Elusive and secretive, the smooth snake is not often seen and therefore easily overlooked. However, this fascinating reptile is confronting increasing pressures that could make it even scarcer.

Join us as we shine a light on the lifestyle of this mysterious serpent, uncover the threats they are facing, and of course, highlight the remarkable conservation efforts dedicated to preserving our rarest reptile and it's habitat.

Get in touch:

As always, please do contact us with any questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hi! You can find us both on Instagram:

Steve - @a.bird.in.the.lens

Matthew - @a.bug.in.the.lens

Timestamps

00:00:00 Catch up

00:03:22 Introduction to the smooth snake

00:15:09 Threats to our rarest reptile

00:24:30 Smooth snake & habitat conservation efforts

00:36:45 Wrap up

Links

Smooth snake | Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (arc-trust.org)

Snakes in the Heather: improving the prospects of smooth snakes and other heathland reptiles. | Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (arc-trust.org)

The effect of the climate crisis on UK reptile populations (froglife.org)

ARC celebrates smooth snake reintroduction anniversary with BBC Breakfast | Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (arc-trust.org)

N526318PP.pdf (nerc.ac.uk)

Tasty fried mushrooms with your breakfast may be the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word fungi, but did you know that they are essential to mitigating climate change?

In fact, the fungi kingdom is far more diverse and vital than we could have imagined. From incredible carbon storage and ability to improve the health of forests to even providing sustainable packaging and breaking down plastics!

Grab a coffee and join us for a chilled chat about the remarkable world of fungi. We couldn't dive too deeply into any one aspect, or we would probably still be recording the episode. But we wanted to provide an introduction to an easily overlooked group of organisms that are truly fascinating and absolutely essential to the health of our planet.

We had a great time recording this episode and hope you enjoy listening.

Get in touch:

As always, please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or just want to say hi! The easiest way to get in touch is to ping us a message on Instagram:

Steve - @a.bird.in.the.lens

Matthew - @a.bug.in.the.lens

Timestamps

00:00:00 Catch up

00:03:00 Introduction to the world of fungi

00:18:09 Fungi and the environment

00:39:28 Innovative fungi technologies

00:48:31 Wrap up

Links

https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/whats-a-fungi

https://microbiologysociety.org/why-microbiology-matters/what-is-microbiology/fungi.html

https://microbiologysociety.org/blog/the-fungus-that-makes-zombie-ants-could-use-biological-clocks-to-control-their-minds.html

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/fungi-stores-third-carbon-fossil-fuel-emissions-and-could-be-essential-reaching-net-zero

https://news.mongabay.com/2023/06/mycorrhizal-fungi-hold-co2-equivalent-to-a-third-of-global-fossil-fuel-emissions/

https://www.conservation.org/blog/study-fungi-could-be-vital-for-reaching-climate-goals

https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2023/04/14/fungi-makes-meal-of-hard-to-recycle-plastic.html

Every time we discuss a struggling species or an environmental issue that needs overcoming, we try to finish the chat with some hope. Highlighting the incredible work of tirelessly dedicated people who are out there trying to make a difference.

Hope is essential if we are to overcome the monumental challenges facing nature and our planet, a sentiment that is at the heart of Dr Jane Goodall's inspiring book of hope.

So, join us for an uplifting episode as we delve into the four reasons that give her hope. From nature's remarkable resilience to the incredible power of young people, we showcase examples from around the world that embrace these four reasons and should give us all hope that we can prevail.

We had a brilliant time recording this episode and really hope you enjoy it. The Book of Hope truly resonated with Steve, and we implore everyone to read it.

Jane Goodall is a legendary primatologist and conservationist and is still fighting for nature, still lecturing and educating at the age of 90. Structured as a series of discussions between herself and co-author Douglas Abrams, Goodall's argument for hope in these troubling times is uplifting, inspiring, and definitely something we all need a lot more of.

What stories give you hope? We would love to know!

Get in touch:

As always, please do feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions, feedback, comments, or just want to say hi! The easiest way to get in touch is to ping us a message on Instagram:

Steve - @a.bird.in.the.lens

Matthew - @a.bug.in.the.lens

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro

00:08:22 The amazing human intellect

00:27:17 The resilience of nature

00:38:39 The power of young people

00:49:31 The indomitable human spirit

00:59:07 Wrap up

Links:

The Book of Hope - the Jane Goodall Institute UK

the Jane Goodall Institute Homepage

Educational and Environmental Charity | Roots and Shoots

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/10/innovations-protect-cities-climate-change/

https://www.boredpanda.com/nature-reclaiming-civilization/

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190701-why-plants-survived-chernobyls-deadly-radiation

https://earth.org/young-climate-activists-leading-the-way-on-global-climate-action/