What’s a cross between Freecycle, a car boot sale and a nice walk with a cup of tea at the end? The inaugural Wheathamstead Recycling Wander. Cllr Anne Howie tells Amanda Yorwerth all about it in this week’s Environment Matters podcast. For more information, or to say that you would like to hold a stall ... Read more

Ensuring that there’s enough water in Hertfordshire for future generations whilst protecting our rare chalk stream rivers is a huge challenge. In this week’s Environment Matters podcast, we hear about an innovative project by Affinity Water that could provide a blue print for reducing water use in new housing developments around the country.

This week we’re travelling further north in Hertfordshire to hear about another of our county’s precious chalk stream rivers, the River Hiz and its tributaries. In this week’s Environment Matters podcast, member of the River Hiz Conservation Group, Clare Gooden, talks about the unique geography of the river, some of its delights and how some ... Read more

The brainchild of Tricia Gibbons, St Albans’ new eco hub, The Green House has just opened. In this week’s Environment Matters podcast, Amanda Yorwerth takes a tour with Tricia herself. Find out more about the Green House on their website or visit them above Jefferson Eco at 46, London Road, St Albans, AL1 1NG

In this week’s Environment Matters podcast, Professor Dave Goulson of Sussex University explains why he wants all of us to join in the Big Bee Hotel Challenge, and what you’ll need to do to take part. Join the Buzz Club and sign up for The Big Bee Hotel Experiment here https://www.thebuzzclub.uk/thebigbeehotelexperiment See Professor Goulson show you ... Read more

In this week’s Environment Matters podcast, the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust’s Tim Hill talks about 2 incredible birds that the Trust has helped back from the brink. He covers awesome details about the fastest animal in the world, how Watford football club could be following in the steps of St Albans Cathedral and how ... Read more

In this week’s Environment Matters podcast, Amanda Yorwerth takes a tour or St Albans’ newest eco shop where access to all is key. Hear how to hire everything you need for a zero waste party, learn about fun craft courses for teens this Easter and even how you can stock up on crisps that are ... Read more

In this week’s Environment Matters podcast, Watford Borough Council’s Cllr Ian Stotesbury explains about a 10 year project to revitalise the River Colne and our relationship with it. For more about the project including volunteer opportunities visit https://www.rivercolnewatford.co.uk/

In this week’s Environment Matters podcast, Chloe Edwards, the Herts and Middx Wildlife Trust’s Director of Nature Recovery explains why the Trust is concerned about planning proposals for Broadwater Lake SSSI and gives an update on what’s happening now. To learn more about the situation at Broadwater Lake take a look here Plus Helen Nistala ... Read more

In a buzzing podcast, we hear about the mixed fortunes of Sandridge Parish Council ‘s Pollinator Paradise project and how it has inspired Grow Community – Sopwell to start their own Jigsaw Meadows. Follow the flowers and perhaps get some inspiration of your own!

Rondi Allan is the Co-founder of Sustainable X, a UK consultancy helping businesses to benefit from being more sustainable but her working life has taken her around the globe. In this week’s Environment Matters podcast, Rondi shares her unique insight into not just issues around sustainability in the business world but how the situation in ... Read more

In this week’s Environment Matters podcast, Dr Sam Cusworth explains the concerning findings of his research into soil microplastic pollution and Dr Andy Gregory tells us about the local soil archive on which the research was based.

That’s what Helen Burridge from Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership wants to know in this week’s Environment Matters podcast. You can find Helen’s Efficient Homes Survey here We’ll also hear about a new grant available to help some off grid homes with energy upgrades (for more on this phone the Energy Saving Trust on ... Read more

Taking inspiration from the pupils themselves, How Wood Primary School is making big steps in its sustainability including a trip to the nearby Buildings Research Establishment. In this week’s Environment Matters podcast, we hear from teacher, Ms Kaczmarek and some enthusiastic Year 4 pupils.

If you’re looking to plant many trees or a long hedge – perhaps you’re from a local church looking to plant an orchard, or a school looking to plant a hedge around the playing field, or, indeed, a parish council looking to add some shade to a play area – then you’ll want to hear ... Read more

The St Albans Sustainability Festival committee have already started working hard on a new event for this year – the SustFest Expo. In this Environment Matters podcast, committee member Lee Wood explains what to expect, how the plans are shaping up and how your input would be valued right now.

There is something wonderfully hopeful and generous about planting a tree. It’s for future generations. It’s for wildlife. It’s for the climate that we all depend on. There’s a saying – the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now. So in this week’s Environment Matters podcast, ... Read more

…but you’ll be much warmer inside with the tips that local homeowner Tony Field has following his insulation investigations using a thermal imaging camera. Plus local soroptimist Helen Byrne explains why saving energy is a feminist issue and invites you to their webinar. All in this week’s Environment Matters podcast. To find out how you ... Read more

The UK discards 54 million platefuls of food over the Xmas – a third more than normal. So before doing your big Xmas shop this year, listen up. In this week’s Environment Matters podcast, Louise Palmer, Waste and Recycling Officer for St Albans District Council joins Amanda to give some tips and reminders to help ... Read more

Broadwater Lake and Potters Crouch Plantation are 2 local wildlife sites threatened by development. In this Environment Matters podcast, Chloe Edwards of Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and Rupert Evershed of the Herts Bird Club explain the importance of these spots, why they think they should be left for nature and what you can do ... Read more

Christmas is the perfect time to buy books about the environment, about nature, about the climate and what each of us can do , both for presents for friends and family, but also for ourselves to snuggle up with during those long, dark evenings. So in this week’s Environment Matters podcast, Susheel Rao, one of ... Read more

We’ve just had Black Friday which, unsurprisingly turns out to be bad news for the planet and, on the whole, bad news for us too. So on this week’s Environment Matters we have an antidote. With all takings going to charity, all materials reclaimed or gathered locally and the accent on kindness to yourself, each ... Read more

In this Environment Matters podcast, Astrid Biddle of the Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust tells the amazing story of how the Scarce Tufted Sedge, found only here in Hertfordshire, is being rescued from the brink. It’s a story of discovery, cooperation and hope and a demonstration of how even the rarest things in nature have ... Read more

Winter is a tough time for wildlife that lives in your garden or outdoor space, but there’s a few simple things that you can do this weekend to give it a hand. In this podcast, Amanda has some ideas you might not have thought of and is joined by Martin Maylin of Hornbeam Wood Hedgehog ... Read more