July 16, 2025 • 37 mins
This week, we are thrilled to unveil the inaugural episode of our new series, “Wildest Places,” in which we shall delve into the fascinating realm of urban wildlife thriving within our cities and towns. Our exploration commences at the historic and ecologically rich West Norwood Cemetery in central London, a veritable haven for diverse species.
As we experience the sweltering heat of over 30 degrees Celsius, we implore our listeners to consider the needs of local wildlife, urging them to provide water sources in gardens, parks, and natural spaces, thereby making a significant difference to the lives of these animals.
Then join us to engage in a mindful moment, immersing ourselves in the presence of an iconic native mammal. Before that, we shall turn our attention to the news desk to examine the pressing wildlife and nature stories that have captured our focus this week in Wildlife Matters Nature News.
The Wildlife Matters Podcast embarks on an adventure to discover urban wildlife in its inaugural episode of the new series, Wildest Places. As the UK basks in the warmth of summer, we emphasise the necessity of caring for local wildlife by providing water sources in gardens and parks, highlighting that both humans and animals share the same need for hydration.
The episode takes us to West Norwood Cemetery in London, a historic site that serves not only as a resting place but also as a sanctuary for diverse species. The hosts, with their extensive knowledge and passion for wildlife, delve into the myriad of creatures that inhabit this unique ecosystem, showcasing the importance of urban green spaces in biodiversity conservation.
They recount personal experiences of observing native mammals, particularly focusing on the interactions of foxes, tawny owls, and stag beetles, thereby painting a vivid picture of life amidst the gravestones. This episode serves as a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness between urban environments and wildlife, urging listeners to appreciate and protect these natural habitats.
Takeaways:
- During the current hot summer in the UK, it is imperative to provide water sources for local wildlife.
- The inaugural episode of our series, ‘Wildest Places,’ features insights into urban wildlife found in London.
- West Norwood Cemetery serves as a vital green space, hosting a diverse array of flora and fauna.
- The recent proposed exemptions for small development sites threaten crucial biodiversity and nature recovery efforts.
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Countryside Link
- EFTEC
- Wildlife and Countryside Link
- Angling Trust
- Lifescape Project
- Wildlife Matters Org
Email the show info@wildlife-matters.org Visit our website: www.wildlife-matters.org
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:26):
Hello and welcome to thisweek's A Wildlife Matters podcast.
As we enjoy over 30 degrees ofsummer sunshine here in the UK, please
consider your local wildlife.
If you're hot and thirsty,then they will be too.
So please leave water forwildlife in your garden, park or
(00:48):
even in open wild spaces.
It could really make adifference to a wild animal.
On this week's WildlifeMatters podcast, we're excited to
launch our new series Wildest.
Places, where we'll exploreurban wildlife in.
Our cities and towns.
And we'll kick off in thehistoric and diverse West Norwood
(01:13):
Cemetery in central London.
On this week's WildlifeMatters mindful moment, we will spend
time in nature with an iconicnative animal.
But first we'll head to thenews desk to discuss the wildlife
and nature stories that havecaught our attention this week in
(01:34):
Wildlife Matters Nature News.
(01:55):
Hello and welcome to thisweek's Wildlife Matters Nature News,
where we take an in depth lookat some of the main stories from
the world of wildlife andnature this week.
We begin with the call fromCountryside Link for a better approach
to nature and development thanthe Government's proposed BNG small
(02:16):
site exemptions as part oftheir planning and infrastructure
bill, environmentalists areurging the government to abandon
damaging proposals currentlyunder consultation that would exempt
all small development sitesunder one hectare from crucial biodiversity
requirements.
(02:37):
The call comes as new researchBNG in small developments highlights
that this would be asignificant setback for nature recovery
and risks collapsing theemergency biodiversity credits market.
Instead, the research showsthat by removing the very smallest
sites, those under 0.1 of ahectare, from the scheme altogether,
(03:01):
while ending loopholes forlarger sites, a win win could be
achieved for nature and development.
The new analysis by FTECcommissioned by the Lifescape Project
and Wildlife and CountrysideLink to shows the extent of current
BNG rule misuse and the likelyfuture impacts if the government
were to remove BNGrequirements for all small sites.
(03:25):
In the first year of thescheme, 69,500 out of the 80,400
approved planningapplications, that's 86% for new
domestic and commercialdevelopments claimed exemptions from
biodiversity net gain requirements.
These exemptions allowdevelopers to self declare potential
(03:46):
impacts on nature initiallyaimed at most planning applications.
An estimated 76,800 of the79,300 approved applications per
year, or 97% would likelyclaim exemption from BNG rules if
small sites are excluded.
(04:08):
This undermines theeffectiveness of the biodiversity.
Net gain policy incompensating for biodiversity.
Loss due to exemptions forsmall sites and loopholes for developers
over 215,500 hectares, an areacomparable to the size of the Yorkshire
(04:29):
Dales or the Snowdonianational park, could be developed
without any biodiversity compensation.
Current exemptions and poorenforcement permit developers to
evade obligations that areworth an estimated 180 million annually
in biodiversity compensation.
(04:49):
If all small sites wereexempt, this could rise to over 250
million pounds per year.
If small sites remain exemptand implementation fails fails only
6504 biodiversity units wouldbe produced for compensation payments,
compared to 13,364 units ifthe 0.1 hectare exemption and stricter
(05:16):
enforcement were applied,Richard Benwell, CEO of the Wildlife
and Countryside Link, toldWildlife Matters.
Biodiversity net gain is ahugely important principle.
Industries that harm natureshould contribute to its recovery.
The proposal to drasticallywiden the number of exempt small
(05:38):
sites from the system would bea return to the bad old days of damaging
development and torpedoconfidence in private investment
in Nature Recovery.
EFTEC's research shows that byremoving only the very smallest sites
from the system whilst closingloopholes for larger developments,
(05:58):
the government could make surebiodiversity net gain works for nature
as it was intended, as well asbenefiting the genuinely small scale
developments that don't pose athreat to nature.
Small sites dominate planningin England, 95% of planning applications
are for sites under onehectare and 88% under 0.4 and 77%
(06:26):
under 0.2 hectares.
These figures underscore theimportance of small sites in enhancing
biodiversity and creatingviable market for biodiversity units.
Exemptions for small sitesthreaten the UK's ability to meet
the Environment act target ofhalting species decline by 2030 and
(06:47):
the goal of protecting third30% of land and sea for nature.
Environment groups identifythe Biodiversity Net gain scheme
as the second most crucialfunding source for environmental
restoration, following naturefriendly farm funding.
Current changes couldundermine the BNG's schemes of viability.
(07:10):
The government emphasizes theprivate sector investment is essential
to bring the funding gapfurther nature recovery targets.
But revising the BNG scope toinclude all small sites under 0.5
hectares and closing loopholesfor larger sites could add 20,552
hectares to BNG coverage,protecting more land for nature compensation
(07:34):
than the government plans have allowed.
Our second story this weekhighlights concerns about rivers
due to the hot and dry weathercurrently affecting the uk.
Warnings indicate that thecountry's hottest spring on record
combined with pollution haspushed several rivers, including
the River Medway in Kent andthe River Wandle in Surrey, to a
(07:59):
critical state.
Conservationists report thatlow water flows and concentrated
pollutants such as ammonia andnitrates from farming and sewage
have led to fish deaths.
Alex Farquhar of the AnglingTrust told Wildlife Matters that
pollutant concentrations arethrough the roof, which significantly
(08:21):
impacts on the fish and ecosystems.
In June 2025, temperatures inrivers across England and Wales have
reached their highest sincethe Angling Trust began nationwide
citizenship science monitoringprojects three years ago.
For example, watertemperatures in the River Wandle,
(08:42):
a chalk stream flowing throughSurrey and London, have soared above
20 degrees C, and that's wellover the typical range of 11 to 13
C, placing strain on itsfragile ecosystems.
Overall, river temperatures inMarch, April and May of 2024 were
on average 1.8 degrees C,higher than in spring 2023.
(09:09):
Even small temperatureincreases have dire consequences
for aquatic species like wildbrown trout, as warmer waters hold
less oxygen, disrupt spawningand intensify pollutant toxicity.
The Trust's latest reportoutlines the ecological impact of
this year's warm, dryconditions, which are already evident
(09:31):
in rivers across Eng in Walesin 2025.
To date, there have been 87confirmed fish killed, incidents
linked to pollution, lowoxygen levels and natural causes,
alongside 36 incidents of lowflows contributing to reduced river
levels and higher pollution concentrations.
(09:54):
Testing on the River Medwayshowed that all 15 sites examined
between July 23 and July 24exceeded the upper limit for ecological
status due to the elevatedphosphate levels.
Wildlife Matters spoke toriver restoration expert Dr. Jack
(10:15):
Hogan, who expressed hisconcern, saying, if things continue
as they are, many of ourrivers will be too warm to support
brown trout in the comingdecades, leading to the loss of this
iconic species.
Jack described the situationas looking very grave, noting that
changing conditions areaffecting life down the the food
(10:37):
chain.
Water Minister Emma Hardy, mp,whilst declining an interview with
Wildlife Matters, assured thepublic of the government's commitment
to improving water quality andensuring supply security.
She said, we're looking tobuild new reservoirs.
I've visited some of them tosee progress.
By the end of this Parliament,we aim to cut sewage spills by half
(11:02):
and whilst that would be animprovement, of course what we need
to be doing is cutting thosesewage spills to zero and stop polluting
our rivers and natural waterways.
We are like every otherspecies on Earth, dependent on fresh
water and it appears crazy tome that we could even consider polluting
(11:24):
our own water supplies.
Our final story of this weeklooks at the Government's announcement
that it intends to ban lead ammunition.
A new ban on the use of leadammunition aims to protect wildlife
and clean up the nation's waterways.
Red kites and white Tailedeagles will receive greater protection
(11:47):
thanks to new restrictions onthe use of lead in ammunition, Environment
Minister Emma Hardy has announced.
To protect iconic Britishwildlife and clean up the nation's
waterways, new measures willban shots containing more than 1%
lead and bullets with a leadcontent of more than 3%.
(12:08):
Beyond exemptions, these typesof ammunition will no longer be sold
to the public.
The ban will prevent therelease of an estimated 7,000 tons
of toxic metal into fields,forests and wetlands every year.
Up to 100,000 wildfowl,including ducks and swans and waders,
(12:30):
die from lead poisoningannually in the uk as birds often
confuse the scattered shot forgrit and consume it.
Evidence from the Health andSafety Executive shows that lead
poses a risk to at least 1million birds over the coming decades
if usage continued at itscurrent rate.
(12:51):
Whilst around 40,000 birds ofprey such as red kites and white
tailed eagles are at risk fromingesting lead through carrion, introducing
the restrictions will alsoprevent lead from contaminating soil
and leaching into rivers whereguns are discharged, thereby reducing
the spread of harmful metaland ensuring ecosystems thrive for
(13:14):
both wildlife and people.
Hello, Wildlife Matters.
Welcome to the announcement.
We have concerns over theamount of time, up to three years,
given to the shooting industryto stop using lead based bullets
and the high number ofexemptions within the bill that will
allow the continued use oflead based ammunition for a large
(13:37):
section of the shooting industry.
And that has been this week'sA Wildlife Matters Nature News.
If you've been moved ormotivated by any of our stories today,
or you have a story you feelwe should be sharing, please do get
in touch.
You will find our emailaddress and socials in the show.
(14:00):
Notes.
Well, it's been a busy weekfor Wildlife Matters Nature News
(14:22):
and like many of you, we aredeeply concerned about the government's
proposed Infrastructure andPlanning bill which threatens species,
habitats and biodiversity, allof which will be sacrificed for development.
Yes, we need new houses, butnot at the expense of our green spaces,
(14:44):
iconic native species and theseemingly unchecked pollution of
our rivers and streams frompesticides, chemicals and sewage
from water companies.
Surely we can do better thanthis mini rant over.
I need to spend some time in nature.
(15:05):
And this week we have aniconic native mammal that I have
been fortunate enough to spendmany summer evenings with over the
years.
Now I have the chance to sharea snapshot of a long, hot and slow
summer's evening last monthwith each of you on this week's Wildlife
(15:29):
Matters Mindful moments.
It's it.
(16:43):
So there we were, lying in the.
Meadow at the edge of thewoods, the rushes and grasses towering
above me as they glint intheir golden hues.
With the sun slowly dippingtowards the horizon.
At the end of another perfect evening.
Spent watching and listeningto my local clan and of badgers as
(17:08):
they venture from their set togroom and to play before heading
off for their nightly forage.
But now it's time for thisweek's a Wildlife Matters main feature
and the start of a major newseries where we will explore urban
wildlife in our cities andtowns throughout the uk, beginning
(17:32):
in London at the historic andendlessly fascinating West Norwood
Cemetery.
Hello and welcome to thisweek's Wildlife Matters main feature.
(17:56):
And today, Wildlife Mattersexplores Britain's wildest cities.
Yes, it's a new series serieswhere we start in London, where urban
wildlife survives and flourishes.
To begin, we'll explore someof the fascinating wildlife in London,
their habitats and thechallenges that they face in an urban
(18:21):
environment.
While London is most commonlyassociated with its bustling streets,
iconic landmarks and thevibrant city culture, another side
of the capital is worth exploring.
Exploring.
And that is its diverse wildlife.
So grab your walking boots,camera and an Oyster card and just
(18:42):
join us.
As we explore the wild side ofEngland's capital city.
One of my favourite Londonwildlife haunts is West Norwood Cemetery.
Even if you're familiar withthe cemetery and its precious green
space, there is a lot moregoing on than you might be aware
(19:02):
of.
But let's start with just abit of the history.
You see, West Norwood cemeteryopened in 1837 as one of the magnificent
seven private cemeteries builtto alleviate overcrowding in existing
London parish burial grounds.
But between 1801 and 1851,London's population more than doubled,
(19:28):
increasing from 1 million toover 2.3 million.
Today, the cemetery is ownedby Lambeth Council and remains in
operation as a working cemetery.
Like so many other cemeteries,West Norwood.
Provides invaluable greenspace to the city and is the home
(19:50):
to abundant wildlife species.
Around 20 years ago, I wasinvolved in surveying the cemetery
on multiple occasions andfound it to be a valuable haven for
various fauna, includingfoxes, bats, stag beetles and 35
species of birds such aswoodpeckers and tawny owls, which
(20:14):
live among the veteran oak andlime trees.
But the flora is equallyimpressive, with mature trees, including
a number from the ancientGreat North Wood, predating the cemetery
by many hundreds of years.
In fact, One line of ThirteenOaks, with various estimated dates
(20:36):
that range between 15 to 1640and others from 1677 to 1711, form
a medieval Boundary north,south, across the highest point of
the cemetery and four other trees.
There are three oaks and one field.
Maple predate the graveyard.
(20:58):
Today we have permission tospend the.
Afternoon, evening and nighthere at West Norwood Cemetery.
This could be a wild night in.
The heart of the capital.
The first thing to note, it is.
Still daylight, and I'msitting here watching three foxes.
A dog fox, a vixen, and a loneindividual female, possibly one of
(21:23):
their cubs from last year, whoremains close, but not too close
to what I believe could be her parents.
The vixen looks thin and hasbeen suffering from mange.
Her fur is growing back and Ihope she is beginning to recover
her fitness.
The dog fox stands close byher as she lies grooming in the late
(21:45):
afternoon sunshine.
He's guarding his partner, buthe tolerates the female fox no more
than 100 meters away.
This young fox is stunning,with a fiery red coat and a bright
amber eyes.
She is on high alert, her earsand nose twitching constantly.
(22:06):
As I sit quietly, a womanapproaches the area and opens a small
box she is carrying.
And the reason the foxes aregathered here becomes clear.
She has food.
She puts down a selection ofsausages before opening a small Tupperware
and placing several neatlymade sandwiches around the edge of
(22:27):
the pile.
She then walks away toward thecemetery's wall, where the younger
fox was hidden away in the undergrowth.
The dog fox and vixen approach.
The vixen takes two sandwichesand her mouth moves to the edge of
the thicket and eats them.
The dog fox, meanwhile, hasloaded up with sausages and a couple
(22:49):
of sandwiches before he trotsoff towards the vixen and drops them
close by her.
He returns several times tothe sausages, loads his mouth to
capacity and trots away in theopposite direction.
He'll be caching them for later.
And then finally he clears thefood and returns to the where the
(23:11):
vixen has been eating it andhe joins her and they both eat before
they begin some mutual grooming.
Meanwhile, the young femalefox leaves the COVID of the scrub
to gather the sausage andsandwiches that the woman has left
for her.
She had removed them all frommy view amidst the gravestones, and
(23:31):
I imagined she had cached thembefore returning to the sanctuary
of the shrubbery.
It was time for me to leavethis serene scene for a while, I'm
sure the woman had beenproviding medicated sandwiches to
the vixen, and that was whatwas helping her regain her health.
And like so many wildlifeheroes, they go about their business
(23:53):
quietly and silently and do somuch to support our precious urban
wildlife.
In 2019, loss refunding wasused to survey several London cemeteries
for a rare insect with anincredible lifestyle.
This insect made a strongholdfor itself right here in the heart
(24:17):
of London.
The stag beetle is the largestin Britain and is found in the southeast
of England, particularly insouth and west London.
They prefer oak woodland, butcan be found in gardens, parks and
cemeteries where hedgerows are maintained.
The larvae, which can grow upto 110 millimetres, depend on rotting
(24:42):
wood that is decomposing tofeed on and provide shelter.
The larvae can liveunderground and have been found up
to 50cm deep.
It can take up to six yearsfor them to develop before they pupate
and become adults.
The adults have a much shorter lifespan.
(25:03):
They'll emerge in May with thesole purpose of mating, and they
usually die before the end ofAugust, so do keep a lookout around
dusk on a balmy summer eveningwhen the males fly to look for mates.
Once the male has found apotential mate, he displays his oversized
(25:23):
antlers to her, hoping shewill be suitably impressed.
These dramatic antlers have noother use than this display and to
rut with other male stagbeetles that may have their eye on
the same mate.
The males will rut by lockingantlers and dueling, similar to deer
rutting.
(25:44):
It is just as dramatic,although on a smaller scale, and
can result in broken antlersor even antlers being ripped from
the bodies.
If a female is impressed bythe male's antlers, they will mate.
The female will return towhere she emerged to lay her eggs,
provided there is enoughdecaying wood available.
(26:07):
Stag beetles prefer loamysoil, so they're not to be found
in chalky soils such thosefound on the north and the South
Downs, and very few are foundnorth of the Midlands.
Another consideration is rainfall.
Stag beetles don't like wet orwaterlogged soils, so areas with
(26:29):
high rainfall or floodingrisks do not have them.
London cemeteries provide theideal habitat with their trees and
hedgerow their rich,undisturbed soils.
And of course, London has areasonably stable warm and dry climate.
Stag beetles spend most oftheir life cycle underground as larvae.
(26:54):
Depending on the weather, thisprocess can take anywhere from three
to seven years.
Prolonged cold weather canextend the process, but once fully
grown, the larvae will leavethe decaying wood they've been fed
feeding on to construct agiant cocoon in the soil, where they
(27:14):
pupate and eventually willtransform into adults.
The adults spend the winterunderground in the soil and typically
emerge from around mid Mayonwards by the end of August, most
of them will have died.
They do not survive the winter.
During their short adultlives, male stag beetles spend their
(27:38):
days basking in the sun togather strength for their evening
flying activities in search ofa mate.
They can't consume solid foodand they absorb their moisture from
plants.
The females are also capableof flying, but are typically found
on the ground at dusk.
Tonight we observed a femaleon the ground and I'm hopeful that
(28:03):
she is seeking a mate.
When her wing covers open, butshe does not fly, I'm confident that
she is releasing pheromonesthat will attract male stag beetles.
So now it's a waiting game.
The sun is setting and thecemetery has closed for the night
and we are alone with the wildlife.
(28:26):
They are a remarkable sight ifyou've never seen a flying stag beetle.
They are proficient flyers whocan travel considerable distances
and reach heights of at least200 meters, as evidenced by the swifts,
swallows and kestrels thathunt stag beetles in flight.
Yet another challenge for thestag beetles to overcome before finding
(28:50):
a mate.
As I sit in the fading light,my gaze alternates between the female
on the ground and scanning thesky for potential male stag beetles.
Then it happens.
A male stag beetle arrives andlands nearby, and immediately he
(29:11):
begins to display with his antlers.
It's fascinating to watch ashe moves sideways around her and
frequently stops with hisantlers in different positions, a
bit like a knight displayinghis sword skills in days gone by.
His antler dance is a successand her wing case is open.
(29:33):
They mate before he flies off,no doubt in search of another mate.
The final species we'relooking at tonight is a night flying
bird.
It's another species you maynot expect to see thriving in the
heart of central London.
Based on local knowledge andprevious visits, I know that a pair
(29:55):
of tawny owls nests in the oaktrees that line the edge of the cemetery.
So that's where we're headingto now.
They have three owlets thisyear and are now of an age when they
will come out onto thebranches to strengthen their wings
and await food from their parents.
The nest is a traditionalhollow deep within an old oak tree,
(30:16):
and this pair have used thisnest site for many years.
When I arrived, I settled down on.
The grass path between rows of gravestones.
From here, I had a great viewof the nest hole and was ready for
the evening's activities to begin.
Tawny owls are early nesters.
Their single clutch of two tothree eggs is laid asynchronously
(30:41):
every two to three days andincubation lasts approximately 30
days.
Fledging occurs around fiveweeks and is often in May.
Tawny owlets can often befound on the ground during the early
summer.
If you are sure it is a tawnyowl, you should leave it as they
are excellent climbers whowill return to the nest area.
(31:05):
With that said, other owlspecies, such as barn owls, would
need help if found on the ground.
So it is essential to know theowl species that you have seen.
If you need more time,consider taking a short video and
sending it to a local wildlifeor bird rescue team who will be able
to provide you with the right advice.
(31:27):
The fledgling tawny owletsdepend on their parents for food
for up to three months afterleaving the nest.
Once darkness falls, they willsit on the branches of nearby trees
and beg for food.
And that's what we hope to see tonight.
The three chicks were allbranching nearby and soon began to
(31:48):
make their distinctive callsto their parents, signalling that
it would quickly be supper time.
The parents were already out.
The cemetery is large,especially in central London.
It's 16 hectares or around 42acres, a territory that could support
two or three more pairs oftawny owls.
(32:11):
Of course that depends on foodavailability and nesting spaces in
the trees.
Within minutes, the male tawnyowl returned with a vole which it
fed to the largest chick on myright hand side.
And soon after, the female,easily identifiable as considerably
larger than the male, appearedto feed the second largest chick,
(32:35):
while the third and smallestchick continued to call.
And this is the way of owlsand many araptors or birds of prey
who will put their effortsinto the first and generally largest
chick.
And the last chick that couldbe two weeks younger than its elder
sibling could be sacrificedand even fed to its siblings if hard
(32:59):
times or weather impacts onthe parents hunting.
I watched this repeat foraround two hours before returning
to my original location tocatch up again with the foxes family.
This year's cubs now resembletheir parents but have yet to develop
their long legs and sleek lean bodies.
(33:20):
They are still playful andspend most of the evening and night
playing, hunting, pouncing andjumping on each other.
I was staying the night and Ihad a sleeping bag and tarp that
I had put up in the cornersecured to a tree and a wall.
I settled to eat some supperand settled down with the haunting
(33:41):
sound of the tawny owls twitwooing as they coordinated and checked
in with each other and theoccasional yelp of a fox cub that
had had a nip from the Vixen.
Of course, the city makes lowlevel noise at night and artificial
light blocks all but thebrightest stars from the sky and
(34:03):
even the moon looks pale andsubdued as I drift into a deep, comfortable
sleep.
We hope you have enjoyed ourvisit to one of the wildest places
in London, the wonderfullyhistoric and diverse West Norwood
Cemetery.
And if you have enjoyed thisadventure, then please do share this
(34:27):
podcast with your colleagues,friends or family and help us to
engage more wildlife andnature lovers.
That has been this week'sWildlife Matters main feature.
(34:53):
Would you spend the night in acemetery to watch wildlife?
This wasn't the first time forme, although I don't often sleep
after a wildlife survey or watch.
But it was wonderful to lie inmy sleeping bag under an open tarp
and listen to the foxes andowls set against the constant background
(35:17):
noise of the city that never sleeps.
West Norwood is full ofhistory, from natural to human moment,
and for me it is an endlesslyfascinating place I know I will return
to as often as possible.
It is also the first of our.
New Wildest Places adventureswhere we will explore urban wildlife.
(35:43):
So expect to see our UrbanAdventures every few weeks.
And please feel free to share any.
Urban wildlife places you'dlike us to visit and feature on the
Wildlife Matters podcast.
Leave us a comment whereveryou get your podcasts or on our social
media sites.
(36:05):
It has undoubtedly beenanother action packed episode which
we hope you have enjoyed andlearned something from.
Next time, Wildlife MattersInvestigates returns with a deep
dive into AI.
Not the artificialintelligence that as a content creator
and writer could have amassive impact on what we do here
(36:29):
at Wildlife Matters, but theeven more worrying avian influenza
which is devastating our wildbird populations and has worryingly
jumped species and is nowkilling mammals in.
The UK and around the world.
It's another episode that yousimply will not want to miss, so
(36:52):
make sure you follow orsubscribe wherever you get your podcasts
or listen for free on theWildlife Matters website.
The link is in the show Notes.
Thank you for choosing tolisten to us.
Your support motivatesmotivates us to share our experiences
and adventures through this podcast.
(37:15):
And as always, stay curious.
Wild ones.
This is Wildlife Matterssigning off.
Hello and welcome to thisweek's A Wildlife Matters podcast.
As we enjoy over 30 degrees ofsummer sunshine here in the UK, please
consider your local wildlife.
If you're hot and thirsty,then they will be too.
So please leave water forwildlife in your garden, park or
(00:48):
even in open wild spaces.
It could really make adifference to a wild animal.
On this week's WildlifeMatters podcast, we're excited to
launch our new series Wildest.
Places, where we'll exploreurban wildlife in.
Our cities and towns.
And we'll kick off in thehistoric and diverse West Norwood
(01:13):
Cemetery in central London.
On this week's WildlifeMatters mindful moment, we will spend
time in nature with an iconicnative animal.
But first we'll head to thenews desk to discuss the wildlife
and nature stories that havecaught our attention this week in
(01:34):
Wildlife Matters Nature News.
(01:55):
Hello and welcome to thisweek's Wildlife Matters Nature News,
where we take an in depth lookat some of the main stories from
the world of wildlife andnature this week.
We begin with the call fromCountryside Link for a better approach
to nature and development thanthe Government's proposed BNG small
(02:16):
site exemptions as part oftheir planning and infrastructure
bill, environmentalists areurging the government to abandon
damaging proposals currentlyunder consultation that would exempt
all small development sitesunder one hectare from crucial biodiversity
requirements.
(02:37):
The call comes as new researchBNG in small developments highlights
that this would be asignificant setback for nature recovery
and risks collapsing theemergency biodiversity credits market.
Instead, the research showsthat by removing the very smallest
sites, those under 0.1 of ahectare, from the scheme altogether,
(03:01):
while ending loopholes forlarger sites, a win win could be
achieved for nature and development.
The new analysis by FTECcommissioned by the Lifescape Project
and Wildlife and CountrysideLink to shows the extent of current
BNG rule misuse and the likelyfuture impacts if the government
were to remove BNGrequirements for all small sites.
(03:25):
In the first year of thescheme, 69,500 out of the 80,400
approved planningapplications, that's 86% for new
domestic and commercialdevelopments claimed exemptions from
biodiversity net gain requirements.
These exemptions allowdevelopers to self declare potential
(03:46):
impacts on nature initiallyaimed at most planning applications.
An estimated 76,800 of the79,300 approved applications per
year, or 97% would likelyclaim exemption from BNG rules if
small sites are excluded.
(04:08):
This undermines theeffectiveness of the biodiversity.
Net gain policy incompensating for biodiversity.
Loss due to exemptions forsmall sites and loopholes for developers
over 215,500 hectares, an areacomparable to the size of the Yorkshire
(04:29):
Dales or the Snowdonianational park, could be developed
without any biodiversity compensation.
Current exemptions and poorenforcement permit developers to
evade obligations that areworth an estimated 180 million annually
in biodiversity compensation.
(04:49):
If all small sites wereexempt, this could rise to over 250
million pounds per year.
If small sites remain exemptand implementation fails fails only
6504 biodiversity units wouldbe produced for compensation payments,
compared to 13,364 units ifthe 0.1 hectare exemption and stricter
(05:16):
enforcement were applied,Richard Benwell, CEO of the Wildlife
and Countryside Link, toldWildlife Matters.
Biodiversity net gain is ahugely important principle.
Industries that harm natureshould contribute to its recovery.
The proposal to drasticallywiden the number of exempt small
(05:38):
sites from the system would bea return to the bad old days of damaging
development and torpedoconfidence in private investment
in Nature Recovery.
EFTEC's research shows that byremoving only the very smallest sites
from the system whilst closingloopholes for larger developments,
(05:58):
the government could make surebiodiversity net gain works for nature
as it was intended, as well asbenefiting the genuinely small scale
developments that don't pose athreat to nature.
Small sites dominate planningin England, 95% of planning applications
are for sites under onehectare and 88% under 0.4 and 77%
(06:26):
under 0.2 hectares.
These figures underscore theimportance of small sites in enhancing
biodiversity and creatingviable market for biodiversity units.
Exemptions for small sitesthreaten the UK's ability to meet
the Environment act target ofhalting species decline by 2030 and
(06:47):
the goal of protecting third30% of land and sea for nature.
Environment groups identifythe Biodiversity Net gain scheme
as the second most crucialfunding source for environmental
restoration, following naturefriendly farm funding.
Current changes couldundermine the BNG's schemes of viability.
(07:10):
The government emphasizes theprivate sector investment is essential
to bring the funding gapfurther nature recovery targets.
But revising the BNG scope toinclude all small sites under 0.5
hectares and closing loopholesfor larger sites could add 20,552
hectares to BNG coverage,protecting more land for nature compensation
(07:34):
than the government plans have allowed.
Our second story this weekhighlights concerns about rivers
due to the hot and dry weathercurrently affecting the uk.
Warnings indicate that thecountry's hottest spring on record
combined with pollution haspushed several rivers, including
the River Medway in Kent andthe River Wandle in Surrey, to a
(07:59):
critical state.
Conservationists report thatlow water flows and concentrated
pollutants such as ammonia andnitrates from farming and sewage
have led to fish deaths.
Alex Farquhar of the AnglingTrust told Wildlife Matters that
pollutant concentrations arethrough the roof, which significantly
(08:21):
impacts on the fish and ecosystems.
In June 2025, temperatures inrivers across England and Wales have
reached their highest sincethe Angling Trust began nationwide
citizenship science monitoringprojects three years ago.
For example, watertemperatures in the River Wandle,
(08:42):
a chalk stream flowing throughSurrey and London, have soared above
20 degrees C, and that's wellover the typical range of 11 to 13
C, placing strain on itsfragile ecosystems.
Overall, river temperatures inMarch, April and May of 2024 were
on average 1.8 degrees C,higher than in spring 2023.
(09:09):
Even small temperatureincreases have dire consequences
for aquatic species like wildbrown trout, as warmer waters hold
less oxygen, disrupt spawningand intensify pollutant toxicity.
The Trust's latest reportoutlines the ecological impact of
this year's warm, dryconditions, which are already evident
(09:31):
in rivers across Eng in Walesin 2025.
To date, there have been 87confirmed fish killed, incidents
linked to pollution, lowoxygen levels and natural causes,
alongside 36 incidents of lowflows contributing to reduced river
levels and higher pollution concentrations.
(09:54):
Testing on the River Medwayshowed that all 15 sites examined
between July 23 and July 24exceeded the upper limit for ecological
status due to the elevatedphosphate levels.
Wildlife Matters spoke toriver restoration expert Dr. Jack
(10:15):
Hogan, who expressed hisconcern, saying, if things continue
as they are, many of ourrivers will be too warm to support
brown trout in the comingdecades, leading to the loss of this
iconic species.
Jack described the situationas looking very grave, noting that
changing conditions areaffecting life down the the food
(10:37):
chain.
Water Minister Emma Hardy, mp,whilst declining an interview with
Wildlife Matters, assured thepublic of the government's commitment
to improving water quality andensuring supply security.
She said, we're looking tobuild new reservoirs.
I've visited some of them tosee progress.
By the end of this Parliament,we aim to cut sewage spills by half
(11:02):
and whilst that would be animprovement, of course what we need
to be doing is cutting thosesewage spills to zero and stop polluting
our rivers and natural waterways.
We are like every otherspecies on Earth, dependent on fresh
water and it appears crazy tome that we could even consider polluting
(11:24):
our own water supplies.
Our final story of this weeklooks at the Government's announcement
that it intends to ban lead ammunition.
A new ban on the use of leadammunition aims to protect wildlife
and clean up the nation's waterways.
Red kites and white Tailedeagles will receive greater protection
(11:47):
thanks to new restrictions onthe use of lead in ammunition, Environment
Minister Emma Hardy has announced.
To protect iconic Britishwildlife and clean up the nation's
waterways, new measures willban shots containing more than 1%
lead and bullets with a leadcontent of more than 3%.
(12:08):
Beyond exemptions, these typesof ammunition will no longer be sold
to the public.
The ban will prevent therelease of an estimated 7,000 tons
of toxic metal into fields,forests and wetlands every year.
Up to 100,000 wildfowl,including ducks and swans and waders,
(12:30):
die from lead poisoningannually in the uk as birds often
confuse the scattered shot forgrit and consume it.
Evidence from the Health andSafety Executive shows that lead
poses a risk to at least 1million birds over the coming decades
if usage continued at itscurrent rate.
(12:51):
Whilst around 40,000 birds ofprey such as red kites and white
tailed eagles are at risk fromingesting lead through carrion, introducing
the restrictions will alsoprevent lead from contaminating soil
and leaching into rivers whereguns are discharged, thereby reducing
the spread of harmful metaland ensuring ecosystems thrive for
(13:14):
both wildlife and people.
Hello, Wildlife Matters.
Welcome to the announcement.
We have concerns over theamount of time, up to three years,
given to the shooting industryto stop using lead based bullets
and the high number ofexemptions within the bill that will
allow the continued use oflead based ammunition for a large
(13:37):
section of the shooting industry.
And that has been this week'sA Wildlife Matters Nature News.
If you've been moved ormotivated by any of our stories today,
or you have a story you feelwe should be sharing, please do get
in touch.
You will find our emailaddress and socials in the show.
(14:00):
Notes.
Well, it's been a busy weekfor Wildlife Matters Nature News
(14:22):
and like many of you, we aredeeply concerned about the government's
proposed Infrastructure andPlanning bill which threatens species,
habitats and biodiversity, allof which will be sacrificed for development.
Yes, we need new houses, butnot at the expense of our green spaces,
(14:44):
iconic native species and theseemingly unchecked pollution of
our rivers and streams frompesticides, chemicals and sewage
from water companies.
Surely we can do better thanthis mini rant over.
I need to spend some time in nature.
(15:05):
And this week we have aniconic native mammal that I have
been fortunate enough to spendmany summer evenings with over the
years.
Now I have the chance to sharea snapshot of a long, hot and slow
summer's evening last monthwith each of you on this week's Wildlife
(15:29):
Matters Mindful moments.
It's it.
(16:43):
So there we were, lying in the.
Meadow at the edge of thewoods, the rushes and grasses towering
above me as they glint intheir golden hues.
With the sun slowly dippingtowards the horizon.
At the end of another perfect evening.
Spent watching and listeningto my local clan and of badgers as
(17:08):
they venture from their set togroom and to play before heading
off for their nightly forage.
But now it's time for thisweek's a Wildlife Matters main feature
and the start of a major newseries where we will explore urban
wildlife in our cities andtowns throughout the uk, beginning
(17:32):
in London at the historic andendlessly fascinating West Norwood
Cemetery.
Hello and welcome to thisweek's Wildlife Matters main feature.
(17:56):
And today, Wildlife Mattersexplores Britain's wildest cities.
Yes, it's a new series serieswhere we start in London, where urban
wildlife survives and flourishes.
To begin, we'll explore someof the fascinating wildlife in London,
their habitats and thechallenges that they face in an urban
(18:21):
environment.
While London is most commonlyassociated with its bustling streets,
iconic landmarks and thevibrant city culture, another side
of the capital is worth exploring.
Exploring.
And that is its diverse wildlife.
So grab your walking boots,camera and an Oyster card and just
(18:42):
join us.
As we explore the wild side ofEngland's capital city.
One of my favourite Londonwildlife haunts is West Norwood Cemetery.
Even if you're familiar withthe cemetery and its precious green
space, there is a lot moregoing on than you might be aware
(19:02):
of.
But let's start with just abit of the history.
You see, West Norwood cemeteryopened in 1837 as one of the magnificent
seven private cemeteries builtto alleviate overcrowding in existing
London parish burial grounds.
But between 1801 and 1851,London's population more than doubled,
(19:28):
increasing from 1 million toover 2.3 million.
Today, the cemetery is ownedby Lambeth Council and remains in
operation as a working cemetery.
Like so many other cemeteries,West Norwood.
Provides invaluable greenspace to the city and is the home
(19:50):
to abundant wildlife species.
Around 20 years ago, I wasinvolved in surveying the cemetery
on multiple occasions andfound it to be a valuable haven for
various fauna, includingfoxes, bats, stag beetles and 35
species of birds such aswoodpeckers and tawny owls, which
(20:14):
live among the veteran oak andlime trees.
But the flora is equallyimpressive, with mature trees, including
a number from the ancientGreat North Wood, predating the cemetery
by many hundreds of years.
In fact, One line of ThirteenOaks, with various estimated dates
(20:36):
that range between 15 to 1640and others from 1677 to 1711, form
a medieval Boundary north,south, across the highest point of
the cemetery and four other trees.
There are three oaks and one field.
Maple predate the graveyard.
(20:58):
Today we have permission tospend the.
Afternoon, evening and nighthere at West Norwood Cemetery.
This could be a wild night in.
The heart of the capital.
The first thing to note, it is.
Still daylight, and I'msitting here watching three foxes.
A dog fox, a vixen, and a loneindividual female, possibly one of
(21:23):
their cubs from last year, whoremains close, but not too close
to what I believe could be her parents.
The vixen looks thin and hasbeen suffering from mange.
Her fur is growing back and Ihope she is beginning to recover
her fitness.
The dog fox stands close byher as she lies grooming in the late
(21:45):
afternoon sunshine.
He's guarding his partner, buthe tolerates the female fox no more
than 100 meters away.
This young fox is stunning,with a fiery red coat and a bright
amber eyes.
She is on high alert, her earsand nose twitching constantly.
(22:06):
As I sit quietly, a womanapproaches the area and opens a small
box she is carrying.
And the reason the foxes aregathered here becomes clear.
She has food.
She puts down a selection ofsausages before opening a small Tupperware
and placing several neatlymade sandwiches around the edge of
(22:27):
the pile.
She then walks away toward thecemetery's wall, where the younger
fox was hidden away in the undergrowth.
The dog fox and vixen approach.
The vixen takes two sandwichesand her mouth moves to the edge of
the thicket and eats them.
The dog fox, meanwhile, hasloaded up with sausages and a couple
(22:49):
of sandwiches before he trotsoff towards the vixen and drops them
close by her.
He returns several times tothe sausages, loads his mouth to
capacity and trots away in theopposite direction.
He'll be caching them for later.
And then finally he clears thefood and returns to the where the
(23:11):
vixen has been eating it andhe joins her and they both eat before
they begin some mutual grooming.
Meanwhile, the young femalefox leaves the COVID of the scrub
to gather the sausage andsandwiches that the woman has left
for her.
She had removed them all frommy view amidst the gravestones, and
(23:31):
I imagined she had cached thembefore returning to the sanctuary
of the shrubbery.
It was time for me to leavethis serene scene for a while, I'm
sure the woman had beenproviding medicated sandwiches to
the vixen, and that was whatwas helping her regain her health.
And like so many wildlifeheroes, they go about their business
(23:53):
quietly and silently and do somuch to support our precious urban
wildlife.
In 2019, loss refunding wasused to survey several London cemeteries
for a rare insect with anincredible lifestyle.
This insect made a strongholdfor itself right here in the heart
(24:17):
of London.
The stag beetle is the largestin Britain and is found in the southeast
of England, particularly insouth and west London.
They prefer oak woodland, butcan be found in gardens, parks and
cemeteries where hedgerows are maintained.
The larvae, which can grow upto 110 millimetres, depend on rotting
(24:42):
wood that is decomposing tofeed on and provide shelter.
The larvae can liveunderground and have been found up
to 50cm deep.
It can take up to six yearsfor them to develop before they pupate
and become adults.
The adults have a much shorter lifespan.
(25:03):
They'll emerge in May with thesole purpose of mating, and they
usually die before the end ofAugust, so do keep a lookout around
dusk on a balmy summer eveningwhen the males fly to look for mates.
Once the male has found apotential mate, he displays his oversized
(25:23):
antlers to her, hoping shewill be suitably impressed.
These dramatic antlers have noother use than this display and to
rut with other male stagbeetles that may have their eye on
the same mate.
The males will rut by lockingantlers and dueling, similar to deer
rutting.
(25:44):
It is just as dramatic,although on a smaller scale, and
can result in broken antlersor even antlers being ripped from
the bodies.
If a female is impressed bythe male's antlers, they will mate.
The female will return towhere she emerged to lay her eggs,
provided there is enoughdecaying wood available.
(26:07):
Stag beetles prefer loamysoil, so they're not to be found
in chalky soils such thosefound on the north and the South
Downs, and very few are foundnorth of the Midlands.
Another consideration is rainfall.
Stag beetles don't like wet orwaterlogged soils, so areas with
(26:29):
high rainfall or floodingrisks do not have them.
London cemeteries provide theideal habitat with their trees and
hedgerow their rich,undisturbed soils.
And of course, London has areasonably stable warm and dry climate.
Stag beetles spend most oftheir life cycle underground as larvae.
(26:54):
Depending on the weather, thisprocess can take anywhere from three
to seven years.
Prolonged cold weather canextend the process, but once fully
grown, the larvae will leavethe decaying wood they've been fed
feeding on to construct agiant cocoon in the soil, where they
(27:14):
pupate and eventually willtransform into adults.
The adults spend the winterunderground in the soil and typically
emerge from around mid Mayonwards by the end of August, most
of them will have died.
They do not survive the winter.
During their short adultlives, male stag beetles spend their
(27:38):
days basking in the sun togather strength for their evening
flying activities in search ofa mate.
They can't consume solid foodand they absorb their moisture from
plants.
The females are also capableof flying, but are typically found
on the ground at dusk.
Tonight we observed a femaleon the ground and I'm hopeful that
(28:03):
she is seeking a mate.
When her wing covers open, butshe does not fly, I'm confident that
she is releasing pheromonesthat will attract male stag beetles.
So now it's a waiting game.
The sun is setting and thecemetery has closed for the night
and we are alone with the wildlife.
(28:26):
They are a remarkable sight ifyou've never seen a flying stag beetle.
They are proficient flyers whocan travel considerable distances
and reach heights of at least200 meters, as evidenced by the swifts,
swallows and kestrels thathunt stag beetles in flight.
Yet another challenge for thestag beetles to overcome before finding
(28:50):
a mate.
As I sit in the fading light,my gaze alternates between the female
on the ground and scanning thesky for potential male stag beetles.
Then it happens.
A male stag beetle arrives andlands nearby, and immediately he
(29:11):
begins to display with his antlers.
It's fascinating to watch ashe moves sideways around her and
frequently stops with hisantlers in different positions, a
bit like a knight displayinghis sword skills in days gone by.
His antler dance is a successand her wing case is open.
(29:33):
They mate before he flies off,no doubt in search of another mate.
The final species we'relooking at tonight is a night flying
bird.
It's another species you maynot expect to see thriving in the
heart of central London.
Based on local knowledge andprevious visits, I know that a pair
(29:55):
of tawny owls nests in the oaktrees that line the edge of the cemetery.
So that's where we're headingto now.
They have three owlets thisyear and are now of an age when they
will come out onto thebranches to strengthen their wings
and await food from their parents.
The nest is a traditionalhollow deep within an old oak tree,
(30:16):
and this pair have used thisnest site for many years.
When I arrived, I settled down on.
The grass path between rows of gravestones.
From here, I had a great viewof the nest hole and was ready for
the evening's activities to begin.
Tawny owls are early nesters.
Their single clutch of two tothree eggs is laid asynchronously
(30:41):
every two to three days andincubation lasts approximately 30
days.
Fledging occurs around fiveweeks and is often in May.
Tawny owlets can often befound on the ground during the early
summer.
If you are sure it is a tawnyowl, you should leave it as they
are excellent climbers whowill return to the nest area.
(31:05):
With that said, other owlspecies, such as barn owls, would
need help if found on the ground.
So it is essential to know theowl species that you have seen.
If you need more time,consider taking a short video and
sending it to a local wildlifeor bird rescue team who will be able
to provide you with the right advice.
(31:27):
The fledgling tawny owletsdepend on their parents for food
for up to three months afterleaving the nest.
Once darkness falls, they willsit on the branches of nearby trees
and beg for food.
And that's what we hope to see tonight.
The three chicks were allbranching nearby and soon began to
(31:48):
make their distinctive callsto their parents, signalling that
it would quickly be supper time.
The parents were already out.
The cemetery is large,especially in central London.
It's 16 hectares or around 42acres, a territory that could support
two or three more pairs oftawny owls.
(32:11):
Of course that depends on foodavailability and nesting spaces in
the trees.
Within minutes, the male tawnyowl returned with a vole which it
fed to the largest chick on myright hand side.
And soon after, the female,easily identifiable as considerably
larger than the male, appearedto feed the second largest chick,
(32:35):
while the third and smallestchick continued to call.
And this is the way of owlsand many araptors or birds of prey
who will put their effortsinto the first and generally largest
chick.
And the last chick that couldbe two weeks younger than its elder
sibling could be sacrificedand even fed to its siblings if hard
(32:59):
times or weather impacts onthe parents hunting.
I watched this repeat foraround two hours before returning
to my original location tocatch up again with the foxes family.
This year's cubs now resembletheir parents but have yet to develop
their long legs and sleek lean bodies.
(33:20):
They are still playful andspend most of the evening and night
playing, hunting, pouncing andjumping on each other.
I was staying the night and Ihad a sleeping bag and tarp that
I had put up in the cornersecured to a tree and a wall.
I settled to eat some supperand settled down with the haunting
(33:41):
sound of the tawny owls twitwooing as they coordinated and checked
in with each other and theoccasional yelp of a fox cub that
had had a nip from the Vixen.
Of course, the city makes lowlevel noise at night and artificial
light blocks all but thebrightest stars from the sky and
(34:03):
even the moon looks pale andsubdued as I drift into a deep, comfortable
sleep.
We hope you have enjoyed ourvisit to one of the wildest places
in London, the wonderfullyhistoric and diverse West Norwood
Cemetery.
And if you have enjoyed thisadventure, then please do share this
(34:27):
podcast with your colleagues,friends or family and help us to
engage more wildlife andnature lovers.
That has been this week'sWildlife Matters main feature.
(34:53):
Would you spend the night in acemetery to watch wildlife?
This wasn't the first time forme, although I don't often sleep
after a wildlife survey or watch.
But it was wonderful to lie inmy sleeping bag under an open tarp
and listen to the foxes andowls set against the constant background
(35:17):
noise of the city that never sleeps.
West Norwood is full ofhistory, from natural to human moment,
and for me it is an endlesslyfascinating place I know I will return
to as often as possible.
It is also the first of our.
New Wildest Places adventureswhere we will explore urban wildlife.
(35:43):
So expect to see our UrbanAdventures every few weeks.
And please feel free to share any.
Urban wildlife places you'dlike us to visit and feature on the
Wildlife Matters podcast.
Leave us a comment whereveryou get your podcasts or on our social
media sites.
(36:05):
It has undoubtedly beenanother action packed episode which
we hope you have enjoyed andlearned something from.
Next time, Wildlife MattersInvestigates returns with a deep
dive into AI.
Not the artificialintelligence that as a content creator
and writer could have amassive impact on what we do here
(36:29):
at Wildlife Matters, but theeven more worrying avian influenza
which is devastating our wildbird populations and has worryingly
jumped species and is nowkilling mammals in.
The UK and around the world.
It's another episode that yousimply will not want to miss, so
(36:52):
make sure you follow orsubscribe wherever you get your podcasts
or listen for free on theWildlife Matters website.
The link is in the show Notes.
Thank you for choosing tolisten to us.
Your support motivatesmotivates us to share our experiences
and adventures through this podcast.
(37:15):
And as always, stay curious.
Wild ones.
This is Wildlife Matterssigning off.
Popular Podcasts
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.