Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcasts
Nature, Wildlife and Countryside Living with Chris Skinner from High Ash Farm
Chris Skinner, a Norfolk farmer, takes a unique approach to farming, prioritizing biodiversity and wildlife conservation in every practice.
Tune in every Sunday morning as Chris, alongside broadcaster Matthew Gudgin, explores topics on nature, wildlife, and rural life.
Join them for strolls through High Ash Farm and beyond, spotting wildlife and addressing your queries about the natural world.
Email questions for Chris to answer to Chris@highashfarm.com
Episodes
96 episodes
Episode 2.30 - Burnet Wings and Knapweed Crowns
In this vibrant episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin revel in a glorious late July morning at High Ash Farm, where nature dons its finest. Over a purple knapweed sea—its hard heads buzzing with bees—six-spot bur...
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44:36
Episode 2.29 - Bluebell Seeds and Bindweed Bells
In this captivating episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin explore High Ash Farm amid its third heatwave, where nature’s cycle thrives. In Fox’s Grove, bluebell stalks release shiny black seeds, their retractile r...
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50:53
Episode 2.28 - Amphibians to Azure A Farm Miracle
In this enchanting episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin embrace a damp July morning at High Ash Farm, where a farm miracle unfolds. By the lake, tens of thousands of froglets and toadlets leap from their tadpole...
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43:56
Episode 2.27 - Admiral’s Dance and Teasel Maze
In this vibrant episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin revel in High Ash Farm’s sultry July heat, where nature pirouettes in a stunning display. The red admiral’s dance unfolds as this migrant aristocrat flutters ...
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43:53
Episode 2.26 - Ragged Robins and Rustic Nests
In this delightful episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin linger in High Ash Farm’s yard, where sparrows thrive amidst 42 nest boxes, their fledglings peeking out as parents deliver 2000 daily feedings—a red-liste...
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49:23
Episode 2.25 - Salt Marshes and Storms, A Summer Surge
In this captivating episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin embrace a radiant June morning at High Ash Farm, where nature’s might and beauty collide. Following a fierce storm that dumped 38 millimetres of rain in a...
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48:41
Episode 2.24 - Skylarks and Pyramids, June’s High Harmony
In this enchanting episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin ascend to the lofty heights of High Ash Farm, where June’s wild symphony reverberates across Norfolk’s landscape. On the historic gun field—once a wartime ...
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43:40
Episode 2.23 - Roses and Red Kites - June’s Wild Waltz
In this vibrant episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin brave a blustery June morning at High Ash Farm, where summer’s rhythm pulses through Norfolk’s countryside. By a windswept hedgerow, they marvel at field and ...
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42:42
Episode 2.22 - Woodpeckers and Witches’ Brooms Summer’s Secret Symphony
"Woodpeckers and Witches’ Brooms: Summer’s Secret Symphony"In this captivating episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin dive into the early summer splendour of High Ash Farm, where nature hums with hidden...
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46:06
Episode 2.21 - Shepherd’s Purse, Soldier’s Float
Bask in the sunlit splendour of High Ash Farm’s wildflower meadows, where Chris Skinner guides us through a vibrant tapestry of nature’s small wonders. Marvel at the common blue butterflies, their Wedgwood-hued wings dancing over bird’s foot tr...
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48:28
Episode 2.20 - Cubs and Cones, Woodland’s Shared Spaces
Join Chris Skinner in the verdant depths of Fox's Grove, where spring unveils a remarkable tale of coexistence: badgers and foxes sharing the same sprawling set, with cubs of both species thriving in harmony. Discover the delicate beauty of the...
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44:31
Episode 2.19 - Fox Cubs’ Feast, Galls’ Hidden Guests
Join Chris Skinner at High Ash Farm for a captivating exploration of nature’s quirks in Norfolk’s countryside. This week, Chris unveils the ghostly spectacle of a spindle tree shrouded in the webs of brown tail moth caterpillars, a phenomenon b...
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45:50
Episode 2.18 - May’s White Veil, Swifts’ Sickle Flight
Embark on a captivating journey with Chris Skinner as he ventures from High Ash Farm to the Suffolk coast at Aldeburgh to witness the awe-inspiring arrival of swifts. Marvel at these sickle-shaped marvels as they soar above the marshes, hooveri...
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51:52
Episode 2.17 - Bluebells in Peril, Swallows in Flight
Join Chris Skinner at High Ash Farm for a vibrant spring morning filled with the tireless energy of returning swallows and the delicate beauty of the countryside. In this episode, Chris captures the dawn chorus as over 20 swallows busily build ...
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46:34
Episode 2.16 - Kisses of Mistletoe, Blossoms of Crab Apple
Join Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin on a rain-soaked adventure at High Ash Farm, where the long-awaited spring showers bring life to the Norfolk countryside. Under dripping umbrellas, they explore the sticky secrets of mistletoe, a semi-paras...
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39:38
Episode 2.15 - Wings of Summer The Swallow’s Return
In Episode 2.15 of The Countryside Podcast with Chris Skinner, we’re back at High Ash Farm, where the first swallows of the season have arrived, heralding the promise of summer with their daring aerial acrobatics. Chris’s infectious en...
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48:31
Episode 2.14 - Windflowers, Wings, and Wily Ash
April unfurls its wonders at High Ash Farm as Chris Skinner guides us through a sun-dappled tapestry of nature’s finest. From the slither of a grass snake basking in the warmth to the ancient whisper of windflowers carpeting the woodland floor,...
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46:05
Episode 2.13 - Stoats, Sloes, Snipe and Spawn
In "Episode 2.13 - Stoats, Sloes, Snipe and Spawn," Chris Skinner ushers us into a misty late March morning at High Ash Farm near Norwich. A trail cam unveils the stealthy common snipe, its long beak probing the lake’s edge, while frog and toad...
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51:17
Episode 2.12 - Deer Dances and Ant Armies
Join farmer Chris Skinner for another enchanting journey through the wilds of High Ash Farm in this week’s Countryside Podcast. As spring unfolds, Chris shares a magical early morning encounter with Roe deer—fairies of the wood—dancing through ...
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53:06
Episode 2.11 - Leverets and Lent Lilies: A March Awakening
In this exhilarating episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin venture across High Ash Farm on a crisp mid-March morning, where spring begins to unfurl its wonders. From a windswept hill, they marvel at the elusive m...
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53:29
Episode 2.10 - Nest Builders and Seed Seekers
In this vibrant episode of the Countryside Podcasts, recorded on a glorious spring morning in early March at High Ash Farm, Chris Skinner and his co-host immerse listeners in the thriving world of nature. From the mobile bird hide (Chris’s farm...
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42:19
Episode 2.9 - Gravestones and Orchids: Echoes of Earth
Episode 2.9 - Gravestones and Orchids: Echoes of EarthStep into the shadow of Caistor St. Edmund’s ancient churchyard with Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin, where weathered gravestones murmur tales of High Ash Farm’s toilers—men like...
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37:41
Episode 2.8 - Travelers Above, Toilers Below
"Travelers Above, Toilers Below" bids adieu to winter’s visitors and unearths the quiet laborers of the countryside. Join Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin at High Ash Farm under February’s low sun as they watch fieldfares and redwings fu...
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43:36
Episode 2.7 - Hidden in Plain Sight: The Silent Work of Nature’s Tiny Heroes
"Hidden in Plain Sight: The Silent Work of Nature’s Tiny Heroes" dives into the often overlooked yet crucial roles played by nature's smallest inhabitants. Join hosts Chris Skinner and Matthew as they explore High Ash Farm, uncovering the secre...
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41:03
Episode 2.6 - Barking Up the Right Tree - From Orchids to Old Oaks
Join Rat Skinner, Farmer Chris and Matthew Gudgin at High Ash Farm for the latest episode of 'Gulps of Fresh Air,' where the countryside comes alive. This week, we're treated to the lively antics of Chris's boisterous terrier, not quite the she...
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43:43