In Your Nature

Jaksot

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  In Your Nature Ep 66 - Bird Nests 08.09.2026 39min

  Send us Fan Mail In this week's episode of In Your Nature, Ricky and Niall are diving into the world of bird nests. Whether the nest is on the ground, in a cavity, or reused from another species, nests are just as unique as the birds who use them. Long before a chick is hatched or a egg is laid, birds pick specific spots for their nests and to build their families. Learn how, when, and who is building nests across Ireland. In Ireland, nests and breeding birds are legally protected from March ...
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  In Your Nature Ep 65 - Butterflies with Jesmond Harding 06.09.2026 57min

  Send us Fan Mail In Your Nature with Niall Hatch and Ricky Whelan is back! Kicking off the season at Bog of Allen Nature Reserve in Co. Kildare, Niall and Ricky meet up with butterfly guru, Jesmond Harding. The three explore the reserve while covering a range of topics, from fascinating wing adaptations that trick hungry predators to specific plants required for the survival of different species. Like much of Ireland's wildlife, butterfly species are on the decline. Even our most common...
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  In Your Nature Ep 59 - Breeding Waders EIP 25.08.2026 1t 3min

  Send us Fan Mail In Your Nature is back for a new season and this time we welcome Owen Murphy, Senior Project Manager with the Breeding Waders EIP, to discuss the ambitious and urgent work being done to conserve Ireland’s most threatened ground-nesting birds. With populations of species like the Curlew, Lapwing, and Redshank in steep decline, the Breeding Waders EIP is taking bold, science-led action to reverse the trend. Ricky speaks with Owen about the formidable challenges of protecting vu...
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  In Your Nature Ep 64 - Pádraic Fogarty 24.08.2025 56min

  Send us Fan Mail In Your Nature returns with a thought-provoking new episode featuring Ricky in conversation with Pádraic Fogarty—ecologist, author, and one of Ireland’s most influential voices for nature. The discussion centres on Pádraic’s long-standing work advocating for more ambitious and meaningful conservation efforts across Ireland, from rewilding landscapes to reforming environmental policy. Together, they explore the state of Irish biodiversity, the systemic challenges facing conser...
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  In Your Nature Ep 63 - Birds of the Falkland Islands 17.08.2025 38min

  Send us Fan Mail In Your Nature returns with a captivating new episode recorded live from Global BirdFair 2025, where Niall Hatch is joined by two seasoned nature guides with deep ties to the Falkland Islands—Andy Pollard, a Falklands native and expert birder, and Martin Anstee, a conservationist and expedition leader with decades of experience in the region. Together, they explore the unique biodiversity of the Falklands and surrounding South Atlantic islands, from windswept tussac grassland...
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  In Your Nature Ep 62 - Ealing (London) Beaver Project 10.08.2025 41min

  Send us Fan Mail In Your Nature returns with a fascinating new episode spotlighting the Ealing Beaver Project, a pioneering urban rewilding initiative bringing these charismatic ecosystem engineers back to West London after a 400-year absence. Niall is joined (recorded live from Global BirdFair 2025) by Dr Sean McCormack, founder of the project and a native of County Kildare. Together, they delve into the story behind the beavers’ return, from the inspiration and planning stages to the chall...
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  In Your Nature Ep 61 - Return to Nature Clare Church Biodiversity Project 03.08.2025 46min

  Send us Fan Mail In Your Nature returns with a heartening new episode exploring the Return to Nature Clare Church Biodiversity Project, a community-driven initiative transforming churchyards into havens for wildlife and reflection. Ricky is joined by Barry O’Loughlin, Biodiversity Officer with Clare County Council, to discuss the origins of the project, its progress to date, and the vital role of community involvement in its success. Together, they reflect on how with the bishops blessi...
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  In Your Nature Ep 60 - Dark Skies 27.07.2025 45min

  Send us Fan Mail In Your Nature returns with a luminous new episode exploring the theme of Dark Skies, featuring a guest interview with Kerem Asfuroglu of Dark Source (lighting design consultancy) and Dark Skies Ireland. As artificial light increasingly disrupts ecosystems and obscures our view of the stars, this episode sheds light on the growing movement to preserve natural darkness for the benefit of wildlife, human health, and cultural heritage. Kerem shares his unique perspective as a l...
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  In Your Nature Ep 58 - Biodiversity with Éanna Ní Lamhna 19.12.2024 41min

  Send us Fan Mail In our last episode of 2024, In Your Nature welcomes a well-known nature celebrity for a very lively chat. Niall and Ricky speak to Éanna Ní Lamhna about biodiversity and her long track record of writing, broadcasting and advocating about and for Ireland’s flora and fauna. Éanna gives her characteristic, energetic and unfiltered opinion on nature broadcasting, biodiversity loss in Ireland, together with her hopes and dreams for Irish biodiversity in the future. Éanna re...
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  In Your Nature Ep 57 - Farming For Nature (Handbook) 05.12.2024 44min

  Send us Fan Mail The eagerly awaited, Farming For Nature (FFN) Handbook has just been published, Ricky and Niall take the opportunity to discuss how important farms and farmers are for nature in Ireland, given the dominance of agriculture lands across the Irish landscape. Ricky speaks Dr Emma Hart on behalf of FFN and co-authors, Bridgit Barry and Brendan Dunford about the book, its content and objectives. The Farming For Nature Handbook (purchase here) was inspired by the regular...
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  In Your Nature Ep 56 - Step Into Nature 26.11.2024 33min

  Send us Fan Mail Step into Nature, is a new book written and illustrated by naturalist Rachel McKenna, chronicles a year of her observations of everything from plants to birds, insects and fungi. It is journey through her year, describing her finds and allowing readers to pick up the book and share in her curiosity and learn from her finds. Ricky speaks to Rachel from Killaun Bog near Birr Co. Offaly, one of the sites Rachel frequents. She outlines how her curiosity was triggered, where she...
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  In Your Nature Ep 55 - Eco Tourism (or is it?) 05.08.2024 1t 1min

  Send us Fan Mail We all need a holiday from time to time but there's no doubt that travelling comes with a cost, and we're not just talking about to your bank balance! Travelling comes with an environmental impact but "eco-tourism" or "sustainable tourism" offers an opportunity to lower that impact significantly. However, with these terms becoming buzzwords in recent years, it is important to avoid accepting them at face value. So, how can you distinguish a true eco-tourism option from greenw...
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  In Your Nature Ep 54 - Global Birdfair 2024 28.07.2024 1t 1min

  Send us Fan Mail This episode of In Your Nature comes from across the pond as Niall records from the 2024 Global Bird Fair in Rutland, United Kingdom. Known to many as "Glastonbury for birders", the Global Bird Fair sees conservation organisations, photographers, authors, artists ecotourism companies and many more join together to celebrate their shared love of birds. Over a July weekend, attendees are treated to a jam-packed schedule of talks, workshops, film screenings and other events, all...
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  In Your Nature Ep 53 - Bats 21.07.2024 45min

  Send us Fan Mail Bats can sometimes get a bad rap but in this episode of the In Your Nature podcast, we hope to dispel some myths and shine a light on these truly remarkable creatures. For this conversation, we are joined by Bat Ecologist and Senior Projects Manager with Bat Conservation Ireland, Niamh Roche, who gives us an insight into the lives of Ireland's nine species of bat. On listening to this episode, you'll quickly that bats are not to be feared, but to be supported and admired. Wh...
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  In Your Nature Ep 52 - Herons (Critter Shed Colab) 14.07.2024 38min

  Send us Fan Mail This episode of In Your Nature is another collaboration with Collie Ennis of The Critter Shed and this week, we're talking all about the Grey Heron! Although amphibian expert Collie has an understandably complex relationship with the Heron, this episode has given him a newfound respect for the species! While they're known as skilled fishers, did you know that Herons have adapted to consume a wide range of prey including small mammals, insects and reptiles? Or that they have s...
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  In Your Nature Ep 51 - Ticks, Mites and Flat Flies (Critter Shed Collab) 07.07.2024 39min

  Send us Fan Mail We know you'll be itching to listen to this episode, which is a collaboration with Collie Ennis of The Critter Shed. This week, we're talking all about, you guessed it, critters, though not the cute and cuddly kind. Ticks, fleas and flat flies are the focus of this conversation and while the thought of that might make your skin crawl, we encourage you to listen on! Ticks, mites and flat flies may not appeal to most, but these fascinating creatures play a vital role in the sh...
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  In Your Nature Ep 50 - Live from Wild Mind 30.06.2024 48min

  Send us Fan Mail In an In Your Nature first, this episode was recorded live with an audience from Wild Mind Festival in Fenit, County Kerry earlier this spring. Wild Mind is a festival that celebrates our natural environment, making it the perfect fit for a visit from In Your Nature. Picture this, Niall and Ricky sitting on hay bales on stage in a artificial barn/shed structure waxing lyrical about spring and what it means for our fathered friends. The lads discuss the complex sequence of e...
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  In Your Nature Ep 49 - What's at Santa's Bird Table 16.12.2023 38min

  Send us Fan Mail In our end of year Christmas Special, Niall and Ricky consider what birds Santa might be enjoying at his bird table in an exploration of some of the hardiest species that call Finnish Lapland home. There is something in Santa’s bag for everyone in this episode, from fit finches to tough tits and canny corvids! We hope you enjoy it, thanks for listening and happy Christmas! In Your Nature features Ricky Whelan, Biodiversity Officer with Offaly County Council and...
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  In Your Nature Ep 48 - The New Invasives 10.12.2023 59min

  Send us Fan Mail This week In Your Nature focuses on the topic of invasive species, looking specifically at two new kids on the block, the Quagga Mussel and the Alpine Newt*, two recently discovered unwelcome colonisers! Ricky speaks to alien invasive species expert Dr. Jan-Robert Baars, Lecturer and Assistant Professor at the School of Biology and Environmental Sciences at University College Dublin (UCD). Jan is an expert in the field with particular interest in invasion biology. Jan’s...
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  In Your Nature Ep 47 - Where Are They Now? 03.12.2023 44min

  Send us Fan Mail This week Niall and Ricky are feeling the chill prompting the question, where do our summer migrants to Ireland go to get some winter sun? They discuss a list of species across the bird families that up sticks in autumn and leave in pursuit of an endless summer of sorts. A story of migration but focusing on the where and why of these massive journeys. Blackcap is our Bird of the Week, a species once considered a summer migrant that has now become a winter resident through a...