The first episode of the second season of the Tyne Tees Television series on the wildlife of the north presented by Jonathan Morrell. The first report come from Northumberland and survey been carried out by the Vincent Wildlife Trust into Polecats which are making a comeback. Next a look at the work of the Bat Conservation Trust who are using the latest technology to identify specific species of bat as part of a national survey into their distribution. After the break a look at the history...

The first episode of the second season of the Tyne Tees Television series on the wildlife of the north presented by Jonathan Morrell. The first report come from Northumberland and survey been carried out by the Vincent Wildlife Trust into Polecats which are making a comeback. Next a look at the work of the Bat Conservation Trust who are using the latest technology to identify specific species of bat as part of a national survey into their distribution. After the break a look at the history and importance of Gosforth Park Nature Reserve in Newcastle speaking with David Noble-Rollin of Natural History Society Northumbria abouts its varied animal and birdlife. Finally, Jonathan speaks with Tom Cadwallender of the British Trust for Ornithology on how milder winters has meant more food for our birds, especially the Goldfinch who's numbers have increased across the region. Title: Wild North Jonathan Morrell introduces the first edition of the second series of Wild North. He summarises the contents of the programme. Johnny Birks works for an independent conservation group, the Vincent Wildlife Trust and is in deepest Northumberland looking for the elusive polecat, a member of the weasel family. Johnny describes the polecat as it appears on camera. To get good views, he uses a portable hide to get close to the animal while observing them. However, population numbers of this native species have been declining over many years with persecution in the 19th century pushing the polecat almost to extinction in this country. They disappeared altogether in the North East in the 1890s, but with reintroduction in Cumbria in recent years, they are starting to make an appearance in the North East again. Evidence suggests this is due to less persecution from gamekeepers and the abundance of rabbits, the polecat’s main food. During winter they have been observed at working farms, taking up residence and preying on rats. Generally, it seems to be a successful return to the region for the polecat and Johnny Birks encourages people who see them to report sightings to their local wildlife trust. The next section looks at bats, all fifteen species of bat require specific places to roost. The Bat Conservation Trust is doing a national study into the distribution of bats and at a meeting of volunteers for survey work in the north, training is undertaken in how to use new technology to aid bat identification. In charge of the training are Geoff Billington of Greena Ecological Consultancy and Colin Catto of the Bat Conservation Trust who are both licensed to handle bats. The site they are using for the training is a tunnel on a disused canal in Cumbria. They are using a special safe trap, called a harp trap to capture bats for identification. A captured pipistrelle bat is shown to training course members and details about the bat are recorded. Colin demonstrates the audio equipment used to listen for bats. Recordings made by the equipment are transferred to a computer for analysis. Small light sources are attached to a couple of bats so that they can be observed foraging. Geoff outlines some of the new information they have gathered so far in the survey. Title: Wild North The next report comes from the site of a reed bed, a haven for wildlife not far from the race course at Gosforth Park in Newcastle. Gosforth Park Nature Reserve is an old and well-established urban nature reserve. David Noble-Rollin of the Natural History Society of Northumbria says the reserve’s longevity is due to it being part of an estate belonging to the race course since the 1890s. The lake was dug by the Brandling family when they took over the estate in the early 1800s. The natural history society took over the maintenance of the reserve in the 1920s. The mixed woodland area of the reserve attracts roe deer, red squirrels, foxes, shrews and a good population of birds. The reed beds attract many species of bird including tufted ducks and great crested grebes. David says that the reed beds need quite a lot of work to maintain them as they are. He also says that the loss of natural corridors to the reserve due development elsewhere impedes the movement of species thereby potentially diminishing the wildlife population on the reserve, although the reserve itself is not under threat from development. Ornithologist Chris Redfearn leads the regular population count of birds at the reserve. Using mist nets, he and his assistants capture birds to monitor population levels and ascertain how many young they produce each year. A captured kingfisher has a numbered tag attached to it and released. David outlines his reasons as to why a place such as the Gosforth reserve is so important to the community and to the survival of wildlife. Tom Cadwallender runs the British Trust for Ornithology in the north and he asserts that recent winters have been good for birds as the mild weather has produced more food. In particular, the goldfinch has benefited from the welcome feast. Having suffered from dwindling numbers in the past the goldfinch population is now increasing. Feeding on a diet of thistle heads and other similar plants, they also welcome food from garden bird feeders. Tom is enthusiastic about the survival of the goldfinch, although he is cautious as environments can be damaged depriving the birds of food and places to breed affecting the population once again. Credits: Presenter Jonathan Morrell Camera Simon Crouch, Lee Sutterby Sound Postproduction Andy Ludbrook Editor David Hindmarsh Executive Producer Jane Bolesworth Producer Charles Bowden CBTV production for Tyne Tees Television © Tyne Tees Television MM