Show Notes
Host Sean Bean swaps the perfectly pruned for the beautifully wild, discovering how ponds, hedgerows and a little untidiness can transform your garden into a haven for wildlife.
Along the way he's joined by broadcast legends and keen gardeners Zoë Ball and Jo While, ornithologist and environmentalist Dr Mya-Rose Craig, and NHS doctor and RSPB President Dr Amir Khan to explore why “messy” gardens are better for birds — and for our own heads too.
We head to the Forest of Dean with a Forest Holidays ranger, hear from our resident beatboxer and nature sound artist Jason Singh on the great mimics of the sky, and dig into the science behind starling murmurations with Professor Anne Goodenough and artist Steve Geliot — exploring how these vast winter gatherings can lift us through life’s hardest moments.
Follow Get Birding on Instagram.
This episode was produced by Hana Walker-Brown. The Executive Producer is Jane Gerber. This is a Get Birding Production.
The podcast is made in collaboration with Forest Holidays, which encourages birdwatching as part of their guests’ stays, with nature sensitive cabins available in 13 incredible locations across the UK. Use the code GETBIRDING26 when booking, for £40 off a 3-night break or £60 off a 4 or 7 night break. The code expires on 30 June 2026 and is for breaks bookable until 1 October 2026.
To find out more, visit www.forestholidays.co.uk
An open access publication on starling murmurations (using citizen science) by Professor Anne Goodenough is available here https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0179277 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Get Birding
In this episode, host Sean Bean returns to RSPB Arne in Dorset, where autumn migration is bringing birds in from further north. We’ll discover why Poole Harbour is such an important winter haven for waders and waterfowl, and get to know some of the reserve’s remarkable birds of prey.
In this episode, host Sean Bean is joined by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage at RSPB Arne, where they explore the reserve and discover how Dartford Warblers have bounced back, from just two pairs at Arne in 1965 to 97 pairs last year. Simon talks about how birds have found their way into his poetry, his love of their names, and one very questionable identification during a 24-hour bird race.
In this episode, we’re exploring generational birding and how a love of nature is passed down through families. Sean Bean is joined by lifelong birders Dr. Mya-Rose Craig and her dad Chris at RSPB Arne, who share memories of birding together, from Mya-Rose’s first twitch at just nine days old to an overnight trip to Orkney to see a rare Sandhill Crane.
In this episode, host Sean Bean is joined by wildlife biologist and broadcaster Dan O’Neill at RSPB Ham Wall, where they explore the wildlife of this wetland habitat, from ospreys and cormorants to marsh harriers, kingfishers and dragonflies. They also reflect on their shared childhood passion for birds of prey and how spending time in nature can put life into perspective.
In this episode, host Sean Bean is joined by broadcaster and lifelong birder Kirsty Gallacher to explore the seminal moments that have shaped her love and appreciation for birds, from peregrines and racing pigeons to a powerful encounter with an owl during a time of grief.