British Butterflies on BBC2

Lindsay-c · #61 (**permalink**) 19-12-2010, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

Got to disagree with you I'm afraid.
But then who am I to say... I only work with children (including teenagers and uni students) in conservation.

I'm three of these things. Eccentric (ask those who have met me), middle-aged(granny infact) and NOT cool.

Oddly- I've had youngsters ask me how they can get into conservation, didn't want the day to end and want a return visit...I must have done something right.

See where RKB is coming from but I also agree... wasn't too long ago that I was a child at school and when the teachers would try to get us interested by being silly or trying to "appeal to people of our age" the more we hated our assemblies and the more we didn't respond in case everyone else thought we were uncool for joining in with the uncool teachers trying to be cool

Young people want to be treated like adults. They want to be spoken to and respected in the same way they have to speak to and respect adults. How else will they know when to take things seriously if everyone is focusing on jazzing things up for entertainment or coolness ? ... Thats my opinion anyway

... and maybe that will help you identify what you're doing right wild-woman, ha

Gill Catton · #62 (**permalink**) 20-12-2010, 09:03 AM

Over all I enjoyed it and the slow mo butterflies in flight was brilliant. I did feel it was a bit too much art than science for a Natural World programme particularly in the second part and I too found the narration a bit too breathy and again more art than science.

Regarding young teenagers, its a very difficult ask engaging them... I even dropped my interest in the natural world for a year or two in that period (though I would still have watched this so the interest wasn't entirely absent) but came back to it after, so I think catching children before this period is very important.

and cor do I wish I had enough land for a dragon like that (and associated butterflies)

UB4 gardener · #63 (**permalink**) 20-12-2010, 09:58 PM

Butterflies - A Very British Obsession
hmmm in my opinion i don't think it was aimed at teens 8pm on a Friday night somehow. so it won't be attracting them anytime soon.
just like anyone watching a program called natural world would, i assume, already be interested in the natural world.
A very british obsession .... except when you are a spaniard (i think he was anyway) in Morroco looking for painted ladies. (when they were all at the tattoo parlour)
Having met Mathew and Neil (the purple emperor chaps) they are both fantastically knowledgeable and do so much for the conservation of butterflies in the UK, but looking in as a neutral i must confess that this programme did them no justice what so ever. surely there were better, more positive ways of illustrating thier obsession than that. what is so obsessive about doing that once a year? especially when when you consider what they they do for butterflies the other 364. sorry guys you deserved better.
Clive Farrell, butterfly world, fantastic concept for showing kids and adults alike the beauty of butterflies. syon park used to be great and i hope it works out for him.
but all in all i think it was designed to show off and impress with the photography especially anyone with HD (which i think is quite a factor nowadays for film makers to consider, i thought the same about some of the Autumnwatch footage) which i think it was successful in doing and i don't have HD

some great footage.
did it live up to the title and show "a very british obsession" in my opinion no. As my teacher used to write on my school report.... Could do better.
Chris

gentlefern · #64 (**permalink**) 22-12-2010, 12:46 AM

Just watched it (hoorah for catch-up tv).

A most excellent effort by the beeb.

Jim Ford · #65 (**permalink**) 22-12-2010, 09:40 AM

I can't understand why all the fuss about the programme - it really wasn't all that good. You've all obviously forgotten about "Life on Earth", "Life in the Undergrowth", etc. series!

Jim

Susie · #66 (**permalink**) 22-12-2010, 05:04 PM

But this was all about butterflies, which is what made it special.

Jez · #67 (**permalink**) 22-12-2010, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gentlefern

Just watched it (hoorah for catch-up tv).

A most excellent effort by the beeb.

I agree on both counts, I have just finished watching it and loved every second. Roll on Spring 2011 where I long for jack by the hedge, lady's smock and orange tip butterflies to bless the Spring Season.