A NEW series showcasing Scotland’s wildlife, habitats and scenery is to be shown by BBC Scotland in the autumn.
The focus for the new three-part series Scotland The New Wild is an intimate but also wide-ranging portrait of the varied and special wildlife of Scotland, with behaviours that have never been filmed before and stories of several rare species, some of which face new and uncertain futures.
Each episode explores a different part of the country – the Islands, the Lowlands and the Highlands.
The series will look at the challenges facing the natural world in Scotland at a time of rising awareness of the climate change and biodiversity crisis, alongside an appreciation of how special Scotland’s wildlife really is.
Habitats in the series range from the Caledonian forest of the Highlands, to the machair of the Western isles, and the important seagrass meadows in the shallow seas around Scotland’s coast, as well as unexpected urban surprises.
Viewers will see dramatic fights between grey seal bulls on the remote Monach Isles, Red deer rutting on the isle of Rum, peregrine falcons patrolling Edinburgh’s skies, whilst young fox cubs take their first steps beside the water of Leith and Glasgwegian water voles living happily nowhere near water.
The series also features dramatic footage from high up in the Scots pine canopy as Wood ants “farm” aphids and basking sharks feast on plankton blooms off the coast.
Three years in the making, the series is produced by Glasgow based Maramedia in co-production with Terra Mater Studios, Skyland Productions and Doclights/NDR Naturfilm.
The series will have its UK debut on the BBC Scotland channel and will also transmit in Austria, and Germany before going onto further international screenings.
Other series Maramedia has made for BBC Scotland include the award-winning Highlands : Scotland’s Wild Heart, Stormborn , Wild Shetland and Hebrides: Islands on the Edge.
BBC Scotland Commissioning Editor David Harron said: “We are delighted to be showcasing this series which will focus on Scotland’s natural history treasures on an epic scale, highlighting the challenges and changes faced by the wildlife with whom we share the country.
“Scotland’s wildlife and terrain is a magical mixture which delights viewers and we are delighted to have worked again on this series with Maramedia who we have commissioned over the years to create a string of beautiful programmes.”
Jackie Savery of Maramedia, said: “We are delighted to be working with BBC Scotland again and are very proud to present Scotland The New Wild. The series is a true celebration of the stunning and special wildlife of Scotland as well as highlighting the very current issues affecting them.
"The team here at Maramedia - working closely with scientists and conservationists - have managed to capture some fascinating and rare behaviour of the wildlife of the nation. We hope it will inspire viewers to engage with our very special natural heritage.”
The series was filmed by acclaimed wildlife film-maker Fergus Gill. Narrated by up and coming Scottish actor Thoren Ferguson, the series will have a specially composed soundtrack by award winning Glasgow-based composer Fraser Purdie.
Further details of its contents will be released closer to transmission in the autumn on the BBC Scotland channel and BBC iPlayer.
