Episodes

  • SustainabiliTREE Podcast Ep9 – Plastic Patter!
    Mar 17 2026

    Welcome to the ninth edition of SustainabiliTREE, a podcast that explores all things trees and woodlands, with a specific focus on the issue of plastics within the forestry sector.

    In each episode, we’ll be looking at a variety of topics around this theme, including woodland creation, funding streams, plastic pollution, deer, soils, ecology, and so much more!

    We’ve called episode nine Plastic Patter, as we round up the latest news and views from the sector. Enjoy!

    (Apologies for the audio quality of this episode)

    Episode Notes:

    00:31: Introduction and life updates…

    08:12: The Global Plastics Treaty, why it is important and why it failed…

    18:50: Microplastics concentrate in woodlands…

    21:48: Why you should Plot your Plastic and help us clean up our woodlands…

    29:35 Microplastics are everywhere, and they don’t need to be…

    33:44: Why have Christmas trees been buried on a beach?

    37:19: The hosts are positive most of the time…

    Get in touch! mike@mascarandymedia.com

    Plot That Plastic App and Citizen Science Project

    Forest Plastics Working Group Website

    Plastic Tree Shelter Recycling

    SustainabiliTREE is a Mascarandy Media production. You can contact the team at mike@mascarandymedia.com

    Music by Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos

    License code: GWONJNIUPEIMF1GC

    Support the Podcast

    The post SustainabiliTREE Podcast Ep9 – Plastic Patter! appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

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    40 mins
  • SustainabiliTREE Podcast Ep8 – Forest Plastics Working Group
    Dec 3 2025

    Who are the Forest Plastics Working Group and what do they do to reduce plastic use in our woodlands?

    Discover more in the eighth edition of SustainabiliTREE, a podcast that explores all things trees and woodlands, with a particular focus on the issue of plastics within the forestry sector.

    In each episode, we explore a variety of topics related to this theme, including woodland creation, funding streams, plastic pollution, deer, soils, ecology, and much more!

    Episode Notes:

    07:10: National Trust for Scotland – Mar Lodge

    John Muir Trust

    Scotland: The Big Picture – Aspen in the landscape

    11:30: Forest Plastics Working Group

    13:45: James Bickley

    21:35: UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS)

    UK Forestry Standard (UKFS)

    23:38: FPWG 2019 conference

    FPWG 2022 conference

    24:42: Plastic Treeshelter Recycling Hubs

    27:05: Forest Plastics Working Group guidance and research

    30:45: MJ Potter (1991): Treeshelters

    39:30: A Green Future: Our 25 Year Plan

    43:45: Human-made materials now equal weight of all life on Earth (2020)

    45:00: Priti Patel vs. Mathematics

    46:50: Gary Bencheghib

    Get in touch! mike@mascarandymedia.com

    Plot That Plastic App and Citizen Science Project

    Forest Plastics Working Group Website

    Plastic Tree Shelter Recycling

    SustainabiliTREE is a Mascarandy Media production. You can contact the team at mike@mascarandymedia.com

    Music by Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos

    License code: GWONJNIUPEIMF1GC

    Support the Podcast

    The post SustainabiliTREE Podcast Ep8 – Forest Plastics Working Group appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

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    54 mins
  • SustainabiliTREE Podcast Ep7 – Greenwashing
    Sep 20 2025

    Welcome to the seventh edition of SustainabiliTREE, a podcast that explores all things trees and woodlands, with a specific focus on the issue of plastics within the forestry sector.

    In each episode, we’ll be looking at a variety of topics around this theme, including woodland creation, funding streams, plastic pollution, deer, soils, ecology and so much more!

    Episode 7 explores greenwashing and how to identify it.

    We had some technical issues with this edition … normal service will be resumed next time out!

    Episode Notes:

    0:33: Welcome back … and apologies for the audio quality

    4:16: Greenwashing – what is it?

    Becky Spencer Interview:

    7:24: Katie welcomes Becky Spencer to the podcast!

    8:20: Becky’s backstory

    9:32: Greenhushing

    11:03: Becky’s Five Top Pet Peeves

    14:16: Labelling something as natural

    15:20: Toxicity of paper and bamboo products

    15:50: Glues

    24:42: Why aren’t we challenging greenwashing

    26:30: Becky’s tips on spotting the bullsh*t

    27:45: Parfum or fragrance

    30:00: Unconventional plastics and greenwashing

    34:45: UK Forestry Standard

    41:30: Sustainability of unconventional plastic tree shelters and guards (FPWG research)

    44:30: Buzzwords… one’s to spot

    47:45: Talking Rubbish Podcast

    48:20: SustainabiliTREE on LinkedIn and Instagram

    57:30: Next episode’s topic…

    Get in touch! mike@mascarandymedia.com

    Plot That Plastic App and Citizen Science Project

    Forest Plastics Working Group Website

    Plastic Tree Shelter Recycling

    SustainabiliTREE is a Mascarandy Media production. You can contact the team at mike@mascarandymedia.com

    Music by Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos

    License code: GWONJNIUPEIMF1GC

    Support the Podcast

    The post SustainabiliTREE Podcast Ep7 – Greenwashing appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

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    59 mins
  • SustainabiliTREE Podcast Ep6 – Question Time
    May 23 2025

    Welcome to the sixth edition of SustainabiliTREE, a podcast that explores all things trees and woodlands, with a specific focus on the issue of plastics within the forestry sector.

    In each episode, we’ll be looking at a variety of topics around this theme, including woodland creation, funding streams, plastic pollution, deer, soils, ecology, and so much more!

    Episode 6 answers your questions and catches up with Katie, who has been rather busy over the last few months. Listen on to find out more!

    Episode Notes:

    0:50: Life-changing events!

    5:24: How are you advertising the podcast and the recycling hubs…

    12:51: What is the plan with the data from Plot That Plastic

    20:52: Waste hierarchy

    25:45: What happens to the guards that are collected for recycling

    35:00: Life Cycle Analysis and tree shelters (video)

    38:40: Katie and the Forestry Journal

    44:15: Mike’s writing

    SustainabiliTREE is a Mascarandy Media production. You can contact the team at mike@mascarandymedia.com

    Music by Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos

    License code: GWONJNIUPEIMF1GC

    Support the Podcast

    The post SustainabiliTREE Podcast Ep6 – Question Time appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

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    47 mins
  • SustainabiliTREE Podcast Ep5 – Small Mammals and Trees
    Dec 1 2024

    Welcome to the fifth edition of SustainabiliTREE, a podcast that explores all things trees and woodlands, with a specific focus on the issue of plastics within the forestry sector.

    In each episode we’ll be looking at a variety of topics around this theme, including woodland creation, funding streams, plastic pollution, deer, soils, ecology and so much more!

    Episode 5 looks at fluffy creatures “our native small mammals“ and now they can damage trees.

    Episode Notes:

    0:33: Welcome’s bang on about the weather

    3:30: Voles, rabbits, squirrels, mice

    4:05: Squirrels, how they impact trees and what can we do?

    Grey squirrel and deer damage to trees

    Identifying squirrel damage

    8:15: Ring barking

    15:36: Contraception in squirrels

    14:45: Pine Marten return

    22:30: Tree diseases

    27:20: Voles

    34:00: Preparing the ground

    40:40: Time for bunnies.

    44:40: Pillow Mounds

    46:00: Shifting sands project

    52:30: Quiz time! Can Katie beat these Hare-y questions?

    59:05: Next time out

    1:02:10: Parish Notices

    Get in touch! mike@mascarandymedia.com

    Plot That Plastic App and Citizen Science Project

    Forest Plastics Working Group Website

    Plastic Tree Shelter Recycling

    SustainabiliTREE is a Mascarandy Media production. You can contact the team at mike@mascarandymedia.com

    Music by Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos

    License code: GWONJNIUPEIMF1GC

    Support the Podcast

    The post SustainabiliTREE Podcast Ep5 – Small Mammals and Trees appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • SustainabiliTREE Podcast Ep4 – Bonus Episode – Recycling Week 2024
    Oct 15 2024

    Welcome a bonus episode of SustainabiliTREE, a podcast that explores all things trees and woodlands, with a specific focus on the issue of plastics within the forestry sector.

    To celebrate National Recycling Week we are looking at how the sector is cleaning up its act!

    Episode Notes:

    0:35 National Recycling Week

    2:20 Why do we recycle?

    3:30 Carbon

    4:10 Seven generation sustainability

    4:50 What waste does the sector produce?

    7:28 Tree shelter recycling

    8:12 YDMT Plastic Free Woodlands project

    Tubex recycling

    9:00 UKFS page 10 and page 20.

    15:40 Plot That Plastic App and Citizen Science Project

    Plot That Plastic Dashboard

    Forest Plastics Working Group Website

    SustainabiliTREE is a Mascarandy Media production. You can contact the team at mike@mascarandymedia.com

    Music by Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos

    License code: GWONJNIUPEIMF1GC

    The post SustainabiliTREE Podcast Ep4 – Bonus Episode – Recycling Week 2024 appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

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    28 mins
  • SustainabiliTREE Podcast Ep3 – Deer with Ben Harrower
    Sep 11 2024

    Welcome to the third edition of SustainabiliTREE, a podcast that explores all things trees and woodlands, with a specific focus on the issue of plastics within the forestry sector.

    In each episode we’ll be looking at a variety of topics around this theme, including woodland creation, funding streams, plastic pollution, deer, soils, ecology and so much more!

    Episode 3 looks at deer management and features a lovely chat with Ben Harrower from BH Wildlife Consultancy – we learnt a lot!

    Episode Notes:

    0:28: Summer’s making a retreat

    2:15: What are we talking about – deer!

    3:30: Deer in the Dales

    4:25: Deer in Essex – the whole lot!

    6:10: Deer in the UK

    8:50: How many deer are out there in the UK?

    9:50: Ben Harrower is welcomed to the podcast

    (no more time stamps for Ben – we want you to listen to the full interview!)

    42:35: Our key takeaways from Ben

    46:10: A change of plan for the next episode

    47:20: How can we manage deer? What are the options?

    51:35: John Muir Trust – Clear on Deer

    55:05: FPWG Conference

    56:30: Deer Management Consultations

    England

    Scotland

    Wales

    58:18: Quiz time!

    1:04:10: Parish Notices

    Forest Plastics Working Group Website

    Plot That Plastic App and Citizen Science Project

    Plastic Tree Shelter Recycling

    1:05:50: Countrystride Podcast

    SustainabiliTREE is a Mascarandy Media production. You can contact the team at mike@mascarandymedia.com

    Music by Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos

    License code: GWONJNIUPEIMF1GC

    The post SustainabiliTREE Podcast Ep3 – Deer with Ben Harrower appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • SustainabiliTREE Podcast Ep2 – Plastic Tree Shelters and Pollution
    Jul 12 2024

    Welcome to the second edition of SustainabiliTREE, a podcast that explores all things trees and woodlands, with a specific focus on the issue of plastics within the forestry sector.

    In each episode, we’ll be looking at a variety of topics around this theme, including woodland creation, funding streams, plastic pollution, deer, soils, ecology and so much more!

    Episode 2 looks at plastic pollution and the use of tree shelters and other guards. It’s also Mike’s turn to put co-host Katie on the spot with a tricky tree fact quiz.

    Episode Notes:

    0:35 Welcome back!

    4:17 Setting the scene on plastic pollution in Forestry

    5:02 Is Katie’s magic hat genuine?

    6:20 What types of plastics are used in Forestry and woodland management

    8:20 FAO report on plastics in forestry use

    10:00 Origin of the tree shelter

    14:30 Why do we use tree shelters

    19:30 Sten Gustaf Thulin

    28:15 Microplastics

    Definition

    Potential harm to humans

    33:13 Where does grant funding stand on plastic use?

    BN11

    HE3

    38:00 UK Forestry Standard

    40:45 UN Plastics Treaty

    41:30 Plastic Tree Shelter Recycling

    49:10 Plot That Plastic App and Citizen Science Project

    53:55 Quiz Time!

    56:40 Listener Questions

    59:15 The Next topic…

    1:00:00 Parish Notices

    https://www.forestplasticsworkinggroup.co.uk/

    SustainabiliTREE is a Mascarandy Media production. You can contact the team at mike@mascarandymedia.com

    Music by Bensound.com/free-music-for-videos

    License code: GWONJNIUPEIMF1GC

    The post SustainabiliTREE Podcast Ep2 – Plastic Tree Shelters and Pollution appeared first on Mascarandy Media.

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    1 hr and 2 mins