{"version":"1.0.0","segments":[{"startTime":11.6,"endTime":12.88,"body":"Welcome."},{"startTime":13.12,"endTime":17.0,"body":"You're listening to Mark and Jackie's"},{"startTime":13.12,"endTime":17.0,"body":"wildlife and photography podcast."},{"startTime":17.64,"endTime":22.16,"body":"Explore and learn about the natural world"},{"startTime":17.64,"endTime":22.16,"body":"and how to take pictures."},{"startTime":22.84,"endTime":25.92,"body":"This episode is all about wildlife"},{"startTime":22.84,"endTime":25.92,"body":"and nature."},{"startTime":26.64,"endTime":29.6,"body":"Understanding"},{"startTime":26.64,"endTime":29.6,"body":"the natural world is important."},{"startTime":30.16,"endTime":32.6,"body":"It's what makes life on this planet"},{"startTime":30.16,"endTime":32.6,"body":"possible."},{"startTime":33.28,"endTime":37.2,"body":"Our podcast gives you insight into"},{"startTime":33.28,"endTime":37.2,"body":"just how complicated"},{"startTime":37.44,"endTime":39.56,"body":"and fascinating this world is."},{"startTime":48.72,"endTime":51.72,"body":"Episode 14 Meadows,"},{"startTime":52.44,"endTime":55.12,"body":"in this episode,"},{"startTime":52.44,"endTime":55.12,"body":"we're talking about Meadows."},{"startTime":55.96,"endTime":58.6,"body":"I never knew"},{"startTime":55.96,"endTime":58.6,"body":"there was so much to learn about Meadows,"},{"startTime":59.44,"endTime":62.96,"body":"but listen on as we take a wander"},{"startTime":59.44,"endTime":62.96,"body":"through this fascinating world."},{"startTime":64.6,"endTime":67.84,"body":"Flowers have been in our lives"},{"startTime":64.6,"endTime":67.84,"body":"for thousands of generations,"},{"startTime":68.32,"endTime":71.2,"body":"and these days"},{"startTime":68.32,"endTime":71.2,"body":"we've all but taken them for granted."},{"startTime":71.88,"endTime":74.72,"body":"But they are steeped in history"},{"startTime":71.88,"endTime":74.72,"body":"and mysticism."},{"startTime":75.68,"endTime":79.56,"body":"From the Roman Times to the present day,"},{"startTime":75.68,"endTime":79.56,"body":"flowers have been used"},{"startTime":79.56,"endTime":83.96,"body":"for medicine, love missives,"},{"startTime":79.56,"endTime":83.96,"body":"healing balms the list goes on."},{"startTime":85.56,"endTime":88.08,"body":"But it's not only Land Meadows."},{"startTime":88.08,"endTime":91.76,"body":"Don't forget about beneath our feet,"},{"startTime":88.08,"endTime":91.76,"body":"the seagrass meadows."},{"startTime":92.64,"endTime":94.84,"body":"They are particularly good carbon sinks"},{"startTime":95.16,"endTime":98.28,"body":"and provide nurseries"},{"startTime":95.16,"endTime":98.28,"body":"for many marine species."},{"startTime":99.52,"endTime":104.12,"body":"In fact, the UK has lost"},{"startTime":99.52,"endTime":104.12,"body":"90% of its seagrass meadows."},{"startTime":104.96,"endTime":107.04,"body":"But we're going to more about that later."},{"startTime":108.76,"endTime":111.24,"body":"We have a relationship"},{"startTime":108.76,"endTime":111.24,"body":"with the land and sea."},{"startTime":112.0,"endTime":115.48,"body":"We need to listen to what it tells us"},{"startTime":112.0,"endTime":115.48,"body":"and what we can learn."},{"startTime":116.68,"endTime":119.76,"body":"Many stories are connected"},{"startTime":116.68,"endTime":119.76,"body":"to myths and legends,"},{"startTime":120.4,"endTime":124.64,"body":"but they tell us much about ourselves"},{"startTime":120.4,"endTime":124.64,"body":"and how we once lived and worked"},{"startTime":125.04,"endTime":128.48,"body":"with all living things in harmony"},{"startTime":125.04,"endTime":128.48,"body":"and empathy."},{"startTime":129.92,"endTime":131.72,"body":"Now, if you look at the word,"},{"startTime":131.72,"endTime":134.28,"body":"the meaning of the word meadow up."},{"startTime":134.28,"endTime":137.16,"body":"A meadow is an open habitat or field"},{"startTime":137.24,"endTime":141.6,"body":"vegetated by grasses, herbs"},{"startTime":137.24,"endTime":141.6,"body":"and other non woody"},{"startTime":141.6,"endTime":146.44,"body":"plants can be naturally occurring"},{"startTime":141.6,"endTime":146.44,"body":"or artificially created."},{"startTime":147.76,"endTime":148.88,"body":"As a group,"},{"startTime":148.88,"endTime":153.16,"body":"meadow habitats are characterized"},{"startTime":148.88,"endTime":153.16,"body":"as semi-natural grasslands."},{"startTime":153.92,"endTime":158.48,"body":"They are largely composed of species"},{"startTime":153.92,"endTime":158.48,"body":"native to a particular region"},{"startTime":158.92,"endTime":161.08,"body":"with limited human intervention."},{"startTime":162.64,"endTime":166.72,"body":"Plants and flowers have been the basis"},{"startTime":162.64,"endTime":166.72,"body":"for many medicines and drugs"},{"startTime":166.72,"endTime":170.76,"body":"that we take today without these,"},{"startTime":166.72,"endTime":170.76,"body":"where would we be?"},{"startTime":172.24,"endTime":175.6,"body":"However, we are destroying"},{"startTime":172.24,"endTime":175.6,"body":"the land that they inhabit."},{"startTime":176.44,"endTime":178.96,"body":"We need to understand their importance"},{"startTime":179.0,"endTime":182.16,"body":"as part of the web of life."},{"startTime":182.16,"endTime":184.24,"body":"Think it doesn't matter?"},{"startTime":184.24,"endTime":185.76,"body":"Think again."},{"startTime":185.88,"endTime":190.88,"body":"In the UK,"},{"startTime":185.88,"endTime":190.88,"body":"we have lost 97% of all Wildflower Meadow"},{"startTime":191.08,"endTime":196.28,"body":"since World War two"},{"startTime":191.08,"endTime":196.28,"body":"and about 90% of our seagrass meadows."},{"startTime":197.32,"endTime":201.44,"body":"On a global scale"},{"startTime":197.32,"endTime":201.44,"body":"that equates to about 35%."},{"startTime":202.68,"endTime":205.4,"body":"Both these elements are part"},{"startTime":205.4,"endTime":207.92,"body":"of our ecosystem."},{"startTime":208.72,"endTime":210.32,"body":"The ecological importance"},{"startTime":210.32,"endTime":212.56,"body":"is not to be underestimated."},{"startTime":213.44,"endTime":217.16,"body":"There are multiple types of meadows"},{"startTime":213.44,"endTime":217.16,"body":"agricultural,"},{"startTime":217.48,"endTime":221.12,"body":"transitional, perpetual and seagrass."},{"startTime":222.48,"endTime":225.44,"body":"Each plays"},{"startTime":222.48,"endTime":225.44,"body":"an important part of our ecosystem."},{"startTime":226.08,"endTime":228.56,"body":"They attract an amazing array of wildlife"},{"startTime":228.8,"endTime":232.76,"body":"and support plants"},{"startTime":228.8,"endTime":232.76,"body":"that would not survive in other habitats."},{"startTime":233.72,"endTime":237.36,"body":"They provide a place for animals"},{"startTime":233.72,"endTime":237.36,"body":"to hold courtship displays,"},{"startTime":237.88,"endTime":240.28,"body":"nesting areas and food gathering."},{"startTime":242.0,"endTime":245.44,"body":"Changes in"},{"startTime":242.0,"endTime":245.44,"body":"the climate are having significant impact"},{"startTime":245.44,"endTime":248.52,"body":"on these vital areas of the ecosystem."},{"startTime":249.6,"endTime":254.32,"body":"Meadows can mitigate against changes"},{"startTime":249.6,"endTime":254.32,"body":"and can be a potentially useful"},{"startTime":254.32,"endTime":256.44,"body":"carbon sinks."},{"startTime":258.08,"endTime":258.6,"body":"Let's look"},{"startTime":258.6,"endTime":261.08,"body":"at the different types of Meadow"},{"startTime":258.6,"endTime":261.08,"body":"in more detail."},{"startTime":262.36,"endTime":264.64,"body":"We've got agricultural."},{"startTime":264.64,"endTime":267.04,"body":"These meadows are those that are grassland"},{"startTime":267.24,"endTime":269.96,"body":"not regularly grazed"},{"startTime":267.24,"endTime":269.96,"body":"by domestic livestock."},{"startTime":271.16,"endTime":273.48,"body":"They are left unchecked to produce hay."},{"startTime":274.72,"endTime":277.8,"body":"If we look back in history,"},{"startTime":274.72,"endTime":277.8,"body":"agricultural meadows"},{"startTime":277.8,"endTime":280.48,"body":"first came into existence"},{"startTime":277.8,"endTime":280.48,"body":"during the Iron Age,"},{"startTime":281.16,"endTime":284.44,"body":"when tools to carry out"},{"startTime":281.16,"endTime":284.44,"body":"the hay harvest were first used."},{"startTime":285.6,"endTime":285.88,"body":"Having"},{"startTime":285.88,"endTime":290.52,"body":"the ability to produce food for livestock"},{"startTime":285.88,"endTime":290.52,"body":"meant the animals could be kept in"},{"startTime":290.52,"endTime":294.12,"body":"enclosures, surplus produce in the summer"},{"startTime":294.12,"endTime":298.36,"body":"was stored for winter, thereby"},{"startTime":294.12,"endTime":298.36,"body":"preventing damage"},{"startTime":298.36,"endTime":301.72,"body":"to other habitats"},{"startTime":298.36,"endTime":301.72,"body":"such as forest and grassland."},{"startTime":302.52,"endTime":304.96,"body":"The need to graze animals"},{"startTime":302.52,"endTime":304.96,"body":"during winter months"},{"startTime":305.2,"endTime":306.56,"body":"had gone."},{"startTime":308.0,"endTime":309.96,"body":"Traditional hay meadows were once"},{"startTime":309.96,"endTime":313.04,"body":"common, but are now very much in decline."},{"startTime":313.92,"endTime":316.52,"body":"We have very small, fragmented areas."},{"startTime":317.84,"endTime":320.72,"body":"In America, the Sierra Nevada in"},{"startTime":320.72,"endTime":323.56,"body":"the US is home to some of the nation's"},{"startTime":320.72,"endTime":323.56,"body":"largest,"},{"startTime":323.92,"endTime":327.44,"body":"biologically richest"},{"startTime":323.92,"endTime":327.44,"body":"and most functional meadows."},{"startTime":328.92,"endTime":331.68,"body":"Similar to a hay meadow is pasture land,"},{"startTime":332.56,"endTime":336.04,"body":"this differs in that"},{"startTime":332.56,"endTime":336.04,"body":"it is allowed to be grazed by livestock"},{"startTime":336.24,"endTime":340.64,"body":"throughout the summer rather"},{"startTime":336.24,"endTime":340.64,"body":"than being left to grow and cut for hay."},{"startTime":341.84,"endTime":344.28,"body":"The word pasture is used to describe"},{"startTime":344.28,"endTime":347.48,"body":"any land used for the purpose of grazing."},{"startTime":348.32,"endTime":350.48,"body":"This includes non grass habitats"},{"startTime":350.68,"endTime":353.84,"body":"such as heathland,"},{"startTime":350.68,"endTime":353.84,"body":"moorland and wood pasture."},{"startTime":355.16,"endTime":357.28,"body":"Meadows have lost their original purpose"},{"startTime":357.28,"endTime":359.52,"body":"due to modern agricultural methods."},{"startTime":361.76,"endTime":366.36,"body":"As of 2019, permanent meadows and pastures"},{"startTime":361.76,"endTime":366.36,"body":"in China"},{"startTime":366.68,"endTime":370.32,"body":"represented 392000 hectares."},{"startTime":371.32,"endTime":374.2,"body":"That accounts for 12.3%"},{"startTime":374.72,"endTime":377.56,"body":"of the world's"},{"startTime":374.72,"endTime":377.56,"body":"permanent meadows and pastures"},{"startTime":378.52,"endTime":382.92,"body":"in the top"},{"startTime":378.52,"endTime":382.92,"body":"five countries account for 41.6%."},{"startTime":384.92,"endTime":387.08,"body":"Well, now look at transitional meadows,"},{"startTime":387.92,"endTime":391.0,"body":"as the name suggests,"},{"startTime":387.92,"endTime":391.0,"body":"this type is not permanent."},{"startTime":391.92,"endTime":395.52,"body":"It is land that has been cleared"},{"startTime":391.92,"endTime":395.52,"body":"but not cut or grazed."},{"startTime":396.04,"endTime":398.16,"body":"And an abundance of growth is seen."},{"startTime":399.44,"endTime":401.8,"body":"Grasses and wildflower self seed."},{"startTime":402.68,"endTime":405.88,"body":"However,"},{"startTime":402.68,"endTime":405.88,"body":"as the grasses become shaded out by scrub"},{"startTime":405.88,"endTime":409.76,"body":"and woody"},{"startTime":405.88,"endTime":409.76,"body":"plants, it returns to a wooded state."},{"startTime":410.96,"endTime":414.68,"body":"Sometimes a traditional meadow"},{"startTime":410.96,"endTime":414.68,"body":"can be artificially maintained"},{"startTime":414.76,"endTime":418.12,"body":"through the double field system."},{"startTime":419.72,"endTime":421.04,"body":"Cultivation of soil"},{"startTime":421.04,"endTime":424.28,"body":"and meadows are alternated"},{"startTime":421.04,"endTime":424.28,"body":"over a number of years."},{"startTime":426.32,"endTime":429.48,"body":"In North America, Native Americans"},{"startTime":426.32,"endTime":429.48,"body":"regularly"},{"startTime":429.48,"endTime":433.64,"body":"cleared an area of forest"},{"startTime":429.48,"endTime":433.64,"body":"to create transitional meadows."},{"startTime":435.0,"endTime":436.44,"body":"So that deer and game could"},{"startTime":436.44,"endTime":439.76,"body":"find food and be hunted."},{"startTime":440.64,"endTime":443.48,"body":"Some of today's meadows"},{"startTime":440.64,"endTime":443.48,"body":"can trace their origin"},{"startTime":443.76,"endTime":446.52,"body":"back to the activity of Native Americans."},{"startTime":449.76,"endTime":453.12,"body":"The next type is perpetual."},{"startTime":453.12,"endTime":454.68,"body":"This type of meadow is often"},{"startTime":454.68,"endTime":457.04,"body":"referred to as a natural meadow."},{"startTime":458.2,"endTime":461.76,"body":"One, where conditions,"},{"startTime":458.2,"endTime":461.76,"body":"climatic and soil are favorable"},{"startTime":461.76,"endTime":465.56,"body":"to perennial grasses"},{"startTime":461.76,"endTime":465.56,"body":"that restrict the wood plants growing."},{"startTime":466.92,"endTime":470.08,"body":"The types of perpetual meadow or Alpine."},{"startTime":471.28,"endTime":474.72,"body":"Which means it's at high elevations"},{"startTime":471.28,"endTime":474.72,"body":"above the tree line,"},{"startTime":475.24,"endTime":478.28,"body":"and it's maintained by harsh"},{"startTime":475.24,"endTime":478.28,"body":"climatic conditions."},{"startTime":480.04,"endTime":483.72,"body":"Coastal,"},{"startTime":480.04,"endTime":483.72,"body":"which is maintained by salt sprays."},{"startTime":485.48,"endTime":489.0,"body":"Desert,"},{"startTime":485.48,"endTime":489.0,"body":"which is lack of nutrients and humus,"},{"startTime":489.0,"endTime":491.04,"body":"which is the organic matter in the soil."},{"startTime":492.32,"endTime":496.8,"body":"Prairies, which is maintained by periods"},{"startTime":492.32,"endTime":496.8,"body":"of drought or wildfires."},{"startTime":496.8,"endTime":500.76,"body":"And wet, as the name suggests,"},{"startTime":500.76,"endTime":504.36,"body":"it's saturated with water."},{"startTime":507.16,"endTime":508.28,"body":"Urban Meadows."},{"startTime":509.36,"endTime":511.84,"body":"Recent thinking is that urban areas"},{"startTime":511.84,"endTime":515.44,"body":"are potentially biodiversity"},{"startTime":511.84,"endTime":515.44,"body":"conservation sites."},{"startTime":516.44,"endTime":519.04,"body":"As the name suggests, these are areas"},{"startTime":519.04,"endTime":522.04,"body":"near towns and cities."},{"startTime":522.48,"endTime":524.24,"body":"Encouraging urban areas"},{"startTime":524.24,"endTime":526.6,"body":"to change to Meadows can only be good."},{"startTime":527.52,"endTime":531.16,"body":"They provide a refuge for plant"},{"startTime":527.52,"endTime":531.16,"body":"and animal communities."},{"startTime":532.48,"endTime":535.88,"body":"Too much management has happened"},{"startTime":532.48,"endTime":535.88,"body":"on these urban meadows."},{"startTime":536.96,"endTime":539.88,"body":"By changing the number of times"},{"startTime":536.96,"endTime":539.88,"body":"these areas are mown"},{"startTime":539.88,"endTime":541.92,"body":"it can improve the diversity."},{"startTime":543.56,"endTime":547.04,"body":"So letting councils"},{"startTime":543.56,"endTime":547.04,"body":"or getting councils to not cut"},{"startTime":547.68,"endTime":550.32,"body":"verges will improve the diversity"},{"startTime":550.32,"endTime":553.68,"body":"for the plants and animals."},{"startTime":554.2,"endTime":555.92,"body":"As I mentioned at the beginning,"},{"startTime":555.92,"endTime":559.04,"body":"we should not forget seagrasses."},{"startTime":559.04,"endTime":561.44,"body":"Sometimes called prairies of the sea."},{"startTime":563.56,"endTime":567.2,"body":"They are underwater ecosystems"},{"startTime":563.56,"endTime":567.2,"body":"formed by seagrass"},{"startTime":567.2,"endTime":571.6,"body":"consisting of saltwater plants"},{"startTime":567.2,"endTime":571.6,"body":"found in shallow coastal waters."},{"startTime":573.04,"endTime":576.52,"body":"The same as land meadows,"},{"startTime":573.04,"endTime":576.52,"body":"they produce seeds"},{"startTime":576.72,"endTime":580.8,"body":"and pollen being anchored to the"},{"startTime":576.72,"endTime":580.8,"body":"floor by roots and rhizomes."},{"startTime":582.28,"endTime":583.76,"body":"Seagrass meadows"},{"startTime":583.76,"endTime":589.84,"body":"capture up to 83 million metric"},{"startTime":583.76,"endTime":589.84,"body":"tons of carbon each year, the equivalent"},{"startTime":589.84,"endTime":593.0,"body":"to the carbon admitted by approximately 61"},{"startTime":593.0,"endTime":595.36,"body":"million passenger cars in a year."},{"startTime":597.2,"endTime":598.56,"body":"These dense underwater"},{"startTime":598.56,"endTime":602.72,"body":"meadows are some of the most"},{"startTime":598.56,"endTime":602.72,"body":"productive ecosystems in the world,"},{"startTime":603.56,"endTime":607.08,"body":"providing habitats"},{"startTime":603.56,"endTime":607.08,"body":"and food for marine life."},{"startTime":607.2,"endTime":609.68,"body":"Similar to that of coral reefs."},{"startTime":611.76,"endTime":614.48,"body":"During coastal storms,"},{"startTime":611.76,"endTime":614.48,"body":"they provide protection,"},{"startTime":614.48,"endTime":618.04,"body":"by the way,"},{"startTime":614.48,"endTime":618.04,"body":"their leaves absorb energy from the waves."},{"startTime":620.56,"endTime":623.44,"body":"But did you know that seagrass meadows"},{"startTime":623.68,"endTime":626.88,"body":"slow climate change by storing carbon"},{"startTime":623.68,"endTime":626.88,"body":"dioxide"},{"startTime":626.88,"endTime":629.32,"body":"into the sea floor?"},{"startTime":630.72,"endTime":632.44,"body":"Human and climate changes"},{"startTime":632.44,"endTime":635.0,"body":"have a great effect on these underwater"},{"startTime":632.44,"endTime":635.0,"body":"meadows."},{"startTime":636.16,"endTime":638.24,"body":"There's ecological consequences."},{"startTime":638.68,"endTime":642.72,"body":"Increased temperature,"},{"startTime":638.68,"endTime":642.72,"body":"changing precipitation patterns,"},{"startTime":643.44,"endTime":645.76,"body":"reduced snow pack and earlier melting."},{"startTime":647.2,"endTime":648.76,"body":"Effects of higher temperature,"},{"startTime":648.76,"endTime":651.4,"body":"effects of changing precipitation"},{"startTime":648.76,"endTime":651.4,"body":"patterns,"},{"startTime":651.76,"endTime":656.32,"body":"effects of the reduced snow pack"},{"startTime":651.76,"endTime":656.32,"body":"and effects on ecological communities."},{"startTime":658.28,"endTime":659.6,"body":"We're coming to the end"},{"startTime":659.6,"endTime":662.32,"body":"and some takeaways from this podcast."},{"startTime":663.84,"endTime":666.08,"body":"Perhaps we should use the phrase plant"},{"startTime":666.08,"endTime":669.2,"body":"and animal communities"},{"startTime":666.08,"endTime":669.2,"body":"in our communication."},{"startTime":669.8,"endTime":673.4,"body":"And another reason"},{"startTime":669.8,"endTime":673.4,"body":"for rewilding in a connected fashion."},{"startTime":674.72,"endTime":676.92,"body":"If you'd like to hear more"},{"startTime":674.72,"endTime":676.92,"body":"about rewilding,"},{"startTime":677.28,"endTime":680.36,"body":"please have a listen to episode"},{"startTime":677.28,"endTime":680.36,"body":"twelve of our podcast."},{"startTime":683.36,"endTime":685.28,"body":"My name is Jacky Bloomfield."},{"startTime":685.28,"endTime":687.68,"body":"And thank you for listening."},{"startTime":691.88,"endTime":692.76,"body":"You've been listening"},{"startTime":692.76,"endTime":695.2,"body":"to a wildlife and photography podcast"},{"startTime":696.4,"endTime":698.72,"body":"produced by M\u0026J Bloomfield."},{"startTime":699.24,"endTime":702.92,"body":"For more information"},{"startTime":699.24,"endTime":702.92,"body":"and details about us and our work,"},{"startTime":703.44,"endTime":708.0,"body":"visit"},{"startTime":703.44,"endTime":708.0,"body":"our website at mandjbloomfield dot com."},{"startTime":709.64,"endTime":711.0,"body":"Thank you for listening,"},{"startTime":711.0,"endTime":713.04,"body":"and we hope you will join us again soon."},{"startTime":713.8,"endTime":715.52,"body":"Chun an sin, mar sin leat."}]}