Bittern

Available for over a year

Conclusion of this seasonal drama following life on a wetlands nature reserve in Norfolk over one year. Starring Sophie Okonedo and Mark Rylance. Ian (Mark Rylance) returns to Fleggwick for the first time since suffering serious injuries during the winter’s flood and finds it as beautiful and full of life as ever, but still endangered as Liv (Sophie Okonedo) struggles to find a way to keep the Reserve going. This is the fourth and final episode of an innovative drama, with instalments recorded on location at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen in Norfolk every three months, documenting the extraordinary wetlands habitat as it changes through the seasons. This episode features the Bittern as its special guest star – a characterful bird known for its booming call. Song of the Reed, by Steve Waters, 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 Sadegh - Zaydun Khalaf 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 Sound design by Alisdair McGregor Produced and Directed by Boz Temple-Morris A Holy Mountain production for BBC Radio 4