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BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

BBC Radio 3

Radio 3

The Essay Podcast

The Essay

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond, themed across a week - insight, opinion and intellectual surprise.

The Essay: Before 'Silent Spring'

The Essay: Before 'Silent Spring': Episode 5: John Clare

Documentaries

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Before 'Silent Spring'

Episode 5

Episode 5: John Clare

John Clare

BBC Radio 3 - The Essay, Before 'Silent Spring', John Clare

Richard Mabey on poet John Clare and his stark warnings about environmental destruction.

Richard Mabey explores the role of 19th-century poet John Clare in bringing the beauty and fragility of the natural environment to wider public attention.

Richard Mabey discovered Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring' and the work of the nineteenth century poet John Clare around the same time and was surprised to find so many similarities between them. Both highlighted the complex links between all living things and both gave stark warnings about the dangers of breaking those links. In the last essay of the week, Richard explores John Clare's role in bringing the beauty and fragility of the natural environment to wider public attention.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Writers, scientists and environmental campaigners trace the roots of the green movement

Writers, scientists and environmental campaigners reflect on the figures whose ideas preceded the influential 1962 book Silent Spring and laid the foundations of the contemporary green movement

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The Essay

Before 'Silent Spring'

Episode 5: John Clare

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