visit to the corvid roost.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/16414292-episode-2-2-the-hazel-s-whisper-and-the-jackdaw-s-call.mp3?download=true
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Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to
Chris@highashfarm.com
This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or o...
Episode 2.1 - Flower of Hope
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Kicking off 2025 with a fresh start, Chris and Matthew launch the new season of podcasts, now proudly produced by High Ash Farm itself!
As the calendar turns, they celebrate the arrival of The Flower of Hope - the snowdrop, marking the first whisper of spring. This delicate bloom not only heralds new beginnings but also brings a touch of beauty to the wintry landscape.
The duo then turns their attention to an intriguing inhabitant of the farm, Wormwood. This plant, known...
Episode 1.66 - Butterfly Bridge
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Support the show
Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to
Chris@highashfarm.com
This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm.
Support us here:
https://donorbox.org/podcast-12
or from the Podcast page here:
Podcast | High...
Episode 1.65 - Duke and Horace
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Support the show
Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to
Chris@highashfarm.com
This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm.
Support us here:
https://donorbox.org/podcast-12
or from the Podcast page here:
Podcast | High...
Episode 1.64 - Communal Roosting
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Support the show
Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to
Chris@highashfarm.com
This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm.
Support us here:
https://donorbox.org/podcast-12
or from the Podcast page here:
Podcast | High...
Episode 1.63 - Woodpigeon and Stock Doves
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Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to
Chris@highashfarm.com
This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm.
Support us here:
https://donorbox.org/podcast-12
or from the Podcast page here:
Podcast | High...
Episode 1.62 - A Dank Day
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Support the show
Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to
Chris@highashfarm.com
This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm.
Support us here:
https://donorbox.org/podcast-12
or from the Podcast page here:
Podcast | High...
