UK Wildlife Podcas‪t‬ Neil Phillips + Victoria Hillman

Steve joins us again for another herpetological episode, this time we cover the Uk’s snake species: Adders, Grass Snakes, Smooth Snakes and Aesculapian Snakes.

We talk to Nick Gates,  naturalist and natural history TV producer, vlogger and writer. We discuss the Ancient or Traditional Orchards, the topic of the book Orchard, which he co-authored. These orchards can hold a wealth of wildlife, including rare and declining species such as the noble chafer, lesser spotted woodpeckers and redstarts.We also, answer your questions on orchards (including an important advice on cider!) talk about wildlife gardening, his TV work and a number of other topics.

We are joined by James Harding-Morris, who is the Communications Manager for the Back from the Brink project, a large collaboration of UK nature conservation bodies which aims to save 20 species from extinction and benefit over 200 more through 19 projects that span England.We discuss the aims and achievements so far, some of the many projects and species involved, including the narrow headed ant and ladybird spider, and answer some listener questions.

We talk about tawny owls which are very active and calling at this time of year.







In news we discuss The badger cull ‘halting’, using birth control to control squirrels, more raptor persecution and a strange arrangement between Natural England and BASC, a study showing half of all bird biomass in August is non native gamebirds, photographers and birdwatchers being stopped by police for breaching lockdown restrictions, dog owner prosecuted for letting his dog attack a deer and the Wildlife Trust saying it will start legal proceeding against the government plans to allow neonectid pesticide use if it is breaking the law.

We talk to the fish twitcher himself, Jack Perks, about how he ended up filming freshwater fish and other wildlife, his quest to film every species of British freshwater fish and many other things.In news we cover the call by conservationists to monitor our smaller streams and ponds, andJack also gives his insights on the recent story on Celtic Reptiles and their hopes to breed and eventually release native species in the UK and the reaction from many to it.

We talk to entomologist and museum curator Ashleigh Whiffin, discussing how she got to being a museum curator and entomologist, the need for taking specimens in entomology and how entomological displays have changed over the years. We also discuss Carrion Beetles, their wonderful behaviours of this group, (which include a surprising amount of parental care), helping to run the recording scheme and co-authoring the new book on them (which is now available on the FSC website).In news we look at the NFU getting license for the limited use of the banned Neonectid pesticides, which have been blamed for declines in insect numbers.