This week it's a doubleheader, as we chat with the Principal Advisor on Net Gain to Natural England and champion of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) plus a good friend and expert on BNG. So welcome to Nick White of Natural England and Paul Whitby of The Ecology Co-op. With the full mandating of BNG on 12th February 2024 timing is everything, so if you want to learn more about BNG and the impact it might have on your work stay tuned.

We’re going to be looking at biodiversity net gain in detail and how it can be implemented effectively on individual development sites of all scales and then what the joined-up approach is for Local Nature Recovery. This is a subject that has never been more talked about and we are seeing get implemented across sites, with so many benefits. The big take home is early planning, understand what you have on-site and then you can plan for the 10% net gain.

We will try to cover a wide topic base including:

• how Nick and Paul got into their current roles
• the impact of Covid and peoples need for good well designed and local places
• the simple view of what BNG is and how it can be implemented
• the importance of BNG and how anyone can make small impacts
• the Environment Bill

We will end with:

• what does great look like in relation to net gain and the future of the natural environment look like to you...

Find out more about we can help you secure the relationship between the natural and built environments and ultimately increase the value of your site at https://www.wnic.co.uk/.

Follow us on social media:

• LinkedIn
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• Twitter
• Facebook

Thank you for tuning in to Nature's Architects, where we bring together the threads of the natural and the man-made, exploring the natural environment in passionate and dynamic fashion to positively disrupt how it is viewed. If today’s conversation has planted a seed of curiosity or if there’s a specific environmental topic you’re burning to hear more about, we’re all ears. Reach out to us at hello@wnic.co.uk – your insights and questions are the soil from which our discussions grow.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, download, and follow us on your preferred podcast platform. By doing so, you’re not just keeping the dialogue alive; you’re becoming an integral part of a community dedicated to designing a future in harmony with nature.

From all of us at Nature's Architects, thank you for listening, for engaging, and for being the change our planet needs. Until next time, keep building bridges between the natural and built environments.

We all know the impact of green space has been on our mental health particularly in the last 15 months and how much we appreciate it due to the pandemic, but how important is it to our actual health and psychology!

Dr Liz Sparkes personal friend and expert in heart-based meditation and compassion practices, a health and spiritual coach. She is a real-life Doctor with PhD is in pain psychology and has extensively explored ways to change the experience of pain on world meditation day.

We cover so many topics in such a short amount of time so I hope you all enjoy this one. I learnt a lot. So grab a drink and enjoy listening to Dr Liz Sparkes, if you find this as interesting as I did you'll probably want to implement this into your business.

Liz is an amazing practitioner and is the director of a great company which is simply Dr Liz Sparkes. Her training sessions, courses and training are all around heart-based living. Coaching sessions support you to move forward, towards personal growth and change.

We have a great chat about mental health, mindset and the impact that green space has on all of this. Liz is a firm believer in meditation and what we do plus the impact it can have on teams and team building. So if you want to book a session with her after listening to the podcast or want to chat with her visit her website https://www.drlizsparkes.com/

We try to cover a wide topic base including:

• How has the business developed;
• which is mindfulness and compassion;
• how can you implement meditation within your own business;
• being grateful for your teams;
• the importance of green space to mental health;

We will end with:

• what does great look like in relation to mental health and green infrastructure

Find out more about we can help you secure the relationship between the natural and built environments and ultimately increase the value of your site at https://www.wnic.co.uk/.

Follow us on social media:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook

Thank you for tuning in to Nature's Architects, where we bring together the threads of the natural and the man-made, exploring the natural environment in passionate and dynamic fashion to positively disrupt how it is viewed. If today’s conversation has planted a seed of curiosity or if there’s a specific environmental topic you’re burning to hear more about, we’re all ears. Reach out to us at hello@wnic.co.uk – your insights and questions are the soil from which our discussions grow.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, download, and follow us on your preferred podcast platform. By doing so, you’re not just keeping the dialogue alive; you’re becoming an integral part of a community dedicated to designing a future in harmony with nature.

From all of us at Nature's Architects, thank you for listening, for engaging, and for being the change our planet needs. Until next time, keep building bridges between the natural and built environments.

Ben and I met at Myerscough College in 2000 and since studying our careers have gone in two different directions but what we have both achieved is both managing successful companies while doing what we love, and that is working with trees!

We cover so many topics in such a short amount of time so I hope you all enjoy this one. I learnt a lot. So grab a drink and enjoy listening to Ben Southall.

Ben Southall is the director of TreeTech Arboricultural Services and one of the best contractors in the country. Ben and Lou have taken the company from a one crew team to now employing a team of 10 people and successfully passing and retaining the highest standards in contracting being an Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor. Ben loves big machinery and climbing and although these day he is mainly directing the business, when he does get the opportunity he says he loves getting back on the tools and climbing. Ben and Lou drive a passion for high standards and safe working practices and both enthusiasts within the industry. Follow their amazing team on Instagram

This discussion goes in a great direction and if you are in a family run business, looking at succession in it, or simply want to understand more about business management, this is the podcast for you. Clearly arboriculture and running businesses is so intertwined in their lives and seeing the success of their teams. If you want a career in arboriculture whether it be contracting or consultancy then listen and enjoy.

We try to cover a wide topic base including:

• How has the business developed;
• what does a standard day look like;
• what their plans are;
• succession planning:
• being grateful for your teams;
• career paths through the industry;
• what is the future for the industry.

We will end with:

• what do they look for in new team members
• what is the biggest challenge for the industry

Find out more about we can help you secure the relationship between the natural and built environments and ultimately increase the value of your site at https://www.wnic.co.uk/.

Follow us on social media:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook

Thank you for tuning in to Nature's Architects, where we bring together the threads of the natural and the man-made, exploring the natural environment in passionate and dynamic fashion to positively disrupt how it is viewed. If today’s conversation has planted a seed of curiosity or if there’s a specific environmental topic you’re burning to hear more about, we’re all ears. Reach out to us at hello@wnic.co.uk – your insights and questions are the soil from which our discussions grow.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, download, and follow us on your preferred podcast platform. By doing so, you’re not just keeping the dialogue alive; you’re becoming an integral part of a community dedicated to designing a future in harmony with nature.

From all of us at Nature's Architects, thank you for listening, for engaging, and for being the change our planet needs. Until next time, keep building bridges between the natural and built environments.

This week we chat with my old line manager and now the Acting Assistant Director of Planning at Birmingham City Council, a true brummie, born and raised in Birmingham and now taking the City to 2040 with its new plan. Simon is a a real character and enthusiast within the urban design world and someone who truly has a passion for promoting a completely holistic approach to urban design and place making, which is designed and developed to provide many multifunctional purposes. So welcome to Simon Delahunty-Forrest

We could talk about so many things, this is all about how we make Birmingham a true destination again and achieve its 2040 plan Our Future City Plan – Central Birmingham 2040 to deliver six key themes:

1. City of centres
2. Growth for all
3. City of nature
4. City of layers
5. City of connections
6. City of knowledge and innovation

We will try to cover a wide topic base including:

• how Simon got into masterplanning and urban design,
• the impact of Covid and peoples need for good well designed and local places
• how urban design works in practice and how masterplanners contribute to the delivery of a better place?
• what resinates with him and why he wanted to lead from the front at the City Council

We will end with:

• what does great look like in relation to urban design and the future of the natural environment look like to you...

Find out more about we can help you secure the relationship between the natural and built environments and ultimately increase the value of your site at https://www.wnic.co.uk/.

Follow us on social media:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook

Thank you for tuning in to Nature's Architects, where we bring together the threads of the natural and the man-made, exploring the natural environment in passionate and dynamic fashion to positively disrupt how it is viewed. If today’s conversation has planted a seed of curiosity or if there’s a specific environmental topic you’re burning to hear more about, we’re all ears. Reach out to us at hello@wnic.co.uk – your insights and questions are the soil from which our discussions grow.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, download, and follow us on your preferred podcast platform. By doing so, you’re not just keeping the dialogue alive; you’re becoming an integral part of a community dedicated to designing a future in harmony with nature.

From all of us at Nature's Architects, thank you for listening, for engaging, and for being the change our planet needs. Until next time, keep building bridges between the natural and built environments.

This week we have a real collaborative podcast and the reason why this series was developed. I'm really pleased to have managed to get 30 minutes of Sally Hayns time. She is the current Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management and is really passionate about the natural environment.

We’re going to be looking at, how we as professionals can actively promote green infrastructure and the built environment, its importance to how we live, work and play and what steps the Chartered Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management (CIEEM) are taking to address a major issue of fair-pay to more junior members of the industry and to get away from the whole issue of earning colours by doing loads of voluntary work..

Introducing the Chief Executive Officer of the Chartered Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management and someone who is really passionate about the natural environment.… Sally Hayns.

We will try to cover a wide topic base including

• how Sally got into her current position,
• fair-pay for new people in the industry
• respect for those people at the top of the profession by others
• a bit about policy and biodiversity net gain; and
• how we make the industry more accessible.

We will end with:

• what does great look like in relation to the built environment and the future of the natural environment and how Sally wants her tenure at CIEEM to be remembered?

Find out more about we can help you secure the relationship between the natural and built environments and ultimately increase the value of your site at https://www.wnic.co.uk/.

Follow us on social media:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook

Thank you for tuning in to Nature's Architects, where we bring together the threads of the natural and the man-made, exploring the natural environment in passionate and dynamic fashion to positively disrupt how it is viewed. If today’s conversation has planted a seed of curiosity or if there’s a specific environmental topic you’re burning to hear more about, we’re all ears. Reach out to us at hello@wnic.co.uk – your insights and questions are the soil from which our discussions grow.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, download, and follow us on your preferred podcast platform. By doing so, you’re not just keeping the dialogue alive; you’re becoming an integral part of a community dedicated to designing a future in harmony with nature.

From all of us at Nature's Architects, thank you for listening, for engaging, and for being the change our planet needs. Until next time, keep building bridges between the natural and built environments.

This week we have a real collaborative podcast and the reason why this series was developed. I'm really pleased to have managed to get 30 minutes of Dr Wei Yang's time. She is the current President of the Royal Town Planning Institute and is really passionate about the natural environment and bringing her experience of garden towns and cities into everyday planning.

We’re going to be looking at, how we as professionals can actively promote green infrastructure and the built environment, its importance to how we live, work and play and what steps the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) are taking to inspire a different way of thinking not just on new development projects but also within the existing urban environments.

Introducing the President of the Royal Town Planning Institute and someone who believes the fundamental objective of the planning profession, is to create a balanced system for people, nature and society to co-exist in harmony.… Dr Wei Yang

We will try to cover a wide topic base including

• how Wei got into planning,
• the garden town & city movement and its importance now
• the impact of Covid and peoples need for good quality and accessible green space
• what the RTPI is and where Wei wants to take it to
• how people get into planning and it not be simply a term that people switch off too

We will end with:

• what does great look like in relation to the built environment and the future of the natural environment and how Wei wants her presidency of the RTPI to be remembered?

Find out more about we can help you secure the relationship between the natural and built environments and ultimately increase the value of your site at https://www.wnic.co.uk/.

Follow us on social media:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook

Thank you for tuning in to Nature's Architects, where we bring together the threads of the natural and the man-made, exploring the natural environment in passionate and dynamic fashion to positively disrupt how it is viewed. If today’s conversation has planted a seed of curiosity or if there’s a specific environmental topic you’re burning to hear more about, we’re all ears. Reach out to us at hello@wnic.co.uk – your insights and questions are the soil from which our discussions grow.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, download, and follow us on your preferred podcast platform. By doing so, you’re not just keeping the dialogue alive; you’re becoming an integral part of a community dedicated to designing a future in harmony with nature.

From all of us at Nature's Architects, thank you for listening, for engaging, and for being the change our planet needs. Until next time, keep building bridges between the natural and built environments.

This week its a double header, as we chat with the Principal Advisor on Net Gain to Natural England and champion of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and our very own in-house Senior Ecologist and expert on BNG. So welcome to Nick White of Natural England and Matt Wall of Wharton Natural Infrastructure Consultants.

We’re going to be looking at biodiversity net gain in detail and how it can be implemented effectively on individual development sites of all scales and then what the joined up approach is for Local Nature Recovery. This is a subject that has never been more talked about and we are seeing get implemented across sites, with so many benefits. The big take home is early planning, understand what you have on site and then you can plan for the 10% net gain.

We will try to cover a wide topic base including:

• how Nick and Matt got into their current roles
• the impact of Covid and peoples need for good well designed and local places
• the simple view of what BNG is and how it can be implemented
• the importance of BNG and how anyone can make small impacts
• the Environment Bill
• plus the importance of community building and how well Urban&Civic have got Alconbury Weald functioning so well

We will end with:

• what does great look like in relation to net gain and the future of the natural environment look like to you...

Find out more about we can help you secure the relationship between the natural and built environments and ultimately increase the value of your site at https://www.wnic.co.uk/.

Follow us on social media:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook

Thank you for tuning in to Nature's Architects, where we bring together the threads of the natural and the man-made, exploring the natural environment in passionate and dynamic fashion to positively disrupt how it is viewed. If today’s conversation has planted a seed of curiosity or if there’s a specific environmental topic you’re burning to hear more about, we’re all ears. Reach out to us at hello@wnic.co.uk – your insights and questions are the soil from which our discussions grow.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, download, and follow us on your preferred podcast platform. By doing so, you’re not just keeping the dialogue alive; you’re becoming an integral part of a community dedicated to designing a future in harmony with nature.

From all of us at Nature's Architects, thank you for listening, for engaging, and for being the change our planet needs. Until next time, keep building bridges between the natural and built environments.

Well the shoe's on the other foot this time and it's my turn to talk to the tree lady. I have personally watched and admired the work of Sharon Durdant-Hollamby for many years, and I love listening to her podcast Tree Lady Talks. She has a knack of saying it how it is and always getting the right message across. Her best one liner "I don't wear tweed or have a beard".

Sharon does some amazing work with the NHS and grant schemes to deliver impacting schemes for residents, amongst so many other things.

We’re going to be looking at, how we as professionals can actively promote green infrastructure and its importance to how we live, work and play and what steps the Institute of Chartered Foresters, for which Sharon is the Vice-President of, are taking to inspire great places.

So I’d like to introduce you to the Vice -President of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, Director of Sharon Hosegood Associates fellow podcast host of The Tree Lady Talks and someone who truly has a passion for promoting the benefits that trees bring to peoples lives from a strategic perspective of design … Sharon Durdant-Hollamby

We will try to cover a wide topic base including;

• her history in arboriculture, including a regular magazine she wrote as a youngster;
• how we can work with developers;
• the importance of planning conditions;
• the green infrastructure enforcement officer;
• where the Institute of Chartered Foresters are going;
• the impact of Covid and peoples need for good quality and accessible green space;
• the importance of canopy cover;
• how people get into arboriculture

We will end with:

• what does great look like in relation to arboriculture and the future of the natural environment look like?

Find out more about we can help you secure the relationship between the natural and built environments and ultimately increase the value of your site at https://www.wnic.co.uk/.

Follow us on social media:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Facebook

Thank you for tuning in to Nature's Architects, where we bring together the threads of the natural and the man-made, exploring the natural environment in passionate and dynamic fashion to positively disrupt how it is viewed. If today’s conversation has planted a seed of curiosity or if there’s a specific environmental topic you’re burning to hear more about, we’re all ears. Reach out to us at hello@wnic.co.uk – your insights and questions are the soil from which our discussions grow.

Don’t forget to like, subscribe, download, and follow us on your preferred podcast platform. By doing so, you’re not just keeping the dialogue alive; you’re becoming an integral part of a community dedicated to designing a future in harmony with nature.

From all of us at Nature's Architects, thank you for listening, for engaging, and for being the change our planet needs. Until next time, keep building bridges between the natural and built environments.