What Lurks Beneath...A Halloween Special

10/26/23 • 32 min

Have you ever peered into the blackness of a pond at night and wondered what lurks beneath? Come with us and find out in this special, spooky, episode!

From creatures with unimaginably strange bodies that could be straight out of a sci-fi movie, to the bizarre upside-down swimming water boatmen - life in a pond can be brutal. It really is the world of eat, or be eaten.

Like lots of other habitats, as dark falls, ponds turn other-worldy, yet often we don’t get to experience them. In this episode we’ll show you that there’s lots for us to see, and hear, that we can only experience at nighttime.

Host Megan McCubbin peers into her own pond on a stormy wet night to see what she can see, from the pond creatures around on the surface to the bats overhead.

Hear the spooky and strange sounds underwater with ecologist and underwater sounds expert Jack Greenhalgh. Discover why nature is the source of many of good horror story, with author Lucy Christopher. And previous guests Ellie Jones from WWT and writer Henry Slator share their favourite spooky pond creatures.

You’ll never have a nocturnal nosy at pond in the same way again!

If listening to this podcast inspires you to take action for wetlands and find out more then visit wwt.org.uk

Waterlands is a series brought to you by the WWT. It’s an 18Sixty production, the producer is Melvin Rickarby and original music is by Noah Bloom.

Have you ever peered into the blackness of a pond at night and wondered what lurks beneath? Come with us and find out in this special, spooky, episode!

Host Megan McCubbin peers into her own pond on a stormy wet night to see what she can see, from the pond creatures around on the surface to the bats overhead.

You’ll never have a nocturnal nosy at pond in the same way again!

If listening to this podcast inspires you to take action for wetlands and find out more then visit wwt.org.uk

Waterlands is a series brought to you by the WWT. It’s an 18Sixty production, the producer is Melvin Rickarby and original music is by Noah Bloom.

Previous Episode

Puddles of wonder

When is a pond not a pond? Well, when it’s a puddle!

When you think of a puddle, children jumping around in their wellies may be one of the first things that come to mind. But there are some types of pond which really have more in common with a puddle, they come and go, they’re wet, then they dry up. They’re known as ephemeral ponds, and in this episode Megan McCubbin heads back to where she grew up, the New Forest to hear their magical story.

The mysterious temporary ponds we’re visiting are even more important because they’re one of the only places in the UK that are home to some very special creatures (and one of the oldest surviving animal species in the world) the tadpole shrimp. Like the ponds they live in they also come and go, get wet and dry up, they lay dormant until the rain comes and then spring back into life.

Megan meets expect Dr Naomi Ewald in the excited hope of seeing one up close. A real and very rare treat for anyone to experience!

Featuring: Dr Naomi Ewald from the Freshwater Habitats Trust and Dr Sarah Davies (Principal Research Officer, WWT) Presented by Megan McCubbin.

If listening to this podcast inspires you to take action for wetlands and find out more then visit wwt.org.uk

Waterlands is a series brought to you by the WWT. It’s an 18Sixty production, the producer is Melvin Rickarby and original music is by Noah Bloom.

Next Episode

Introducing Series 3....Rivers

Waterlands is back for a third series. Hosted by Megan McCubbin, zoologist, conservationist and Springwatch presenter, join her as she takes you on a journey exploring the UK’s vibrant rivers.

The series will unveil the vital interplay between our waterways and the life they support. Beyond literally travelling down rivers across the UK, this series also navigates the rich history and crucial roles that rivers play in maintaining balance in the environment and shaping human culture.

Megan and her guests will cover all aspects of rivers, from explaining how they are formed to highlighting their critical role in carbon capture and supporting unique species of moss, plants, birds, and insects.