Winterwatch 2021 episode 3

Winterwatch 2021 episode 3: This episode concentrates on the sense of winter – the touch, smell, sounds and sights that make up the most magical of seasons.

Chris Packham is in the New Forest, examining the species of bee you might find in your hotel at the moment, as well as taking a look at different shapes of nest. Meanwhile, Iolo Williams inspects some tree creepers, and Gillian Burke ventures into Sheffield to see some of the wildlife that populates the city – dippers, salmon and mandarins are all on her to-see list.

Michaela Strachan looks at some of the strategies animals employ when they hibernate, while wildlife cameraman Richard Taylor Jones tells us the story of the Oare Marshes on the River Swale, which have been transformed from a gunpowder-making site to a wildlife haven.

Also, fish enthusiast Jack Perks gets into some extraordinary camouflage to witness a bait ball in Rutland Water.

Winterwatch 2021 episode 3

New Forest

The New Forest is one of the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in Southern England, covering southwest Hampshire and southeast Wiltshire. It was proclaimed a royal forest by William the Conqueror, featuring in the Domesday Book.

Pre-existing rights of common pasture are still recognised today, being enforced by official verderers and agisters. In the 18th century, the New Forest became a source of timber for the Royal Navy. It remains a habitat for many rare birds and mammals.

It is a 28,924.5-hectare (71,474-acre) biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest. Several areas are Geological Conservation Review and Nature Conservation Review sites. It is a Special Area of Conservation, a Ramsar site and a Special Protection Area. Copythorne Common is managed by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Kingston Great Common is a National Nature Reserve and New Forest Northern Commons is managed by the National Trust.

The New Forest covers two parliamentary constituencies; New Forest East and New Forest West.

Oare Marshes

The reserve consists of over 81 hectares of grazing marsh with freshwater dykes, open water ‘scrapes’, seawall and saltmarsh on the mainland opposite the Isle of Sheppey. The land, which is known for its tranquil remoteness from nearby Faversham, was used from 1787 until 1916 for the manufacture of gunpowder and the remains of its jetty are still visible. The Harty Ferry to Sheppey previously operated from near the wild-life lookout point on the reserve.

The muddy Oare Creek forms the eastern edge of the reserve and lead inland to the village of Oare. The Oare and Faversham Creeks are open for navigation at high tide. There is a history of boat building and repair of historic boats and Thames Sailing Barges in the creeks. Close to Oare village is the Oare Meadow, also operated, like the Oare Marshes reserve by the Kent Wildlife Trust.