The Podcast for nature nuts from wildlife cameraman Jack Perks. Jack interviews celebrities, artists, scientists and conservationists giving a light hearted look into their specialisms, stories and backgrounds seeing what drives people to become so utterly fascinated by the natural world.
Episodes
Feb 13, 2024
Feb 13, 2024
30 min
This episode see's me talking to Senior Curator in Charge of Mollusca, Jon Ablett from the Natural History Museum as we talk about giant squid and colossal squid and I even get to see a actual giant squid in the flesh!
Feb 6, 2024
Feb 6, 2024
32 min
This week I'm joined by Nicola Crockford as we talk all about wild swimming and how it connects her to aquatic wildlife.
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Jan 30, 2024
Jan 30, 2024
51 min
This week I head to the Natural History Museum in London and go behind the scenes to the tank room as see rupert collins about the fish specimens they have in the collection including burbot, some famous carp teeth and some record breaking fish!
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Jan 23, 2024
Jan 23, 2024
29 min
in this episode I head to Northumberland to go rockpooling and see one of my favourite ducks the eider!
Jan 16, 2024
Jan 16, 2024
41 min
This week I have guest Jake Davies, Jake is a Welsh based Marine biologist and underwater videographer. Where he is the technical specialist for Project SIARC (Sharks Inspiring Action and Research with Communities) and project coordinator for Angel Shark Project: Wales.
Jan 9, 2024
Jan 9, 2024
53 min
In this weeks episode I speak with friend and other half of UK Wildlife Podcast Neil Philips about Wildlife Photography Competitions. Are they worth doing, does it really change anything and what goes on behind the scenes?
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Jan 2, 2024
Jan 2, 2024
45 min
This week I speak to CEO of Widlfish Nick Measham, a charity that fights for freshwater habitats and its fish. We talk about barriers to migration and how salmon are now on the endangered species list.
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Dec 28, 2023
Dec 28, 2023
49 min
This week I speak to Dominic Garnett a successful angling author and angling times journalist about all kinds of topics from fly fishing for coarse fish, sewage pollution and smothering yogurt all ourselves one time.
Dec 19, 2023
Dec 19, 2023
32 min
I speak to Matt James from Colossal as we talk about de-extinction bring back mammoths and other extinct species.
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Dec 12, 2023
Dec 12, 2023
39 min
This week I have multiple guests on the podcast telling us their funny nature stories!
Dec 5, 2023
Dec 5, 2023
18 min
I head out with NottsARG member Maiya Evans as we go on a toad patrol!
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Nov 28, 2023
Nov 28, 2023
29 min
In this weeks episode I head to Romney Marsh in Kent to find Europes largest frog the Marsh Frog!
Nov 21, 2023
Nov 21, 2023
41 min
In this weeks episode I talk about my own wildlife garden and how I've turned it from a sea of grass into a mini wildlife haven.
Nov 14, 2023
Nov 14, 2023
47 min
This week I'm joined by Indy Greene again as we head into Sherwood Forest to experience the dawn chorus!
Nov 7, 2023
Nov 7, 2023
51 min
Welcome back to season 3! This week I head to Alnwick Gardens, Northumberland to visit the Poison Gardens and find out about some of the most deadly plants in Britain!
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Jun 25, 2023
Jun 25, 2023
1hr 16 min
Welcome back to a special episode of the podcast where we cover the rather big topic of predation in angling! Otters, Cormorants we cover them both as we chat to Mark Owen from the Angling Trust and Dave Webb for The UK Wild Otter Trust!
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Angling Trust - UK Wild Otter Trust
Papers Mentioned
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.6375
https://www.publish.csiro.au/mf/mf09038
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00063657.2013.798258
https://community.rspb.org.uk/getinvolved/wales/b/wales-blog/posts/the-future-of-fish-eating-birds
Mar 21, 2023
Mar 21, 2023
56 min
In the last episode of season 2, I speak with three guests from the UK Sturgeon Alliance in the form of Jenny Murray from Blue Marine Foundation, Hannah McCormick from London Zoological Society & Steve Colclough from Institute of Fisheries Management. We discuss the history of sturgeon in the UK and its potential future of returning.
Mar 14, 2023
Mar 14, 2023
43 min
This week in the penultimate episode for this season I have long time friend and wildlife filmmaker Laura Turner and her cat Henry! We talk about what cat owners can do to limit the damage cats do and how to protect your garden from cats if your gardener.
Mar 7, 2023
Mar 7, 2023
57 min
In todays podcast I speak to Rachel Mulrenan & Matt Palmer from Wildfish Cons to talk about salmon farming and how it impacts wild salmon stocks.
Feb 28, 2023
Feb 28, 2023
48 min
In this weeks episode I talk to one of the top professional underwater photographers in the world Alex Mustard. We talk about who inspired him in the industry, how to get into it and what aspects he maybe doesn't like about it.
Feb 21, 2023
Feb 21, 2023
51 min
This week my guest is Ashleigh Whiffin Ash is an entomologist and curator at National Museums Scotland, based in Edinburgh. For the last 8+ years she's been responsible for the care and development of the museum's insect collection, containing approximately 2.5 million preserved specimens. She's an advocate for the less glamorous insects and her greatest love are carrion beetles. Follow more beetle appreciation and a peek behind the scenes at the museum, follow her on social media (Twitter: @AshWhiffin / Instagram: ash_whiffin )
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Feb 14, 2023
Feb 14, 2023
41 min
In today's episode Jack heads out with Luke Butel an estates manager who controls deer numbers in the East Midlands. We talk about the damage deer do to the wider environment, how its undertaken and whats done with the meat afterwards.
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Feb 7, 2023
Feb 7, 2023
45 min
This week on the podcast we have Hannah Rudd. Hannah Rudd is a marine biologist and writer, based in Suffolk, who has studied sharks in global marine hotspots, including South Africa and the Maldives. Her first book, Britain’s Living Seas, in collaboration with the Wildlife Trusts and Bloomsbury Publishing is out now. Hannah is currently the Policy & Advocacy Manager for the Angling Trust, a co-founder and marine scientist for Shark Hub UK, and a Youth Ambassador for the High Seas Alliance. She regularly writes articles on marine science and conservation in print and online as a freelance writer. More information can be found on her website: https://www.hannahrudd.com/
Hannah's Accounts
Twitter https://twitter.com/hannahsrudd
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hannahexploreswild/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahrudd/
Website https://www.hannahrudd.com/
Book Order https://linktr.ee/britainslivingseas
Feb 3, 2023
Feb 3, 2023
19 min
In this bonus episode I talk about the reasons I don't generally tell people where, how or what gear I use for filming wildlife. (I'm not a complete w*nker honestly!)
Jan 31, 2023
Jan 31, 2023
23 min
In todays Jack Does Stuff, I grab a cuppa and do the big garden birdwatch a citizen science project the RSPB do at the end of January to gather data on the birds that enter our gardens. I talk about how to attract birds, what birds I've had on my garden list and how to take part in the big garden bird watch.
Jan 24, 2023
Jan 24, 2023
35 min
This week I head to the Cairngorms to chat with Peter Cairns about lynx reintroduction to the UK and when we last had them here, what are the pros and cons and when they could make a return.
Jan 17, 2023
Jan 17, 2023
38 min
This week I head over to Foston to visit hedgehog rescuers Janet & Sally to talk about what you do when you find a sick or injured one and how to help them in your gardens.
Janets Email - janethedgehog49@gmail.com
Jan 10, 2023
Jan 10, 2023
50 min
Join me this week as I'm joined with Mike Blackmore from Wessex Rivers Trust as we chat all things chalkstream! A rare habitat pretty much exclusive to England.
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Jan 3, 2023
Jan 3, 2023
26 min
In todays episode of Jack Does Stuff I head out to try twitching!
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Dec 27, 2022
Dec 27, 2022
35 min
This week I'm joined by vet and broadcaster Sean McCormack as we delve into the horrific practice of cropping dogs ears.
"Dr Sean McCormack BSc (Hons), MVB, MRCVS is a qualified vet with a degree in Animal Science, a lifelong conservationist and self confessed nature geek. He’s a published author and vet columnist, hosts his own wildlife podcast and YouTube channel as well as running the growing conservation organisation Ealing Wildlife Group."
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Dec 20, 2022
Dec 20, 2022
41 min
In this episode I cover non native crayfish in the UK and the damage they cause while looking if their is light at the end of tunnel to finally get rid of them.
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Papaers
https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1365-2664.13758
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/11/3/29
https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4133/3/2/8/htm
Dec 13, 2022
Dec 13, 2022
27 min
Join me this week as I head back the banks of the River Trent with friend, angler and scientist Dr Mark Everard as we chat all things tiny with minnows, gudgeon and bleak. We celebrate the smaller fish in life and find out why you should to.
Dec 6, 2022
Dec 6, 2022
30 min
In this episode Jack heads out the River Trent to try and find the Zander a predatory fish thats made many UK rivers in home.
Nov 25, 2022
Nov 25, 2022
28 min
In this episode I speak with Alan Henshaw the farm manager of the environment agencies Calverton Fish Farm. I find out what a fish farm is, how they work and why they are sometimes needed. I also go over the top 10 most downloaded episodes of the podcast at then end!
Nov 22, 2022
Nov 22, 2022
54 min
In this episode Jack is joined by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust's Michael Walker as they visit Ploughmans Wood & Colwick Park to try and find Bats.
Nov 15, 2022
Nov 15, 2022
39 min
Today I'm joined by Elliott Kean who is the Engagement Officer with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust and also works with the Beavers at Idle Valley Nature Reserve. I visit him at the site as we look for signs of beaver and talk about the impacts they have both positive and negative.
Nov 8, 2022
Nov 8, 2022
48 min
This is the first episode in the side series of "Jack Does Stuff" with this time Jack going out bird ringing with fellow Jack, Jack Baddams! We visit Creswell Craggs and may or may not catch a kingfisher live!
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Nov 1, 2022
Nov 1, 2022
50 min
The Podcast is back! This week we are joined by guest Ashley Smith of W.A.S.P (Windrush Against Sewage Pollution) as we talk about the sorry state this river and many across the UK are in mainly due to the dumping of sewage.
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Oct 22, 2022
Oct 22, 2022
5 min
Quick update on the upcoming series of The Bearded Tit's Podcast!
If you'd like a shout out on the next episode donate here at Buymeacoffee.com - Click Here
Sep 6, 2022
Sep 6, 2022
59 min
In the third and final takeover for the podcast our guest host is Stephen Moss an acclaimed author, naturalist and university lecturer. He's chatting to this week's guest Lucy McRobert who is also a communications specialist in wildlife and currently works for the isles of scilly wildlife trust as well as also being a writer.
They natter about getting into birding as a young adult, how it helped with a family loss, if turning your hobby into a job is the best choice and challenging the norms in the wider nature community.
Jun 1, 2022
Jun 1, 2022
33 min
What do you do when owed money by a client? It can be a tough situation for a freelancer so in this episode I detail a recent ordeal I've had and where others can hopefully get some advice of what to do If in the same boat!
Mar 16, 2022
Mar 16, 2022
59 min
Burbot were once so common in British rivers they were used as pig feed and an important cog in the larger wheel of a rivers lowland ecosystem. Fast forward to the early 21st century and they are extinct from our waterways. Why did they die out? Why bother to bring them back? Who is working to bring them back? Are rivers healthy enough for them and will they cause issues with fish currently in rivers all these questions answered and much more as we wade through all the misinformation that is the burbot.
I speak to not one but four guests today all experts in Burbot including
Johan Auwerx - Institute of Nature & Forest Conservation, Belgium (Currently breeding and reintroducing burbot to Belgium)
Ian Wellby - Fishery Health Scientist & Worked on a feasibility study to reintroduce burbot in 2005
Mark Everard - Angler and Fish Scientist he literally wrote the book on burbot (see here!)
Jonah Toney - River Ecologist and Technical Director of Norfolk Rivers Trust (Currently working on bringing the burbot back to Norfolk)
Mar 1, 2022
Mar 1, 2022
47 min
In the second takeover for the podcast our guest host is Sophie Pavelle a science communicator and zoologist who hosts the beaver trusts lodge cast podcast. She's chatting to this weeks guest Emma Brisdon who is also a science communicator . They natter about the current climate crisis (this was recorded during a 90mph storm), getting gen z into nature and Enya.
Jan 25, 2022
Jan 25, 2022
51 min
In the first takeover for the podcast our guest host is Billy Heaney a presenter and zoologist who has a special love for dolphins something he shares with this weeks guest Charlie Philips who is an accomplished wildlife photographer and dolphin researcher. They natter about past encounters with British dolphins, Charlie meeting a sperm whale in Skye and that time they thought they'd discovered a new species of whale!
Jan 4, 2022
Jan 4, 2022
31 min
In the final episode of the current run of the podcast I chat with One Show TV presenter and ecologist Mike Dilger. We cover the start of his career in TV, what its like guiding tours and his current book he's working on One Thousand Shades of Green as he travels the UK looking for 1,000 plant species.
Dec 28, 2021
Dec 28, 2021
58 min
This week I'm chatting to Joe Harkness the author of Bird Therapy and we speak about the benefits of birdwatching for mental health and wellbeing. As well as living with various issues himself, he works in special education and is highly experienced at connecting with vulnerable people.
Dec 21, 2021
Dec 21, 2021
48 min
In this episode I speak with good friend and fellow wildlife photographer Josh Jaggard as we cover his career and delve into the wildlife photography industry covering how the job effects friends, family and lifestyle as well as if sponsorship or a degree is needed and the politics between other professionals.
Dec 14, 2021
Dec 14, 2021
58 min
On todays show I'm chatting with fellow fish botherer David Miller who is arguably the UK's leading fish artist as well as painting birds and mammals. We talk about how he started painting fish, how to get the fish looking perfect and how he gathers his reference material.
Dec 10, 2021
Dec 10, 2021
25 min
In this episode I go into what happens behind the podcasting curtain and talking about how the podcast started, some of the stats, my fav and worst interviews and whats coming up next for the podcast as a whole!
Dec 7, 2021
Dec 7, 2021
43 min
In this weeks podcast I’m chatting to scuba diving doctor Ben Burville, who’s spent years exploring the underwater world around the Farne islands and in particular its grey seals which he has a unique and unrivalled relationship with.
We talk about whether the seals recognise him, what he's discovered diving with them and the population of white beaked dolphins of the Northumberland coast.
Ben's Twitter
Nov 30, 2021
Nov 30, 2021
31 min
In this weeks show I’m talking to Jack Heathcote who lives in Carlton in Nottingham and has the largest private aquarium in the country. Its nearly 7ft deep and has a variety of native freshwater fish in their putting my fish tank to shame! He also makes custom aquariums and his website is linked below.
This was shot on location and you can hear the tank in the background so that’s the faint noise in the background. We talk about what set jack up on his fish tank journey, the costs of keeping such a huge tank, the maintenance and what species he has.
Nov 23, 2021
Nov 23, 2021
49 min
On today's show I’m chatting to Tania Esteban who is a zoologist, self shooting assistant producer and wildlife filmmaker. She's worked on many high profile natural history series like Planet Earth II and The Mating Game as well as producing her own impactful films. Myself and Tania discuss if she enjoys the editorial process, what its like working for netflix and filming animal sex!
Nov 16, 2021
Nov 16, 2021
40 min
In todays show I have Greame Denton who is the managing director of from the notebook beer which is a company formed in 2012 to celebrate the diversity of British wildlife through the lovely drink that is beer! They donate money from each beer sold to help fund wildlife charities.
In todays chat we sample three beers while looking at what gave him the idea to start the company, how much many has been raised for charity and hangover cures! Here’s the chat.
Nov 9, 2021
Nov 9, 2021
26 min
In this weeks show I’m talking to Miranda Krestovnikoff who is president of the RSPB and a tv presenter best known for appearances on the one show and coast. Miranda studied zoology at the university of Bristol and is closely associated with marine environments which she has a deep passion for exploring and preserving.
We talk about the challenges of presenting underwater, what being the president of the RSPB entails and threats to Britains marine life here’s are chat
Nov 2, 2021
Nov 2, 2021
34 min
This week I talk to Shark expert Richard Pierce being a trustee of The Shark Trust and founder of The Shark Conservation Society. We talk about the likelihood of there being great white sharks in Britain, examine the possible sitings and the closet confirmed records of them to the british coastline.