Show Notes
In 2018 a team of intrepid explorers came in to the possession of a treasure map - one which would see them venture half way around the world to the Australian island of Tasmania. Those explorers were a team of garden experts from across the UK and Ireland who were now on a historic mission to save and catalogue plants for the benefit of people and the planet.
Following in the footsteps of the historic plant hunters, find out what was in store for the team of modern-day collectors and how natural history has helped to shape gardens around the world.
Production Host: Rosie Holdsworth Producer: Jack Glover Sound Design: Jesus Gomez
Contributors Charlie Bancroft and team BIBET Caroline Ikin
Images courtesy and with thanks from the Royal Botanic Gardens of Tasmania. All Rights Reserved.
Discover More Explore a garden lovers home at Nymans in West Sussex where some of the collected species are now flourishing https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/nymans
Read Charlie’s report here: https://merlin-trust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/718-Charlie-Bancroft-compressed.pdf
Find out more about historic plant hunters from our friends at Kew Gardens https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/adventure-and-discovery-around-the-world-with-plant-hunters
BIBET Botantic Gardens Republic of Ireland https://www.botanicgardens.ie/kilmacurragh/ Northern Ireland https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/mount-stewart Wales https://botanicgarden.wales/ Tasmania https://gardens.tas.gov.au/
If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at [email protected]
More from Wild Tales | Nature Podcast
Beneath the trees at Hardcastle Crags, millions of tiny workers are busy building a city of their own. Follow Rosie Holdsworth down to the forest floor, as she meets the northern hairy wood ants and discovers busy motorways, high-rise homes, and even an onsite food production line. Production Host: Rosie Holdsworth Producer: Nikki Ruck Sound Recordist : Jesus Gomez Sound Design : Nikki Ruck
Join National Trust ranger Ajay Tegala in conversation with Zoe Hill, the National Trust’s first-ever Tree Nursery Officer. Zoe offers a fascinating insight into what it takes to grow climate-resilient trees for future generations, from caring for 50,000 young saplings to helping them thrive in an increasingly challenging climate. She also shares practical tips for growing and caring for trees in your own garden.
Bats are some of Britain’s most mysterious mammals. From caves and woodlands to parks and abandoned buildings, they’ve adapted to an astonishing range of habitats, and as night falls, you might spot them emerging from their roosts. National Trust ranger Rosie Holdsworth joins bat conservationist Steve Roe on a series of surveys across the Peak District, tracking these elusive creatures through winter and spring. Part of the National Bat Monitoring Programme, the surveys are helping to build a vital picture of how bat populations are faring across the UK. Often feared and misunderstood, bats are far more fascinating than their reputation suggests. Join us on a journey into their hidden world to discover the remarkable lives of Britain’s bats, and why monitoring and protecting them matters. Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZT4mlDD6j8U
Corvids, such as Crows, Rooks and Jackdaws are known for their high intelligence, problem solving abilities and complex social behaviour. But they’re also often associated with folklore, scary stories and horror movies.
Join National Trust ranger Ajay Tegala in another Wild Voices conversation with conservationist and content creator Emily Askew, and naturalist and wildlife advocate Ben Rumsby. Recorded live at the Global Bird Fair in Rutland, Emily and Ben explore how social media is reshaping the world of birding and inspiring a new generation to connect with nature. From balancing the demands of the algorithm with authentic storytelling to building welcoming online communities, they discuss the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities of sharing the natural world online. Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube: https://youtu.be/1XeTSNw6dgs Production Host: Ajay Tegala Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris & Ajay Tegala Sound: Jesus Gomez Contributors: Emily Askew and Ben Rumsby Discover More You can follow Emily on Instagram here: @emilyinnature_ And Ben here: @brnature1 Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt