An edition of the Tyne Tees Television series on the wildlife of the north presented by Kim Inglis. In the first story Kim meets Ornithologist Tony Armstrong at Hamsterley Forest in County Durham to see a nest of sparrowhawk chicks and to learn more about this small bird of prey and how and why their numbers are increasing. Next Kim speaks with Jim Heslop from the Environment Agency about efforts being made to control the growth of the Giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television series on the wildlife of the north presented by Kim Inglis. In the first story Kim meets Ornithologist Tony Armstrong at Hamsterley Forest in County Durham to see a nest of sparrowhawk chicks and to learn more about this small bird of prey and how and why their numbers are increasing. Next Kim speaks with Jim Heslop from the Environment Agency about efforts being made to control the growth of the Giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam growing along the region's riverbanks. After the break, a return visit to Harrogate Hill Junior School in Darlington to see how a project in which pupils help to raise Harvest mice is going in readiness to be returned to the wild. Finally, to the River Ure in North Yorkshire where Ecologists Brian and Sue Morland are conducting research in the Lamprey as little information is known about these small blood sucking fish. Giant hogweed, with its huge white caps, looks spectacular in summer along our river banks but can cause a nasty rash it it's touched. The plant is also smothering native species and causing soil erosion. Jim Heslop from the Environment Agency tells presenter Kim Inglis about the problems. Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam are also offenders. Jim says: 'They were brought into this country in the 19th century as ornamental plants, but no-one ever guessed the problems they would cause.' Harvest mice need a helping hand, and there's a return visit to a Darlington school project where pupils had been rearing the tiny creatures in glass tanks. Now they've been released into large outdoor cages in a nature reserve to get them used to the great outdoors. Soon it's hoped they can make the final trip into the wild, and the project could become a blueprint for future schemes. Also in the programme, a report on why the sparrowhawk population is rising, and a look at the lamprey, a fish that's a very rare inhabitant in the region. 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