Tag: Land Access

207: Land Access and Irish Trails with John Smyth

A directional sign for the Western Way (Slí an Iarthar) walking trail points left across a rugged Irish landscape of golden-brown moorland and rolling hills. Below it, a Galway County Council sign prohibits dogs from the area. The countryside stretches into the misty distance under an overcast sky, with patches of green grass in the foreground and traditional Irish stone walls visible amongst the heath.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/155i19XSryH8hPBTiiQ7NU Why are no trespassing signs appearing on Irish mountains that hikers have accessed for decades? Can walkers really sue farmers when they injure themselves on private land? What happens when busloads of tourists arrive at remote trailheads with no permission from landowners? Our guest John Smyth, a hiker with 20 years' experience in Connemara … Continue reading 207: Land Access and Irish Trails with John Smyth →

202: Uncommon Ground with Patrick Galbraith

The image shows a book cover for "Uncommon Ground" by Patrick Galbraith. The cover features an orange torn paper effect against a pastoral English countryside background with green fields, trees, and a small river or pond. A cow grazes in the foreground, and there's a wooden fence visible. The subtitle reads "Rethinking our relationship with the countryside" and includes a quote at the bottom from Richard Smyth describing it as "Intelligent and provocative, a raking survey of England."

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ME1jr6gLkgEAYzqvATDKZ Are we being locked out of the countryside, or is the narrative around land access more complex than it seems? How can we navigate the competing demands of farmers, conservationists, and recreational users? In Patrick's new book "Uncommon Ground: Rethinking Our Relationship with the Countryside", he tackles the contentious topic of land access in … Continue reading 202: Uncommon Ground with Patrick Galbraith →

145: The Future of Hunting with Richard Prideaux

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0HhwknMTL2usVF4tUmNQqm?si=931592636903417e With declining wildlife populations, expanding urbanisation and dwindling social acceptance of hunting I often question whether this activity has a future. Add to the list the ageing population of hunters and the minimal recruitment of new hunters from young generations and the picture doesn’t look pretty. So is hunting fading into the history books … Continue reading 145: The Future of Hunting with Richard Prideaux →

128: Rhythms of Nature with Ian Carter

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1GH9KiN0YtHn7p6kYjOtxH?si=b7e39e3f036c4bc7 This week, Ian Carter, naturalist, ornithologist and author, is back on the show with his new book titled Rhythms of Nature. (Previously, Ian was our guest on episode 105.) I really enjoyed his last book so I was eagerly awaiting his next publication. Rhythms of Nature delivers a great, engaging read and, like Ian’s … Continue reading 128: Rhythms of Nature with Ian Carter →

Episode 39: Cycling with Fiola Foley

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7dSZ4IVa5u1VrsGa3vM8Cs?si=ie7Spj7fTfW-lk3px3-kcg&dl_branch=1 In this episode, once again, we return to the subject of cycling. Our guest, Fiola Foley, has a great deal of experience when it comes to all aspects of cycling and the outdoors. In her outstanding career, Fiola has been a pro athlete, worked as a race organizer and spent time working for BMC … Continue reading Episode 39: Cycling with Fiola Foley →