91Èȱ¬

The highly popular 91Èȱ¬ programme Springwatch comes to Norfolk for the 2008 series.

Bill Oddie and Kate Humble are moving from the legendary Springwatch farm in Devon to their new base at Pensthorpe Nature Reserve near Fakenham.

The Springwatch team will be broadcasting live from the reserve on a daily basis, with exclusive behind-the-scenes content available from 91Èȱ¬ Norfolk.

The world-famous Natural History Unit team arrived at Pensthorpe on Monday, 12 May to begin the two-week build on the production village, gallery, studio, editing facilities.

They will also install dozens of hidden Springwatch cameras to capture the magic wildlife moments.

Bill Oddie and Kate Humble

Bill Oddie, who's based at Pensthorpe with co-presenter Kate Humble, is delighted the programme is coming from Norfolk.

"Pensthorpe is an amazing place with its combination of good things to see and do as wonderful conservation projects going on behind-the-scenes. I'm thrilled that it is to be the new home of Springwatch," he said.

The site, located in the Wensum Valley, covers more than 600 acres and is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The River Wensum, which runs through the reserve, is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Europe's highest nature conservation designation.

Variety of habitats

Pensthorpe has an amazing variety of habitats.

The river is home to the endangered white clawed crayfish, otters, brown trout and the regionally threatened bullhead.

Other habitats featured are ancient woodland, wetland, wildflower meadows, marshland, and Breckland grassland, heath and scrub which is ideal for ground nesting birds.

Simon King

The reserve hosts a wide range of mammals including muntjac, roe deer, badgers, foxes, stoats and endangered water voles.

The Springwatch team will be introducing a new cast of characters for 2008, in addition to welcoming back old friends to mark the annual celebration of wildlife and wildlife people, with live interactive content from across the UK.

"It is fantastic news for Pensthorpe, as we celebrate our 20th anniversary, that 91Èȱ¬ Springwatch has chosen us as its new home," said Deb Jordan, general manager of Pensthorpe Nature Reserve.

Premier bird watching destination

"It is also great news for Norfolk, which is the UK's premier bird watching destination and is blessed with many internationally important nature reserves.

"We are working very closely with the Springwatch team to ensure that the best of the Wensum Valley's natural world is revealed to a national TV audience," she added.

Springwatch regulars Simon King and Gordon Buchanan will also be joining in with the action from locations in other parts of the UK as they watch daily animal family dramas unfold and think about what we might do to enjoy – or help – wildlife where we live.

Springwatch is broadcast at 8pm on 91Èȱ¬2 until 12 June, 2008.