Words of the Wild

Scottish Wildlife Trust

Hear how Scotland’s leading nature conservation charity is protecting and restoring wildlife across Scotland. For 60 years, the Scottish Wildlife Trust has been taking action to protect wildlife. Join hosts Ed and Rachel to hear about the breadth of work the Trust does, from practical action on its network of over 100 wildlife reserves to engaging with communities and campaigning for better protection of Scotland’s land and sea. read less

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Invasive species, red squirrels and stories from Carstramon Wood

Invasive species, red squirrels and stories from Carstramon Wood

In 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.Words of the Wild is a podcast from the Scottish Wildlife Trust hosted by Ed Turpin and Rachel Faichnie, produced by Ed Turpin and Pete Haskell with editing support from Bespoken Media.Thanks to Phenotypic Recordings for the music in this podcast, which is taken from James Ross’ work entitled Landscape to Light. This music, as well as the full album by the same name, is available on all major streaming platforms.

Episodes

Invasive species, red squirrels and stories from Carstramon Wood

Invasive species, red squirrels and stories from Carstramon Wood

In 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.Words of the Wild is a podcast from the Scottish Wildlife Trust hosted by Ed Turpin and Rachel Faichnie, produced by Ed Turpin and Pete Haskell with editing support from Bespoken Media.Thanks to Phenotypic Recordings for the music in this podcast, which is taken from James Ross’ work entitled Landscape to Light. This music, as well as the full album by the same name, is available on all major streaming platforms.

Conservation in Cumbernauld, the Falls of Clyde and folk tales from Largiebann

Conservation in Cumbernauld, the Falls of Clyde and folk tales from Largiebann

In our sixth 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. Words of the Wild is a podcast from the Scottish Wildlife Trust hosted by Ed Turpin and Rachel Faichnie, produced by Ed Turpin and Pete Haskell with editing support from Bespoken Media.Thanks to Phenotypic Recordings for the music in this podcast, which is taken from James Ross’ work entitled Landscape to Light. This music, as well as the full album by the same name, is available on all major streaming platforms.

Snorkel trails, the mudflats of Montrose and the community that bought an island

Snorkel trails, the mudflats of Montrose and the community that bought an island

Ed and Rachel head to the beach! In this episode, 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.Words of the Wild is a podcast from the Scottish Wildlife Trust hosted by Ed Turpin and Rachel Faichnie, produced by Ed Turpin and Pete Haskell with editing support from Bespoken Media.Thanks to Phenotypic Recordings for the music in this podcast, which is taken from James Ross’ work entitled Landscape to Light. This music, as well as the full album by the same name, is available on all major streaming platforms.

Nectar networks, conservation grazing and a walk round Shewalton Wood

Nectar networks, conservation grazing and a walk round Shewalton Wood

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.Words of the Wild is a podcast from the Scottish Wildlife Trust hosted by Ed Turpin and Rachel Faichnie, produced by Ed Turpin and Pete Haskell with editing support from Bespoken Media.Thanks to Phenotypic Recordings for the music in this podcast, which is taken from James Ross’ work entitled Landscape to Light. This music, as well as the full album by the same name, is available on all major streaming platforms.

Peatlands, nature-based solutions and creating a nature network in Edinburgh

Peatlands, nature-based solutions and creating a nature network in Edinburgh

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.Words of the Wild is a podcast from the Scottish Wildlife Trust hosted by Ed Turpin and Rachel Faichnie, produced by Ed Turpin and Pete Haskell with editing support from Bespoken Media. Thanks to Phenotypic Recordings for the music in this podcast, which is taken from James Ross’ work entitled Landscape to Light. This music, as well as the full album by the same name, is available on all major streaming platforms.

Riverwoods, beavers and stories from our largest wildlife reserve

Riverwoods, beavers and stories from our largest wildlife reserve

Ed and Rachel head to the woods as we hear from some of the people involved in the Riverwoods project. We take a look back at the Scottish Beaver Trial and some of the impacts it continues to have on conservation today. We then head back north to hear some of the stories of Ben Mor Coigach. Kenny Taylor explores some of the stories of the area and how local people are connected to the land.A huge thanks to Ben from the Tweed Forum and Roisin from Beaver Trust for their involvement.Words of the Wild is a podcast from the Scottish Wildlife Trust hosted by Ed Turpin and Rachel Faichnie, produced by Ed Turpin and Pete Haskell with editing support from Bespoken Media.Thanks to Phenotypic Recordings for the music in this podcast, which is taken from James Ross’ work entitled Landscape to Light. This music, as well as the full album by the same name, is available on all major streaming platforms.

Origins, ospreys and one of the largest landscape-scale projects in Europe

Origins, ospreys and one of the largest landscape-scale projects in Europe

In the first episode, we talk to the Chief Executive, Jo Pike, about the past, present and future 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. Words of the Wild is a podcast from the Scottish Wildlife Trust hosted by Ed Turpin and Rachel Faichnie, produced by Ed Turpin and Pete Haskell with editing support from Bespoken Media. Thanks to Phenotypic Recordings for the music in this podcast, which is taken from James Ross’ work entitled Landscape to Light. This music, as well as the full album by the same name, is available on all major streaming platforms.

Community stories: SOS Leith – How one community is raising its voice to clean up their river

Community stories: SOS Leith – How one community is raising its voice to clean up their river

After fears over the safety of local waterways, a group of residents in Leith banded together to make a change. Listen to the story of SOS Leith and how a group of local people are now working to clean up the Waters of Leith. This episode was recorded as part of the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Nextdoor Nature project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.Production by Bespoken Media.

Community stories: The Isle of Eigg – How a community bought an island

Community stories: The Isle of Eigg – How a community bought an island

In 1997, the Isle of Eigg was bought by its local community. Listen to the story of how the Isle of Eigg community is managing the space for people and wildlife. This episode was recorded as part of the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Nextdoor Nature project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.Production by Bespoken Media.