Food & Farming - with Guy & Geetie Singh-Watson and Andy Cato

UK nature can be incredible but it’s massively under threat. In this special episode of Call of the Wild from WWF-UK, Cel Spellman is joined by some amazing guests to work out what needs to be done to Save Our Wild Isles. Deborah Meaden, Investor and Dragon, tackles why industries need to get greener;  Nadeem Perera, TV presenter, author, activist and co-founder of the birdwatching collective Flock Together shares why access to nature needs to work for everyone; and zoologist and TV presenter Megan McCubbin, explains why our country isn’t as green and wild as it seems. All these issues are explored in a brand-new documentary on BBC iPlayer called Saving Our Wild Isles,  narrated by Sir David Attenborough, and produced by Silverback Films. It shares stories of passionate people across the UK who are working to bring nature back from the brink, and shows that the scale and pace of change so urgently needed to save nature in the UK is not only possible but is already happening. The documentary was commissioned by WWF, the RSPB and the National Trust, who have recently launched their first major campaign together calling for urgent action to halt the destruction of nature and help it recover.  And a huge thank you to the members of the People’s Assembly for Nature who we heard in this episode. Add your voice to the People’s Plan for Nature using the link below or by searching “Save Our Wild Isles” online. Together, we can make a difference. https://www.saveourwildisles.org.uk/?utm_source=wwf-podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=wwfuk-awareness&utm_content=bespoke The wild is calling. It’s time to act.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to a new report from WWF, global wildlife population sizes have plummeted by 69% on average since 1970. The rate of decline is a severe warning that the rich biodiversity that sustains all life on our planet is in crisis, putting every species at risk – including us.    Using this critical report as a guide, join host, WWF-UK Ambassador Cel Spellman and Mark Wright, Director of Science at WWF-UK, on a whistle-stop tour around the world to find out about the health of our planet – and what nature desperately needs from us right now. With special thanks to Stephanie Jenouvrier from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Smriti Dahal, Manager of Conflict, Communities and Connectivity at Tigers Alive Initiative, WWF; and Welsh adventurer, explorer and wildlife biologist Lizzie Daly.  Use your voice. Join a national conversation on action to protect and restore nature in the UK and help hold our leaders to account on their promises: https://www.wwf.org.uk/hold-leaders-to-account  Look after yourself. Our episode on Health & Wellbeing is here: callofthewild.lnk.to/fearnecotton              The Wild is Calling. It’s Time to Act. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“We've changed so much awareness, but now it's a tipping point. We need to go, ‘right, you know, things are really bad but please do not despair’. And if you do turn it into action now” – Noga Levy-Rapoport Join Cel Spellman in a bonus chat with climate activist Noga Levy-Rapoport. Noga has led climate strikes across the UK and was also named in Forbes Top 100 UK Environmentalists for their work on youth empowerment, educational reform and systemic change. Not only do they dig into the subject of identity, but they also explore the changes Noga wants to see in the environmental justice movement, as well as what gives them hope for the future of our planet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To wrap up season two, Call of the Wild are talking about identity and how our sense of identity influences our relationship with nature - including how empowered we feel to bring about positive change for the environment. Join actor and WWF Ambassador Cel Spellman as he meets some exciting guests shaking up the environmental space. Dr Karen Bell from the University of Glasgow explains how environmental justice and social justice intersect ; Anjali Raman-Middleton from Choked Up shares why she and other black and brown teens are campaigning for a new Clean Air Act; Noga Levy-Rapoport talks about their experiences of identity and fighting for the planet; and photographer, activist and author, Alfie Bowen, describes how autism gives him a unique view of the world and a creative way to help protect it. The Wild is Calling. It's Time to Act. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“We protect what we love. And so, you know, the more you fall in love with nature, reconnect with nature, the more you want to save it and protect it.” - Ellie Goulding This week’s bonus episode is another double-header. Join actor and WWF ambassador Cel Spellman and singer-songwriter, UN Goodwill ambassador, and WWF ambassador Ellie Goulding as they break down some of the biggest threats to our planet. Plus, hear from filmmaker and activist Richard Curtis about his journey to being an environmentalist.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I think it's just very important to remember that collective power is so, so strong. And when we all put our voices together, we really can influence people.” - Ellie Goulding With temperatures rising and nature at risk, it can be easy to feel a bit overwhelmed by the enormity of the crises facing our planet. But it’s not too late to turn things around. Actor and WWF Ambassador Cel Spellman explores how we can influence change in our local communities and further afield, with help from filmmaker and activist Richard Curtis, and singer-songwriter, UN Goodwill and WWF Ambassador Ellie Goulding. The wild is calling. It’s time to act.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“We're doing our best with the tools that we have, and we're not always going to get it right. And that's okay" - Jayda G  This week’s bonus episode is a double whammy. Tune in as actor and WWF Ambassador Cel Spellman hears how artists can try and reduce their impact on the climate from DJ, Music Producer & Environmental toxicologist Jayda G. Plus, Cel digs deeper into biomimcry with wildlife television presenter, documentary filmmaker and fellow WWF Ambassador Patrick Aryee.  The Wild is Calling. It’s Time to Act. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"The younger generation, they know what’s up. And it’s our job to really give them a leg up as much as we can.” - Jayda G  Whether it’s our phones, laptops, or smart devices, tech is a massive part of our lives, and can be a fantastic ally to help us understand the natural world. But, due to the energy resource costs in making the gadgets we love, and keeping them running, it can also be a double-edged sword for the environment. Actor and WWF ambassador Cel Spellman explores how the way we use technology is affecting our planet in this episode of Call of the Wild, with help from Grammy-nominated DJ, Music Producer & Environmental toxicologist Jayda G, TV presenter Patrick Aryee, and WWF-UK’s Director of Science Mark Wright. Find tips and challenges for living more sustainably by downloading WWF-UK’s My Footprint app: http://hyperurl.co/nubvnn The Wild is Calling. It’s Time to Act.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 “I think that the change is going to start with you and I, and people going into the supermarket and people going into their high street chains and demanding better” From breaking down barriers in farming to the pure joy of growing a successful crop, Groove Armada’s Andy Cato joins Cel Spellman to discuss his amazing company Wildfarmed in this bonus episode of Call of the Wild. The wild is calling. It’s time to act.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“If we don't sort this out, there's no plan B. And so I really want to spend the rest of my days as an active adult trying” - Andy Cato   Whether cooking at home or picking up a take-away, there's a deep-rooted connection between how we feed ourselves and the health of our planet. And how our food is being produced is a big part of that.   Actor and WWF ambassador Cel Spellman tucks into the environmental impact of what we're putting on our plates, from protecting the soil under our feet to supporting biodiversity on our farms, with help from organic veg pioneers Guy and Geetie Singh-Watson of Riverford and Groove Armada's Andy Cato, co-founder of Wildfarmed.   Find tips and challenges for living more sustainably by downloading WWF-UK’s My Footprint app: http://hyperurl.co/nubvnn  The wild is calling. It’s time to act. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.