Dr Ruth Swetnam and the lesser-known twin, the temperate rainforest.

Dr Ruth Swetnam and the lesser-known twin, the temperate rainforest.

Author: Gemma Plumb & Aisling Creevey September 24, 2025 Duration: 52:22

Just when you think you know something about trees, you learn even more! Such an interesting episode with Dr Ruth Swetnam, Carbon & Research Manager for the Atlantic Rainforests Programme at the Wildlife Trusts. Ruth is a Chartered Geographer and Landscape Specialist with particular expertise in digital mapping (GIS), Environmental Science and Landscape Ecology.

Ruth tells us about temperate rainforests in the UK and her very important work in restoring these rainforests. Temperate rainforests in the UK are unique ecosystems that provide cooling effects, mitigate climate change, and reduce forest fire risk. They are more resilient to diseases and storms compared to conifer plantations. Temperate rainforests are full of deciduous trees, with their slower growth and deeper roots, are essential for carbon storage and forest regeneration.

We found this podcast fascinating and can't believe how important furry ferns actually are! If you would like to learn more about the work of the Wildlife Trust, here are the links.

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/temperate-rainforest-restoration#:~:text=The%20100-year%20temperate%20rainforest,even%2C%20than%20its%20tropical%20counterpart.

You can also find a summary of the work being carried out on temperate rainforests in the UK here.

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/default/files/2024-08/Temperate%20Rainforest%20Programme%20Annual%20Report%202023-24.pdf

If you would like to chat to Ruth, please contact her through the Wildlife Trusts website.

We really hope you enjoy this episode of the podcast, and leave loving the weather just a little bit more.

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Ever find yourself actually enjoying a rainy afternoon or wondering why a certain cloud looks the way it does? You're not alone. For the love of weather is the ongoing conversation between meteorologists Gemma Plumb and Aisling Creevey, who have spent over fifteen years forecasting across the UK. This podcast captures the kind of deep-dive chats they've been having for years, moving far beyond simple small talk. They pull back the curtain on what weather really means for our daily lives, drawing on a surprising range of experience. Their professional paths have seen them predicting conditions for everything from major music festivals and national rail networks to agricultural harvests and even ice cream demand, giving them a unique perspective on how the atmosphere connects to the ground beneath our feet. Each episode feels like sitting with two experts who are still genuinely fascinated by their subject, discussing the science behind a storm front, the challenges of a long-range forecast, or how a shift in the wind can change an entire industry's plans. It's a look at the patterns and stories in the sky, grounded in the reality of jobs, life changes, and a shared curiosity that hasn't faded. Tune in for a human take on the forces that shape our days.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 81

For the love of weather
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