One of the UK's rarest spiders is coming back from the brink of extinction thanks to a brilliant conservation effort.

Large, scarce, and undeniably striking, the fen raft spider is one of only three British spider species on the Red List and vulnerable to extinction.

But there is good news! A dedicated collaboration of organisations has been working hard to restore our valuable fen habitats and the raft spiders that rely so heavily on them, and the results are promising.

So, grab a coffee, sit back, and join us as we explore the incredible world of the fen raft spider. We uncover fascinating facts about their water-based lifestyle, from running across the surface to diving beneath it, and take a closer look at the conservation success story that’s giving these spiders a fighting chance for survival.

Get in touch!

Don't forget to follow The Birdy Bug Pod over on Instagram. And please do feel free to contact us with any questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hi!

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro & catchup

00:07:02 All about raft spiders

00:23:38 Habitat decline & the importance of fens

00:31:47 Conservation & good news

00:45:48 Wrap up

Links:

https://www.dolomedes.org.uk/biology/life_history

https://www.buglife.org.uk/bugs/bug-directory/fen-raft-spider/

https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/blog/suffolk-wildlife-trust/10-facts-about-fen-raft-spiders#:~:text=Fen raft

https://www.britishwildlife.com/article/article-volume-32-number-2-page-98-109/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320700000306

https://www.wwt.org.uk/discover-wetlands/wetlands/fens/

Raft spiders (britishspiders.org.uk)

Our humble hedgerows. They may seem ordinary and easy to overlook as they border our gardens and fields and crisscross our landscape, but they are in fact one of our most vital habitats. Yet sadly, our hedges have seen a decline in both abundance and health.

In this episode, we uncover the incredible benefits of healthy hedgerows—from providing shelter to countless species to boosting farm productivity and even combating climate change.

So, grab a drink, get comfortable, and join us as we delve into the fascinating world of hedgerows. We explore their importance, cultural significance, how we have lost so many of them, and what can be done to restore our hedges to the benefit of our communities and nature.

Get in touch!

Don't forget to follow The Birdy Bug Pod over on Instagram. And please do feel free to contact us with any questions, feedback, comments, or just to say hi!

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Links:

https://www.cpre.org.uk/discover/hedgerow-wildlife-to-hear-and-see/

https://ptes.org/hedgerow/hedgerow-wildlife/

https://www.gwct.org.uk/blogs/news/2024/may/new-hedgerow-regulations-what-you-need-to-know/

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/habitats/hedgerows/

https://hedgelink.org.uk/

How to manage a hedgerow for wildlife | The Wildlife Trusts

https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/hedgerow-protections-reinstated-in-england

https://hedgerowsurvey.ptes.org/the-great-british-hedgerow-survey

Inspired by the phenomenal performances of Olympic athletes, we turned our attention to the incredible athletic abilities found in the animal kingdom. Join us in this special episode as we assemble our ultimate Olympic Team GB—featuring some of the UK's most impressive wildlife!

In classic Birdy Bug Pod style, Steve brings his A-game with a lineup of formidable birds, while Matthew’s picks might be small, but they pack a mighty punch with his team of impressive bugs. And of course, we've added a few wildcards into the mix to keep things interesting.

Our contenders are ready to compete in a range of Olympic events: from diving and swimming to wrestling, boxing, and even the rowing. As we build our team, we delve into the mind-blowing abilities of UK wildlife—like a tiny insect that overcomes more G-force than an astronaut and diving birds that could give Tom Daley a run for his money.

We had a great time recording this relaxed and slightly different episode, and we hope you enjoy it just as much!

Who would make the cut for your Olympic wildlife team?

Help us fill the gaps in our Team GB—what medal-contending species did we miss? Or go a step further and build your own national Olympic wildlife team with the animals native to your country. We'd love to see what you come up with! Head over to our Instagram (@thebirdybugpod) and leave a comment on the episode post or ping us a message.

Get in touch!

Speaking of Instagram, the podcast now has its very own account! The perfect place to contact us with any feedback, comments, questions, or just to say hi. And of course, to let us know all about your wildlife Olympic team!

Follow us @thebirdybugpod

Get all the latest episode news, behind the scenes content, opportunities to engage with the podcast and much more.

Links:

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/highest-jump-by-an-insect/

https://www.suffolkwildlifetrust.org/news/faster-speed-sight

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/01/240108125719.htm