Pre-filmed Inserts
As ever, Winterwatch will have pre-recorded films that cover the length and breadth of the country, bringing geographical diversity as well as a wide variety of animal, scientific and cultural stories.
Published: 22 January 2019
Live wildlife possibilities
Wildlife films
Every winter in the Cornish town of St Ives, a group of small, unassuming birds take over the promenade. They are turnstones, and we follow these intrepid individuals as they forage at the tide line while they can, then show their versatility as the tide forces them into town… feeding on some surprising things.
A complete contrast to charming and quaint St Ives is bustling, industrial Teesside. Here seals, foxes and short-eared owls use the city lights to hunt for longer during the winter months.
Orkney is the storm capital of the UK, with huge waves rolling in across the Atlantic in winter. Cameramen Raymond Bessant has been out during the worst this winter could throw at him, finding many animals thriving despite the weather, as well as some surprising moments of peace and calm.
Kelp is a vital, and easily overlooked part of the UK marine ecosystem, and this film aims to change that - showcasing how important this ‘seaweed’ is both underwater, and on the shoreline too.
In deepest darkest suburban Essex, a huge herd of fallow deer roam the streets… but are they good or bad news according to the locals?
There is something special about winter light, and this film by cameraman Tom Hartwell seeks to discover just what it might be...
Presenter-led films
Gillian has been to Dartmoor to track down a mysterious gathering in the woods… where winter moths gather in crowds at this time of year. With mass-mating moths, there are also predators taking advantage of this unusual winter feast.
Chris and Iolo go head-to-head as they each champion one of our most iconic and beloved owls - it’s Barn Owl vs. Tawny.
Michaela takes Chris on a picnic with a difference. Based in a car park, they lure down a whole host of small birds to feed from their hands. But will either of them get the Holy Grail - the crested tit?
Chris meets Joe Harkness, the author of a new book, Bird Therapy, which explores how bird watching has been good for Joe’s mental health.
Chris, Michaela, Gillian and Iolo are getting involved in this year’s Big Garden Birdwatch - but in teams of two, who will come out the victor?
Passionate People
Nan Shepherd’s Cairngorms. Shepherd is one of the most loved and respected writers about the Cairngorms, and her book, The Living Mountain, published in 1977, is seen as a classic, looking at our relationship with wild places, and how we might fit into them.
Academic Dr Samantha Walton takes us through Shepherd’s work, and shows us how it is as relevant to the modern day Cairngorms as it ever was.
Merlins fly where merlin engines used to hum, falcons glide past falcons, and the golden plover fly in formation like the most highly-trained Red Arrows team.
Winterwatch Digital
The Winterwatch digital team will be up and running just before the TV shows start, and will be providing a wealth of exciting extra content for those that just can’t get enough on the TV shows.
There will be extra clips not seen on TV, such as super-cuts of the astonishing drone footage showcasing our new home and outtakes and unseen content from filming.
Regular highlight packages from the remote cameras will provide a more in-depth insight into the secret lives of the animals we are covering, and interviews with the people behind the camera will show the secret lives of the crew!
The Watches’ resident expert Brett Westwood will be on hand to answer viewers’ wildlife-related questions on Facebook and Twitter - and it’s about time someone came up with something to stump him!
All this and much more will be available online at www.bbc.co.uk/winterwatch, and on social media channels Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, @bbcspringwatch, #winterwatch
Further Afield
The Winterwatch ‘Live Lesson’
- Date: Thursday, 31 January 2019
- Time: 2pm (approx. 35 mins)
BBC Teach Live Lessons are 30-minute shows devised around the national curriculum, and broadcast live into schools up and down the country.
This January a Live Lesson will be based around Winterwatch and the wildlife and habitats that the programme will be showcasing throughout the week, giving primary school students a unique insight into the programme and its wild stars.
Hosted by Naomi Wilkinson, the show will feature a live audience, experts and animals in the studio, and regular live links from the Cairngorms with Chris Packham.
For more information on the show and how schools can get involved visit the Winterwatch page at www.bbc.com/teach/live-lessons
