Category: Factual & Arts TV; 91Èȱ¬ TWO
Date: 29.05.2006
Printable version
Six of the last eight springs have been well above average and, despite the
bitterly cold start to this year, it was still marginally warmer. Long term
trends show that it was still higher than the 30 year average.
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Nearly 100,000 observations made by masses of recorders, including reports
sent in direct from the field by mobile phone, have helped draw up a detailed picture of how nature's calendar has unfolded ahead of 91Èȱ¬ TWO's
Springwatch with Bill Oddie.
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Among this year's avalanche of recordings the British public noted:
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Temperatures compressed the spring and meant it blossomed at around the same
time across the UK
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The average peacock butterfly observation was eight days later than last year -
but still a full week earlier than the 30-year average
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Frog spawn was first spotted in December but many breeding frogs later faced
sub-zero temperatures early in the new year
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Frog spawn was first reported in the Orkneys in mid-March - about the same time
as East Anglia, which is typically the last area of the UK it is seen in
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Observations of seven-spot ladybirds got underway before Christmas, but quickly
tailed off as freezing temperatures started to bite during January and February
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Early observations of peacock butterflies near John O'Groats were reported in
mid-March.
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Springwatch presenter Bill Oddie says: "Every one of these observations helps
draw up a picture of how our changing climate is affecting our wildlife.
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"Springwatch 2006 will highlight how important it is for us to continue getting
outdoors to gather accurate information on what's been happening this year - and
how vital it is we all help maintain little wildlife havens right in our own
backyards."
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The full results will be revealed in Springwatch with Bill Oddie on 91Èȱ¬ TWO from Monday 29 May at 8.00pm. Once again, Bill is joined by Kate Humble and Simon King.
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The British public was asked to look out for the first signs of spring and then go to bbc.co.uk/springwatch, text observations or fill in
postcards and record their first sightings of frog spawn, seven-spot
ladybird, peacock butterfly, red-tailed bumblebee, swift and flowering hawthorn.
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The Springwatch survey is run by the 91Èȱ¬ in association with the Woodland Trustand the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology to assess how nature's timing is
responding to climate change.
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Woodland Trust project manager Jill Attenborough said: "This year's response has
been absolutely fantastic and recorders' observations have thrown up some very
interesting findings.
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"What it does confirm is how responsive species are to
temperature.
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"But even in an apparently stop-start cold spring like this year,
some events are still beginning earlier highlighting just how confused nature is
getting."
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This year's spring may have felt like the coldest in a generation but it was
still slightly warmer than the 1960 to 1991 30-year average Central England
Temperature and the long-term trend highlights how the season is warming up
reflecting the impact of climate change.
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Findings from this year's survey will
be analysed by the UK Phenology Network to monitor and evaluate changes in
nature's events.
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During the first weekend in June there will be 15 Springwatch events at venues
around the UK. They promise to be great days out for all the family.
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For more
go to bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces.
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Notes to Editors
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Springwatch with Bill Oddie broadcasts live from 8.00 to 9.00pm from Monday to
Thursday from 29 May to 15 June on 91Èȱ¬ TWO.
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Each episode will be repeated
the following day at 7.00pm on 91Èȱ¬ FOUR and is available at bbc.co.uk/springwatch for 24 hours after broadcast.
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Last year, Springwatch with Bill Oddie was the television hit of the season,
routinely pulling in more viewers than its reality TV counterparts with more
than three million viewers tuning in night after night to watch the birds and
the bees.
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And it was the winner of the Royal Television Society award for best Feature and Factual Entertainment
2005.
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During last year's Springwatch the British public were fantastic: the
survey received more than 158,000 reports of the first signs of spring; more
than 2,500,000 hours were pledged to make space for nature; there were 20,000
message board postings; and, in June alone, three million page impressions at
bbc.co.uk/springwatch.
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91Èȱ¬ Autumnwatch survey
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Following the fantastic response to Springwatch 2006,
the 91Èȱ¬ and the Woodland Trust will be tracking the arrival of autumn across the
UK later this year.
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The first three species to look out for are ripe
blackberries (from July to September); ripe hawthorn berries (from late August
to September); and swifts leaving on their winter migration (August or
September.
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HS
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