Nature film archives for East Anglia

Suffolk-Chris · #1 (**permalink**) 10-01-2012, 08:00 PM

I thought a few folk on here might be interested in this site which someone pointed me to today - I'm about to sit down and watch a few.... Especially interested to see what the one about Breckland as it suggests that the red squirrel was still in the area at the time of filming.

East Anglian Film Archive: Nature and environment

Apologies if this isn't the right place - I sat and pondered for ages before going for the General Wildlife one.....

fairplay · #2 (**permalink**) 10-01-2012, 08:48 PM

Many thanks for putting this link up Chris, I shall try and watch them all since I don't have a TV.
I could only see 8 films and none on Breckland, so does that mean I have to go into 'search' ?

Regarding the Red Squirrel, the last place I saw these in Suffolk was at Hollesley Heath, but Thetford Forest is officially the last place they were seen in Suffolk before they went extinct here.

Later on, there was to be a captive breeding program in a large enclosure in Thetford Forest, but they succumbed to the pox virus introduced by the greys, so they were released to their own fate, and the program abandoned.
However, I have heard on the grapevine they may try again soon.

Neil.

Suffolk-Chris · #3 (**permalink**) 10-01-2012, 10:56 PM

Hi Neil - the Breckland bit is the one called "A Wind on the Heath (1969-1970 Norfolk). I just watched it and it certainly shows how the fortunes of various species can alter given a few years.

It would be nice to see the reds back in the local forests..... I do wonder how successful this would be though - but that's a whole different subject.........

Jonners · #4 (**permalink**) 11-01-2012, 05:43 AM

I remember going on a squirrel count at Santon Downham nearly 30 years ago. People were mainly counting evidence of squirrels in the coniferous woodland, but we did manage to see one Red Squirrel along one of the forest tracks.