Episode 35: Why Nature Restoration is about People with Bruce Howard, Director of the Ecosystems Knowledge Network

On this episode host Jonathan Withey takes a walk across Port Meadow in Oxford with Bruce Howard, head of the Ecosystems Knowledge Network (EKN), discussing Bruce’s shift from mining and pollution management to nature restoration and knowledge sharing. They explain EKN’s origins in the UK Government’s 2011 white paper, its transition to an independent charity in 2015, and its UK-wide membership of around 4,000 spanning environment professionals and other sectors. The conversation covers why language matters when discussing “nature” versus “environment,” how EKN facilitates collaboration through events, webinars, communications, and signposting, and why business is increasingly investing in nature recovery, including examples involving Aviva, Network Rail, and peatland finance. Bruce also shares first, best, and worst experiences in nature, including time in Australia, the Amazon, and Greenland. Jonathan announces a short pause in episodes while traveling in Canada.00:00 Welcome and Episode Setup03:49 Meet Bruce at Port Meadow05:21 Bruce Career Turning Point08:18 Nature Versus Environment12:11 What EKN Does15:28 Membership and Collaboration Tools21:14 Business Steps Into Nature26:40 Partnerships and People First31:13 First Best Worst Nature Stories41:39 Nature Finance and Carbon Codes47:37 Wrap Up and Podcast PauseSend us Fan Mail