Connect to Nature

They're spraying a probable carcinogen near playgrounds, and most of us have no idea. Ellen Bradley, co-director of UK Youth for Nature, joins Amy & Katrina to talk turning eco-anxiety into action, how a WhatsApp group became the UK's leading youth movement for nature, and why France and Denmark have already banned urban pesticides, and the UK hasn't. From serving Gin and Thames anti-pollution cocktails in Westminster to fighting for the Natural History GCSE, Ellen shares how to find YOUR role in the nature crisis, why bugs will cure your boredom forever, and how you can email your councillor in two minutes to make your street pesticide-free.Read more: 'Traces of cancer-linked pesticide found in tests at UK playgrounds', The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/jan/15/glyphosate-cancer-linked-pesticide-uk-playgrounds #Connect2Nature #Connect2Naturepod #naturepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Elliot Arthur Worsop believes football can help save the planet.In this episode Amy Chapman and Katrina Ridley sit down with the founder of Football for Future, to talk about why the world's most popular game might be our most powerful tool for climate action.Elliot shares how growing up near England's South Downs, idolising Steve Irwin and supporting Brighton and Hove Albion led him to rethink what an environmentalist looks like. He explains why Football for Future shows up as football fans first, not climate experts, and how that trust is opening doors across the industry.We get into the hard stuff too: stadiums at risk of flooding, a quarter of English clubs flooded by 2050, tournaments moved for extreme heat, why the 2026 World Cup could be the last of its kind in North America, and the football climate perception gap, where fans feel the impacts but don't name the cause. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did you know avocado, lemon, pomegranate and grapefruit trees are growing FREE in London? Join Amy & Katrina with Divya Hariramani, founder of Fruity Walks, to uncover London's hidden orchards, immigration stories rooted in fruit trees and how to start urban foraging safely and legally in the UK. Divya started Fruity Walks after discovering a pear tree in her local park during Covid. What began as an Instagram map became a journey through culture, memory and mindfulness, from a 12-metre avocado planted by immigrants, to Marline Anderson's grapefruit tree that a community saved, to persimmons at the Imperial War Museum. In this episode, we cover what Fruity Walks is, why so many of us feel afraid to forage, what the law actually says about picking from public streets and overhanging branches, underrated fruits like quince and medlar, seasonal foraging through the year, and simple, responsible ways to connect to a tree near you TODAY.  As Divya says: "Life gets messy... but if you have a tree near you, the tree's gonna keep going no matter what happens."  This episode is brought to you in proud partnership with the Woodland Trust 🌳 Help create healthy habitats for people and wildlife by joining the Woodland Trust from just £4 a month at woodlandtrust.org.uk/join1787/5000 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Springwatch presenter Megan McCubbin joins Amy Chapman and Katrina Ridley to talk curiosity, courage and wildlife conservation.  Megan shares how a bedroom full of praying mantises, tortoises and Marmite the barn owl turned into a career in wildlife TV. She gets honest about imposter syndrome, eco-guilt, and why just because “we are all hypocrites living in a flawed system” doesn't mean you should stop using your voice for good. Follow Connect to Nature for weekly chats on nature, big feelings and positive actions. #Connect2Nature #Connect2Naturepod #naturepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Connect to Nature is BACK, and this time we're discovering that nature turns up in the most unexpected places.Join hosts Amy Chapman and Katrina Ridley for inspiring conversations, fresh ideas and plenty of reasons to look after our planet.In this season, we'll:🌳 Uncover hidden fruit trees in our cities with Divya Hariramani Herrero aka @FruityWalks🎶 Explore how music helps us hear the natural world in a whole new way with Louis VI⚽ Find out what football, comedy and conservation have in common with Elliot Arthur-Worsop from Football for Future and Seònaid Fowler (aka @spaghettysean)🏕️ Head into the wild with wildlife TV presenter Megan McCubbin and Harry Bucknell to learn bushcraft, hiking skills and how time outdoors can change how we feel🌍 Meet people rethinking how we grow food, use technology, build communities and create a greener future with Ellen Bradley from UK Youth for Nature and tech-wiz Kalpana AriasWhether you're a seasoned nature lover or just wondering where to start, nature is closer than you think.Episode one of the latest season drops 19 October. Hit subscribe and tap the bell so you don't miss the new season!Follow us @ConnectToNaturePod, watch and listen wherever you get your podcasts.#Connect2Nature #Connect2Naturepod #naturepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices