Golf Course to Nature Reserve | Just Add Water?

Golf Course to Nature Reserve | Just Add Water?

Author: National Trust November 26, 2025 Duration: 25:00
How can a golf course become a place for nature and people to thrive? Ajay Tegala visits Sandilands in Lincolnshire over its first year as the once manicured lawns transform into a wetland habitat. But with one of the driest springs on record, can Sandilands go from one birdie to another? Will there be enough water for wading birds return?  

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Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube channel:  
https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts   
 
 
Production 
Presenter: Ajay Tegala 
Producer: Marnie Woodmeade 
Sound designer: Jesus Gomez
 
Contributors 
Carl Hawke 
Kirsty James 
Dave Miller

Special Credit: A big thanks to Jannis Bonner, composer student at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, for their collaboration to this episode with the track "Breath of the Canopy".

Eurasian booming bittern sfx:
Author: Niels Krable 
Link: https://xeno-canto.org/100296 

Discover more

If you want to visit Sandilands or keep up to date with their progress you can find them here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/nottinghamshire-lincolnshire/sandilands 

Follow us @wildtalesnt Instagram account 
Image credit: ©National Trust Images/Rob Coleman

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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