It’s episode 2 and I’m high up on the South Downs to meet up with my chum and amazing field naturalist, Neil Hulme.

Today we’re focusing on the Duke of Burgundy, and how Neil’s life-long passion for this exquisite butterfly, and the knowledge he has accumulated from close observation and field work, has resulted in a huge turn around in its fortune. It has gone from being on the brink of extinction in the county to making an epic come back.

Working with landowners and the South Downs National Park Authority Neil has helped with huge areas of habitat restoration to provide just the right kind of chalk grassland that this fussy butterfly needs, Cowslips within a tussocky, humid structure and facing north-west.

Cattle grazing is key for the survival of this species and with Neil’s hard work and vision this butterfly appears to have a bright future in West Sussex.

Join me on a trip to the Sussex coast for episode 1, where I’ll be meeting up with my good friend, Pete Hughes, Ecologist for the Chichester Harbour Conservancy.

We will be learning all about the success of the Return of the Tern nature recovery initiative and how some nesting rafts are restoring the breeding populations of Common Terns to Chichester Harbour.

These beautiful migratory seabirds nest on shingle, but this natural nesting habitat can be severely affected year on year by a multitude of problems including high spring tides and storm surges, resulting in their nest sites being washed away. The floating artificial nesting platforms provide the Common Terns, and some noisy Black-headed Gull neighbours, with a secure shingle habitat whilst long-term solutions are being sought to create more stable natural nesting sites.

We talk about the importance of 3D printers and fish surveys, and how to get hooked on Tern TV!

Tune in to the sounds of the seaside and to hear about the amazing work Pete and his colleagues have been carrying out.

Trailer for the forthcoming Wandering Ecologist Podcast!