The Plodcast
BBC Countryfile Magazine presents The Plodcast, a weekly escape to the British countryside featuring fascinating guests and the wonders of the great outdoors. New episodes drop every Tuesday, with relaxing Sound Escapes on Fridays. The podcast is produced by Our Media, the publisher behind BBC Countryfile Magazine.
Episodes
Sound Escape 279. Wander through a glistening woodland
It's an early summer morning. The sun is already shining through the woodland. Its gleaming rays dapple the well worn path. A gleeful chorus of birdsong welcomes the coming day.BBC Countryfile Magazine's Plodcast Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded and introduced by Hannah Tribe.
356. Witness the amazing power of the outdoors - and rescue hens - to help disadvantaged children
This week, the Plodcast visits Penstone Learning Centre – a farm on the edge of the town of Cheddar in Somerset where students who struggle in mainstream education – often with very challenging behaviour – are taught outdoors among the animals. The results are remarkable. Plodcast host Fergus is shown around by Centre Manager Abbie Ridler and her colleague Tilly Bean – and meets some of the young
Sound Escape 278. Wind down on a hazy Welsh clifftop
It’s evening on the clifftop. You’re sitting on short grass. It’s still holding the heat of the day, and it’s as soft and warm as a blanket. For the nearby lambs, it’s time for bed.BBC Countryfile Magazine's Plodcast Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded and introduced by Hannah Tr
355. Head to the Hebridean island of Bute to meet naturalist and author Lucy Lapwing
This week, the Plodcast heads to the island of Bute off Scotland's west coast to meet author and naturalist Lucy Lapwing to talk about her new book Love is a Toad – discussing relationships with nature with naturalist friends. Annabel Ross wanders Bute's shores with Lucy. Lucy's book is published by Bonnier Books.Get in touch on Facebook! Search "BBC Countryfile Magazine - Plodcast Community" or j
Sound Escape 277. Be calmed and cooled by rainfall in an ancient woodland
High in the hills you enter a deep valley, green with the exuberant growth of early summer. As you wander into the woods listening to birdsong, the oak, beech and hazel gently shelter you from the soft rain.BBC Countryfile Magazine's Plodcast Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded b
354. Chelsea Flower Show Special part 2: In the ancient woodland garden at the show
After exploring the wild inspiration for the Woodland Trust's Forgotten Forests garden at the Chelsea Flower show in last week's episode, Plodcast host Fergus Collins heads to Chelsea on Press Day to see the finished garden. He meets up again with garden designer Ashleigh Aylett and Nick Philips from the Woodland Trust to explore the magical garden and learn some of the secrets of the world's grea
Sound Escape 276. The vibrant bird-chatter of an African island
You deserve a break. Basking in the sun’s amber rays, on an island just off the coast of Africa, you take in the effervescent birdsong and lush vegetation. You’ve never seen so many shades of green. The glistening palm leaves sway, and lull you into a deep sense of calm.BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you som
353. Chelsea Flower Show Special part 1: Exploring Penn Wood, the inspiration for the Woodland Trust's Chelsea Garden
Britain's ancient woodlands are under threat and the Woodland Trust is fighting to save them with its Forgotten Forests campaign. In line with this, the Trust has asked award-winning garden designer Ashleigh Aylett to create an ancient woodland garden for the Chelsea Flower Show, the world's most famous gardening festival.In this, the first of two Chelsea Flower Show specials, Plodcast host Fergus
Sound Escape 275. The enchanted buzz of a honeysuckle plant
Sitting beside a honeysuckle plant blooming in the late spring garden, you are lulled by the hum of many bees, while swallows twitter overhead – and a song thrush elbows his way into the conversation with a delightful rendition of all his Maytime hits.BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, w
352. Escape to the stunningly beautiful wilds of Torridon in the Scottish Highlands
Plodcast host Fergus Collins ventures into the stunning mountainous region of Torridon on the west coast of Scotland to explore the lochs, woods and peaks for the first time. With two friends, he embarks on a wild fishing expedition and meets some of the extraordinary local wildlife.Plus, this episode, join the Plodcast team for a Plodchat where we share stories of nature and read out brilliant me
Sound Escape 274. A chorus of cuckoos and song thrushes above Loch Torridon
As the dawn sun blazes over the wide Loch Torridon below, birds stir in the sheltered, verdant glen that runs down to the shore. A strident song thrush, a soft cuckoo – and not a sound of human activity.BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Fergus Coll
351. Explore a marvellous garden of bees with writer and expert Dave Goulson
Professor Dave Goulson is one of Britain's foremost experts on bee ecology and conservation. And his Sussex garden is a magnificent example of how to create the perfect haven for our most precious pollinators.Plodcast host Fergus Collins enjoys a tour of this mini nature reserve and meets some of our charismatic spring bee species – while Dave tells fascinating tales of the hidden world of these a
Sound Escape 273. Hear the magic of willow warblers and chaffinches on the Isle of Purbeck
A mid-spring morning on the heath. Showers scud through on a brisk breeze, chased by the sun and a steady trickle of southerly arrivals. Among the grey peel of silver birch, a willow warbler and a chaffinch sing their steady descent. A wistful melancholy as the gorse begins to glow.BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and trans
350. A quest to find hidden urban wildlife with Amanda Tuke on the streets of Cardiff
We head into the city this week with urban naturalist Amanda Tuke. Amanda is a champion of the nature on your doorstep so Plodcast host Fergus Collins met her outside Cardiff Central station to begin a quest to find wildlife on a ramble through the busy city. Listen on for a Plodcast full of surprises.Amanda's book Wild Pavements: Exploring Britain's Cities with an Urban Naturalist is published by
Sound Escape 272. Relax to the evening symphony of an oak woodland - led by a song thrush
Late afternoon meets the first tendrils of dusk and the oakwoods are empty of people. Instead, birdsong fills the half-light beneath the trees: song thrush, great tit, chiffchaff and blackbird weave their spring melodies into an enchantment. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever yo
349. Haunting folk tales and beautiful art inspired by nature with Jackie Morris and Tamsin Abbott
Head into a quiet, magical corner of Herefordshire to meet artists Jackie Morris and Tamsin Abbott who have collaborated to create Wild Folk: Tales From the Stones – stories of folklore, of nature, of landscape, love and sorrow. Plodcast host Fergus Collins was lucky enough to meet the pair and hear their own wild tales – plus some enchanting readings from the book.Wild Folk: Tales from the Stones
Sound Escape 271. Gaze over the sun-kissed sea on the South-West coast
It's a hazy morning on the South-West coast. The sun's rays disperse across the silent waves, glittering over passing boats. A choir of birds greet you, as you sit and watch the world awaken.BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Lewis Dobbs and introdu
348. A quest to discover the secret of painter John Constable's genius - with Susan Owens
Painter John Constable (1776-1837) is today one of the most celebrated painters of the English countryside. But in his lifetime his efforts to capture the true essence of nature and rural life were often rejected by his peers. What made him so special and why is he so revered now?Now, on the 250th anniversary of Constable's birth, Plodcast host Fergus Collins meets art historian Susan Owen in 'Con
Sound Escape 270. Be entranced by a sensational dawn chorus from Dorset
A cool dawn, dew-dampened and soft air. In these folds of West Dorset, it will be another hour before the sun reaches above the sharp-edged ridge in the south east, but below, where the blackthorn blossom is almost spent, the birds are in full voice.The familiar voices, blackbird, song thrush and robin, now joined now by visitors from further south, the blackcap, chiffchaff and garden warbler, all
347. A marvellous metal detecting quest with Lucy Gray and Ellie Bruce from Roman Found
Come metal-detecting in the Essex countryside with Ellie Bruce and Lucy Gray – who call themselves Roman Found. After taking up detecting during the first Covid lockdown, Lucy and Ellie have been sharing their exciting discoveries on social media and built up a huge following. Now they have written their first book: Thing We Found in the Ground (Harper North)Plodcast host Fergus joined Ellie and L
Sound Escape 269. Climb up among the skylarks and the meadow pipits
A track winds up onto a bleak hill top – or it looks from afar. As you get closer, you realise the land is rich in bilberries, heather and small, stunted hawthorns. Soon you are in the skylark zone – with meadow pipits singing their hearts out alongside their more famous avian cousins. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and t
346. A quest to find Britain's only venomous snake, the adder
This week we're in the Malverns in Worcestershire to try to find Britain's only venomous snake – the adder. Plodcast host Fergus Collins is guided by local adder expert Nigel Hand, who has spent much of his life working to protect these increasingly rare reptiles.Discover the secret life of the adder and learn why we need to respect – and even love – this springtime jewel.Photo: Steve SayersOur Fa
Sound Escape 268. Hear the spring song of the firecrest, Britain's smallest bird
A gentle walk at this time of year can suddenly throw up a surprise. A firecrest! The thin, accelerating song of Britain's smallest bird pipes among the robins, wood pigeons and blackbirds. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Fergus Collins and intro
345. Discover an extraordinary mission to make humans more aquatic. The Plodcast visits DEEP project
Come with us through the high security gates of a flooded quarry in the Forest of Dean to explore Deep project. Here, in the deep waters of the quarry, DEEP is experimenting with creating habitats for long-term human existence underwater. Plodcast host Fergus Collins meets Phil Short, DEEP's underwater research and training lead for a tour of this futuristic mission and its engineering wonders.Lea
Sound Escape 267. Gaze into the gentle currents of the Kennet and Avon Canal
Watching ripples of river water swirl and overlap, you allow your mind to wander. The clear water’s constant stream is hypnotic as it makes the vivid green algae dance. The proud chirpings of birdsong send you into comfortable doze.BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen t
344. A thrilling night-time quest to experience the great spring toad migration
It's night in the woods deep in the Cotswold Hills. Plodcast host Fergus joins friend and environmental writer James Fair to see if they can witness the great spring toad migration, where toads leave their winter hideouts and head across land in huge numbers to find a pond or lake to breed in. Have the daring duo left it too late? What will they find on this nocturnal ramble?Our Facebook page is b
Sound Escape 266. Relax to the dusk melodies of a male blackbird
As dusk falls and human activity finally slows in a small market town, a blackbird decides now's the time to release his latest album of lullabies. Slow, beguiling and wistful, his songs lifts the spirits of all within earshot.BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
343. Join the Plodcast team for a lazy day's fishing on the Kennet and Avon Canal
Join the Plodcast team for a new fishing adventure, this time on the Kennet and Avon Canal in Berkshire. Writer, angler and naturalist Kevin Parr joins Fergus, Hannah, Jack and Lewis to see if they can catch an elusive but beautiful predator of the waterways. Better still, they've been given special access to a normally private stretch of this famous canal. Listen on for a truly breathtaking encou
Sound Escape 265. Stirrings of spring on Llangorse Lake
A rare day of sun across the lake transforms late winter into a hint of spring. Canada geese stir and honk, a great white egret chitters overhead and excitable peeps, churs and hums from the reedbeds suggest nestbuilding and courtship among the waterbirds.BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautifu
342. A journey through time, land and community with country writer Nicola Chester
Award-winning countryside writer Nicola Chester joins the Plodcast this week in her home village of Inkpen in Berkshire to talk about her new book, Ghosts of the Farm. In this amazing story, she weaves her own rural experiences with those of pioneering local farmer Julia White, who farmed in Inkpen in the 1940s and 50s and oversaw fundamental changes to agriculture and the landscape that have enor
Sound Escape 264. Take the afternoon off by pottering in an allotment
After a long day, green fingers are calling. Sat beside a quiet allotment, you take in the gentle breeze. Watching over the freshly sprouting veg and blooming bulbs, you're soothed by the murmur of fellow growers.BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by J
341. Enjoy the thrill of coldwater swimming in midwinter in the Cotswolds
Could you go coldwater swimming in the depths of winter? James Fair attempts to do just that in lake deep in the Cotswolds. He joins his wife Louise and four of her friends to hear about how swimming in freshwater, whatever the temperature, has a hugely positive impact on physical and mental health. It's an inspiring adventure.Later, join the regular Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah, Jack and Lewis
Sound Escape 263. Be lulled by the sounds of a 17th-century mill and water wheel in action
Down a windy track in a small valley at the very point where Herefordshire meets Wales, you find a watermill, restored and still working. As water from the leat gushes onto the wheel, it slowly creaks into life. At first, you marvel at the throb of the wheels and gears within the mill before relaxing to the steady pulse of the wheel itself. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly aud
340. Discover the healing power of wild plants with Brigit Anna McNeill
After serious childhood trauma and a high-octane but destructive life as a model, Brigit Anna McNeill found solace and healing in the company of wild plants – and wise women. Plodcast host Fergus Collins met Brigit in a peaceful corner of Devon to hear about her journey to become whole again – and her advice on how we can all rewild ourselves to improve our mental and physical health. It's an unmi
Sound Escape 262. Be soothed by gentle rain and birdsong
Very little is stirring in the deep dark winter woodland. That is until you come to a wide clearing on the edge of the wood, with slumbering farmland beyond. Here, inspired by the light, a song thrush sings over the chatter of a small flock of chaffinches – while a gentle rain falls on the leaf litter. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to hel
339. Hear the extraordinary stories of London's last gas lamplighters
Did you know that, even today, some of London's streets are lit by gas? Annabel Ross heading into the city's twilight zone to meet Aran Osman whose job it is to maintain these Victorian relics, which still illuminate much of Central London. Annabel also talks to Annelie Whitfield, who is writing a book about artificial light and its effect on humans and animals. Find Aran on Instagram @london_lamp
Sound Escape 261. Wander through a woodland listening to a stream's song
What's normally a gentle brook, winding through a peaceful woodland, has been transformed by many days of rain into a breathtaking torrent. You get your feet wet crossing the ford but the stream's exuberant song more than makes up for damp socks. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherev
338. Discover the bizarre tale of the last battle fought on English soil - with writer Ian Breckon
Did you know that the last battle fought on English soil occurred in the early years of Queen Victoria – out in the Kent countryside? Historical novelist Ian Breckon has unearthed the extraordinary tale of Mad Tom and his 'rising' in the late 1830s and what it tells us about rural life at the time. Ian spoke with Plodcast host Fergus Collins on a walk in London's Highgate Woods.Ian's book Mad Tom'
Sound Escape 260. Hear a lost sound of the countryside: the clattering mill
This week we're featuring a lost sound of the countryside – the curious melodies of clattering mills. These were wind-powered devices on tall poles that made a racket to scare birds from the crops – especially starlings plundering cherry crops. Thanks to Sonke Prigge for collecting these incredible sounds, which will be included in the British Library’s Very Rare and Lost Sounds collection. This
337. Head into the green lanes of Devon to discuss honesty boxes and mental health with writer Lucy Brazier
What is an honesty box? And how did it help writer Lucy Brazier understand her husband's serious mental health issues and save her marriage? And all this against a backdrop of a quirky and often challenging rural existence in deepest Devon. Plodcast host accepted Lucy's invitation for a walk and deep and meaningful talk on one of those rare, crisp winter days. Lucy's book The Honesty Box: the diar
Sound Escape 259. Enjoy the early morning crunch of footsteps in fresh snow
You awake to a strange silence, a deep calm. As you draw back the curtain, you are surprised to see a soft blanket of snow across the garden and beyond. This wasn't forecasted. But, like the boy in the Snowman, you quickly pull on warm clothes and dash out to explore – to be the first to lay down a trail of footsteps in the fresh snow. Sparrows, a gorgeous song thrush and distant barking hounds pr
336. Come for a wander in a winter woodland - and then enjoy the Big Garden Birdwatch
This week, Plodcast host Fergus sets out to find signs of spring in seldom-visited woodland in south Monmouthshire. Listen on for a mindful Plodcast full of eerie midwinter atmosphere. Later, Fergus returns to his garden to record a Big Garden Birdwatch for the RSPB. The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA
Sound Escape 258. Wild encounters and roaring waves on the Sussex coast
The pipes and flutes of curlews, oystercatchers and redshanks rise occasionally above the rush and roar of breakers on this little visited haven along the Sussex coast. You walk along the high tide line, splashing through pools of cockle and limpet shells. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beauti
335. Meet the rebel wilding lord trying to build the WildKingdom
Hugh Crossley aka Lord Somerleyton has rewilded large parts of his estate on the Norfolk-Suffolk border. After initial success spreading his message across East Anglia – in what he and his rewilding partners called WildEast – Hugh is aiming to spread his 'Map of Dreams' across the whole of the UK.Plodcast host Fergus Collins went for a wander with Hugh around his estate for an entertaining talk ab
Sound Escape 257. Hear a garden come alive with birdsong as it is warmed by the winter sun
After several days of intense cold deep in the Sussex countryside, a bright, warmer morning encourages a procession of birds to move through the garden in search of food – from rooks and jackdaws to dunnocks, robins and long-tailed tits. The resident sparrows seem to cheerfully welcome these visitors. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help
334. Talking curlews and wild musical inspiration with singer-songwriter Merlyn Driver
Head to the Severn Estuary to meets curlews and other wild waterbirds in the company of singer-songwriter Merlyn Driver. Merlyn's music draws on nature and folk traditions and he talks to Plodcast host Annabel Ross about why he needs this magical connection. Later in the Plodcast, Annabel and Merlyn meet with writer and conservationist Mary Colwell, who has done so much work to save the curlew in
Sound Escape 256. The winter song of the River Severn, deep in the heart of Wales
Just a few miles from its source, the River Severn is already a dashing, tumbling river, full of youthful promise and energy. You meet it while walking in a small market town – listening to the river's winter song as it cascades over rocks and through mini gorges before heading out into wide pastures and down into the borders. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard fr
333. Prepare for the Big Garden Birdwatch with a walk in a special woodland with the RSPB's James Robinson
The RSPB's annual Big Garden Birdwatch is one of the world's biggest citizen science projects and provides incredible insights into the populations of our common birds.To find out more, Plodcast host Fergus meets the RSPB's Chief Operating Officer James Robinson in beautiful RSPB Nagshead Nature Reserve in Gloucestershire. As they listen out for winter birdlife, James explains to Fergus why the Bi
Sound Escape 255. A walk through a winter woodland, footsteps hushed by fallen leaves
It's bright and sunny but it's an illusion: a gale is swirling through the treetops, the aftermath of last night's storm. Shielded among the trees, you enjoy a walk through piles of fallen leaves – even the most reluctant faller plucked from its twig by the wind.BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere b
332. Blow off the cobwebs with a hike into the hills to find the legendary Chartists' Cave
Happy New Year and welcome to the first Plodcast of 2026. The Plodcast is a weekly adventure in the British countryside brought to you by BBC Countryfile Magazine. In this episode, Plodcast host Fergus Collins sets out on a bright morning into a little known upland landscape in the Bannau Brycheiniog to search for the legendary Chartists' Cave. He is joined by friend and regular walking leader for
Sound Escape 254. Wake up to gentle birdsong in a sleepy village
It's early morning and the winter's frost is receding as you step out into the brisk air. The low coos of wood pigeons greet you as you gaze at the mellow pink sky. The sounds of people to-ing and fro-ing tell you it's time to put the kettle on.BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever
331. Enjoy an epic starling murmuration on the Somerset Levels with the Plodcast team
A very special Plodcast to end 2025. The Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah, Kev, Jack and Lewis head to the Somerset Levels in the hope of witnesses and recording one of Europe's most extraordinary wildlife spectacles: the great starling roost over the reedbeds of this wild and wonderful part of the West Country. It did not disappoint. Have a listen!
Thank you so much for listening and contributi
Sound Escape 253. Hear the voices of a million starlings going to roost
Dusk is imminent and you're standing on a raised path, an old abandoned railway line through the marshes. For the past 30 minutes vast uncountable flocks of starlings have poured overhead and settled in the reedbeds. Now, millions of chattering voices sound like breakers on a distant shore while other wetland birds chur and chunter unseen.BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio
330. It's the Plodcast Christmas Special and team quiz 2025!
Join the Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah, Jack and Lewis – with special guest and quiz master Kevin Parr. As well as tackling Kev's now legendary Plodcast quiz, the team gather by the fire to reminisce about the past year's adventures in nature and the countryside. Plus, Jack has some jokes... Thank you so much for listening and contributing to the Plodcast in 2025. Have a very Happy Christmas and
Sound Escape 252. Enjoy sunshine and peace along the seawall of the Bristol Channel
After climbing a few steps you're atop the sea wall and the vast skies and broad seascape of the Bristol Channel open before you. You're looking south from Wales across the water to Somerset and North Devon. It's eerily quiet with just a distant roar of water, a passing plane and the calls of occasional passing gulls, curlews and goldfinches.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a week
329. Making a spun-iron frying pan at a family-run foundry in Shropshire
Plodcast host Fergus heads to Cleobury Mortimer in deeply rural Shropshire to visit the Netherton Foundry. Here, Neil and Sue Currie and their team make beautiful spun-iron cookware using traditional skills and tools. And Fergus gets the chance to fashion frying pans from scratch – a magical insight into a thriving, family-run rural business. A huge thanks to Neil and Sue, as well as Ryan, Toby, C
Sound Escape 251. Hear the song of the wind on the first icy morning of winter
A cold front has swept down from the north overnight but it's a bright morning over the frosty marshes. A breeze pushes ripples across a lagoon of deepest blue and then gently jostles the dead rushes and reeds. Nothing else stirs.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen
328. Hunting for mushrooms - and legendary animals - with Kevin Parr
Plodcast regular Kevin Parr joins host Fergus Collins for a charming mushroom hunting walk in a wooded Welsh valley. Along the way, as the foraging basket with treats, they discuss Kev's extraordinary new book, An Unnatural History of Britain – his series of epic quests in search of animals that really shouldn't be here.
It's an unmissable audio delight. An Unnatural History of Britain is publis
Sound Escape 250. Swollen by days of rain, the stream has a new song
After 36 hours of rain, the town floods and then the waters recede, surging down brooks such as this. You pause on a bridge above, hearing a stranger, bolder song in a stream you thought you knew so well.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by F
327. Venture out onto the wild Essex marshes with author Michael J Warren
This week, we're heading to the bleakly beautiful Essex marshes to meet historian and birder Michael J Warren – and thousands of waders and wildfowl in this stunning area of big skies, haunting calls and endless water.
Michael's celebrated new book, A Cuckoo's Lea (published by Bloomsbury) explores how our medieval ancestors included birds in so many of their places names (most of which survive
Sound Escape 249. The haunting calls of waders and wild geese on forgotten Essex coast
Deep in the Essex Marshes, you find solitude on a path that skirts marsh and lagoon. But you're not entirely alone – from the creeks and open water the fluting calls of waders and ducks and the deeper gutteral utterances of Brent geese create a haunting soundtrack of true wilderness. Wilderness, that is, a sole fishing boat chugs by on its lonely morning mission.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound
326. Join the Plodcast team for a round up of listener emails and nature chat
Join the Plodcast team of Fergus, Hannah, Jack and Lewis in a wild corner of the centre of Bristol for a long-awaited Plodchat – a round-up of our nature adventures plus listener emails, recordings and other funny moments we've had out in the countryside.
Photo taken from Ep. 312, where the team took on the Macmillan Mighty Hike (August 2025)!
Also, the Plodcast is very proud to announce that
Sound Escape 248. Soft sounds of autumn on the edge of the saltmarsh
It's a still autumn morning and you've headed to the sea wall along the edge of the saltmarsh. A gentle rain falls as robins sing in the scrub on the landward side of the wall while occasional redshanks peep and lament from the marsh.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happ
325. Roam a Hampshire woodland in search of rare hazel dormice
This week we're in Hampshire, looking for dormice. These tiny, charming little mammals are hard to find at the best of times but numbers have been declining for decades mainly due to changes to how we manage our woodlands.
Plodcast host Fergus joins Ian White from the People's Trust for Endangered Species, Charlotte Rimmer who is Senior Countryside Officer for Test Vally Borough Council and Richa
Sound Escape 247. A walk through autumn leaves on an ancient earthwork
A path winds on before you, running along the top of an ancient earthwork constructed over a 1000 years ago. To the west, the land falls away into a deep river valley, to the east, fertile farmland that this fortification once protected. Your feet crunch on this year's freshly fallen beech and hazel leaves while a wind blows up for the west, breaking over the dyke as an echo of an invading army.
324. Enjoy a mindful walk along the mighty earthwork running through the Welsh Borders known as Offa's Dyke
From the end of Saxon England last week, we head to the height of Saxon power in Mercia and the reign of King Offa (757-796). Plodcast host Fergus takes a walk along Offa's great work – a massive defensive earthwork that ran along much of the Welsh Borders and can still be encountered today.
What is Offa's Dyke and why and how did Offa build it? Listen on to find out more.
Also, the Plodcast is
Sound Escape 246. Kingfisher calls and dipper song on the rushing river
You've wandered down to the river to listen to its gentle song – but what's that strange birdsong? A metallic chirruping from the far bank... it's a dipper, it's while bib bobbing at the water's edge. And now a kingfisher zips past with a hoarse, high-pitched whistle. Moments of magic on an overcast autumn day.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countrys
323. The Plodcast meets Norman and Saxon warriors at the Battle of Hastings
Witness the reenactment of the Battle of Hastings – on the very site in Sussex where the future of England was changed forever in 1066. English Heritage invited the Plodcast to meet the people re-enacting Norman and Saxon life and then watch the battle unfold. So tune in with Plodcast host Fergus for an unforgettable day out in the countryside.
Find out more about English Heritage's work preservi
Sound Escape 245. Listen to the whispering reedbed as the sun sets over the wetland
A golden autumn sun is dropping behind the hills. A soft wind rides down from the uplands, over the lake and stirs the reedbed. Among the whispers carried on the breeze, you hear croaks, calls and gurgles of waterbirds and even frogs perhaps.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever
322. Discover the history of England in 25 poems - with Catherine Clarke
Explore the history and identity of England from Saxon times to the modern day through 25 poems. Host Annabel Ross meets author Catherine Clarke in the heart of England by the River Thames to discuss her work analysing famous and not-so-well-known verse that sheds light on how a nation sees itself.
A fascinating and highly relevant journey – with singing and strange herons!
Catherine's book A H
Sound Escape 244. Hear the song of the River Usk in Autumn
It's early in the morning and the human world is awake and bustling. But down by the river you pause to watch the water glide over its stony bed and listen as it composes a gentle, soothing chorus. Robins and long-tailed tits drop in from time to time with small, beautiful solos.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transp
321. Secrets of the darkness on a night walk with Andy Flack
As the evenings draw in, we're heading out with environmental historian Dr Andrew Flack to experience how the night change our sensory perception of the world. He has written a new book called Dark Natures: Finding Life in the Shadows, which is out soon. Annabel Ross is your host this week, looking at how humans and animals adapt to the dark – and how it can stoke fears and understanding of the na
Sound Escape 243. The sounds of an English churchyard in early autumn
You've wondered down a country lane to find a small, ancient church with a square tower. Crumbling gravestones covered in moss or lichen lean here and there in the churchyard but no one is around. You find a welcome bench, sit down and simply listen.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, w
320. Wander the beaches of North Cornwall with artist Sarah Adams
In this episode, we head back to high summer and the North Cornwall coast. Plodcast host Fergus takes a beach walk with artist Sarah Adams. Venturing into murmuring caves, Sarah shares valuable insight into the inspiration she takes from the rock formations, the light and the shadows – and how she goes about her work. And she's brought art materials for Fergus to have a go himself. To see Sarah's
Sound Escape 242. Footsteps though a beechwood full of fungi
We're walking in beechwoods in a vale high up in the Welsh hills. Leaves are beginning to fall but the sound beneath your feet is the faint rustle of last year's leaves. Among them, an extraordinary variety of fungi are sprouting and the air is heavy with the scent of mushrooms.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transp
319. Why are wallabies living wild on the Isle of Man? The Plodcast investigates
The Plodcast has learned that hundreds wallabies are living wild on the Isle of Man? How did these Australian marsupials get there and what impact are they having on local ecology?
Friend of the Plodcast James Fair led the expedition into the Irish Sea to meet local experts - David Bellamy and Graham Makepeace-Warne from the Manx Wildlife Trust - and see if he could set eyes on these creatures f
Sound Escape 241. Take a breather overlooking Exmoor's stunning coastline
With the sun high on a cloudless day, you listen to the rippling waves of the Exmoor coast. The gentle foam trickles over deep red seaweed and smoothed rocks. Everything feels calmer here.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Recorded by Lewis Dobbs and introd
318. Discover the power of old ballads with Amy Jeffs on a walk along an enchanted stream
A wonderful Plodcast walk this week – in Vallis Vale in the Mendip Hills. Plodcast host Fergus joins artist, historian and musician Amy Jeffs on a late summer walk along a beautiful stream discussing Amy's new book: Old Songs, which looks at the origins and importance of traditional ballads.
Listen on for some true Plodcast magic – some unexpected wildlife encounters, beautiful singing and a bon
Sound Escape 240. Wind down to the evening song of a rural farm
As the day draws to a close, the cattle gather for their night-time routine, and the birds sing their final calls of the day. The pink-and-orange sunlight spills through the trees and onto the farmyard's vast fields.
BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be.
Record
317. Haunting poetry and crashing waves on the Cornish coast with poet Katrina Naomi
The Plodcast heads to Penzance in Cornwall this week to hear the haunting poetry of Katrina Naomi. Katrina met Plodcast host Fergus on a beach near the town to discuss her latest collection of poems Battery Rocks, inspired by the sea in all its dark beauty.
Poor Katrina had injured her foot so was on crutches – and the whole Plodcast team wish her a speedy recovery.
Battery Rocks is published
