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, ...
Nov 14, 2024•26 min•Season 3Ep. 6
Amid all the wonderful wildlife that is attracted to rivers, birds are some of the most spectacular. In this episode of Waterlands, Megan McCubbin hears stories of birding and freedom, kingfishers and kittiwakes. David Lindo, aka the Urban Birder, “hit the wall” a couple of times in a gardenless flat in Spain during lockdown. He shares how he sought out a river as soon as the restrictions were lifted, and was brought to tears by the sight and sound of nightingales and Cetti’s warblers. The sound...
Oct 31, 2024•24 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Have you ever wondered whether you could look at the plants and animals in a river and tell how healthy it is? In this episode of Waterlands, Megan McCubbin invites us on a journey to a sparkling clear chalk stream, where warblers sing and water crowfoot blooms – the River Wylye in Wiltshire. She’s joined by someone who has spent 45 years working in river conservation and still loves every second; Andy Thomas, Conservation Officer at the Wild Trout Trust, who explains the different life that can...
Oct 17, 2024•27 min•Season 3Ep. 4
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 Humb...
Oct 03, 2024•26 min•Season 3Ep. 3
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...
Sep 19, 2024•23 min•Season 3Ep. 2
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 re...
Sep 05, 2024•29 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Waterlands is back for a third series. Hosted by Megan McCubbin, zoologist, conservationist and Springwatch presenter, join her as she takes you on a journey exploring the UK’s vibrant rivers. The series will unveil the vital interplay between our waterways and the life they support. Beyond literally travelling down rivers across the UK, this series also navigates the rich history and crucial roles that rivers play in maintaining balance in the environment and shaping human culture. Megan and he...
Sep 03, 2024•2 min
Have you ever peered into the blackness of a pond at night and wondered what lurks beneath? Come with us and find out in this special, spooky, episode! From creatures with unimaginably strange bodies that could be straight out of a sci-fi movie, to the bizarre upside-down swimming water boatmen - life in a pond can be brutal. It really is the world of eat, or be eaten. Like lots of other habitats, as dark falls, ponds turn other-worldy, yet often we don’t get to experience them. In this episode ...
Oct 26, 2023•32 min•Season 2Ep. 6
When is a pond not a pond? Well, when it’s a puddle! When you think of a puddle, children jumping around in their wellies may be one of the first things that come to mind. But there are some types of pond which really have more in common with a puddle, they come and go, they’re wet, then they dry up. They’re known as ephemeral ponds, and in this episode Megan McCubbin heads back to where she grew up, the New Forest to hear their magical story. The mysterious temporary ponds we’re visiting are ev...
Oct 12, 2023•29 min•Season 2Ep. 5
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 tim...
Sep 28, 2023•33 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Water has a way of calming us “it just does something to us” says Nadeem Perera...but it can also bring us together. In this episode Megan McCubbin explores the abundant pond life of Cody Dock in East London, which not only attracts the likes of Reed Warblers and Sticklebacks but members of the local community who have all helped transform and shape the area into a rich haven. We also join co-founder and nature activist Nadeem Perera next to one of his favourite slices of nature, right in the he...
Sep 14, 2023•27 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In years gone by a walk through farmland wouldn’t be complete without passing a pond or two. But sadly they’re increasingly rare on farms, but why? In this episode we head down to the farm to find out more about why rather than filling them in, farmers are now understanding the benefits that ponds can have in creating biodiversity. Riverford in Devon is one of the UK’s most well known organic farms and they’re bringing new life to the land, such as helping to provide homes for hungry toads, who ...
Aug 31, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 2
When you think of ponds, do you think of the dizzying array of creatures that live within them? More than tadpoles and dragonflies, the humble pond is vital to entire ecosystems, and a small garden pond often supports more biodiversity than even a lake or river. And the best thing is – we’re never far from one. Whether it’s a bucket on an urban balcony or a mighty farm pond filled with amphibians and insects, these mini-wetlands can offer huge benefits to wildlife as well as our own wellbeing. I...
Aug 17, 2023•27 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Join zoologist and wildlife presenter Megan McCubbin for a brand new series of Waterlands as she explores the wonders of the seemingly humble pond, home to a dizzying array of species. Whether it’s a bucket on an urban balcony or a mighty farm pond filled with amphibians and insects, this series of the podcast dives in to show us how these mini-wetlands sustain wildlife as well as our own wellbeing. You'll never look at a pond in the same way again!
Aug 11, 2023•1 min
For our final episode, we’re peering into the depths of some mysterious local ponds with a hydrophone, discovering how the ghosts of wetlands past can lead us towards a more hopeful trajectory for living with water. With nearly all of our wetlands gone since the Roman times, we hear the story of how they disappeared so drastically, reaching back to a time when Britain was a wild, wet landscape and King Alfred hid from Vikings in the Somerset marshes. Holding onto the little that remains, we ask,...
Dec 01, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 6
The ebb and flow of the waters that cover our lands is one of nature's well-known phenomenons, defining our yearly cycles and driving life on earth. But these cycles are being thrown out of balance, with devastating effects. On this episode, we explore the history of flooding in Britain — is what we’re experiencing now unique, or has it all happened before? We go to a special place in Somerset where water has been allowed to take over the landscape, as it did in the past. And we meet someone who...
Nov 17, 2022•18 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Around the world, we're witnessing the increasingly extreme impacts of climate change and global warming. Floods, landslides, tsunamis, storms, heatwaves and droughts are all becoming more frequent and more intense. When disaster strikes, it usually manifests itself through water. But can water also be part of the solution to solving the climate crisis? To find out, we’re spending time in the lush swamps of Madagascar's mangroves and the wild beauty of our British Estuaries. Along the way, we’ll...
Nov 03, 2022•20 min•Season 1Ep. 4
We meet ‘the mermaid swimmer’, Lindsey Cole, at Conham River Park in Bristol. While travelling the River Avon to raise awareness of plastic pollution, she ran afoul – literally – of another issue, when she suddenly fell very ill, poisoned by sewage. We learn more about why, exactly, our waterways are such a mess and head to Gloucestershire to look at an ingenious human-made wetland on the banks of the Severn. We discover how special places like these can protect us from some of the nastiest bugs...
Oct 20, 2022•19 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Why is it that being close to water makes us feel so much better? We travel to the water’s edge to understand more, meeting people whose lives have been profoundly changed by its effects. We hear from experts in nature prescribing who offer practical tips for improving our wellbeing, and we learn about the emerging science that reveals just how essential water is for our minds as well as our bodies. Featuring: Fashion designer Savannah Miller and Sarah Guise (The Rewild Swim Club), Dr. Lewis Ell...
Oct 06, 2022•21 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Humans are now officially an urban species, with over half of us living in cities. But how are urban centres and wetlands intertwined? And why should we continue to strive for a closer connection with the water on our doorstep? We travel to London Wetland Centre, in the shadow of Heathrow Airport, to find out what impact these small but vital pockets of wetland have on our collective health. Featuring Kwesia (City Girl in Nature), Beth Collier (psychotherapist, Wild in The City), Nick Oliver (En...
Sep 22, 2022•23 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Coming 13th September 2022. Introducing Waterlands, a brand new series from the 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. Waterlands takes you on a journey around our incredible wetlands here in the UK - and reveals their power to shape our future for the better. Through personal stories and intriguing interviews, join Roxy Furman, as she explore the wonders of our w...
Aug 15, 2022•1 min
