Protecting our natural heritage

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Oct 23, 2007

Set the video. Every Wednesday on BBC One at 9pm, there's a series that looks at the fabulous flora and fauna which exists within our own green and pleasant land.

Urban Britain, BBC One, October 24 Matt Baker finds out how rare wildlife is doing in Morpeth. The white-clawed crayfish thrives in the River Wansbeck, but ifs one of the few places in Britain where they still survive. They have been in decline ever since the introduction of the American signal crayfish which carries a virus to which our native species has no immunity.

Matt also joins in with some volunteers who are willow spiling in the town's Carlisle Park. By planting willow into the banks of the local beck it forms a living barrier to help shore up the sides which are eroding and damaging the local wildlife habitat.

Freshwater, October 31

Matt Baker discovers how Cumbrians are Matt Baker trying to save one of their precious lakes. Bassenthwaite Lake near Keswick is getting shallower and pollution is seriously harming the local environment. Volunteers are working to save the lake and the wildlife that depend on it, such as the ospreys and a rather special fish called vendace.

Coastal Britain, November 7

Matt discovers how wildlife thrives in the heart of industrial Teesside. As Matt finds out, such a bleak horizon is actually great for wildlife because virtually no-one comes here to disturb them. That's particularly true of the seals which haul up onto the mudflats.

In complete contrast, Matt also heads to Coquet Island, off the Northumberland coast. The reserve, just off Amble, is home to the largest colony of roseate terns in Britain. Thafs down to the hard work of the RSPB and Northumberland Coastal Volunteers.

Woodland Britain, November 14 Matt visits Castle Eden Dene near Peterlee, one of the best preserved gorge woodlands in Britain.

He meets Arthur Bowes who each week carries out a butterfly transect: A regular walk where he notes down the butterflies he sees. It forms part of a national survey and Arthur has noticed the arrival of species that have moved north - possibly an early indicator of how the region is warming up. Matt also meets a group of recovering drug addicts who help with conservation work. He helps them remove rhododendron, a plant introduced by the Victorians which smothers our native plants. Finally, down by the coast, Matt has a go at butterfly marking.

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GOING WILD: Matt Baker