An edition of the Tyne Tees Television series on the wildlife of the north presented by Jonathan Morrell. In the first part of the programme a report from Thirlwell Castle near Greenhead in Western Northumberland to see how consolidation work being carried out by the Northumberland National Park won't affect the wildlife living there. Next a report looking at the research being carried out along the Tees estuary on the affect the new Tees Barrage may have had on the mud flats and bird...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television series on the wildlife of the north presented by Jonathan Morrell. In the first part of the programme a report from Thirlwell Castle near Greenhead in Western Northumberland to see how consolidation work being carried out by the Northumberland National Park won't affect the wildlife living there. Next a report looking at the research being carried out along the Tees estuary on the affect the new Tees Barrage may have had on the mud flats and bird life in the area. After the break, a visit to a forest near Slaley in Northumberland to learn more about the work being done in the region by Red Squirrel North East to protect and monitor the native Red from the invading Gray. Finally, a night-time visit to a pond at Eaglescliffe to look for the Great crested newt. Title: Wild North Jonathan Morrell introduces this week programme and summarises the topics it will cover. Thirlwall Castle near Greenhead in Northumberland is undergoing some much need repairs and maintenance. However, some of this work may be affecting the resident wildlife. Albert Weir representing Northumberland National Park who is funding the work says the castle hasn’t been lived in for 400 years, only animals have inhabited the grounds and walls of the building. It is in the interest of the animals and the national park that care should be taken to disturb the animals as little as possible during the renovation. Bats are a protected species and make the castle their home. Veronica Howard of the Northumberland Bat Group has been called in to survey where the bats are roosting. She and her colleague are checking on spaces in the castle fabric which would be attractive to bats. However not having found bats so far, they know that they do use the building and will be checking again once the building work has finished. Northumberland National Park wildlife ranger Derek Proudlock is looking at the castles bird population, particularly the swift colony as they come back each year to occupy established nest sites. All the professional people involved in the project are committed to protect and preserve the castle and the animals and plants that colonise it. The next section is a visit to the Tees barrage at Stockton, opened in 1995. Scientists now think it may be affecting the habitat of birds on the Tees estuary. The building of the barrage went ahead with the proviso that conservationists could monitor habitats to see if the barrage was having any effects on the bird populations. Scientists take samples from the mudflats to check on the availability of food for the birds. Professor Peter Evans from Durham University talks to Jonathan about the work undertaken so far. Durham University researcher Robin Ward and his team use nets to capture flocks of birds. The net is ‘fired’ over the flock using projectiles fired from buried pipes. Robin and his team work quickly to release the birds from the net and information about them will be stored on a computer at Durham University. Ultimately the information will reveal figures of bird populations at the mouth of the Tees. Jonathan asks Peter Evans about any known effects that the barrage has had on bird population. His says the number of curlews are down, however also the number of ragworms the birds feed on has also decreased, although those changes may not be directly attributable to the barrage. There will be further work needed before a definitive answer to the Tees barrage and its effect on wildlife is finalised. Title: Wild North In England there are two million grey squirrels to thirty thousand red squirrels. Jason Reynolds of Red Alert North East quotes that statistic as an introduction to the plight of the red squirrel in the region. He is the red squirrel conservation officer for County Durham and Northumberland. The squirrel is Britain’s only native squirrel and Jason will have to work with landowners and farmers to implement plans to help conserve the red squirrel and its habitat. The forest at Slaley near Hexham is a mixed forest which suits red squirrels and Jason is working with forest owners to create the best environment for the squirrels. Jason enlists volunteers to squirrel spot to maintain accurate figures of red and grey squirrels. Georgina Cruddas a project volunteer talks about the project and her work. Jason also keeps in contact with people who feed red squirrels in their garden like Elaine Bell from Stocksfield. Elaine talks to Jason about the feeding she does, sometimes not too successfully due to birds taking the food. Jason gives Elaine a bird proof feeder which hopefully will give squirrels a better chance to get at the food. Jason is optimistic with the work he is embarking on and that red squirrels will inhabit parts of the north east region successfully. Jonathan then goes on to a nocturnal search for an amphibian. Science teacher Rob Scathe is an expert in amphibious animals. At a pond near his home in Eaglescliffe Jonathan joins Rob to search for great crested newts. Rob says he has lifelong fascination with this ancient primitive vertebrate. The great crested newt is the largest of the three British newts and Rob shows two male newts to the camera, talks about their habitat and describes the newt in detail. However, the numbers locally have been falling, Rob suggests it’s due the disappearance of wild ponds from the countryside and he encourages people to keep newts in their garden ponds. The pond must be clean and free from pollution with a good number of plants and invertebrates on which the newts feed. 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