We're joined by The Guardian newspaper Biodiversity Reporter, Phoebe Weston in this months MiniPod and we discuss...

1. The news that water contamination by forever chemicals from an airport in eastern France has resulted in 3000 vulnerable residents unable to drink their tap water.
2. A groundbreaking tree-planting programme that is uniting farmers and rewilders in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
3. UK data shows 60% of adults think climate and the environment are important issues – we’ll explore the role of the media in portraying these topics responsibly.

Useful Links

Read Phoebe's article on ghost woodlands and rewilding here

Read the Office of National Statistics – public and business attitudes to environment and climate change 2024 survey here

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Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

For many in the environment sector the name Tony Juniper is synonymous with the defence of nature. He has led major organisations, run global campaigns and advised at the highest levels, including co-authoring ‘Harmony’ with His Majesty King Charles II. He was recently re-appointed as the Chair of Natural England and is a Fellow of the Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership.

In our June episode we explore how we achieve the pace and scale of change that is needed to create a system that meets the needs of people thriving on a living planet - and what still gives Tony hope.

Find out more about Just Earth, Tony's latest book here

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Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

Niki is joined by Lee Pitcher, MP for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme and Chair of the APPG on Water. Prior to being an MP has spent his career building partnerships across the water sector and this episode we’re talking about…

1. The threat of drought across the UK this summer as April temperatures were the 3rd warmest since records began.
2. The Water Safety Bill – as a new MP this is Lee’s first Bill to pass through parliament, we hear why it's so important and why it's not already part of legislation.
3. The Climate Change Committee progress report that states the UK is not prepared for the impact of climate change.

Planet Possible is support by BMA, Mackley and MWH Treatment.

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Show Notes

Water Safety Bill

Climate Change Committee report

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

Jeannette Henderson, co-lead for Innovation at Ofwat shares some of the winners of the latest round of funding from the 5th Water Breakthrough Challenge.

Hear some of the projects that are embracing drones, robotics and AI as Ofwat share £42m across 16 projects aiming to radically innovate within the water sector in England and Wales.

Jeanette shares how Ofwat are working with other regulators to also drive innovation in the way they regulate.

Finally find out what the future holds for the Innovation Fund, aiming to share £600m across by 2030.

Find out more about the 16 winning projects here: waterinnovation.challenges.org

Planet Possible is sponsored by BMA, Macklay and MWH Treatment

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

Main interview guest: Natalie Bennett - Green Party Peer, Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

Expert co-host: Michael Mattle - Head of Wastewater Technology at Holinger

We're exploring how biocides – human-made chemicals that we find in products like surface cleaners and toothpastes – are impacting the microbiomes in our bodies and our environmental systems. In 2025 Green Party Peer, Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, Natalie Bennett, brought a private members bill to Westminster to regulate the use of these chemicals in consumer products intended for human consumption. We hear what Biocides are, where we'll find them and why Natalie is pushing for a legislative change to regulate their use.

Co-host Michael Mattle, Head of Wastewater Technology at Hollinger reflects on what happens to these chemicals after use when they're released into the environment and explains how Switzerland has radically changed their approach to wastewater treatment, pushing beyond EU standards, to remove these types of chemicals.

Sponsors

Planet Possible is grateful to Mackley, Business Modelling Applications & MWH Treatment for their support.

Show Notes

You can read more about Natalie's thinking in her latest book - Change Everything.

Hear more on the specifics of Lake Geneva from Michael Mattle in this Guardian podcast.

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Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

In today's episode we’re focusing on water that’s used by businesses, which makes up 30% of all the water that’s supplied in England. Join Sarah McMath, CEO of MOSl as we explore the challenges of needing to deliver an extra 5 billion litres of water each day into supply by 2050 and the opportunities - and challenges - presented by commercial water demand.

We explore...

1. Smart metering for business customers and the current lack of data to understand how much water they're using - and when.
2. News that Amazon, Microsoft and Google are planning to build hundreds of data centres across the globe, including in areas of water scarcity.
3. The opportunities to bring more diverse voices into the water sector to help tackle some of the challenges it faces over the next 10 years.

Planet Possible is supported by BMA, Mackley and MWH Treatment

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

25% of all the water that comes into our homes is flushed down the toilet. By 2050, we’re going to need an extra 5 billion litres of water a day - almost a third more - available in 25 years.

This increased need for water is driven by a growing population, new homes and a water hungry economy and there's an opportunity to reduce our demand for the highest quality drinking water by using an alternative for things like flushing the toilet and watering the garden.

So in todays episode we explore whether harvesting rainwater and using it in our homes could be part of the solution to closing the 5 billion litre shortfall.

You'll hear from George Warren, from Anglian Water, who's driving the 'Enabling Water Smart Communities' project to see how rainwater and water reuse in new housing developments can be scaled up. Niki's co-host is Tom Chance, the CEO of the Community Land Trust Network, representing community-led affordable housing projects - who shares the wider landscape around building new homes - and how rainwater harvesting could be included.

Sponsors

Planet Possible is grateful to Mackley, Business Modelling Applications & MWH Treatment for their support.

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland

Welcome to our March MiniPod - a monthly update where we're joined by an expert guest & we react to current events in water, climate and nature - all in about 15 minutes.

In this episode we're joined by Dave Slater, Regional Director for Natural England for the South West of England, and we explore...

1. Whether beavers are a force for good after the news that the UK Government has announced its commitment to reintroducing beavers into the wild.
2. The creation of the Western Forest – the first new national forest in 30 years.
3. How we ensure nature has an enduring impact and changes – like the ones above – aren’t forced on people.

Planet Possible is grateful to Atkins Réalis for supporting the podcast.

Want to find out more about the topics in the show? Click the links below...

https://connectingtheculm.com/

https://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/what-we-do/our-conservation-work/on-land/penwith-landscape-partnership

https://www.wenp.org.uk/priority-programmes/western-forest

https://naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2025/02/28/beaver-wild-release-a-milestone-for-nature-recovery-in-england/

https://cdn.forestresearch.gov.uk/2024/06/PWS-statsnotice-20jun24-FINAL.pdf

Credits

Presented & Produced by Niki Roach

Executive Producer Andy Taylor - Bwlb Limited

With thanks to Alastair Chisholm

Honorary Executive Producer Jane Boland