The naturethrive podcast

Jonathan Withey
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The naturethrive podcast is here to inspire and connect you with nature, while exploring practical solutions to the environmental and planetary challenges we face.Through engaging conversations with expert guests, we’ll delve into the issues affecting our world in a way that’s accessible and uplifting, not overwhelming. We’ll highlight real stories and experiences that bring hope and optimism, showcasing a wide range of current and future solutions—from large-scale initiatives to everyday actions—that can help ease eco-anxiety and drive positive change.Our guests include farmers, organisations, and solution providers who are making a difference in nature restoration, sharing their journeys and the impactful work they’re doing.Each episode will also feature three recurring questions that explore the first, best, worst, and weirdest moments in nature, giving you an authentic and personal glimpse into the experiences that shape our connection with the natural world.

  1. Episode 27: How to Measurably Improve Nature and Ecosystem Services via Biodiversity Net Gain with Nick White, Principle Advisor of Net Gain at Natural England

    9H AGO

    Episode 27: How to Measurably Improve Nature and Ecosystem Services via Biodiversity Net Gain with Nick White, Principle Advisor of Net Gain at Natural England

    In this episode Jonathan interviews Nick White, Principal Adviser for Net Gain at Natural England, about his career path into biodiversity work and his 14-year involvement in developing biodiversity net gain (BNG). Nick explains how Brexit created a political window to help get BNG onto the national agenda and ultimately enshrined into law, and discusses BNG’s global influence, including international uptake of the metric. They explore what natural capital means, why habitats are used as a practical proxy for biodiversity, and how environmental net gain seeks to capture wider ecosystem benefits beyond wildlife value. The conversation also covers the importance of numbers for business decision-making, the need to ensure long-term on-the-ground outcomes, and Nick’s first, best, and worst experiences in nature. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 03:11 Setting the Scene 04:03 Nick’s Career Journey 06:28 Brexit and Policy Window 07:54 From Idea to Global Impact 10:39 Supply Demand and Trust 12:12 Natural Capital Explained 14:58 Keeping BNG Simple 18:44 Environmental Net Gain 20:46 Private Sector Motivation 21:06 Beyond Compliance Value 23:09 Metrics That Move Money 24:14 Making the Business Case 26:06 How BNG Should Evolve 29:09 Nature and Development Together 29:56 First Memory Fishing 32:29 Worst Night Exercise 34:20 Best Moments in Nature 35:57 Everyone Can Act 38:14 Host Wrap and Next Guests Send a text

    40 min
  2. Episode 26: Beyond the Pipes - Making Space for Nature with Angus Wells, Biodiversity Manager at Anglian Water

    FEB 23

    Episode 26: Beyond the Pipes - Making Space for Nature with Angus Wells, Biodiversity Manager at Anglian Water

    On this episode Jonathan frames the conversation as a focus on Anglia Water’s work for nature recovery and biodiversity, while acknowledging wider water industry challenges around drinking water, sewage treatment, and infrastructure. Angus explains Anglia Water’s geographic coverage (from the Humber Estuary to the Thames Estuary and inland to Northamptonshire) and discusses work across the UK’s driest region, including river restoration, slowing flows, habitat creation and some wetland creation as part of catchment management, alongside future-focused initiatives like desalination plants and new reservoirs. Angus shares his career path from studying geography and management at the University of Leeds into practical woodland management, then environmental land management at the 11,000-hectare Auburn Wise estate, before joining Anglia Water in April. The episode explores land sharing vs land sparing, including agroforestry projects integrating nature corridors within arable farming and the role of agri-environment schemes and emerging biodiversity net gain markets as income streams. Angus outlines key drivers for Anglia Water’s biodiversity work, including the Water Industry National Environment Programme (WINEP) within AMP8 (2025–2030) and the new Biodiversity Performance Commitment requiring measurable habitat unit uplift using the biodiversity metric on a four-year cycle (2025 baseline to 2029 reassessment), with penalties for non-delivery. He also notes Anglia Water’s obligations as a significant landholder managing many SSSIs—about 99% by area in favourable condition—while continuing to improve remaining sites. Angus highlights a project at Grafham Water near Huntingdon, linking fragmented ancient woodlands with woodland creation and grassland along reservoir shores to improve connectivity and resilience for woodland species. In the recurring segment, Angus shares early memories growing up on a rural farm, his worst experience of seeing habitat reverted to arable despite efforts to influence decisions, and best experiences including delivering a 40–50 hectare agroforestry project in Norfolk and cycling from east Norfolk to southwest Wales to experience landscapes at a slower pace. Jonathan closes by emphasizing the importance of recognizing positive work within water companies and previews a future episode with Nick White of Natural England. 00:00 Welcome + What This Episode Will (and Won’t) Cover 01:34 Meet Angus Wells: Shared Backgrounds & Why This Story Matters 03:19 Anglia Water’s Region & Big-Picture Catchment Work (Wetlands, Reservoirs, Resilience) 05:04 Angus’s Career Journey: From Practical Woodland Work to Anglia Water 07:27 Land Sharing vs Land Sparing: Making Nature Work in Productive Farmland 10:52 Why Water Companies Invest in Nature: AMP8, WINEP & Regulatory Drivers 15:08 Measuring Biodiversity Uplift: Performance Commitment, Habitat Units & 4-Year Targets 19:30 SSSIs & Flagship Project: Grafham Water Woodland Connectivity 22:08 Why Habitat Corridors Matter: Resilience, Movement & Genetic Diversity 25:05 First / Worst / Best in Nature: Early Memories, Career Frustrations & Agroforestry Wins 34:26 Wrap-Up + Host Reflections and What’s Next on the Podcast Send a text

    36 min
  3. Episode 25: Creating Places for People and Nature with Peter Rogers CBE, Co-founder of Lipton Rogers LLP

    FEB 16

    Episode 25: Creating Places for People and Nature with Peter Rogers CBE, Co-founder of Lipton Rogers LLP

    On this episode Jonathan has a conversation with Peter Rogers, co-founder of Lipton Rogers and former co-founder of Stanhope. They discuss Rogers’ long career in commercial and residential development, including insights into 22 Bishopsgate (“22B”), designed as a “vertical village” with shared amenities such as restaurants, bars, gyms, art in the lobby, and community-focused spaces to offset limited ground-level public realm. Rogers shares how he got into construction through early exposure to his grandfather’s development work in Italy, his civil engineering background, and his belief that people should find work they enjoy. The conversation covers industry challenges such as increasing bureaucracy, planning complexity, rising costs, slow innovation, and the impact of legislation like the Building Safety Act, as well as the role of AI and robotics. Rogers explains his long-standing focus on creating places for people with landscaping and greenery, critiques greenwashing (including green walls and token rooftop measures), and argues for investing in larger-scale, properly maintained parks and biodiversity projects rather than small on-building interventions. They also discuss biodiversity net gain and the value of practical, local, measurable interventions, drawing parallels with approaches like insulating homes for carbon benefits. In the recurring nature segment, Rogers recounts early alpine experiences skiing and staying in remote huts, a safari in the Kalahari Desert, and a “worst” experience at sea involving increasingly severe Mediterranean storms, which he links to warming sea temperatures and global warming. 00:00 Welcome Back + Newborn Night Shift Story 01:16 Meet Peter Rogers: Iconic City of London Developer & Green Building Pioneer 04:22 Deep Dive: 22 Bishopsgate’s ‘Vertical Village’ Concept 06:13 Inside the Building: Lobby Art, Amenities & Tenant Community 08:57 Peter’s Origin Story: From Italy to Civil Engineering & Contracting 11:06 Career Advice at 80: Find Work You Love + Start Early 14:41 Industry Headwinds: Bureaucracy, Rising Costs & Slow Innovation 17:32 Planning Reform, Building Safety Act & Unintended Consequences of Regulation 18:52 Energy Efficiency vs Overheating: Futureproofing Buildings in a Warming Climate 19:43 Safe Homes vs Enough Homes: Finding the Balance 20:50 Designing Developments as Places: Greenery, Parks & Wellbeing 22:08 Calling Out Greenwashing: Why Tiny Green Walls Don’t Move the Dial 23:11 Biodiversity Net Gain Reality Check: On‑Site Rules vs Landscape‑Scale Impact 26:31 Health & Safety vs Biodiversity: What Legislation Can (and Can’t) Fix 28:57 First Nature Memories: Ski Touring to Alpine Huts & Wild Quiet 31:44 Best Experience: Kalahari Desert Safari and Life in Harsh Landscapes 33:16 Worst Experience: Mediterranean Storms, Sailing Risk & Climate Change Signals 37:03 Wrapping Up: Ocean Warming, Seagrass Decline & Final Takeaways Send a text

    40 min
  4. Episode 24: Nature Positive, What's all that About? With Edward Pollard, Founder of Positive by Nature

    FEB 9

    Episode 24: Nature Positive, What's all that About? With Edward Pollard, Founder of Positive by Nature

    In this episode Jonathan dives into a captivating conversation with Edward Pollard, founder of Positive by Nature. Edward shares insights on sustainability, nature recovery, and biodiversity, drawing from his extensive experience in the field. Learn about the interconnectedness of climate and nature, the importance of business resilience, and the exciting projects driving nature conservation forward. Edward also shares memorable personal stories from his career, highlighting the crucial role of both local action and global cooperation in preserving our natural world. This episode provides a rich exploration of the many facets of nature recovery, making it a must-listen for anyone passionate about the environment. 00:00 Welcome to Season Two 00:37 Personal Updates and Reflections 02:01 Challenges in Sustainability 03:16 Nature Thrive's Mission and Projects 07:42 Interview with Edward Pollard 11:33 Edward's Career Journey 16:06 Understanding Nature Positive 20:17 Corporate Action on Biodiversity 25:10 Business Case for Nature Conservation 27:44 Investor Pressure on Corporate Responsibility 29:06 Resilience and Risk in Supply Chains 30:26 Collaborative Approaches to Sustainable Supply Chains 32:28 Challenges and Successes in Landscape-Level Conservation 35:08 Regulatory and Policy Impacts on Conservation 41:25 Personal Experiences in Nature 51:28 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions Send a text

    56 min
  5. Episode 23: Allies in Making Nature Restoration Profitable for All with Connell Grogan, Co-founder of Nature Impact

    11/19/2025

    Episode 23: Allies in Making Nature Restoration Profitable for All with Connell Grogan, Co-founder of Nature Impact

    In this episode host Jonathan sits down with Connell Grogan, co-founder of Nature Impact, to discuss the significance of biodiversity net gain policy, the creation of offsite habitat banks, and how an entrepreneurial spirit can drive nature recovery in the UK. They delve into the policy's impact, the importance of offsite versus onsite biodiversity enhancements, and innovative approaches like the upcoming nature credit offerings. Connell shares insights from his career, the journey of Nature Impact, and personal stories highlighting the profound connection with nature. Tune in for a deep dive into biodiversity, policy, and entrepreneurial efforts to restore the natural world. 00:00 Welcome to the Nature Thrive Podcast Finale 00:22 Introducing Connell Grogan and Nature Impact 01:19 The Importance of Biodiversity Net Gain 02:13 Challenges and Opportunities in Nature Recovery 08:06 Connell Grogan's Career Journey 15:38 The Mission and Model of Nature Impact 24:40 The Role of Developers in Biodiversity Net Gain 26:44 The Importance of Connected Green Spaces 27:33 Challenges in Landscape Architecture 28:14 Onsite vs. Offsite Biodiversity Efforts 30:09 Local Planning Authorities and Biodiversity 31:11 Supporting Small Developers 32:38 The Future of Nature Credits 39:03 Personal Experiences in Nature 47:12 Conclusion and Reflections Send a text

    49 min
  6. Episode 22: Making Commercial Sense of Embracing Organic and Biodynamic Principles with Nick Wenman, Owner of Albury Vineyard

    11/12/2025

    Episode 22: Making Commercial Sense of Embracing Organic and Biodynamic Principles with Nick Wenman, Owner of Albury Vineyard

    In this episode host Jonathan speaks with Nick Wenman, owner of Albury Vineyard in the Surrey Hills. Nick shares his transition from the IT world to cultivating vines for certified organic wine production in the UK, while adopting biodynamic principles. The conversation delves into the challenges and rewards of organic viticulture, the commercial benefits of sustainability, and the importance of reconnecting with nature. Nick also discusses the significance of introducing educational and nature-friendly practices into his vineyard operations. This episode offers valuable insights into sustainable farming and the commercial viability of eco-friendly practices. Tune in to learn more about Nick's passion for nature, his vineyard's success, and the role of sustainability in modern farming. 00:00 Welcome to the Nature Thrive Podcast 00:21 Introducing Nick and Aubrey Vineyard 01:15 The Importance of Commercial Benefits in Sustainability 03:05 Nick's Journey from IT to Viticulture 06:28 Challenges and Rewards of Organic Farming 08:42 Biodynamic Principles and Practices 12:31 Impact of Climate Change on Viticulture 14:47 The Business of Running a Vineyard 16:02 Educational and Environmental Initiatives 25:28 First, Best, and Worst Experiences in Nature 32:31 Concluding Thoughts and Reflections Send a text

    35 min
  7. Episode 21: The Business Case for Nature with Helen Nyul (former) Head of Biodiversity at Barrat Redrow

    10/31/2025

    Episode 21: The Business Case for Nature with Helen Nyul (former) Head of Biodiversity at Barrat Redrow

    In this episode Jonathan has a conversation with Helen Nyul, former Head of Biodiversity at Barratt Redrow, who recently transitioned to a new role at the nature tech startup, Verna. Helen shares her career journey, the impact of nature-rich housing developments, and the essential role of biodiversity in business and the economy. We discuss successful projects like Kingsbrook and the value of biodiversity action plans. Don't miss the engaging stories and practical insights on how both developers and individuals can reconnect with nature.  00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:37 Guest Introduction: Helen Mule's Career Journey 02:14 Helen's Transition to Verna 03:47 Jonathan's Nostalgic Moment 04:44 Helen's Career Pathway 08:06 Biodiversity Action Plans and Business Impact 19:00 Barrett's Approach to Sustainability 23:34 Innovative Wildlife-Friendly Developments 23:54 The Decline of Nature in Popular Culture 24:46 Future Homes Hub and Biodiversity Net Gain 25:08 The Impact of Biodiversity Policies on Developers 27:44 The Global Perspective on Biodiversity Net Gain 29:01 Mitigation Hierarchy in Site Development 30:53 Challenges and Opportunities in Biodiversity Net Gain 34:34 Personal Experiences and Reflections on Nature 41:23 Final Thoughts on Biodiversity and Nature Recovery Send a text

    44 min
  8. Episode 20: Designing Nature into the Built Environment with Philippa Birch-Wood (formerly) of Chetwoods

    10/15/2025

    Episode 20: Designing Nature into the Built Environment with Philippa Birch-Wood (formerly) of Chetwoods

    In this episode Jonathan has a conversation with Philippa Birch-Wood, the former Executive Director for ESG at Chetwoods and now Head of Climate Action at the UK Green Building Council. They delve into the critical role of architecture in enhancing connections with nature and promoting sustainability. Learn about Chatwood's Thrive Design approach and Phillipa's career journey into sustainability, her insightful experiences in nature, and the importance of integrating biophilic designs in modern buildings.  00:00 Introduction to the Nature Thrive Podcast 00:52 Key Themes of the Conversation 03:21 Phillipa's Career Journey 04:36 The Role of Sustainability in Architecture 10:12 Thrive Design and Its Impact 21:56 Nature's Increasing Role in Design 26:24 First, Best, and Worst Experiences in Nature 31:28 Conclusion and Final Thoughts Send a text

    37 min
See All (27)

About

The naturethrive podcast is here to inspire and connect you with nature, while exploring practical solutions to the environmental and planetary challenges we face.Through engaging conversations with expert guests, we’ll delve into the issues affecting our world in a way that’s accessible and uplifting, not overwhelming. We’ll highlight real stories and experiences that bring hope and optimism, showcasing a wide range of current and future solutions—from large-scale initiatives to everyday actions—that can help ease eco-anxiety and drive positive change.Our guests include farmers, organisations, and solution providers who are making a difference in nature restoration, sharing their journeys and the impactful work they’re doing.Each episode will also feature three recurring questions that explore the first, best, worst, and weirdest moments in nature, giving you an authentic and personal glimpse into the experiences that shape our connection with the natural world.

Information

  • Creator
    Jonathan Withey
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The naturethrive podcast
  • Show Website
    The naturethrive podcast

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