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The Nature Recovery PodcastAuthor: The Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery
The Nature Recovery Podcast looks at some of the major challenges we face to global biodiversity. It takes a look at the various ways we are trying to halt the decline in biodiversity and the challenges inherent in these approaches. We also talk to a number of leading figures in the field of Nature Recovery and find out more about their work. Language: en Genres: Earth Sciences, Natural Sciences, Science Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Wytham Woods: Tales from the a long-studied woodland with Dr Keith Kirby
Episode 1
Tuesday, 3 March, 2026
Send a textIn this episode we talk to Dr Keith Kirby MBE about Wytham Woods, a Thames Valley hill of limestone, ancient woodland and one of the most intensively studied woodland sites in the world. Keith traces the site’s deep history (a coral reef 150 million years ago), the human influence on the landscape over centuries, and the key decisions that shaped the wood we see today: enclosure and planting by estate owners, the university bequest in the 1940s, and the later tussles between foresters and ecologists over management.Keith shares highlights from decades of scientific monitoring: the bird-box programme started in 1947 (now over 1,000 boxes), permanent 10×10 m vegetation plots set up in the 1970s and remeasured repeatedly, badger and small-mammal studies, and how changing deer numbers and later ash dieback altered forest dynamics. He reflects on the practical lessons — how deer control enabled ground flora recovery, how some management mistakes left long legacies, and the rare moments of continuity (including recent tree plantings by the family of Charles Elton). Keith also points out the small, poignant human stories inside the woods: WWI practice trenches under a spring carpet of bluebells, and the rediscovery of rare plants.The Wytham Woods Book is here:https://global.oup.com/academic/product/wytham-woods-9780197610602?cc=gb&lang=en&And you can find more information about visiting the wood here:https://www.wythamwoods.ox.ac.uk/visitand you can find the guidebook here:https://www.wythamwoods.ox.ac.uk/shopTo here more from Keith you can watch his lecture here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICD4B3d28b8or read his popular blog here:https://theoldmanofwytham.com/The Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is interested in promoting a wide variety of views and opinions on nature recovery from researchers and practitioners. The views, opinions and positions expressed within this podcast are those of the speakers alone, they do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery, or its researchers.The work of the Leverhulme Centre for Nature Recovery is made possible thanks to the support of the Leverhulme Trust.
