For many years the British seem to have become obsessed with the wildlife, flora and fauna of anywhere other than that of their own country.
Trips to the Arctic wilderness have increased, at the same time us well travelled Brits visit Africa and India to witness what their natural world have, and go further afield to witness the vast Great Barrier Reef or wonders of Yellowstone National Park.
But just recently there has been a renaissance in our interest in our own wildlife in the UK. This seems to have been ignited by the BBC series’ of Springwatch and Autumnwatch.
Springwatch was first commissioned in May 2005, and its unprecedented popularity led its producers to create Autumnwatch that October. Both of the programmes broadcast from specially chosen locations around the UK, and detail the wildlife that is prevalent there. For example, cameras have followed the stories of Stags and Scottish Wildcats in the Cairngorm National Park, the seal pupping season in the Farne Islands, Puffins on Lundy Island and barn owl chicks in Cornwall’s Lost Gardens of Heligan. The programmes cover the length and breadth of the British Isles, and have captured the hearts and minds of the population.
It even inspired expansion to the children’s television market with series’ of Cbeebies Springwatch and Autumnwatch, both of which won BAFTA awards for educational content and entertainment.
The presenting team are a mix of old and young all with one thing in common, an infectious passion and all-consuming knowledge for British Natural History.
From the rising popularity of these television programmes, a trend towards people appreciating the wildlife of the UK has emerged. The RSPB has seen a 20% increase in its membership in the last five years. Another example is National Wildlife Week, a yearly event run by The Wildlife Trusts, Stephanie Hilborne, chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said:
“People are realising there’s a wealth of wildlife on their doorstep and, with the help of their local Wildlife Trust, they can find out more about how to help improve their neighbourhood environment and protect the UK’s wildlife.
"People are fascinated by wildlife, as demonstrated by the incredible popularity of programmes like Springwatch. Wildlife Week (double bill) provides an ideal opportunity for everyone who feels inspired by Springwatch to get out – and involved with nature - on their own patch.”
The popularity continues to rise and can only mean a good thing for British wildlife as people become more concerned with the conservation of the natural world on their doorstep. Even such animals that were once denounced as vermin can be enjoyed and appreciated for their place in the natural world, such as foxes and mice.
So as we embrace British wildlife as a nation, and begin to truly appreciate what is so easily accessible to us, it is wonderful to picture something as simple as the Robin Redbreast, the bird so quintessentially British and remember he is exclusive to the British Isles. Maybe one day bird watchers will come from overseas to go twitching for a sight of him.
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