Episode details

Radio 4,05 May 2026,14 mins
05/05/26 Ash tree propagation, clinical waste on beach, DIY bat monitoring
Farming TodayAvailable for 29 days
A new propagation technique could help restore the ash tree to our landscapes. Scientists across the UK have been working to propagate saplings from resistant trees, but currently that takes between 2 and 5 years. Now researchers at the John Innes Centre have developed a speedier system, which they hope everyone could use, even at home, with the help of household bleach. Campaigners are calling for a full-scale clean-up of beaches on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent following the discovery of a large quantity of illegally dumped clinical waste. The University of Suffolk and a local group have been monitoring bats using bioacoustics to track their ultrasonic calls as they visit people's gardens. Presented by Charlotte Smith and produced by Beatrice Fenton.
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