
In Episode 3 of On the Ground, the new podcast from Geographical, Laura Cole reports on a string of unusual livestock deaths, a contaminated ditch, and the man who exposed one of the first major environmental scandals
It’s 1963 in the village of Smarden and all around the vet, Douglas Good, the animals have started to behave erratically. They pace the ground, run away, or become overly thirsty. Then, they fall down dead.
What he does next will make this story of the strangest of the chemical age.
This is On The Ground, a new podcast from Geographical, written and hosted by Laura Cole. In this series, Laura will be getting out from behind her desk and on the ground, reporting from across the UK’s landscape – and speaking to the people changing it.
Listen to the full story here, or find us on your favourite podcast app.




