In this episode of the "Curious About Nature" podcast, Rachel interviews Annabel Ross, the founder of "Messages from the Wild," a podcast that gives a voice to nature. Annabel discusses her background in audio and nutrition and her passion for radio and the natural world, which led her to create this unique podcast. The podcast features interviews with experts who embody different animals and plants, allowing them to speak about their lives and environments. Rachel and Annabel also discuss the importance of supporting independent bookshops and encouraging young people to read about nature.Annabel Ross/Messages from the WildWebsite: https://messagesfromthewild.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messages_from_the_wild/Curious About Nature is hosted by Buttercup Learning Founder, Rachel Mills. Website: https://buttercuplearning.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buttercup_hello/ Email: info@buttercuplearning.com Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe wherever you're listening to this. Curious About Nature is a nature show for families, home educators and teachers from the team behind Buttercup Learning and the UK's only nature prints with augmented reality. There's a new episode every month where guests discuss nature and ways we can connect our families and communities to nature.What we discussed in the episodeAnnabel Ross and Messages from the Wild [00:00:45] Annabel Ross introduces herself and her work on Messages from the Wild, a podcast that gives a voice to nature.Favourite facts about nature [00:08:26] Annabel Ross talks about the tardigrade, a microscopic animal that can survive extreme conditions and can be brought back to life with a drop of water.Water Bears and House Spiders [00:09:10 - 00:10:42] Annabel Ross talks about her fascination with water bears and the reason why house spiders run so quickly.Books on Nature [00:10:42 - 00:14:14] Annabel Ross shares her favourite books on nature, including "Extraordinary Insects" and "The Secret Network of Nature."Nature Activities [00:15:53 - 00:18:04] Annabel Ross recommends using a microscopic camera to observe nature up close and shares an interview with a young botanist who is passionate about wildflowers and bugs.Finding ways to be curious [00:18:17] Annabel Ross talks about her curiosity and how she finds ways to learn more about nature, including going on guided walks and drawing what she sees.Upcoming episodes of Messages from the Wild [00:21:07] Annabel Ross discusses the upcoming episodes of her podcast, Messages from the Wild, including a series on soil and more episodes on ocean animals.Detachment from nature and positive actions [00:25:36] Annabel Ross and Rachel Mills discuss how humans have detached themselves from nature and the negative impact it has had. But also highlight the positive actions being taken by experts in conservation and science.ResourcesSlimbridge Wetlands Trust: https://www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/slimbridge/Lost Gardens of Heligan: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/the-lost-gardens-of-heliganMobile phone microscopic camera and Countryfile magazine: mentioned at 00:16:49BooksExtraordinary Insects by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson: