Best Ffern Podcasts (2025)

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Found Sound for December: Matthew Bannister 25:17

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12d ago25:17

25:17

For December's Found Sound, Alice Boyd walks with broadcaster Matthew Bannister, creator of the podcast Folk on Foot, through the Wildbrooks of Amberley in West Sussex. Their conversation wanders through Matthew’s discovery of folk music to the new voices keeping the tradition alive today. Found Sounds are sonic scrapbooks of field recordings and i…

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December 35:22

23d ago35:22

35:22

Wrap up warm for our December episode - the last of our 2025 series. We prune our orchard’s sleepy trees, make ephemeral ink from sloes, and visit the coast for one of the UK’s most exciting wildlife spectacles. In the sky, the Geminids are falling - and we’re bringing in the green for the midwinter festivals.'As the Season Turns' is a podcast crea…

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Found Sound for November: Some Interesting Apples 25:41

1M ago25:41

25:41

For November, Alice visits an apple tasting trial, organised by a project called Some Interesting Apples, at Kestle Barton in Cornwall. We hear from a panel of apple experts, academics and artists who are selecting and preserving wild-grown, chance-seedling apples for the Wilding Mother Orchard. This episode was produced by Alice Boyd, with support…

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November 34:26

2M ago34:26

34:26

For November, let's crunch along leafy paths and hedgerows. We’ll gather sloes and the last apples, spot colourful mushrooms, and head to the Forest of Dean to spot a once-extinct mammal. Meanwhile spooking ourselves with tales of the Erl-King’s daughter under the light of the Darkest Depths Moon...'As the Season Turns' is a podcast created by Ffer…

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Found Sound for October: Caroline Ross 25:03

2M ago25:03

25:03

For October's Found Sound, Alice visits multidisciplinary artist and writer, Caroline Ross, at her new home in Hexham, Northumberland, where they make ink from oak galls. They discuss the rich history of natural inks, and the importance of using our hands for everyday tasks - and to create beauty.This episode was produced by Alice Boyd, with suppor…

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October 35:48

3M ago35:48

35:48

Join us for a chilly, colourful October day. We’ll meet drunken butterflies, tell stories of conkers and hawthorn, and after dark visit the city, to meet an animal who lives comfortably among the people there.'As the Season Turns' is a podcast created by Ffern in collaboration with the nature writer and author of the Seasonal Almanac, Lia Leendertz…

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Found Sound for September: Matt Somerville 25:31

3M ago25:31

25:31

This September, Alice visits wild honey bee conservationist and carpenter Matt Somerville in his cottage in Hampshire. His work champions a bee-centred approach to conservation, placing the wellbeing of wild colonies above honey production. Together they explore Matt's practice of creating log hives that mimic bees’ natural habitats, and go on the …

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September 37:39

4M ago37:39

37:39

Wander with us through a soft September day. We’ll gather fruit in the orchard, and blackberries and rosehips in the hedges - and eat them. Sam Lee gives us a new version of the old song 'Polly Vaughan', while this month’s mammal lives by water. 'As the Season Turns' is a podcast created by Ffern in collaboration with the nature writer and author o…

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Found Sound for August: Hazel Gardiner 27:03

4M ago27:03

27:03

In August, Alice visits floral designer, writer and broadcaster Hazel Gardiner in London - where Hazel creates a joyful floral arrangement from her garden. Hazel Gardiner Design produces boundary-breaking floral experiences, blending sustainability with storytelling. Their bold, nature-led installations honour the seasonal cycle of flowers and plan…

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August 37:56

5M ago37:56

37:56

For August, revel with us in the final days of summer. We refresh ourselves by the sea, looking for giants, and wander the woods in quest of danger... In the orchard we celebrate the leavings of summer storms, while in the shortening twilights we brandish hazel wands. Meanwhile, Sam Lee sings 'Up a Wild and Lonely Glen'.'As the Season Turns' is a p…

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Found Sound for July: Lara Maiklem 24:36

5M ago24:36

24:36

For July, Alice visits author and mudlark Lara Maiklem on the Thames foreshore in Wapping, London. Lara takes us on a mudlarking walk, to search for London’s forgotten objects.This episode was produced by musician and sound artist Alice Boyd, featuring music by herself and Sam Lee. Thanks go to Lara Maiklem.'Found Sounds' are back for 2025 with ano…

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July 35:59

6M ago35:59

35:59

Wallow with us in the quiet of July, seeking out the coolness of water in the orchard and the wetlands. Along the way we hunt for chicken of the woods and predict the weather on St Swithin’s Day. To begin, Sam Lee sings I Have Been A Rambling - an unusual song with a strange image at its heart.'As the Season Turns' is a podcast created by Ffern in …

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Found Sound for June: Cara Murphy 22:23

6M ago22:23

22:23

In our Found Sound for June, Alice meeets award-winning silversmith Cara Murphy on a beach near Belfast, Northern Ireland. We hear how the natural world influences Cara’s work, later joining her at the Ulster Museum to explore the role of handmaking in contemporary society.This episode was produced by musician and sound artist Alice Boyd, featuring…

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June 40:08

7M ago40:08

40:08

For June, Sam Lee sets the tone with a serene arrangement of the beautiful midsummer hymn, 'Abroad for Pleasure'. We stroll from meadow to orchard to woodland, where we meet nightjars, spark bonfires and stumble across a truly adorable mammal of the month. 'As the Season Turns' is a podcast created by Ffern in collaboration with the nature writer a…

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Found Sound for May: Nadeem Perera 22:15

7M ago22:15

22:15

For May's Found Sound, Alice heads to Bristol to record the dawn chorus and meet wildlife presenter, activist and birder Nadeem Perera. We hear about how birdwatching has changed Nadeem’s life, and his role in building community as a founder of Flock Together.This episode was produced by musician and sound artist Alice Boyd, featuring music by hers…

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May 38:36

8M ago38:36

38:36

To bring in May we'll forage for bread and cheese, gather round the Maypole, and slip down to the riverbank to meet our mammal of the month. To begin, Sam Lee sings a new version of the Padstow May Song.'As the Season Turns' is a podcast created by Ffern in collaboration with the nature writer and author of the Seasonal Almanac, Lia Leendertz. Lia …

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Found Sound for April: Lucy May Schofield 22:59

8M ago22:59

22:59

For April's Found Sound, Alice meets artist Lucy May Schofield in her studio in rural Northumberland. We hear about Lucy’s water-based woodcut printing practice, as well as her fascination with the passage of time, our place in the cosmos and our relationship to the earth.This episode was produced by musician and sound artist Alice Boyd, featuring …

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April 33:54

9M ago33:54

33:54

Wend your way with us through an April day - through the blossoming orchard, to Japan for our monthly tree ritual, under the oak trees with Zoe, our resident forager, and up into the dusky air with emerging bats. Soundtracked by Sam Lee's song for April, 'The Cuckoo'.'As the Season Turns' is a podcast created by Ffern in collaboration with the natu…

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Found Sound for March: Claire Ratinon 21:43

10M ago21:43

21:43

In March, Alice meets organic food grower and author Claire Ratinon in her garden in East Sussex. Sheltering from the rain, they plant the first seeds of the year in Claire’s greenhouse and meet some feathered friends - discussing signs of spring, tomatoes and the enormous value of growing.This episode was produced by musician and sound artist Alic…

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March 33:25

10M ago33:25

33:25

March is the start of spring - to celebrate, Sam Lee sings an uplifting new arrangement of the folk anthem 'Birds in the Spring'. Our mammal of the month is the mad March hare, while in the woods we look for bear garlic and go birch tapping. Meanwhile, Lia tells the Cornish folktale of The Fairies and the Bees.'As the Season Turns' is a podcast cre…

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Found Sound for February: Darren Appiagyei 19:23

10M ago19:23

19:23

For February's Found Sound, Alice meets wood artist Darren Appiagyei in Greenwich Park in south-east London, before heading to his studio to learn more about his wood turning practice. In the background, you’ll hear chirping parakeets, the rumble of traffic and the occasional plane overhead, all of which are part of the sonic tapestry of this urban…

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February 34:08

11M ago34:08

34:08

For February, Sam Lee gives us a bold new version of 'Oakham Poachers', a traditional ballad recorded in Gloucestershire. In the orchard, we explore mistletoe folklore and select apple trees for planting. Zoe goes foraging for jack by the hedge, while our mammal of the month has a striped face, a grey back and a big personality... And Lia tells the…

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Found Sound for January: Morvern Graham 23:19

11M ago23:19

23:19

For January’s Found Sound, Alice Boyd meets Scottish-Scandinavian illustrator, printmaker and storyteller Morvern Graham on the East Scottish coast. Together, they head out onto the windy beach to collect limpets for Morvern’s latest folklore character: the Shellycoat. This episode was produced by musician and sound artist Alice Boyd, featuring mus…

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January 37:00

12M ago37:00

37:00

For our first episode of 2025, we are delighted to welcome this year's musician - the wonderful Sam Lee, who has composed a song for January especially for us. Zoe Gilbert begins the year looking for jelly ear fungus and wood wives. And our presenter Lia Leendertz tells a seasonal folk tale from Somerset.'As the Season Turns' is a podcast created b…

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Found Sound for December: Lia Leendertz 20:49

1y ago20:49

20:49

For the final Found Sound of 2024, we have created a special episode for you. Alice travelled to Somerset to meet our very own Lia Leendertz, Almanac-maker and presenter of As the Season Turns. They visited Stanton Drew Stone Circles, to the south of Bristol, where they talked about stone circle myths, marking the seasons and fresh starts.This epis…

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December 24 31:53

1y ago31:53

31:53

For December, our final episode of 2024, we mark the winter solstice with fireside tales of elder trees and wrens. The Breath sing 'Carry Your Kin', a song for the turn of the year, and we walk through the still, dim woods, looking for winter's jewels. 'As the Season Turns' is a podcast created by Ffern in collaboration with the nature writer and a…

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Found Sound for November: Poppy Okotcha 22:25

1y ago22:25

22:25

This month, Alice is with ecological food grower, forager and cook Poppy Okotcha in her garden in Devon - where they plant beans, make compost and discuss how gardens can help us envision alternative ways of living.This episode was produced by musician and sound artist Alice Boyd, featuring music by herself and The Breath. Thanks go to Poppy Okotch…

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November 24 31:01

1y ago31:01

31:01

In November's episode we mark the old festival of Samhain, and the end of the harvest - while in our ancient woodland the animals, too, are saying goodbye to autumn. We explore the fire folklore that abounds at this time, from Guy Fawkes to Will o' the Wisps, and The Breath sing 'All That You Have Been', a song for this dark month. To lighten the d…

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Found Sound for October: Zoe Gilbert 19:14

1y ago19:14

19:14

This month, Alice is back on another foraging walk with Zoe Gilbert, author, folklorist and contributor to As the Season Turns. This time, they’re looking for some autumnal treasures among the falling leaves in an ancient woodland near Hamstreet in Kent.This episode was produced by musician and sound artist Alice Boyd, featuring music by herself an…

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October 24 30:10

1y ago30:10

30:10

October is prime season for mushrooms - and we find them in the ancient woodland and in fairy rings, exploring the best kinds to eat and the folklore surrounding them. We identify Heath Star Moss and hear the tale of Herne the Hunter (be warned - this tale is a little scary!), while The Breath play 'Little One', a song for autumn babies.'As the Sea…

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Found Sound for September: Roka Brings Flowers 18:33

1+ y ago18:33

18:33

This month, Alice meets Roka from Roka Brings Flowers on her narrowboat ‘Leafy Lady’. Roka is a florist and craft maker living a nomadic life on the British waterways. As she and Alice discuss the ups and downs of this way of life, they discover ripe tomatoes, dried elderflower - and the experience of going through a lock.This episode was produced …

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September 24 34:09

1+ y ago34:09

34:09

In September, the wildlife in our ancient woodland is thriving on the season's abundance, while in the orchard with Zoe we meet some interesting characters. The Breath sing Cliona's Wave, telling the tale behind it, and Lia too is in Ireland for a story from the Fenian Cycle: The Salmon of Knowledge.'As the Season Turns' is a podcast created by Ffe…

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Found Sound for August: Martha & Ella Webb 17:53

1+ y ago17:53

17:53

For August's Found Sound, Alice meets sisters Martha and Ella Webb, a clothes maker and scientific illustrator, in their studios in Stroud, Gloucestershire. The sisters demonstrate their creative processes, discussing how they find inspiration in nature and each other. This episode was produced by musician and sound artist Alice Boyd, featuring mus…

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August 24 29:56

1+ y ago29:56

29:56

August is the first real harvest month - so we go foraging in the ancient woodland, delving into the folklore of blackberries, elder and rowan along the way. Zoe tells a familiar tale from the herb garden, and The Breath sing 'Harvest', one of the first songs they wrote together. Our moss of the month takes us underground, while in the sky above we…

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Found Sound for July: Sophie Sellu 15:11

1+ y ago15:11

15:11

This month, Alice meets artist and woodworker Sophie Sellu on the way to her studio ‘Grain and Knot’ in south-east London, where Sophie discusses her artistic practice and Alice collects some soothing woodworking sounds.This episode was produced by musician and sound artist Alice Boyd, featuring music by herself and The Breath. Thanks go to Sophie …

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July 24 30:49

1+ y ago30:49

30:49

In July, the ancient woodland cools us down - while we explore the hot-weather roots of some of the month's many names. In the garden Zoe gives us some charms against pests, and we find out what to eat and plant in the veg patch. Our folktale tells of fairies, while The Breath sing 'Only Stories', a song about Ríoghnach's childhood summers spent in…

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Found Sound for June: Chantal Lyons 13:48

1+ y ago13:48

13:48

For June's Found Sound, Alice meets science and nature writer Chantal Lyons at Woorgreens Nature Reserve in the heart of the Forest of Dean, to spot the elusive wild boar - learning about their habits, expressions and natural history along the way.This episode was produced by musician and sound artist Alice Boyd, featuring music by herself and The …

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June 24 31:31

1+ y ago31:31

31:31

For June, we spend time in the garden - with squirrels and foxes, nectar-rich flowers and a glut of early summer vegetables. The Breath play 'For You', and we consider the old names for the month and its moons. We delve deep into the Forest of Dean to look for rewilded boar, and recount a folktale about them from the Brothers Grimm. 'As the Season …

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Found Sound for May: JC Niala & Sam Skinner 12:28

1+ y ago12:28

12:28

This month, Alice meets writer and poet Dr JC Niala and artist Sam Skinner at Elder Stubbs Allotments in Oxford - where they have recreated a 1918-style allotment using heirloom seeds. They discuss healing and heritage, and learn how to grow the straightest carrots.This episode was produced by musician and sound artist Alice Boyd, featuring music b…

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May 24 29:23

1+ y ago29:23

29:23

In May's episode we explore the folklore of this lovely month - green men, Robin Hood, the moon and maypoles. We cook from the garden and make German May wine for parties. We hunt for swan's-neck thyme-moss, stay up til dawn watching the Eta Aquarids meteor shower and hear 'Land of My Other', a song from The Breath. 'As the Season Turns' is a podca…

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Found Sound for April: Miles Irving 12:11

1+ y ago12:11

12:11

April's Found Sound is the second part of an exploration into foraging. In this episode, Alice meets wild foods expert Miles Irving to forage for common hogweed and drink rosebay willowherb tea. Settle in for a relaxing ten minutes that will help you feel part of nature, wherever you are.Please note that common hogweed should only be eaten cooked a…

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April 24 29:34

1+ y ago29:34

29:34

For April we begin the month with some last-minute Easter crafts and end it in the bluebell wood. We tell tales of the stars and cook from the garden, learning along the way why you should leave a wild patch amid your planting. And The Breath give us a song for long April journeys.'As the Season Turns' is a podcast created by Ffern in collaboration…

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Found Sound for March: Zoe Gilbert 12:55

2y ago12:55

12:55

In a Found Sound for March, Alice visits Folkestone, Kent, where our very own Zoe Gilbert takes her out foraging along the clifftops - where they find alexanders, yarrow and ribwort plantain. Settle in for a relaxing ten minutes that will help you feel part of nature, wherever you are.This episode was produced by musician and sound artist Alice Boy…

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March 24 26:24

2y ago26:24

26:24

In March’s episode we celebrate the spring equinox with a recipe for wild garlic salt, a stroll round the ancient woodland and a seasonal fairytale. Zoe brings us folk characters from the garden pond, while the Breath play 'Land of my Other', an uplifting song for spring.'As the Season Turns' is a podcast created by Ffern in collaboration with the …

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Found Sound for February: Late winter birds in Norfolk 11:49

2y ago11:49

11:49

In a Found Sound for February, Alice Boyd visits Norfolk to record the songs of late winter birds, travelling from woodland to wetland to ocean. Settle in for a relaxing ten minutes that will help you feel part of nature, wherever you are.This episode was produced by musician and sound artist Alice Boyd, featuring music by herself and The Breath. T…

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February 24 29:46

2y ago29:46

29:46

For February, we tell tales of birds and bad weather - and explore whose songs we might hear in the ancient woodland. The Breath sing 'Don't Rush It', reminding us to slow down during this short month, while elsewhere we visit peatlands and cook seasonal recipes from the garden.⁠'As the Season Turns' is a podcast created by Ffern in collaboration w…

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Found Sound for January: Dartmoor 10:02

2y ago10:02

10:02

In a Found Sound for January, Alice Boyd visits Dartmoor to record the sounds of this wild place. Walking the windswept tors and woodlands, Alice explores the landscape's natural history, and looks towards its future. Settle in for a relaxing ten minutes that will help you feel part of nature, wherever you are.This episode was produced by musician …

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January 24 29:46

2y ago29:46

29:46

For our first episode of 2024 we look at names for January, old and new. The ancient woodland is deep in its winter silence, but we find signs of life in glittering wood moss. Zoe Gilbert tells frosty tales and we hear the Romani story of 'Mossycoat' - while elsewhere we welcome Ríoghnach Connolly and Stuart McCallum of The Breath as this year's gu…

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12. Ar Fore Dydd Nadolig - Gwilym Bowen Rhys 2:42

2y ago2:42

2:42

December. A very old Christmas song, 'On the Morning of Christmas Day' - likely 15th Century. Caneuon y Flwyddyn is an album of Welsh folk songs by Gwilym Bowen Rhys first compiled for the 2023 edition of As the Season Turns. Mastered for Ffern by Geoff Bird. Artwork by Gemma Koomen. © Gwilym Bowen Rhys. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m…

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11. Cartref - Gwilym Bowen Rhys 3:00

2y ago3:00

3:00

November. A popular 19th-century song that describes how wonderful and comforting the warm hearth and home is when the weather starts to turn, and the stormy heavens 'blow their bugles to signal in the coming of winter.' Caneuon y Flwyddyn is an album of Welsh folk songs by Gwilym Bowen Rhys first compiled for the 2023 edition of As the Season Turn…