Springwatch At Pensthorpe

We were proud once again to the host the BBC Springwatch series. The 2010 series was our third year with the programme so lets take a the opportunity for a nostalgic look back.

In 2008 the TV nature stars were the family of Coal Tits, with Great Tits, Blue Tits, Green Finches, Blackbirds, Oyster Catchers, the delightful Little-ringed Plovers and, of course, the Swallow and Wren families in the Springwatch Studio. During the 2009 series the poor house-keeping of the Goldfinches, the shocking antics of the male Swallow and the disaster with the Little Ringed Plover at the Wader Scrape had us all completely captivated. The natural world of the birds and animals at Pensthorpe, which we were privileged to see on our screens each evening, was truly remarkable. The interview with Kate and Chris, with Kate talking about the highs from last year and Chris speaking about Pensthorpe can be viewed here.

2010 was another year where the Pensthorpe Reserve didn't disappoint with the wildlife offering even more Springwatch 'firsts'.  We were thrilled when Avocets bred and successfully hatched four chicks, the first on the reserve since 1994, and we the Pensthorpe team have enjoyed watching them grow into healthy young birds.  We all witnessed how gentle Sparrowhawks can be as they turn their eggs and delicately feed their young - another species never shown by the Springwatch team.  The reserve showed that is able to offer more than just birds as the second week saw a real focus on the River Wensum, a nationally important river and of course who could forget the glow worms!  Another great year packed full of live content from the numerous cameras set-up around the reserve. 

Springwatch series Producer Roger Webb is delighted about the return of the show to Pensthorpe in 2010:

"It's great to be heading back to Norfolk and the Pensthorpe Nature Reserve. This will be our third year and I've got a feeling it will be our best yet.  The county of Norfolk is a special place for wildlife and this year we're going to spread our net a little wider to reveal some of the wild gems that live there. But of course we can only do our best to plan because, as is the case every year, it's nature that writes the script!"