An edition of the Tyne Tees Television series on the wildlife of the north presented by Kim Inglis. In the first report a visit to the Shiremoor Hedgehog Hospital on Tyneside that provides medical help for injured and orphaned hedgehogs run by Anne and Gareth Mayfield. Next, to a nature reserve and meadow at Thrislington in County Durham which as well as having an interesting history is an important habitat for several important plant and animals including Glowworns which is the furthest...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television series on the wildlife of the north presented by Kim Inglis. In the first report a visit to the Shiremoor Hedgehog Hospital on Tyneside that provides medical help for injured and orphaned hedgehogs run by Anne and Gareth Mayfield. Next, to a nature reserve and meadow at Thrislington in County Durham which as well as having an interesting history is an important habitat for several important plant and animals including Glowworns which is the furthest north they have been recorded. After the break Kim meets wildlife sound recordist Simon Elliott who records the conversations of a colony of Kittiwakes near Craster in Northumberland as well as limpets feeding in rock pools on the beach. Finally, wildlife artist James Alder from Ponteland who is helping to build an artificial Kingfisher nests boxes at Gosforth Park Nature Reserve near Newcastle. Simon Elliott is a wildlife sound recordist whose work is heard on radio and TV programmes all over the country. He tells presenter Kim Inglis: 'Recording underwater sounds has opened up a new world. There's a lot going on in rock a pool.' His pet project, though, takes him to Craster in Northumberland where he spends many hours listening to the sounds of kittiwakes. Artist and naturalist James Alder from Ponteland is busy giving kingfishers a helping hand. Now in his eighties, he has designed artificial nests to encourage them to breed in the region. It's a ground-breaking project and hopes are high. He says: 'When you see a kingfisher darting along a river with those brilliant colours glistening in the sun, it's one of the most beautiful sights in nature.' And there is a hedgehog rescue centre in Shiremoor, where Anne and Garth Mayfield have cared for more than 600 prickly customers in the past seven years. Anne says: 'They're often in a very poor state but we never turn any away.' Credits: Presenter Kim Inglis Camera Lee Sutterby Music John Cook Graphics Jon King Dubbing Mixer Andy Ludbrook Editor David Hindmarsh Executive Producer Jane Bolesworth Producer Charles Bowden. © Tyne Tees Television 2003 A CBTV production for Tyne Tees Television. Granada