The Wild Cornwall Podcast

Episode #24: Blue Carbon and Cornwall

In Cornwall, you’re never more than 20 miles from the sea – and beneath the waters are habitats which capture and store carbon, known ‘blue carbon’.
A new series of reports – The Blue Carbon Mapping Project – estimate that 244 million tonnes of organic carbon are stored in just the top 10cm of the UK’s seabed sediments.
Dan Barrios-O’Neill, Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s new Head of Marine, explains more about these findings and the importance of protecting marine habitats.
Find out more about blue carbon here.
Support Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s work at sea here.
Learn more about Tor to Shore.

Episode #23: Water in Cornwall: pollution, flooding and climate resilience

Water is absolutely essential for all life on earth, but in Cornwall only 24% of rivers and 15% of lakes are classified as having good ecological status.
In this episode we hear from Jade Neville, Catchment Partnership Officer for Cornwall Wildlife Trust, and Simon Jeffery, Senior Advisor for Cornwall for Flood and Coastal Risk Management at the Environment Agency. We explore a range of issues, including pollution, flooding and climate resilience.
Explore the topics further and take action:
Rivers Trust’s ‘Is my river fit to play in?’ map  
List of actions you can take to support your local rivers
March for Clean Water London, Saturday 26th October
River-related data online: Environment Agency’s Catchment Data Explorer, South West Water’s Water Fit Live
River Citizen Science Schemes: Westcountry CSI,  Riverfly, Big River Watch
Report an environmental incident  to the Environment Agency
Yellow Fish Campaign
 

Episode #22: Craig Bennett (CEO, The Wildlife Trusts) in Cornwall

Craig Bennett has been Chief Executive Officer of The Wildlife Trusts since 2020. On a visit to Cornwall, he shared with us some of the exciting things he sees in his national role. We talked about what gives him hope, what he sees as the most urgent priorities for nature, and about what we can do to make a difference.
Find out more about The Wildlife Trusts.
Discover Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Tor to Shore project.

Episode #21: Forest bathing in Cornwall

The Japanese practice of 'Shinrin Yoku' or 'forest bathing' has been shown to bring you calm, boosting physical and mental health. It’s all about walking slowly through woods, without hurry, and soaking up the atmosphere. 
In today’s episode we’ll find out about forest bathing by speaking to a practitioner, Paul Simmons, based in Cornwall. From Devichoys Woods nature reserve, Paul tells us how forest bathing reduces stress and blood pressure, whilst boosting immunity, improving mood, and increasing sleep.
To find out more about Paul's work, visit the Forest Bathing Cornwall website. 
Read more about forest bathing - including ideas about which woodland nature reserves you can visit - on our blog. 
If you’d like to make a difference to woodland cover in Cornwall, you can donate to help restore and protect woodlands.

Special episode - panel discussion on climate change and Cornwall

Is climate change a serious threat to nature in Cornwall? How is it already impacting our terrestrial and marine wildlife? What role does nature (and nature recovery) play in tackling the challenge at hand? And, most importantly, what can be done?
Join Cornwall Wildlife Trust and leading experts in this area with this recording from a panel discussion on Wednesday 8th May. 
Speakers include:
Prof. Martin Siegert FRSE – Glaciologist and Vice President and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Cornwall), University of Exeter
Claire Wallerstein - Producer, Cornwall Climate Care
Dr Dan Barrios-O’Neill - Data and Insights Manager, The Wildlife Trusts
Cheryl Marriott – Director of Nature and People, Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Each speaker brings their own unique experiences and expertise in relation to the question.
At this event, Cornwall Wildlife Trust launched the Temperate Rainforest Appeal. Find out more and donate here. 
 

Episode #20: Nature-friendly farming in Cornwall

Nature-friendly farming in Cornwall
With farmland taking up three-quarters of all land in Cornwall, it will be impossible to halt the decline of wildlife, restore healthy ecosystems and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions without supporting farmers to play their part. There are numerous examples of local farmers reducing pesticide and artificial fertiliser use, restoring soil health and making space for wildlife.
In this episode we explore the importance of nature-friendly farming and hear from a Cornwall Wildlife Trust farm advisor and a farmer she works with.
Find out more about our farm advice work.
Learn about the Upstream Thinking Project.
Sign the open letter for nature.

Episode #19: Raising your voice for nature at the general election

The next general election is on the horizon. It’s going to be one of the most important moments for nature in a lifetime. The next government will be in power for much of the time between now and 2030, the date by which we want to see 30% of land and sea under good conservation management. With our supporters, Cornwall Wildlife Trust would like to make a difference to the narrative of this general election. We want to raise the profile of environmental issues with parliamentary candidates, showing how much so many people in Cornwall care about nature and the climate crisis.
Cheryl Marriott, Director of Nature and People, talks to The Wild Cornwall Podcast about why this is so important and our plans. 
Sign the open letter here.
Find a husting near you.
Get involved in campaigning.
Read about our election asks in more detail. 

Episode#18: Spotting humpback whales in Cornwall

This episode discusses the incredible humpback whales which - if you’re lucky - you can spot off the coast of Cornwall between November and March.
These amazing mammals are about the size of a bus and undertake some of the longest migrations of any mammal. Humpback whales can be found in all of the oceans of the world, but in the last few years have been increasingly spotted in Cornwall.
Tom speaks with two Cornwall Wildlife Trust volunteers who are absolutely passionate about humpback whales. We find out all about these amazing animals, what it’s like to catch a glimpse of one, and where you might go to have the best chance of a sighting.
To find out more about humpback whales, how to spot them in Cornwall, and the ID project, check out our humpback blog. 
Discover more about Seaquest Southwest.

Episode #17: Protecting Cornwall’s dormice

Laura Snell, Conservation Officer, talks about her love of hazel dormice – and what we’re doing to monitor and protect them.
 
Since we recorded this episode, the State of Britain's Dormice 2023 report has been published, showing the population has actually fallen by 70% - you can read the full report here.
Find out more about the Rewilding Helman Tor Appeal.
Visit Helman Tor.
Download the Wilderness Trail leaflet.
Volunteer with one of our teams.
Become a member of Cornwall Wildlife Trust.

Episode #16: Hopeful discoveries, challenging times and bold plans for nature in Cornwall: an interview with Matt Walpole

Matt Walpole, Chief Executive of Cornwall Wildlife Trust, reflects on his first year in post - and shares his excitement about our plans for the future.
Find out more about the plans for Helman Tor here.
Learn about our farm advice work here. 
Find out more about the seagrass beds in St. Austell Bay here.
Become a member of Cornwall Wildlife Trust.