Show Notes
What happens when humans look at the world through non human eyes? In this episode of Different by Nature, I’m joined by Phil Tovey, whose career has taken him from the Royal Marines and DEFRA to researching new ways of understanding risk and our relationship with nature. We talk about Risks Beyond Human Eyes, an experimental project that asked people to experience their local landscape from the perspective of species including earthworms, otters, kestrels, red deer and Atlantic salmon. How do you actually “become” an earthworm? What can an otter notice about a landscape that we don’t? And could stepping into another species’ world help us spot risks — and make better decisions — before it’s too late? We also explore Phil’s military background, learning to read landscapes, the importance of play and imagination, and what happens when nature is given a voice in the way we think about risk. Support the podcast and subscribe!
More from Different by Nature
What if the natural world is making music we've never really heard? This week on Different by Nature, we're joined by musician, sound artist and audio producer Alice Boyd, who finds inspiration in the extraordinary sounds hiding all around us. From recording sounds beyond human hearing to turning plants into musical inspiration, Alice takes us into a world where nature has its own soundtrack. We put our listening skills to the test with a hilarious game of Guess That Sound (with some spectacularly questionable guesses!), explore how Alice transforms field recordings into music, and discover how the sounds of our landscapes are changing. We also explore why a woodland can look just as beautiful as it did 50 years ago, but sound completely different. It's an episode full of strange noises, unexpected discoveries and a reminder that sometimes we need to stop looking and start listening. 🎧 Pop your headphones on. You might never hear nature the same way again. Find Alice's music and projects: https://aliceboyd.info Follow @differentbynaturepod on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Different by Nature — Real life, outside.
What happens when you follow your curiosity instead of the expected path? In this episode of Different by Nature, Hannah speaks to Author of 'On Belonging - Reflections of a Renegade Guide' and Living London Founder Saira Niazi, whose love of wandering started with bunking off school to explore markets, cemeteries and random stops on the London Underground. That curiosity eventually became Living London — a project uncovering hidden places, overlooked communities and the stories that often sit just beneath the surface of the city. Saira talks about walking hundreds of miles across the World and the UK, discovering the power of being different, helping people feel that outdoor spaces belong to them, and why nature and place can connect us back to culture, memory and identity. They also explore untold histories, inclusive walking, neurodivergence, taking unconventional career paths and why sometimes the best thing you can do is simply follow your feet. Plus, Saira shares three of her favourite hidden places in London. Different by Nature — real life, outside.
What if one of your GCSEs meant actually going outside? In this back-to-school episode of Different by Nature, I’m joined by Ruth Carter from Cambridge OCR to talk about the proposed Natural History GCSE — and why it could change the way young people learn about the world around them. We talk about why nature often seems to disappear from education once children reach secondary school, whether young people are really as disconnected from nature as we think, and why learning about wildlife doesn’t need to mean travelling to the countryside. The proposed GCSE includes at least 20 hours of fieldwork, with students encouraged to investigate the nature on their own doorstep — whether that’s trees, moths, bats, lichen on a wall or wildlife living in the middle of a city. Ruth also shares the story behind the GCSE, the importance of young people having a voice in shaping it, and why the subject is already inspiring some people to consider going into — or even returning to — teaching. We also ask a bigger question: if the next generation is going to care for the natural world, shouldn’t understanding it be part of their education? The Natural History GCSE public consultation is currently open and closes on 4 September 2026. https://consult.education.gov.uk/gcse-and-a-level-policy-team/gcse-natural-history-proposed-subject-content/consultation/subpage.2024-02-29.8700504549/ Different by Nature — uncovering the interesting and unusual stories hidden in the outdoor spaces around us. Real Life, Outside.
Meet Jonathan Miller McCall — educator, presenter, content creator and proud nature nerd.
When you hear the word Heritage, you might think of castles, stately homes or museums. But what if heritage is much closer to home? In this episode of Different by Nature, Hannah sits down with Stuart McLeod, Director of England, London & South at the National Lottery Heritage Fund, to explore a different way of seeing the world around us. From the hidden stories of our local parks to the folklore of ancient trees, Stuart explains why nature is one of our greatest shared heritage assets and why it has the power to improve our health, wellbeing and sense of belonging. Together they discuss: - Why parks may be our most democratic public spaces. - The forgotten magic and mythology of nature. - How mindfulness can help us reconnect with the outdoors. - Why local green spaces deserve to be valued as heritage. - How the National Lottery Heritage Fund is helping communities rediscover the nature on their doorstep. This is a conversation about slowing down, looking closer, and discovering that the places we pass every day may hold far more meaning than we realise. Because sometimes, the most powerful heritage isn't hidden behind museum doors it's growing just outside.