Eel

Available for 340 days

Ian (played by Mark Rylance) has gone to work for neighbouring landowner Theo Buckhurst as Liv (Sophie Okonedo) prepares to sell up to Wildscapes – but nature, as ever, has a different plan, and a major flood event is forecast to engulf Fleggwick. The third in the series of Steve Waters’ seasonal dramas follows the life of a fictional wetlands nature reserve, over the period of one year. Storm clouds are well and truly established over the nature reserve Liv has inherited from her father. The oncoming flood will bring a pulse of salt water into the Fen, threatening countless fresh water species. And with plans to sell Fleggwick also complete, the future looks decidedly insecure in this otherwise beautiful corner of Norfolk. Song of the Reed is recorded on location at RSPB’s Strumpshaw Fen. The story is informed by the sounds of the reserve as well as the real work and science of conservation taking place in the face of rapid environmental change in the wetlands of Norfolk, and everywhere. Cast: Liv - Sophie Okonedo Ian - Mark Rylance Tam - Ella Dorman Gajic Kay - Molly Naylor Theo - Tom Goodman-Hill Nikki - Karen Hill Charlie - Jimmy Rutherford Voice of the Reed - Christine Kavanagh Other parts played by staff and volunteers at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen Written by Steve Waters Music by Michael Somerset Ward with Rebecca Hearne Cello played by Liz Hanks Sound design by Alisdair McGregor Produced and Directed by Boz Temple-Morris A Holy Mountain production for BBC Radio 4