Birds sing and pair again

In this episode, spring colours and sounds galore... Tom Pattinson’s revelling in the spring bulbs and shrubs, and the exciting signs of new shoots in the flower borders and veg beds. 

Tom Cadwallander’s taking a look at auks and the early return of puffins and he’s celebrating the chirpy, chiff-chaff.

Steve Lowe is at one of our finest museums in search of an answer to the question ‘Who is Eric?’  Plus gardening Jobs for the Week with Tom P.

Transcript

Copy Transcript Copied

Nature Garden Podcast: 11 April 2026

Intro and Theme tune: Princess of the Ocean by Carl Cape Band, featuring Steve Deegan, Carl Cape and Jamie Robb (fiddle). Includes words by Northumbrian poet, Fred Reed (Shoreline).

Carl Stiansen:  Hello and welcome to the Nature Garden Podcast, with me, Carl Stiansen, and the Weekending Show Team from Lionheart Radio. 

Thanks for joining us on a canny wee wander down the garden path and country lane… with the birds and the bees, and the flowers and trees..

In this episode, spring colours and sounds galore.

Tom Pattinson’s revelling in the spring bulbs and shrubs, and the exciting signs of new shoots in the flower borders and veg beds. 

Tom Cadwallander’s taking a look at auks and the early return of puffins and he’s celebrating (sound clip)…..  the chirpy, chiff-chaff.

Steve Lowe is at one of our finest museums in search of an answer to the question ‘Who is Eric?’ 

And we’ll have some gardening Jobs for the Week with Tom P… all coming up… on the Nature garden podcast

Music fades out

 ***************

Carl Stiansen:  

Blows the thaw-wind pleasantly, 

Drips the soaking rain, 

By fits looks down the waking sun: 

Young grass springs on the plain; 

Young leaves clothe early hedgerow trees; 

Seeds, and roots, and stones of fruits, 

Swollen with sap put forth their shoots; 

Curled-headed ferns sprout in the lane; 

Birds sing and pair again.

Christina Rosetti’s celebration of new life after winter and here’s wor Tom to start the new season in the garden.

Tom Pattinson: audio

 ***************

Carl Stiansen:  And the poetry continues with Tom Cadwallender whose attention is turning to auks, and the early arrival of Atlantic puffins and the perils they’ve faced.  

Tom Cadwallender: audio

 *****************

 Carl Stiansen: New signs of life are springing up everywhere and Tom P’s busy in the garden tending the tetties and veg beds. Here’s Tom to tell us more.

 Tom Pattinson: audio

 *****************

Carl Stiansen:  Keeping tabs on nature isn’t easy but thanks to a wonderful project in the North East, we can all play a part and help to protect our natural world. Steve Lowe’s been visiting the Great North Museum in Newcastle to find out more. 

Steve Lowe: audio

********************

Carl Stiansen: And now for some wonderful springtime sounds with Tom Cadwallender.

Tom Cadwallender: audio

 ********************

 JOBS FOR THE WEEK:  

And to the sound of wor blackbird, here’s Tom with some things to be getting on with in the garden.

Tom Pattinson: audio: Jobs for the Week

 ********************

Carl Stiansen:  You’ve been listening to gardener, Tom Pattinson; and birder, Tom Cadwallender from the British Trust for Ornithology and Steve Lowe from the Cresswell Pele Tower. 

Don’t forget, you can listen back to all of our previous programmes via the Nature Garden Podcast, that’s the Nature Garden Podcast. I’m Carl Stiansen, thanks for listening, and enjoy your gardening and time outdoors with nature… bye for now.