An edition of the Tyne Tees Television series on the wildlife of the north presented by Jonathan Morrell. In the first report from Minsteracre Retreat near Slaley in Northumberland Ornithologist Colin Jewitt is carrying out a four-year study into the Treecreeper and its relationship with the giant redwood trees that grow there called Wellingtonias. Next, a request from the British Deer Society for sightings of tiny Muntjac deer which was introduced to Britain a century ago has now been seen...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television series on the wildlife of the north presented by Jonathan Morrell. In the first report from Minsteracre Retreat near Slaley in Northumberland Ornithologist Colin Jewitt is carrying out a four-year study into the Treecreeper and its relationship with the giant redwood trees that grow there called Wellingtonias. Next, a request from the British Deer Society for sightings of tiny Muntjac deer which was introduced to Britain a century ago has now been seen in the region. After the break, a report on wildlife photographer Allan Potts from Backworth on North Tyneside about how to take good photographs and a book he has produced that features some of the 60,000 photographs he has taken. Finally, from Butterburn Flow near Haltwhistle in Northumberland the work being carried out by the Forestry Commission in the creation of bogs and marshes know as Border Mires on the edge of Kielder Forest and the important plant and wildlife they support. If you've spotted a tiny Muntjac deer then the British Deer Society would love to know. You are more likely to hear their strange barking alarm call than see them, because they are so small they can easily hide in undergrowth. Muntjacs are only about as big as a small dog and were introduced into Britain a century ago as curiosities in parks. But they escaped into the wild and are now spreading into this region. Jonathan Morrell goes in search of another shy creature, the Treecreeper. They're tiny birds which run up the trunks of trees looking for insects. They have a fascinating way of keeping themselves warm in the northern winters - by burrowing into the soft bark of trees and fluffing out their feathers to stay warm. Jonathan meets Colin Jewitt of Hexham who's been studying the Treecreepers' behaviour for four years. He's discovered them burrowed into the soft bark of the giant redwood trees called Wellingtonias not far from his home. The bark reflects their warmth back to them, just like Polystryrene feels warm when you put your hand on it. And finally Jonathan goes on location with one of the country's top wildlife photographers, Allan Potts from Backworth, near Whitley Bay. During 30 years he's taken more than 60,000 photographs of animals and birds all over the world, and has just had his first book of photographs published. Allan tells Jonathan the secret of taking good pictures is to study the subject in detail and use good camouflage to get up close. 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 MMI