Immerse yourself in the sounds of the riverbank, crashing tides, wild marshes filled with birds and the underwater sounds of the humble pond as we bring to life our incredible wetlands - and reveal their power to shape our future for the better. Join zoologist and wildlife presenter Megan McCubbin as she explores the wonders of our watery worlds and how wetlands have fed, inspired and transported us from countryside to city, source to sea.
Our wetlands bring us together across species and continents. They’re the source of life as we know it. Yet wetlands only cover about 6% of our planet, and they’re disappearing fast, despite the fact that people and 40% of all wildlife are reliant on them.
This is a podcast all about the wonderful, sometimes surprising and often underappreciated watery places around us, and how they can help us with some of the biggest issues facing life on this planet.
You’ll never look at a marsh or pond the same way again.
Finalist - Best Climate Podcast, British Podcast Awards 2023
Where does a river become sea? And where do eels live? In this episode of Waterlands, Megan McCubbin takes us to the Severn estuary – one of the most dynamic estuarine systems in the world and also one of the most important for wildlife in Britain, in search of eels.
Joining her on this quest, are three eel fanatics, who have come to know and love this slippery fish from three different perspectives.
Michael Malay is an academic and author, whose book about migration and belonging, Late Lights, recalls the first time he held an elver in his hand. He is drawn to estuaries and stories of belonging and remembers how his mind was blown when he first heard the lifecycle of the European eel.
Andy Don explains the elusive nature of the eel and how confounding and fascinating they are from a scientist’s point of view. Once everywhere, all up and down river systems, to the point of being eaten by the poor and used as fertiliser or taxes, the eel is now critically endangered.
And WWT’s Abigail Mckay explains how the Wetlands Bioscience Team is using cutting-edge eDNA technology to find where eels are – and where they are not, in an attempt to help remove barriers and increase their numbers again.
Featuring: Michael Malay, Andy Don and Abi Mackay, Presented by Megan McCubbin
If this episode has inspired you to take action for wetlands or discover more about our rivers, visit wwt.org.uk.
Waterlands is brought to you by WWT. It’s an 18Sixty production, produced by Ellie Richold, mixed by Melvin Rickarby and original music by Noah Bloom.
31 Oct 2024
Rivers and Birds
Amid all the wonderful wildlife that is attracted to rivers, birds are some of the most spectacular. In this episode of Waterlands, Megan McCubbin hears stories of birding and freedom, kingfishers and kittiwakes.
David Lindo, aka the Urban Birder, “hit the wall” a couple of times in a gardenless flat in Spain during lockdown. He shares how he sought out a river as soon as the restrictions were lifted, and was brought to tears by the sight and sound of nightingales and Cetti’s warblers.
The sound-recordist Chris Watson takes a bus into town to visit the very noisy, furthest inland colony of kittiwakes in the world. He explains how the birds choose to spend their summers amid the hustle and bustle of downtown Newcastle, under the Tyne bridge.
And musician Nick Penny reveals what he discovered about the iconic kingfisher when he dedicated a year of his life to watching them on the River Nene near his house.
Featuring: David Lindo, Chris Watson and Nick Penny. Presented by Megan McCubbin
If this episode has inspired you to take action for wetlands or discover more about our rivers, visit wwt.org.uk.
Waterlands is brought to you by WWT. It’s an 18Sixty production, produced by Ellie Richold, mixed by Melvin Rickarby and original music by Noah Bloom.
17 Oct 2024
Weeds, Reeds and Healthy Streams
Have you ever wondered whether you could look at the plants and animals in a river and tell how healthy it is? In this episode of Waterlands, Megan McCubbin invites us on a journey to a sparkling clear chalk stream, where warblers sing and water crowfoot blooms – the River Wylye in Wiltshire.
She’s joined by someone who has spent 45 years working in river conservation and still loves every second; Andy Thomas, Conservation Officer at the Wild Trout Trust, who explains the different life that can be found in the many different habitats of a healthy river, from reeds in the margins to larvae in the silt, weeds in the gravel and fish in the pools.
Zarah Pattison, who hates the word ‘weed’ almost as much as Megan, shares her knowledge of two invasive plants – Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam - and explains what to do if you find them.
And Senior Reserves Manager, Rosie Ellis takes us on a tour of WWT Arundel, with its SSSI reedbed and toad patrol.
Featuring: Andy Thomas, Zarah Pattison and Rosie Ellis. Presented by Megan McCubbin
If this episode has inspired you to take action for wetlands or discover more about our rivers, visit wwt.org.uk.
Waterlands is brought to you by WWT. It’s an 18Sixty production, produced by Ellie Richold, mixed by Melvin Rickarby and original music by Noah Bloom.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
16 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
30 ratings
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