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-listed revival from near extinction 25 years ago. Nearby, bouncing bet (soapwort) unveils creamy blooms with soapy leaves, a historical gem once used to cleanse ancient fabrics, while bladder campion’s balloon-like flowers and red ragged robin’s delicate pink petals grace the marshy lowlands. A new badger set, unearthed in Cantley Hill Plantation, reveals a family of four, their sandy digs captured on camera, adding to the farm’s wildlife tapestry. Listener queries—trapped church birds, solitary bees, skylark dives, and ladybird larvae—enliven this journey, as July’s gentle bloom heralds nature’s quiet triumph under a softening summer sky.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/17403341-episode-2-26-ragged-robins-and-rustic-nests.mp3?download=true