The Ways of Water is a podcast series exploring and celebrating our English waterways through themes of art, poetry, ecology, folk heritage, industrial history, music, wellbeing and the deep mysteries of water itself. It aims to shine a light on our personal relationship with waterways, from those who it inspires creatively to those who work with or on water, and not forgetting the community spirit and important work of those who are currently fighting to protect our waterways from pollution and misuse. Guests include poets Ian Macmillan and Will Burns, musicians Grasscut and Lorraine Bowen, singer Sam Lee, festival organiser Joanna Cherry, the people of Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd, ‘the last bargee’ Alice Lapworth, head of research for QI John Mitchinson and nature writers Tristam Gooley and Chris Yates. It is presented by David Bramwell, with the occasional guest appearances from the inimitable John Shuttleworth and his neighbour Ken.
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David spends the day with celebrated angler, author and squeaky-gate appreciator Chris Yates, to talk about our very natural connection with water. John and Ken make their final guest appearance!
A day by the water with Faber poet Will Burns who walks the Wendover Arm of the Grand Union Canal daily to nourish his sense of wellbeing, plus festival director Joanna Cherry with tales of life on her narrowboat.
David heads to South Yorkshire to discover how a forest of figs came to be growing along the banks of the Don and to uncover one of the greatest river success-stories of recent times: the return of the salmon.
After their lives were ravaged by floods in the winter of 2015, Hebden Bridge’s residents decided the only thing to do was postpone Christmas until June 25th. David dons his best Santa outfit and joins them for an alternative Christmas, and to uncover an incredible story about the power of community spirit.
David meets up with poet and BBCRadio 3 presenter Ian Macmillan by the Calder and Hebble canal to talk poetry, waterways and Northerness and to hear Ian read a few poems of his own.
David spends a sunny afternoon with nature writer Tristan Gooley, learning how to ‘read’ water – its eddies and currents, flora and fauna, colour, temperature and sound. More importantly, Tristan reveals how to always win at Pooh Sticks.
Alice Lapworth shares tales of her life as a bargee in the 1950s, sharing space with a family of eleven, sleeping under her parents’ bed and jiving to gramophone music on the towpath. John Shuttleworth makes his first appearance at the end!
Recorded live at Wilderness Festival, Unbound co-founder and QI head researcher John Mitchinson shares his knowledge and passion for the strangest substance known to science: water. Woven into the episode are extracts from an evocative and exclusive water-themed set by Brighton duo Grasscut.
Mercury Prize-winning musician Sam Lee meets up with David by a fire to discuss the relationship between water and Britain’s folk heritage. And, of course, Sam’s more than happy to belt out a few folk classics.
Aug 27, 2023•13 min•Season 1Ep. 1
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