Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

It's a big birthday for Chris Skinner this week and to celebrate he shares the starlings at High Ash Farm with us.

Chris then continues the bird theme and shows Matthew Gudgin other birds gathering in the fields including jackdaws, carrion crows and rooks.

The pair then give the answer to last weeks conundrum as well as answering questions about bats and moths.

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Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
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This episode marks a special one year anniversary for Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast.

Chris has a gift for you in way of a tricky conundrum for you to have a go at:

Today, Sunday the first of September, I am safe. Why should I be worried tomorrow, the second of September and why shouldn't I worried tomorrow, the second of September?

Answers can be emailed to chris@countrysidepodcast.co.uk

Chris introduces Matthew Gudgin his favourite woodland butterfly. The pair discuss the amount of rainwater recorded in the county and Chris explains what this means for sycamore trees.

The pair drive to successional wood to look at the devastating impact of grey squirrels at High Ash Farm.

Back at the farm truck Chris and Matthew answer questions about ragwort and watercourses.

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Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
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Chris Skinner starts the episode by capturing the dawn chorus from song thrushes, wood pigeon and a bantam cockerel.

Matthew Gudgin is shocked to be greeted by a stoat before they've even started! They learn about how this small predator hunts and navigates its way around High Ash Farm. Chris managed filmed the stoats and you can see this footage here.

Before answering listener questions the pair delight at the blackberry bushes busy with the hum of bees and one of the symbols of Tudor Britain, the dog rose. Chris explains how important rose rips were after the war as a source of vitamin C.

They answer a plethora of questions including wood pigeon coos, a flint find and the lack of poppies this year.

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Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
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Chris glimpses the morning routine of the swallows first thing. They're considering whether they can fit in a final brood.

Matthew Gudin and Rat the dog keep up with Chris as he shares with us the super powers of clover.

Chris also talks about the predators  at High Ash Farm, a topic that often divides the farming community. He describes his footage of the young fox cubs playing and shares with us a very moving story showing how it's never too late to change opinion.

Click here to see the fox cub footage on the High Ash Farm Facebook Page

Emails from listeners this week showcase the rare and smelly lizard orchid, how swifts communicate, curious close ups and fan mail for Rat.

Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode.

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
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This morning's morning chorus comes from the geese visiting the pond at High Ash Farm.

Chris Skinner takes Matthew Gudgin to the High Ash Farm Bog. He tells the story of something once swallowed up by this bottomless bog! This wonderful habitat provides the perfect conditions for one Chris's favourite flowers, the ragged robin.

The pair then compare these wetland plants to the more drought tolerant flowers on the farm. Rat is in full voice this week as Chris tries to showcase the diversity of the plants along this changing gradient of soil pH. Each flower with it's own fascinating history and derivation.

A rain shower sends Chris, Matt and Rat into the farm truck in time to answer listener questions about hornets, foxgloves and a mystery sound.

Click here to download an MP3 file of this episode.

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
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Chris Skinner listens in as the corvid take to their nests for their final chatter of the day, an evening chorus . The following day, Matthew Gudgin joins Chris and they go in search of the Common Spotted Orchid and the striking Pyramidal Orchid.

Chris explains how the geology and soil types at High Ash Farm dictate what grows where when it comes to wildflowers.

Chris and Matthew stand amazed at the edge of a pond as red swarms of cyclops swirl in the water. Back at the farm truck, the pair enjoy reading emails from listeners tuned in as far as Michigan, USA! They're also intrigued and slightly jealous of the photos sent in too.

Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode.

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
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The dawn chorus provided by a blackbird whilst Chris Skinner describes how much he enjoys doing the rounds first thing at High Ash Farm. The goslings swim over to wish Chris a good morning!

He's joined by  his broadcasting companion Matthew Gugdin and they marvel at the mystery of the bee  orchid and discuss other orchids on the farm and their soil preference. Matthew, Chris and  his terrible terrier visit  another field full of wild flowers. Chris describes how quickly these dedicated wild flower fields change colour so quickly.

They answer listeners questions about caterpillars and Chris shows Matthew the Mullein moth caterpillar in action. They also explain how to collect and spread yellow rattle seed.

Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
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Chris Skinner has been busy counting the swallows on the farm. He catches their early morning chatter as the thirty-seven birds prepare for the day ahead.

Chris takes Matthew Gudgin and terrible terrier Rat, to a field full of creeping buttercups. They return to the woodland where the bluebells were. They're long gone now, but standing  in their wake are the towering foxgloves - Digitalis purpurea. 

Chris, Matthew and Rat then come across some enormous animal hoof prints of red deer and Chris explains what the stags are doing at this time of year as the doe rear the fawns.

Back at the farm truck, the pair  delight at reading the letters, emails and pictures sent in from listeners. They read aloud a peculiar verse that describes swifts as devil’s bitches and Chris explains why they were given such a name!

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Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
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Chris Skinner gives Matthew Gudgin an impromptu tour around his house and garden showing the many ways he welcomes wildlife.

The pair then venture out onto High Ash Farm to look at the badger set. Chris has recorded some incredible footage of the teenage badgers getting up to mischief in the dead of night. 

Click here to see the video of the badgers at night.

Matthew feels nervous answering listener questions so close to a swarm of bees so they take refuge in the farm truck to answer those.

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Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
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The wren conducts the dawn chorus for this episode of Chris Skinner’s Countryside Podcast.

Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin stomp through the woodland to chomp on the edible wild garlic.

The dwindling bluebells are going over and their shadow brings the early purple orchid to the fore. Chris explains their many names and mentions throughout history and literature.

Chris and Matthew sit down to answer your questions whilst waiting and watching for treecreepers to appear. No larger than a cotton reel, they’re really tricky to spot, will Matthew get to finally see them?

Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode.

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast was produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
Join the SOUNDYARD newsletter