#584: Springwatch 2026

It's always good to have Springwatch back... although that means another spring from the ones that I have left to see...

This time round the team are in Northern Ireland.

Last night's episode was a good opener, and you can see them on BBC and iPlayer. You can keep up with the action on the live wildlife cameras too.

One would hope that someone like Chris Packham or Michaela Strachan might be persuaded to work as ambassadors for the new specification once it gets to the stage where it is introduced into schools.

#507: Hamza's Wild Isles

I enjoyed this last night and have enjoyed the other programmes.

A good introduction to some of the wildlife to be found in Britain.

I've seen many of these myself, including badgers in the Peak District, and grebe courtships, and even a Bittern at Titchwell reserve. Also heard them booming on the Broads. Interestingly I was next to the wetlands in Cardiff over the summer as well.

Hamza has had an interesting life.

You can also request a free booklet and postcards from the Open University.

My copies have arrived.

#307: David Attenborough Day

"It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living."

I think it would be a suitable idea to call the 8th of May - Sir David Attenborough Day.

It's his birthday and he turned 98 today. Many Happy Returns Sir!

I had the privilege of meeting him at the RGS some years ago. He has inspired so many people to consider the natural world and its beauty and to take steps to protect it where possible.

Image credit / copyright: Ian Salvage

#118: 8 out of 10 Bats

Watch out, there's a new wildlife show on the block!

Introducing @8OutOf10Bats, coming this autumn to a digital screen near you 🦇🍂 pic.twitter.com/gCH9zuH5vV

— 8 Out Of 10 Bats (@8outof10bats) October 8, 2023

This is the latest offering from Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin

On the website is references the cancellation of Autumnwatch.

There’s a large gap in our calendars this year, after the axing of a certain autumn-based wildlife programme… enter stage 8 Out Of 10 Bats!

We’re delighted to be able to offer two weeks of free live broadcasts celebrating UK wildlife, showcasing campaign issues and giving space to new young & diverse talent. Starting on 23rd October at 7:30pm, the series will be based at two locations; Dundreggan Rewilding Centre in Scotland and the British Wildlife Centre in England.

You can sign up to be on the mailing list.

The programme starts on the 23rd of October. Free to watch on YouTube.

#102: Natural History Reading List #7: 'A Life on Our Planet'

A Life on our Planet has the subtitle: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future, and is written by David Attenborough.

It's an essential book for any library of Natural History-related books.

To accompany the book, there is a Netflix film of the same name, which lasts for one hour and twenty minutes.

The book explores his life and key moments, which are also labelled with the PPM of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere at that time.

The book has a wealth of quotes and information and is available in paperback now and other formats.

“All living things depend on the health of our planet. The only thing stopping humans from complete destruction is ourselves.”

A TES resource - with a biology link.

Twinkl subscribers have some options here as well.

Some resource links here. Geographers were on top of this when the film first came out on Netflix.

And some questions from some famous fans...

And some news from a few weeks ago:

Sir David Attenborough is back to present Planet Earth III 🌏

17 years after the first series aired, Sir David Attenborough returns to narrate the closing chapter of this multi-award winning trilogy.

Coming later this year.#PlanetEarth3 #DavidAttenborough pic.twitter.com/5NWjqdXvCU

— BBC Earth (@BBCEarth) August 31, 2023