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In this episode of Nature In A Nutshell, we chat with Daniel Lock, Director of the Nature Service Wales, about the ambitious vision for the initiative, designed to help drive nature recovery across Wales by creating opportunities for people to learn, participate and build careers in the environmental sector. We discuss why nature recovery is as much a people challenge as an ecological one, the skills and capacity Wales will need to meet its environmental ambitions, and how barriers to accessing nature careers can be removed. The conversation also examines workforce development, fairer pathways into ecology, the role of professional bodies such as CIEEM, and whether Wales is ready to deliver emerging policy commitments such as Net Benefits for Biodiversity. Jason also reflects on his three days at the Labour Party Conference where CIEEM was a partner in a full day of nature-focused events as well as a delegate at the main conference. Visit our website: https://cieem.net/ Show notes: CIEEM at the Labour Party Conference 2026 – by Jason Reeves Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Nature In A Nutshell, we're joined by CIEEM Vice President (Wales), Harri Webb, to explore the rising wildfire risks in the UK. We explore the ecological impacts of wildfires and what can be done to reduce their risk before they start. Beyond the immediate damage seen in the headlines, we discuss the long-term effects on habitats, species, peatlands, and water quality, and why ecologists are becoming an increasingly important part of wildfire resilience planning. We also take a look at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG)'s recently revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) for England. Nature In A Nutshell is brought to you by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM). We are the leading professional membership body representing and supporting ecologists and environmental managers in the UK, Ireland and abroad.  Visit our website: https://cieem.net/ Show notes: Revised National Planning Policy Framework published: what it means for ecology and environmental management‘I love it. It’s hope’: the mysterious self-willed wildflower meadow that seeded itself Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Baroness Natalie Bennett discusses the ground-breaking Nature's Rights Bill, exploring how recognising nature's rights can transform environmental policy, law, and culture. Baroness Natalie Bennett sits in the House of Lords as one of two Green Party Peers. A former journalist, Natalie led the Green Party of England and Wales from 2012 to 2016, before being given a peerage in 2019. Baroness Bennett is currently sponsoring the Nature’s Rights Bill in the House of Lords, which recently received its second reading and which you can hear all about in this episode. Nature In A Nutshell is brought to you by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM). We are the leading professional membership body representing and supporting ecologists and environmental managers in the UK, Ireland and abroad.  Visit our website: https://cieem.net/ Show notes: Natalie's new book: Green Thinking, Unlearning Outdated Ideas in Science, Economics and PoliticsNatalie's websiteAdrian Ramsey’s EDM on the Nature’s Rights BillCIEEM Members: Access the new and enhanced Wellbeing Gateway platformNew Prime Minister, New CabinetCIEEM writes to new Secretaries of State on the value of ecological expertiseCIEEM Reaches Landmark 10,000 Member Milestone This episode may contain dynamically inserted advertisements served by our hosting platform, Acast. These advertisements are not selected by, affiliated with, or endorsed by CIEEM, and do not necessarily reflect our views or values.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Nature In A Nutshell, we break down Biodiversity Net Gain, or Biodiversity Enhancement, in Ireland and what this means for people and nature and some positive news about a rare plant making a remarkable comeback in Kent. With special guests Liz O’Reilly, CIEEM’s Ireland Coordinator and part of CIEEM’s Policy Team, Senator Malcolm Noonan of the Green Party and Hannah Sheridan, Senior Ecologist at Arup Nature In A Nutshell is brought to you by the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM). We are the leading professional membership body representing and supporting ecologists and environmental managers in the UK, Ireland and abroad.  Visit our website: https://cieem.net/  Show notes: Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) - Regulation 3ZA: implementation report 2019 to 2024Habitats Regulations Report underscores the need for urgent action to restore nature in Northern IrelandIBGC Recommendations for the Enhancement of Biodiversity in New Residential DevelopmentsCIEEM BNG in the Island of Ireland: Survey results report (August 2025)CIEEM Position paper: Implementation of a biodiversity metric in Scotland (September 2025)CIEEM Response to Ireland’s draft National Nature Restoration Plan (1 July 2026)CIEEM Ecology Skills & Capacity in IrelandCIEEM Briefing Paper: Biodiversity Net Gain in IrelandTo find out more please go to TIIPublications.ie and search ‘Biodiversity Metric’ and for access to the full Metric Package email [email protected] for access. This episode may contain dynamically inserted advertisements served by our hosting platform, Acast. These advertisements are not selected by, affiliated with, or endorsed by CIEEM, and do not necessarily reflect our views or values.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Nature In A Nutshell, we look at a new report on nature and the economy, review the Welsh and Scottish election results and what they mean for the environment, and finish with some good news about a first-of-its-kind infrastructure project. Visit our website: https://cieem.net/ We’d love your feedback on Nature In A Nutshell. This short survey will take 2-3 minutes to complete and will help us shape future episodes. Show notes: Planetary Solvency: Tipping into the Wild Unknown – Global Nature Risk ManagementPlaid Cymru’s Environmental PoliciesWildlife using new UK’s first heathland wildlife bridge within days of opening Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Nature In A Nutshell, we’re joined by Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) expert, Dr Julia Baker from Mott MacDonald, to unpack the latest BNG developments and what they could mean for ecologists, planners, developers, and land managers across the sector. Visit our website: https://cieem.net/ We’d love your feedback on Nature In A Nutshell. This short survey will take 2-3 minutes to complete and will help us shape future episodes. Show notes: Government publishes new announcements on BNGGovernment confirms forthcoming changes to Biodiversity Net Gain rulesGovernment confirms Biodiversity Net Gain for major infrastructure from November 2026The fast-track tree breeding method that is restoring ash to the landscape This episode may contain dynamically inserted advertisements served by our hosting platform, Acast. These advertisements are not selected by, affiliated with, or endorsed by CIEEM, and do not necessarily reflect our views or values. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Nature In A Nutshell, we discuss the new approach to bat licensing in England; an overview of the upcoming national elections in Wales and Scotland, which could potentially be pretty seismic; a short piece on Northern Ireland's Nature Recovery Strategy; we’ll cover the Westminster Government’s response to the Fingleton Review; and, as always, we’ll end with some positive news from the last month.  Visit our website: https://cieem.net/ We’d love your feedback on Nature In A Nutshell. This short survey will take 2-3 minutes to complete and will help us shape future episodes. Show notes: Natural England exploring new approaches to bat licensingCIEEM Manifesto for the Senedd Election 2026CIEEM Manifesto for the Scottish Election 2026Nuclear Regulatory Review 2025: Major Gaps in Understanding of Environmental Law and EcologyGovernment responds to the Fingleton ReviewThe Government’s Response to the Fingleton Review: Progress and Continuing Concerns – by Sally Hayns CEcol FCIEEMPublic Accounts Committee publishes report saying Defra does not have necessary resources Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Nature In A Nutshell, we update you on the Wales Environment Act, the reports on implementation of Habitats Regulations across the UK and Ireland, a new national security and biodiversity report, an update on IPBES-12, and we finish with our usual good news. Visit our website: https://cieem.net/ We’d love your feedback on Nature In A Nutshell. This short survey will take 2-3 minutes and will help us shape future episodes. You can also submit a question for our upcoming Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) episode! Show notes: Landmark national security report on biodiversity loss released with little public attentionIPBES-12: a scientific reality check for the global economy – and a blueprint for business action on natureThe RACE Report 2025 Sees Racial Diversity Boost Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Nature In A Nutshell, we are joined by special guests to talk honestly about life as a parent working in the ecology sector. From career paths and fieldwork realities to flexibility, support, and shared caregiving, we explore how becoming a parent can shape professional choices - and how the sector is (slowly) changing in response. Our guests share their experiences of juggling unsociable hours and seasonal pressures, the compromises they’ve made along the way, and what workplace practices have made the biggest positive difference for their families. We also look ahead, asking what still needs to change to better support parents and carers in ecology, and what advice they’d give to those considering parenthood. Thank you to our guests: Anita Hogan CEcol CEnv MCIEEMNick Marchant MCIEEMLaura Sanderson CEcol CEnv MCIEEMHannah Williams MCIEEM Visit our website: https://cieem.net/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Nature In A Nutshell, we are joined by CIEEM's CEO, Sally Hayns, CIEEM's Vice President for Scotland, Caroline McParland, and Chair of CIEEM's Strategic Policy Panel, Ben Kite, to review the ecology and environmental management news of 2025, and look ahead to 2026. 2025 was a very busy year - the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, BNG, Scotland's Natural Environment Bill and Wales Environment Bill were all on centre stage. We also discuss what we expect to happen next with these major pieces of policy work in 2026, as well as COP26...it's looking like an equally busy year! Visit our website: https://cieem.net/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Nature In A Nutshell, we welcome Ellie Strike - Head of Regulatory Programmes - at the Office for Environmental Protection (the OEP) to talk about their report on Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRS). The report came out in July but the Government have just responded. We also cover the first discussion of Stage 2 amendments to the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill and the latest on England's Planning and Infrastructure Bill (as of the date of recording on 19 November). Visit our website: https://cieem.net/ Show notes: OEP Report on Local Nature Recovery Strategies and their contribution toward nature recovery commitments (June 2025)Government response to the Office for Environmental Protection review of Local Nature Recovery Strategies and their role in contributing to nature recovery commitments in England (October 2025)Update on Scotland's Natural Environment BillCIEEM's Planning and Infrastructure Bill webpageEU to integrate climate education into school curriculum Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Nature In A Nutshell, we welcome our CIEEM colleagues Brian Heppenstall and Annie Robinson to talk about our Green Jobs for Nature project, which aims to encourage young people to consider pursuing a job in the environment sector. We also discuss the latest updates to the Natural Environmental Bill in Scotland and the Planning and Infrastructure Bill in England. Visit our website: https://cieem.net/ Show notes: Green Jobs for Nature websiteGreen Jobs for Nature submit a job profileGreen Careers Week FestivalWhat you should know about part 2 of Scotland's Natural Environment BillPlanning and Infrastructure Bill updatesSeven beavers released in Glen AffricBeavers released in Glen Affric 400 years after extinction in Scotland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Nature In A Nutshell, we welcome James Hicks, Associate Director at RSK Wilding and founding member of the CIEEM Ecological Restoration Special Interest Group, on the podcast to discuss the recently published Rebuilding Nature: Good Practice Principles on Ecological Restoration. We also cover the Environment Link report on the UK's progress towards protecting 30% of land, freshwater and marine areas, and our usual Planning and Infrastructure Bill updates. Visit our website: https://cieem.net/ Show notes: Good Practice Guidance for Ecological RestorationEnvironment Link 30by30 reportPlanning and Infrastructure Bill updates Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Nature In A Nutshell, we welcome CIEEM's CEO, Sally Hayns, and a member of CIEEM’s Strategic Policy Panel and Wales Policy Working Group, Craig Llewllyn to discuss where we are and what's happening next with England's Planning and Infrastructure Bill. We also cover the latest announcements on the Sustainable Farming Scheme in Wales, and the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill, before ending on a couple of good news stories.   Visit our website: https://cieem.net/ Show notes: CIEEM's Planning and Infrastructure Bill webpageSustainable Farming Scheme: final proposals published ahead of launch in 2026Local government and legal responsibilities to act on climate change: An LGA open consultationUK Government announces ban on lead ammunition Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Nature In A Nutshell, we are joined by Dr Sam Reynolds from the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge for a fascinating, in-depth discussion on how we can use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the ecology and environment sector. We also discuss the new Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) Bill, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) consultations and a brief update on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Visit our website: https://cieem.net/ Show notes: Book your Summer Conference ticketBriefings on the Environment (Principles, Governance and Biodiversity Targets) (Wales) BillOur dedicated Planning and Infrastructure update page2025 CIEEM Awards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.