The Reed Warbler is part of a series commissioned by Future Places Centre at Lancaster University in collaboration with Leighton Moss RSPB.
With many thanks to Beth Fox, RSPB Leighton Moss, for embodying this Reed Warbler.
"For these little birds, the reed bed can be a challenging place to raise chicks, there are quite a lot of predators. But they're dedicated parents. I think it's lovely that the male and the female raise their chicks together. It's such a joint effort. And obviously I admire the treacherous journey that they make. I think we all have to admire that don't we." Beth Fox, RSPB Leighton Moss
 
Producer, Presenter: annabel@annabelross.com 
Many thanks to Lee Alder for the Reed Warbler recording.
Thank you to Noemie Lina for the illustrations. 

The Caddis Fly is part of a series commissioned by Future Places Centre at Lancaster University in collaboration with Leighton Moss RSPB.
With many thanks to Kath Smith, RSPB Leighton Moss for embodying this Caddis Fly.
"I've spent years river dipping and pond dipping, and you come across these creatures that still get me so excited, and because they're so amazing, I want to pass that on to other people as well, especially when you're pond dipping with kids. And you want to get them to say it's not just a little mini beast all by itself, it's this fantastic house builder, that builds to survive. And they're just amazing, they really are." Kath Smith, RSPB Leighton Moss
 
Producer, Presenter: annabel@annabelross.com 
Thank you to Noemie Lina for the illustrations. 

The Marsh Harrier is part of a series commissioned by Future Places Centre at Lancaster University in collaboration with Leighton Moss RSPB. 
With many thanks to Joseph Klein, RSPB Leighton Moss, for embodying this Marsh Harrier.
"I really enjoy just watching them over the nature reserve. I think Marsh Harriers have a kind of slow pace to them. They fly super slowly and just drop down into the reed bed and look so chilled and in control. And unless you come to a reserve or a place where there are Marsh Harriers, you probably don't really see them and don't know much about them, and I think, more should be known about them, because they're so cool." Joe Klein, RSPB Leighton Moss
 
Producer, Presenter: annabel@annabelross.com 
Thank you to Simon Elliott for the beautiful sound of The Marsh Harrier.
Thank you to Noemie Lina for the illustrations. 

Always smaller than we think but incredibly strong and so vital to the health of our soils. These little creatures need a lot more respect than we give them. It's their lawn, not ours.
With many thanks to Sam Corfield, author, horticulturist and wildlife expert @the_hairy_horticulturist 
This one comes from the collection I made for The Lost Gardens of Heligan.
 
Producer, Presenter: annabel@annabelross.com
Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl
www.messagesfromthewild.com 

This Cinnabar Moth is part of an installation, Voices from the Meadow, commissioned by Wakehurst (wild sister of Kew Gardens) for their Meadowland exhibition last year.
It has a slightly different feel to the usual recordings with Alice Boyd, composer and sound designer, providing the beautiful music and field sounds. 
These interviews with meadow animals were heard coming out of the giant Gramophone designed by sculptor, Donnacha Cahill.
Many thanks to Eva Owen for making it happen and Steve Robinson for embodying the cinnabar moth.
"Daydream of a summer meadow and I will bet there is a buzz of a passing bumblebee, a colourful flash of butterfly wing and the hypnotic chorus of crickets. And rightly so. Insects are the beating heart of a meadow, providing the soundtrack and magnifying its vibrancy." Iain Parkinson, Meadow
 
Producer/Presenter: annabel@annabelross.com 
Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

This Scissor Bee is part of an installation, Voices from the Meadow, commissioned by Wakehurst (wild sister of Kew Gardens) for their Meadowland exhibition last year.
It has a slightly different feel to the usual recordings with Alice Boyd, composer and sound designer, providing the beautiful music and field sounds. 
These interviews with meadow animals were heard coming out of the giant Gramophone designed by sculptor, Donnacha Cahill.
Many thanks to Eva Owen for making it happen and Janine Griffiths-Lee for embodying the scissor bee.
"Hay meadows are tightly-woven landscapes interlaced with an intricate mix of plants, including wild flowers, grasses, some sedges and rushes, and even a couple of tiny yet fascinating ferns. With such a richly layered flora, it should be no surprise to learn that hay meadows also support and astonishing range of fauna." Iain Parkinson, Meadow
 
Producer/Presenter: annabel@annabelross.com 
Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

This Grasshopper is part of an installation, Voices from the Meadow, commissioned by Wakehurst (wild sister of Kew Gardens) for their Meadowland exhibition last year.
It has a slightly different feel to the usual recordings with Alice Boyd, composer and sound designer, providing the beautiful music and field sounds. 
These interviews with meadow animals were heard coming out of the giant Gramophone designed by sculptor, Donnacha Cahill.
Many thanks to Eva Owen for making it happen and Francis Annette for embodying the grasshopper.
"Traditionally managed hay meadows are now exceptionally rare (in the UK), but, by virtue of their enduring character, surviving examples demonstrate a resilience to change that is worth celebrating." Iain Parkinson, Meadow
 
Producer/Presenter: annabel@annabelross.com 
Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

This Dipper is part of a series commissioned by
University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness Research Group for The River Derwent. 
With many thanks to Mark Cocker, author and naturalist.
"I think it’s a fantastic quiet bit of politics because the central challenge of our entire species and our civilisation is to understand our dependence on the rest of life and this project allows those organisms, as close as possible, to speak for themselves about the issues that affect not only them but more centrally humans themselves and I think that’s the beauty of it.” Mark Cocker on Messages from the Wild
 
PRoducer, Presenter: annabel@annabelross.com 
Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl
Thank you to Teet Sirotkin for the beautiful sound of The Dipper.

This Mayfly is part of a series commissioned by
University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness Research Group for The River Derwent. 
With many thanks to Charles Foster, author and academic.
 
Producer, Presenter annabel@annabelross.com 
Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

This Water Vole is part of a series commissioned by
University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness Research Group for The River Derwent. 
With many thanks to Christine Gregory, writer, photographer and painter.
The Water Vole: The Story of One of Britain's Most Endangered Mammals
 
Producer, Presenter annabel@annabelross.com 
Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl

This episode is especially made to accompany the work of the painter and print maker, Frances Gynn, for her exhibition on Fairy Shrimps as part of her Public Erasures series. It's powerful stuff so please go along if you can.
Public Erasures at the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) Bristol.
Featuring the Fairy Shrimp (Chirocephalus diaphanous)
Endangered translucent crustacean
Living in temporary ponds
Main source of food to many organisms
Important indicator of a healthy eco-system
 
With many thanks to Frances for inviting me along to open her Fairy Shrimp Public Erasure and for being such a great Fairy Shrimp herself.
 
Producer, Presenter annabel@annabelross.com 
 

Earthworms are arguably our most vital animal. They're quite funny too. (This one has been added to the podcast for a second time to be used in Derby City as part of their Wildlife Festival.)
With many thanks to Nicky Scott, aka Dr Compost,
Food Waste Educator, Community Compost Expert
Dr Compost | Growing Devon Schools
"I may have trained as an agronomist but I learned something new about earthworms today - listen in!" John Meadley 
 
Producer, Presenter annabel@annabelross.com
Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl
 

Our largest ant species explains how vital ants are to our survival, despite his seemingly lazy life, he manages to make the effort.
With many thanks to Professor Adam Hart, Entomologist & Professor of Science Communication, University of Gloucestershire Adam Hart
And thank you to Gregory Ovenden for his ant recordings in this episode: http://www.thesoundfarmer.com
This one comes from the collection I made for The Lost Gardens of Heligan.
Producer, Presenter annabel@annabelross.com
Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl
www.messagesfromthewild.com 
 
 

Vital to our existence and yet maggots have never been a very popular creature but, Dr Erica McAlister makes this particular maggot seem almost adorable.
With many thanks to Dr Erica McAlister, Entomologist, Senior Curator at the Natural History Museum, Author, Presenter  @ericamcalister
This one comes from the collection I made for The Lost Gardens of Heligan.
Producer, Presenter annabel@messagesfromthewild.com
Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl
www.messagesfromthewild.com 
 
 

Curious creatures woodlice, well I think so. I'm so happy I finally got to talk to one, I'd always wondered if they actually did eat their own poo.
This one comes from the collection I made for The Lost Gardens of Heligan.
With many thanks to Lucy Lapwing, Wildlife Presenter and Campaigner @lucy_lapwing
 
Producer, Presenter annabel@messagesfromthewild.com
Illustrations by Annabazyl www.fiverr.com/annabazyl
www.messagesfromthewild.com