In this first programme we lead with Purple Emperor Butterflies. We'll be following their ups and downs all year in a southern English woodland with National Trust entomologist Matthew Oates. To help us keep an eye on individuals he has named the butterflies, which are caterpillars at the moment, after famous poets. We know already [Christina] Rossetti has not made it through a bleak midwinter!

We also start our year-long reporting from Australia with Koalas. We hear from ABC reporter Kim Kleidon who has visited a Koala sanctuary for us and Brett interviews Koala Biologist Bill Ellis from the University of Queensland about his research, revealing how important sound is to Koalas.

As with every week, we'll have a wildlife news round-up, this week gathered by Kelvin Boot, and our out-reach to the Open University, where you can share your observations of wildlife with others on their interactive biodiversity web site iSpot.

Presented by Brett Westwood
Produced by Sheena Duncan
Series Editor Julian Hector. Show less