The BBC’s AutumnWatch programme will be broadcast live this week – starting tomorrow evening (Tuesday 30th October) – from the stunning Aigas Field Centre near Beauly. This is a location which provides easy access to some of our most iconic species including red squirrel, wildcat, badger, pine marten and golden eagle.
More than 15,000 schoolchildren from across the Highlands have benefited from more than £150,000-worth of funding provided by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) for Aigas to run its ‘Naturedays’ programme over the past seven years. This year it is expected to reach more than 2,000 young people.
Many people in the Highlands will have fond memories of the field centre, having attended on school trips. Pupils from local primary schools Teanassie and Cannich Bridge will appear in the programme.
And Autumnwatch is also set to feature the red deer rut at Rum National Nature Reserve (NNR) and air spectacular sights of recently-arrived geese at Loch Leven NNR. Both reserves are managed by Scottish Natural Heritage and are open to the public.
Anne Murray from Scottish Natural Heritage stressed: “The fact that Autumnwatch is using Aigas as a base means we will all have the chance to visit this beautiful location and learn more about our local wildlife.
‘We are delighted to have been involved in the environmental education programme in which Aigas has reached so many Highland children. Many people talk fondly of their trips there.
‘This work, of course, is vital in increasing the childrens’ health and well-being This also gives our young people the chance to get outside and learn about their local environment, what makes it so special and why it is important. The outdoor focus also leads to the added health benefits of exercising outside.
‘We are delighted for Aigas to be featured so prominently on national television and it has been exciting over the past few weeks following Aigas on social media sites to view postings from night vision cameras of the local badgers and pine martens.’
‘Warrick Lister-Kaye, managing director of Aigas’s environmental education programme, commented: “Scottish Natural Heritage’s support over the years has been key to the running of our environmental programme and we are extremely grateful for their support and advice.
‘We are also naturally delighted to be hosting Autumnwatch. It means that we can help to tell an international audience all about Highland wildlife and in addition to increasing peoples’ knowledge about our valuable environment we are also hopeful that it will bring more people to visit the area, bringing sustained wealth to the local economy.’
AutjumnWatch is said to be being based in Scotland this week, for the first time this week. But for several years, the Argyll isles of Islay and Mull have been stable focal points for the programmes, so we the claim of ;a first’ will be a fine distinction from past practice, rather than a new departure,
BBC Autumnwatch starts on Tuesday 30th October and runs for four nights.
