A Better Future's Podcast

Outdoors in the Spring

ABetterFuture — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 15:13:02 +0000

As ever all things discussed are our own views and do not reflect that of our respective employers. We don’t receive any sponsorship or funding so anything mentioned is our personal un bias opinion.

Its SPRING at last, so Corrin, Dawn and Jason bring in the fab Dawn Rayment from New Forest National Park to talk all things outdoors. The discussion covers birds, accessing sites, good and bad feeding wildlife and Dawns 14 top 10 tips for enjoying National Parks.

Connecting to Nature Research

https://www.rspb.org.uk/our-work/conservation/projects/connection-to-nature/#:~:text=Research%20suggests%20that%20people%20with,critical%20for%20future%20nature%20conservation.

Top actions to help people feel connected to wildlife.

- Planting Wildflowers (Small spaces, planters at work and home)

- Wild seed bombs https://www.beebombs.com/

- Feeding wildlife – Mainly birds

Sense of Stewardship rather than a sense of Ownership

Ground nesting Birds (Nightjar, Wooklark, skylark) Waders (Snipe, Curlue)

Number of people asking about volunteering.

Lots of new people on sites and hopefully wanting to be actively involved.

Issues around people digging up or stealing plants from public spaces.

Not brining Frogs spawn to nature reserves.

Need for grazing animals to manage open spaces, particularly to help retain lowland heathland. Seeing kites earlier in the year

State of Nature Report

https://jncc.gov.uk/news/uk-state-of-nature-2019-report/

Convention on Biodiversity in May 2021

https://www.unep.org/events/conference/un-biodiversity-conference-cop-15

Natures calander – Citizen science for when you see the first species

https://naturescalendar.woodlandtrust.org.uk/

Plastic grass and how to help kids get excited about the environment and nature, including a need for green spaces, school grounds.

Gearing up for people coming out after lockdown and preparing. Personal responsibility and how to deal with individuals, picking up poo.

Wild Camping and Swimming. https://www.campingintheforest.co.uk/

Joining Team Wilder and the rewilding movements

Volunteers and volunteering.

Consultation on the Environmental Principles

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/consultation-launched-on-environmental-principles

Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill

https://www.ceebill.uk/

Our response to the Sustainabble Question – “what do you say to people who say there's no point taking individual action on climate change?”

http://www.sustainababble.fish/

Dawn Rayments 14 top 10 tips for keen people to be the best in the New Forest

1. Picking up litter and taking it home with you

2. Avoiding Honey Pot sites (Anderwood, Boulder Wood, Rhinefield) – Google where to go in the new forest and then don’t go to those sites as they will be overwhelmed on a busy day).

3. Avoid going to the forest on sunny days.

4. Don’t have BBQ’s, particularly disposable as you only need one out of hand to destroy habitats.

5. Don’t feed the Ponys, increases the likelihood of car incidents and could impact on the ecology long-term

6. Driving slow through the New Forest

7. Not Driving into the new forest (Train or even the open top bus).

8. Cyclists (walkers and horse riders) keeping to tracks, the network and roads.

9. Countryside Code - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code (Restraint, Responsibility and Respect)

10. Do not wild camp, only use https://www.campingintheforest.co.uk/

11. Don’t wash things in the waterways, even if you think you are using ecological soaps as they are very delicate.

12. Keeping your dog on the lead around livestock to avoid causing stress on the other animals.

13. Join and support the National Trust, Lobby Councils or MPs to try and get more funding for National Parks

14. Volunteer your time to support your local nature areas. Join the New Forest Ambasidor scheme https://www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/communities/get-involved/what-you-can-do-the-new-forest-ambassador-scheme/

Welcome back..

ABetterFuture — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 22:00:00 +0000

Welcome back to A Better Future Podcast, its the first episode for over a year.. well apart from the lost unrecorded one and Corrin and Jason run through a range of things that helped get them through 2020.

Run through highlights of 2020 and Goals for 2021. Moving to virtual meetings, food deliveries and trying out new things.

Subscribe to the podcast, or check out more via
facebook – @abetterfuturepod
Instagram – @abetterfuture_podcast
Twitter – @abetterpod

Here are some links to things mentioned

Hope cast - Jane Goodhall

https://news.janegoodall.org/2020/12/16/the-hopecast-jane-goodalls-podcast/

Louis Theroux - https://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts?q=louis+theroux

Virtual Cycling - https://www.zwift.com/uk . https://www.genesisbikes.co.uk

Felix the fox - https://video.nest.com/clip/89d8e772b78f4727966027f96c1a50d0.mp4

Fareham Hammer - https://www.facebook.com/groups/194404215143744

Virtual Taskmaster - https://www.taskmaster.tv

I am Gretta Documentary

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p090xz9z/i-am-greta

Oddbox - Save the planet from your doorstep

https://www.oddbox.co.uk/delivery

SMOL laundry capsules - https://smolproducts.com

Re:Fill shop - https://allgoodthingseco.co.uk

EV registrations - https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/news/norways-electric-car-drive-belies-national-reliance-on-fossil-fuels/ar-BB1cBfYx

Christmas Special

ABetterFuture — Sun, 17 Nov 2019 18:00:00 +0000

Update on what we have been up to over the last few months, but the main focus on Christmas, including sustainable presents, trees, Crackers, wrapping and Christmas Jumpers.

Intro

Eastleigh Climate and Environmental Emergency Strategy and Interim action plan

11000 Scientists
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/nov/05/climate-crisis-11000-scientists-warn-of-untold-suffering

YouGov Voter intention
https://yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2019/11/07/which-issues-will-decide-general-election

Beyond Ecophobia by David Sobel
https://www.davidsobelauthor.com/beyond-ecophobia

We are all Greta, be inspired to change the world by
https://www.laurenceking.com/product/we-are-all-greta/

Tesco Vegan Advert
https://youtu.be/_3PW8BlNDl4

Christmas Easy Swaps

Presents

World of Books
https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb

Christmas Trees

Plastic v Real Tree?
How far travelled and what type of tree

Wrapping Presents

Christmas at Weald & Downland Museum
https://www.wealddown.co.uk/events/christmas-at-the-museum/

Christmas Dinner

Shopping list: https://www.chesterzoo.org/schools/resources/sustainable-palm-oil-shopping-list/

RSPB Christmas Crackers
https://shopping.rspb.org.uk/christmas-crackers/wildlife-racing-crackers.html?ClickType=Text&ListType=&ListName=&Position=10

Furoshiki Japanese fabric wrapping
https://www.1millionwomen.com.au/blog/how-furoshiki-japanese-fabric-wrapping/

Sustainable Palm Oil stuff from Chester Zoo: https://www.chesterzoo.org/what-you-can-do/campaigns/sustainable-palm-oil/
Final Straw
https://finalstrawsolent.org/2019/10/15/the-big-christmas-jumper-swap/

Guppy Bags
http://guppyfriend.com/en/

Refugee Crisis and more

ABetterFuture — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 08:00:00 +0000

Available via iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or your browser.

Concern UK https://www.concern.org.uk/

Dawns Page: https://my.rationchallenge.org.uk/dawnpreston?fbclid=IwAR1CEO_YDBWUjNfIGB5l55-WY6Dm_7cfLE4zOWD5Xgw72vo9Im-i5ZK-L0I

Ration Challenge
Drinking hot water

Living on the following for the week:

2k Rice
400kg Flour
170g (fish) swapped for Almonds
85g dried chickpeas
1 can Kidney Beans
330m veg oil
Plus the following earned 7 earned tea bags, 1 spice (Cumin), some salt, 170g veg (Spinach), 120g extra protean (Chickpeas to make some falafel).

Why she felt the need to do it

Don’t see enough about in the news about the plight of refugees. Over 5.6m fled Syria 6.6m internally displaced, 650k living in Jordan.
Good to realise how privileged we are to live in a democracy and the friends and family are well, can cook and have safe water and freedom and choice.
Important to recognition that people are displaced due to climate change
Spending time with young adults and know that some of those people would have been in food poverty and wanted to see what it’s like for them.
Recognition that people are displaced due to climate change

Books

Welcome to nowhere – Elizabeth Laird
https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/elizabeth-laird/welcome-to-nowhere/9781509840472

Sea Prayer – Khaled Hosseini (Writer of the Kite Runner)
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/595087/sea-prayer-by-khaled-hosseini/9780525539094/

Challenge Me – Screen Time

Moment on the Android Phone
(similar to the Screen Time app on the iPhone)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kevinholesh.moment&hl=en

30 Days of Wild

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/30DaysWild/App

Seed Bombs https://kabloom.co.uk/product/pollinator-beebom/?gclid=CjwKCAjw0tHoBRBhEiwAvP1GFQPYXA4041oJr907ZwtSRbBYx9C1c4Jw0tXN1UeaAK4USwSOHzuUNhoCBn8QAvD_BwE

The importance of Nature to Humans- Forest Schools and more with Dawn

ABetterFuture — Wed, 15 May 2019 15:00:00 +0000

Now available via iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or your browser.

Forest Schools

Teaching young people, parents and working with NHS and Councils to support young people with mental health issues.

Covering a wide range of issues:

Perception of Risk
Children Getting outside
Their first time under a tree or on grass
non-Adult supervised play

Insect Population decline
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/10/plummeting-insect-numbers-threaten-collapse-of-nature

Human ingestion of plastic

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2017/01/24/seafood-eaters-ingest-11000-tiny-pieces-plastic-every-year-study/

Bob Hughes – Play
https://www.playscotland.org/playful-learning/play-types/

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

Mindfulness (Part 2) focusing on work life balance featuring Matthew from Trigg Life Mapper

ABetterFuture — Wed, 01 May 2019 07:00:00 +0000

Available via iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or your browser.

Interview with Matthew Bennett
Co-creator of the Trigg Life Mapper

Things talked about:

https://burningman.org/
https://mindfulnessintheworkplace.org/

Moment of the Week

Jay talks about driving the Electric Van to Wales, including Ricky Wilson fromKaiser Chiefs shout out, work being awarded Air Quality funding and helping a colleague get a Fellowship.

Corrin talks about her trip to wales, relaxing, listening to the birds and seeing the stars.

Sacha talks about her Plastics event at the House of Commons with David Attenborough thanking Jo Ruxton from Plastic’s Ocean UK for leading the current movement.

Work Life balance
Challenges of swapping between your work and your personal life.

Challenge Me – Not being glued to our phones
App for Android
https://inthemoment.io/
Instructions for iPhone Users
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT208982

Climate Change with a focus on Extinction Rebellion and an interview from James Dyke

ABetterFuture — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 16:00:00 +0000

Now available via iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or your browser.

Extinction Rebellion
https://rebellion.earth/

Google results on climate change up
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/climate-change-protests-extinction-rebellion-london-google-search-a8886171.html

Hampshire Police Chief at protests
https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/news/former-hampshire-police-officer-joins-protesters-at-extinction-rebellion-march-in-london-1-8900830

Sky news interview

https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/energy/2019/04/sky-news-anchor-attacks-extinction-rebellion-incompetent-middle-class-self

Interview with James

IPCC –Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C
https://www.ipcc.ch/2018/10/08/summary-for-policymakers-of-ipcc-special-report-on-global-warming-of-1-5c-approved-by-governments/

Paris Conference in 2015
https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/conferences/past-conferences/paris-climate-change-conference-november-2015/paris-climate-change-conference-november-2015

The Race is on Documentary
https://climateconversations.org.uk/2017/11/06/the-race-is-on/

Extinction Rebellion pt 2

Limits to Growth
https://www.clubofrome.org/report/the-limits-to-growth/

Johnathan Pie
https://www.facebook.com/JonathanPieReporter/videos/the-extinction-rebellion/598929320611854/

Climate Change the Facts
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00049b1/climate-change-the-facts

Project Drawdown
https://www.drawdown.org/

Mindfulness (Part 1) featuring Lauren the Yoga Teacher

ABetterFuture — Sun, 14 Apr 2019 19:00:00 +0000

Now Available via iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or your browser.

Interview with Lauren Gray

Discussion with Lauren about Yoga, meditation, why you should try and fit it into your life and how to go about it.

The team then discuss how they’ve used Yoga and other forms of exercise, such as Tai Chi to improve their mental health.

Check out Lauren’s website at https://www.lg-yoga.com/

Yoga with Adriene
https://www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene

Heal Documentary
http://www.healdocumentary.com/

Easy Swaps
Headspace App
https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app

ManFlow Yogahttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjUb0pALtzJwPDu67lkqHdA

Challenge Me

Jay discusses his two weeks without eating crisps and drinking fizzy drinks as part of an effort to live more healthily.

Plastic Free with Dawn

ABetterFuture — Sat, 23 Feb 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Now Available via iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or your browser.

Tips from Dawn

Re-useable Bread Bag
Plastic Free Lip Balm
Bamboo Toothbrush
Paper Towels – Don’t need them
Bread from a local bakery
Reuse Zip top bags from wraps
Salon providing hair product top-ups

Easy Swaps

Marine Conservation Society – Plastic Free July
https://www.mcsuk.org/plastic-challenge/

Jo – Valley Mist Lip Balm
http://www.valleymist.co.uk/

Humble Brush
https://thehumble.co/

Walker Crisps
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/10/walkers-recycle-crisp-packets-postal-protest

Zero Waste Jar
https://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/04/us/lauren-singer-zero-waste-blogger-plastic/index.html

eCloth
https://www.e-cloth.com/household-range/washing-up-pad

Plant based loofah
http://twistclean.com/

Challenge Me

Jason – No crisps or fizzy drinks

Moment of the Week

Youth School Strike

Travel with Natalie the Electric White Van Driver

ABetterFuture — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Special Episode focusing on travel, including cycling, electric vehicles, trains, planes, offsetting and remote working to avoid travelling.

Subscribe to the podcast, or check out more via
https://abetterfuturepodcast.com/
facebook – @abetterfuturepod
Instagram – @abetterfuture_podcast
Twitter – @abetterpod

Guest featuring Natalie Light from Natdogs.com speaking about her experience over two years of running a business with only an electric van.

Cycling

Bike-it Ray Cycle
Adult Bike Training
http://www.pedalplanet.co.uk/

Sustrans
https://www.sustrans.org.uk/

Breeze Rides – British Cycling
Cycle training for women
https://www.letsride.co.uk/breeze

Electric Vehicles

Nissan env200
https://www.nissan.co.uk/vehicles/new-vehicles/e-nv200.html

Zapmap
www.zap-map.com

ChargeMaster Home
https://chargemasterplc.com/for-home/

Travel

UK Holidays

InterRail
https://www.interrail.eu

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust Events

https://www.hiwwt.org.uk/events

Good News

Electric Bus Pilots

http://www.cbi.org.uk/insight-and-analysis/milton-keynes-wirelessly-charged-electric-buses/

Luxembourg to make all public transport free

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/05/luxembourg-to-become-first-country-to-make-all-public-transport-free

Plastic Fuel

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/19/richard-bransons-virgin-atlantic-will-fly-with-fuel-from-pollution.html

Music: Royalty Free Music from Bensound.com

Diet and the environment with a focus on Veganism

ABetterFuture — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 00:00:00 +0000

Second Podcast focusing on Veganism

Subscribe to the podcast, or check out more via
https://abetterfuturepodcast.com/
facebook – @abetterfuturepod
Instagram – @abetterfuture_podcast
Twitter – @abetterpod

Honest account of our experience of Veganisim, tips, what not to do and tonnes of ideas for reducing the impact of your diet on the environment and improving animal welfare.

Featuring an interview with Dominika Piasecka from the Vegan Society
https://www.vegansociety.com/

Other vegan things covered:
Veganuary
https://veganuary.com/

BOSH!
https://www.bosh.tv/

Barnivore
http://www.barnivore.com/

Green Drinks

http://www.greendrinks.org/UK

Things to Watch

The Herd Film
https://www.melanielight.co.uk/projects/5299121

Tony Curran - The BurgerApocolapse
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=R9lkLwmYbig

Food inc

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1286537/

Cowspiracy