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National Trust ranger Hugh Thurgate moves livestock between islands and Katy Bell from Ulster Wildlife checks barn owl boxes at Mount Stewart. Bad weather is coming and preparations need to be made.

As winter storms howl, Kenny Smyth makes sure the boats in his yard are secure before retreating to his shed to work on Laragh, a wooden sailing boat known as a ‘river’. Working on the boat reminds Kenny of his father who established the yard after the war.

Rough winter weather also gives Heidi McIlvenny a chance to search for shark egg cases, known by some as mermaids’ purses. Strangford Lough provides habitat for sharks and rays and Heidi’s work provides important research. At her farm near Greyabbey, Kerry Angus looks forward to lambing, while close by Kerry Mackie is setting up traps for tagging oyster catchers.

At Port Loughan farm, Katy is installing barn owl boxes before the nesting season. It’s been a long winter, but installing the boxes is a real sign that spring is on its way.