The Newt Podcast

The Newt in Somerset
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Join The Newt in Somerset's Head of Programmes, Arthur Cole, as he pulls on his walking boots and warmly welcomes a smorgasbord of experts in their field to walk through the remarkable Somerset estate and share their passions.From gardeners to chefs, conservationists to business leaders, sports personalities to scientists, celebrities to local heroes and everyone in between, this is a series that promises to inspire and delight the listener.

  1. S2:E9 The Great Garden Show Question Time

    MAY 19

    S2:E9 The Great Garden Show Question Time

    On Saturday 16 May, we welcomed renowned gardening experts Alan Titchmarsh, Marian Boswall, Charles Dowding, Tony Kirkham and Matthew Pottage to field questions from visitors inside the Story of Gardening. Recorded in front of a live audience at The Great Garden Show 2026, this special episode is hosted by our very own head gardener, Harry Baldwin, who leads a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation with five of the UK’s most respected horticultural voices. From practical gardening advice and planting philosophies to reflections on nature, design, and the gardens they nurture themselves, this lively discussion is packed with insight, humour, and personal stories for gardeners of every level.   The Newt Podcast is created by the team at The Newt in Somerset and produced by Harry Coade at Sound Matters. If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Newt Podcast to enjoy more walks and talks across the estate, or better still become a Newt Member to visit our estate yourself, stay the night, or shop The Newt online.  Your 12-month membership also gives you free entry to The Newt's 17 national and international Partner Gardens and inspirational Sister Estates. Follow us on Instagram @thenewtinsomerset

    1h 5m

  2. MAY 5

    S2:E8 Voices of the Garden

    Ahead of The Newt's inaugural Great Garden Show 9th-17th May 2026, we take you into the gardens to meet the team members getting their areas ready to show off their splendour.  Voices featured:  Head Gardener, Harry BaldwinEspalier fruit trainer, Henry ThurgoodColour gardens lead, Joe DransfieldVictorian terrace lead, Deanne LewisHead of Ornamental Gardens, Andy ApplesThe Newt Podcast is created by the team at The Newt in Somerset and produced by Harry Coade at Sound Matters. If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Newt Podcast to enjoy more walks and talks across the estate, or better still become a Newt Member to visit our estate yourself, stay the night, or shop The Newt online.  Your 12-month membership also gives you free entry to The Newt's 17 national and international Partner Gardens and inspirational Sister Estates. Follow us on Instagram @thenewtinsomerset

    1h 3m

  3. APR 21

    S2:E7 Compost of The Newt

    Pete Olley, Head of Compost at The Newt, takes us on an exploratory journey into the heart of The Newt's compost heaps. We begin in the prunings, clippings, peelings and coffee grounds and end in the 'black gold' so coveted by gardeners and growers alike. Pete explains the processes at work, how to compost 'like a Newt', the keys to success, tips on how to get started at home, and what happens to all the kitchen waste that you put in your 'food waste bin' that is collected on recycling days. The Newt Podcast is created by the team at The Newt in Somerset and produced by Harry Coade at Sound Matters. If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Newt Podcast to enjoy more walks and talks across the estate, or better still become a Newt Member to visit our estate yourself, stay the night, or shop The Newt online.  Your 12-month membership also gives you free entry to The Newt's 17 national and international Partner Gardens and inspirational Sister Estates. Follow us on Instagram @thenewtinsomerset

    38 min

  4. APR 7

    S2:E6 Buffalo of The Newt

    Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), form an important part of the Newt’s farm. Their milk is used by Margaretha Van Dam, the Newt’s Head Cheesemaker, for the signature cheeses made in the Creamery at Castle Cary railway station, a couple of miles from The Newt’s HQ. Cameron Knee, The Newt’s Farm Manager, takes us on a tour around the buffalo farm and brings us mic-to-nose with these remarkable, fascinating, gentle giants. We join Cameron and his team at milking-time in the milking-parlour, then follow the milk’s journey to the Creamery. The Newt Podcast is created by the team at The Newt in Somerset and produced by Harry Coade at Sound Matters. If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Newt Podcast to enjoy more walks and talks across the estate, or better still become a Newt Member to visit our estate yourself, stay the night, or shop The Newt online.  Your 12-month membership also gives you free entry to The Newt's 17 national and international Partner Gardens and inspirational Sister Estates. Follow us on Instagram @thenewtinsomerset

    49 min
  5. S2:E5 Jim The Gamekeeper

    MAR 24

    S2:E5 Jim The Gamekeeper

    Jim Pitcher, Gamekeeper of The Newt, introduces us to the animals of the estate - some familiar, and others less so. Jim has worked on the estate for decades, and has watched how it has changed over all those years. He has also seen how the English landscape has changed in those years and shares his insights about wildlife management and countryside traditions. Come ear to beak with a menagerie of extraordinary birds, hear the thunder of deer hooves and the gentle wisdom of a true countryman. The Newt Podcast is created by the team at The Newt in Somerset and produced by Harry Coade at Sound Matters. If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Newt Podcast to enjoy more walks and talks across the estate, or better still become a Newt Member to visit our estate yourself, stay the night, or shop The Newt online.  Your 12-month membership also gives you free entry to The Newt's 17 national and international Partner Gardens and inspirational Sister Estates. Follow us on Instagram @thenewtinsomerset

    35 min
  6. S2:E4 Charles Dowding

    MAR 10

    S2:E4 Charles Dowding

    Charles Dowding, possibly the best known name in ‘no-dig’ gardening circles, has spent 44 years growing organic food the no-dig way.   A Somerset native, Charles comes from a farming family and has always had an appreciation of how soil health is directly related to our health. As Charles puts it in his own words, “I was conventional as a teenager, not questioning the world I saw. Then, in 1979, aged 20, I awoke to an awareness of nutrition and its links to food production. I had recently become a vegetarian and that led me to explore organic gardening. And the soil.”   Charles shares his no-dig journey with his 744,000 followers on his YouTube channel. He leads educational courses and workshops at his garden, Homeacres, and has published a wealth of no-dig books and resources. The Newt Podcast is created by the team at The Newt in Somerset and produced by Harry Coade at Sound Matters. If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Newt Podcast to enjoy more walks and talks across the estate, or better still become a Newt Member to visit our estate yourself, stay the night, or shop The Newt online.  Your 12-month membership also gives you free entry to The Newt's 17 national and international Partner Gardens and inspirational Sister Estates. Follow us on Instagram @thenewtinsomerset

    41 min
  7. S2:E3 Paul Lamb

    FEB 24

    S2:E3 Paul Lamb

    Paul Lamb, master hedgelayer, has spent over 25 years refining and practising his craft across the West Country and, more recently, in Gower, South Wales.  Working by hand with traditional tools, he restores and creates living boundaries that support wildlife, prevent erosion, and preserve the character of the British countryside. His book Of Thorn & Briar and his Instagram account @westcountry_hedgelayer offer glimpses into this way of life, but his true legacy lies in the hedges he lays and the hands he teaches. Selected subjects covered: If hedges could talk, what would they say about us? (02:00)Why do hedgerows become fractured? (03:31)Livestock boundaries: plant, stone or water (4:22)Different geographic styles & techniques of hedgelaying (05:26)Paul's background and what got him into hedgelaying (08:20)What time of year to lay a hedge (11:35)Ecosystem support (13:01)Who now wants hedges laid? (14:43)Dutch elm disease (21:15)Tools of the trade (22:53)How to lay a hedge properly (27:08)Bestselling new book: Of Thorn & Briar (35:28)Connection to the generations that precede us (39:53)The future of hedgelaying (42:14)What hedgelaying teaches us (43:37)Connection between hedgelaying and improved mental state (46:18)The Newt Podcast is created by the team at The Newt in Somerset and produced by Harry Coade at Sound Matters. If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Newt Podcast to enjoy more walks and talks across the estate, or better still become a Newt Member to visit our estate yourself, stay the night, or shop The Newt online.  Your 12-month membership also gives you free entry to The Newt's 17 national and international Partner Gardens and inspirational Sister Estates. Follow us on Instagram @thenewtinsomerset

    48 min
  8. S2:E2 Gaz Oakley

    FEB 10

    S2:E2 Gaz Oakley

    Gaz Oakley, chef, grower and cookbook author visits The Newt ahead of cooking dinner at the Garden Café on Thursday 12th March 2026 and his kombucha masterclass in the gardens on Friday 13th March 2026. Selected subjects covered: Ferments, pickles, preserves in the vaulted cellars of Hadspen House (02:00)Intentional house building (prioritising functional design over purely profit-driven conventional methods) (06:30)Nature's lavatory paper (16:10)The Newt's compost facility (introducing The Newt's compost-guru, Pete) (20:30)Veganism & deindustrialisation of agriculture (29:05)Fermenting rebellion in the bakery (introducing The Newt's Head Baker, Paulo) (37:25)Gaz's kombucha workshop (what to expect) (46:25)The Newt Podcast is created by the team at The Newt in Somerset and produced by Harry Coade at Sound Matters. If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Newt Podcast to enjoy more walks and talks across the estate, or better still become a Newt Member to visit our estate yourself, stay the night, or shop The Newt online.  Your 12-month membership also gives you free entry to The Newt's 17 national and international Partner Gardens and inspirational Sister Estates. Follow us on Instagram @thenewtinsomerset

    46 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Join The Newt in Somerset's Head of Programmes, Arthur Cole, as he pulls on his walking boots and warmly welcomes a smorgasbord of experts in their field to walk through the remarkable Somerset estate and share their passions.From gardeners to chefs, conservationists to business leaders, sports personalities to scientists, celebrities to local heroes and everyone in between, this is a series that promises to inspire and delight the listener.

Information

  • Creator
    The Newt in Somerset
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Newt Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Newt Podcast

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