Episode 27: The Wood Mouse, Budding Blackthorn And A Redwing Display

Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast

This week Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin see and hear a wide range of wildlife at High Ash Farm including kestrels, Chinese water deer, and skylarks. They explore a field filled with hundreds of small mammals, particularly the long-tailed field mouse or wood mouse, which is the most common rodent in the UK. Chris explains the mouse's habits, favourite food, and predators.
He describes the importance of blackthorn hedging and the complicated ecosystem it supports. The pair are then serenaded by a cacophony of bird song at the farmyard and Chris gets excited by the animated presence of red-wing birds and shares their travelling trends.
Chris and Matthew conclude the episode answering listener questions on lapwings, yew trees and blue tit behaviour.
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At the beginning of this episode we hear from the audio producers who make Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast. Their non-profit organisation SOUNDYARD has been nominated for a Norfolk Arts Award. It's a public vote and the business appears under the Broadcast & Media Award.
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Chris Skinner's Countryside Podcast is produced by SOUNDYARD - a non-profit company on a mission to turn up the volume on under-heard voices.
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