"National Parks in the UK are the crumpets of the nature industry" - Ryan Dalton, 2024

It's a quote Ryan stands behind & claims it makes sense but those that don't follow let's explain. National Parks are celebrating their 75th anniversary this year in the UK & whilst we have all heard of the term, do many of us know what they are? How they were established? What was their purpose? And whether they are achieving their aim? Well nerds, don't worry, Into The Wild has your back!

Strap yourselves in to learn all about the UK's National Parks from The Good, The Bad & The Ugly!

Guest appearances from Rose O'Neill from Campaign for National Parks & Laura Larkin from Bug Life.

For the Campaign for National Parks Health Report Page, click here

To check out the points/events/news/roles at the RES mentioned in todays show, follow the links below:

- All events

- RES Annual Insect Photography Winners

AND to read more about joining the Royal Entomological Society's Associate Membership, click here

If you'd like to say "cheers" to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod

To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at @mrryanjdalton & @buteblackbird

Ryan & Nadia have grabbed the keys, put their PPE on & told their guests to stand back as they carefully open the vault door of Nature Room 101 for a new round of applicants to be put forward to join ticks, pheasants, cave centipedes, wind, bogs, deer & Himalayan balsam.

This round we welcome marine conservationist & Save Our Seas podcast host Isla Hodgson & CBeebies nature presenter Rory Crawford to ask them their Online Nature Gripes, Mundane Mammal & Worst Weather!

To follow our guests on the 'ol socials, follow them at Isla Hodgson & Rory Crawford.

To check out the points/events/news/roles at the RES mentioned in todays show, follow the links below:

- All events

- Leadership Roles

- Small Grant (£3k) Application

AND to read more about joining the Royal Entomological Society's Associate Membership, click here

To learn more about upcoming Urban Bird Walks by Leica Sport Optics, click here

If you'd like to say "cheers" to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod

To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at @mrryanjdalton & @buteblackbird

In the last decade there has been a HUGE (& successful) push for people to appreciate bees & the work they do to pollinate not just flowers in the wild, but food crops to feed ourselves & it's not surprise why the bee was chosen. They are fluffy. They are cute. They are.....sexy, BUT...

When it comes in insects that pollinate plants, again, including food crops, it's more than just bees & in some cases.....it's a lot more than just bees. Join Ryan & Nadia this month as they delve in to learn about some less sexy insects that are vital when it comes to keep flora alive.

Guest appearances from Kate Borchardt & Juliana Rangel Posada

Kate's Paper on Wasps Here

Juliana's Paper on Blowflies Here

AND to read more about joining the Royal Entomological Society's Associate Membership, click here

If you'd like to say "cheers" to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod

To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at @mrryanjdalton & @buteblackbird

A quick mid month treat for you nerds with a bonus episode of your favourite nature & conservation podcast!

Knepp Estate is famous in the UK for showing how an intensive dairy farm can go from an empty landscape to a rich haven for wildlife & it's a location we have focused on before when we spoke with the head ecologist of Knepp, Penny Green (episode here).

This time I got to speak with Knepp Estates owner & author Isabella Tree. Not only did we discuss the journey of Knepp but we spoke about the new upcoming film that would show the entire story.

Wilding out June 14th

All film listings found here

If you'd like to say "cheers" to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod

To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at @mrryanjdalton & @buteblackbird

Throughout history, humans, especially those of the western world, have intentionally & unintentionally introduced species around the world where they may have never reached before & as a result, negative consequences have occurred. BUT, the big questions that we often avoid is, should we actually now be intervening again to try to remove the issues that have been created. Is lethal control of mammals, fish, reptiles, insects, birds & plants really the only option? And how do we feel about this?

On this episode we explore this very topic & aim to have an honest discussion about how we feel about killing for conservation, whether or not the science tells us one way or another.

Guest appearances from Hugh Warwick, Prof Sierian Sumner & Leif Bersweden

RES Links:

- Physiological Entomology Session

- New Bee Research by ICAD

- Ento 24 Deatils

- Bug Hunting Kits

Hugh's Book - Cull of the Wild

AND to read more about joining the Royal Entomological Society's Associate Membership, click here

If you'd like to say "cheers" to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod

To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at @mrryanjdalton & @buteblackbird

Six months ago Into The Wild attended the Whitley Fund for Nature's People for Planet Summit in London. An event where guest speakers around the world met to discuss big topics in community based wildlife conservation. At this event we were lucky enough to meet & speak with 2015 Whitley Fund for Nature Award Winner, Jean Wiener from Haiti.

This bonus episode is that very chat where Jean shares his experience of working with people & wildlife in a country like Haiti & what he feels is the best way forward to restore the natural resources for the planet, country & it's communities.

To learn more about the marine based community conservation work that Jean discussed, click here.

If you'd like to say "cheers" to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod

To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at @mrryanjdalton & @buteblackbird

Grab your buckets, your spades & your towel nerds because we are heading to the coast in search of some answers about how our seas & coastal areas around the UK are protected.

Just how do marine protected areas work around the UK & are they doing their job? These are big questions but in this episode we guide you through the acronym maze that is UK ocean conservation.

Guest appearances from Caitlin Turner (MCS Sea Champion) Lanna Cheng (University of California San Diego)

If you want to learn more about marine insects the follow this link to a free e-book by Lanna Cheng.

AND to read more about joining the Royal Entomological Society's Associate Membership, click here

If you'd like to say "cheers" to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod

To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at @mrryanjdalton & @buteblackbird

One of, if not the most, tranquil places many of us can imagine being is on the bank of a river. The sound of the water moving & the visual of the ripples or crashing of water speeding past. They ground us & are essential to life so we must be looking after them in the UK right?.......RIGHT?

For episode 1 of season 2 we are looking at the state of rivers in the UK. From how insects can be important indicators for determining river health, to the hard hitting truth about what we are dumping in these magnificent habitats.

Guest appearances from Emma Brisdion (River Trust), Rebecca Lewis (Bug Life) & Craig MacAdam (Bug Life).

Feeling brave & want to read & be clued up on The River Trust's latest report, click here

AND to read more about joining the Royal Entomological Society's Associate Membership, click here

If you'd like to say "cheers" to the Into The Wild team & help support the show, then you can do so on www.ko-fi.com/intothewildpod

To follow the hosts of the show, Ryan & Nadia, follow them at @mrryanjdalton & @buteblackbird