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.

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

In today's action-packed episode, we embark on an exclusive adventure to discover some of the rarest wildflowers in the UK. It's a unique journey, and we are pleased to share our adventures and experiences with you. In this week's Wildlife Matters Mindful Moments, we will spend some precious time in nature enjoying a windy night in the woods.

But before that, let’s head to the news desk to bring you the latest wildlife and nature stories in this week’s Wildlife Matters Nature News.

I am so excited to announce that the Wildlife Matters Teemill collection, a unique range of organic cotton t-shirts and hoodies, is now available on our website. These pieces not only feature our distinctive Wildlife Matters branding but also come in a stunning array of colours, making them a must-have for any nature enthusiast.

We have tote bags and mugs, in addition to T-shirts and Hoodies, as part of our range, and we will continue to develop the range, including some new campaign-branded apparel, in the coming weeks.

Head over to our website, www.wildlife-matters.org, to visit the shop.

As always, time is running away with us again, but there is time to express our heartfelt gratitude to you for being a part of the Wildlife Matters community. Please share the podcast with your friends, family, and colleagues who you think may enjoy it. Thank you so much for your support.

But for now, I have been your host—Nigel Palmer—and this is Wildlife Matters—signing off!

Hello and welcome to this week's Wildlife Matters podcast.

In this week's episode, we are embarking on an exhilarating mission that will take us all around the UK as we strive to uncover Britain’s rarest woodland wild plants. The thrill of the plant hunt is palpable, and we can't wait to share our discoveries with you.

In this week's Wildlife Matters Mindful Moments, our journey is also guided by the breathtaking beauty of a spring morning. We invite you to immerse yourself in the tranquillity of nature as we share this poetic experience with you.

But first, let's head to the news desk for the latest wildlife stories to share with you on this week’s Wildlife Matters nature news.

I hope you enjoyed our adventure to find—or not find —some of the rarest wild plants in the UK.

We want to try different things on the Wildlife Matters podcast, and it would be good to know if you enjoyed the walk-and-talk type of storytelling. Please let us know in the comments or drop us an email at info@wildlife-matters.org

We have received excellent feedback on Matt Somerville's wild honeybee work at the Maple Farm rewilding project. Many of you, like us, were not aware of natural beekeeping.

We will return to the Maple Farm Rewilding project in the future and plan to share more about wildlife and nature projects or work that is a little different with you very soon.

If you have or are working on a project that you think would be of interest to our community, please let us know by emailing us the address once again is info@wildlife-matters.org

We are truly grateful for your support. As we wrap up, we encourage you to like, subscribe, and leave us a comment wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback is invaluable to us.

Remember to share this episode with a friend or colleague who may enjoy it. Thank you for being part of the Wildlife Matters community.

Wildlife Matters is an independent podcast. If you enjoy what we do, please consider supporting us. There are many ways to help with all budgets. Visit our website: www.wildlife-matters.org/donate Thank You.

Hello, and welcome to the Wildlife Matters podcast. In this episode, we will talk to Matt Somerville of Bekindhives, who introduces us to natural beekeeping. Many of you may be sceptical of beekeeping. While we all want to encourage and help bees and other pollinators, the world of beekeeping has several issues that very quickly turn people off from keeping bees themselves.

Wildlife Matters investigates the natural bee-keeping world after we look at what’s happening with wildlife and nature next in this week’s Wildlife Matters Nature News.

I was invited to visit Maple Farm, a local rewilding project, by its owners, Kevin and Colleen. They were hosting a Natural Beekeeping course run by Matt.

On the first day, the group made three natural bee homes from large hollowed logs and, on the second day, secured them into veteran trees at Maple Farm.

Wildlife Matters was there to witness the bee logs being hoisted into the trees at various heights, all above head level. To our amazement, honeybees arrived within minutes to inspect the new log homes. This was particularly remarkable given the day's weather conditions, which were not ideal for bees or any flying species to be actively foraging. However, bees are known for their diligence and are highly motivated to find forage and natural nests.

After all the new bee nests were installed, we had the opportunity to speak with Matt Somerville, a seasoned natural beekeeper with nearly fifteen years of experience. He has developed a unique system that involves observing wild bees, helping them survive and thrive, and bringing numerous benefits to the ecosystems they inhabit.

BeeKind Hives are on Instagram _beekindhives_

Maple Farm Rewildling Project is on Instagram maplefarm_

You can read a blog from the weekend here: https://www.charitybuddy.org/rewilding-blog/we-are-literally-buzzing

To support the podcast and Wildlife Matters projects and campaigns, please visit our website, www.wildlife-matters.org/waystohelp

For the latest news and information, please follow Wildlife Matters on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and Twitter/X. Thank you

Wildlife Matters partners with One Voice for Animals, the UK's one-stop place for supporting animal rescues. Please visit www.helpanimals..co.uk

On this week's Wildlife Matters podcast we are delighted to bring you our Introduction to British Bats.

My fascination with bats began in childhood when I watched them gracefully fly around our garden. This childhood curiosity has blossomed into a lifelong passion. Even now, I eagerly anticipate the bats I might encounter on my evening walks.

The introduction will provide a comprehensive overview with lots of information to capture your interest and get you started on your adventure. We will follow up with more specific and detailed articles and podcasts on individual species for those who want to delve deeper.

This week's Mindful Moments is truly magical and a first for us. But before we get to that, we have a lot to cover, much of it with some personal connections, in this week’s Wildlife Matters Nature News.

With this episode, we've reached a significant milestone-episode 60 since our journey began at the end of 2021. We've also had the pleasure of five episodes with over 10,000 downloads. This wouldn't have been possible without your support. Thank you for being a part of the Wildlife Matters community!

We always like to hear where you listen to us. Drop us an email or comment on this week’s social media post asking you that question. We read every answer and comment and reply to as many as possible. Don’t forget you can now listen to us and see some short videos on the Wildlife Matters YouTube channel. Please give us a like and subscribe.

Wildlife Matters will return in two weeks. Until then, get outside, enjoy wildlife and nature, and always keep it wild.

I’ve been your host, Nigel Palmer, and this is Wildlife Matters Signing off!

You will find Wildlife Matters on all good podcast platforms. Please follow us on social media - we are on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, YouTube and TwitterX

All our podcasts, articles, campaigns and projects can be found on the website www.wildlife-matters.org

Thank you for being part of the Wildlife Matters Community

Restore Nature Now London March and A Bronze Age Solstice day walk to Stonehenge.

Hello and welcome to this week’s Wildlife Matters Podcast.

We are fast approaching midsummer’s day—or solstice day—so we have followed a Bronze Age walk to Stonehenge on solstice morning 2023, and we would love it if you came along with us.

Our journey will transport us back over 4500 years to explore the enigmatic neolithic earthworks, the ancient king barrows, and the new king barrows. We will be captivated by the Monarch of the Plain and witness the breathtaking sunrise on solstice day, framed by the Welsh bluestones that form the iconic Stonehenge. Of course, this walk will include plenty of Wildlife and nature and one or two surprises that I hope you will enjoy.

After a long walk across an ancient mystical landscape, imagine the tranquillity of spending a mindful moment in Nature. This week, we are in a serene woodland during the blossoming springtime, a perfect setting to unwind and connect with Nature.

But before all that, we have an exciting announcement.

On Saturday, June 22, Wildlife Matters will attend the London Restore Nature Now march.

We invite you to join Wildlife Matters at the March to Restore Nature. And here’s the exciting part: You can be featured on the Wildlife Matters podcast! We will record a live podcast from the event, so come over and say hello.

We look forward to marching for Nature in London next week, and it would be so empowering to meet some of you and find out why you are marching on the special podcast from the Restore Nature Now event.

After that exhilarating adventure, it’s time to kick off those walking boots and tread barefoot to the edge of the ancient woodland.

As we settle down, take a deep breath and let the tranquillity of the springtime woodland engulf you. We invite you to enjoy a mindful moment in Nature.

Well, I’m sure many of you will have recognised the call of one spring visitor to the UK who was in superb voice that morning - it was, of course, the cuckoo, but how many of you also heard the wonderful song of the redstart? - It’s in there, and so are the chaffinch and the chiffchaff.

What a fantastic way to start any day with the spring song of the woodland.

We hope to see you in London on Saturday, June 22; coach services are travelling from lots of major cities and towns around the UK; you can find more information through the Restore Nature Now website: https://www.restorenaturenow.com/travel-coaches

We are excited to meet you on the day. Please come and say hello if you see us.

We will record in the main meet-up area before the march, before marching with you, and record live along the route. We want to hear you make some noise! Once at Parliament Square, we will record the speakers and are excited to chat with as many of you as possible!

The Restore Nature Now special will be published on Wednesday, June 26, and Wildlife Matters will return on Wednesday, July 3, with the next adventure.

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

We are talking to Natalia Doran on this week’s Wildlife Matters Podcast. Natalia founded Urban Squirrels, a London-based specialist grey squirrel rescue and is also an advocate for wildlife, being on the council of Animal Aid, a trustee of Farplace Animal Rescue and the academic charity Pan-Orthodox Concern for Animals.

The Grey Squirrel, a cherished and frequently spotted creature, especially in urban areas, is under grave threat. It is one of the most targeted wild animals, with our wildlife conservation organisations resorting to culling. Moreover, Natural England classified it as an invasive species in 2019, further jeopardising its survival.

Our relationship with squirrels in Britain has always been complicated. Our native red squirrel species is extinct, and we are protecting imported reds from European countries.

However, the main reason reds are in trouble in Britain has nothing to do with grey squirrels; it is about the loss of suitable habitat. Remember, reds are an arboreal species of pine and coniferous forests.

In this wide-ranging episode interview, Nadia discusses many of the issues faced by Grey squirrels in Britain today and has some insightful ways that all of us can help the grey squirrels in our local areas.

I hope you found Natalia's discussion valuable today—I certainly did.

I hope it has inspired some of you to take action, advocate, share positive stories and news about Grey Squirrels on your social media platforms, and uphold the positivity that Natalia radiates for grey squirrels in the future.

We encourage anyone who can get a squirrel aviary in their garden or on land they own. Nadia and her team at Urban Squirrels can guide you through the licensing process and may even help you obtain grants to fund the aviary and equipment you need.

The show notes include links to Urban Squirrels’ website and social media channels, but it's worth repeating the website address, as it contains all the information you need: www.urbansquirrels.co.uk.

And that’s a wrap for another Wildlife Matters Podcast.

We will be back in two weeks’ time and will be sharing a very special adventure with a solstice theme that we know you will enjoy. Until then, keep a wild heart and an open mind.

Urban Squirrels Contact Details

Website - www.urbansquirrels.co.uk

Social Media Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/UrbanSquirrelsRescue

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/urban_squirrels/

Twitter/X - https://twitter.com/squirrels_urban

Tiktok - https://www.tiktok.com/@urbansquirrels

Wildlife Matters is an independent podcast focussed on sharing the oy of nature and wildlife whilst actively working to educate, inform and eliminate the persecution of wildlife species and the pollution and destruction of natural habitats, the lack of biodiversity, and mitigate the impact of climate change.

The Wildlife Matters Podcast is on all good podcast platforms, or listen on our website. www.wildlife-matters.org

Wildlife Matters is on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Twitter. Please like, follow and share, and if you would like to support our work and keep us proudly independent, please consider becoming a Patreon supporter via this link: https://www.patreon.com/join/WildlifeMatters

The Wildlife Matters Podcast is currently released on alternate Wednesdays.