Nature, Wildlife and Countryside Living with Chris Skinner from High Ash Farm Chris Skinner, a Norfolk farmer, takes a unique approach to farming, prioritizing biodiversity and wildlife conservation in every practice. Tune in every Sunday morning as Chris, alongside broadcaster Matthew Gudgin, explores topics on nature, wildlife, and rural life. Join them for strolls through High Ash Farm and beyond, spotting wildlife and addressing your queries about the natural world. Email questions for C ...
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Nature, wildlife and countryside living with Chris Skinner from High Ash Farm. Chris is a Norfolk farmer doing things differently; all of his practices are informed by his dedication to biodiversity and wildlife. Join Chris and broadcaster Matthew Gudgin every Sunday morning as they talk nature, wildlife and countryside living. Enjoy walks around High Ash Farm and further afield as the pair spot wildlife and answer your questions. New episode released every Sunday at 0700 GMT To support and ...
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This show is where we talk about cannabis and mental health. Join us as we try to break the stigma of cannabis and mental health.
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Join Bex from the children's radio station Fun Kids as she meets top authors who tell her about their books and also read us chapters from them. Plus, Bex and friends recommend their favourite kids books of the month. You can listen to Bex on Fun Kids (weekdays from 4pm) on DAB Digital Radio across the UK, on the free Fun Kids app, and online at funkidslive.com Plus, when you become a Fun Kids Podcasts Plus subscriber, you get this show – and 30 others! – ad-free and support the work Fun Kid ...
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Episode 2.22 - Woodpeckers and Witches’ Brooms Summer’s Secret Symphony
45:52
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45:52Send us a text "Woodpeckers and Witches’ Brooms: Summer’s Secret Symphony" In this captivating episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin dive into the early summer splendour of High Ash Farm, where nature hums with hidden wonders. From their bird hide, they marvel at great spotted woodpeckers—vivid parents darting to a l…
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GT KARBER & SUZIE EDGE: Murdle Junior and History Stinks! Wee, Snot and Poo Through Tim
20:47
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20:47Welcome to the latest episode of Book Worms! First up, Bex is joined by TikTok historian Suzie Edge whose hilarious new book - History Stinks! Wee, Snot and Poo Through Time - brings history to life in all its gruesome, revolting glory. Finally, think you can crack the case? GT Karber brings brain-bending mysteries for young minds in Murdle Junior.…
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Episode 2.21 - Shepherd’s Purse, Soldier’s Float
48:13
48:13
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48:13Send us a text Bask in the sunlit splendour of High Ash Farm’s wildflower meadows, where Chris Skinner guides us through a vibrant tapestry of nature’s small wonders. Marvel at the common blue butterflies, their Wedgwood-hued wings dancing over bird’s foot trefoil, a legume bursting into bright yellow bloom. Amid the meadow, yellow rattle thrives, …
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Episode 2.20 - Cubs and Cones, Woodland’s Shared Spaces
44:17
44:17
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44:17Send us a text Join Chris Skinner in the verdant depths of Fox's Grove, where spring unveils a remarkable tale of coexistence: badgers and foxes sharing the same sprawling set, with cubs of both species thriving in harmony. Discover the delicate beauty of the early purple orchid, steeped in Shakespearean lore, and marvel at the ash trees’ surprisin…
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ZOHRA NABI & FRANN PRESTON-GANNON : Deep Dark and Little Lim and the Golden Treasure
17:46
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17:46Welcome to the latest episode of Book Worms! This week on Bookworms, we plunge into the shadowy streets of Victorian London with Deep Dark by Zohra Nabi. And to close the show, award-winning author Frann Preston-Gannon joins Bex to dive into her magical new adventure, Little Lim and the Golden Treasure. That's all on this week's episode of Fun Kids…
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Episode 2.19 - Fox Cubs’ Feast, Galls’ Hidden Guests
45:36
45:36
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45:36Send us a text Join Chris Skinner at High Ash Farm for a captivating exploration of nature’s quirks in Norfolk’s countryside. This week, Chris unveils the ghostly spectacle of a spindle tree shrouded in the webs of brown tail moth caterpillars, a phenomenon both eerie and fascinating, while warning of their irritating hairs. The journey continues w…
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Episode 2.18 - May’s White Veil, Swifts’ Sickle Flight
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51:37Send us a text Embark on a captivating journey with Chris Skinner as he ventures from High Ash Farm to the Suffolk coast at Aldeburgh to witness the awe-inspiring arrival of swifts. Marvel at these sickle-shaped marvels as they soar above the marshes, hoovering up aerial plankton and clocking millions of miles in their lifetime. Back at the farm, C…
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NICOLA BAKER & ASH BOND: Whistledown Farm and Peregrine Quinn
19:28
19:28
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19:28Welcome to the latest episode of Book Worms! First up, Nicola Baker whisks us away to the countryside in Whistledown Farm: Meeting Meg, where magical animals and ancient secrets stir beneath the soil. And lastly, myth and mayhem awaits in Ash Bond's Peregrine Quinn: Mask of Chaos. That's all on this week's episode of Fun Kids Book Worms! Join Fun K…
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Episode 2.17 - Bluebells in Peril, Swallows in Flight
46:34
46:34
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46:34Send us a text Join Chris Skinner at High Ash Farm for a vibrant spring morning filled with the tireless energy of returning swallows and the delicate beauty of the countryside. In this episode, Chris captures the dawn chorus as over 20 swallows busily build nests with mud and straw in the farm’s stables, marking the true arrival of summer. Venturi…
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Episode 2.16 - Kisses of Mistletoe, Blossoms of Crab Apple
39:24
39:24
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39:24Send us a text Join Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin on a rain-soaked adventure at High Ash Farm, where the long-awaited spring showers bring life to the Norfolk countryside. Under dripping umbrellas, they explore the sticky secrets of mistletoe, a semi-parasitic plant thriving on ancient trees, and marvel at the delicate pink-tipped blossoms of th…
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GREG JAMES & CHRIS SMITH, TAMSIN MORI, EVE WERSOCKI-MORRIS AND ELLA DOVE: The Kid Who Fell Through Time, The Watcher, Clem Fatale Has Been Betrayed & How To Roller-Skate with One Leg
39:14
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39:14Welcome to the latest episode of Book Worms! First up, get ready for time-travel twists as Radio 1 star, Greg James, and co-author, Chris Smith, join Bex to chat about their new book, The Kid Who Fell Through Time. Next, Tamsin Mori reveals the magic behind The Watcher, book two in her Gargoyles series. Eve Wersocki-Morris brings 1950s London to li…
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Episode 2.15 - Wings of Summer The Swallow’s Return
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48:16Send us a text In Episode 2.15 of The Countryside Podcast with Chris Skinner, we’re back at High Ash Farm, where the first swallows of the season have arrived, heralding the promise of summer with their daring aerial acrobatics. Chris’s infectious enthusiasm shines as he shares the miraculous 5,000-mile migration of these tiny birds, weighing less …
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Episode 2.14 - Windflowers, Wings, and Wily Ash
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45:51Send us a text April unfurls its wonders at High Ash Farm as Chris Skinner guides us through a sun-dappled tapestry of nature’s finest. From the slither of a grass snake basking in the warmth to the ancient whisper of windflowers carpeting the woodland floor, this episode is a celebration of spring’s slow and swift marvels. We chase the delicate da…
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PÁDRAIG KENNY, BARBARA HENDERSON & CLAIRE HATCHER-SMITH: After, I Don't Do Mountains & Mizzy's Mysteries
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27:05Welcome to the latest episode of Book Worms! First up, it's Claire Hatcher-Smith's Mizzy's Mysteries which follows twelve-year-old Mizzy as she proves to the world she can solve mysteries just like Sherlock Holmes. Next, it’s Pádraig Kenny's After, where Jen and her father are making their way across a deserted world after a technological collapse …
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Episode 2.13 - Stoats, Sloes, Snipe and Spawn
51:03
51:03
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51:03Send us a text In "Episode 2.13 - Stoats, Sloes, Snipe and Spawn," Chris Skinner ushers us into a misty late March morning at High Ash Farm near Norwich. A trail cam unveils the stealthy common snipe, its long beak probing the lake’s edge, while frog and toad spawn teems in the shallows—high ash caviar aplenty. Blackthorn hedges burst with blooms, …
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Episode 2.12 - Deer Dances and Ant Armies
52:51
52:51
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52:51Send us a text Join farmer Chris Skinner for another enchanting journey through the wilds of High Ash Farm in this week’s Countryside Podcast. As spring unfolds, Chris shares a magical early morning encounter with Roe deer—fairies of the wood—dancing through the undergrowth, their velvet antlers catching the first light. Back at the farm, the porch…
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ELENA FAVILLI, MC GRAMMAR, BROGAN MURPHY & HUGH RAINE: Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, The Adventures of Rap Kid, Wildlands & Betty and Yeti
38:07
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38:07Welcome to the latest episode of Book Worms! First up, we have Elena Favilli, co-author of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls—the bestselling series celebrating its 10th anniversary, featuring inspiring stories of extraordinary women from history and today. Next, it’s MC Grammar and The Adventures of Rap Kid- a fast-paced, rhyme-filled adventure ab…
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Episode 2.11 - Leverets and Lent Lilies: A March Awakening
53:15
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53:15Send us a text In this exhilarating episode of the Countryside Podcasts, Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin venture across High Ash Farm on a crisp mid-March morning, where spring begins to unfurl its wonders. From a windswept hill, they marvel at the elusive mad March hares—tawny-gold giants lounging on their seats, mere yards away—joined by Chinese…
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JENNY MCLACHLAN, PAMELA BUTCHART & RHIAN TRACEY: Dragon Riders of Raw, Diary of a Future Billionaire & Wink, Murder
29:10
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29:10Welcome to the latest episode of Book Worms! First, we’re soaring into an action-packed fantasy with Jenny McLachlan’s Dragon Riders of Raw—a thrilling adventure filled with fearless heroes, high-stakes danger, and, of course, magnificent dragons! Next, get ready for some laugh-out-loud fun with Pamela Butchart’s Diary of a Future Billionaire, wher…
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Episode 2.10 - Nest Builders and Seed Seekers
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42:05
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42:05Send us a text In this vibrant episode of the Countryside Podcasts, recorded on a glorious spring morning in early March at High Ash Farm, Chris Skinner and his co-host immerse listeners in the thriving world of nature. From the mobile bird hide (Chris’s farm truck), they observe the bustling High Ash Rookery, where rooks are busy rebuilding nests …
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WORLD BOOK DAY 2025: Benjamin Dean & Kiran Millwood Hargrave
18:20
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18:20It’s World Book Day 2025, and this week, Bex is joined by two authors whose books are available for just £1 with your World Book Day token. First up it’s award-winning author Benjamin Dean and his new book This Story Is A Lie-where Harley’s dream of joining the ‘Rising Stars’ program turns into a nightmare when he uncovers a chilling threat—someone…
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Episode 2.9 - Gravestones and Orchids: Echoes of Earth
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37:26Send us a text Episode 2.9 - Gravestones and Orchids: Echoes of Earth Step into the shadow of Caistor St. Edmund’s ancient churchyard with Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin, where weathered gravestones murmur tales of High Ash Farm’s toilers—men like “Happy” Holden and a boy who ploughed with horses before sailing to New Zealand. History fades into …
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Episode 2.8 - Travelers Above, Toilers Below
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43:21
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43:21Send us a text "Travelers Above, Toilers Below" bids adieu to winter’s visitors and unearths the quiet laborers of the countryside. Join Chris Skinner and Matthew Gudgin at High Ash Farm under February’s low sun as they watch fieldfares and redwings fuel up for their North Sea journey, their cinnamon-speckled breasts aglow. Beneath the pastures, mo…
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JB GILL, JUDITH EAGLE, LIZ HYDER & PENNY BOXALL: Ace and The Animal Heroes, The Great Theatre Rescue, The Twelve & Letty and The Mystery of The Golden Thread
37:25
37:25
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37:25Welcome to the latest episode of Book Worms! This week, we're stepping into 1930s London with The Great Theatre Rescue by Judith Eagle, which follows Charley's story—a spirited young girl who embarks on a journey to save the theatre she loves. Next, it's Penny Boxall’s Letty and the Mystery of the Golden Thread, where we meet Letty Breech, who is e…
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Episode 2.7 - Hidden in Plain Sight: The Silent Work of Nature’s Tiny Heroes
40:48
40:48
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40:48Send us a text "Hidden in Plain Sight: The Silent Work of Nature’s Tiny Heroes" dives into the often overlooked yet crucial roles played by nature's smallest inhabitants. Join hosts Chris Skinner and Matthew as they explore High Ash Farm, uncovering the secrets of the ecosystem. From the heat of compost heaps teeming with brandling worms to the fas…
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Episode 2.6 - Barking Up the Right Tree - From Orchids to Old Oaks
43:28
43:28
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43:28Send us a text Join Rat Skinner, Farmer Chris and Matthew Gudgin at High Ash Farm for the latest episode of 'Gulps of Fresh Air,' where the countryside comes alive. This week, we're treated to the lively antics of Chris's boisterous terrier, not quite the sheepdog the flock behind us would prefer, as they prepare to move off the farm after a succes…
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GORDON D'ARCY, ESTHER MARSHALL & GREGG MILLMAN: Let's Play Rugby, Sophie Says & The Kandy Kingdom
26:26
26:26
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26:26Welcome to the latest episode of Book Worms! On this week's episode, Bex chats to former Hollywood screenwriter, Gregg Millman, about his new book The Kandy Kingdom- a place where the sweet treats are at war with the sours. Esther Marshall updates us with the latest addition to her Sophie Says series which is all about inspiring confidence in young…
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Episode 2.5 - Moss Magic Exploring the Miniature Forest
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43:15
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43:15Send us a text Join Chris Skinner on another enlightening episode of "The Countryside Podcast" at High Ash Farm. This week, Chris takes us on an adventurous journey, starting by exploring the unique life cycle of the moss Tortula muralis, perched high on an old roof accessed by a cherry picker. Discover how this resilient plant thrives in extreme c…
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Episode 2.4 - The Tangled Roots of High Ash
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39:06Send us a text In this episode, Chris Skinner takes us through the enchanting yet challenging winter landscape of High Ash Farm in Norfolk. The podcast begins with an evening exploration where Chris discusses the mysterious fall of mature ash trees, potentially due to ash dieback affecting their roots. Despite the grim start, the episode transition…
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CHRIS PACKHAM, SUSAN BROWNRIGG & JOEL ARCANJO: Superhero Plants, Wrong Tracks & The Impossible Fortress
27:24
27:24
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27:24Welcome to the latest episode of Book Worms! On this week's episode, Susan Brownrigg tells us about her latest historical adventure as we travel back to 1829 in Wrong Tracks- finding out about the beginning of the railways! Joel Arcanjo updates us on how the young thieves in training are getting along with the fourth book in the Crookhaven series: …
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Send us a text In this episode of The Countryside Podcast, Chris and Matthew witness the breath-taking spectacle of waterfowl arrivals at the pond, reminiscent of Heathrow Airport with birds coming from all directions. Chris observes Mallards with their distinctive bottle-green heads, Egyptian geese, and Teal, all descending from high above, circli…
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Episode 2.2 - The Hazel's Whisper and the Jackdaw's Call
39:21
39:21
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39:21Send us a text Chris and Matthew delve into the history of Hazel at the farm and some of the common uses before Chris heads out for an evening visit to the corvid roost. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2432378/episodes/16414292-episode-2-2-the-hazel-s-whisper-and-the-jackdaw-s-call.mp3?download=true Support the show Please email any questions for Chris …
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SIBEAL POUNDER & JORDAN LEES: Sprouts & The Whisperwicks: The Labyrinth of Lost and Found
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17:34Welcome to the latest episode of Book Worms! Bex kicks off with Sibéal Pounder’s Sprouts—set in a world where it’s Christmas every day! Join Gryla Garland and Merrilee Claus as they uncover the true meaning of the holiday. Lastly, Bex is joined by Jordan Lees to delve into the magic and secrets of his latest fantasy epic, The Whisperwicks: The Laby…
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Send us a text Kicking off 2025 with a fresh start, Chris and Matthew launch the new season of podcasts, now proudly produced by High Ash Farm itself! As the calendar turns, they celebrate the arrival of The Flower of Hope - the snowdrop, marking the first whisper of spring. This delicate bloom not only heralds new beginnings but also brings a touc…
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Send us a text Support the show Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to [email protected] This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, eve…
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Send us a text Support the show Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to [email protected] This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, eve…
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Send us a text Support the show Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to [email protected] This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, eve…
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Episode 1.63 - Woodpigeon and Stock Doves
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43:47Send us a text Support the show Please email any questions for Chris to answer on the podcast to [email protected] This podcast is brought to you by High Ash Farm. To support our efforts in creating this content, please consider making a small monthly or one-off donation. Your contributions help us with production costs, and after expenses, eve…
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