Second Nature

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Welcome to the very first episode of Down in Dorset, a brand-new mini-series brought to you by Second Nature! I am so excited to launch this special project in partnership with Nature Recovery Dorset, as we explore the vital work being done across the county to restore our landscapes and celebrate the incredible food produced right here on our doorstep.
Joining me as my guest co-host for this series is local farmer Tim Gelfs. Together, we’re heading out to meet the fantastic people doing incredible things for the local area.
Make sure to mark your calendars, as new episodes of this mini-series will be available on the last Friday of every month!
In This Episode:  From Dorset Fields To Dorset Plates
In our series premiere, we sit down with two experts who are dedicated to the connection between healthy land and healthy people.
The Heritage of Watercress: We chat with Tom Amery, CEO of The Watercress Company, based at Waddock Farm, south of Dorchester. Truly a jewel in Dorset’s crown, Tom’s business is the largest of its kind in Europe, supplying all the major UK retailers. Tom shares the fascinating history of this "super-leaf"—from its Roman roots to how his team currently produces up to 45 tonnes a week for half a million customers across the UK.
Pesticide-Free Pioneering: Tom discusses the massive shift they made 25 years ago to stop using pesticides entirely, turning their spring-fed gravel beds into thriving habitats for thousands of invertebrates. It’s a brilliant example of how commercial farming can work hand-in-hand with nature recovery.
Reconnecting the Next Generation: Claire King, a former headteacher and founder of the Nutrition Advisory Team (NAT), joins us to talk about the vital importance of food education. We discuss her "NutriKit" and why it is so critical for children to understand food provenance—moving beyond the supermarket shelf to the water, soil, and the people who grow our food.
Building Resilient Food Systems: We dive into the complexities of modern agriculture and the importance of shortening supply chains to support both the local economy and the environment.
Meet the Team:
Lizzie McLaughlin: Your usual host
Tim Gelfs: Guest co-host and local poultry farmer, bridging the gap between farming reality and consumer tables.
Tom: A watercress champion managing a unique crop that provides nutrition to half a million customers weekly.
Claire: An education specialist dedicated to teaching the nitty-gritty of health, provenance, and sustainability.
This series is all about how we can help nature recover while still producing world-class food. Whether you're a Dorset local or a food lover from further afield, there is so much to learn from these incredible guests.
What does "nature recovery" mean to you? Get in touch at [email protected] or find me on social media at @LizzieMuddyHeelsMac.
This podcast mini-series has been produced with help from Nature Recovery Dorset, a Dorset Council led initiative helping communities, landowners and organisations work together to restore nature across Dorset. Any views or opinions expressed are those of the individual speakers and should not be taken as representing Dorset Council.
Website: www.second-nature.co.uk
Email us: [email protected]
Social media: @second_natureuk
Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

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Welcome back! With December in full swing, I'm getting into the festive spirit the best way I know how: talking food! This week, we're diving into the history of the classic British Christmas turkey and getting advice from two incredible, successful guests.
🥪 The Social Media King: Fraser of Sensational Sandwiches
I head down to London to celebrate the launch of my good friend Fraser's (Sensational Sandwiches) first-ever shop! Fraser has built a massive following (over 1 million on Instagram!) by making incredible, mouth-watering food content. He sits down with me to talk about:
🔑 The secret to making it big on social media and turning a creative passion into a real-life business.
🗣️ Why saying "YES" to opportunities is the only way to succeed.
🍗 Last year's unusual Christmas-time sandwich 
🦃 The Turkey Expert: Kate Martin from Treeway Farm
Next, I catch up with Kate Martin from Treeway Farm, first-generation farmers who supply thousands of turkeys for Christmas dinners across the UK. Kate shares the incredible, year-long process of raising these birds and the challenges the industry faces. Learn about:
🗓️ Why their Christmas prep starts all the way back in February.
🍳 The best way to cook your turkey (Kate shares the ultimate secret for a juicy bird, and yes, we talk about my disastrous defrosting methods!).
🦃 The 500-year history of turkey being the centerpiece of the British Christmas table.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season, wherever you are and whatever you're eating! Let me know if you'll be having turkey on your dinner this year!
Website: www.second-nature.co.uk
Email us: [email protected]
Social media: @second_natureuk
Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

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Hello, hello! 👋 I hope you're very well! Can you believe it's already November? Where has the year gone?!
Things have been busy, but I've managed to clear the decks for a very exciting announcement: I'm launching a collaboration! 🥳
I'm partnering with the incredibly talented Annie Gray of Curly Wurly Creations to launch a brand new pattern celebrating the countryside, gardening, and my life at home! We've poured months into designing a beautiful pattern featuring everything from garden tools and homegrown veggies to my very own Corgi, Willow, riding in a wheelbarrow!
But the best part? We are doing this to raise money for a charity very close to our hearts: Yellow Wellies (The Farm Safety Foundation).
In this episode, you'll hear from Steph Berkeley, founder of Yellow Wellies, about the incredible work they do for the physical and mental well-being of the next generation of farmers. Plus, I sit down with Annie Gray to chat about:
🐑 Her deep farming roots and why lambing is her absolute favourite (and most intense!) time of year.
🎨 The inspiration behind Curly Wurly Creations, how her kids influence her designs, and the challenge of drawing different sheep breeds.
💖 The story behind our collaboration, why 50% of the profits will support Yellow Wellies, and where you can find this exclusive design on everything from aprons to tea towels!
I've had a difficult year with my own mental health, and I am so proud to be giving back to this amazing cause. We're doing a huge giveaway to celebrate the launch, so be sure to check my social media!
Website: www.second-nature.co.uk
Email us: [email protected]
Social media: @second_natureuk
Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

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Hey everyone, Lizzie here! 👋
It feels great to be back with a new episode, and this one is a special spooky-season celebration! I headed to Essex to catch up with my brilliant friend, the finalist for this year's British Farming Awards, Chloe from @chloe_at_the_farm!
Chloe is a former city girl (just like me!) who found her passion for farming and Highland cows during the pandemic. We meet her incredibly gentle, fluffy fold—including Murphy, Dally, and Beatrix—who are currently on a very special Halloween residency!
We're at Scotts of Southend Garden Centre's massive pumpkin patch, where Chloe's Highlands are stealing the show! I talk to Chloe about:
🐂 Her incredible journey from being a nurse to becoming a smallholder and farm worker of the year finalist.
🧠 How working with livestock has been vital for her mental health and helping her recover from burnout.
🌱 Her mission to bridge the gap between urban life and farming to help people understand where their food comes from.
I also catch up with Alice from Scotts of Southend to hear the inside scoop on how they built one of the UK's biggest and best pumpkin patches, including the logistics of growing 21,000 pumpkins, the challenges of putting a price tag on a farm experience, and how the Highland cow collaboration came to be.
It's a fantastic, fun chat with cows, pumpkins, and a lot of heart!
A Huge Well Done! P.S. I just want to shout out a massive congratulations again to Chloe! Neither of us won our British Farming Award categories, but being finalists in Farm Worker of the Year and Content Creator of the Year is a huge achievement we are both incredibly proud of! Well done, Chloe!
Website: www.second-nature.co.uk
Email us: [email protected]
Social media: @second_natureuk
Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac

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If you enjoyed the Gardener's World episode, welcome back! If you're new, thank you for joining me for a very special look behind the scenes of one of the UK's most beloved shows.
I was thrilled to return to the beautiful Kew Gardens for the In Conversation Live with BBC CountryFile event! I managed to sit down with the incredible team of Matt Baker, John Craven, and Anita Rani for a group chat where we discussed the show's massive shift to prime time, the power of connecting urban and rural audiences, and why CountryFile has become such a cross-generational program.
Join me as I connect with these TV legends and hear how their work truly inspires people to get outside. It’s a joy to be part of the "convert" club, moving from town to country, and I know you'll love this inspiring chat!
Don't forget to listen to the sister episode of In Conversation with BBC Gardeners' World! 
Website: www.second-nature.co.uk
Email us: [email protected]
Social media: @second_natureuk
Host: @lizziemuddyheelsmac