Waterlands

Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Immerse yourself in the sounds of the riverbank, crashing tides, wild marshes filled with birds and the underwater sounds of the humble pond as we bring to life our incredible wetlands - and reveal their power to shape our future for the better. Join zoologist and wildlife presenter Megan McCubbin as she explores the wonders of our watery worlds and how wetlands have fed, inspired and transported us from countryside to city, source to sea.  Our wetlands bring us together across species and continents. They’re the source of life as we know it. Yet wetlands only cover about 6% of our planet, and they’re disappearing fast, despite the fact that people and 40% of all wildlife are reliant on them.  This is a podcast all about the wonderful, sometimes surprising and often underappreciated watery places around us, and how they can help us with some of the biggest issues facing life on this planet. ​  You’ll never look at a marsh or pond the same way again. Finalist - Best Climate Podcast, British Podcast Awards 2023 read less

Our Editor's Take

Waterlands is a podcast that celebrates nature. It honors the wonders of wetlands and how they influence people's lives. Megan McCubbin interviews people who work in wetland conservation and sustainability. She also speaks to people with interesting life stories related to these bodies of water.

McCubbin's goal is to make these topics accessible to the general public. While many people might live near wetlands, they might not realize their importance. They may not understand how crucial these diverse ecosystems are to the planet. This podcast seeks to educate but also get the listeners excited about wetlands.

The host of Waterlands is a zoologist, conservationist, and nature filmmaker. After graduating from the University of Liverpool, McCubbin focused on nature advocacy. Her first major role was hosting a BBC documentary about the bear bile industry. Later, she became a regular reporter on Earthrise on Al Jazeera. The show explores the most imminent threats to the Earth and ways to mitigate them.

McCubbin also appeared on Springwatch on BBC Two and in the documentary series Animal Park. McCubbin's education, combined with her hosting experience, helps to make the podcast compelling. She understands how to simplify scientific information and get people enthusiastic about sustainability.

While Waterlands focuses on one small part of nature, the topics related to it are endless. For instance, one episode examines how being close to water improves people's well-being. Another segment talks about the looming climate emergency and how water can be a part of the solution. There are episodes discussing sewage pollution and the history of flooding in Britain.

The conversations on Waterlands are engaging. However, the sound design makes the podcast that much more captivating. Each interview takes place in nature, next to a body of water. The producer weaves in the sounds of birds, running water, and wind. This helps the audience feel like they are right there, near the wetlands. It also makes the listening experience calm and serene.

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Episodes

Eels and Estuaries
14-11-2024
Eels and Estuaries
Where does a river become sea? And where do eels live? In this episode of Waterlands, Megan McCubbin takes us to the Severn estuary – one of the most dynamic estuarine systems in the world and also one of the most important for wildlife in Britain, in search of eels. Joining her on this quest, are three eel fanatics, who have come to know and love this slippery fish from three different perspectives. Michael Malay is an academic and author, whose book about migration and belonging, Late Lights, recalls the first time he held an elver in his hand. He is drawn to estuaries and stories of belonging and remembers how his mind was blown when he first heard the lifecycle of the European eel. Andy Don explains the elusive nature of the eel and how confounding and fascinating they are from a scientist’s point of view. Once everywhere, all up and down river systems, to the point of being eaten by the poor and used as fertiliser or taxes, the eel is now critically endangered. And WWT’s Abigail Mckay explains how the Wetlands Bioscience Team is using cutting-edge eDNA technology to find where eels are – and where they are not, in an attempt to help remove barriers and increase their numbers again. Featuring: Michael Malay, Andy Don and Abi Mackay, Presented by Megan McCubbin If this episode has inspired you to take action for wetlands or discover more about our rivers, visit wwt.org.uk. Waterlands is brought to you by WWT. It’s an 18Sixty production, produced by Ellie Richold, mixed by Melvin Rickarby and original music by Noah Bloom.
River Rambling
03-10-2024
River Rambling
There is little more grounding than walking along a river. Scientists have shown that spending time near bodies of water, particularly while exercising, can boost your overall health and mood. In this episode of Waterlands, Megan McCubbin takes us on a journey to a remote and secret river in rural Wales followed by a city centre river in Cardiff. Three different river walkers explain why they do it and how it has changed their life. First up, television presenter (and president of WWT) Kate Humble shares her very special walk home with her trusty companion Teg, from the source of the River Wye to where it joins the River Severn near her home.  The writer, Helia Phoenix takes us on a guided meditation and shares her story of ADHD breakdown, diagnosis and recovery, explaining how mindful walking along the River Taff, helped her access the simple beauty all around -  the colour of the wall or the sudden crash-landing of a duck onto water.  And Li An Phoa of Drinkable Rivers has been walking for the last ten years for another reason – to bring awareness to her cause, to kick-start a coalition of the willing around each river that she visits, and because she made a promise to the Rupert River in Canada, to do all she could to return to a world with drinkable rivers. Featuring: Kate Humble, Helia Phoenix and Li An Phoa. Presented by Megan McCubbin If this episode has inspired you to take action for wetlands or discover more about our rivers, visit wwt.org.uk. Waterlands is brought to you by WWT. It’s an 18Sixty production, produced by Ellie Richold, mixed by Melvin Rickarby and original music by Noah Bloom.
Rivers and People: A dance across time and space
19-09-2024
Rivers and People: A dance across time and space
We are all drawn to the beauty and power of rivers, but have you ever wondered how they have changed us? Or how we have changed them? In this episode, Megan McCubbin takes us to Devon, to meet the river poet Alice Oswald by her ‘pretty little stream’, the Torridge. Writers and artists through the ages have been drawn to the beauty and power of rivers, and Alice is no exception. The river was a paradise throughout her childhood; a place for skimming stones, catching (and setting-free) minnows and escaping to another reality. She believes we are drawn to the wildness and otherness, as well as to the animals and different, changing landscapes of rivers as they travel from source to sea. Paul Raven, Author of Rivers: A natural and not-so-natural history, examines the relationship between rivers and people since the ice age and shares how human actions across history have positively and negatively affected the health of our waterways and the creatures that depend on them.  Roisin Taylor, Co-Director of UK Youth 4 Nature shares the important work they are doing to redress the balance and implores us to ‘find a dipper and then you’ll want to save that river.’ Featuring: Alice Oswald, Paul Raven and Roisin Taylor, Presented by Megan McCubbin If this episode has inspired you to take action for wetlands or discover more about our rivers, visit wwt.org.uk. Waterlands is brought to you by WWT. It’s an 18Sixty production, produced by Ellie Richold, mixed by Melvin Rickarby and original music by Noah Bloom.
Bouncing Bogs: At the source of a river
05-09-2024
Bouncing Bogs: At the source of a river
Have you ever stood beside a river and imagined where it all begins? In this episode of Waterlands, Megan McCubbin takes us to the Flow Country in Scotland, home to the world’s largest expanse of blanket bog, where water seeps slowly through a maze of pools before feeding rivers like the Thurso. Joined by someone who’s spent a lot of time in this ecosystem, Millie Revel Hayward, Megan explores this fascinating and fluid landscape, discovering how the bog acts like a sponge, absorbing rain and releasing pure water into the ecosystem. As they bounce on the waterlogged land, like a natural trampoline, they reveal how this ancient peatland supports everything from breeding salmon to rare wading birds like the golden plover. Dr. Mark Everard explains the complex, interconnected systems of rivers, from their underground sources to the impact of human activities like farming. He shares how changes in the landscape can shift a river’s path and flow before it even reaches the surface. And artist Kathy Hinde dives into the sounds of the bog, crafting a unique soundscape from beneath the blanket of moss, capturing the rhythms of this hidden world. Featuring: Milly Revill Hayward (RSPB Scotland), Dr. Mark Everard (Author and Environmental Scientist) and Kathy Hinde, Presented by Megan McCubbin If this episode has inspired you to take action for wetlands or discover more about our rivers, visit wwt.org.uk Waterlands is brought to you by WWT. It’s an 18Sixty production, produced by Ellie Richold, mixed by Melvin Rickarby and original music by Noah Bloom.
Watching (and waiting) for Watervoles
28-09-2023
Watching (and waiting) for Watervoles
They’re one of our most precious but sadly most threatened species in the UK. So, how can ponds help sustain this wonderful species and why do we need to help them thrive? We’ve donned our binoculars for this episode as we celebrate the wonder of watching wildlife and go in search of the illusive watervole. Some of Megan McCubbin’s earliest memories were down at a local pond, waiting to catch a glimpse of it’s wildlife and remembers hearing a watervole’s distinctive ‘plop’ for the very first time.  We meet Jo Cartmell in a favourite spot next to her village pond to hear about how she’s dedicated years to monitoring, and blogging about a group of voles who live there (even giving them names). She knows them more than anybody else, will we get to to spot one? And Dr Daniel Foreman of Swansea University explains why such such a quintessentially British pond and wetland species have become so threatened and how we can protect them. Also find out why ponds are such amazing places for sustaining the life of not just watervoles, but an abundance of species as we take a journey from the bottom of the pond to the surface with Ellie Jones from WWT. (And we should also point out watervoles are very cute, here’s a photo) Featuring: Jo Cartmell (@Watervole and find out more at watervole.or.uk), Dr Daniel Foreman, and Ellie Jones from WWT. Presented by Megan McCubbin. If listening to this podcast inspires you to take action for wetlands and find out more then visit wwt.org.uk Waterlands is a series brought to you by the WWT. It’s an 18Sixty production, the producer is Melvin Rickarby and original music is by Noah Bloom.