Passionate young conservationist, dedicated reptile surveyor and winner of the BBC Springwatch Under 18s Wildlife Hero Award 2024, Reuben Martin joins us on The Birdy Bug Pod.

Grab a coffee and tune in for a fantastic chat with Reuben as we learn all about his conservation work, his love for our native reptiles, the experience of appearing on BBC Springwatch and what it was like getting recognised in public for the first time.

This episode is packed with reptile facts, inspiring projects, and some brilliant stories from Reuben's surveys. In true Birdy Bug Pod style, we wrap up with some heart warming conservation stories, shining a light on the incredible efforts being made to protect and restore our wildlife.

We were thrilled to have Reuben as a guest. Seeing someone so young and passionate making a real difference for nature is truly inspiring.

Make sure you check out Reuben's YouTube channel: Reuben’s Reptiles - YouTube

And don't forget to follow him over on Instagram: @reubens_reptiles

A huge thank you to Reuben and his Dad for travelling down to record with us!

Get in touch

Don't forget to follow The Birdy Bug Pod over on Instagram. And please do feel free to contact us with any questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hi!

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Timestamps

00:00:00 Meet Reuben Martin

00:06:42 Reuben's wildlife heroes

00:08:40 All about our reptiles

00:15:25 Reuben's conservation work

00:24:51 Winning Springwatch's Wildlife Hero award

00:32:16 Future career & Reuben's YouTube channel

00:38:29 Positive conservation news

00:53:59 What's next & wrap up

Links:

Amphibian and Reptile Conservation

Garden Dragon Watch | Amphibian and Reptile Conservation

Home | Steyning Downland Scheme

https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/help-your-heaths/heathlands-reunited/

Whilst we all know about the tropical rainforests of the world, we often forget the temperate rainforests we have right here in the UK.

Found in the misty valleys and coastal areas of western Scotland, Wales, and south west England, these rainforests are rare ecosystems that support a wealth of biodiversity, from vibrant mosses and lichens to endangered species like red squirrels and pine martens.

Settle in and join us as we explore why these rainforests are so ecologically significant, their historic decline, the threats they face, and the encouraging conservation efforts to protect them.

Have you ever been to one of our temperate rainforests? We'd love to know, comment or ping us a message over on Instagram @thebirdybugpod.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Catch up

00:01:56 Introduction to UK's rainforests

00:23:32 Decline of our rainforests and threats

00:31:14 Rainforest restoration and positive news

00:45:59 Wrap up

Get in touch

Don't forget to follow The Birdy Bug Pod over on Instagram. And please do feel free to contact us with any questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hi!

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Links

Temperate Rainforest in the UK - Woodland Trust

Temperate rainforest - Plantlife

Interactive Map Reveals Britain's Rare And Hidden Rainforests (countryliving.com)

Temperate rainforest | The Wildlife Trusts

Discover Wales’ Extraordinary Rainforest Lichens - Plantlife

Lost Rainforests of Britain

England’s largest temperate rainforest a National Nature Reserve - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Lost rainforest could be revived across 20% of Great Britain | Environment | The Guardian

Pigeons! They're everywhere, but often overlooked and definitely unfairly labelled. Known to some as "rats with wings," pigeons have gained a reputation as pesky, unintelligent city dwellers—but that's far from the full story.

In this episode, we’re giving pigeons the love and respect they deserve. We bust the biggest myths surrounding these birds, explore their fascinating history, and reveal just how intelligent and resourceful they really are. From acing complex intelligence tests to performing life-saving acts of heroism during the world wars, pigeons have a lot more going for them than you might think.

We've got a pigeon quiz, answers to pressing questions like, "Why do they bob their heads when they walk?" and much more! We hope his episode will have you looking at pigeons in a whole new light.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Catch up and introduction

00:04:31 Get to know the pigeon

00:18:32 Pigeons throughout history

00:28:55 Intelligence & navigation

00:38:53 Impact on culture & science

00:42:31 General pigeon appreciation

00:45:55 Pigeon threats

00:49:10 Wrap up

Get in touch

Don't forget to follow The Birdy Bug Pod over on Instagram. And please do feel free to contact us with any questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hi!

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Links

Secret World of Pigeons Timeline (cbc.ca)

Whose coos are whose? The five types of pigeon you’ll see in Britain - Country Life

BBC Radio 4 - Radio 4 in Four - The pigeon: Britain’s most misunderstood bird?

Pigeons Are Secretly Brilliant Birds That Understand Space and Time, Study Finds | Mental Floss

How homing pigeons find their way home - BirdWatching (birdwatchingdaily.com)

What's Up With That: Birds Bob Their Heads When They Walk | WIRED

One of the UK's rarest spiders is coming back from the brink of extinction thanks to a brilliant conservation effort.

Large, scarce, and undeniably striking, the fen raft spider is one of only three British spider species on the Red List and vulnerable to extinction.

But there is good news! A dedicated collaboration of organisations has been working hard to restore our valuable fen habitats and the raft spiders that rely so heavily on them, and the results are promising.

So, grab a coffee, sit back, and join us as we explore the incredible world of the fen raft spider. We uncover fascinating facts about their water-based lifestyle, from running across the surface to diving beneath it, and take a closer look at the conservation success story that’s giving these spiders a fighting chance for survival.

Get in touch!

Don't forget to follow The Birdy Bug Pod over on Instagram. And please do feel free to contact us with any questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hi!

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro & catchup

00:07:02 All about raft spiders

00:23:38 Habitat decline & the importance of fens

00:31:47 Conservation & good news

00:45:48 Wrap up

Links:

https://www.dolomedes.org.uk/biology/life_history

https://www.buglife.org.uk/bugs/bug-directory/fen-raft-spider/

https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/blog/suffolk-wildlife-trust/10-facts-about-fen-raft-spiders#:~:text=Fen raft

https://www.britishwildlife.com/article/article-volume-32-number-2-page-98-109/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320700000306

https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/wetlands/fens/

Raft spiders (britishspiders.org.uk)

Our humble hedgerows. They may seem ordinary and easy to overlook as they border our gardens and fields and crisscross our landscape, but they are in fact one of our most vital habitats. Yet sadly, our hedges have seen a decline in both abundance and health.

In this episode, we uncover the incredible benefits of healthy hedgerows—from providing shelter to countless species to boosting farm productivity and even combating climate change.

So, grab a drink, get comfortable, and join us as we delve into the fascinating world of hedgerows. We explore their importance, cultural significance, how we have lost so many of them, and what can be done to restore our hedges to the benefit of our communities and nature.

Get in touch!

Don't forget to follow The Birdy Bug Pod over on Instagram. And please do feel free to contact us with any questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hi!

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Links:

https://www.cpre.org.uk/discover/hedgerow-wildlife-to-hear-and-see/

https://ptes.org/hedgerow/hedgerow-wildlife/

https://www.gwct.org.uk/blogs/news/2024/may/new-hedgerow-regulations-what-you-need-to-know/

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/habitats/hedgerows/

https://hedgelink.org.uk/

How to manage a hedgerow for wildlife | The Wildlife Trusts

https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/hedgerow-protections-reinstated-in-england

https://hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org/the-great-british-hedgerow-survey

Inspired by the phenomenal performances of Olympic athletes, we turned our attention to the incredible athletic abilities found in the animal kingdom. Join us in this special episode as we assemble our ultimate Olympic Team GB—featuring some of the UK's most impressive wildlife!

In classic Birdy Bug Pod style, Steve brings his A-game with a lineup of formidable birds, while Matthew’s picks might be small, but they pack a mighty punch with his team of impressive bugs. And of course, we've added a few wildcards into the mix to keep things interesting.

Our contenders are ready to compete in a range of Olympic events: from diving and swimming to wrestling, boxing, and even the rowing. As we build our team, we delve into the mind-blowing abilities of UK wildlife—like a tiny insect that overcomes more G-force than an astronaut and diving birds that could give Tom Daley a run for his money.

We had a great time recording this relaxed and slightly different episode, and we hope you enjoy it just as much!

Who would make the cut for your Olympic wildlife team?

Help us fill the gaps in our Team GB—what medal-contending species did we miss? Or go a step further and build your own national Olympic wildlife team with the animals native to your country. We'd love to see what you come up with! Head over to our Instagram (@thebirdybugpod) and leave a comment on the episode post or ping us a message.

Get in touch!

Speaking of Instagram, the podcast now has its very own account! The perfect place to contact us with any feedback, comments, questions, or just to say hi. And of course, to let us know all about your wildlife Olympic team!

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Get all the latest episode news, behind the scenes content, opportunities to engage with the podcast and much more.

Links:

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/highest-jump-by-an-insect/

https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/news/faster-speed-sight

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240108125719.htm

Rivers form the backbone of the landscape, act as the world's arteries, and also support an incredible wealth of wildlife, which is what we are exploring this episode. So, grab a coffee and join us for a positive chat about the wonderful animals that rely on our rivers.

Staying true to our name, Steve is highlighting some of the fantastic bird life that he sees and photographs when out and about around rivers whilst Matthew gives the invertebrates some love with a focus on the fascinating lives of freshwater pearl mussels.

Our rivers are facing a variety of issues which we will certainly cover in a future episode. But this time, we just fancied having lighter, positive chat about our remarkable rivers and the nature they support. We also cover some general river facts and there's a quiz or two.

Get in touch:

As always, please do contact us with any questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hi! You can find us both on Instagram:

Steve - @a.bird.in.the.lens

Matthew - @a.bug.in.the.lens

Timestamps

00:00:00 Very quick catch up

00:00:58 Introducing rivers

00:14:58 River appreciating birds

00:22:44 River-y invertebrates

00:43:44 River restoration

00:52:05 Wrap up

Links

Why rivers are important for everything from biodiversity to wellbeing | New Scientist

Chalk streams, explained - Thames21

Riverfly Partnership — Freshwater Biological Association (fba.org.uk)

State of our Rivers Report 2024 | The Rivers Trust

Impact Report 2023/24 | The Rivers Trust

Freshwater pearl mussel | NatureScot

About us — The Riverfly Partnership (riverflies.org)

From silhouetted soaring buzzards to the powerful elegance of an osprey snatching a fish from a lake, birds of prey are incredible animals that have entranced us for centuries. Unfortunately, however, this has not prevented them from being persecuted.

This episode we are tackling a slightly more serious and somber topic but one that we believe definitely needs talking about and is certainly close to our hearts. So, grab a coffee and join us as we look at how our magnificent birds of prey have been persecuted, both throughout history and its continued prevalence today.

But it's not all doom and gloom, we also delve into the tricky world of defining exactly what a 'bird of prey' really is, our historical relationship with these birds, and we of course, highlight the fantastic organisations working tirelessly to protect and restore our bird of prey populations. Steve even throws a surprise quiz in there to test Matthew's knowledge of our UK species.

This is a topic that we are both passionate about and despite the heavier nature of the research, we really enjoyed recording this episode. We hope you enjoy listening.

Get in touch:

As always, please do contact us with any questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hi! You can find us both on Instagram:

Steve - @a.bird.in.the.lens

Matthew - @a.bug.in.the.lens

Timestamps

00:00:00 Catch up

00:0153 Introducing Birds of Prey

00:20:27 A history of persecution

00:24:06 How they are persecuted today

00:40:19 The positives: changing perceptions and brilliant organisations

Links

https://protectthewild.org.uk/our-campaigns/end-shooting/bird-shooting-faqs/what-raptor-persecution/

Why the illegal killings of birds of prey is surging in the UK | The Independent

Birds of prey and the Law - Protect the Wild

Goshawks back from the brink in southern England | Forestry England

RSPB Hen Harrier LIFE Report - Skydancer - the UK's hen harriers - Skydancer - The RSPB Community

Game Bird Shooting | The League

About Wild Justice - Wild Justice