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PODCAST

Counting the Earth

Counting the Earth

Sue Nelson and Alice Hope explore the numbers behind nature and pick apart the jargon and misinformation surrounding climate, the environment and biodiversity. Each month, they start with a number and investigate what it really means. From net zero to hedgerows, worms to water, Sue and Alice aren’t afraid to get their feet muddy in the quest for facts. Producer: Rachael Buchanan A Boffin Media production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

science natural sciences

All Episodes

39:40

16: Encounters of the Invasive Kind: 2,104

Counting the Earth ·

2025/05/12

What do raccoons, purple pitcher plants, signal crayfish and the yellow-legged hornet all have in common? No, this is not a joke - far from it. They are all on the GB invasive non-native species alert list. The introduction of invasive non-native species is one of the top causes of biodiversity loss worldwide. In this episode Sue and Alice meet up with UKCEH ecologist Professor Helen Roy to delve into the challenges posed by invasive non-native species and explore their environmental, economic, and

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34:37

15: Resistance Rising: 1.14 million

Counting the Earth ·

2025/03/27

In this episode, Alice and Sue visit the River Kennet and the Reading Sewage Treatment Works to explore antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a growing global issue. In 2021 1.14 million deaths were attributed to antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections, according to the UN Environment Programme. AMR occurs when bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites become resistant to the medicines that are meant to kill or treat them. Microorganisms from our waste, along with chemicals from our homes (like

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35:47

14: Top of the crops: 2080

Counting the Earth ·

2025/01/24

In this episode, Alice and Sue time travel to the year 2080, to explore what crops we might be growing in the UK, after 50 years of a changing climate. They speak with UKCEH Spatial Ecologist Dr John Redhead about horizon- scanning research on how climate change could shape the suitability of crops in the UK and the challenges this brings for UK farming systems.Alice also speaks with Josiah Meldrum from the UK-based wholefoods supplier Hodmedods to explore the benefits of beans and uncover how

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30:53

13: Slow the flow: 5.7 million

Counting the Earth ·

2024/12/12

In England alone, an estimated 5.7 million properties are at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea, surface water and groundwater. In this episode and in the wake of Storm Bert, Alice and Sue visit the Bruern Estate in Oxfordshire to explore how Natural Flood Management measures are reducing flood risks downstream in Milton-under-Wychwood. UKCEH senior hydrologist Dr Alejandro Dussaillant explains how a holistic nature-based approach can work alongside more traditional flood management techniques

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43:06

12: Breaking down microplastics: 115

Counting the Earth ·

2024/11/25

Microplastics are everywhere—tiny plastic particles that permeate our soil, water, food, drinking supplies, and even our bodies. But how much do we actually understand about their long-term effects on our health and the environment?In this episode, Alice visits UKCEH labs in Wallingford to explore these questions. Pollution scientist Dr Richard Cross shares insights into how microplastics impact the environment, and Dr Gbotemi Adediran introduces the innovative CoreMis facility, which is pushing

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34:07

11: Chilling facts about forever chemicals: 1000

Counting the Earth ·

2024/10/22

In this episode of Counting the Earth, we find out about forever chemicals – persistent pollutants that can pose serious environmental and health risks. Alice and Sue brave the icy freezers of the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS) in Lancaster to meet UKCEH ecotoxicologist Lee Walker and discover how studying dead birds like buzzards and barn owls can offer critical clues about how these chemicals accumulate.They discuss innovative projects ensuring that future chemicals are designed to be

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30:35

10: Into the woods: 30,000

Counting the Earth ·

2024/08/08

In this episode, Alice and Sue take you on an exploration of the past, present and future of the UK’s woodlands. Sue visits the enchanting Heartwood Forest in Hertfordshire, where she meets Chris Nichols from the Woodland Trust to uncover the latest insights from the Bunce Woodland Survey. The survey reveals how our woodlands have changed over the past 50 years, and highlights the pressing challenges they face today, from climate change to shifts in land use. Looking to the future, Alice and Sue

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40:04

9: Puffin patrol on the Isle of May: 52,000

Counting the Earth ·

2024/07/23

Sitting at the mouth of the Firth of Forth in Scotland, the Isle of May is a sanctuary for nesting seabirds and the destination for this episode.Join Alice and Sue as they journey to the island and meet UKCEH Field Manager Mark Newell and his dedicated team. Discover the critical work they do to monitor seabird colonies, including the iconic puffin, providing valuable insights into the health of our marine ecosystems. Alice and Sue also chat with Assistant Reserve Manager Thomas Skinner to

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36:18

8: A deep dive into Windermere: 79

Counting the Earth ·

2024/07/03

Stretching over ten miles through Cumbria’s countryside, Windermere isn't just England's largest lake – it’s a real-life classroom, helping us to understand how our environment is changing over time. Join Alice and Sue as they venture onto the water with UKCEH scientists Eleanor Mackay and Heather Moorhouse. Together, they explore the deep waters and vibrant ecosystem of this iconic lake, where researchers have been monitoring everything from water quality to wildlife for nearly eight

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34:49

7: What's the buzz: 1500

Counting the Earth ·

2024/06/06

In this episode, Alice Hope and Sue Nelson get knee-deep in flowers to hear which plants attract the most pollinators – those vital bees, butterflies, wasps, beetles, flies and moths – and why.UKCEH ecologist Dr Claire Carvell takes Sue on a tour of the office wildflower meadow in Oxfordshire, discussing how citizen science is enhancing what we know about pollinators, and the latest findings from the UK pollinator monitoring scheme. Alice and Sue also explore the gardens at RHS Wisley in

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39:55

6: Reflections on our rivers: 14

Counting the Earth ·

2024/05/30

In this episode, Sue and Alice dive into the factors affecting the ecological health of our rivers. Alice goes wading in the River Kennet with Anna Forbes from ARK to explore river health monitoring first hand, encountering some fascinating river residents along the way. Then Sue and Alice chat with Dr Mike Bowes and Dr Eleanor Mackay of UKCEH about how both the state of our rivers and our approach to monitoring them is changing over time. https://www.riverflies.org/

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38:25

5: The secrets of the saltmarsh: 450

Counting the Earth ·

2024/03/27

Sue and Alice explore these complex coastal ecosystems and discover their amazing benefits – from providing wildlife habitat to storing carbon.https://www.ceh.ac.uk/solutions/emerging-challenges/saltmarsh-blue-carbon Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope Producer: Rachael Buchanan Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

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33:57

4: Soil Superheroes: 50 trillion

Counting the Earth ·

2024/02/27

Delve into the vital statistics of earthworms, as Alice and Sue uncover the unsung heroes of our soil.Worm resources Garden worm ID chart Earthworm Society UK diagram of worm habitats Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope Producer: Rachael Buchanan Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

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34:43

3: Nature for net zero: 0

Counting the Earth ·

2024/01/30

Sue and Alice visit Heartwood Forest and the Fens to explore how far nature-based solutions like planting trees and restoring peatlands can take us towards net zero. Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope Producer: Rachael Buchanan Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

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26:59

2: Hedgelife: 390,000

Counting the Earth ·

2024/01/30

Sue and Alice poke around that great staple of the British countryside - the hedgerow - and discover a surprising variety of residents, from mice to molluscs. Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope Producer: Rachael Buchanan Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.

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1:15

1: Coming soon...Counting the Earth

Counting the Earth ·

2024/01/22

Sue Nelson and Alice Hope will explore the numbers behind nature and pick apart the jargon and misinformation surrounding climate, nature and biodiversity. Each month, they start with a number and investigate what it really means. From net zero to hedgerows, worms to water, Sue and Alice aren’t afraid to get their feet wet in the quest for facts.

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