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Fergus Collins

@blorengeviews

Naturalist, writer, bird song translater and host of the Countryfile Magazine Plodcast.

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23.11.2023
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Latest posts by Fergus Collins @blorengeviews

335. Meet the rebel wilding lord trying to build the WildKingdom

New Plodcast! I met Hugh Crossley, 4th Baron Somerleyton to hear about his rewilding plans in East Anglia and his dream for a WildKingdom.
A bit of upbeat thinking and optimism in a time when we feel besieged with bad news.

open.spotify.com/episode/5fSI...

05.02.2026 09:46 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
331. Enjoy an epic starling murmuration on the Somerset Levels with the Plodcast team

Find a little light in the global gloom - and join me, @kevparr.bsky.social and the team as, by pure chance, we capture a perfect starling murmuration for the Plodcast, down on the Somerset Levels.

open.spotify.com/episode/4LL7...

05.01.2026 08:42 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Recently caught up with episodes of BBC Countryfile Magazine’s The Plodcast. Hosted by @blorengeviews.bsky.social it’s always a fine listen β€” relaxing, informative, thought-provoking β€” though the walking interviews with @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social & @drmjwarren.bsky.social were especially excellent.

21.12.2025 10:38 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Countryfile’s Plodcast, sees @blorengeviews.bsky.social at Netherton Foundry.
If you're expecting a traditional foray into the English countryside, with tractors & wellies, think again
This is about the whirr & clang of ancient machines, old crafts & skills.
www.netherton-foundry.co.uk/Countryfile

17.12.2025 18:21 πŸ‘ 11 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
329. Making a spun-iron frying pan at a family-run foundry in Shropshire

It's Plodcast day. A new adventure in countryside! I visited @nethertonfoundry.bsky.social where the team invited me to try my hand at making on of their their famous spun-iron pans.
A magical experience!
Huge thanks to Neil, Sue, Colin, Ryan, Toby and all...
open.spotify.com/episode/0HpR...

16.12.2025 08:30 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Elon Musk’s Worthless, Poisoned Hall of Mirrors How X blew up its own platform with a new location feature

Elon Musk's poison hall of mirrors
from @cwarzel.bsky.social

www.theatlantic.com/technology/2...

25.11.2025 03:31 πŸ‘ 1104 πŸ” 387 πŸ’¬ 33 πŸ“Œ 30
Preview
298. A walk with Robert Macfarlane along a Cambridge chalk stream to its magical spring The Plodcast Β· Episode

My Plodcast quest with @robgmacfarlane.bsky.social to find the spring at the source of a chalk stream - and celebrate his heartbreaking yet hopeful new book Is a River Alive?

We found some answers. And minnows

open.spotify.com/episode/6hza...

29.05.2025 09:10 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I sneaked in to listen. Great chat - and very entertaining

29.05.2025 09:08 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
296. Discover a wilder way to garden - and to live - with Poppy Okotcha The Plodcast Β· Episode

This is a better way to live - latest Plodcast with Poppy Okotcha, about the power of gardening to heal our connections with nature and each other.

And a perfect small garden to record it in.

open.spotify.com/episode/4vGT...

05.05.2025 14:03 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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This week's episode, lambing in Warwickshire with Bizza Walters. Loads of insight into farmers at the cutting edge of SFI and inheritance tax issues.

And lots of cute lambs

open.spotify.com/episode/2Cvv...

22.04.2025 10:40 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Hi Nic
I would dearly like to walk and record with you. Where has this year gone? How are you set for late May/June?

11.04.2025 09:19 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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The Countryfile Magazine Plodcast - my audio baby - has been shortlisted for the Publishers Podcast Awards. Some very tough competition here but just reaching the 'final' is really happy news for me and the Plodcast team. Including the wondrous @kevparr.bsky.social

09.04.2025 11:05 πŸ‘ 15 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 2
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Monmouthshire County Council tells us about lack of money yet it still has to mow, mow, mow every verge and bit of common land. Even where they promised to let the grass grow as here.
In a dry April. Just insanely wasteful and destructive.

07.04.2025 13:47 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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292. Talking big farming issues in a walk through a forgotten landscape in Leicestershire Podcast Episode Β· The Plodcast Β· 01/04/2025 Β· 55m

Talking farming issues this week with former Farmers Weekly writer Tim Relf. Trying to shed some light on inheritance tax and SFI (now apparently cancelled!)

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/2...

03.04.2025 08:13 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The state of these hedgerows.

It takes time, energy and dedication to flog nature to death so effectively.

A disgrace that only has negative consequences for nature, livestock, soil quality and carbon storage.

26.03.2025 20:15 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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291. Explore a rewilding project in Lincolnshire with artist Hannah Dale The Plodcast Β· Episode

Hey! A story of hope - a rewilding project in Lincolnshire. Hear how artist and farmer Hannah Dale is rewetting and her 300-acre farm, allowing scrub and natural woodland colonisation. Plus, some very special guests - and not pigs!

open.spotify.com/episode/2UWs...

26.03.2025 11:06 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
290. How being in the moment in nature can bring lasting happiness The Plodcast Β· Episode

New Plodcast today - a fresh way of finding contentment.
I met with Dr Giles Croft on my local canal to talk about how simply being in natural world and not overthinking things can lead to clarity when coping with an endless stream of grim nature news.

open.spotify.com/episode/57VW...

18.03.2025 08:19 πŸ‘ 7 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
289. Discover the extraordinary magnetism of the Welsh Marches, with writer Mike Parker The Plodcast Β· Episode

New Plodcast adventure in the Welsh borders with wonderful guest @mikeparker.bsky.social

We walked Hergest Ridge, talking about the magical people, landscapes and atmosphere of the Marches - captured in Mike's new book All the Wide Border
open.spotify.com/episode/6b46...

17.03.2025 11:36 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

@stsquad.bsky.social You convinced me!

17.03.2025 11:28 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Right, after months of vacillating (and hating Threads), I'm committing to this place. Thanks to @jamesgilbertmr.bsky.social for the invite! I'll be posting my adventures in the outdoors for the Countryfile Plodcast - a weekly podcast quest in nature...

17.03.2025 11:27 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0