The decline in pollinator numbers is a frightening trend that needs to be reversed as soon as possible. If you live in a city, is there anything you can do? And if you're a farmer, how can you tell if the changes you're making to increase numbers of pollinators that food production depends upon are actually working?
Inspired by conversations with an ecologist who has an ambitious plan for pollinators in London, the founder of a UK start-up using smart listening devices and AI to monitor pollinator numbers in real-time, and a science-fiction author, Emma Newman imagines a future in which pollinators can flourish in both urban and rural environments, thanks to old- fashioned approaches melded with cutting-edge technology.

In the episode we hear from:

Gerry Tissier and the Hackney Buzzline
https://www.ecoactive.org.uk/hackney-buzzline

Casey Woodward, CEO of Agrisound
https://agrisound.io/

Allen Stroud
https://www.allenstroud.com/

Additional resources

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-06/MHAW21-Nature-research-report.pdf

https://experiments.friendsoftheearth.uk/projects/postcode-gardeners-how-hiring-postcode-gardener-can-bring-nature-back-your-street

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In recent years, young people have been at the forefront of campaigning on climate change. How does it feel to spearhead a campaign? How is it possible to campaign with busy lives and academic pressures? What keeps you going in these times of hostile politics, an adversarial press and toxic social media? Emma Newman talks to a young activist who has spearheaded an amazing campaign for clean air in London and a youth campaigning mentor from Friends of the Earth.

In episode 5 we heard from:

• Destiny Boka-Batesa from the Choked Up campaign
• Rowha Mohid, Climate Youth Society peer mentor from Friends of the Earth

Additional resources related to the episode
Destiny's article in Cherwell (Oxford's oldest student newspaper)
Survey on the mental health impact of eco-anxiety [PDF] published in The Lancet
Friends of the Earth's Climate.Youth.Society programme.

Do you want to tell Emma about a project or idea linked to this episode? Email podcast@enewman.co.uk

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One day, a man in Salford Quays awoke to find a duck nesting on his balcony, 150 ft above the water. Once born, her ducklings had to be lowered down in a bucket. With over 20 acres of water at her disposal, why did that mother duck decide to nest there? And why did thousands of fish in the same location die overnight?

Inspired by talking to the duckling rescuer, the inventor of cutting-edge water monitoring equipment, and an award-winning science fiction author, Emma Newman imagines a future where communities help to keep waterways across the UK clean enough to swim in thanks to a nifty monitoring system.

In episode 5 we heard from:

• Steve Stuttard, duckling rescuer (watch Steve's rescues on YouTube)
• Glynn Cotton from WATR, the environmental monitoring system
• Rachelle Atalla, author of "The Pharmacist" and "Dirty Animals"

Additional resources related to the episode

Join a local action group

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