The Workhouse | One Step Up From Prison?

On September 27th 2023, the famous Sycamore Gap tree in Northumberland was felled overnight in an act of vandalism, triggering a far-reaching wave of shock and sorrow.   Join Heather Birkett as she goes behind the scenes to explore the enduring impact of this beloved landmark, the aftermath of its loss, and the community’s efforts to preserve its memory. A video version of this podcast is available on YouTube and Spotify. To watch it on YouTube please click here. Production Host: Heather Birkett Producers: Nikki Ruck, Katy Kelly, Pippa Tilbury-Harris Sound Design: Nikki Ruck    Contributors Luke Straszewski:  NT Ranger Andrew Poad: NT General Manager Northumberland Coast & Hadrian's Wall  Judith Ward: Twice Brewed Inn Mark Robinson: NT Experiences and Partnership Manager Chris Trimmer. NT Plant Conservation Centre Manager Louise Teasdale Charlotte Crowe Tony Gates: CEO Northumberland National Parks Authority Charlie Whinney Nick Greenall  Discover more Find out what’s on in Northumberland Park and The Sill: National Landscape Discovery Centre. https://www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk/whats-on/ Keep updated with all the latest Sycamore Gap news including details of The Trees of Hope campaign, Heartwood and activities at the stump. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sycamore-gap Survey We hope you’re enjoying listening to the National Trust Podcast and the stories we tell from the places we care for. Please take 5 minutes to complete our survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/W2YJZWM and be in with a chance of winning a £50 National Trust online shop voucher. You must be over the age of 16 to enter. Full terms and conditions are listed at the end of the survey. Your feedback will help us improve the way we tell stories, share experiences and take you on an adventure through our landscapes and history. Thank you, The National Trust Podcast Team If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at [email protected]   

Our lovely nature presenter and ranger Kate Martin is leaving to join our friends at the RSPB, helping to care for wildlife in Scotland. Here are some of Kate's best bits and few moments from behind the scenes. On behalf of everyone at the National Trust, from our listeners and from the podcast team, thank you and wishing you a great and adventure filled future.

A stretch of water between the mainland and Rathlin Island is home to some of the world’s most unique wildlife and infamous shipwrecks.  Ranger Kate Martin continues her adventure along Northern Ireland’s causeway coast, this time exploring life under water.    [Ad from our sponsor]  This podcast is supported by Tourism Ireland  Experience all of what Northern Ireland has to offer from standing on the rocks of the giants causeway, to hiking the Mourne Mountains with epic sea views, or enjoying the craic in Belfast city’s great pubs with some live music. With amazing access from Great Britain by both air and sea, Northern Ireland is so easy to get to. Find your next adventure visit ireland.com/northernireland Production Host : Kate Martin Producer : Jack Glover Sound Design: Jesus Gomez Discover More The causeway coast is part of the UK80, a must-see route of places cared for by the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland. You can discover every stop along the way inside the Grand Adventure Map, the ultimate map for planning a Great British adventure https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-grand-adventure-map.html For info on visiting Rathlin Island please visit  http://www.rathlincommunity.org/ Information on marine life around the Causeway coast and Rathlin can be found here https://www.ulsterwildlife.org/explore/sea-life  Prannie’s recipes and seaweed guides can be found here  https://irishseaweedkitchen.ie  Survey We hope you’re enjoying listening to the National Trust Podcast and the stories we tell from the places we care for. Please take 5 minutes to complete our survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/W2YJZWM and be in with a chance of winning a £50 National Trust online shop voucher. You must be over the age of 16 to enter. Full terms and conditions are listed at the end of the survey. Your feedback will help us improve the way we tell stories, share experiences and take you on an adventure through our landscapes and history. Thank you, The National Trust Podcast Team If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at [email protected] 

Don’t look down! Across a rope bridge over a  stretch of water on Northern Ireland’s causeway coast lies the Island of Carrick-a-Rede and a fisherman’s cottage that has stood for centuries.   Ranger Kate Martin, heads off on her holiday, to make the crossing and to learn how this old bridge became the focal point for a community and rich coastal traditions.   [Ad from our sponsor] This podcast is supported by Tourism Ireland. Experience all of what Northern Ireland has to offer from standing on the rocks of the giants causeway, to hiking the Mourne Mountains with epic sea views, or enjoying the craic in Belfast city’s great pubs with some live music.  With amazing access from Great Britain by both air and sea, Northern Ireland is so easy to get to.  Find your next adventure visit ireland.com/northernireland Production Host : Kate Martin Producer : Jack Glover Sound Design: Jesus Gomez Discover More The Carrick-a-Rede is part of the UK80, a must-see route of places cared for by the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland. You can discover every stop along the way inside the Grand Adventure Map, the ultimate map for planning a Great British adventure https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-grand-adventure-map.html For info on visiting Carrick-a-Rede please visit  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/northern-ireland/carrick-a-rede Mark’s Beyond the Bridge Tour and other experiences can be found at https://discovernorthernireland.com/travel-trade/experience/beyond-the-bridge-experience-p748851 A video version of this podcast is available on Youtube and Spotify. To watch it on Youtube please click here.  Survey We hope you’re enjoying listening to the National Trust Podcast and the stories we tell from the places we care for. Please take 5 minutes to complete our survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/W2YJZWM and be in with a chance of winning a £50 National Trust online shop voucher. You must be over the age of 16 to enter. Full terms and conditions are listed at the end of the survey. Your feedback will help us improve the way we tell stories, share experiences and take you on an adventure through our landscapes and history. Thank you, The National Trust Podcast Team  If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at [email protected] 

Jo and Katherine continue their bikepacking adventure, starting day two in Bude, with a surprise twist after breakfast, before heading up the coast to Devon. They visit the National Trust’s smallest property, Hawkers Hut, on the way and join in an activity Jo last did at the age of eight. With thanks to Raleigh UK Production Hosts: Jo Dyson and Katherine Moore, and introduced by Claire Hickinbotham Producers: Sean Douglas, Pippa Tilbury-Harris, Claire Hickinbotham Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez Discover more To visit Hawkers Hut there is a 40 minute circular walk across fields https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/morwenstow/hawkers-hut-walk  To find out about longer bike rides  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/outdoor-activities/best-places-for-a-longer-bike-ride  To find out about cycling on holiday  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/active/cycling  To find out about cycle hire at our places  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/outdoor-activities/cycle-hire-at-our-places  Follow the National Trust Podcast on your podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at [email protected] Survey We hope you’re enjoying listening to the National Trust Podcast and the stories we tell from the places we care for. Please take 5 minutes to complete our survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/W2YJZWM and be in with a chance of winning a £50 National Trust online shop voucher. You must be over the age of 16 to enter.  Full terms and conditions are listed at the end of the survey. Your feedback will help us improve the way we tell stories, share experiences and take you on an adventure through our landscapes and history.   Thank you,  The National Trust Podcast Team

What happens when you combine backpacking and cycling? In this classic 2-parter we join Jo Dyson as she gets to grips with ‘bikepacking’ under the expert guidance of Katherine Moore and tackles the unforgiving hills of the north Cornish coast. With thanks to Raleigh UK Production Hosts: Jo Dyson and Katherine Moore, and introduced by Claire Hickinbotham Producers: Sean Douglas, Pippa Tilbury-Harris, Claire Hickinbotham Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez Discover more To visit Hawkers Hut there is a 40 minute circular walk across fields https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/cornwall/morwenstow/hawkers-hut-walk  To find out about longer bike rides  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/outdoor-activities/best-places-for-a-longer-bike-ride  To find out about cycling on holiday  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays/active/cycling  To find out about cycle hire at our places  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/outdoor-activities/cycle-hire-at-our-places  Follow the National Trust Podcast on your podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at [email protected] Survey We hope you’re enjoying listening to the National Trust Podcast and the stories we tell from the places we care for. Please take 5 minutes to complete our survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/W2YJZWM and be in with a chance of winning a £50 National Trust online shop voucher. You must be over the age of 16 to enter.  Full terms and conditions are listed at the end of the survey. Your feedback will help us improve the way we tell stories, share experiences and take you on an adventure through our landscapes and history.   Thank you,  The National Trust Podcast Team

In this classic episode, you’re invited to a midnight party happening deep in the woods. Meet the ravers, movers and shakers as they emerge from slumber to rule nature’s nightclub.   Ranger Kate Martin heads out into the twilight landscape of Cragside, Northumberland in search of bats, moths and underwater noise makers. Production Host: Kate Martin Producer: Michelle Douglass Sound editor: Jesus Gomez With thanks to Bat Conservation Trust; Kosta Manser from the University of Bristol; Dave Chesmore from the University of York. Discover more For information on visiting Cragside please visit: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/cragside Find out more about staying overnight at Cragside and other National Trust places: nationaltrust.org.uk/holidays Learn more about moths, and take part in the Big Butterfly Count organised by Butterfly Conservation: Big Butterfly Count (butterfly-conservation.org) Follow the National Trust Podcast on your favourite podcast app. If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at [email protected] Survey We hope you’re enjoying listening to the National Trust Podcast and the stories we tell from the places we care for. Please take 5 minutes to complete our survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/W2YJZWM and be in with a chance of winning a £50 National Trust online shop voucher. You must be over the age of 16 to enter.  Full terms and conditions are listed at the end of the survey. Your feedback will help us improve the way we tell stories, share experiences and take you on an adventure through our landscapes and history.   Thank you,  The National Trust Podcast Team

There’s loads more to come this season from the National Trust Podcast.  We’ll be exploring Northern Ireland, hearing how heritage properties in Norfolk and Egypt are working together, and marking one year since the felling of the Sycamore Gap tree.  But it's not just new adventures on the horizon.  We’ll be sharing one of our favourite ranger episodes to celebrate World Ranger Day, as well as a classic 2-parter to help inspire your summer travels.   And if that’s not enough, head to https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/virtual-visit/podcasts to check out past series and specialist playlists.     And if you’ve enjoyed our episodes so far this year, why not vote for us in the British Podcast Awards. You can do that here too https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/virtual-visit/podcasts. Just look for the picture of the girl on her phone in a tent!   Happy listening and have a great summer from the National Trust Podcast Team. 

Deep under the hillsides of Carmarthenshire lie the remains of the UK’s only known Roman gold mines.   With a head torch to guide the way, James Grasby ventures into the void to unearth the secrets that lurk in the darkness and finds out the pioneering efforts that the Romans went to in order to extract this precious metal.  Click here to view these show notes in Welsh [Ad from our sponsor] This podcast episode is sponsored by family history website Findmypast. What was life like for domestic servants, workers and local communities at our most fascinating heritage sites? Discover how people from all walks of life lived and worked, and who with, in hundreds of census records, for free, by signing up with Findmypast. And find out about the free trial that you could use to explore your family history. See where the past takes you at: findmypast.co.uk/national-trust  Production Host : James Grasby Producer : Jack Glover Sound Design: Jesus Gomez  Discover More The Dolaucothi Roman Gold Mine is part of the UK80, a must-see route of places cared for by the National Trust and National Trust for Scotland. You can discover every stop along the way inside the Grand Adventure Map, the ultimate map for planning a Great British adventure https://shop.nationaltrust.org.uk/national-trust-grand-adventure-map.html  For info on visiting Dolaucothi and it’s Roman History please visit  https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/dolaucothi  Join in with this year’s festival of archaeology taking place at Dolaucothi and other National Trust properties  nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/wales/dolaucothi/events/01df4ea5-2586-4968-8836-84909387a9fd If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at [email protected]  Survey We hope you’re enjoying listening to the National Trust Podcast and the stories we tell from the places we care for. Please take 5 minutes to complete our survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/W2YJZWM and be in with a chance of winning a £50 National Trust online shop voucher. You must be over the age of 16 to enter.  Full terms and conditions are listed at the end of the survey. Your feedback will help us improve the way we tell stories, share experiences and take you on an adventure through our landscapes and history.   Thank you,  The National Trust Podcast Team

Ex-professional footballer Tayshan Hayden-Smith turned to the healing power of nature after the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy in 2017. Since then, he’s been on a journey to bring access to nature to all. He shows ranger Kate Martin around his local community garden and together they see that a garden can be anywhere and anything.  Later Kate heads to the National Trust’s Sutton House to see the garden they’ve created out of an old car scrapyard and learns how to grow in small and unusual spaces. [Ad from our sponsor] This episode is supported by Blue Diamond Garden Centres. Fill your space with beauty and heritage with a collection of bulbs, seeds and plants, curated by Blue Diamond Garden Centres working with National Trust gardeners. A minimum of 10% of the retail selling price will be given to support the National Trust’s conservation work and ambitions to plant and establish 20 million trees by 2030. https://www.bluediamond.gg/national-trust Production: Host: Kate Martin Producer: Pippa Tilbury-Harris Sound Editor: Jesus Gomez    Discover more:  Find out more about gardener and activist Tayshan Hayden-Smith’s community work here: https://www.growtoknow.world/  You can read about growing in small spaces in ‘Small Space Revolution’ by Tayshan Hayden-Smith.  Inside Tayshan demonstrates 20 different practical projects you can create to positively change small outdoor spaces and pulls out inspiration from community gardens around the world.  You can buy the book here: https://www.dk.com/uk/book/9780241680445-small-space-revolution/ If you’d like to learn more about gardening with tips from our experts, you can here: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/gardening-tips  If you'd like to get in touch with feedback, or have a story connected with the National Trust, you can contact us at [email protected] Survey We hope you’re enjoying listening to the National Trust Podcast and the stories we tell from the places we care for. Please take 5 minutes to complete our survey here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/W2YJZWM and be in with a chance of winning a £50 National Trust online shop voucher. You must be over the age of 16 to enter. Full terms and conditions are listed at the end of the survey. Your feedback will help us improve the way we tell stories, share experiences and take you on an adventure through our landscapes and history.  Thank you, The National Trust Podcast Team