The Natural Podcast of Selborne

Welcome to the Natural Podcast of Selborne created by Gilbert White's House & Gardens. Here we take a deep dive into Gilbert White's pioneering 1789 book 'The Natural History of Selborne', to learn more about the natural world, both in the 18th century and today. Today we are speaking to Museum Volunteer Chris Piper about Letter 1 (Thomas Pennant), in which Gilbert White describes the village of Selborne. Chris as well as helping the museum with its education, recording and biodiversity work also works with many other local groups, so who better to talk to, to get an idea of the natural world within Selborne today.

Please note at one point Chris refers to the Selborne Landscape Partnerships report as published in 2003, however he means 2023. Kimberley says there are 8 false letters, there are however 9!

Visit our website: https://gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/

Edited by Sophia Perham whose position is supported with thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

The Natural Podcast of Selborne will be a regular podcast  which dives into Gilbert White's The Natural History of Selborne letter by letter.
We will interview a guest each episode to discuss the natural world of Selborne and beyond and learn ways in which we can all ‘Be More Gilbert’.
We are so happy that our first guest is the incredible Jenny Uglow whose book A year with Gilbert White was published late last year.
Jenny has (of course) a real insight into what it is to be a writer, and we discuss how Gilbert White might have felt finishing his book back on New Year's Day 1788 and what attracted her to the subject of Gilbert White in her own writing.