Grab a cup of tea and a blanket and get ready to get lost in the natural world of the North East as Springwatch returns for a new series with episodes filmed live from the Northumberland Coast.
As part of a three-week road trip with presenter Megan McCubbin, the popular BBC2 programme will be broadcast live from Northumberland Wildlife Trust's Hauxley Wildlife Discovery Centre from Monday June 6 - Thursday June 9. It's the second time in quick succession that the trust's reserves have featured on the BBC, after an appearance on Songs of Praise on Sunday May 22.
Over four nights, the live programmes will be interspersed with pre-recorded films from the Druridge Bay area. Films will include the mining history of the Hauxley reserve, the roseate terns and puffins on Coquet Island and the splendour of the reserve with its array of birds, mammals and red squirrels which entertain visitors with their antics up and down the trees next to the car park.
Read more: Critical year for Northumberland puffins as rangers start this year's count on Farne Islands
The filming at Druridge Bay follows a week at Kielder Forest, where osprey eggs have recently been laid for the 13th consecutive year and pine martens have returned to, with Megan watching said ospreys hunt and learning more about the water vole reintroduction programme Restoring Ratty. She'll also revel the forest being one of the best dark sky locations in the UK and what that means for its wildlife.
Following the week at Hauxley, Megan is also expected to stop in Newcastle city centre and Gateshead on her road trip. There, she'll be broadcasting live from the Kittiwake tower, and an allotment which is home to denning foxes, hedgehogs and some visiting parakeets.
Behind the scenes, the wildlife charity's Alex Lister, Wilder Druridge Manager; Sophie Webster, East Chevington Catch My Drift Project Officer; and the Hauxley volunteers will be working around the clock with Megan as she hosts the live programmes. The decision to broadcast is a great sense of achievement for the team who, between 2015 and 2017, managed 112 dedicated volunteers who built the Wildlife Discovery Centre.
Have you visited Hauxley Reserve? Let us know!
Over 24,000 hours were spent on the Centre's construction before it was opened in June 2017 by television presenter and wildlife cameraman Simon King OBE, who described it as a 'jewel in the crown of reserves along the Northumberland Coast.'
Alex Lister, Wilder Druridge Manager, said: "We are incredibly excited that Springwatch has decided to run part of this year’s programme from the Wildlife Discovery Centre. When we built this unique eco-friendly building, we hoped that one day this could happen.
"So this really is a dream come true for everybody at the Trust and all associated with our Hauxley and Druridge Bay reserves. Whether the sun shines or not, the four days at the start of June will give this part of the country and its wildlife a much welcome boost and encourage people to come and see if for themselves."
Springwatch will air on BBC Two at 8pm on May 30 and will be available for catch up on iPlayer shortly afterwards.
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