Counting the Earth

Microplastics are everywhere—tiny plastic particles that permeate our soil, water, food, drinking supplies, and even our bodies. But how much do we actually understand about their long-term effects on our health and the environment? In this episode, Alice visits UKCEH labs in Wallingford to explore these questions. Pollution scientist Dr Richard Cross shares insights into how microplastics impact the environment, and Dr Gbotemi Adediran introduces the innovative CoreMis facility, which is pushing the boundaries by studying even smaller particles: nanoplastics, which are so tiny they're invisible to the naked eye. Also, Sue discusses how microplastics are present in the air we breathe and what that could mean for human health with Dr Stephanie Wright, from the Medical Research Council’s Centre for Environment and Health at Imperial College London. Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope  Producer: Rachael Buchanan Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. 

In this episode of Counting the Earth, we find out about forever chemicals – persistent pollutants that can pose serious environmental and health risks. Alice and Sue brave the icy freezers of the Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme (PBMS) in Lancaster to meet UKCEH ecotoxicologist Lee Walker and discover how studying dead birds like buzzards and barn owls can offer critical clues about how these chemicals accumulate. They discuss innovative projects ensuring that future chemicals are designed to be sustainable from the start, and explore what actions individuals can take to reduce their exposure.   Listener discretion: this episode includes a detailed description of an autopsy performed on a dead bird.   Predatory Bird Monitoring Scheme website We are an independent, not-for-profit research institute and need your help to support this unique scheme: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/predatory-bird-monitoring-scheme Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope  Producer: Rachael Buchanan Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. 

In this episode, Alice and Sue take you on an exploration of the past, present and future of the UK’s woodlands.  Sue visits the enchanting Heartwood Forest in Hertfordshire, where she meets Chris Nichols from the Woodland Trust to uncover the latest insights from the Bunce Woodland Survey. The survey reveals how our woodlands have changed over the past 50 years, and highlights the pressing challenges they face today, from climate change to shifts in land use.   Looking to the future, Alice and Sue then speak with UKCEH scientist Stephen Cavers to discuss whether the UK is on track to meet the Government’s ambitious goal to plant 30,000 hectares of trees by the end of 2024 and investigate the role of genetics in building forest resilience. Tune in to discover how past lessons inform future strategies, and why every tree counts in the journey towards a more sustainable landscape. Read the full report  https://www.ceh.ac.uk/sites/default/files/2024-08/Final-Bunce-report-50-years-of-change-in-British-broadleaved-woodlands_08082024.pdf  The Bunce Woodland Survey https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/projects/bunce-woodland-survey  Woodland Trust  https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/  Future of UK Treescapes programme https://www.uktreescapes.org/  Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope  Producer: Rachael Buchanan Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. 

Sitting at the mouth of the Firth of Forth in Scotland, the Isle of May is a sanctuary for nesting seabirds and the destination for this episode. Join Alice and Sue as they journey to the island and meet UKCEH Field Manager Mark Newell and his dedicated team. Discover the critical work they do to monitor seabird colonies, including the iconic puffin, providing valuable insights into the health of our marine ecosystems. Alice and Sue also chat with Assistant Reserve Manager Thomas Skinner to uncover the rich history of this National Nature Reserve, meticulously managed by NatureScot since 1989, and find out about the tireless efforts of the Isle of May Bird Observatory Trust volunteers. UKCEH Isle of May Long Term Study (IMLOTS) https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/projects/isle-may-long-term-study Seabird Monitoring Programme JNCC - https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/seabird-monitoring/ BTO - https://app.bto.org/seabirds/public/index.jsp NatureScot – Isle of May National Nature Reserve https://www.nature.scot/enjoying-outdoors/visit-our-nature-reserves/isle-may-national-nature-reserve Isle of May Bird Observatory https://isleofmaybirdobs.org/ Hosts: Sue Nelson and Alice Hope  Producer: Rachael Buchanan Counting the Earth is a Boffin Media Production for the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.