The Newt Podcast
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.
Episodes
34 episodes
S2: E17 Owls of the Newt with David Morris
Step outside into the Somerset countryside and join host Arthur Cole as he walks the fields, woodlands, and margins of the Newt estate with naturalist and countryman David Morris. In this episode, they go deep into the hidden world of the barn ...
S2: E16 A tour of Ben Goldsmith's rewilded estate.
In this episode, we leave The Newt and travel across Somerset to Cannwood, the home of environmentalist and rewilding advocate Ben Goldsmith. Here, a once conventionally farmed landscape is being transformed into a rich mosaic of woodland, scru...
S2: E15 A walk through the Bristol Fungarium
In this episode, we step inside the Bristol Fungarium for a behind-the-scenes journey into the art and science of growing functional mushrooms.Founder Tom Baxter leads us through the laboratory, introducing the team of mycologi...
S2:E14 Tom Baxter of the Bristol Fungarium
The Bristol Fungarium's founder, Tom Baxter, leads us through the genesis tale of the UK's most recognised functional mushroom company, the weird and wonderful kingdom of fungi, the story of fungi and human evolution, the association between th...
S2:E13 A Walk Through the Four Seasons Garden
Our host, Arthur Cole, takes us on an early morning tour of the Newt's most recent garden, The Four Seasons Garden. We delve into the design, planting and midsummer blooms bursting from the beds. We get closer to the early 20th Century Peter Pa...
S2:E12 Milli Proust @ The Great Garden Show
In this episode, we welcome flower farmer, florist, seed grower and author Milli Proust for a beautiful conversation about growing with the seasons and finding creativity in the garden.Recorded as part of The Great Garden Show 2026, Mill...
S2:E11 Merlin Hanbury-Tenison @ The Great Garden Show
n this episode, we welcome conservationist, writer and campaigner Merlin Hanbury-Tenison for a moving and wide-ranging conversation about Britain’s forgotten temperate rainforests.Recorded as part of The Great Garden Show 2026, Merlin re...
S2:E10 The Art of Fermentation with Sandor Katz
In this episode, we take a walk with the world-renowned fermentation revivalist Sandor Katz to explore the world of fermented foods. From Miso Soup, to Blackberry wine, asparagus and beyond, Sandor shares the stories, traditions and microbial m...
S2:E9 The Great Garden Show Question Time
On Saturday 16 May, we welcomed renowned gardening experts Alan Titchmarsh, Marian Boswall, Charles Dowding, Tony Kirkham and Matthew Pottage to field questions from visitors inside the Story of Gardening.Recorded in front of a live audi...
S2:E8 Voices of the Garden
Ahead of The Newt's inaugural Great Garden Show 9th-17th May 2026, we take you into the gardens to meet the team members getting their areas ready to show off their splendour. Voices featured: Head Gardener...
S2:E7 Compost of The Newt
Pete Olley, Head of Compost at The Newt, takes us on an exploratory journey into the heart of The Newt's compost heaps. We begin in the prunings, clippings, peelings and coffee grounds and end in the 'black gold' so coveted by gardeners and gro...
S2:E6 Buffalo of The Newt
Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), form an important part of the Newt’s farm. Their milk is used by Margaretha Van Dam, the Newt’s Head Cheesemaker, for the signature cheeses made in the Creamery at Castle Cary railway station, a couple ...
S2:E5 Jim The Gamekeeper
Jim Pitcher, Gamekeeper of The Newt, introduces us to the animals of the estate - some familiar, and others less so.Jim has worked on the estate for decades, and has watched how it has changed over all those years. He has also seen how t...
S2:E4 Charles Dowding
Charles Dowding, possibly the best known name in ‘no-dig’ gardening circles, has spent 44 years growing organic food the no-dig way. A Somerset native, Charles comes from a farming ...
S2:E3 Paul Lamb
Paul Lamb, master hedgelayer, has spent over 25 years refining and practising his craft across the West Country and, more recently, in Gower, South Wales. Working by hand with tra...
S2:E2 Gaz Oakley
Gaz Oakley, chef, grower and cookbook author visits The Newt ahead of cooking dinner ...
S2:E1 Food of The Newt
The Newt’s Head of Food, Gelf Alderson, leads us on a journey through The Newt’s four restaurants, meeting the chefs that give them their unique identities.
Newt Short: Kerry Redman on Keeping Bees the Newt Way
The Newt's Head Beekeeper, Kerry Redman, lifts the lid of the Newt's hives and invites you to peek in and learn about why you should keep bees and the ethos that underpins responsible beekeeping. This episode was recorded in spring.Key s...
Newt Short: Dr. Tom Oliver on A Day in the Life of an Entomologist
What do the gardens of the Newt look like from an insect's eye view? We meet the Newt's resident entomologist, Tom Oliver PhD, who gives us illuminating insight into the world of insects.Key subjects covered in this episode:W...
Episode 11: Live from Gather & Grow Festival - Sunday 20
Rupert Sheldrake PhD, Melissa Hemsley, Alice Vincent and Head of Programmes at The Newt, Arthur Cole explore how we can foster belonging, meaning and a deeper sense of place in an increasingly fragmented world.Recorded in-front of a live...
Episode 10: Live from Gather & Grow Festival - Saturday 19
Bruce Parry, Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, Marian Boswall & Gaz Oakley delve into the cultural momentum around nature and discuss what it all really means and why it is more relevant than ever.Recorded in-front of a live audience at the ...
Episode 9: Live from Gather & Grow Festival - Friday 18
Professor David Nutt, Dr. Martha Deiros Collado & Lorraine Candy explore how we can nurture resilient, connected children in a digitally saturated world.Recorded in-front of a live audience at the Gather & Grow: Connections Festi...
Episode 8: Bee:Wild with Eva Kruse
Arthur joins Eva Kruse, producer of new environmental documentary Bee Wild to record in front of a live audience at Ladbroke Hall during London Climate Action Week. In this episode, we hear from Eva on the plight of the world’s pollinators, wha...
Episode 7: Lally Snow
Seasoned war reporter, photojournalist, writer and filmmaker, Lalage ‘Lally’ Snow, joins Arthur Cole for a fascinating dawn walk around the Deer Park.Lally shares first-hand insights into the power of gardens in conflict zones and what ...
Newt Short Special: The Full Monty
Relive the magic of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2025 with garden writer, broadcaster and national treasure, Monty Don. In this Newt Short special, Monty reveals his favourite garden this year, shares his views on the power of horticulture for b...
