Episode 30: The Green Thread - Connecting the Dots Between Hard Hats and Habitats with Laurence Cummins, Sustainability Manager at Wates Group

Episode 34: Nature is Critical Infrastructure with Lesley Wilson, Policy & Engagement Lead on Biodiversity and Natural Capital at ISEP

In this episode host Jonathan Withey speaks with Leslie Wilson, policy and engagement lead at ISEP (formerly IEMA), about business, biodiversity, and natural capital. They discuss ISEP’s role as a global membership body, its biodiversity and natural capital network, and how member insights inform policy and consultations. Leslie explains IPBES as a science-policy platform similar to the IPCC, how its assessments inform the Convention on Biological Diversity, and why the Manchester plenary and side events were notable, including IPBES’s first business-and-biodiversity assessment. They explore ISEP’s paper “Nature is Critical Infrastructure,” linking natural capital to UK GDP and planning, and cover how companies can measure nature impacts using tools like TNFD and other frameworks, along with personal reflections on experiences in nature. 00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:32 Host Updates on BNG 02:49 Episode Topics Preview 04:32 Meet Lesley at ISEP 05:50 Lesley Career Journey 08:02 ISEP History and Growth 09:22 Why Membership Matters 12:28 Sustainability Roles Debate 13:49 What Is IPBES 19:18 How IPBES Links to CBD 20:44 Business Engagement at IPBES 22:47 Nature as Critical Infrastructure 25:55 Defining Natural Capital 26:50 Ecosystem Services Explained 27:30 Biodiversity Hidden Benefits 29:22 Climate Threats to Supply 31:08 Nature as Business Risk 32:12 Local Nature Action Wins 34:04 Measuring Biodiversity Impacts 36:03 Metrics Not Magic Numbers 38:47 Tools and Frameworks TNFD 40:52 First Best Worst Nature Stories 46:41 Closing Reflections and 30x30 Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2435249/fan_mail/new]

Episode 33: How to Integrate Nature into Decision Making that Delivers Better Outcomes for All with Ella Moseley, Director of Ecology at Pegasus Group

Jonathan Withey welcomes listeners to episode 33 featuring a conversation with Ella Moseley, Director of Ecology at Pegasus Group. Ella describes her path into ecology through a physical geography degree in the UK and Australia, the value of gaining construction-side experience, and how Pegasus brought ecology in-house to complete a multidisciplinary offer and support clients from early land appraisals through post-consent delivery. They discuss biodiversity net gain (BNG) as a way to communicate value, guide development viability, and support placemaking, alongside ecosystem services examples such as natural flood management, hedgerows for carbon and biodiversity, and re-naturalising chalk streams. Ella shares first, worst, and best nature experiences, including childhood lizard-watching, handling habitat damage incidents, and releasing a rehabilitated tamandua in Guatemala. 00:00 Welcome and Episode Setup 01:46 Attenborough and Spring Notes 03:04 Meet Ella in Soho 03:27 Ella’s Ecology Career Path 07:13 Field Trips and Early Nature 08:50 Winning Hearts on Site 11:35 What Is a Smooth Snake 12:26 Why Pegasus Went In-House 16:09 BNG as Business Language 18:55 Ecosystem Services in Action 23:32 Delivering BNG at Pegasus 30:32 BNG for Placemaking 35:34 First Nature Memories 37:48 Worst Moments and Resilience 42:00 Best Moments in the Wild 45:31 Wrap-Up and Takeaways Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2435249/fan_mail/new]

Episode 32: All Roads Lead to Nature Recovery with Julia Baker, Global Submarket Lead for Biodiversity and Nature at Mott MacDonald

Jonathan is joined in central London by Julia Baker of Mott MacDonald to discuss how nature services connect biodiversity, climate resilience, carbon, and social wellbeing, arguing that nature recovery is a solution society and the economy need. The conversation focuses on biodiversity net gain (BNG), especially for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs), including the government’s announcement that mandatory BNG for NSIPs will go live on 2 November 2026 and planned interim publications such as biodiversity gain statements, an updated metric user guide, and additional guidance. They explore mitigation hierarchy, stakeholder engagement, local nature recovery strategies, on-site versus off-site delivery, funding and corporate frameworks like TNFD, and Julia shares formative childhood and UK woodland experiences in nature. 00:00 Spring Garden Update 01:42 Bird Flu Reminder 02:03 Meet Julia Baker 04:06 Nature Services Big Picture 08:56 Biodiversity as a Market 13:27 TNFD and Funding Nature 18:39 BNG and NSIPs Explained 22:53 Making BNG Work Locally 28:11 Future of BNG Policy 31:16 Onsite vs Offsite Debate 33:13 First Nature Memories 38:45 Closing Thoughts Outro Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2435249/fan_mail/new]

Episode 31: From Creator to Rater of Biodiversity Net Gain with David Hill CBE, Founder of Foundation for Nature

Jonathan Withey hosts a conversation with David Hill CBE, described as a key architect of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), discussing its origin from David’s experience in environmental impact assessment, his push from biodiversity offsetting to mandated BNG, and why voluntary adoption failed. David argues onsite BNG is ineffective and advocates professional, audited offsite habitat banks, noting BNG costs about 0.6% of gross development value and warning that exemptions, environmental delivery plans, and a levy-based Nature Restoration Fund could undermine private investment and market stability. He outlines his new venture, Foundation for Nature, a ratings agency for nature restoration projects using pillars of ecological integrity, financial security, governance, and community benefits. The episode also covers career advice, policy context, and David’s best and worst nature experiences, including concern over declining curlew populations. 00:00 Podcast Welcome and Context 02:10 Finding Hope in Nature 03:13 Meet David Hill and Episode Preview 05:20 Career Beginnings in Ecology 07:38 Breaking Into the Industry Today 08:52 Skills Volunteering and Higher Study 13:27 The Origin of Biodiversity Net Gain 18:43 Politics and the Economics of Nature 22:34 How to Improve BNG Policy 23:35 No Exemptions and Real Costs 24:53 Why Environmental Delivery Plans Worry Him 28:08 Levy Risks and Nature Restoration Fund 28:27 Policy Scares Off Investors 30:37 Why The Levy Fails 32:13 Foundation For Nature Explained 35:18 Corporate Biodiversity Reporting 38:46 Ratings Pillars And Scoring 42:24 Onsite Versus Offsite BNG 45:42 First Nature Memories 47:50 Best Wildlife Encounters 49:37 Curlew Decline And Solutions 52:41 Rewilding And Shifting Baselines 55:41 Wrap Up And Reflections Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2435249/fan_mail/new]

Episode 30: The Green Thread - Connecting the Dots Between Hard Hats and Habitats with Laurence Cummins, Sustainability Manager at Wates Group

On this episode Jonathan Withey chats with Laurence Cummins, Sustainability Manager at Wates Group, who describes his path from a biology degree and applied research role into leading the nature strand of Wates’ environmental strategy. They discuss drivers behind Wates’ nature work, including the Nature Based Neighbourhoods programme and research with More in Common showing cross-political support for green spaces. Laurence outlines nature tech uses such as high-resolution satellite imagery and the need for a “green thread” of accessible project information to avoid biodiversity outcomes being lost through complex delivery chains, then they close with Laurence’s early nature memories and standout experiences, including seeing dolphins in Cornwall. 00:00 Podcast Welcome Update 01:07 BNG Market Momentum 02:05 Meet Lawrence Waits 04:38 Cafe Intro HiveTrackX 05:41 Laurence's Career Journey 09:33 Waits Nature Strategy 13:48 Nature Based Neighborhoods 16:52 Green Space Business Case 19:37 Skills Capacity Challenges 22:22 Nature Tech In Planning 24:55 Policy Cuts Uncertainty 25:31 Nature Tech Adoption Gap 27:34 Project Complexity Needs Tech 30:34 Green Thread Information 33:03 People Not Just Process 34:49 Childhood Nature Memories 36:41 Nature Discomfort Moments 38:27 Awe Struck Encounters 41:24 Wrap Up Reflections Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2435249/fan_mail/new]