Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast
Nature, wildlife and countryside living with Chris Skinner from High Ash Farm.
Chris is a Norfolk farmer doing things differently; all of his practices are informed by his dedication to biodiversity and wildlife.
Join Chris and broadcaster Matthew Gudgin every Sunday morning as they talk nature, wildlife and countryside living.
Enjoy walks around High Ash Farm and further afield as the pair spot wildlife and answer your questions.
New episode released every Sunday at 0700 GMT
To support and donate to the podcast: donorbox.org/countrysidepodcast
For updates, join the newsletter: soundyard.org/chris
Episodes
69 episodes
Episode 68: A Daytime Safari
Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin begin the episode by greeting a flock of woodpigeon in the Oat Field. They dwell on fluctuations of biodiversity in the UK in response to species being introduced to this country. The pair manage to dist...
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Season 1
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Episode 68
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47:12
Episode 67: Yellow Brain
Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin assess the damage after Storm Darragh. They look at the impact of microscopic spores that have attacked the heart wood of a tree.Chris takes Matthew to Foxes Grove and tells the story and impact of ash d...
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Season 1
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Episode 67
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35:27
Episode 66: Butterfly Bridge
Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin head to the woods with a spade to take a look under the soil to understand how the bulbs prepare for spring.They visit the butterflies taking refuge underneath a old rickety bridge at High Ash Farm throu...
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Season 1
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Episode 66
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36:03
Episode 65: Duke and Horace
Chris Skinner introduces Matthew Gudgin to his favourite bird at High Ash Farm. It's a game bird with a strong connections in history and a recipe in Mrs Beeton's cookery book.The pair pause for a moment at an oak tree that fell v...
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Season 1
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Episode 65
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34:47
Episode 64: Communal Roosting
Chris Skinner begins the episode at dusk and captures the noisiness of the jackdaws, rooks and carrion crows circling the woodland before roosting.In the morning, Rat is up to his usual mayhem and keen to steal the show. Chris takes Matt...
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Season 1
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Episode 64
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46:43
Episode 63: Woodpigeon And Stock Doves
Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin accidentally disturb birds feeding in a field with overwinter wild bird seed mix. He describes the various differences between the birds that feed there, in particular their beak shapes.The pair observe ...
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Season 1
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Episode 63
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35:06
Episode 62: A Dank Day
Matthew Gudgin returns to High Ash Farm welcomed by Chris Skinner who points out the latest growth on nearby yews and the birds benefiting nearby. After a short drive the pair step back in time a couple of years and see the effects of d...
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Season 1
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Episode 62
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49:11
Episode 61: Like Father, Like Daughter
In the absence of a busy Matthew Gudgin Chris Skinner has a special co-host for the podcast this week.Chris and his daughter, Kate Blincoe give an insight into what life was like growing up on High Ash Farm. They describe how connection...
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Season 1
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Episode 61
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47:50
Episode 60: Autumn Colour
Chris Skinner treats us to a whistle stop tour of the colours of autumn at High Ash Farm.Chris sings the praises of a British native shrub that showcases the brightest pink berries with orange seeds at this time of the year. Matthew Gud...
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Season 1
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Episode 60
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38:43
Episode 59: Australians And Acorns
Chris Skinner greets visitors from Southern Australia who have come to see High Ash Farm. He gets Matthew Gudgin busy cleaning the gutters for acorns and the pair marvel at how tiny acorn can grow into an enormous oak.Chris intr...
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Season 1
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Episode 59
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42:20
Episode 58: The Big Bang
This episode goes off with a BANG as Chris Skinner introduces us to an unofficial experiment he's conducting on a field full overwinter wild bird seed mix at High Ash Farm. He's highlighting a loophole that currently exists whereby shoo...
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Season 1
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Episode 58
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50:00
Episode 57: Fungal Foray
Autumn has definitely arrived at High Ash Farm. Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin begin the podcast at Foxes Grove and they get up close and personal to some of the fungi making an appearance on the woodland floor. Chris explains the man...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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37:03
Episode 56: A Hornet's Nest
Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin are distracted early on in their journey around High Ash Farm. They spot Norfolk's largest black bird, busy preening it's feathers in a nearby tree. They keep a safe distance as they admire the work of a...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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37:13
Episode 55: Nature's Secrets Uncovered
Chris Skinner is giddy to show Matthew Gudgin a new species that's causing quite a buzz at High Ash Farm.The pair then survey the hallmark left behind from a special visitor who wandered through the farm last night. Chris ...
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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38:08
Episode 54: The Norfolk Snout
Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin begin by watching a charm of goldfinches busy feeding on their favourite food.They head to a different part of the farm to watch the latest colony occupying a hole in a sweet chestnut tree. Chris describ...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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43:42
Episode 53: Starlings
It's a big birthday for Chris Skinner this week and to celebrate he shares the starlings at High Ash Farm with us.Chris then continues the bird theme and shows Matthew Gudgin other birds gathering in the fields including jackdaws, carri...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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32:52
Episode 52: One Year On
This episode marks a special one year anniversary for Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast. Chris has a gift for you in way of a tricky conundrum for you to have a go at:Today, Sunday the first of September, I am safe. Why sh...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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39:03
Episode 51: Ancient Ponds, Woodpeckers And Drupes
Chris Skinner shows Matthew one of the oldest ponds at High Ash Farm. Chris dunks his hands in and demonstrates the pottery qualities of the clay in the pond. He describes how wild oats can grow in the cracks when it dries out.Chris is ...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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47:16
Episode 50: Moles
Chris Skinner tells a story and shares the practicality of farmers.Matthew Gudgin joins Chris on the lawn and they answer a curious question all about moles. Chris describes the antisocial qualities of the underground inhabitants, how t...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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45:27
Episode 49: Swallows and House Martins
Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin begin the podcast at a local supermarket that is protecting the wildlife nesting there.Back on the farm the pair trudge through a field overwinter wildbird seed mix when they come across an exploding thi...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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38:54
Episode 48: New Arrivals
Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin observe the different roles of the new and devoted parents on the farm.They're driving through High Ash Farm when Chris notices one of East Anglia's most persecuted birds enjoying a spot of sunbathing.
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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34:47
Episode 47: Moths And Butterflies
Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin begin the podcast watching a very splendid butterfly in the woodland clearing. They travel through the woodland to rather confusingly look for a gathering of lazy and extremely poisonous moths that are u...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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37:10
Episode 46: Underneath The Spreading Chestnut Tree
Chris Skinner captures the sound of the farm's most recognisable wake up call before introducing us to two young nearby buzzards.Matthew Gudgin joins Chris as they watch the buzzards glide in the air and Chris explains how to distinguis...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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50:14