Chris Skinner has been busy counting the swallows on the farm. He catches their early morning chatter as the thirty-seven birds prepare for the day ahead.Chris takes Matthew Gudgin and terrible terrier Rat, to a field full of creeping buttercups. They return to the woodland where the bluebells were. They're long gone now, but standing in their wake are the towering foxgloves - Digitalis purpurea. Chris, Matthew and Rat then come across some enormous animal hoof prints of red deer a...

Chris Skinner gives Matthew Gudgin an impromptu tour around his house and garden showing the many ways he welcomes wildlife.The pair then venture out onto High Ash Farm to look at the badger set. Chris has recorded some incredible footage of the teenage badgers getting up to mischief in the dead of night. Click here to see the video of the badgers at night.Matthew feels nervous answering listener questions so close to a swarm of bees so they take refuge in the farm truck to answer those....

The wren conducts the dawn chorus for this episode of Chris Skinner’s Countryside Podcast.Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin stomp through the woodland to chomp on the edible wild garlic.The dwindling bluebells are going over and their shadow brings the early purple orchid to the fore. Chris explains their many names and mentions throughout history and literature.Chris and Matthew sit down to answer your questions whilst waiting and watching for treecreepers to appear. No larger than a cotton r...

Chris Skinner is up at the crack of dawn on the 1st of May to capture the sounds of the morning at High Ash Farm. Part of daily duties involve checking in on the swallows.Matthew Gudgin joins later on in the sunshine and the pair begin their journey around the farm by looking at crab apple trees. Chris and Matthew head to a bird hide and Chris explains the unusual behaviour of the male rooks he’s been noticing. They’ve worked out a new way to get essential water to the females rooks in t...

Chris Skinner shares a moments reflection whilst waiting to see the first swift arrive at Aldeburgh beach. He pinpoints the exact moment when his relationship with wildlife changed forever. Matthew Gudgin arrives at High Ash Farm and the pair take a look at the hidden wonders of the horse chestnut tree. They also study the hawthorne in flower before escaping the chill and retreating to the farm truck to answer questions sent in from listeners.Click here to download the MP3 of the episode...

Chris Skinner starts the day with his elderly geese before checking in on the swallows busy spring cleaning their nests. Matthew Gudgin joins Chris and Rat, his terrible terrier to see the bluebells at High Ash Farm. He explains how these bluebells return year on year and bring a lot of joy to a lots of visitors. Chris takes Matthew to another wooded area that is also carpeted with bluebells and they answer questions from listeners about tree abnormalities, burr poaching and animal tracks. Cl...

Chris Skinner and terrible terrier, Rat take refuge in the farm truck from Storm Kathleen and share the benefits of wind for farmers and for pollination. Chris explains the life of the ash trees and why they thrive in certain areas.  Matthew Gudgin joins Chris at the yard and they delight at the arrival of swallows at the farm. The pair marvel at the tractor working in the field before talking crop circles on the outskirts of Notre Dame Wood. They take a look at the maturing British...

Chris Skinner shares his early morning by showcasing the dawn chorus featuring solos from a sparrow, collared dove and song thrush. After a very wet winter and now an even wetter spring, Chris reflects on what high rainfall means for the farm in the next few months. Chris and Matthew Gudgin observe a family of inquisitive Little Owls at the farm. Will they see more than a wing flutter? Click here to see the owls in their hollow on High Ash Farm’s Facebook page They visit the noisy rookery and...

Chris Skinner captures the eerie sound of a roe buck barking in the woodland and High Ash Farm. He talks us though the risky behaviour of a particularly brave fox at the entrance of a badger set that he caught on his night vision camera. Click here to see the video on High Ash Farm Facebook Page Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin take a punt and enjoy a tour around Wheatfen Nature Reserve to hear about the legacy of a man who inspired Chris to look after wildlife on the farm. Click here to...

Chris Skinner treats us to a special chorus as he captures the dawn of the vernal equinox. Matthew Gudgin then joins Chris at High Ash Farm to admire the spring blooms and varieties of nettles before embarking on a mathematical counting and concentration challenge. Using the truck and very long piece of string, the pair try and spot as many hares as possible on one of the farms larger fields. They are inundated with questions this week covering subjects from bird and frog behaviour, to the...

Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin are joined by Rat the dog who is especially keen to explore the holes of an active warren at High Ash Farm. Rat is busy excavating while Chris explains our relationship with rabbits down the years and the fluctuation in popularity as a source of food and fur. They look at the ground ivy and elm that are both in flower in early spring.  Click here to see videos from High Ash Farm Facebook page  Back at the farm truck, the pair answer listener questions. Chris...

This week Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin see and hear a wide range of wildlife at High Ash Farm including kestrels, Chinese water deer, and skylarks. They explore a field filled with hundreds of small mammals, particularly the long-tailed field mouse or wood mouse, which is the most common rodent in the UK. Chris explains the mouse's habits, favourite food, and predators. He describes the importance of blackthorn hedging and the complicated ecosystem it supports. The pair are then...

Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin delight at the arrival of spring at High Ash Farm. They observe the nesting rooks, the blooming daffodils and violets, and the budding pussy willow. They explore the presence of harvest mice and deer in the area by observing the tracks and footprints left in the soil. Chris shares some historical and botanical knowledge about the willow tree and its uses, including its role in the creation of cricket bats. They also answer listener questions about the River...

Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin lament the unusually wet winter and its impact on the British countryside. Chris shares with us his favourite type of tree,  the Yew Tree, which flowers in the winter months. He tells us  about its historical significance and association with religious sites. They observe roe deer in the woodland and discuss its behaviour and characteristics. They also explore the flowering of the box and dog's mercury plant, both of which are indicators of ancient woodland....

In this episode Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin explore the history and importance of hedgerows in the UK. Chris describes how the landscape has changed over time, with hedgerows being removed and then replanted to recreate wildlife corridors. He ponders his own role in this process and shows deep remorse for removing hedgerows in his younger years. Chris highlights the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG), an organisation that aims to balance the needs of farmers and...

In this episode Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin observe the successional woodland and its natural growth at High Ash Farm. They delight at the array of winter flowers on the woodland floor including snowdrops, violets and pansies.  Chris shows how the pollen from hazel catkins moves around and Matthew points out the various types of fungi nearby. They cosy up out of the rain with a cup of tea in hand and answer listeners questions about mystery bird calls, butterflies and yellowhammers. ...

Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin go on a nocturnal safari drive around High Ash Farm. They talk about the different wildlife that comes out at night, such as deer, birds, and rabbits. They encounter a barn owl and see what is lurking on the edge of the dark wood. Chris and Matthew head to the office to answer listener questions. They discuss  pied wagtails and birdhouse nature cameras. They also mention seeing geese and other waterfowl swimming in a pond on the farm. Click here to download...

In this episode Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin take breakfast for the birds on High Ash Farm. They  observe the abundance of bird life during the winter months, particularly due to the lack of foliage on deciduous trees. They also discuss the feeding habits of various bird species, including rooks, jackdaws, nuthatches and a surprise raven. They witness first hand the impact of ash dieback, a fungal disease that affects ash trees, and talk about Chris' experience of carbon offsetting in...

In this episode Chris Skinner takes Matthew Gudgin to visit a quarry near to High Ash Farm. They talk about the importance of chalk in farming and its various uses throughout history. Chris shows Matthew an 'out-of-this-world' find! They bring out the binoculars and observe lapwings in the fields before answering listener questions. They consider how farmers plan for uncertain weather and explain why sparrows love a dust bath. Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode. Click...

In the episode Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin observe the sparrows occupying nest boxes at High Ash Farm. They explore the relationship between sparrows and humans and offer advice on how to best care for this red list species.  They visit a bird hide in the nearby woodland and observe various bird species, including blue t**s, great t**s, nut hatches, wrens, and coal t**s. They also answer questions from listeners and share their experiences with wildlife on the farm. Click here to...

In this episode Rat, the 'terrible terrier', gets Chris Skinner up in the early hours of New Year's Day for an encounter with a fox.  Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin talk about the history of elms at High Ash Farm and their decline due to Dutch elm disease. They also visit a new elm tree that Chris received as a birthday present. Chris answers a range of questions from listeners about robin behaviours and skylarks, as well as the growth of mistletoe and uncover the mystery of the stunned...

In this podcast episode, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin discuss the wildlife and scenery they encounter at High Ash Farm. They observe the panoramic view of South Norfolk and Norwich, as well as the teasel seed and overwinter wild bird seed mix in the fields. They spot Chinese water deer, skylarks, yellowhammers, and woodcocks. Chris and Matthew delight at the abundance of snails on the oak trees and answer questions about winter moths and planting mistletoe. They end the final episode...

Chris Skinner takes us on a walk through an avenue of oak trees near High Ash Farm, and takes a look at the winter moths that inhabit the trees. Chris and Matthew take a trip to see some mistletoe, and they answer listener questions from around the world. Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode. Click here to donate to the podcast. If you have a question that you'd like Chris to answer on the podcast, send an email to: [email protected] Join the official Chris...

Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin explore the wintry woodland at High Ash Farm. They uncover the green shoots of snowdrops emerging from the leaf litter and find out how their bulbs store energy from the sun to then bloom in winter. Chris introduces Matthew to the habits of grazing sheep on the farm and they admire the wildflower field whilst contemplating listeners' questions. Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode. Click here to donate to the podcast. If you have a question...

In this episode Chris Skinner explains the modern practice of minimum tillage or min-till, which involves drilling crops into the previous crop's stubble instead of ploughing the fields. This method saves farmers time and diesel and helps maintain the food source for gulls, which are land birds that spend most of their time inland.  Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin also dwell on his controversial practice of feeding foxes on his farm to prevent them from preying on pheasants and partridges....