Waterlands

By: Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust
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  • Summary

  • Immerse yourself in the sounds of the riverbank, crashing tides, wild marshes filled with birds and the underwater sounds of the humble pond as we bring to life our incredible wetlands - and reveal their power to shape our future for the better. Join zoologist and wildlife presenter Megan McCubbin as she explores the wonders of our watery worlds and how wetlands have fed, inspired and transported us from countryside to city, source to sea. Our wetlands bring us together across species and continents. They’re the source of life as we know it. Yet wetlands only cover about 6% of our planet, and they’re disappearing fast, despite the fact that people and 40% of all wildlife are reliant on them. This is a podcast all about the wonderful, sometimes surprising and often underappreciated watery places around us, and how they can help us with some of the biggest issues facing life on this planet. ​ You’ll never look at a marsh or pond the same way again. Finalist - Best Climate Podcast, British Podcast Awards 2023
    Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, 2023
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Social Sciences Biological Sciences Earth Sciences
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Episodes
  • Rivers and People: A dance across time and space

    Rivers and People: A dance across time and space
    Sep 19 2024
    We are all drawn to the beauty and power of rivers, but have you ever wondered how they have changed us? Or how we have changed them? In this episode, Megan McCubbin takes us to Devon, to meet the river poet Alice Oswald by her ‘pretty little stream’, the Torridge. Writers and artists through the ages have been drawn to the beauty and power of rivers, and Alice is no exception. The river was a paradise throughout her childhood; a place for skimming stones, catching (and setting-free) minnows and escaping to another reality. She believes we are drawn to the wildness and otherness, as well as to the animals and different, changing landscapes of rivers as they travel from source to sea. Paul Raven, Author of Rivers: A natural and not-so-natural history, examines the relationship between rivers and people since the ice age and shares how human actions across history have positively and negatively affected the health of our waterways and the creatures that depend on them. Roisin Taylor, Co-Director of UK Youth 4 Nature shares the important work they are doing to redress the balance and implores us to ‘find a dipper and then you’ll want to save that river.’ Featuring: Alice Oswald, Paul Raven and Roisin Taylor, Presented by Megan McCubbin If this episode has inspired you to take action for wetlands or discover more about our rivers, visit wwt.org.uk. Waterlands is brought to you by WWT. It’s an 18Sixty production, produced by Ellie Richold, mixed by Melvin Rickarby and original music by Noah Bloom.
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    23 mins
  • Bouncing Bogs: At the source of a river

    Bouncing Bogs: At the source of a river
    Sep 5 2024
    Have you ever stood beside a river and imagined where it all begins? In this episode of Waterlands, Megan McCubbin takes us to the Flow Country in Scotland, home to the world’s largest expanse of blanket bog, where water seeps slowly through a maze of pools before feeding rivers like the Thurso. Joined by someone who’s spent a lot of time in this ecosystem, Millie Revel Hayward, Megan explores this fascinating and fluid landscape, discovering how the bog acts like a sponge, absorbing rain and releasing pure water into the ecosystem. As they bounce on the waterlogged land, like a natural trampoline, they reveal how this ancient peatland supports everything from breeding salmon to rare wading birds like the golden plover. Dr. Mark Everard explains the complex, interconnected systems of rivers, from their underground sources to the impact of human activities like farming. He shares how changes in the landscape can shift a river’s path and flow before it even reaches the surface. And artist Kathy Hinde dives into the sounds of the bog, crafting a unique soundscape from beneath the blanket of moss, capturing the rhythms of this hidden world. Featuring: Milly Revill Hayward (RSPB Scotland), Dr. Mark Everard (Author and Environmental Scientist) and Kathy Hinde, Presented by Megan McCubbin If this episode has inspired you to take action for wetlands or discover more about our rivers, visit wwt.org.uk Waterlands is brought to you by WWT. It’s an 18Sixty production, produced by Ellie Richold, mixed by Melvin Rickarby and original music by Noah Bloom.
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    29 mins
  • Introducing Series 3....Rivers

    Introducing Series 3....Rivers
    Sep 3 2024
    Waterlands is back for a third series. Hosted by Megan McCubbin, zoologist, conservationist and Springwatch presenter, join her as she takes you on a journey exploring the UK’s vibrant rivers. The series will unveil the vital interplay between our waterways and the life they support. Beyond literally travelling down rivers across the UK, this series also navigates the rich history and crucial roles that rivers play in maintaining balance in the environment and shaping human culture. Megan and her guests will cover all aspects of rivers, from explaining how they are formed to highlighting their critical role in carbon capture and supporting unique species of moss, plants, birds, and insects.
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    2 mins

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