The Scottish Wildlife Trust has launched a new podcast series, Words of the Wild, as part of its 60th Anniversary celebrations. Exploring stories of the Trust’s past, present and future, as well as looking at some of the biggest conservation challenges Scotland’s wildlife is currently facing, the series of seven episodes will be released weekly from today.
The podcast, which is hosted by two members of Trust staff, Ed Turpin and Rachel Faichnie, provides a unique insight into Scotland’s leading nature conservation charity. Over its 60-year history, the Trust has grown from a handful of passionate people in Edinburgh to a well recognised and highly regarded conservation organisation with over 40,000 members. The podcast series explores some the key milestones the Trust has had during this time, as well as the major projects that are a current priority. It also features a selection of personal stories from staff and volunteers about some of the Trust’s wildlife reserves.
As co-host and one of the series producers, Ed Turpin said: “From researching which stories to tell, to recording interviews with staff, volunteers and partners, the process of producing the Words of the Wild podcast has been a fascinating one. This is the Trust’s first venture into the world of podcasts but as an organisation whose remit is all of Scotland and all of wildlife, there are certainly no shortage of interesting anecdotes from our reserves, projects and people.”
The first episode of Words of the Wild, released today, features interviews with Chief Executive, Jo Pike, on the early years of the Trust; a discussion between Trust Chair, Kenny Taylor, and two long standing volunteers who share their reflections on time spent at Loch of the Lowes Wildlife Reserve; and several staff involved in the Coigach & Assynt Living Landscape describing their work on what is one of Europe’s largest landscape-scale conservation initiatives.
Other episodes will include pieces on the landmark Scottish Beaver Trial, the Trust’s long involvement with restoring Scotland’s peatlands, the work of the Ayrshire Nectar Network, the organisation’s award-winning snorkel trail network and the challenge posed by invasive species, as well as a whole host of other features.
Episodes will be released every Tuesday up to the end of August and are available on all major podcasting platforms. To listen to the podcast, click here.