Episode 2.40 - Meandering Meadows and Goldcrest Glimpses

Send us Fan MailJoin Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin on a crisp October morning for an away day to the serene Forncett St Peter Low Meadows, an SSSI beside the River Tas, where frost lingers and fog clears to reveal plans for re-wiggling the river—restoring ancient meanders to slow flows, curb flooding, and revive oxbow lakes. Explore this unimproved grassland's biodiversity, from four orchid species and quaking grass to barn owls, kestrels, and otters, amid discussions on historical straightening, pollution from nitrates and phosphates, and the delicate balance between nature and human needs. Chris shares childhood tales of fishing for roach and dace, evading pike torpedoes, and the 1912 floods that reshaped Norwich. Back at High Ash Farm, thrill to Chris's solo dawn quest spotting elusive goldcrests and firecrests—Europe's tiniest birds at 5 grams each—darting through conifer canopies, with folklore of "woodcock pilots" and their acrobatic feats. A captivating mix of river restoration, habitat wonders, and avian delights, ideal for savouring autumn's emerging chill.https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/17930758-episode-2-40-meandering-meadows-and-goldcrest-glimpses.mp3?download=trueSupport the showPlease email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast [email protected] podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, every penny goes towards conservation and maintaining free public access at High Ash Farm. Support us here:https://donorbox.org/podcast-12or from the Podcast page here:Podcast | High Ash Farm