1 00:00:21,329 --> 00:00:25,110 JO DYSON: Hello and welcome to the National Trust podcast. I'm 2 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:28,850 Jo Dyson Adventure enthusiast and Communications manager at 3 00:00:28,860 --> 00:00:32,360 the National Trust. Today, I'm in Poole Harbour on the 4 00:00:32,369 --> 00:00:36,000 southwest coast of England. And I'm heading to a little island 5 00:00:36,009 --> 00:00:39,720 renowned for its rare species, to learn all there is to know 6 00:00:39,729 --> 00:00:43,240 about a great British pastime - camping. 7 00:00:48,930 --> 00:00:53,459 I've loved camping since I was a child, but I'm no expert. So 8 00:00:53,470 --> 00:00:58,340 joining me on this adventure is Sian Lewis. As well as being a 9 00:00:58,349 --> 00:01:02,360 very experienced camper. Sian is also the author of the National 10 00:01:02,369 --> 00:01:06,379 Trust's book, Wild Escapes, which showcases 40 of Britain's 11 00:01:06,389 --> 00:01:10,379 wildest locations including where I'm headed - Brownsea 12 00:01:10,389 --> 00:01:10,940 Island. 13 00:01:12,209 --> 00:01:16,650 Thanks to a group of adventure loving boys in 1907, Brownsea 14 00:01:16,660 --> 00:01:20,760 Island became the birthplace of scouting, and is where history 15 00:01:20,769 --> 00:01:24,559 and the great outdoors merge to create a unique camping 16 00:01:24,569 --> 00:01:25,680 experience. 17 00:01:35,029 --> 00:01:39,309 Just strolling along the harbor front. It is a hive of activity, 18 00:01:39,309 --> 00:01:43,419 more industrial than I thought actually, you can see lots of 19 00:01:43,430 --> 00:01:47,739 cranes in the background, and this must be the cafe where I 20 00:01:47,750 --> 00:01:49,199 said I would meet Sian. 21 00:01:49,620 --> 00:01:50,599 Sian. 22 00:01:51,290 --> 00:01:52,550 SIAN LEWIS: Hey, lovely to meet you. 23 00:01:52,559 --> 00:01:55,169 JO DYSON: I've long followed your outdoor adventures on 24 00:01:55,180 --> 00:01:58,010 Instagram. So I'm so excited that we're going to be going on 25 00:01:58,089 --> 00:02:00,580 an adventure of our own. Should we go and get that boat then? 26 00:02:00,589 --> 00:02:01,269 SIAN LEWIS: Yeah, let's do it. 27 00:02:06,069 --> 00:02:09,858 GENERIC: Brownsea? Brownsea? 28 00:02:15,259 --> 00:02:18,827 JO DYSON: So the ferry has just set off from Poole Harbour - 29 00:02:18,827 --> 00:02:23,149 It's already becoming a slight dot in the distance and it's 30 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:27,089 pretty calm today, there's just little waves and the light is 31 00:02:27,100 --> 00:02:30,729 really glistening off the top of them. What got you into all the 32 00:02:30,740 --> 00:02:32,690 sort of adventures and travel? 33 00:02:32,699 --> 00:02:34,610 SIAN LEWIS: I've been into camping and swimming since I was 34 00:02:34,619 --> 00:02:37,800 little. I still think I love to just head off with a tent and a 35 00:02:37,809 --> 00:02:41,050 swimsuit and, and go exploring, especially in the UK. We've got 36 00:02:41,059 --> 00:02:43,960 some really amazing wild corners to discover. 37 00:02:43,970 --> 00:02:46,949 JO DYSON: What are some of your sort of favourite places in the 38 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:47,490 UK? 39 00:02:47,500 --> 00:02:49,179 SIAN LEWIS: Probably my favourites are the islands 40 00:02:49,190 --> 00:02:51,440 because they're just so special and they really give you that 41 00:02:51,449 --> 00:02:54,630 feeling of escaping from real life. So there's Brownsea which 42 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:57,330 we're going to today, there's also the Isles Of Scilly off the 43 00:02:57,339 --> 00:03:00,869 Cornish Coast and there's also Eilean Shona, in Scotland in the 44 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:03,869 Inner Hebrides, which is where J M Barry was inspired to create 45 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,490 Neverland where Peter Pan lives and it really does feel like a 46 00:03:07,500 --> 00:03:10,839 Neverland. So I think probably the islands are my, are my 47 00:03:10,850 --> 00:03:12,089 secret favourites. 48 00:03:12,169 --> 00:03:14,080 JO DYSON: To really get away from it all. 49 00:03:14,100 --> 00:03:14,369 SIAN LEWIS: Yeah. 50 00:03:20,020 --> 00:03:22,610 JO DYSON: That was so quick. I feel like we've only just got on 51 00:03:22,619 --> 00:03:25,820 the boat and we're here already and it just seems worlds away, 52 00:03:25,830 --> 00:03:29,320 doesn't it? From the busyness of Poole Harbour, and now we're 53 00:03:29,449 --> 00:03:33,570 presented with this really sort of serene landscape. 54 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,970 SIAN LEWIS: Yeah so you can also kayak straight to the island, or 55 00:03:36,979 --> 00:03:39,669 get the ferry which only takes 20 minutes. So it's actually 56 00:03:39,679 --> 00:03:41,990 pretty close to the mainland even though it really feels like 57 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:42,970 a different world. 58 00:03:42,970 --> 00:03:48,149 GEORGIA SIMPKIN: Jo! Sian! Hi! 59 00:03:48,149 --> 00:03:52,050 JO DYSON: Oh, hello. You must be Georgia? 60 00:03:52,070 --> 00:03:54,750 GEORGIA SIMPKIN: Yes Welcome to Brownsea Island. I am, I'm 61 00:03:54,759 --> 00:03:56,490 Georgia. I'm the outdoor holidays manager. 62 00:03:56,500 --> 00:03:59,559 JO DYSON: So we're surrounded by turreted buildings, presumably 63 00:03:59,570 --> 00:04:01,464 we're not camping right here? 64 00:04:01,464 --> 00:04:04,255 GEORGIA SIMPKIN: That's correct. So this is, just the entrance to 65 00:04:04,264 --> 00:04:07,395 the island. The campsite is around a 20 minute walk from 66 00:04:07,404 --> 00:04:10,345 here. But on normal occasion, we run our luggage runs. So you 67 00:04:10,354 --> 00:04:12,654 would put all your gear in at one of our trailers and then we 68 00:04:12,664 --> 00:04:14,975 would take it up to the campsite for you. But on this occasion, 69 00:04:14,985 --> 00:04:15,854 we do have a vehicle. 70 00:04:15,865 --> 00:04:16,815 JO DYSON: Right shall we get going then? 71 00:04:16,815 --> 00:04:17,815 SIAN LEWIS: Yeah, let's go. 72 00:04:30,309 --> 00:04:32,500 GEORGIA SIMPKIN: Here we are! We've arrived at the campsite. 73 00:04:37,899 --> 00:04:41,440 JO DYSON: What a beautiful spot with sea views. What are all 74 00:04:41,450 --> 00:04:42,809 these signs? 75 00:04:43,059 --> 00:04:46,410 GEORGIA SIMPKIN: So, these are all from scouts and guides that 76 00:04:46,420 --> 00:04:49,929 have come to camp and stay on the island all the way from 77 00:04:50,059 --> 00:04:54,170 Australia to South America, so from all over the place. 78 00:04:54,179 --> 00:04:55,980 JO DYSON: I love the fact that they're all unique. 79 00:04:55,989 --> 00:04:58,660 SIAN LEWIS: Some from the 1990s and earlier so they're grown ups 80 00:04:58,670 --> 00:04:58,980 now. 81 00:04:58,989 --> 00:05:02,059 GEORGIA SIMPKIN: Absolutely and we do get them return as well. 82 00:05:02,070 --> 00:05:04,809 SIAN LEWIS: How many scouts do you have here camping a year? 83 00:05:04,809 --> 00:05:06,989 GEORGIA SIMPKIN: At the moment We've got over 1000 booked in 84 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:09,790 for this year. So it's just growing each year. So we've 85 00:05:09,799 --> 00:05:11,850 actually got some scouts just around the corner that we can go 86 00:05:11,859 --> 00:05:13,179 and meet at the trading post. 87 00:05:16,859 --> 00:05:20,609 So this is Alex and Lucy who are part of LilIiput Sea scouts. 88 00:05:20,619 --> 00:05:24,730 JO DYSON: Nice to meet you. So Sea scouts? not just any old 89 00:05:24,739 --> 00:05:25,350 Scout! 90 00:05:25,350 --> 00:05:27,470 ALEX: There's also land scouts and air scouts. 91 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:30,010 JO DYSON: The neckerchiefs around your neck, what's the 92 00:05:30,019 --> 00:05:31,649 sort of knots around that? 93 00:05:31,660 --> 00:05:34,700 ALEX: We've got a woggle land scouts and other scouts normally 94 00:05:34,709 --> 00:05:36,920 have a leather one, but just because we're more affiliated 95 00:05:36,929 --> 00:05:39,809 with the Sea, we've got a rope on which we tied ourselves. 96 00:05:41,049 --> 00:05:43,470 JO DYSON: But Lucy, you've got, you've got something metal in 97 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:44,559 your woggle of your neckerchief. 98 00:05:44,559 --> 00:05:46,500 LUCY: So this is the bosun's pipe. 99 00:05:46,510 --> 00:05:47,850 JO DYSON: Can I hear what it sounds like? 100 00:05:47,890 --> 00:05:48,549 LUCY: Yes, of course. 101 00:05:50,410 --> 00:05:51,320 JO DYSON: Oh, that's brilliant. 102 00:05:51,459 --> 00:05:54,350 SIAN LEWIS: And the colours of your neckerchief are your Scout 103 00:05:54,359 --> 00:05:54,672 group? 104 00:05:54,672 --> 00:05:56,329 ALEX: That's our Scout group so we've got red and white and red 105 00:05:56,339 --> 00:05:59,250 and yellow, but other Scout groups have got different. So if 106 00:05:59,260 --> 00:06:02,420 we have a look inside the trading post, whenever a Scout 107 00:06:02,429 --> 00:06:04,549 group comes and camps on the island, they'll leave a 108 00:06:04,559 --> 00:06:05,910 neckerchief as memorabilia. 109 00:06:07,070 --> 00:06:10,209 So we've got some from Sri Lanka, some from Australia on 110 00:06:10,220 --> 00:06:12,720 the roof. So there's hundreds of them just hanging. 111 00:06:12,869 --> 00:06:15,829 JO DYSON: Oh my gosh. There are so many and there's so much 112 00:06:15,839 --> 00:06:18,200 memorabilia as well around the shop. Look at all these 113 00:06:18,209 --> 00:06:20,029 beautiful old photos. 114 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,920 LUCY: And here you're looking at the first Scout camp which 115 00:06:22,929 --> 00:06:26,519 happened in 1907. Lord Baden-Powell came over to the 116 00:06:26,529 --> 00:06:29,779 island for the first Scout experimental camp. 117 00:06:31,809 --> 00:06:34,720 KEVIN PHILLIPS: The story starts a little bit earlier in 1900 118 00:06:35,359 --> 00:06:39,000 Baden-Powell had returned from the siege of Mafeking. He was 119 00:06:39,010 --> 00:06:42,679 very much a war hero. He'd already written a book on the 120 00:06:42,690 --> 00:06:46,359 subject of scouting to use by non commissioned officers and 121 00:06:46,369 --> 00:06:46,760 men. 122 00:06:47,820 --> 00:06:51,730 I'm Kevin Phillips, chairman of the Brownsea Island Scout and 123 00:06:51,739 --> 00:06:53,279 Guide heritage Trust. 124 00:06:55,709 --> 00:06:59,170 While on a fishing holiday, he met Charles and Florence van 125 00:06:59,290 --> 00:07:03,630 Raalte. They had a home in London and on Brownsea Island on 126 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:07,010 hearing about Baden-Powell's ideas, they invited him to use 127 00:07:07,019 --> 00:07:10,790 their island for his experimental camp and so on the 128 00:07:10,799 --> 00:07:15,244 first of August 1907, Baden-Powell brought 20 boys to 129 00:07:15,255 --> 00:07:16,035 Brownsea. 130 00:07:16,045 --> 00:07:19,975 He formed them into four patrols each with a patrol leader. And 131 00:07:19,984 --> 00:07:23,184 then over the next 10 days, they were introduced to a range of 132 00:07:23,195 --> 00:07:27,674 activities which would form the chapters of his planned book " 133 00:07:27,674 --> 00:07:29,880 Scouting for Boys". 134 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:35,399 The association aims to provide fun, adventure, skills for life 135 00:07:35,410 --> 00:07:38,779 and have the opportunity to reach their full potential. 136 00:07:39,579 --> 00:07:45,399 Today, there are 57 million scouts in 175 national Scout 137 00:07:45,410 --> 00:07:47,359 organizations worldwide. 138 00:07:50,910 --> 00:07:53,380 JO DYSON: All these badges that you have - I noticed quite a few 139 00:07:53,390 --> 00:07:55,220 sort of sailing boats on... 140 00:07:55,269 --> 00:07:57,109 ALEX: When you're doing the activities in scouts, you often 141 00:07:57,119 --> 00:08:01,070 get badges for it. So I've got a sailing badge, arts and crafts, 142 00:08:01,070 --> 00:08:04,649 and pioneering. I quite like my navigation skill because it 143 00:08:04,660 --> 00:08:07,609 means outside of scouts, there's no one there to support you when 144 00:08:07,619 --> 00:08:10,100 you're on your own. I can go out with my friends, go camping and 145 00:08:10,109 --> 00:08:13,250 I can navigate, and you feel safe because you know your 146 00:08:13,260 --> 00:08:13,820 skills. 147 00:08:13,829 --> 00:08:16,670 LUCY: I joined the sea scouts, not having many friends. Now, 148 00:08:16,679 --> 00:08:18,910 I've got like lifetime friends forever. 149 00:08:18,920 --> 00:08:19,700 JO DYSON: Too many friends. 150 00:08:21,410 --> 00:08:23,200 SIAN LEWIS: It's amazing that you can still camp on the same 151 00:08:23,209 --> 00:08:24,859 site today. Really cool. 152 00:08:25,339 --> 00:08:28,809 LUCY: However, it used to be just for scouts and guides and 153 00:08:28,820 --> 00:08:32,179 then after lockdown after we reopened again, they opened it 154 00:08:32,190 --> 00:08:32,909 to the public. 155 00:08:33,380 --> 00:08:35,440 JO DYSON: Oh, amazing, so we're about to have a very unique 156 00:08:35,450 --> 00:08:36,219 experience! 157 00:08:36,390 --> 00:08:37,109 ALEX: Enjoy your camp! 158 00:08:37,109 --> 00:08:38,169 JO DYSON: Thank you so much. 159 00:08:45,510 --> 00:08:48,429 Oh, it's a beautiful spot, Georgia. I love how it's 160 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:52,250 surrounded by trees, but then we're so close to the shoreline 161 00:08:52,260 --> 00:08:52,809 as well. 162 00:08:53,030 --> 00:08:54,969 GEORGIA SIMPKIN: So you'll probably notice we've got no 163 00:08:54,979 --> 00:08:57,679 designated spots, so we don't have marked out pitches or 164 00:08:57,690 --> 00:09:01,210 anything like that. As long as you leave a 6m distance between 165 00:09:01,219 --> 00:09:04,609 yourself and any other tent, there's also really good beach 166 00:09:04,619 --> 00:09:07,650 access from here so you can go off and have a swim in the 167 00:09:07,659 --> 00:09:11,559 evening. If you see that flag pole over there? This actually 168 00:09:11,570 --> 00:09:14,169 marks the spot where Baden-Powell pitched his first 169 00:09:14,179 --> 00:09:18,419 experimental camp. so if you do want to, you can pitch in that 170 00:09:18,429 --> 00:09:20,820 spot and you'll be reliving history. 171 00:09:21,130 --> 00:09:22,869 JO DYSON: Great. Well, should we go and pitch our tent? 172 00:09:22,940 --> 00:09:23,859 SIAN LEWIS: Yeah. Sounds brilliant. 173 00:09:23,869 --> 00:09:25,609 GEORGIA SIMPKIN: Lovely, I'll say goodbye guys. Enjoy your 174 00:09:25,619 --> 00:09:25,900 night. 175 00:09:25,909 --> 00:09:26,820 JO DYSON: Thank you. Thanks, Georgia. 176 00:09:32,770 --> 00:09:35,900 So how do we know where the perfect place to pitch is? 177 00:09:36,030 --> 00:09:37,900 SIAN LEWIS: Yeah so normally what you're looking for is a 178 00:09:37,909 --> 00:09:42,169 nice, generously sized, flattish area or on a very slight slope 179 00:09:42,179 --> 00:09:44,200 if it is going to rain because then you know, the water's going 180 00:09:44,210 --> 00:09:47,150 to drain away. And you want to avoid anything directly under a 181 00:09:47,159 --> 00:09:50,710 tree or a rock face just in case anything wants to tumble down 182 00:09:50,719 --> 00:09:51,520 onto your tent. 183 00:09:51,530 --> 00:09:53,650 JO DYSON: I remember waking up on a slight incline once and 184 00:09:53,659 --> 00:09:56,667 having the blood rush to my head, so if we are on a slight 185 00:09:56,667 --> 00:09:56,762 slope- 186 00:09:56,762 --> 00:09:58,815 SIAN LEWIS: yes head at the top of the slope! 187 00:09:58,825 --> 00:10:02,724 JO DYSON: Right Sian so before we pitch, what sort of kit do we 188 00:10:02,734 --> 00:10:04,325 always need on a camping trip? 189 00:10:04,375 --> 00:10:07,315 SIAN LEWIS: So, obviously you do need some sort of tent. The real 190 00:10:07,325 --> 00:10:09,804 basics that I think are, the real essentials are a nice comfy 191 00:10:09,815 --> 00:10:12,864 sleeping bag. And you also need a camping mat that will keep you 192 00:10:12,875 --> 00:10:15,455 better insulated if it's a bit chilly as well. You always want 193 00:10:15,465 --> 00:10:18,174 to pack lots of water and then it's also really handy to have 194 00:10:18,184 --> 00:10:20,804 some sort of little light for the evenings like a head torch. 195 00:10:20,815 --> 00:10:23,390 JO DYSON: How do you know what sort of tent? 196 00:10:23,400 --> 00:10:25,630 SIAN LEWIS: There is a big range so it is worth picking a tent 197 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:28,700 that suits the kind of camping you've got in mind. So you can 198 00:10:28,710 --> 00:10:31,830 go from everything from a basic kind of little pop up tents 199 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:34,099 which are brilliant for festivals, then you can get 200 00:10:34,109 --> 00:10:36,950 quite lightweight one and two man tents which are often called 201 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:40,059 backpacking tents, then you're looking at family friendly tents 202 00:10:40,150 --> 00:10:43,799 and one technological innovation that's really helped with bigger 203 00:10:43,809 --> 00:10:46,619 tents is air beam technology, which essentially means that 204 00:10:46,630 --> 00:10:50,065 instead of big unwieldy metal poles, you're using air instead 205 00:10:50,075 --> 00:10:52,575 to fill the poles of your tent. It actually makes for a really 206 00:10:52,585 --> 00:10:55,594 sturdy, solid structure so it's going to be windproof and 207 00:10:55,604 --> 00:10:57,715 weather proof as well. And that's what we're going to try 208 00:10:57,724 --> 00:11:01,794 out today! So we've actually got Vango Brecon Air 450 air tent. 209 00:11:01,804 --> 00:11:04,635 So I'm going to get it out and show you. You can inflate it 210 00:11:04,825 --> 00:11:07,905 using a hand pump, which makes using a bigger tent a little bit 211 00:11:07,914 --> 00:11:08,695 more accessible. 212 00:11:09,005 --> 00:11:11,474 JO DYSON: Ok so I'm just rolling it out now. 213 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:15,119 SIAN LEWIS: That's definitely the ground sheet this darker 214 00:11:15,130 --> 00:11:18,429 grey so if we lay that out flat, we'll see the shape of our tent. 215 00:11:20,950 --> 00:11:22,390 JO DYSON: Oh, wow, this is huge. 216 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:22,940 SIAN LEWIS: It is. 217 00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:26,789 So we've got the shape of our tent now so what we want to do 218 00:11:26,799 --> 00:11:29,239 is peg out the four corners so it's nice and tight. And 219 00:11:29,250 --> 00:11:31,700 something that I find really helps with that is, if we're at 220 00:11:31,700 --> 00:11:34,219 opposite corners of the tent right now so if we pull those 221 00:11:34,229 --> 00:11:37,549 corners tight and peg them out, it gives you a nice taut ground 222 00:11:37,599 --> 00:11:37,760 sheet. 223 00:11:37,780 --> 00:11:38,890 JO DYSON: Excellent idea. 224 00:11:46,289 --> 00:11:47,799 It's like it's coming alive. 225 00:11:48,739 --> 00:11:51,059 SIAN LEWIS: So you want to inflate it fully so it feels 226 00:11:51,070 --> 00:11:53,780 nice and sturdy, it's getting there. And when you start to 227 00:11:53,789 --> 00:11:55,580 feel resistance in the pump we'll stop. 228 00:11:55,969 --> 00:11:57,099 JO DYSON: Yeah, I mean, I can now. 229 00:11:57,250 --> 00:12:00,679 SIAN LEWIS: Brilliant. And then we'll do the next one. 230 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:03,159 JO DYSON: That probably only took a few seconds to blow up? 231 00:12:03,169 --> 00:12:04,580 Didn't it? that one beam. 232 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:07,809 SIAN LEWIS: A lot of air tents only take 10 minutes. It's 233 00:12:07,820 --> 00:12:09,770 definitely easier when you've done it once and you know what 234 00:12:09,780 --> 00:12:10,500 you're doing. 235 00:12:12,239 --> 00:12:15,500 Using guy ropes and pegs to secure the tent in place, makes 236 00:12:15,510 --> 00:12:18,130 it much sturdier and is especially key if it's a really 237 00:12:18,140 --> 00:12:18,739 windy day. 238 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:24,140 JO DYSON: Well, I think that's the last peg now, isn't it Sian? 239 00:12:24,150 --> 00:12:25,619 SIAN LEWIS: Yeah, it was pretty quick. Well done. 240 00:12:27,400 --> 00:12:30,479 JO DYSON: This is going to be such a memorable camping trip 241 00:12:30,489 --> 00:12:34,409 for me, I mean, you must have so many memorable trips? 242 00:12:34,719 --> 00:12:37,099 SIAN LEWIS: So probably the most memorable night I spent out in 243 00:12:37,109 --> 00:12:39,109 the wild is doing something called Cliff camping. 244 00:12:39,330 --> 00:12:40,469 JO DYSON: Cliff camping? 245 00:12:40,479 --> 00:12:42,960 SIAN LEWIS: I don't know if you've ever seen any photos of 246 00:12:43,270 --> 00:12:46,500 pro climbers where they'll climb a section of a big wall and then 247 00:12:46,510 --> 00:12:49,039 they'll camp out on these little platforms which are called 248 00:12:49,049 --> 00:12:51,780 Porter Ledges, which are literally hanging on to the 249 00:12:51,789 --> 00:12:55,684 cliffside and you abseil down to a platform that's suspended from 250 00:12:55,695 --> 00:12:58,265 the cliffs and you're harnessed in for the whole night and then 251 00:12:58,275 --> 00:13:01,234 you just sleep out in the wild and you've got the Sea far below 252 00:13:01,244 --> 00:13:03,934 you and you've got the wild birds kind of circling around 253 00:13:03,945 --> 00:13:07,195 you and it is pretty scary, but also really magical. 254 00:13:07,205 --> 00:13:09,905 JO DYSON: I mean did you actually get any sleep or were 255 00:13:09,914 --> 00:13:10,794 you just petrified? 256 00:13:10,804 --> 00:13:12,585 SIAN LEWIS: It's probably not much fun if you're really scared 257 00:13:12,594 --> 00:13:14,945 of heights, but you do relax and as it gets dark it's, it's 258 00:13:14,955 --> 00:13:16,395 actually surprisingly peaceful. 259 00:13:16,405 --> 00:13:19,414 JO DYSON: Yeah, I can't imagine sleeping suspended in the air. 260 00:13:21,659 --> 00:13:23,489 SIAN LEWIS: Well, actually I've got a little bit of a surprise 261 00:13:23,500 --> 00:13:25,359 for you tonight! You're not actually going to join me in 262 00:13:25,369 --> 00:13:25,750 this tent. 263 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:27,669 JO DYSON: Oh, right. You just got me to help you put it up. 264 00:13:27,679 --> 00:13:30,190 SIAN LEWIS: I did because Brownsea Island offers something 265 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:32,599 slightly different, called a tree tent. And I thought you 266 00:13:32,609 --> 00:13:34,559 might want to check that out tonight instead. Should we go 267 00:13:34,570 --> 00:13:35,169 and have a look? 268 00:13:35,169 --> 00:13:40,140 JO DYSON: Yes! 269 00:13:40,140 --> 00:13:44,380 Oh my Gosh! I've never seen anything like it. 270 00:13:44,390 --> 00:13:46,739 SIAN LEWIS: Yeah so what you've got is a triangular structure 271 00:13:46,750 --> 00:13:50,580 that's pulled really tightly, kind of like slack lines if you 272 00:13:50,590 --> 00:13:53,080 ever had a go on them? So they're attached to three trees 273 00:13:53,090 --> 00:13:56,400 so you get a taut triangle and you can just see under here and 274 00:13:56,409 --> 00:13:58,609 that basically becomes your ground sheet so that's what 275 00:13:58,619 --> 00:14:02,812 you're going to sleep on. And if you give it a feel it's actually 276 00:14:02,812 --> 00:14:02,870 pretty solid! 277 00:14:02,870 --> 00:14:02,984 JO DYSON: Oh gosh it's really taut! 278 00:14:02,994 --> 00:14:05,325 SIAN LEWIS: And then on top you have a traditional tent 279 00:14:05,335 --> 00:14:08,224 structure, so it's a dome and this is your outer fly sheet, 280 00:14:08,234 --> 00:14:10,354 which is going to keep you dry and then underneath you've got a 281 00:14:10,364 --> 00:14:12,655 little bonus, you've got a little hammock to hang out in as 282 00:14:12,664 --> 00:14:13,054 well. 283 00:14:13,065 --> 00:14:15,619 JO DYSON: And I have a sea view from my hammock! 284 00:14:15,619 --> 00:14:16,125 SIAN LEWIS: And a sea view! 285 00:14:16,125 --> 00:14:19,409 JO DYSON: This is amazing. I mean, I, I will be sleeping 286 00:14:19,419 --> 00:14:22,989 suspended what sort of a meter and a half in the air would you 287 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:23,390 say? 288 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:23,640 SIAN LEWIS: Yeah. 289 00:14:23,659 --> 00:14:26,599 JO DYSON: Oh my gosh. I mean, this is an absolute first for 290 00:14:26,609 --> 00:14:26,780 me. 291 00:14:26,789 --> 00:14:28,429 SIAN LEWIS: Well, we'll call this Cliff camping for beginners 292 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:30,679 and you can see if you like it. So if you want to pop your stuff 293 00:14:30,690 --> 00:14:33,440 inside the tent, now, we've got a few hours of downtime before 294 00:14:33,450 --> 00:14:36,770 our next adventure, which is a night safari with the island 295 00:14:36,780 --> 00:14:38,599 ranger. So maybe we could go for a little swim? 296 00:14:38,609 --> 00:14:40,549 JO DYSON: I would absolutely love to go for a swim. 297 00:14:47,890 --> 00:14:52,619 Sian, it's been such a brilliant day and actually it's just so 298 00:14:52,630 --> 00:14:56,340 peaceful now, isn't it that all the day trippers to the island 299 00:14:56,349 --> 00:15:01,820 have gone? And now it seems like it's pretty much just us and the 300 00:15:01,830 --> 00:15:02,570 peacocks. 301 00:15:06,500 --> 00:15:07,039 BEN BEACHAM: Hello. 302 00:15:07,049 --> 00:15:09,280 JO DYSON: Oh, Ben! Great to meet you, I'm Jo. 303 00:15:09,289 --> 00:15:10,400 SIAN LEWIS: I'm Sian. Nice to meet you. 304 00:15:10,409 --> 00:15:12,369 BEN BEACHAM: You too. So, the plan this evening, we're gonna 305 00:15:12,380 --> 00:15:14,780 go and see if we can look for some nightjar. I think we're 306 00:15:14,789 --> 00:15:16,799 gonna start, we'll just have a look around some of the habitats 307 00:15:16,809 --> 00:15:19,109 we've got on the island and then we'll see what we can see on the 308 00:15:19,119 --> 00:15:19,500 way. 309 00:15:19,500 --> 00:15:20,150 JO DYSON: Wonderful. 310 00:15:20,159 --> 00:15:20,880 BEN BEACHAM: Let's go. 311 00:15:26,549 --> 00:15:28,580 JO DYSON: So, Ben, it's a different sort of landscape up 312 00:15:28,590 --> 00:15:29,780 here slightly, isn't it? 313 00:15:29,789 --> 00:15:33,390 BEN BEACHAM: So, the island's predominantly woodland, so it's 314 00:15:33,400 --> 00:15:36,380 pine woodland. We've got Scots and maritime pine and then we've 315 00:15:36,390 --> 00:15:39,820 got the area that we're just coming up to now is our sort of 316 00:15:39,830 --> 00:15:41,070 only bit of open heath. 317 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:42,729 JO DYSON: This is so beautiful. 318 00:15:43,070 --> 00:15:45,630 BEN BEACHAM: So, at the moment we've got the, the bell heathers 319 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:46,820 just coming into flower. 320 00:15:46,950 --> 00:15:49,960 JO DYSON: It's a really bright, vivid purple, isn't it? 321 00:15:49,969 --> 00:15:51,770 SIAN LEWIS: So, is this quite rare heathland? 322 00:15:52,020 --> 00:15:54,869 BEN BEACHAM: Yeah. So, in Dorset over the last couple of 323 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:59,080 centuries we've lost up to sort of 80% of our heathland. So, the 324 00:15:59,090 --> 00:16:02,200 bits that we do have are very important and because we have 325 00:16:02,210 --> 00:16:04,679 the squirrels on the island rather than reverting everything 326 00:16:04,690 --> 00:16:07,450 to heathland, we're reversing it to wooded heath. 327 00:16:10,190 --> 00:16:11,960 SIAN LEWIS: Can you tell us more about the red squirrels on 328 00:16:11,969 --> 00:16:14,260 Brownsea? Because it's something quite special about the island, 329 00:16:14,270 --> 00:16:14,729 isn't it? 330 00:16:15,049 --> 00:16:18,609 BEN BEACHAM: Yeah, it is. Yeah, it's, one of only two places in 331 00:16:18,619 --> 00:16:20,830 Southern England that you can find them. So here and in the 332 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:24,613 Isle Of Wight. But, yeah, we've got a population of between 200 333 00:16:24,613 --> 00:16:27,090 to 250. We're very happy that they're here. 334 00:16:29,349 --> 00:16:32,330 Yeah, this area where we're stood now actually is probably 335 00:16:32,780 --> 00:16:35,940 richest area for sort of rare species. Last year we had a pair 336 00:16:35,950 --> 00:16:38,750 of Dartford Warbler nesting in a patch of gorse just over there. 337 00:16:38,820 --> 00:16:42,900 We also have sand lizards. So the males are bright green this 338 00:16:42,909 --> 00:16:46,280 time of year and they bathe in the sun on the edge of the path. 339 00:16:46,429 --> 00:16:49,320 So, we're going to go and see if we can look for some nightjar. 340 00:16:53,830 --> 00:16:55,459 I don't know whether you know much about nightjar? 341 00:16:55,459 --> 00:16:55,900 SIAN LEWIS: No I don't! 342 00:16:56,270 --> 00:16:59,150 BEN BEACHAM: So they're a very difficult bird to see during the 343 00:16:59,159 --> 00:17:01,599 daytime. They're ground nesters and they're cryptically 344 00:17:01,609 --> 00:17:04,619 camouflaged. So they look like bark, so they look like a tree 345 00:17:04,630 --> 00:17:07,790 or the ground. So the only really easy way to, to find them 346 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,670 is listening for their calls. And that their calls are 347 00:17:11,030 --> 00:17:14,689 mechanical, it doesn't sound like any other type of bird. It 348 00:17:14,699 --> 00:17:17,920 sounds possibly more like a frog or something like that. So, 349 00:17:17,930 --> 00:17:20,380 yeah, you'll definitely know what it is when you, when you 350 00:17:20,390 --> 00:17:20,750 hear it. 351 00:17:23,890 --> 00:17:24,630 JO DYSON: What was that? 352 00:17:26,810 --> 00:17:29,308 BEN BEACHAM: There's a nightjar. Can you hear? There it is, over 353 00:17:29,318 --> 00:17:30,909 here somewhere. There, there it is! 354 00:17:31,909 --> 00:17:34,958 So the, the songs are territorial. They're attracting 355 00:17:34,968 --> 00:17:39,288 a mate and they're warding off other males and then they will 356 00:17:39,298 --> 00:17:42,499 come out and they will display and then they'll probably go off 357 00:17:42,509 --> 00:17:43,509 and start foraging. 358 00:17:43,948 --> 00:17:46,038 JO DYSON: And when you say they do a display, what does that 359 00:17:46,048 --> 00:17:46,568 look like? 360 00:17:46,869 --> 00:17:49,788 BEN BEACHAM: So, the males have, white tips to the end of their 361 00:17:49,798 --> 00:17:53,229 wings and the, the end of their tail feathers and they fly, 362 00:17:53,269 --> 00:17:56,609 they'll fly around the territory trying to attract a mate. They 363 00:17:56,619 --> 00:18:00,189 clap their wings sort of above their head. Makes quite a loud 364 00:18:00,199 --> 00:18:00,619 noise. 365 00:18:01,239 --> 00:18:02,459 Yeah, there's one. 366 00:18:04,369 --> 00:18:06,400 So he's definitely come to have a look at us there. 367 00:18:06,939 --> 00:18:09,106 SIAN LEWIS: His movements so interesting. It's like an 368 00:18:09,106 --> 00:18:09,640 animatronic bird. 369 00:18:11,119 --> 00:18:12,040 BEN BEACHAM: Like a string puppet. 370 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:14,140 SIAN LEWIS: Yeah exactly! 371 00:18:14,140 --> 00:18:17,319 BEN BEACHAM: So if you put your hands like next to your ears it, 372 00:18:17,599 --> 00:18:18,880 it'll amplify the sound. 373 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:19,839 JO DYSON: It does. 374 00:18:20,000 --> 00:18:24,000 BEN BEACHAM: Yeah, looks cool as well, doesn't it? 375 00:18:24,260 --> 00:18:24,890 JO DYSON: Oh, yeah. 376 00:18:27,829 --> 00:18:29,810 BEN BEACHAM: So, yeah, I think we might leave them to it now. 377 00:18:30,189 --> 00:18:31,209 SIAN LEWIS: It was really special. 378 00:18:31,689 --> 00:18:33,609 JO DYSON: Right. So, we head back to the campsite then? 379 00:18:33,670 --> 00:18:34,119 SIAN LEWIS: Yeah. 380 00:18:52,599 --> 00:18:57,530 JO DYSON: What a view! That is just beautiful. Looking up 381 00:18:57,540 --> 00:19:02,500 through the trees that my tent has been tied to and beyond the 382 00:19:02,510 --> 00:19:08,140 branches, I can see the sea. This is such a serene place to 383 00:19:08,150 --> 00:19:09,000 wake up to. 384 00:19:10,660 --> 00:19:14,540 Let's see what Sian's up to. 385 00:19:14,540 --> 00:19:17,229 Morning Sian! That smells delicious! 386 00:19:17,239 --> 00:19:19,329 SIAN LEWIS: Yeah, I've got some coffee on the go and I'm making 387 00:19:19,339 --> 00:19:21,349 us some breakfast. I'm doing some porridge and some 388 00:19:21,359 --> 00:19:22,930 caramelized nuts to go on top. 389 00:19:22,939 --> 00:19:25,430 JO DYSON: Oh, my gosh, that sounds incredible. 390 00:19:25,439 --> 00:19:26,660 SIAN LEWIS: How did you sleep? 391 00:19:26,660 --> 00:19:28,829 JO DYSON: Surprisingly well! Actually, once I've managed to 392 00:19:28,839 --> 00:19:33,709 climb into the tree tent, I felt really quite supported. And 393 00:19:33,719 --> 00:19:37,660 actually the hammock feeling just sort of makes you feel 394 00:19:37,670 --> 00:19:38,719 cocooned. 395 00:19:38,729 --> 00:19:40,949 SIAN LEWIS: Was it nice to wake up on the peaceful island? 396 00:19:41,010 --> 00:19:44,959 JO DYSON: It was, it just feels that we're a million miles away 397 00:19:44,969 --> 00:19:46,319 from the mainland. 398 00:19:46,369 --> 00:19:48,189 SIAN LEWIS: It is such a wonderful place to be. And I 399 00:19:48,199 --> 00:19:50,609 think, you know, you only have to be here for a day or two and 400 00:19:50,619 --> 00:19:53,880 you really relax because there's no cars. It's a haven for 401 00:19:53,890 --> 00:19:56,800 nature. It just feels like a really special place to escape 402 00:19:56,810 --> 00:19:57,109 to. 403 00:19:57,109 --> 00:19:58,989 JO DYSON: Where should we go for our next wild escape? 404 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:01,550 SIAN LEWIS: Should we graduate to Cliff camping next? 405 00:20:02,150 --> 00:20:05,339 JO DYSON: I don't know about that! One step at a time. 406 00:20:17,420 --> 00:20:20,729 Thank you for listening to the National Trust podcast. If you'd 407 00:20:20,739 --> 00:20:23,790 like to book a stay on Brownsea Island, there's information in 408 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,959 this episode's show notes along with a link to the Wild Escapes 409 00:20:26,969 --> 00:20:30,319 book where you can read about other amazing places to stay. 410 00:20:31,280 --> 00:20:33,989 For now from me, Jo Dyson, goodbye.