Arthur joins The Land Gardeners, Henrietta Courtauld & Bridget Elworthy on location at their Somerset House exhibition for a new spin on The Newt Podcast. 'Soil: The World at Our Feet' provided an apt (and eponymous) backdrop for a fascinating conversation on the power and potential of soil. Did you know that there are more organisms in a teaspoon of soil than there are humans on the planet? In this episode we explore the mind-blowing role soil plays in the nutrient density of food to climate resilience and how the secret world beneath our feet might just be the key to our own, and the planet’s future. Soil enthusiasts can catch The Land Gardeners co-curated exhibition at Somerset House until Sunday 13 April. The Newt Podcast is created by the team at The Newt in Somerset and produced by Harry Coade at Sound Matters. If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Newt Podcast to enjoy more walks and talks across the estate, or better still become a Newt Member to visit our estate yourself, stay the night, or shop The Newt online. Your 12-month membership also gives you free entry to The Newt's 17 national and international Partner Gardens and inspirational Sister Estates. Follow us on Instagram @thenewtinsomerset
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Newt Short: Stefan Jennings on Willow Weaving
Stefan Jennings is a sculptor, willow weaver and otter enthusiast. He’s been creating spectacular, awe-inspiring works of art in Somerset for decades. Along with fellow willow weaving artist Serena de la Hay, Stefan has made the giant willow structures for The Newt’s annual Fire Night celebrations for the past four years. He also leads a programme of seasonal workshops on willow weaving on the estate. In this episode, Stefan shares his inspirations in the Somerset landscape, alongside some of the surprising characters he has encountered throughout his career. The Newt Podcast is created by the team at The Newt in Somerset and produced by Harry Coade at Sound Matters. If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Newt Podcast to enjoy more walks and talks across the estate, or better still become a Newt Member to visit our estate yourself, stay the night, or shop The Newt online. Your 12-month membership also gives you free entry to The Newt's 17 national and international Partner Gardens and inspirational Sister Estates. Follow us on Instagram @thenewtinsomerset
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21:25
Episode 3: Marian Boswall
Marian Boswall, award-winning landscape architect and horticulturist joins Arthur for a nature ‘love-in’, as they share their mutual appreciation for the great outdoors. Set against a backdrop of the dawn chorus, total lunar eclipse and rising sun, this a very special episode of The Newt Podcast. Tune in for a crisp spring wander across the Somerset estate to learn about the importance of talking and (crucially) listening to your plants, Roman gardening mythology and the benefits of tree hugging. Marian also gives us an insight into her new book, ‘The Kindest Garden: A Practical Guide to Regenerative Gardening’, released on 10 April 2025. The Newt Podcast is created by the team at The Newt in Somerset and produced by Harry Coade at Sound Matters. If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Newt Podcast to enjoy more walks and talks across the estate, or better still become a Newt Member to visit our estate yourself, stay the night, or shop The Newt online. Your 12-month membership also gives you free entry to The Newt's 17 national and international Partner Gardens and inspirational Sister Estates. Follow us on Instagram @thenewtinsomerset
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1:05:24
Newt Short: David Rowley on The Market Garden
Meet David Rowley, The Newt’s Head of Productive Growing, for a tour of the Market Garden over at Avalon Farm. Found at the far reaches of the estate, David and his team painstakingly plan, grow, rotate and pick the seasonal spoils for The Newt’s restaurants, shops and your door via online delivery.In this episode, David walks us through productive polytunnels, hydroponics house and the fertile fields at the heart of The Newt’s food story. Listen in to learn about the challenges faced when growing fresh food all year round in Somerset, the importance of compost, and how to turn sunshine into sustenance!The Newt Podcast is created by the team at The Newt in Somerset and produced by Harry Coade at Sound Matters. If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Newt Podcast to enjoy more walks and talks across the estate, or better still become a Newt Member to visit our estate yourself, stay the night, or shop The Newt online. Your 12-month membership also gives you free entry to The Newt's 17 national and international Partner Gardens and inspirational Sister Estates. Follow us on Instagram @thenewtinsomerset
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Episode 2: John Ridding
John Ridding, Chairman of The Financial Times Group comes back to The Newt for a walk and talk with Arthur around the frosted landscape. In this episode, John navigates a (slightly treacherous) pre-Roman bridge as he shares the story of his international journalism career. We explore the parallels between the natural and business worlds and hear about the important lessons that mother nature can teach us. With the rise of AI advancing at pace, John explains the real and present existential threat to journalism and democracy as we know it.The Newt Podcast is created by the team at The Newt in Somerset and produced by Harry Coade at Sound Matters. If you enjoyed this episode, follow The Newt Podcast to enjoy more walks and talks across the estate, or better still become a Newt Member to visit our estate yourself, stay the night, or shop The Newt online. Your 12-month membership also gives you free entry to The Newt's 17 national and international Partner Gardens and inspirational Sister Estates. Follow us on Instagram @thenewtinsomerset
Join The Newt in Somerset's Head of Programmes, Arthur Cole, as he pulls on his walking boots and warmly welcomes a smorgasbord of experts in their field to walk through the remarkable Somerset estate and share their passions.From gardeners to chefs, conservationists to business leaders, sports personalities to scientists, celebrities to local heroes and everyone in between, this is a series that promises to inspire and delight the listener.
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