Closed Country: A Spring Audio-Diary with Brett Westwood ...

What this episode covers

It seems hard to believe, when so many of us are coping with lockdown and more, that the power of nature continues unfettered: Spring, in all its fecundity, is altering our landscape as it always does. To chart this time of great change we gave the naturalist, Brett Westwood, a microphone at the end of March and asked him to record a nature diary. He lives in urban Stourbridge in the West Midlands, which doesn’t sound an obvious setting for a spring journal but actually it’s perfect: What he sees at close quarters, with his expert eye, is available for us all if we know where and how to look. His sightings include feather-footed flower bees who live in the brickwork of our houses, buzzards that might steal frogspawn from your pond, bee-flies which coat their eggs with dust before shooting them at the nests of solitary bees, and mistletoe... which doesn't sound as intriguing, but it really is: Brett can explain why our behaviour is causing it to spread further than ever before. Note: The podcast contains extra material that couldn't be squeezed into the original programme: see the 'related links' box below for how to access and download the BBC Sounds App. Producer: Karen Gregor

PodParley-generated summary based on available episode metadata and transcript content.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

Episode 62: Cautionary Tales From A Linux Beginner (with Edward Crisler)

Mar 10, 2026 ·83m

Games For Everyone #2: Linux Gaming Is Winning

Feb 17, 2026 ·94m

Episode 61: Down The NAS Rabbit Hole (with Joe Ressington)

Jan 19, 2026 ·90m

Games For Everyone #1: Valve's Third Act

Jan 5, 2026 ·98m

Episode 60: The Computer Upcycle Project (with Mike Kelly)

Dec 22, 2025 ·85m

Episode 59: Valve’s ARM Gamble + The Future of Linux VR (with Graham Morrison)

Dec 8, 2025 ·56m

Similar Podcasts

NEWMORROW SESSIONS - A PodCast Series on the Future of Hospitality Mario C. Bauer, Florian Schneider, Axel Weber & Dr. Tillman Bardt The Newmorrow PodCast is more than a podcast — it's a platform for open dialog on the future of our business, a platform for those building what doesn’t exist yet. Here, we share and embrace our passion for the hospitality industry, but we won’t romanticize the journey. We ask the tough questions, confront uncomfortable truths, and prepare for a future that resists easy answers. We believe that the tougher and wilder times become, the more openly, honestly and humanely people need to talk to each other and act together. We believe, openness, togetherness, and truthfulness should also be cornerstones of a professional community to develop our utopian idea of „open source“. This is a space where visionaries don’t just imagine the future — they wrestle with the paradoxes that shape it: success vs. happiness, data vs. instinct, stability vs. reinvention. Join leaders, entrepreneurs, and thinkers as they share not what made them — but what’s actively shaping them, now and next. So tune in LE HAWKESBURY SOCIAL ’BACK TO LIFE’ ADAM STACEY Welcome to the ‘Le Hawkesbury Social’, 'Back to Life’ a space where we celebrate life in all its colors: happiness, joy, love, connection, and even the moments of sadness that make us human. A space where we celebrate life in all its colors: happiness, joy, love, connection, and even the moments of sadness that make us human. Hosted by a passionate mental health advocate, this show dives deep into the topics that truly matter to today’s culture and community. Each episode offers honest conversations, thoughtful reflections, and real stories that bring people together. Whether you’re here for mental health discussions, community connections, or just looking to feel seen and heard in a fast-paced world, you’re in the right place. Adam believes in building a diverse and inclusive community where voices from every background can come together, share, and support one another. That’s why every Wellness Podcast, we open the mic to local community partners, support services, and inspiring voi SandyNoles: An FSU Beach Volleyball Podcast FSU Beach Volleyball SandyNoles: An FSU Beach Volleyball Podcast is exactly what it sounds like: Florida State beach volleyball staff and players talking about...Florida State Beach Volleyball. Insights from the players, coaches throughout the NCAA Beach Volleyball season, from one of the top programs in the country. PMA: Sculpture Garden - Art Tours Philadelphia Museum of Art The Sculpture,Garden presents a superb and versatile outdoor setting for the appreciation of art, offering a lively experience of sculpture for both the casual passerby and devoted art lovers. Gracefully integrated into the existing landscape, the Sculpture,Garden extends the Museum’s vast galleries to the outdoors while strengthening the Museum’s connections to the city and Fairmount Park. Its pathways and vistas, green space, and water feature create a variety of spaces for art while maintaining an open setting that invites Philadelphia’s public to explore a new expression of the Museum’s goal to make more art available to an ever-growing audience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Open Country?

This episode is 35 minutes long.

When was this Open Country episode published?

This episode was published on April 30, 2020.

What is this episode about?

It seems hard to believe, when so many of us are coping with lockdown and more, that the power of nature continues unfettered: Spring, in all its fecundity, is altering our landscape as it always does. To chart this time of great change we gave...

Can I download this Open Country episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.