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
Enjoy a chat with bushcraft expert Ray Mears [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:38
In this podcast we hear from bushcraft expert, survivalist, author and TV presenter Ray Mears . To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about yo…
Search for the earliest signs of spring in the Brecon Beacons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:57
Search for the earliest signs of spring in the Brecon Beacons with BBC Countryfile Magazine editor Fergus Collins. To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…
Enjoy a glorious dawn chorus in the Brecon Beacons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:21
Find it hard to get up to listen to the dawn chorus? Then follow editor Fergus Collins on a three-hour walk listening to birdsong on the Blorenge Mountain in Monmouthshire. To find out more, visit www.countryfile.com Hos…
Jules Hudson explores the Preseli Hills, plus the art of wassailing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:15
This month Countryfile’s Jules Hudson discovers a new way of walking and an ancient landscape in Pembrokeshire’s Preseli Hills, while BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s Vernon Harwood indulges in one of England’s oldest January…
Discover Britain's most romantic ruins and roam the Yorkshire Wolds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:04
This month the team challenge you to find Britain’s most romantic ruin and discuss the ones that got away, while editor Fergus explores a magical market town deep in the Yorkshire Wolds. To find out more, visit www.count…
Countryfile Magazine: Waterways special [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:49
The team discuss Britain’s most enticing waterways and riverside experiences. A fly fishing expert shares tips on how to catch grayling and trout on the River Severn and a real life witch from Stratford-upon-Avon gives a…