Paddy O'Connell was chatting to some Cambridge scientist/ecologist about No Mow May. Apparently, part of the field that adjoins King's College, Cambridge has been left unmown for a few years and the numbers and types of species of bugs/spiders/bats/plants has risen 3-fold compared to the mown sections. An impressive improvement and good that someone took the trouble to scientifically study the effect of eschewing the mower in favour of a nice cup of tea, perhaps a piece of shortbread and a sit down to admire the view. The view from King's College meadow is especially fine.
The little treat was that, as the live interview started, the sound of bells intruded in to the conversation. I am guessing that whoever was being interviewed was standing in the long grass. Paddy O'Connell interrupted his guest to enquire "is that bells I can hear?" She agreed and he decided to put the chat on hold so that we could all enjoy this quintessential Sunday morning soundscape. To hell with the birds and wildlife – what about the delightful bells?
And they were very fine. Great St Mary ringing before Sunday service. So we paused to admire the bells and then the scientist/ecologist was put on the spot and asked to identify the birds that were singing in the meadow, but the sound person had clearly bought the music of the bells up and all I could identify was some competent ringing.
A delightful interlude on a Sunday morning and unexpected that the man from the BBC should be so enchanted that he went off-piste to broadcast something different to that intended.
Is Mr O'Connell a ringer by any chance?
I do hope that the lady interviewee checked her legs for ticks after standing around in that unmown grass. They can be beastly little blighters.
(9am BBC Sounds – Sunday morning news magazine programme 28/5/23 22.30 minutes in to the broadcast) https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001mc2c?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile&fbclid=IwAR3KX-D9OPWGSNGwUkRU92ioQScHr1KiNg6oT8-Gv1MKoQIPQCgxEZazBgA
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