The BBC’s new wildlife series, Wild Isles, presented by Sir David Attenborough, is now available on BBC iPlayer. It is produced by Silverback Films and brilliantly co-produced by RSPB, WWF and the Open University, and it features two stunning locations cared for by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust: Clattinger Farm at the Trust’s Lower Moor Farm nature reserve complex in North Wiltshire and Langford Lakes nature reserve in South Wiltshire.
In Wild Isles’ most recent episode this Sunday 2nd April, which focused on freshwater habitats, viewers were transfixed by the spectacle of hobbies hunting dragonflies over the waters of Langford Lakes. This nature reserve is a fabulous place to see birds! In spring, watch for the famous courtship ritual of great-crested grebes as they dance and shake their heads at each other. Reed warbler, waders and terns drop in on their summer migration, and as winter advances, shoveler and wigeon join the other ducks present all year round. White-tailed eagles can sometimes be seen and otters are regular visitors at this Wiltshire Wildlife Trust haven.
Wild Isles viewers were also entranced by Clattinger Farm’s stunning wildflower displays in the series’ opening episode on Sunday 12th March. Clattinger Farm is the UK’s finest remaining example of enclosed lowland grassland. It is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its fabulous wildflowers and is so rich in wildlife because the land has been farmed traditionally without the use of artificial fertilisers. Visit in late April to see thousands of delicately patterned snakeshead fritillaries and walk through the meadows in June to see wildflowers such as meadow saffron, tubular water-dropwort, orchids and the extremely rare downy-fruited sedge. In winter, wading birds such as teal, lapwing and snipe forage on the wet meadows.