April
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In this evocative April episode of 'As the Season Turns,' host Leah Landerz guides listeners through the awakening rhythms of spring, centered on the rare and precious chalk stream habitat at NEP Wilding in Sussex. The episode blends poetic narration, immersive field recordings, and deep ecological storytelling to celebrate the return of wildlife—nightingales, turtle doves, beavers, and salmon—within a rewilded landscape. Through intimate observations of flora and fauna, including foraging for wild watercress and tracking amphibians, the podcast underscores the fragility and beauty of these ecosystems. A mythic interlude draws from the Welsh Mabinogion, recounting the tale of Kai riding a salmon to rescue Mabon son of Modron, weaving ancient lore with the natural world’s enduring mysteries. The episode closes with celestial reflections on the April full moon, the Lyrid meteor shower, and a hopeful vision of nature’s resilience through rewilding and seasonal stewardship.
Chalk streams are rare, vital ecosystems that support unique biodiversity, including genetically distinct Atlantic salmon subspecies.
Rewilding projects like NEP Wilding demonstrate how returning land to nature can restore lost species and ecological balance.
Foraging for wild watercress requires careful identification to avoid toxic lookalikes and should always be cooked to eliminate liver fluke risk.
The return of migratory birds like nightingales and cuckoos signals the true arrival of spring in the UK’s wild places.
Myths like the tale of Kai and the salmon reflect deep cultural connections between humans, rivers, and the natural world.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome to April 2026
Leah Landerz introduces the 2026 edition of 'As the Season Turns,' setting the tone with the podcast’s seasonal mission and announcing the new Fern fragrance inspired by NEP Wilding.
The Chalk Stream: A Fairy Tale River
“The stream slides past stands of reed and sedge. Water crowfoot trails in the current, its bright green strands combed by the flow. And here and there, the first white flowers float like fallen stars on the surface.”
Amphibians of the Spring Stream
Detailed exploration of common frogs, toads, and newts—species active in April—highlighting their breeding behaviors, physical traits, and ecological roles in chalk streams.
Foraging the Wild Watercress
“The simple answer is to always cook your wild watercress. I like to blanch it and add it to a tart, perhaps with flecks of fish.”
Kingfishers, Wagtails, and the Salmon's Journey
“Atlantic salmon have been seen jumping over barriers as high as three metres to reach their breeding grounds.”
“There is one more ancient than blackbird, owl or stag. And he took them to an eagle... And he took them to the salmon. Get on my shoulders. A fish has shoulders.”
“The stream slides past stands of reed and sedge. Water crowfoot trails in the current, its bright green strands combed by the flow. And here and there, the first white flowers float like fallen stars on the surface.”
“When I first came here, one antler only beside each of my ears. One lone oak sapling stood here and I watched it grow a hundred branches until it aged and fell.”
Host
Guests
Leah Landerz
person
NEP Wilding
organization
Fern
brand
Atlantic Salmon
other
Kingfisher
other
Mabon son of Modron
person
Kai
person
Nightingale
other
Grey Wagtail
other
Beaver
other
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