A Whole World on a Cabbage

A Whole World on a Cabbage

Author: National Trust September 3, 2026 Duration: 14:40

A two-hour ferry ride from the North Devon coast lies a tiny island often described as Britain's very own Galápagos.  

It's home to all sorts of wildlife, including a plant that grows nowhere else on Earth. And hidden among its leaves is a tiny beetle that only lives there too.

Join us as we head to Lundy to meet the people who spend their days counting cabbages, and discover why this little-known plant has become such an important conservation story.

Production
Narrator : Rosie Holdsworth
Producer and sound design by Nikki Ruck
 

Contributors
 
Tara McEvoy-Wilding - Assistant Warden Lundy Island
Laura Larkin – Buglife
Karim Vahed - Buglife
Joseph Pavitt – MS Oldenburg
 
We recorded this episode at Lundy Island
To find out more about the island and how to get there
 
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/devon/lundy

www.landmarktrust.org.uk/lundyisland/

To find out more about the Lundy Cabbage 
lundy-cabbage 

To find out more about the Lundy Flea Beetle
www.buglife.org.uk

Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt
 
Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube

If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at podcasts@nationaltrust.org.uk 
 
 
 


There’s a story waiting in every landscape, a secret history woven into the hedgerows and hidden in the soil. Wild Tales | Nature Podcast, brought to you by the National Trust, goes beyond the guidebook to find those narratives. Each episode is a quiet exploration of the intricate connections between the natural world and our own place within it. You might find yourself listening to the surprising biography of a centuries-old oak tree, learning how coastal erosion reveals forgotten chapters of human history, or understanding the subtle language of birdsong at dawn. This isn’t just a catalog of facts; it’s an immersive audio experience that considers the science of a changing ecosystem alongside the cultural traditions it sustains. We visit specific places-ancient woodlands, rugged coastlines, and working farms-to hear directly from the people who know them best: rangers, historians, ecologists, and local communities. The result is a thoughtful collection of stories that change how you see the world outside your window. Tune into this podcast for a deeper sense of connection, a moment of calm reflection, and a renewed appreciation for the wild and historic places that shape our shared story.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Wild Tales | Nature Podcast
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