201: Rewild Your Land with Pádraic Fogarty

The image shows a misty rural landscape with a prominent oak tree in the foreground. The scene is bathed in fog, creating a dreamlike atmosphere as the mist hangs over the meadow. In the foreground, there's tall golden grass interspersed with some wildflowers or weeds. Behind this is a wire fence with wooden posts marking a boundary. The oak tree stands majestically in the middle ground, with a full, spreading canopy of green leaves. Around it are other smaller trees and shrubs, partially obscured by the fog. The background shows more trees fading into the dense fog, giving the whole scene a layered, atmospheric quality. The lighting suggests early morning, with the fog likely to burn off as the day progresses. The overall impression is one of peaceful countryside, possibly in Britain or Ireland, with the characteristic hedgerows and field boundaries visible through the mist.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/01cXWsODPTb1IyFJDITvJe What does it mean to 'rewild' a landscape in Ireland, one of Europe's most nature-poor countries? Can rewilding coexist with traditional farming practices, or must we choose between them? How do we balance the need for biodiversity recovery with the cultural and economic realities of rural communities? These questions are at the heart of … Continue reading 201: Rewild Your Land with Pádraic Fogarty →

200: Deer Management in Ireland with Ashley Glover

The image shows large wooden numbers "200" placed in a lush green forest. The numbers appear to be carved from wood with a natural, rustic texture and are partially covered with moss or green vegetation growing on them. They're positioned on the forest floor, surrounded by pine trees and dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy. The setting creates a striking contrast between the man-made numerals and the natural forest environment, suggesting a theme of nature and sustainability or perhaps marking a significant milestone or anniversary related to the number 200.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/11i349yokoK471SyDzdPMh Is Ireland ready to tackle its growing deer management challenges? How will the new national deer management programme impact hunters, landowners, and conservation efforts? What role do thermal imaging technologies play in modern wildlife management? In this milestone 200th episode of Conservation and Science, we welcome back Ashley Glover, a conservationist, master huntsman, and … Continue reading 200: Deer Management in Ireland with Ashley Glover →

191: Rewilding Myths and Misconceptions with Ian Parsons

Book cover of 'Great Misconceptions: Rewilding Myths and Misunderstandings' edited by Ian Parsons. The cover features a nature photograph of golden grass or wheat stalks backlit by sunlight, creating a warm, ethereal atmosphere. The text is overlaid on a dark navy blue panel at the bottom of the image.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3EJuOQQZYq7IDewk89lFrQ?si=2e974059d8234521 What exactly is rewilding? Does it simply mean bringing back wolves, lynx and bears, or is there more to it? Can we balance food production and rural community needs with land left to natural processes and wildlife conservation? To answer these questions, I talk with Ian Parsons, editor of "Great Misconceptions: Rewilding Myths and … Continue reading 191: Rewilding Myths and Misconceptions with Ian Parsons →

Episode 119: Land and Deer Management in Scotland with Megan Rowland

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2i5v0bVI1gAMvnp70gI2QX?si=f7323d9ad0db4c59 For many of you, Megan Rowland needs no introduction. She is a Deer Management Officer for NatureScot, Scotland’s nature agency. Before that, she worked as a surveyor for RSPB Scotland where she surveyed the entire suite of Highland bird species. She has also been a volunteer for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, a local Raptor … Continue reading Episode 119: Land and Deer Management in Scotland with Megan Rowland →

Episode 75: Rewilding Ireland

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0BwupMHGBnELmYE8K66z76?si=AsRHbDF_RzeeVEf2i79Kdw&dl_branch=1 This is yet another episode where my guest and I take on the subject of rewilding. This time our guest is the host of the discussion platform called Rewilding Ireland. https://youtu.be/ulmqa7-UuGw During the podcast, we talk in length about various aspects of rewilding but we also talk about the future of the Rewilding Ireland … Continue reading Episode 75: Rewilding Ireland →