Welcoming visitors sustainably – latest Nature Connects podcast released by Tamar Valley National Landscape
Welcoming visitors sustainably and discovering more about Visit Tamar Valley’s green initiatives is the theme of this month’s Nature Connects podcast, that has just been released from Tamar Valley National Landscape.
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To mark English Tourism Week that took place earlier this month, Marketing Consultant, Sarah Bartlett, shared more about Visit Tamar Valley’s eight Green Ambassadors, the sustainability pledge and their work towards a sustainable tourism charter, during a walk and talk at Lopwell Dam.
Podcast hosts, Ginnette Sutherland and Charlotte Dancer from Tamar Valley National Landscape, also spent time at Okel Tor this episode, and chatted with one of the first walkers to complete the 87-mile Tamara Coast to Coast Way when it launched in summer 2023. Gary Lewis (Senior Heritage Officer for Tamara Landscape Partnership) explained how he and Sarah Richardson walked the entire length in seven days, and offers advice to walkers who would like to explore the route.
Charlotte Dancer says; “The Tamar Valley is such a special place to visit, but we need to get the balance just right. Visit Tamar Valley’s work to encourage visitors in a sustainable way, and making people aware that sensitive areas are a priority for Nature, is a big positive step in achieving that balance. I’m really looking forward to seeing how their work develops further.”
Nature Connects was launched in January this year, to bring the benefits of Nature to a wider audience, by celebrating the stories and sounds from Tamar Valley National Landscape, through a series of immersive walk and talk podcasts.
A regular feature of the podcast includes taking just a moment to pause, engage and connect to the natural sounds that can be heard in the Valley, based on University of Derby’s Nature Connectedness research. This time, you’ll hear the sounds of Nature at Okel Tor.
Ginnette Sutherland explains just one way in which you can connect to Nature; “Through the Tamara Landscape Partnership, we have a range of surveying equipment that you can borrow to find out what wildlife may be visiting your garden or community space. From wildlife cameras and bat detectors, to sweep nets and magnifying glasses, please get in touch to find out more.”
The podcasts also highlight at least one Tamar Valley Special Species; 17 plants and animals that were identified within Tamar Valley National Landscape’s Nature Recovery Plan 2023-2030 that need a helping hand to thrive. Gary Lewis talks about the Willow Tit that favours willow or other suitable thicket and scrub habitat in damp places.
You can find out more about Visit Tamar Valley’s sustainable tourism initiatives here – https://visittamarvalley.co.uk/sustainability-pledge.
For further details on the Tamara Coast to Coast Way, please visit: https://www.tamarvalley-nl.org.uk/discover-explore/walking/tamara-coast-to-coast-way/
Listeners can find all episodes of Nature Connects on podcast platforms, including Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music and Podbean. New podcasts will be released at the end of each month throughout 2025. These podcasts have been made possible thanks to National Lottery Heritage Fund supported Tamara Landscape Partnership Scheme, a project of Tamar Valley National Landscape.
