Plant Hunters | A Botanical Quest Down Under

Plant Hunters | A Botanical Quest Down Under

Author: National Trust August 20, 2025 Duration: 22:27

In 2018 a team of intrepid explorers came in to the possession of a treasure map - one which would see them venture half way around the world to the Australian island of Tasmania.  

Those explorers were a team of garden experts from across the UK and Ireland who were now on a historic mission to save and catalogue plants for the benefit of people and the planet.

Following in the footsteps of the historic plant hunters, find out what was in store for the team of modern-day collectors and how natural history has helped to shape gardens around the world.

Production
Host: Rosie Holdsworth
Producer: Jack Glover
Sound Design: Jesus Gomez

Contributors
Charlie Bancroft and team BIBET
Caroline Ikin

Images courtesy and with thanks from the Royal Botanic Gardens of Tasmania. All Rights Reserved.

Discover More
Explore a garden lovers home at Nymans in West Sussex where some of the collected species are now flourishing  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/nymans

Read Charlie’s report here: https://merlin-trust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/718-Charlie-Bancroft-compressed.pdf

Find out more about historic plant hunters from our friends at Kew Gardens https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/adventure-and-discovery-around-the-world-with-plant-hunters

BIBET Botantic Gardens  
Republic of Ireland https://www.botanicgardens.ie/kilmacurragh/
Northern Ireland https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/mount-stewart Wales https://botanicgarden.wales/
Tasmania https://gardens.tas.gov.au/

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: 193

Wild Tales | Nature Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Dam Engineers | The Beavers of Holnicote | Revisited [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:14
For the past few years Holnicote Estate, Exmoor National Park, has been home to furry inhabitants engineering a solution to local flooding, and developing a habitat not seen in the UK for centuries. In this episode we re…
A History of Drag | Panto and Shakespeare [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:28
Drag and British history go hand in hand with each other when the two meet on the stage. From Shakespeare to Pantomime the idea of gender play as part of performance has been a staple of British culture for centuries. Gr…
The Last Voyage | Sutton Hoo [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:36
In 1939, archaeologists uncovered a “ghost ship” under the acidic sandy soil of Sutton Hoo, in Suffolk. Now, presenter James Grasby reimagines the last journey of that vessel, and who was aboard, as it was hauled from th…
The Cedar Children | Kindertransport in WW2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:44
In March 1939 a group of 23 children and their two adult guardians stepped off a coach in Waddesdon village, Buckinghamshire. The arrivals were Jewish refugees who had escaped Nazi Germany, where they had been forced to…
A Beginner’s Guide to Geocaching [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:37
Geocaching is the 21st century answer to treasure hunting with items hidden across the world in towns, cities, forests and wild expanses.Novice Jo Dyson and expert Rich Foster embark on a modern-day adventure at the 320-…
A Garden Fit for Bridgerton | Garden Parties at Claremont [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:00
Join a tour of a garden designed for pleasure, as we relive its party heyday. Claremont in Surrey once played host to events described as the lovechild of a festival and a palace garden party. Presenter James Grasby unco…
Escape to Adventure Island | Camping at Brownsea [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:12
Journey to a tiny island renowned for adventure.Brownsea Island, off England’s southwest coast is the birthplace of the Scout movement and where history and the outdoors collide for a favourite British pastime, camping.J…
The Secret Sky Garden | Manchester's Garden Viaduct [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:36
Take a tour through time as we explore the rich past and promising future of Castlefield Viaduct – a Victorian railway bridge transformed into a green oasis and bustling garden in the heart of the Manchester city skyline…
125 Treasures | The Horse on the Staircase [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:02
Revisit a favourite episode from our mini series 125 Treasures. Join actor Alison Steadman and explore the story behind Hambletonian, Rubbing Down, a painting by George Stubbs at Mount Stewart in County Down. Delve into…
Spooky Nights & Glowing Lights | Glow Worm Hunting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:46
The rolling hills of Stockbridge Down in Hampshire have a secret that comes after night falls. Ranger Kate Martin is hot on the trail of a mysterious species you might be surprised to meet in the UK, and uncover why this…