Patrick Barkham

The nature writer Patrick Barkham takes Martha Kearney on a butterfly-spotting trip in Foxley Wood, Norfolk. This is Norfolk's largest ancient woodland, which has been undergoing restoration since the 1980s. In 2019, it saw the return of the rare purple emperor butterfly, which had become extinct in Norfolk and which Patrick is especially keen to show Martha. It's also a bumper year for one of Martha's favourite butterflies, the painted lady.

Patrick tells Martha why this place is so special to him, connecting him to his father, who played a key role in helping to save the wood. He reflects on how the last years of his father's life were spent at a slower pace, observing nature, and how they shared a deep bond through butterfly spotting. Patrick also speaks about the difficult period his family endured when his daughter contracted Lyme disease, and how this experience changed his perspective on the natural world.

Producer: Eliza Lomas for BBC Audio Bristol.