From Sizzling Summers to Wet Winters: Down in Dorset Episode 10
1 hr 11 min
Send Lizzie a message! "From scorching summers to autumn named storms, the weather has been a relentless topic for all of us this year..." Welcome back to another episode of Down in Dorset, the seasonal mini-series from Second Nature! It is so good to be back with Tim. Recorded right on the heels of our first major autumn storms, this episode tackles a subject that couldn't be more apt or urgent: how extreme weather patterns, from sun-baked droughts to heavy winter deluges, are impacting Dorset's land, livestock, soils, and local communities. This time around, we did things a little differently! Tim and I were out and about in the field visiting local farms, as well as sitting down together in the studio with leading conservation experts. To help us explore both sides of the coin, drought resilience and natural flood mitigation, we caught up with: Hannah Dyke, West Dorset farmer and soil health advocateSophie Gregory, Organic Dairy Farmer (and a fantastic friend of mine!)Charlotte, Land Advisor at the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG South West)Ian Rees, Countryside Project Development Officer for Dorset National LandscapeIn this episode, we chat about: Favourite Dorset Hidden Gems: Charlotte and Ian share their top local spots-from the majestic beech trees and bluebells at Lewesdon Hill Fort to the magical, tucked-away Kingcombe Nature Reserve in the Hooke Valley. 🥾🌸Farming Through Drought: Hannah and Sophie give us a candid look at what happens when grass growth stops during a heatwave. We explore the high costs of feeding winter forage in June, the resilience of herbal lays, and why building organic matter in our soils acts like a sponge for future droughts. 🌾🚜The Power of Livestock & Farmyard Manure: Why removing livestock isn't a quick fix for rural landscapes like West Dorset's steep hills, and how organic manure and grazing animals play a vital role in soil health and carbon cycle management. 🐄💩Heat Stress & Wildlife: How extreme summers extend...
