Rare Earth - All In This Together

All In This Together

Download All In This Together

Helen Czerski and Tom Heap ask if nature is really red in tooth and claw. Is life all about survival of the fittest or are we all working together on a changing planet?

They're joined by Rowan Hooper, author of Togetherness, lichen expert April Windle and Isabel Hardman, assistant editor of the Spectator magazine and author of The Natural Health Service: How Nature Can Mend Your Mind.

Together they discuss the plants and insects that rely on deals with other species to keep themselves healthy, from fungus-farming ants to the Wood Wide Web that connects most living plants. April shows Helen the wondrous lichens of Hyde Park and Rowan discovers the orchids studied by Charles Darwin at his home in Kent.

Producer: Ed Prendeville

Assistant Producer: Toby Field

Special thanks to English Heritage and The Royal Parks

Published on Friday, 4th September 2026.

Available Podcasts from Rare Earth

Subscribe to Rare Earth

We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the Rare Earth webpage.