Wembley Stadium | Football's Perfect Pitch

Wembley Stadium | Football's Perfect Pitch

Author: National Trust June 11, 2026 Duration: 19:53

As the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup gets underway, we're heading to Wembley Stadium, the home of the England national team, to explore the crucial role the pitch plays in the beautiful game. With Wembley setting the benchmark that World Cup venues across North America are looking to emulate, Ranger Rosie Holdsworth joins Karl Standley, Head of Grounds and Surface Transitions, to uncover what it takes to maintain this world-famous playing surface. From UVC lights and surgically sharp mower blades to turf grown at secret locations, we discover the science, skill and precision behind one of football's most iconic pitches. 

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube: https://youtu.be/RwmqQoFgUSk

Production
 Host: Rosie Holdsworth
 Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris
 Sound: Jesus Gomez
 Contributor: Karl Standley


If you’d like to learn more about the pitch at Wembley Stadium, you can book onto a tour here: https://bookings.wembleytours.com/stadiumtours/home.htm

Follow us on Instagram @wildtalesnt

 
 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
Podcast Episodes
Pteridomania | When Fern Frenzy Swept the UK [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 ar…
Dolphin Social Networks | Mothers, Besties and Bodyguards [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:07
Beneath the waves of West Wales lies a complicated network of relationships that determines not only who’s belly rolling who, but which calf survives. Join Katrin Lohrengel and her team at Sea Watch to search for one of…
The Elusive Leaping Shark | Searching for Cryptic Creatures [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:39
Join Ranger Rosie Holdsworth to uncover the mystery of the leaping shark. On a boat off Cornwall, wildlife guide Jenny spots a huge animal she’s never seen before jumping out of the water. But what exactly has she witnes…
Gangster Gulls | Uncovering the Truth About Seagulls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:36
Seagulls have a bad reputation. But is it deserved? Join Ranger Rosie Holdsworth to meet the gulls in Poole Harbour known for their chip-stealing behaviour. Are these birds feathered thugs or smart survivors? We’ll disco…
Introducing Back When [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10
Imagine being a fly on the wall throughout history.Historians Helen Antrobus and James Grasby take you inside the stories of the people, places and moments that made us. Experience the Great Stink of London. Make an entr…
Introducing Wild Tales [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16
Wild Tales is launching 26 March. Immerse yourself in intriguing stories from our weird, wonderful and utterly wild world. Experience nature in a whole new way, from untangling the strange world of spider sex and digging…
Pub Walks and Planet Protection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:00
Claire Hickinbotham takes you on some of our favourite walks from our book ‘100 Great Pub Walks’ and finds out why caring for our planet, is necessary for the good of the humble pint.
Announcement | We'll Look Different Soon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05
From March 2025 the National Trust Podcast will look a little different, so that we can bring you more stories in nature, history and adventure. We're splitting the National Trust Podcast into two dedicated shows for nat…