Whilst we all know about the tropical rainforests of the world, we often forget the temperate rainforests we have right here in the UK.

Found in the misty valleys and coastal areas of western Scotland, Wales, and south west England, these rainforests are rare ecosystems that support a wealth of biodiversity, from vibrant mosses and lichens to endangered species like red squirrels and pine martens.

Settle in and join us as we explore why these rainforests are so ecologically significant, their historic decline, the threats they face, and the encouraging conservation efforts to protect them.

Have you ever been to one of our temperate rainforests? We'd love to know, comment or ping us a message over on Instagram @thebirdybugpod.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Catch up

00:01:56 Introduction to UK's rainforests

00:23:32 Decline of our rainforests and threats

00:31:14 Rainforest restoration and positive news

00:45:59 Wrap up

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

Temperate Rainforest in the UK - Woodland Trust

Temperate rainforest - Plantlife

Interactive Map Reveals Britain's Rare And Hidden Rainforests (countryliving.com)

Temperate rainforest | The Wildlife Trusts

Discover Wales’ Extraordinary Rainforest Lichens - Plantlife

Lost Rainforests of Britain

England’s largest temperate rainforest a National Nature Reserve - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Lost rainforest could be revived across 20% of Great Britain | Environment | The Guardian

Pigeons! They're everywhere, but often overlooked and definitely unfairly labelled. Known to some as "rats with wings," pigeons have gained a reputation as pesky, unintelligent city dwellers—but that's far from the full story.

In this episode, we’re giving pigeons the love and respect they deserve. We bust the biggest myths surrounding these birds, explore their fascinating history, and reveal just how intelligent and resourceful they really are. From acing complex intelligence tests to performing life-saving acts of heroism during the world wars, pigeons have a lot more going for them than you might think.

We've got a pigeon quiz, answers to pressing questions like, "Why do they bob their heads when they walk?" and much more! We hope his episode will have you looking at pigeons in a whole new light.

Timestamps

00:00:00 Catch up and introduction

00:04:31 Get to know the pigeon

00:18:32 Pigeons throughout history

00:28:55 Intelligence & navigation

00:38:53 Impact on culture & science

00:42:31 General pigeon appreciation

00:45:55 Pigeon threats

00:49:10 Wrap up

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

Secret World of Pigeons Timeline (cbc.ca)

Whose coos are whose? The five types of pigeon you’ll see in Britain - Country Life

BBC Radio 4 - Radio 4 in Four - The pigeon: Britain’s most misunderstood bird?

Pigeons Are Secretly Brilliant Birds That Understand Space and Time, Study Finds | Mental Floss

How homing pigeons find their way home - BirdWatching (birdwatchingdaily.com)

What's Up With That: Birds Bob Their Heads When They Walk | WIRED

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)