Are we being locked out of the countryside, or is the narrative around land access more complex than it seems? How can we navigate the competing demands of farmers, conservationists, and recreational users? In Patrick's new book "Uncommon Ground: Rethinking Our Relationship with the Countryside", he tackles the contentious topic of land access in Britain - revealing perspectives that challenge both sides of the debate. From questioning the famous "8% access" statistic to exploring deeper issues of engagement with nature, this episode delves beyond the simplistic narratives that often dominate the conversation.

Throughout our discussion, Patrick shares his journey researching this divisive topic, which surprisingly led him to change his own views along the way. We explore the distinction between mere access and meaningful engagement with nature, hearing stories from Romany Gypsies, conservationists, farmers, and access campaigners. Patrick reflects on how many of those calling for unfettered access lack basic knowledge about wildlife, such as ground-nesting birds, whilst some landowners remain disconnected from the very land they own. The conversation reveals how political ideologies often overshadow the practical matters of land management and conservation.

Beyond the polarised debate, we consider what positive change might look like. Patrick suggests that rather than focusing solely on access rights, we should be examining how to create meaningful engagement opportunities - whether through educational initiatives with local schools, community involvement in conservation, or subsidies tied to public engagement. As our countryside faces increasing pressure from a growing population, finding common ground becomes essential. This episode challenges listeners to move past tribal positions and consider how we might better balance the needs of people, wildlife, and the land that sustains us all.

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What does it mean to 'rewild' a landscape in Ireland, one of Europe's most nature-poor countries? Can rewilding coexist with traditional farming practices, or must we choose between them? How do we balance the need for biodiversity recovery with the cultural and economic realities of rural communities? These questions are at the heart of this episode as we explore a movement gaining momentum despite misunderstandings about what rewilding actually entails and how it might transform our countryside.

Pádraic Fogarty returns to share his new initiative, "Rewild Your Land", a consultancy and growing network helping landowners transition their properties to more natural states. Unlike traditional conservation, which manages ecosystems for specific outcomes, rewilding focuses on kickstarting natural processes and letting nature determine the path forward. Pádraic explains how this approach fits within Ireland's specific context, where, despite our green image, we preserve just 1-2% of our native woodland compared to the 80% forest cover that once existed.

We discuss the tensions between farming and conservation, examining how rewilding isn't anti-rural but could diversify economic opportunities in rural areas. Pádraic emphasised the need for community buy-in, scientific backing, and government support to make meaningful environmental change. He outlines his vision for the future: landowners in every county embracing rewilding, NGOs and community groups participating and perhaps most ambitiously, a large-scale rewilding project that proudly declares its intentions rather than hiding behind different terminology.

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Is Ireland ready to tackle its growing deer management challenges? How will the new national deer management programme impact hunters, landowners, and conservation efforts? What role do thermal imaging technologies play in modern wildlife management? In this milestone 200th episode of Conservation and Science, we welcome back Ashley Glover, a conservationist, master huntsman, and long-time friend of the podcast. Recording from Wicklow Wolf Brewery, we celebrate this special occasion by diving into the significant changes coming to Irish deer management. From there, we discuss many more Irish conservation and nature restoration-related topics.

Ashley shares valuable insights on the recently introduced national deer management strategy, including the establishment of 15 deer management units across Ireland. We explore the complexities surrounding implementation, from landowner engagement to data collection methods and hunter integration. The conversation highlights ongoing policy conflicts, such as how to manage deer on state lands, and addresses critical issues like deer-vehicle collisions and the humane dispatch programme. Ashley explains how thermal imaging has revolutionised deer counting and tracking, making wildlife management more effective and evidence-based.

Beyond deer, we discuss other pressing conservation matters in Ireland, including invasive American mink control and the challenges of predator management for protecting ground-nesting birds. Ashley offers valuable perspectives on balancing conservation needs with hunting traditions and the importance of mentoring new hunters. In our conversation, we examine Ireland's conservation landscape, highlighting both the progress made and the significant work still needed to address policy conflicts in biodiversity management, peatland restoration, and sustainable land use.

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Disclaimer

The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual participants and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organisation. The participants are expressing their personal opinions and perspectives.