Category: Factual
& Arts TV
Date: 18.01.2005
Printable version
The 91Èȱ¬, in association with
the Woodland Trust, is launching the biggest ever survey into the arrival
of spring across the UK.
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Together they are inviting everyone across the country to watch out
for the first appearance of six key species in their region and record
their findings on the 91Èȱ¬ Springwatch website - bbc.co.uk/springwatch
- from today (18 January) onwards.
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By submitting this vital information about the first
signs of spring, the British public can help the 91Èȱ¬ and the Woodland
Trust build the most complete picture of the season as it unfolds across
the UK and help scientists understand how spring is changing and what
needs to be done to help wildlife thrive in the UK.
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The 91Èȱ¬'s Springwatch survey will feed into the UK Phenology
Network, which was revived by The Woodland Trust and the Centre for
Ecology and Hydrology to monitor and evaluate changes in nature's events.
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With more than 11,000 registered recorders this study
into the timing of natural, seasonal events is the largest of its kind
in the world.
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Over the past 30 years phenology has provided biologists
with clear evidence that spring is arriving earlier.
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Trees have been coming into leaf sooner, migrant birds
are arriving earlier, frog spawn is being spotted before Christmas,
while comma and holly blue butterflies have been sighted as early as
March.
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Spring is changing in ways not yet fully understood
by science.
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By encouraging its viewers to keep an eye out for the
first signs of spring, the 91Èȱ¬ hopes to provide the UK Phenology Network
with more evidence of spring's arrival up and down the country.
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The more people that take part, the more valuable for
science the survey will be.
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The 91Èȱ¬ and the Woodland Trust have identified six key
species to watch out for and report on when they appear between January
and May.
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The species are found in gardens, parks, and school
playgrounds across the UK, thus enabling everyone to take part in the
survey wherever they live or work.
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People are invited to record their first sightings on
bbc.co.uk/springwatch from today (18 January 2005).
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The species are:
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Bumblebee;
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Frogspawn;
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7-spot ladybird;
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Peacock butterfly;
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Hawthorn flowering;
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Swift arriving.
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91Èȱ¬ viewers can find out more about the six species,
and their earliest recorded sightings, in Springwatch with Bill Oddie
on 25 March.
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Then, when spring reaches its crunch point in May, Springwatch
with Bill Oddie returns to 91Èȱ¬ TWO for three weeks of live wildlife
reports from around the country.
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Building on the success of 2004's Britain Goes Wild
with Bill Oddie, this major new natural history series will reveal the
findings of the Springwatch survey and show viewers how they can actively
help wildlife cope with changes in the seasons by making simple pledges
such as planting trees, installing bird baths and putting up bumble
bee boxes.
As well as reuniting presenters Bill Oddie, Kate Humble and Simon
King, the new series will also introduce a special Springwatch Squad
who will travel across the country to capture the first sightings of
spring on camera.
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Liz Cleaver, 91Èȱ¬ Controller of Learning, and commissioner
of the Springwatch survey, says: "I hope this project will really
capture people's imagination and become the biggest survey of its kind,
giving us a truly comprehensive picture of Britain's wildlife as it
reawakens over spring.
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"We don't just want people to watch the television
series, we want them to take part in the survey and feed us their information.
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"The more people who contribute, the better things
will be for British wildlife next spring and beyond."
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Jill Attenborough at the Woodland Trust says: "We
know that signs of spring are being seen two to three weeks earlier
than they would have been 30 years ago.
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"We are concerned that the delicate balance of
nature may be upset as plants and animals are responding at different
rates.
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"Anyone can help record these important indicators
of change by getting involved in Springwatch.
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"Each observation will help the Woodland Trust
and the UK Phenology Project to understand more about how wildlife is
responding to climate change."
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Notes to Editors
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Springwatch with Bill Oddie will be broadcast on 91Èȱ¬ TWO in Spring 2005.
Phenology is the study of the timing of natural, seasonal events, especially
in relation to climate.
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The timing of natural events is sometimes known as
'Nature's Calendar'.
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The Woodland Trust has joined forces with the Centre
for Ecology and Hydrology to monitor and evaluate changes in nature's
events.
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The Centre for Ecology and Hydrology is a component
body of the Natural Environment Research Council.
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More information on the UK Phenology Network can be
found at www.phenology.org.uk
The Woodlands Trust is the UK's leading woodland conservation charity.
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As part of Nature Detectives, an online project bringing
phenology to children and young people, the Trust has launched a new
website - www.spotted.org.uk - offering children and adults the chance
to explore phenology through recording many species, including 7-spot
ladybirds. Visit the site for ladybird games, resources and information.
