Having been working to protect Scotland’s wildlife for 60 years, we’ve a few stories to tell!
Join hosts Ed and Rachel as they explore the stories of the Trust’s past, present and future, travelling the length of Scotland to give you an insight into saving Scotland’s wildlife like never before.
Over seven episodes, our Words of the Wild podcast features staff and volunteers who provide on-the-ground updates from our projects, tell the stories of some of our reserves and discuss some of the biggest challenges that Scotland’s wildlife is facing today, as well as looking back at some of our most significant milestones.
Episode one
In the first episode, we talk to the Chief Executive, Jo Pike, about the early years of the Scottish Wildlife Trust. We also explore the Coigach and Assynt Living Landscape, one of the largest landscape-scale projects in Europe and head to Loch of the Lowes where the Trust’s Chair, Kenny Taylor, chats to some of our volunteers about their work with ospreys, beavers and the other wildlife on the loch.
Episode two
In this episode, Ed and Rachel head to the woods, hearing from some of the people involved in the Riverwoods initiative. They take a look back at the landmark Scottish Beaver Trial and the important impact beavers continue to have in Scotland today. And they head north to hear some of the stories of Ben Mor Coigach, the Trust’s largest reserve, where the Trust’s Chair, Kenny Taylor, explores how local people are connected to the land.
Episode three
In our third episode, the Trust’s Terrestrial Policy Manager, Rebekah Strong, explains how nature can provide solutions to some of our problems. Ed speaks with Leo Charlesworth about the pioneering Edinburgh Nature Network and we hear from Julian Warman on the importance of the Trust’s lowland raised bog reserves.
Episode four
In this episode, Ed and Rachel investigate the Trust’s work with grazing and pollinators. We start with a walk at Shewalton Wood Wildlife Reserve in Ayrshire to discover how the site has been transformed from a landfill to a thriving site for nature. Ed has a chat to our conservation shepherd, Laura MacGregor, to find out more about the role livestock and grazing play in restoring habitat. And we shine a spotlight on the Trust-led Ayrshire Nectar Network to find out more about this pollinator-boosting project.
Episode five
For our fifth episode Ed and Rachel head to the beach! We hear from the our Living Seas team on the Trust’s marine policy and engagement work. We take a look back at the historical community buyout of the Isle of Eigg and hear how the island is being managed for both people and wildlife. And we head across to the east coast for a walk on the tidal mudflats of the Trust’s Montrose Basin reserve.
Episode six
In the next episode, we explore wellbeing and nature. We start by hearing about the work of the Cumbernauld Living Landscape and how important it is to connect to nature every now and then. We then head to the Falls of Clyde for a walk up to the waterfall of Cora Linn. Finally, we hear from poet, writer and historian, Angus Martin, who recounts some of his wildlife experiences and recites some of his poetry which was inspired by the landscape of our Largiebaan wildlife reserve.
Episode seven
For our final episode, we find out more about invasive non-native species (INNS). To start, Ed chats to Hazel Forrest, Species Advocacy Officer at the Trust, to find out more about INNS and the threat the pose to native wildlife. We then hear from some of the Saving Scotland’s Red Squirrels team about the vital work they are carrying out across Scotland. Finally, we head to our Carstramon Wood wildlife reserve in Dumfries and Galloway to hear from some of the volunteers who are working hard to preserve the ancient woodland and the valuable native wildlife there.
