Pteridomania | When Fern Frenzy Swept the UK

Pteridomania | When Fern Frenzy Swept the UK

Author: National Trust April 23, 2025 Duration: 13:04

It’s the mid-1800s and pteridomania – or fern frenzy – is the new big craze.  

Across the UK, plant enthusiasts are heading into the countryside to pick all the prized specimens they can find.  

And fern fans far and wide are avidly creating collections and displays of the leafy green plants to show off.  

Uncover the truth about this Victorian phenomenon and how it influenced our love of house plants.  

But who were the pteridomaniacs? What did ferns secretly symbolise about young women and sex? And how can we learn from the conservation consequences of the craze?
 
Join Presenter and Ranger Rosie Holdsworth and Curator Clara Woolford to unfurl the curious story of Victorian fern fever. 
 
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Discover more:   
Visit Cragside in Northumberland for a taste of fern fever. See the fernery, rockery and glass houses designed by Lady Armstrong in the 1800s, now cared for by the National Trust.  
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/cragside

Production: 
Host: Rosie Holdsworth  
Producer: Michelle Douglass 
Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez 
 
Follow Wild Tales nature podcast on your favourite podcast app or on Instagram @wildtalesnt. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story idea you’d love to hear, 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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