1 00:00:07,980 --> 00:00:10,551 KATE MARTIN: Hello and welcome to the National Trust Podcast. 2 00:00:10,993 --> 00:00:13,583 I’m Kate Martin, Lead Ranger in the Northwest. 3 00:00:14,221 --> 00:00:17,803 Today we’re replaying one of our favourite episodes as we head 4 00:00:17,863 --> 00:00:21,121 out after dark, to see how the world comes alive at night at 5 00:00:21,161 --> 00:00:22,767 Cragside in Northumberland. 6 00:00:23,424 --> 00:00:25,735 We’ll be getting up close to some freaky and familiar 7 00:00:25,795 --> 00:00:28,332 creatures, to bust some myths about the animals on the night 8 00:00:28,393 --> 00:00:28,776 shift. 9 00:00:38,209 --> 00:00:41,244 I'm sitting here reclining in a deck chair on a balmy summer 10 00:00:41,325 --> 00:00:46,389 evening, overlooking the formal gardens at Cragside to the 11 00:00:46,429 --> 00:00:50,378 Moorlands and the hills beyond. About 1000 acres and with 12 00:00:50,418 --> 00:00:53,048 locations as varied as the carriage driveway, with 13 00:00:53,149 --> 00:00:56,930 panoramic views, fern covered gorges, coniferous forest, 14 00:00:57,566 --> 00:01:00,346 seeing all Cragside has to offer could take you days. 15 00:01:01,473 --> 00:01:04,993 So to see as much as I can, I've actually decided to stay within 16 00:01:05,013 --> 00:01:08,130 the grounds at one of their on site holiday homes. So tonight, 17 00:01:08,191 --> 00:01:11,624 I'm taking full advantage of my VIP access to a lock in here at 18 00:01:11,624 --> 00:01:14,518 Cragside and heading out to discover what it has to offer 19 00:01:14,578 --> 00:01:15,160 after dark. 20 00:01:17,625 --> 00:01:21,533 I'm leaving the neat manicured lawns, glass houses and the wide 21 00:01:21,593 --> 00:01:25,142 open skies of the formal gardens where the holiday cottages are 22 00:01:25,453 --> 00:01:27,809 and I'm heading towards the woods to meet a Ranger who's 23 00:01:27,849 --> 00:01:29,983 going to accompany me on my night time adventure. 24 00:01:34,809 --> 00:01:37,934 So as I make my way through the trees, I can hear that sunset 25 00:01:38,015 --> 00:01:42,537 frenzy of birds settling down for the evening and crepuscular 26 00:01:42,597 --> 00:01:45,998 wildlife animals that are most active at dusk and dawn will be 27 00:01:46,038 --> 00:01:50,174 emerging now in the twilight. I'm heading up to the Clock 28 00:01:50,234 --> 00:01:52,347 Tower now, which is at the edge of the woods. 29 00:01:57,248 --> 00:02:00,095 Standing next to it is ranger Helen Burn. Hi, Helen. You 30 00:02:00,095 --> 00:02:00,462 alright? 31 00:02:00,462 --> 00:02:02,160 HELEN BURN: Heya Kate. Yeah, nice to meet you. 32 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:04,711 KATE MARTIN: So, Helen, I'm really excited about exploring 33 00:02:04,751 --> 00:02:05,655 Cragside tonight. 34 00:02:06,140 --> 00:02:08,246 HELEN BURN: Actually, I've got a confession to make. I've never 35 00:02:08,327 --> 00:02:11,997 been around Cragside in the dark myself so we can explore it 36 00:02:12,017 --> 00:02:17,885 together for the first time. I've got a few activities lined 37 00:02:17,885 --> 00:02:20,672 up for you to help you get really up close and personal 38 00:02:20,672 --> 00:02:21,388 with some of the characters that we might see and it's all about 39 00:02:21,428 --> 00:02:25,310 putting your senses to the test. Gonna meet some wildlife experts 40 00:02:25,351 --> 00:02:26,095 in the pinetum. 41 00:02:26,605 --> 00:02:27,153 KATE MARTIN: Fab. Let's go. 42 00:02:31,676 --> 00:02:34,196 It's finally starting to get a little bit darker now and 43 00:02:34,196 --> 00:02:36,199 actually walking round at this time of night can actually feel 44 00:02:36,199 --> 00:02:38,623 a bit unsettling even in a place that you really know, like the 45 00:02:38,623 --> 00:02:41,433 back of your hand. Sometimes feels that there's those little 46 00:02:41,594 --> 00:02:42,479 eyes watching you. 47 00:02:42,812 --> 00:02:44,859 HELEN BURN: There's definitely going to be things watching us. 48 00:02:47,629 --> 00:02:51,064 I think things like deer and rabbit. I know that on the 49 00:02:51,104 --> 00:02:52,918 estate we have got badgers and foxes. 50 00:02:53,365 --> 00:02:55,901 KATE MARTIN: It makes you realize actually just how poor 51 00:02:55,962 --> 00:02:58,851 our eyesight is. What are the other animals with sort of stand 52 00:02:58,851 --> 00:03:01,912 out senses that can help them navigate at night here, Helen? 53 00:03:02,237 --> 00:03:04,111 HELEN BURN: One that stands out for me would be owls. 54 00:03:07,405 --> 00:03:09,588 MARC HOLDERIED: In the UK, the nocturnal creatures that have 55 00:03:09,609 --> 00:03:13,204 the most stunningly big eyes are probably some of the owls. My 56 00:03:13,224 --> 00:03:15,714 name is Marc Holderied. I'm a professor here at the University 57 00:03:15,714 --> 00:03:20,033 Of Bristol's Biology Department. A lot of the stuff owls do, they 58 00:03:20,053 --> 00:03:24,087 do by vision. At daylight, they have a tiny pupil because they 59 00:03:24,247 --> 00:03:25,590 don't want a lot of light to come in. 60 00:03:25,650 --> 00:03:29,660 But at night, this pupil widens exposing all this massive lens 61 00:03:29,963 --> 00:03:34,494 and that just brings up their sensitivity. But not all of what 62 00:03:34,534 --> 00:03:39,237 they do is by vision. Owls are, when they hunt relying a lot on 63 00:03:39,237 --> 00:03:43,371 their sense of hearing. The Barn Owl has this beautiful white 64 00:03:43,435 --> 00:03:43,627 face. 65 00:03:43,689 --> 00:03:48,819 The whole, mirror like, round face is nothing more than a 66 00:03:49,182 --> 00:03:53,357 sound collecting device. In its face to the left and to the 67 00:03:53,397 --> 00:03:57,679 right of its beak are the two ears. The two ears are not the 68 00:03:57,761 --> 00:04:01,685 same shape. One of these ears points slightly downwards, the 69 00:04:01,988 --> 00:04:03,675 other points slightly upwards. 70 00:04:04,632 --> 00:04:08,152 It means that it's not just the left right information but also 71 00:04:08,172 --> 00:04:12,091 the looking up and looking down information. For example, that's 72 00:04:12,132 --> 00:04:15,940 how they can hunt voles or shrews under a layer of snow. So 73 00:04:15,981 --> 00:04:18,306 there's no visual information whatsoever, but they hear them 74 00:04:18,346 --> 00:04:20,612 squealing down there and they strike through the loose snow. 75 00:04:24,488 --> 00:04:26,574 HELEN BURN: I've got a bag of contraptions with me tonight 76 00:04:26,594 --> 00:04:29,707 that's going to help us as we're going around. I have got 77 00:04:29,707 --> 00:04:33,481 something we can use to give you an idea what it might be like to 78 00:04:33,481 --> 00:04:35,638 hear a little bit better. A little bit like an owl. So I've 79 00:04:35,678 --> 00:04:37,451 got a parabolic microphone. 80 00:04:41,224 --> 00:04:41,650 KATE MARTIN: That essentially is a satellite dish that you can 81 00:04:41,710 --> 00:04:42,890 hold by the look of it. 82 00:04:43,581 --> 00:04:46,041 HELEN BURN: Yeah, kind of. So it's sort of a similar shape to 83 00:04:46,082 --> 00:04:56,197 an owl's face and it directs the sound in towards the microphone 84 00:04:56,197 --> 00:04:56,217 and helps pick up the noises. 85 00:04:56,217 --> 00:04:57,082 KATE MARTIN: So I'm just moving the microphone now to see if I 86 00:04:57,102 --> 00:05:01,747 can pinpoint anything in particular. Well, that's really 87 00:05:01,827 --> 00:05:08,117 noticeable, but you can actually hear the babbling brook. Let's 88 00:05:08,218 --> 00:05:11,959 move it away again and then back. 89 00:05:14,648 --> 00:05:19,078 How different that sounds. So you could absolutely see how an 90 00:05:19,420 --> 00:05:22,070 owl is able to sort of pinpoint that noise. 91 00:05:23,803 --> 00:05:31,297 Just walking over the wooden bridge into the pinetum. Pretty 92 00:05:31,357 --> 00:05:33,994 imposing these trees even earlier on in the day but in 93 00:05:34,220 --> 00:05:37,348 this time of night, because they're so big and they're 94 00:05:37,348 --> 00:05:40,532 blocking out so much of the light, it feels quite 95 00:05:41,036 --> 00:05:46,076 claustrophobic in here really. I can see some people ahead of us. 96 00:05:50,123 --> 00:05:53,218 Hiya, so I hear you're my expert in night time adventures? 97 00:05:53,548 --> 00:05:56,875 HEATHER DEVEY: Hi, I'm Heather Devey. I'm co-director of wild 98 00:05:56,895 --> 00:06:00,172 intrigue. We like to introduce people to nature in northern 99 00:06:00,213 --> 00:06:00,535 England. 100 00:06:01,216 --> 00:06:04,328 KATE MARTIN: Why are you lurking in the pinetum at this time of 101 00:06:04,328 --> 00:06:04,882 the night? 102 00:06:04,882 --> 00:06:08,483 HEATHER DEVEY: It's a good question. So I'm gonna get you 103 00:06:08,563 --> 00:06:12,460 up close and personal with bats. 104 00:06:12,460 --> 00:06:13,283 KATE MARTIN: I love bats. Where are they? 105 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:16,938 HEATHER DEVEY: Bats are usually all around us actually. And it's 106 00:06:16,958 --> 00:06:18,029 just that we can't hear them. 107 00:06:20,072 --> 00:06:22,623 THOMAS NEIL: My name is Thomas Neil. I'm a research scientist 108 00:06:22,643 --> 00:06:26,961 at the University Of Bristol. Bats are nocturnal hunters. So 109 00:06:27,042 --> 00:06:30,902 they've evolved a system called echolocation. And what we mean 110 00:06:30,943 --> 00:06:33,902 by that is that bats use sound to navigate at night. 111 00:06:34,456 --> 00:06:38,819 So what bats do is they produce ultrasonic clicks out of their 112 00:06:38,900 --> 00:06:42,863 mouth or sometimes their nose and they essentially bounce back 113 00:06:42,983 --> 00:06:46,308 off objects around the bat and the bat listens for the echoes 114 00:06:46,348 --> 00:06:50,538 from these clicks. Other animals that use echolocation are the 115 00:06:50,638 --> 00:06:54,182 dolphins and whales. So these use it in a similar way to bats, 116 00:06:54,616 --> 00:06:56,310 but they're using it to navigate in the sea. 117 00:06:57,731 --> 00:07:00,988 The clicks are ultrasonic, which means they are outside of our 118 00:07:01,028 --> 00:07:04,512 hearing range. A young child may be out at night and be able to 119 00:07:04,532 --> 00:07:06,783 pick up some of the lower frequencies that bats are using. 120 00:07:07,091 --> 00:07:09,662 Unfortunately, as you get older, you tend to lose the higher 121 00:07:10,019 --> 00:07:14,608 frequency hearing in your hearing range. So a grown adult 122 00:07:14,629 --> 00:07:15,742 would not be able to hear them as well. 123 00:07:21,871 --> 00:07:24,338 HEATHER DEVEY: So this is a heterodyne detector. And it 124 00:07:24,358 --> 00:07:27,460 basically means that we can eavesdrop on bat echolocation 125 00:07:28,092 --> 00:07:30,986 and it just transforms it basically so that we can 126 00:07:31,066 --> 00:07:33,871 understand bat chat. 127 00:07:33,871 --> 00:07:34,935 KATE MARTIN: I love the idea of bat chat. That sounds great. 128 00:07:35,936 --> 00:07:37,785 HEATHER DEVEY: So we turn it on at the side. Are you ready for 129 00:07:37,785 --> 00:07:44,565 the static? Oh we had a whisper of a pipistrelle there. 130 00:07:50,328 --> 00:07:56,002 So that is a soprano pipistrelle and just there he is, just right 131 00:07:56,002 --> 00:07:56,032 there. 132 00:07:58,572 --> 00:08:00,253 KATE MARTIN: You get the odd little glimpse and as soon as 133 00:08:00,253 --> 00:08:01,512 you turn your head it's gone. 134 00:08:05,448 --> 00:08:08,382 Oh, there it is again, it's just kind of circling round above us, 135 00:08:08,482 --> 00:08:10,190 just around the edges of the trees. 136 00:08:10,943 --> 00:08:13,666 HEATHER DEVEY: They're very busy up there. Every click that you 137 00:08:13,706 --> 00:08:16,029 hear is a sound that, that pipistrelle is making out of its 138 00:08:16,109 --> 00:08:20,228 mouth. That's how fast it is. And then on top of that, it 139 00:08:20,248 --> 00:08:22,498 needs to eat the midges, it needs to eat the, the micro 140 00:08:22,558 --> 00:08:25,517 moths and it needs to chat and tell other bats what's going on. 141 00:08:29,112 --> 00:08:32,529 So we've heard the pipistrelle clicking there. They got a nice 142 00:08:32,631 --> 00:08:36,430 rapid beat, but there are a lot of different sounds that bats 143 00:08:36,490 --> 00:08:39,910 can make. So I've got a few on my phone here. This is a Brown 144 00:08:39,991 --> 00:08:40,678 Long Eared Bat. 145 00:08:46,692 --> 00:08:50,226 It essentially whispers at 15 to 20 kilohertz and it's got a 146 00:08:50,246 --> 00:08:51,310 lovely rustle to it. 147 00:08:58,135 --> 00:09:01,159 That was a Greater Horseshoe. It's quite different, isn't it? 148 00:09:01,179 --> 00:09:04,923 It's got much more of a whistle to it. They effectively scream 149 00:09:05,003 --> 00:09:07,326 through their noses instead of their mouths. 150 00:09:07,607 --> 00:09:10,030 KATE MARTIN: So that's why we've got the horseshoe shaped nose? 151 00:09:10,150 --> 00:09:10,831 HEATHER DEVEY: Exactly. 152 00:09:17,311 --> 00:09:20,860 That last one was a Leisler's Bat, it's got that kind of 153 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:24,367 sloppy drip. They're so different, so diverse, not just 154 00:09:24,367 --> 00:09:27,585 how they look but how they sound as well. And that's what makes 155 00:09:27,585 --> 00:09:28,575 them just so intriguing. 156 00:09:29,444 --> 00:09:31,903 KATE MARTIN: I love bats. You obviously love bats as well. But 157 00:09:31,903 --> 00:09:34,598 I know an awful lot of people find them a bit so freaky and 158 00:09:34,598 --> 00:09:36,386 weird. So why do think that is? 159 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:40,695 HEATHER DEVEY: You know, they come out at night and you don't 160 00:09:40,695 --> 00:09:42,549 really see them? So you don't know quite what they are. 161 00:09:42,903 --> 00:09:45,577 There's a lot of mystery around them and a lot of myth and 162 00:09:45,637 --> 00:09:50,330 folklore, I suppose. Bats are nothing to be afraid of. That 163 00:09:50,370 --> 00:09:53,521 is, of course, unless you're a moth, which is just the perfect 164 00:09:53,662 --> 00:09:57,634 take out snack for a bat. Should we go check out some moths? 165 00:09:57,695 --> 00:09:58,582 KATE MARTIN: Oh, yeah, definitely. 166 00:10:01,243 --> 00:10:02,499 What is it we're looking out for? 167 00:10:03,042 --> 00:10:06,002 HEATHER DEVEY: We're looking for a bit of a eerie glow and we're 168 00:10:06,002 --> 00:10:10,334 going to introduce you to the other half of wild intrigue, 169 00:10:10,334 --> 00:10:12,633 Cain Scrimgeour. 170 00:10:13,250 --> 00:10:16,998 KATE MARTIN: It's absolutely pitch black. It's the real night 171 00:10:17,058 --> 00:10:18,323 time specialists out and about. 172 00:10:20,437 --> 00:10:24,296 Just walking down the road and then just out of the corner of 173 00:10:24,296 --> 00:10:27,687 my eye just spotted something crawling across the road and it 174 00:10:27,707 --> 00:10:28,856 was a toad. 175 00:10:29,485 --> 00:10:30,370 HELEN BURN: There's another one. 176 00:10:30,370 --> 00:10:32,948 KATE MARTIN: Oh, yeah! There's another one! Oh there we go. The 177 00:10:32,968 --> 00:10:36,874 proper toad crawl. They'll be coming out for the slugs and the 178 00:10:36,894 --> 00:10:40,046 worms. They'll make sure they get somewhere nice and dark and 179 00:10:40,127 --> 00:10:41,447 damp before the sun comes up. 180 00:10:45,922 --> 00:10:51,784 I can see the light. Hello, Cain. You alright? 181 00:10:51,784 --> 00:10:51,945 CAIN SCRIMGEOUR: Hello there. You all right? 182 00:10:51,945 --> 00:10:55,248 KATE MARTIN: Helen, my fellow Ranger, you aren't looking 183 00:10:55,501 --> 00:10:56,708 particularly pleased. 184 00:10:57,102 --> 00:11:00,169 HELEN BURN: I have to say, I'm not really the biggest fan of 185 00:11:00,169 --> 00:11:00,542 moths. 186 00:11:01,161 --> 00:11:01,462 KATE MARTIN: What now? 187 00:11:02,585 --> 00:11:05,012 HELEN BURN: Yeah, it's just something about the way that 188 00:11:05,033 --> 00:11:08,073 they flap and then they're in your bedroom at night dive 189 00:11:08,133 --> 00:11:08,715 bombing you! 190 00:11:09,630 --> 00:11:12,987 KATE MARTIN: What kind of moths do you have? So Cain, come on, 191 00:11:13,007 --> 00:11:16,543 describe this intriguing contraption in front of us. 192 00:11:17,046 --> 00:11:19,005 CAIN SCRIMGEOUR: So this is a moth trap. The moths are 193 00:11:19,005 --> 00:11:22,543 attracted to this bulb in here because we've got to have a peek 194 00:11:22,604 --> 00:11:26,075 inside to see if anything's actually went inside the trap. 195 00:11:26,136 --> 00:11:28,629 So we'll just open this up here and it's absolutely full of 196 00:11:28,649 --> 00:11:29,333 Midges in there. 197 00:11:32,094 --> 00:11:34,912 Oh, there's a good one. So this one's called the Map Winged 198 00:11:35,073 --> 00:11:35,536 Swift. 199 00:11:35,899 --> 00:11:36,263 KATE MARTIN: Oh what a name! 200 00:11:36,263 --> 00:11:38,139 CAIN SCRIMGEOUR: You can see all of the intricate patterns there. 201 00:11:39,126 --> 00:11:43,420 KATE MARTIN: There is bronze and silver, almost like a sort of 202 00:11:43,441 --> 00:11:46,368 coppery colour. That is an absolutely beautiful moth. 203 00:11:46,658 --> 00:11:48,459 CAIN SCRIMGEOUR: Through the year the species change as well. 204 00:11:48,970 --> 00:11:52,283 So in the winter and spring you get sort of brown, quite drab 205 00:11:52,343 --> 00:11:55,685 looking moths. But as the flowers and the flora develops, 206 00:11:55,685 --> 00:11:58,629 you get a lot more colour. So you get pinks and oranges and 207 00:11:58,689 --> 00:12:02,439 golds and metallics. With class names like Peach Blossom and 208 00:12:02,439 --> 00:12:06,616 Burnish Brass, Elephant Hawk Moth, Garden Tiger Moth. 209 00:12:07,137 --> 00:12:11,053 There's other ones that haven't got great names because they're 210 00:12:11,053 --> 00:12:12,121 called'Uncertain' because they're really difficult to ID 211 00:12:12,282 --> 00:12:16,193 as well. If you look really closely, you can see it's 212 00:12:16,193 --> 00:12:19,505 antenna, this one's a female. So it's just got simple structures. 213 00:12:19,793 --> 00:12:22,394 If it was a male, they would be really, really sort of fluffy 214 00:12:22,475 --> 00:12:22,917 looking like-. 215 00:12:22,917 --> 00:12:23,600 KATE MARTIN: Like Feathers! 216 00:12:26,201 --> 00:12:28,091 MARC HOLDERIED: I don't know whether you know where the nose 217 00:12:28,091 --> 00:12:30,882 of a moth might be placed, but it's within these feathery 218 00:12:30,962 --> 00:12:34,786 antennae that they have on their foreheads. And males have much 219 00:12:34,886 --> 00:12:36,981 bigger and more feathery antennae because they need a 220 00:12:37,021 --> 00:12:43,819 better sense of smell. The way the female attracts the males is 221 00:12:43,902 --> 00:12:48,359 by chemical signals, they send out pheromones that spread 222 00:12:48,460 --> 00:12:50,412 easily and are carried with the wind. 223 00:12:51,022 --> 00:12:55,417 And the male would sit somewhere and it's sniffing for these 224 00:12:55,601 --> 00:12:59,083 chemical compounds. For these pheromones. Air would stream 225 00:12:59,223 --> 00:13:01,767 through these feathery antennae and they are studded with 226 00:13:01,868 --> 00:13:06,029 receptors. And as soon as a single molecule of this female 227 00:13:06,049 --> 00:13:09,083 pheromones interacts with these receptors, the moth takes off. 228 00:13:10,210 --> 00:13:13,400 So these moth would fly downstream from the wind. 229 00:13:13,857 --> 00:13:17,154 Eventually they'll find the female moth by its pheromones. 230 00:13:19,853 --> 00:13:22,108 CAIN SCRIMGEOUR: People love butterflies in general, but 231 00:13:22,148 --> 00:13:25,985 moths, people don't like moths. And it's largely down to just a 232 00:13:26,025 --> 00:13:28,889 few handfuls of species so you'll get three species that'll 233 00:13:28,909 --> 00:13:30,938 eat your clothes and your carpets and two of them are 234 00:13:30,938 --> 00:13:35,343 quite rare. But there's 2500 species of moths in the UK and 235 00:13:35,384 --> 00:13:37,452 only 59 species of butterflies. 236 00:13:37,982 --> 00:13:42,930 Really the moth do a lot of the work at night so they're the 237 00:13:42,930 --> 00:13:44,256 hard grafters. So they're incredibly important for 238 00:13:44,700 --> 00:13:48,045 pollination. But also because there's so many species that 239 00:13:48,085 --> 00:13:50,790 they're really important as a food source. A caterpillar food 240 00:13:50,811 --> 00:13:51,973 source for our small birds. 241 00:13:52,534 --> 00:13:54,109 KATE MARTIN: But what can people do to help moths? 242 00:13:54,109 --> 00:13:57,649 CAIN SCRIMGEOUR: Plant- plants that will be good for 243 00:13:57,669 --> 00:14:00,953 pollinators but also leave some bits wild for the caterpillars. 244 00:14:00,953 --> 00:14:02,070 KATE MARTIN: Have we converted you? 245 00:14:02,070 --> 00:14:05,487 HELEN BURN: I do feel like I'm swaying towards being a moth 246 00:14:05,527 --> 00:14:05,868 fan. 247 00:14:06,672 --> 00:14:09,132 KATE MARTIN: I think it's probably time we release them 248 00:14:09,192 --> 00:14:10,564 back into their natural environment. 249 00:14:10,564 --> 00:14:23,315 HELEN BURN: I've got another game for you Kate. Moth's most 250 00:14:23,355 --> 00:14:26,773 powerful sense is their sense of smell. As I'm sure you'll have 251 00:14:26,813 --> 00:14:29,527 guessed you're going to smell your way to the next location. 252 00:14:30,487 --> 00:14:32,802 I've got two things for you. 253 00:14:33,677 --> 00:14:37,231 KATE MARTIN: A blindfold with some really creepy eyes on it 254 00:14:37,747 --> 00:14:39,650 and a can of deodorant. 255 00:14:40,385 --> 00:14:42,866 HELEN BURN: Got that blindfold on now, I'm gonna spray some of 256 00:14:42,866 --> 00:14:46,532 the Lynx Africa and you have to use your sense of smell to 257 00:14:46,654 --> 00:14:47,469 follow the trail. 258 00:14:47,958 --> 00:14:48,246 KATE MARTIN: Ok. 259 00:14:49,982 --> 00:14:55,580 Oh, yeah.! Oh, wow! That is quite strong! I'm going sort of 260 00:14:55,580 --> 00:15:02,681 straight ahead at the moment. Gosh, that is so strong! That 261 00:15:02,742 --> 00:15:10,996 smells like- right? Oh, my word going left. I have to say Helen, 262 00:15:11,016 --> 00:15:13,716 this is the weirdest sat nav in the world! 263 00:15:13,716 --> 00:15:19,308 HELEN BURN: Kate, you have reached your destination. 264 00:15:23,681 --> 00:15:26,855 KATE MARTIN: So I finally going to get to take my blindfold off 265 00:15:26,855 --> 00:15:31,134 and have a look where I am and I am by a lake. There's Heather 266 00:15:31,275 --> 00:15:32,819 from wild intrigue. Hiya Heather. 267 00:15:33,019 --> 00:15:33,620 HEATHER DEVEY: Hello again. 268 00:15:34,082 --> 00:15:35,812 KATE MARTIN: Why am I standing by a lake in the dark? 269 00:15:36,622 --> 00:15:36,900 HEATHER DEVEY: You mean you can't hear that? 270 00:15:36,900 --> 00:15:36,907 KATE MARTIN: Hear what? 271 00:15:36,907 --> 00:15:40,954 HEATHER DEVEY: You can't hear that midnight Rave? 272 00:15:41,454 --> 00:15:42,765 KATE MARTIN: A midnight rave? 273 00:15:43,014 --> 00:15:45,898 HEATHER DEVEY: I'll forgive you because actually it's beneath 274 00:15:45,959 --> 00:15:47,405 the surface of the lake. 275 00:15:47,626 --> 00:15:48,110 KATE MARTIN: Oh really? 276 00:15:48,150 --> 00:15:49,240 HEATHER DEVEY: Yeah, it's a pond rave. 277 00:15:50,838 --> 00:15:52,908 KATE MARTIN: So, what's this strange contraption heather? 278 00:15:53,546 --> 00:15:56,613 HEATHER DEVEY: So, this is a hydrophone. So, it basically 279 00:15:56,674 --> 00:16:01,360 means that we can gate crash and eavesdrop below the surface. 280 00:16:01,705 --> 00:16:01,831 KATE MARTIN: Amazing! 281 00:16:02,474 --> 00:16:04,243 HEATHER DEVEY: All of these freshwater invertebrates. 282 00:16:04,263 --> 00:16:06,108 They'll make the noises throughout the day, but they 283 00:16:06,168 --> 00:16:10,716 really come to life at night. So we'll plonk it in. We'll use our 284 00:16:10,757 --> 00:16:12,831 headphones and see what we can hear. 285 00:16:17,209 --> 00:16:21,237 So, what we're listening out for is clicks and rustles and pops 286 00:16:23,362 --> 00:16:25,903 and slaps and it's mainly the beetles that make these noises. 287 00:16:25,903 --> 00:16:29,788 And you've got your damsel fly nymphs, your dragonfly nymphs, 288 00:16:30,146 --> 00:16:32,987 they're all hunting different creatures, winning their 289 00:16:33,007 --> 00:16:37,571 territories together. So there's drama unfolding just below the 290 00:16:37,631 --> 00:16:38,436 surface. 291 00:16:42,746 --> 00:16:47,706 Can you hear that kind of rhythmic beat? Well, that's one 292 00:16:47,706 --> 00:16:51,952 of my favourite sounds. This is a water boatman and it's really 293 00:16:51,972 --> 00:16:56,341 amazing because he's got the loudest mating call if you like, 294 00:16:56,578 --> 00:17:00,465 compared to his size than any other animal. And he's not 295 00:17:00,709 --> 00:17:03,435 singing. Can you guess what he might be doing? 296 00:17:03,435 --> 00:17:06,119 KATE MARTIN: Is he like rubbing his legs together? 297 00:17:06,422 --> 00:17:08,884 HEATHER DEVEY: He's rubbing appendages together, but it's 298 00:17:08,924 --> 00:17:11,490 not his legs. It's his genitals. 299 00:17:12,139 --> 00:17:13,238 KATE MARTIN: Wow! Ok! 300 00:17:13,506 --> 00:17:15,026 HEATHER DEVEY: Yeah. Welcome to the pond rave! 301 00:17:22,493 --> 00:17:25,277 KATE MARTIN: Well, Helen, all good parties must come to an end 302 00:17:25,838 --> 00:17:29,708 and it is the early hours of the morning now and the bed of the 303 00:17:29,729 --> 00:17:33,294 holiday cottage is starting to feel very appealing. Do you 304 00:17:33,374 --> 00:17:36,638 think after the experiences tonight you'll look at your 305 00:17:36,679 --> 00:17:39,618 place of work, this lovely Cragside with a different set of 306 00:17:39,679 --> 00:17:40,006 eyes? 307 00:17:40,230 --> 00:17:42,791 HELEN BURN: Yeah, I think I will actually, it's been really cool. 308 00:17:43,406 --> 00:17:45,874 KATE MARTIN: There are a few important things that people 309 00:17:45,915 --> 00:17:48,004 need to be aware of, aren't there if they are going to have 310 00:17:48,386 --> 00:17:50,106 a walk around a place like this after dark? 311 00:17:50,106 --> 00:17:53,704 HELEN BURN: But I think it would be really important to plan a 312 00:17:53,764 --> 00:17:59,254 safe route, not getting too close to water, not getting too 313 00:17:59,254 --> 00:18:03,936 close to maybe cliff edges. Always have a torch handy and 314 00:18:03,936 --> 00:18:06,423 the phone with you. And really, I would advise asking the 315 00:18:06,423 --> 00:18:08,384 location for guidelines as well. 316 00:18:09,101 --> 00:18:11,534 KATE MARTIN: Go and enjoy a well earned rest! 317 00:18:11,534 --> 00:18:12,660 HELEN BURN: Yeah, definitely.! 318 00:18:16,425 --> 00:18:20,403 KATE MARTIN: It's so different. Cragside at night to Cragside in 319 00:18:20,403 --> 00:18:24,686 the daytime. This experience isn't something exclusive to 320 00:18:24,706 --> 00:18:28,263 Cragside. This is an experience you can have in your own back 321 00:18:28,343 --> 00:18:30,976 garden outside the front of your house, in your local park. 322 00:18:32,482 --> 00:18:36,333 Get outside experience the night time, all the sounds, the 323 00:18:36,414 --> 00:18:40,679 smells, even the sight if you can see anything! It's just a 324 00:18:40,699 --> 00:18:43,917 completely different world and one that everybody should feel 325 00:18:43,937 --> 00:18:45,571 that they can get out and enjoy. 326 00:18:56,465 --> 00:18:58,919 Thank you for listening to this episode of the National Trust 327 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:03,006 Podcast. To be the first to hear new episodes make sure to follow 328 00:19:03,066 --> 00:19:06,588 or subscribe in your favourite podcast player. We’ll be back 329 00:19:06,729 --> 00:19:09,822 soon but until then from me Kate Martin, goodbye.