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Science

This Natural Life

by BBC Radio 4
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United Kingdom · Science
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About the show

Martha Kearney explores the importance of the natural world in the lives of her guests. Each person she meets takes her to a location which means something to them, and describes the role nature has played in their life, explaining how it has shaped, influenced or fascinated them. In the process she gains surprising new insights from some well-known faces - from Cate Blanchett, who talks about her love of bee-keeping, to Martin Clunes, who takes Martha on a walk with his five dogs before rolling up his sleeves to scrub his horse's hooves in preparation for the village show. Delia Smith, James Dyson, Adjoa Andoh and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall are all on Martha's guest list. This series celebrates the power and mystery of the natural world, and finds reasons to be optimistic about its future.

Latest episodes

  • Phoebe Smith

    August 13, 2026 · 24 min

    The adventurer and author Phoebe Smith takes Martha Kearney to her favourite mountain, Tryfan in Eryri, also known as Snowdonia, in Wales. She grew up near the mountain but never went into the countryside until a decision by her mum ended…

  • Tracey Emin

    August 6, 2026 · 24 min

    Where once she had a reputation for wild living, the artist Dame Tracey Emin introduces Martha Kearney to the place where she says her wildness comes out today. Since having life-saving surgery for bladder cancer in 2020, she swims almost…

  • Patrick Barkham

    July 30, 2026 · 24 min

    The nature writer Patrick Barkham takes Martha Kearney on a butterfly-spotting trip in Foxley Wood, Norfolk. This is Norfolk's largest ancient woodland, which has been undergoing restoration since the 1980s. Seven summers ago, it saw the…

  • Roma Agrawal

    July 23, 2026 · 24 min

    The writer and structural engineer behind The Shard, Roma Agrawal, takes Martha Kearney to Kilburn Grange Park in north-west London. The park was an oasis for Roma during some of the most difficult periods of her life. Roma shares how she…

  • Peter Lord

    July 16, 2026 · 24 min

    Aardman Animations co-founder Peter Lord takes Martha Kearney to the magical mediaeval Whitcliff Deer Park in Berkeley, Gloucestershire. It's his favourite place to walk in nature and watch the wild fallow and red deer herds that live…

  • Judi Dench

    July 9, 2026 · 24 min

    Judi Dench is one of the nation's best loved actors, but she is also well-known for her love of trees. In this programme, Martha Kearney meets Judi at her woodland garden in Surrey, where she learns that every time a friend dies, Judi…

  • Kiri Pritchard-McLean

    January 1, 2026 · 24 min

    Comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean grew up on a farm on the island of Anglesey in North Wales. In this programme, she tells Martha Kearney about her connection with the natural world and explains why the mountains and sea of this beautiful…

  • His Majesty The King

    December 23, 2025 · 25 min

    In this special edition of This Natural Life, His Majesty The King tells Martha Kearney about his lifelong passion for nature and the environment. As they walk together through the walled garden at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, the King…