BBC Radio 4 LW

The Diaries of Brett Westwood

The Diaries of Brett Westwood: Episode 4: Woodland

Documentaries

Factual

Factual: Science & Nature: Nature & Environment

Episode 4

Episode 4: Woodland

Woodland

BBC Radio 4 - The Diaries of Brett Westwood, Woodland

Brett Westwood reflects on wildlife changes in his local patch over 40 years.

Brett Westwood reflects on how the wildlife has changed in five different habitats of his local patch over the past 40 years. In this episode he visits the woodland.

4. Woodland. When Brett Westwood began a wildlife diary at the age of 15, little did he think that he'd still be writing notes, nearly 40 years later about the same local patch in North Worcestershire.
The diaries mirror the often undreamt of changes which have taken place across the UK over the last 40 years. In this series Brett returns, diaries in hand, to different areas of his local patch and compares notes from the past with the landscape and wildlife of today. There are genuine shocks and revelations.
Fairy Glen is a small natural woodland in Brett's patch carpeted with bluebells in spring. This was once oak has become a sycamore wood. However it's now a great place to spot warblers; chaffinches and bramblings feeding on aphids in spring, and during his visit Brett watches a pair of Nuthatches bringing back food for their young to their nest hole in the trunk of a tree. A second area of woodland which Brett visits - is a relatively new small plantation - but the species have been well chosen and Brett scans the skies above for buzzards. These he finds flying high above a third area of woodland in his local patch which was bought by the Woodland Trust and is much frequented by walkers and dogs. But for Brett - the attraction is the buzzards soaring over the canopy, which have returned and bred in the area since the 1990s. There are ravens too - another bird which Brett would never have dreamed of seeing when he was a teenager on his local patch.
The series underlines the importance of keeping a diary like Brett's not just for personal notes but as a valuable document of change which is measurable from decade to decade.

Wildlife sound recordist: Chris Watson, Producer: Sarah Blunt.

BBC Radio 4

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Brett Westwood reflects on how the wildlife has changed in his local patch over 40 years.

Brett Westwood uses his diaries to reflect on how the wildlife has changed in five different habitats of his local patch over the past 40 years.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Diaries of Brett Westwood

Episode 4: Woodland

Genres

Formats

Series

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4