Episodes

  • Sound Escape 243. The sounds of an English churchyard in early autumn

    Sound Escape 243. The sounds of an English churchyard in early autumn
    Oct 17 2025
    You've wondered down a country lane to find a small, ancient church with a square tower. Crumbling gravestones covered in moss or lichen lean here and there in the churchyard but no one is around. You find a welcome bench, sit down and simply listen. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe. Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com And just a reminder, the BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is a media partner for the Speakies! The British Audio Awards from The Bookseller Magazine. The awards celebrate the best in audio books and the Plodcast is the partner for the non-fiction category. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    12 mins
  • 320. Wander the beaches of North Cornwall with artist Sarah Adams

    320. Wander the beaches of North Cornwall with artist Sarah Adams
    Oct 14 2025
    In this episode, we head back to high summer and the North Cornwall coast. Plodcast host Fergus takes a beach walk with artist Sarah Adams. Venturing into murmuring caves, Sarah shares valuable insight into the inspiration she takes from the rock formations, the light and the shadows – and how she goes about her work. And she's brought art materials for Fergus to have a go himself. To see Sarah's work, visit www.sarahadams.studio/Also, the Plodcast is very proud to announce that it is media partner for the Speakies – the British Audio Awards from The Bookseller Magazine. These new awards celebrate the very best in audiobooks. The Plodcast is partnering in the non-fiction category. Find the shortlists here: www.thebookseller.com/the-british-audio-awardsAnd now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via: The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page.The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022. If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com. If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team. The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    54 mins
  • Sound Escape 242. Footsteps though a beechwood full of fungi

    Sound Escape 242. Footsteps though a beechwood full of fungi
    Oct 10 2025
    We're walking in beechwoods in a vale high up in the Welsh hills. Leaves are beginning to fall but the sound beneath your feet is the faint rustle of last year's leaves. Among them, an extraordinary variety of fungi are sprouting and the air is heavy with the scent of mushrooms. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Fergus Collins and introduced by Hannah Tribe. Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com And just a reminder, the BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is a media partner for the Speakies! The British Audio Awards from The Bookseller Magazine. The awards celebrate the best in audio books and the Plodcast is the partner for the non-fiction category. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    14 mins
  • 319. Why are wallabies living wild on the Isle of Man? The Plodcast investigates

    319. Why are wallabies living wild on the Isle of Man? The Plodcast investigates
    Oct 7 2025
    The Plodcast has learned that hundreds wallabies are living wild on the Isle of Man? How did these Australian marsupials get there and what impact are they having on local ecology? Friend of the Plodcast James Fair led the expedition into the Irish Sea to meet local experts - David Bellamy and Graham Makepeace-Warne from the Manx Wildlife Trust - and see if he could set eyes on these creatures from the other side of the world. Also, the Plodcast is very proud to announce that it is media partner for the Speakies – the British Audio Awards from The Bookseller Magazine. These new awards celebrate the very best in audiobooks. The Plodcast is partnering in the non-fiction category. Find the shortlists here: www.thebookseller.com/the-british-audio-awards And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via: The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page. The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022. If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com. If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team. The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    54 mins
  • Sound Escape 241. Take a breather overlooking Exmoor's stunning coastline

    Sound Escape 241. Take a breather overlooking Exmoor's stunning coastline
    Oct 3 2025
    With the sun high on a cloudless day, you listen to the rippling waves of the Exmoor coast. The gentle foam trickles over deep red seaweed and smoothed rocks. Everything feels calmer here. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Lewis Dobbs and introduced by Hannah Tribe. Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    14 mins
  • 318. Discover the power of old ballads with Amy Jeffs on a walk along an enchanted stream

    318. Discover the power of old ballads with Amy Jeffs on a walk along an enchanted stream
    Sep 30 2025
    A wonderful Plodcast walk this week – in Vallis Vale in the Mendip Hills. Plodcast host Fergus joins artist, historian and musician Amy Jeffs on a late summer walk along a beautiful stream discussing Amy's new book: Old Songs, which looks at the origins and importance of traditional ballads. Listen on for some true Plodcast magic – some unexpected wildlife encounters, beautiful singing and a bone whistle! Old Songs: Stories of Love and Death from Traditional Ballads by Amy Jeffs and Gwen Burns is published by Quercus Books Also, the Plodcast is very proud to announce that it is media partner for the Speakies – the British Audio Awards from The Bookseller Magazine. These new awards celebrate the very best in audiobooks. The Plodcast is partnering in the non-fiction category. Find the shortlists here: www.thebookseller.com/the-british-audio-awards And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via: The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page. The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022. If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com. If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team. The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Sound Escape 240. Wind down to the evening song of a rural farm

    Sound Escape 240. Wind down to the evening song of a rural farm
    Sep 26 2025
    As the day draws to a close, the cattle gather for their night-time routine, and the birds sing their final calls of the day. The pink-and-orange sunlight spills through the trees and onto the farmyard's vast fields. BBC Countryfile Magazine's Sound Escapes are a weekly audio postcard from the countryside to help you relax and transport you somewhere beautiful, wherever you happen to be. Recorded by Lewis Dobbs and introduced by Hannah Tribe. Email the Plodcast team – and send your sound recordings of the countryside – to: theplodcast@countryfile.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    20 mins
  • 317. Haunting poetry and crashing waves on the Cornish coast with poet Katrina Naomi

    317. Haunting poetry and crashing waves on the Cornish coast with poet Katrina Naomi
    Sep 23 2025
    The Plodcast heads to Penzance in Cornwall this week to hear the haunting poetry of Katrina Naomi. Katrina met Plodcast host Fergus on a beach near the town to discuss her latest collection of poems Battery Rocks, inspired by the sea in all its dark beauty. Poor Katrina had injured her foot so was on crutches – and the whole Plodcast team wish her a speedy recovery. Battery Rocks is published by Seren. And now you can get in touch with the Plodcast team via: The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast group on Facebook & BBC Countryfile Magazine's Instagram page. The BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022. If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com. If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team. The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    55 mins