Latest news with #ChrisPackham
Irish Post
5 days ago
- Irish Post
Mount Stewart in Co. Down announced as main location for BBC's Winterwatch 2026
MOUNT STEWART, the 19th century house and garden on the shores of Strangford Lough in Co. Down, has been announced as the main location for the BBC's Winterwatch 2026. Across four nights in early January, presenters Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams will share the latest wildlife updates from the National Trust site. With 10,000 recorded species, the location will offer plenty of opportunities to spot the local wildlife and bring viewers the beauty and drama of the winter natural world. "Beautiful and teeming with wildlife, Mount Stewart is the perfect location for Winterwatch," said Jack Bootle, BBC Head of Commissioning, Specialist Factual. "We're delighted to be working with the National Trust to bring this amazing part of Northern Ireland to audiences across the UK." Wintery woodland Winter stories from Mount Stewart will include the local red squirrels, pine martens and badgers as they venture out into the wintery woodland. Thousands of songbirds arrive nearby, allowing viewers to watch the large flocks of linnet, goldfinch and redwing that descend to devour the estate's abundance of seeds and berries. Bordering Mount Stewart, Strangford Lough is the largest sea lough in the Britain and Ireland. It's famous for its wintering waterfowl, with many ducks and geese feeding on the rich grassland. Live cameras will be located across the site while the show will also bring pre-filmed seasonal stories from across Britain. There will be plenty of opportunities for viewers to interact, get involved and share their own winter wildlife encounters. "We are thrilled to be hosting the team at Mount Stewart in January," said Jenny Ferguson, General Manager for the National Trust at Mount Stewart. "We are excited to tell more stories about the wide range of wildlife which makes their home here on the shores of Strangford Lough and across the wider demesne, plus the challenges nature and our teams face in adapting to the changing climate and more regular and extreme weather events."
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
How the fate of endangered swifts has become a political battleground
As thorny issues go, the plight of the humble swift may seem an unlikely controversy to split political thinking. But, a proposed new law to make including a single 'swift brick' – a block with a cavity for a bird's nest – compulsory for all new homes is now at the heart of a pitched Westminster battle. Reform UK is hoping the environmental cause celebre for the 50 million-year-old species – backed by unlikely allies Jeremy Clarkson and Chris Packham – will help garner them support within the countryside's traditional Tory heartlands. Richard Tice recently posed holding a sign calling for the bricks to be used to help endangered cavity-nesting birds, such as swifts, house martins, sparrows and starlings. The Reform deputy leader, who was once a housing developer, used social media to declare his support for the scheme and asked: 'why won't the Government act?' He wrote: 'The Conservatives rejected swift bricks in government, and now Labour is backtracking despite supporting them in opposition. 'Swifts – one of Britain's most iconic birds – are in steep decline, along with other cavity-nesting species. All they need is a brick with a hole. It's simple, low-cost, and essential.' The party's five MPs are now backing an amendment to the Government's planning Bill in a bid to make the £35 bricks compulsory. The amendment, tabled by Barry Gardiner, the Labour rebel, and backed by the Green party, Liberal Democrats and some Tory MPs, was revised to incorporate the bricks into building regulations, said to be the only way to ensure developers fit them to new dwellings. Although Labour supported the swift brick amendment when it was tabled in Conservative government legislation which failed in 2023, it has now reversed its position. Instead of legislation, Matthew Pennycook, the Housing Minister, wants guidelines to encourage, rather than compel, developers to fit the bricks. Hannah Bourne-Taylor, a 38-year-old former model and now environmentalist who has campaigned tirelessly on the issue – as well as walk nearly naked to Whitehall to promote the cause – believes her campaign has split the Right. She said: 'The swift bricks issue has become an unlikely political battleground. It is now a dividing line between Reform, who have declared their unequivocal support, and the Conservatives, who repeatedly failed while in Government to introduce a law to make them mandatory. 'The Tories are traditionally the party of the countryside. It remains to be seen whether they will pass it through the House of Lords where they have a majority. 'If they don't, the Tories will have killed off this amendment and have turned their backs on an issue that should be their domain. 'As for any fears Sir Keir Starmer may have that this scheme could scupper their plans to 'build baby build'; it seems remarkable that a brick used to do just that – build – could be seen to block developments.' The issue is to be debated in the Commons again during the report stage of the planning and infrastructure bill. The Conservatives failed to respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: 'We've always been clear that our ambition to get Britain building and deliver the 1.5 million homes should create a win-win for nature recovery and development. 'Swift bricks are a simple and effective way to prevent the decline of an important bird species, without impacting building delivery ambitions.'
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Gutted BBC fans complain ‘I can't believe it's the last one!' as beloved series wraps with final episode - and won't return for an entire year
Gutted BBC fans complained 'I can't believe it's the last one!' as a beloved series wraped with its final episode and won't return for an entire year. Presented by Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan, Springwatch usually airs on BBC Two at 8pm from Monday to Thursday. The latest series began on May 26 and has been gripping viewers with updates on the wildlife at National Trust 's Longshaw Estate in the Peak District. However, Thursday's instalment of the longstanding programme saw the season come to a close. Michaela opened up the live show and said: 'Hello and welcome to Springwatch.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Chris then appeared on camera and joked if he had let Michaela present alone 'it would just be fluffy owlets'. He said: 'Hello, yes, we're live at the Longshaw Estate here by the National Trust, in the Peak District National Park for the very last time because this is the end.' 'Well, it's not the end of everything, it's merely the end of our series and we're going out with a bang because tonight we're bringing you a new nest, a dinosaur nest, not live, obviously,' Chris went on. 'As Chris said, it is our last night of the series, it always goes so quickly doesn't it, and we will be celebrating the cast that is still remaining because obviously a lot of them have already fledged,' Michaela added. Some fans were devastated that the series was over and took to social media to express their dismay. One posted on X: 'Thank you #Springwatch it's been fantastic! Missing you already… Hurry back. Looking forward to #Winterwatch now.' 'Another fantastic series. #Springwatch is the epitome of relaxing, watchable telly that's engaging and informative. Shame it has to come to an end.' 'As the titles rolled, I stood and applauded and shed a little tear. I've already bought a animal cam and will be building a pond. Thanks team.' However, Thursday's instalment of the long-standing programme saw the season come to a close. Some fans were devastated that the series was over and took to social media to express their dismay 'I'm always quite sad when #Springwatch finishes for another year… Bring back #AutumnWatch #BBC.' 'Those 3 weeks of #springwatch passed far too fast! Can't believe I didn't make it over to @nationaltrust Longshaw whilst the team were there.' 'I cant believe it's the last one already #springwatch.' The latest series has seen plenty of dramatic wildlife scenes that have left viewers shocked. One instalment of the popular nature programme saw the co-presenters look at footage of a tawny owl and songthrushes, before things took a turn for the worse. Chris recalled how on May 28, the songthrush chicks were doing well and had grown a lot over the course of a week. One of them decided to leave the nest while others stayed behind, which Chris described as a 'big mistake'. 'A little later on, we saw our tawny owl bringing a bird in to Spud, and when Spud jumps down into the box, you can see it's not just the bird, it is a fledgling songthrush,' he explained. Chris added that there was 'no proof' that the bird was the same that had just left the nest. Chris recalled how on May 28, the songthrush chicks were doing well and had grown a lot over the course of a week 'But what happened next at 11.06pm was the tawny owl returned and obviously it would come to this nest and grab those chicks,' he went on. 'Very rapidly it killed the chicks in the nest using its talons and then took hold of one of them and make its way out of the back of the nest.' The presenter clarified again: 'Like I say, no proof that this is Spud's parent of any kind. It could be another tawny owl, however I can tell you that these two nests are 250m apart so it's getting increasingly likely.' However, the scenes proved to be upsetting to some viewers who took to social media to share their thoughts.
Daily Mirror
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Springwatch final episode leaves fans 'sad' after 'savage' scenes
Springwatch viewers were left 'sad' as Springwatch came to a close for this year, with the long-running BBC programme ending its 2025 run BBC viewers were left feeling "sad" and emotional as Springwatch concluded its run for the year. The beloved series, marking its 20th anniversary in 2025, broadcasted its final episode. Presenters Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan said their goodbyes to the nests, while Iolo Williams finished his Northern Irish adventure. Fans expressed disbelief at how quickly the past three weeks had passed, with the team providing a comprehensive summary of various nests and their development. Following last year's cancellation of Autumnwatch due to budgetary constraints, this year's Springwatch kicked off on May 26, airing four times weekly from Monday to Thursday. One viewer lamented on X, "Last episode of #Springwatch tonight, I'm so sad," and another shared, "Last episode of #Springwatch tonight, three weeks have gone quick." Another fan commented, "I cant believe it's the last one already #springwatch," reports the Express. Additionally, a fourth enthusiast suggested online, "We do need a one-off special to celebrate 20 yrs of #Springwatch. With no #Autumnwatch, the savings the BBC have could be used for a one-off special to welcome back all the team & crew for a superb party and memories! Maybe aired across Xmas!". Springwatch has come under fire this week for broadcasting what some viewers have described as "savage" and "distressing" scenes involving a tawny owl and songthrushes. Chris Packham informed the audience that on May 28th, two songthrushes were seen caring for their chicks, which had grown significantly by the end of the week. Chris issued a cautionary note when one thrush left the nest, calling it a "big mistake." The programme then showed harrowing footage of a tawny owl preying on one of the songthrushes, followed by another clip where the owl was seen using its talons to kill the chicks in their nest. The graphic nature of these scenes did not sit well with many viewers, prompting strong reactions on social media. One disgruntled viewer expressed their hope for karmic retribution on X: "Hopefully owl falls out tree and dies #springwatch." Another lamented the fate of the thrushes with a sad post: "Oh no not the thrushes :( #springwatch." A third viewer criticised the show for causing upset among younger audiences: " Well done #springwatch Tens of thousands of children now crying and in distress! They're not all heartless like you. Horrible BBC."
BBC News
13-06-2025
- BBC News
Mount Stewart: BBC Winterwatch to host 2025 show at County Down estate
Mount Stewart in County Down will be the venue for Winterwatch 2026, the BBC has woodlands, farmland fields, hedgerows and ponds are home to about 10,000 recorded species, and its location on the shores of Strangford Lough will allow viewers plenty of opportunity to spot winter National Trust site suffered massive tree loss during Storm Éowyn in January estate team has also made plans to protect its plants and gardens from the predicted effects of climate change. The Springwatch 2025 team has already spent the past week at Mount Stewart and will return for four nights in early January. 'The perfect location' Presenters Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams will be finding out about the latest wildlife updates, with red squirrels, pine martens and badgers all expected to put in an like the linnet, goldfinch and redwing are also frequent visitors to the estate for its berries and seeds. Jack Bootle, the BBC's head of specialist factual commissioning, said Mount Stewart was "beautiful and teeming with wildlife", making it the "perfect" location for Winterwatch."We're delighted to be working with the National Trust and our partners at the Open University to bring this amazing part of Northern Ireland to audiences across the UK," he said. Live cameras Live cameras will be set up across the site and viewers from across the UK will be able to get involved in the programmes."We know how much BBC audiences will enjoy getting to see more of Mount Stewart and its wildlife," said BBC Northern Ireland's director Adam Smyth."We are delighted to be working with BBC Studios and the Natural History Unit in bringing this large-scale BBC outside broadcast to Northern Ireland," he said."It should be a perfect start to the new television year." The estate's general manager, Jenny Ferguson, said her team was "thrilled" to be welcoming the Winterwatch team back in January."We are excited to tell more stories about the wide range of wildlife which makes their home here on the shores of Strangford Lough and across the wider demesne, plus the challenges nature and our teams face in adapting to the changing climate and more regular and extreme weather events," she added.
