Chris Skinner has been busy counting the swallows on the farm. He catches their early morning chatter as the thirty-seven birds prepare for the day ahead.

Chris takes Matthew Gudgin and terrible terrier Rat, to a field full of creeping buttercups. They return to the woodland where the bluebells were. They're long gone now, but standing in their wake are the towering foxgloves - Digitalis purpurea.

Chris, Matthew and Rat then come across some enormous animal hoof prints of red deer and Chris explains what the stags are doing at this time of year as the doe rear the fawns.

Back at the farm truck, the pair delight at reading the letters, emails and pictures sent in from listeners. They read aloud a peculiar verse that describes swifts as devil’s bitches and Chris explains why they were given such a name!

Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode

At the beginning of this episode we hear from the audio producers who make Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast. Their non-profit organisation SOUNDYARD has been nominated for a Norfolk Arts Award. It's a public vote and the business appears under the Broadcast & Media Award.
Click here to vote and for more details

Click here to donate to the podcast.

If you have a question that you'd like Chris to answer on the podcast, send an email to: chris@countrysidepodcast.co.uk

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Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast is produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
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Chris Skinner gives Matthew Gudgin an impromptu tour around his house and garden showing the many ways he welcomes wildlife.

The pair then venture out onto High Ash Farm to look at the badger set. Chris has recorded some incredible footage of the teenage badgers getting up to mischief in the dead of night.

Click here to see the video of the badgers at night.

Matthew feels nervous answering listener questions so close to a swarm of bees so they take refuge in the farm truck to answer those.

Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode.

At the beginning of this episode we hear from the audio producers who make Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast. Their non-profit organisation SOUNDYARD has been nominated for a Norfolk Arts Award. It's a public vote and the business appears under the Broadcast & Media Award.
Click here to vote and for more details

Click here to donate to the podcast.

If you have a question that you'd like Chris to answer on the podcast, send an email to: chris@countrysidepodcast.co.uk

Join the official Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast newsletter

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast is produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
Join the SOUNDYARD newsletter

The wren conducts the dawn chorus for this episode of Chris Skinner’s Countryside Podcast.

Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin stomp through the woodland to chomp on the edible wild garlic.

The dwindling bluebells are going over and their shadow brings the early purple orchid to the fore. Chris explains their many names and mentions throughout history and literature.

Chris and Matthew sit down to answer your questions whilst waiting and watching for treecreepers to appear. No larger than a cotton reel, they’re really tricky to spot, will Matthew get to finally see them?

Click here to download the MP3 file of this episode.

At the beginning of this episode we hear from the audio producers who make Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast. Their non-profit organisation SOUNDYARD has been nominated for a Norfolk Arts Award. It's a public vote and the business appears under the Broadcast & Media Award.
Click here to vote and for more details

Click here to donate to the podcast.

If you have a question that you'd like Chris to answer on the podcast, send an email to: chris@countrysidepodcast.co.uk

Join the official Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast newsletter

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast is produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
Join the SOUNDYARD newsletter