344. A thrilling night-time quest to experience the great spring toad migration

344. A thrilling night-time quest to experience the great spring toad migration

Author: Our Media March 31, 2026 Duration: 53:26
It's night in the woods deep in the Cotswold Hills. Plodcast host Fergus joins friend and environmental writer James Fair to see if they can witness the great spring toad migration, where toads leave their winter hideouts and head across land in huge numbers to find a pond or lake to breed in. Have the daring duo left it too late? What will they find on this nocturnal ramble?Our Facebook page is back! Search "BBC Countryfile Magazine - Plodcast Community" or join the discussion here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/countryfilemagazineplodcast/?ref=shareThe BBC Countryfile Magazine Plodcast is the Publishers Podcast Awards Special Interest Podcast of the Year 2024 & 2025 and the PPA Podcast of the Year 2022. If you've enjoyed the plodcast, don't forget to leave likes and positive reviews. Contact the Plodcast team and send your sound recordings of the countryside to: theplodcast@countryfile.com. If your letter, email or message is read out on the show, you could WIN a Plodcast Postbag prize of a wildlife- or countryside-themed book chosen by the team. The Plodcast is produced by Jack Bateman and Lewis Dobbs. The theme tune was written and performed by Blair Dunlop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Each week, The Plodcast offers a gentle, immersive journey into the landscapes and stories of rural Britain. Produced by Our Media, this series is more than just a guide; it’s a thoughtful audio companion that connects the science of natural phenomena with the deep cultural roots found in villages, coastlines, and rolling hills. You’ll hear from naturalists, historians, farmers, and artists whose lives are intertwined with the land, providing a rich tapestry of perspectives on place and society. The weekly episodes, released every Tuesday, delve into specific topics, from wildlife biology and conservation efforts to the social history embedded in ancient footpaths. Then, on Fridays, the pace shifts to a reflective Sound Escape-a chance to simply listen and unwind with the ambient noises of the outdoors. This podcast serves as a regular invitation to slow down and appreciate the complexities and simple wonders of the countryside, all through carefully crafted audio. It’s a blend of curious inquiry and peaceful respite, designed for anyone with an interest in travel, nature, and the quieter aspects of British life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 644

The Plodcast
Podcast Episodes
Sound Escape 23: a walk among birdsong in Dovedale in Derbyshire [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:44
Enjoy the delights of Dovedale in this mindful walk through one of the Peak District's most beautiful valleys. Deeply relax to the gentle melodies of nature – including summer blackbirds and robins – in the latest Sound…
Sound escape 22: the joyful song of summer on the allotment [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:11
Sit back and relax to soothing birdsong on a gentle summer’s morning on the allotment. In this Sound Escape, a meditative short podcast that celebrates the seasonal melodies of nature, relax to the tinkling song of a cha…
Sound Escape 21: the song of the River Dove in the Peak District [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:13
Relax to the song of the Peak District's most beautiful river. Sit on the banks of this gentle bubbling stream with delightful birdsong raining down – in this short Sound Escape: mindful moments of nature brought to you…
110 . Rewilding in the Black Mountains with woodsman Rob Penn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:13
Hear how a massive tree-planting project will transform the Black Mountains peak of Bryn Arw in the Brecon Beacons. Woodsman and writer Rob Penn explains how the Stump Up For Trees project has convinced local farmers and…
109. A Yorkshire River Journey with Radio 3's Petroc Trelawny [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:43
Presenter of "Breakfast" on BBC Radio 3 Petroc Trelawny talks about his week of live shows following a Yorkshire river from source to sea. Petroc reveals how the show will blend the evocative sounds of nature with chosen…