Hello and welcome to this week’s Wildlife Matters Podcast. I’m your host, Nigel Palmer.

In today’s Bonus episode, we will look back over our first 50, yes, 5-0 episodes, that is, four complete series, and chat through some of the highlights and challenges. We will celebrate the fantastic wildlife and some of the incredible people we have spoken to and discuss what it’s been like to start a podcast and build a community from scratch.

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It's time to review our first four series and this 52nd episode of the Wildlife Matters podcast.

It feels strange reflecting on my work and passion in public, and perhaps that is one of the reasons I preferred to review our first fifty episodes rather than do a stand-alone Q&A that many of you asked for.

Wildlife Matters journey started with a lifelong love of wildlife and an appreciation of nature and the natural world we share with wild animals.

It also comes from the deeply held belief that we are all animals and a massive aversion to those who take pleasure in hunting or persecuting them for their fur and body parts, testing medications and inflicting diseases on them, or forcing them to perform for our entertainment.

REFLECTING ON THE JOURNEY

When I started this podcast, I had a vision. I dreamt of creating a community of wildlife and nature lovers where we could talk about

and celebrate Wildlife and the wonders of the natural world.

I wanted to share stories, inspire, and help each other grow.

I never imagined we’d reach this incredible milestone.

It is not only 52 episodes or four series but, as you will find out as we go along, I am so proud to have created a passionate and engaged community that will take action and like to celebrate wildlife and the natural world.

We will use our collective voice now to benefit wildlife and the natural world, continue to share each other's stories and grow into a genuine force for good.

It’s been a journey filled with ups and downs, moments of doubt, but most importantly, moments of pure joy.

We’ve had some incredible conversations with inspiring guests, and I’m so grateful to each of them for being such a vital part of our journey.

In Series Five, we will bring you more conversations with people working with or for wildlife and nature.

Why Wildlife Matters?

From the beginning, the goal was to build a community based on mutual love and appreciation of wildlife and nature, sharing stories and experiences to engage, motivate and inspire others to follow their passions and beliefs to help wildlife and nature in their unique way.

Wildlife Matters was born from a passion and a lifelong love for wildlife and the natural world.

With over 30 years of experience working for wildlife and conservation charities in the UK, Africa, and Asia, I have gained invaluable insights into species protection, conservation, and habitat management.

We have a profound love for plants and trees and all aspects of Nature, including habitats, Oceans and rivers, but our absolute passion is wildlife species.

In addition, our practical experience in Woodland Management and Horticulture has given us the tools to make a difference in the fight to protect our natural world.

We have hands-on experience working with sick and injured animals on the frontline in a busy wildlife rescue.

For over forty years, I have, along with many others, taken direct action against hunters and anyone who persecutes wildlife for so-called sport.

Our knowledge and experience are as diverse and varied as they are broad.

British wildlife is not only beautiful and unique but also fascinating and varied.

While our mammals may not be the largest, they possess unique qualities and live in many habitats, including the...

Last week Wildlife Matters joined hundreds of other advocates outside Parliament in London to call for an en immediate end to the Badger culls in England.

Speakers included Chris Packham, Dominic Dyer, Rosie Wood, Chair of the Badger Trust, who hosted the event; Wildlife Matters, who joined hundreds of other advocates outside Parliament in London to call for a and Dr Alice Brough, a veterinarian; and Rob Pownall from the campaign group Protect the Wild.

Today's podcast includes the full speeches from all the speakers mentioned, and you will find the full videos on our YouTube Channel Link here

Wildlife Matters has worked tirelessly alongside many other groups and individuals to stop the culling of badgers, which has no scientific basis, is grossly expensive for UK taxpayers, and has led to the death of over 230,000 badgers that were not tested for TB.

We have podcast episodes and articles on our website that go into more detail on the badger culls from the 2013 pilot culls onwards.

Hello and welcome to this week’s Wildlife Matters Podcast. I’m your host - Nigel Palmer, and we have another exciting show for you today.

It’s been a busy time at Wildlife Matters HQ. This week’s main feature will be our trip to the Upland Moors, and the shutdown of the Grouse shoots on the opening day of their season.

Then, in complete contrast, join me in a small, crystal-clear stream in a stunning ancient woodland in Kent to enjoy nature in this week’s Wildlife Matters Mindful Moments.

How many of you watched Sir Brian May’s documentary on badgers and bovine TB last Friday?

We were genuinely impressed with Brian and Anne Brummer's work over the years. What they showed us will help end the badger culls.

Stay tuned for the full story on this, along with our visit to the National Animal Rights March in London and a new report on Wildlife crime in this week’s Wildlife Matters Nature News that is coming next on the Wildlife Matters Podcast.

We hope you enjoyed discovering how the shoots were once again shut down on their opening day meet. Of course, this vital work continues until December.

The Driven Grouse Shooting industry is undoubtedly nearing its end now—the frenzied shooting of the grouse, the lead cartridge shells scattered across the moorland, and the vast subsidies the government gives the estates to restore nature and wildlife that are being used to develop a monoculture of heather and grouse bred to be shot.

And don’t believe they eat what they shoot! They kill thousands of birds a day, and cannot even give them away as they are full of poisonous lead shots - why anyone would eat that is beyond me!

Tragically, the grouse end up in deep holes in the ground, known as stink pits, which will only be covered once they are complete.

Now, a huge thank you to all of you who have ordered from the new Wildlife Matters Shop we opened last week.

There has been an early sellout on the tote bags, and the badger and fox T-shirts are clearly popular - if you haven’t seen the shop yet, come and browse around - search for - Wildlife Matters shop - or click the link in the show notes https://www.wildlife-matters.org/our-shop

We have also given the Wildlife Matters podcast its own website - of course, it will always be available on our main website - but we hope more people who don’t have access to the paid podcast platforms can listen to us. You can find us on Podpage or by searching for it as Podpage-Wildlife Matters Podcast, and we will leave a link in the show notes. https://www.podpage.com/wildlife-matters-the-podcast/

So, all that is left to do is thank you for listening. We hope you enjoyed our return to direct but completely legal action.

Wildlife Matters will return in two weeks with the penultimate episode of season four! Wow

But for now - I’ve been your host, Nigel Palmer, and this is Wildlife Matters signing off.