Trees A Crowd

Trees A Crowd is a natural history podcast. It is presented by the actor and artist David Oakes.

Trees A Crowd
Presentation
Hosted byDavid Oakes
GenreNatural History
LanguageEnglish
Updates
  • Monday morning, fortnightly
Production
ProductionDavid Oakes
Audio formatPodcast (via streaming or downloadable MP3)
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes52
Publication
Original releaseFebruary 25, 2019 (2019-02-25) – present
Websitewww.treesacrowd.fm

Creation and Reception of Podcast

David, as an environmentalist and an ambassador for the Woodland Trust,[1] started Trees A Crowd as a series of informal conversations with artists, scientists and enthusiasts.[2] Speaking on the Dominic King show on BBC Radio Kent on 19 July 2019, David said in regards to why he started the podcast:

If we live in a world of identity politics where personality trumps any viable policy or common sense, then maybe we can use that for betterment too. So, if we can get someone who is fascinating who can take you through their life story and their idiosyncratic interests and pastimes and accidental encounters with griffins or narwhals or fantastical or factual beasts across time, then maybe we can then be seduced into fewer plastic bottles or driving your car a little less often.[3]

Each episode explores how the countryside has inspired different career trajectories. Speaking to Countryman Magazine in June 2019, Oakes said:

I decided to seek out others who, like me, have a meaningful connection with the rolling hills, misty moors, babbling brooks and dappled woodlands of our glorious Great Britain. I wanted to discover how the countryside — and its many-legged inhabitants — inspired their careers, and how growing up within the natural world became working for the natural world.[4]

Jenny Perrone, writing for The Guardian, described the podcast as “a treat for your ears”[5] and the Geographical Magazine praised the podcast: "In a world of high-energy, jingle-ridden podcasts and antagonistic radio shows Trees a Crowd makes for a pleasantly gentle listen. Both nostalgic and forward looking it covers some of the biggest issues facing the natural world through the medium of relaxed, informal conversation."[6]

Guest list

Series One
  • 25 February 2019 - Mark Frith, BAFTA-winning documentary maker and Artist
  • 11 March 2019 - Polly Morgan, Artist and Taxidermist
  • 25 March 2019 - David Fettes, Wildlife Photographer[7]
  • 8 April 2019 - Astrid Goldsmith, Animator and Model-maker
  • 15 April 2019 - Dr Katherine Brent, amongst other things, a morris dancer and badger saboteur. This episode was released as a thematic response to the interview with Astrid Goldsmith.
  • 22 April 2019 - Dr Steve Etches MBE - Fossil collector[8]
  • 29 April 2019 - Dr Ellinor Michel, molluscan systemetist and ecologist at the Natural History Museum
  • 6 May 2019 - Dr Fay Clark, animal welfare scientist at Bristol Zoo
  • 20 May 2019 - Dr Guy Stevens, CEO and Co-Founder of the Manta Trust.
  • 3 June 2019 - The Maldives Underwater Initiative, which includes a dozen Marine Biologists based on Laamu Atoll including some that work for the Blue Marine Foundation, the Manta Trust and the Olive Ridley Project.
  • 17 June 2019 - Bella Hardy, folk singer and song writer.
  • 1 July 2019 - Wolfgang Buttress and Dr Martin Bencsik, co-creators of numerous multi-sensory artworks including the bee-inspired HIVE and BEAM.[9]
  • 15 July 2019 - Beccy Speight, the then CEO of the Woodland Trust, now the CEO of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
  • 29 July 2019 - Dr Terry Gough M.V.O., Head of Estates and Gardens at Hampton Court Palace.
  • 12 August 2019 - Dr Jess French, television presenter, veterinarian and author.
  • 26 August 2019 - Chris Watson (part one), musician and sound recordist specialising in natural history.
  • 9 September 2019 - Chris Watson (part two).
  • 23 September 2019 - Tannis Davidson, curator of Grant Museum of Zoology and Comparative Anatomy at University College London.
  • 7 October 2019 - Harry Barton, CEO of the Devon Wildlife Trust.
  • 21 October 2019 - Amanda Owen, the 'Yorkshire Shepherdess'.
  • 4 November 2019 - Sir John Lawton, Biologist, fellow of the Royal Society, president of the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and chair of the Endangered Landscapes Programme.
  • 18 November 2019 - Dr Jo Elworthy, botanist and head of interpretation at the Eden Project, Cornwall.
  • 2 December 2019 - Dr Richard Benwell, CEO of the Wildlife and Countryside Link
  • 16 December 2019 - Victoria Bromley, wildlife filmmaker and documentary maker.
  • 23 December 2019 - Joanna Lentini, wildlife photographer.

Series Two
  • 6 January 2020 - Mark Carwardine, zoologist who achieved widespread recognition for his Last Chance to See conservation expeditions with Douglas Adams. Since then he has become a leading and outspoken conservationist, and a prolific broadcaster, columnist and photographer.
  • 20 January 2020 - Dr Catherine Barlow of the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project.
  • 3 February 2020 - Dr Bryce Stewart, marine ecologist and fisheries biologist, currently a lecturer for the Department of Environment and Geography at the University of York.
  • 17 February 2020 - Ingrid Newkirk, president and co-founder of PETA.
  • 2 March 2020 - Rob Rose and Natalie Stoppard of Rosewood Farm on the Yorkshire Ings.
  • 16 March 2020 - Tim Pears, novelist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
  • 26 March 2020 - A short interview with Edward Davey of the World Resources Institute discussing agricultural concerns in the midst of COVID-19. Originally this interview was set to be recorded as a live event as part of the London Climate Change Festival which was cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 30 March 2020 - Dr Helen Pheby, head of curatorial programming at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
  • 31 March 2020 - a topical discussion with Luci Ryan, ecologist for the Woodland Trust, about the tactics being taken to construct the British governments HS2 rail link and their plan to transplant ancient woodlands.
  • 13, 15 & 17 April 2020 - Three interviews from the Castle Howard estate, with Nick Howard (the castle's inhabitant), Nick Cooke (the head of forestry) and Alastair Gunn (head of landscapes and gardens).
  • 21 April 2020 - A "World Curlew Day" special episode featuring interviews with Sir John Lawton, Amanda Owen, Chris Watson, Dr Richard Benwell, Mary Colwell, Dr Jennifer Smart of the RSPB, Rick Simpson, CEO of Wader Quest, Lucy Walker of Britten Pears Arts, Patrick Laurie and David Lindo. It also featured original music from Bella Hardy, and poetry recitals from Natalie Dormer and Samuel West.
  • 27 April 2020 - Alastair Humphreys, adventurer and writer.
  • 11 & 18 May 2020 - Eanna Ni Lamhna, Irish environmentalist, educator and broadcaster (a two-part interview).
  • 25 May 2020 - Dara McAnulty, writer and naturalist who, at 15 years old, was the youngest recipient of the RSPB Medal.
  • 1 June 2020 - An exploration of the work of the Langholm Moor community project.
  • 8, 15 & 22 June 2020 - "Wildflower Women"; three interviews with ethnobotonist Jennie Martin, the founder of the Woodmeadow Trust, Rosalind Forbes Adam, and shakespearian actor, Serena Manteghi.
  • 6 July 2020 - Dr William C. Tweed, writer, historian and chief naturalist of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
  • 20 & 27 July 2020 - Prof. Kate Jones, Professor of Ecology and Biodiversity at University College London[10] with a special interest in bats, and past chair of the Bat Conservation Trust.[11][12]

Bonus Episodes
  • 7 October 2019 - An additional recording with Harry Barton of the Devon Wildlife Trust, released online through Soundcloud[13]. Recorded on the banks of the River Otter, Devon, by the site of a project to reintegrate wild Beavers into the local enironment.
  • 14 October 2019 - Recorded live at the 70th Cheltenham Literature Festival in partnership with the Woodland Trust, a discussion on “The Art of Trees” with Prof. Christiana Payne and Dr Angela Summerfield.[14]
  • 10 January 2020 - An interview with Dr Cat Barlow of the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project was recorded in front of a live audience at The Open Book, Wigtown.[15] It was eventually broadcast on the 20th of January, 2020.
  • 22 April 2020 - Bella Hardy's new song 'Curlew', accompanied by her creative thoughts in writing the song.

References
  1. "Woodland Trust Ambassadors". Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  2. "Trees A Crowd". Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  3. "Dominic King on BBC Radio Kent: David Oakes interview Part Two". Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  4. "Countryman Article". Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  5. "GuardianGardening". Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  6. "Geographical Review". Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  7. "Wildlife Photographer of the Year Official Facebook". Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  8. "The Etches Collection". Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  9. "Kew Gardens Official Twitter". Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  10. "Prof Kate Jones". UCL Division of Biosciences. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  11. "Board of Trustees – Bat Conservation Trust". Bats.org.uk. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  12. "Changes at the Bat Conservation Trust - News". Bat Conservation Trust. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  13. "TreesACrowd Soundcloud page; Beavers On The River Otter (Bonus Episode)". Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  14. "ArtOfTrees". Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  15. "GoldenEagles". Retrieved 10 January 2020.
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