Wild Voices | Nature and Belonging

Wild Voices | Nature and Belonging

Author: National Trust August 6, 2026 Duration: 26:35

Join National Trust ranger Ajay Tegala in a Wild Voices conversation with veterinary surgeon, conservationist and founder of the Ealing Wildlife Group, Dr Sean McCormack. Recorded live at the Global Bird Fair in Rutland, Sean shares the remarkable story of bringing beavers back to London for the first time in 400 years and explains why community-led rewilding is transforming urban landscapes.

Together, Sean and Ajay explore what it means to reconnect people with nature, why access and belonging matter, and how local action could shape a wilder future for us all.     

Watch a video of this podcast on the National Trust’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nationaltrustcharity/podcasts   

Production
 Host: Ajay Tegala
Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris & Ajay Tegala
Sound: Jesus Gomez
Contributor: Dr Sean McCormack 

You can find out more about the Ealing Beaver Project here:  The Ealing Beaver Project – Bringing Beavers Back to London

And you can discover more about Dr Sean McCormack here: https://www.instagram.com/thatvetsean/ https://linktr.ee/thatvetsean 

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
Clever Corvids [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:53
Corvids, such as Crows, Rooks and Jackdaws are known for their high intelligence, problem solving abilities and complex social behaviour. But they’re also often associated with folklore, scary stories and horror movies.…
BONUS: Wild Voices | Can Social Media Save Birds? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:13
Join National Trust ranger Ajay Tegala in another Wild Voices conversation with conservationist and content creator Emily Askew, and naturalist and wildlife advocate Ben Rumsby. Recorded live at the Global Bird Fair in R…
A Whole World on a Cabbage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 amon…
The London Parakeet Mystery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:36
Brightly coloured ring-necked parakeets might now be a familiar sight in the London sky, but that wasn't always the case. Join Ranger Rosie Holdsworth and Johnathan Miller-McCall as we track down these acid-green birds a…
The Great Cuckoo Con [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:59
Every spring, the unmistakable call of the cuckoo echoes across Wicken Fen Nature Reserve in Cambridgeshire. But behind that familiar sound lies one of nature's most extraordinary deceptions. Join ranger and naturalist A…
Racing for Reefs | From Formula 1 to Coral Conservation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:57
Coral reefs are among the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth, yet climate change, pollution and overfishing are driving their rapid decline.In response, Formula One champions McLaren Racing and the Great Barri…
Finding Cinnamon | A Capybara Gone Rogue [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:09
What do you do when a capybara escapes into the Shropshire countryside? In this episode, ranger Rosie Holdsworth joins Will Dorrell, co-founder of Hoo Zoo in Telford, to uncover the remarkable story of Cinnamon, the runa…
Wembley Stadium | Football's Perfect Pitch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 benchma…
European Brown Bears | Where are you? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:09
Deep in the forests of Transylvania, one of Europe’s largest populations of brown bears still roams freely, often surprisingly close to busy towns and cities. Join National Trust ranger Rosie Holdsworth and her family as…
Operation Nutcracker | The Return of the Red Squirrel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:07
Red Squirrels were once a common sight in woodlands around the Uk but now, they’re one of our rarest Mammals. In this episode of Wild Tales, we head to Plas Newydd on the island of Ynys Môn in Wales, where a remarkable e…