I stumbled across this beautiful podcast a few months ago when I heard an interview with the author Melissa Harrison.

Melissa is a nature writer and during the first wave of the pandemic she made this podcast so that those who were limited to the four walls of their homes could experience being in nature for a little while.



She has a quiet, relaxing voice and talks softly as she travels the lanes and fields around her home describing what she sees, hears, smells, and feels. 

She recognises birdsong and explains which bird is singing as she wanders. This has stirred a desire in me. I want to recognise which bird we hear when we cycle, when we sit in the garden, for it’s not always possible to see a bird for identification.

I like the idea of acknowledging the birds, of becoming aware of the diversity around us and I’m sure the thrill of hearing a rare bird will set my heart racing when it happens. I may already have heard one and not know.



I’m looking forward to dedicating twenty minutes a few evenings a week to listening to birdsong until I can name that tune.

Melissa is knowledgeable about many aspects of nature and other nature writers too. Every podcast has a reading, a chatty walk, or a poem from another author giving a snapshot into their thoughts and lives and adding to my understanding of this beautiful planet.

Melissa is a fan of Gilbert White, England’s most famous naturalist whom I had never heard of. What were we taught in school? Snippets from his diaries are read, linking to the day the podcast was created. They are interesting, especially as at the time he was writing no-one knew where swifts went in the winter and some interesting theories are voiced in his diaries.

There are also readings from Melissa’s ‘Nature Notebook’ columns in The Times newspaper, which she began writing when she lived in London. These are interesting too, as they remind people to look for nature rather than assuming it doesn’t exist in a city.

Although this podcast is a limited series of twenty-seven episodes spanning just six months and was created with people in confinement in mind it is still totally relevant today. It is a podcast which can be revisited, giving as much pleasure as the first listening.

I’ve loved hearing about the barn owls, the swifts, chiffchaffs, and nightingales and whenever I’m feeling stressed or just want to relax for thirty minutes this is the podcast I tune into.

I have only listened to seven episodes, and I am hooked and wanted to share this delightful podcast with you.

Whether you live in a city and want to relax in nature or live in the countryside and want to learn more about what is around you this podcast is perfect.

Here is the link -

https://melissaharrison.co.uk/podcast/

Do let me know what you think of the podcast when you have had a listen.