Natures top 40 bbc2

Keith Talbot · #1 (**permalink**) 30-11-2008, 12:09 PM

hi all,

dont know if anyone else has noticed but tucked away on bbc2 from tomorow (monday 1st dec) at 2.30pm theres a new nature prog,

its called natures top 40 and is being hosted by chris packham,

" chris packham starts his countdown on the uk's top 40 wildlife spectacles from swarms of starlings to fields of bluebells - what will be the uk's no'1? "

its a 10 part series on every weekday and presume as its 10 part its on next week as well,

why do they put the most interesting progs on when no one's home to watch them?

ive set my sky+ and series linked it!

keith

rlchew · #2 (**permalink**) 30-11-2008, 12:30 PM

Many thanks Keith.

I don't tend to look at what is on TV during the day .... I am at work.

I will set the DVD for this.

Richard

Hedge Witch · #3 (**permalink**) 30-11-2008, 01:05 PM

Thanks Keith

I don't watch telly much and am increasingly reliant on threads like this to let me know what's coming up on the TV.

Cheers

Vectisbirder · #4 (**permalink**) 30-11-2008, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlchew

Many thanks Keith.

I don't tend to look at what is on TV during the day .... I am at work.

I will set the DVD for this.

Richard

Same here, stuck at work during weekdays, although I don't have any recording devices since my VCR died a couple of years ago, but I'll watch it on iPlayer when it becomes available.

Ukwildlifeo · #5 (**permalink**) 30-11-2008, 10:09 PM

Hope its on iplayer - its from the nature calander team so should be good

monkey · #6 (**permalink**) 30-11-2008, 10:17 PM

Thanks Keith will record it as well it sounds good

Linda

pressld2 · #7 (**permalink**) 30-11-2008, 10:33 PM

Many thanks for the heads up Keith, I shall set my recorder up for it.

I have the BBC book called Nature's Top 40 - Britain's Best Wildlife written by Mike Dilger with a foreword by Chris Packham, so I suspect that I could tell you what's number one. But I wouldn't be that mean!

Dave P.

Ukwildlifeo · #8 (**permalink**) 30-11-2008, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pressld2

Many thanks for the heads up Keith, I shall set my recorder up for it.

I have the BBC book called Nature's Top 40 - Britain's Best Wildlife written by Mike Dilger with a foreword by Chris Packham, so I suspect that I could tell you what's number one. But I wouldn't be that mean!

Dave P.

lol I thought id seen the title before. I had a flick through that book the other week. Can't remember no 1 though, which I guess is good!

pressld2 · #9 (**permalink**) 30-11-2008, 11:11 PM

I'm so pleased that Keith posted (and I spotted) this thread as I shall keep the programmes on discs with the book. I did that with Nature's Calendar but missed the first episode of both series of that.

Here's a Mrs Fish cake for Keith:

Dave P.

Keith Talbot · #10 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pressld2

I'm so pleased that Keith posted (and I spotted) this thread as I shall keep the programmes on discs with the book. I did that with Nature's Calendar but missed the first episode of both series of that.

Here's a Mrs Fish cake for Keith:

Dave P.

cheers dave,

i'll have the cake with a cup of tea while i watch the programme

keith

Jeapesy · #11 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 01:35 PM

I've just seen this advertised on the RSPB website, unfortunately i'm at work but will hopefully catch this on bbc iplayer as sounds like a good watch.

Lancashire Lad · #12 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 02:10 PM

Just watched the first programme and found it very enjoyable.
Tomorrows programme is showing Moths, Seals, Knots, & Flowers.
Quite a bit of info on associated webpage: - BBC - Nature's Top 40 - Homepage

Regards
Mike.

Ukwildlifeo · #13 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 08:01 PM

Its on iplayer here BBC iPlayer - Nature's Top 40: Episode 1

pressld2 · #14 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 09:04 PM

What a wonderful programme. I thoroughly enjoyed it! The passion of everyone involved shone through and I thought it hit the balance about right between entertainment and education. It wasn't scared to give slightly more in-depth, technical details when necessary like the names of the chemicals that react to provide the glow-worm's glow (luciferin and luciferase).

I've seen some pretty big (I thought) wood ant nests but I was gobsmacked at the size of the one in the programme. I had no idea they built them that large.

And there's nine more of these to go - wheee!

Dave P.

P.s. I've set my recorder up for two hours between 2 and 4 pm - NEVER trust the BBC to keep to the puublished schedule, particularly not in the daytime.

Meta menardi · #15 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 09:14 PM

You have to see the Friday one, the spider person is very good, but Dads always say that.

pressld2 · #16 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

You have to see the Friday one, the spider person is very good, but Dads always say that.

Oooh you tease! Tell us more...

Dave P.

PMG · #17 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 09:31 PM

I caught up with it on iplayer and thoroughly enjoyed it - any bets on what the no 1 spot will be? Oh I forgot some of you have the book and know whats coming don't you?! Well my money is on the dolphins.............

Pauline

Meta menardi · #18 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pressld2

Oooh you tease! Tell us more...

Dave P.

She... just is an arachnologist. There is no great story. Sorry.

pressld2 · #19 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 09:52 PM

You must be very proud though, I would be!

And if the rest of the series maintains the standard set by the first (and I'm sure it will) how lovely for her to be a part of something so good.

Pauline, I have actually seen and filmed the number 1 but only on a small scale. But I'm still not going to spoil it for those without the book so I'll say no more until it's over. (Except that I would have put it at number 1 too!)

Dave P.

Ukwildlifeo · #20 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 09:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pressld2

I've seen some pretty big (I thought) wood ant nests but I was gobsmacked at the size of the one in the programme. I had no idea they built them that large.

I watched after reading that and had a jokey image in my head of one towering over a man - imagine my surprise when it WAS like that!

I enjoyed the programme a lot. I feared dumbing down when I saw the title but its full of info and science which is always a good thing

Meta menardi · #21 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

I watched after reading that and had a jokey image in my head of one towering over a man - imagine my surprise when it WAS like that!

It was the most amazing nest I have ever seen. We do get them up in the North Yorks Moors, but they seem to have gone from quite a few places I saw them, don't know why.

Meta menardi · #22 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pressld2

You must be very proud though, I would be!

Wait till you see it, it could be a toe-curler.....

She will be so good.

She has not seen it yet though it was filmed quite a bit ago.

PMG · #23 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pressld2

You must be very proud though, I would be!

And if the rest of the series maintains the standard set by the first (and I'm sure it will) how lovely for her to be a part of something so good.

Pauline, I have actually seen and filmed the number 1 but only on a small scale. But I'm still not going to spoil it for those without the book so I'll say no more until it's over. (Except that I would have put it at number 1 too!)

Dave P.

Must be bluebells then ...................... ? or the starlings...............? or ...............

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

It was the most amazing nest I have ever seen. We do get them up in the North Yorks Moors, but they seem to have gone from quite a few places I saw them, don't know why.

I was amazed too - their nests are quite a size in south Cumbria - but only a quarter of this

Congrats to your daughter Meta menardi

Pauline

Ukwildlifeo · #24 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

It was the most amazing nest I have ever seen. We do get them up in the North Yorks Moors, but they seem to have gone from quite a few places I saw them, don't know why.

There are some fair sized ones in blean woods near Canterbury >1m across. Im guessing the hairy wood ant species (which I think Ive read is rarer) build much bigger, possibly because there longer lasting, nests than the bog standard species. I learn something when he picked one up. I always assumed that they had a nasty nip on them (unlike the other 'biting' ants which actually sting Im told) but it appears I can photograph without fear of a nasty nip. Gota watch the old acetic acid on lenses though!

pressld2 · #25 (**permalink**) 01-12-2008, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ukwildlifeo

I watched after reading that and had a jokey image in my head of one towering over a man - imagine my surprise when it WAS like that!

When I was a nipper we lived in darkest Surrey (dad was in the army based at Pirbright) and I remember finding nests that were three or four feet across. I thought they were huge!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meta menardi

Wait till you see it, it could be a toe-curler.....

She will be so good.

She has not seen it yet though it was filmed quite a bit ago.

She'll be brilliant - I'm looking forward to Friday's even more now!

Dave P.