0:00:05 > 0:00:10Springtime, when the days lengthen and signs of change are everywhere.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15There's not a corner of the British Isles that doesn't
0:00:15 > 0:00:17warm to the arrival of spring.
0:00:17 > 0:00:22It's our most extraordinary season for one big reason, it's a
0:00:22 > 0:00:25time of astonishing growth and regeneration.
0:00:25 > 0:00:30From pond life to bird life, from the scent of fresh blossom,
0:00:30 > 0:00:34to your smallest mammals reawakening after months of hibernation.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39We'll be bringing you the most remarkable stories of this
0:00:39 > 0:00:41wonderful time of year.
0:00:41 > 0:00:47Tales of survival, endurance and occasional indulgence.
0:00:47 > 0:00:50Join us for this special week of programmes as we celebrate
0:00:50 > 0:00:54the secrets of spring here on Countryfile Diaries.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13Nowhere in the UK is more than 70 miles from the coast
0:01:13 > 0:01:18and springtime is one of the best times to visit our estuaries
0:01:18 > 0:01:22and coastal areas as they come alive as havens for wildlife.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26So, where better to base ourselves to take it all in than
0:01:26 > 0:01:30one of our most beautiful national parks on the south coast of England?
0:01:32 > 0:01:35The New Forest in Hampshire covers more than 200 square
0:01:35 > 0:01:38miles which is quite a small area in the great scheme of things
0:01:38 > 0:01:41but it's got an incredible range of habitats.
0:01:41 > 0:01:45From woodland down to the coastline there's a profusion
0:01:45 > 0:01:50of flourishing ecosystems which burst into life when it's spring.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56But the New Forest isn't alone in feeling the effects of the season.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59I'll be joined by the Diaries team who have been scouring
0:01:59 > 0:02:02the British Isles for signposts of spring.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06Keeley's out in Hampshire learning how to help toads
0:02:06 > 0:02:08with the Green Cross Code.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12Come on, you. Stop dawdling. That's right, that's the way.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Smallholder Paul is giving his Victorian drainage pond
0:02:16 > 0:02:18a wildlife makeover.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21I'd be worried by all that duckweed you've got there.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24While Margherita reports on the £1 million a day cost
0:02:24 > 0:02:27of the floods to the people of Cumbria.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30- You didn't think of giving up? - No, never.
0:02:30 > 0:02:31THEY LAUGH
0:02:34 > 0:02:38But first, as our native flowers burst back into life it's
0:02:38 > 0:02:41hard to beat the beauty of springtime.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43It's one of the glories of the British Isles
0:02:43 > 0:02:47but not every sign of new life is welcome.
0:02:47 > 0:02:52Down in the dells of Devon, Jules is on the trail of an interloper.
0:02:58 > 0:02:59Britain is under attack.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06A silent invasion is taking over our ponds and streams.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13And this is the enemy.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15The very pretty, very deadly,
0:03:15 > 0:03:21and, frankly, very smelly American skunk cabbage.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25When it comes to looks this plant is certainly deceiving.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29It is, after all, very popular in many gardens across the UK
0:03:29 > 0:03:33but it has now become so prolific in certain parts of our countryside
0:03:33 > 0:03:37it is choking our waterways, leaving little room for our native wildlife.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43The American skunk cabbage was introduced
0:03:43 > 0:03:48here in 1901 as an ornamental plant for garden ponds.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53But sightings of the skunk cabbage in the wild have
0:03:53 > 0:03:56increased by 84% in 15 years.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00It's now spread across the UK, dominating
0:04:00 > 0:04:04waterways from the River Tweed in Scotland to the Lake District.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07It's even found on Pen-y-Pass in Snowdonia.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12If left to its own devices skunk cabbage could wipe out
0:04:12 > 0:04:14the native flora around it.
0:04:18 > 0:04:23But now it's in Devon and this army of volunteers are fighting back,
0:04:23 > 0:04:28working hard determined to eradicate it from the streams on Dartmoor.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35The battle is on to remove it before spring turns to summer and
0:04:35 > 0:04:39the flower goes to seed, fuelling the spread of this noxious plant.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45Community ecologist Chrissy Mason is leading the charge.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48- Hi, Chrissie.- Hi, Jules. - Look at this lot.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50It's a real hive of activity.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54A race against time to get these out before they seed.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57Absolutely, which is why we're here this time of year when the
0:04:57 > 0:05:02plants are relatively small because they are going to get a lot bigger.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04But I tell you what, you get a real sense of the smell
0:05:04 > 0:05:07when you're really in amongst them like this in numbers.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10That's why it's called skunk cabbage. It's because of the smell.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13It's real, real strong garlic, onion-y smell.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16How big would the plant get when it's fully matured?
0:05:16 > 0:05:19You are looking at the leaves being about a metre tall.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22- A metre?- So, it does get large.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25The problem is when it grows in dense stands,
0:05:25 > 0:05:27it shades everything else out.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32So, it just takes over at the cost of our native fauna and flora?
0:05:32 > 0:05:34That's right. It outcompetes the native flora.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36Let's see if we can get this one out.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39- Gosh, it really is in there, isn't it?- It really is embedded.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41It doesn't want to go.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45Come on.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47- We've lost it. - That's not what you want, is it?
0:05:47 > 0:05:49That's not what we want, no.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53- This is what we're aiming for.- Spot the difference.- Spot the difference.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58What I now have to do is make sure I dig all of that root system out
0:05:58 > 0:05:59and that nothing's left behind.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01Any small bits of root,
0:06:01 > 0:06:04any small bits of rhizome that float downstream,
0:06:04 > 0:06:08it can be again be the source of another infestation further down.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Where did the outbreak come from?
0:06:13 > 0:06:15If we follow the trail back upstream,
0:06:15 > 0:06:19the answer may come from the man who owns this lovely spot.
0:06:21 > 0:06:26Heathercombe Estate is a beautiful Victorian ornamental garden.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28But, recently, skunk cabbage has run riot.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32The estate's owner is John Pike.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37John, dare I ask, are you, at least, in part
0:06:37 > 0:06:42responsible for the skunk cabbage being in this pretty area?
0:06:42 > 0:06:44We are to some extent, yes.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48My father planted the first skunk cabbages here probably
0:06:48 > 0:06:49back in the 1980s.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53Probably only one or two and for a long time they were fine
0:06:53 > 0:06:54and didn't spread.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57The last few years things have changed as far as they started
0:06:57 > 0:07:01to spread rapidly so we realise now we must address the problem
0:07:01 > 0:07:05and, I'm afraid, get rid of them all because they're too invasive.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08I notice there are two distinct different varieties here.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12You have both the Asian variety which has the white spathe
0:07:12 > 0:07:16and also we have the American species with the yellow spathe.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20And it's the American yellow ones that spread like mad.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22Are you going to remove both varieties though?
0:07:22 > 0:07:25No, I think we'll keep the Asian variety because the Asian
0:07:25 > 0:07:29variety has not spread but we shall eliminate the American ones.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32Easier said than done. They're not easy to get rid of, are they?
0:07:32 > 0:07:35They're not easy. Digging them out is a big job.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41It's going to take a lot of hard graft to reclaim our waterways.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45Skunk cabbage has become such a threat the EU is now
0:07:45 > 0:07:46clamping down on it.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52From the 1st of January this year new regulations were introduced
0:07:52 > 0:07:56to prevent this non-native species wreaking havoc in the countryside.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59The plant that I've had real problems with in the past is
0:07:59 > 0:08:02Japanese knotweed. Is this the new knotweed?
0:08:04 > 0:08:06At the moment, no.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10It's not as widespread as Japanese knotweed, but that is the worry.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13Unless the actual problem is nipped in the bud,
0:08:13 > 0:08:15we could be losing control.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19For anyone who's got one at home, should they be worried about it?
0:08:19 > 0:08:21People do grow it in their gardens.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25At the moment, we're not asking people to get rid of the plant.
0:08:25 > 0:08:29What we're saying is think of the plant as a pet.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31So, be a responsible plant owner.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33We're asking people to be plant-wise.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36If you have it in your garden what we're asking people to do is
0:08:36 > 0:08:38actually remove the seed head.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41Don't, whatever you do, put it in your compost or your green bin.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43- Don't spread it, yeah.- Absolutely.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45What you need to do is put the seed head into a plastic bag,
0:08:45 > 0:08:48allow it to rot right down and then it goes in the bin.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Cos we don't want it spreading out into the open country.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54- All right, then, we better keep going.- Thank you.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58- Should we give that one a go? - Yep, we'll give that one a go.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01And if you do spot any signs of skunk cabbage
0:09:01 > 0:09:05across the countryside you can report it to the Environment Agency.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11Keeping your eyes peeled when you're out
0:09:11 > 0:09:14and about in the country can pay off in other ways.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17Hundreds of thousands of wild birds
0:09:17 > 0:09:21and animals are killed or injured on Britain's roads every year.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25Keeley now reports on the battle to keep one
0:09:25 > 0:09:28creature in particular safe from oncoming traffic.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36These huge lakes on the edge of the New Forest are expecting
0:09:36 > 0:09:39spring arrivals, and lots of them.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44These creatures are waiting for that opportune moment to breed.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48And luckily for these nocturnal migraters,
0:09:48 > 0:09:50a helping hand is on its way.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54Come nightfall and Teresa Baker
0:09:54 > 0:09:57is keeping a close eye on the air temperature.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01Monitoring moisture levels all from her home on the edge of the forest.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07Perfect conditions would be six degrees and above, damp and raining.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11I check all the time, ten times, even more sometimes.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16All winter she's waited for this moment,
0:10:16 > 0:10:18because timing is everything.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22For Theresa, springtime means "toad time".
0:10:24 > 0:10:28It's estimated that more than 20 tonnes of toads are killed
0:10:28 > 0:10:32every year on the UK's roads during their spring migration.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35So, tonight, I volunteered to help Theresa on one of her toad patrols
0:10:35 > 0:10:39to find out why the common toad needs our help.
0:10:40 > 0:10:45Theresa's toad patrol are ready for action during this annual migration.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47It's their job to help the toads cross the road.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52And that means a lot of late nights at this time of year
0:10:52 > 0:10:54because it's under the cover of darkness that these
0:10:54 > 0:10:57amphibians start their journey.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01- Are we just looking for any little bumps in the road?- Yes.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05Theresa and her team work in shifts to patrol the road in their cars.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07Is that one?
0:11:08 > 0:11:11They look very similar to leaves, that's the problem we've got here.
0:11:11 > 0:11:12That's the problem.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14'With the help of the full beams, when a toad is spotted,
0:11:14 > 0:11:17'they get out and safely move it to the other side.'
0:11:17 > 0:11:22- That could be one.- Oh, no. Another leaf. It's a leaf.- Are you sure?
0:11:22 > 0:11:23I'm sure, yes.
0:11:25 > 0:11:27- There's a toad.- Oh, yeah.
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Right. Here we go.
0:11:35 > 0:11:39- So, carefully scoop up, do we? - Yes, just pick it up very gently.
0:11:39 > 0:11:40Hello.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43- OK.- Just cover her face so that nothing hurts her face.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46- OK, she's not camera-shy, is she? - No, she's not.
0:11:46 > 0:11:47Come on, then.
0:11:47 > 0:11:51Right, this is my first toad rescue.
0:11:51 > 0:11:52Come on, then.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57Teresa, it's cold, it's wet.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59Some people would call you crazy for doing this.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02I think you probably have to be a little bit crazy
0:12:02 > 0:12:03to come out on a night like this,
0:12:03 > 0:12:05but it is worthwhile when you find them and you save them.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08So, why are the toads crossing on this particular stretch?
0:12:08 > 0:12:11Well, they are crossing the road to get to the Blashford Lakes to spawn
0:12:11 > 0:12:13and then after they've spawned, they'll go back again.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16And they've got a fair old journey to make, haven't they?
0:12:16 > 0:12:18Yes, apparently a toad will go 3km,
0:12:18 > 0:12:214km, to get back to the lake where they were spawned.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27The common toad spends ten months of the year on dry land hibernating.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30Waking up in spring when the weather warms,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33they'll crawl vast distances to reach their spawning ground.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36They may not have eaten for six months,
0:12:36 > 0:12:38but there's no time for stopping.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40These toads are on a mission.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42They know from memory where they started their life
0:12:42 > 0:12:45and retrace their steps by smelling the air for direction.
0:12:46 > 0:12:50Come on, you, stop dawdling. That's right. That's the way. Come on.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54'Usually the males start their journey a few weeks ahead
0:12:54 > 0:12:57'of the females with time to stake out a spot,
0:12:57 > 0:12:58'only this year,
0:12:58 > 0:13:02'the mild winter tricked the males into crossing months in advance.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07'By late April, they're still waiting for the females to arrive...
0:13:07 > 0:13:08'fashionably late, as always.'
0:13:08 > 0:13:12Will that have an effect on numbers, do you think, if the male toads
0:13:12 > 0:13:15have been waiting quite a long time for the females to join them?
0:13:15 > 0:13:17No, I think they just wait patiently.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19I don't think that worries them at all.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26The night is not over for you yet, young lady.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29Some very handsome toads over there, I hear. Come on.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31Let's get you on your way.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35'So far this year, Teresa and her team have saved nearly 400 toads.'
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Excuse me. Do you not know your Highway TOAD?!
0:13:43 > 0:13:46They are such endearing little creatures, aren't they?
0:13:46 > 0:13:50- It's just lovely. - Why is this so important?
0:13:50 > 0:13:52You turn out on horrid nights. Why?
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Really because it seems such a shame for these creatures
0:13:55 > 0:13:58to be killed unnecessarily. They play a big part in the ecosystem.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Once you start picking them up and you see how sweet they are,
0:14:01 > 0:14:05you can't help but love them. They are lovely little creatures.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07They don't do any harm, they only do good,
0:14:07 > 0:14:09so, yeah, I really enjoy doing it.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14Good luck. There she goes.
0:14:16 > 0:14:21It's thanks to the help of Teresa and 1,600 fellow volunteers
0:14:21 > 0:14:25all around Britain that the common toad can continue to thrive.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37Further north in the UK in Cumbria,
0:14:37 > 0:14:40spring really couldn't have come too soon this year.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43Last December, Storm Desmond wreaked havoc there,
0:14:43 > 0:14:46causing more than £500 millions' worth of damage
0:14:46 > 0:14:48right across the county.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52Margherita now reports on a community that won't give in.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02The Lake District - a watery landscape of countless lakes
0:15:02 > 0:15:06and tarns and home to England's highest mountain, Scafell Pike.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12Breathtaking vistas that bring in more than £1 billion
0:15:12 > 0:15:14to the rural economy each year,
0:15:14 > 0:15:17thanks to tourists who come here from around the world.
0:15:19 > 0:15:20If you're a newbie to the lakes
0:15:20 > 0:15:22and you want to tackle a fell,
0:15:22 > 0:15:25then this one, Catbells, is the one you're after.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30The paths are really good for walkers, both young and old,
0:15:30 > 0:15:34and for those of us who haven't been to the gym in a while.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43Even on a grey spring day, the scenery is inspiring.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49How incredible is that view? That is well worth the hike.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56Around 16 million people visit the Lake District each year,
0:15:56 > 0:15:59but today it's unseasonably quiet.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02The hikers have been late this year.
0:16:06 > 0:16:07Last December,
0:16:07 > 0:16:11the UK was swamped by some of the worst flooding in decades.
0:16:11 > 0:16:12Cumbria was hit hard.
0:16:16 > 0:16:20The deluge of rain, 34 centimetres or 14 inches,
0:16:20 > 0:16:25in 24 hours flooded large swathes of town and countryside.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Few could get in or out of the lakes
0:16:28 > 0:16:33and tourists stayed away at an estimated cost of £1 million a day
0:16:33 > 0:16:35to the local economy this spring.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42Catbells, one of the most popular fell walks, suffered a series
0:16:42 > 0:16:47of catastrophic landslides, making pathways impassable for walkers.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52'Now, the challenge is how to bring this part of the lakes back
0:16:52 > 0:16:56'to its sparkling best before the tourists arrive this summer?'
0:16:56 > 0:17:02- Hi, Jessie.- Hello, hello. - Oh, it's busy here.- Yeah.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06'The answer - grit, determination and muscle power.'
0:17:08 > 0:17:09Why does it need to get done now?
0:17:09 > 0:17:11Why is it so important to get it done in the spring?
0:17:11 > 0:17:14The reason we want to do it now is because we want our paths
0:17:14 > 0:17:15to be as good as they can be
0:17:15 > 0:17:18for when people come up and walk the fells in the summer.
0:17:18 > 0:17:19If we don't do something about it now,
0:17:19 > 0:17:23we'll just have a constant stream of damage that needs repairing.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26- And you've got a lot of people helping.- Yeah.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28How much work needs to be done?
0:17:28 > 0:17:31How much gravel are we talking about moving in here?
0:17:31 > 0:17:35We've ordered 950 tonnes of gravel for this path,
0:17:35 > 0:17:36so, I mean, it's a long, long path,
0:17:36 > 0:17:39so it's going to take quite a few months of work
0:17:39 > 0:17:41to get this up to the standard we need it to be.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44- Do you need a hand? - Yes, absolutely.- Get cracking.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49And how many hours have you already put in to working up here
0:17:49 > 0:17:53- just to get to this kind of level? - Three days, just on this section.
0:17:53 > 0:17:58- A few hundred yards?- Yeah. - And how many more have we got to go?
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Well, it's another 4km to Grange, isn't it?
0:18:01 > 0:18:02Oh, I see, right.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07That'll keep me busy for a bit, won't it?
0:18:13 > 0:18:16It wasn't just pathways damaged by the floods.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19Farmers lost land and livestock.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23Altogether, we had 41 sheep missing.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25They'll have gone down the river,
0:18:25 > 0:18:27there's nowhere else for them to have gone.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33It's thought that 2,000 sheep
0:18:33 > 0:18:36and 100 cattle were lost to the raging rivers.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44Sarah and Graham Chaplin-Brice's farm was cut off by the floods.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46Their link to the outside world, the bridge,
0:18:46 > 0:18:49buckled and the road across it was swept away.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53The damage has been extreme.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55We have seen these events over the years,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58but we've never had to rebuild a bridge before.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00The water was right up to the deck.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03In fact, it was about a foot and a half above the deck of the bridge.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07People from the footpath cannot get access through to us.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10It's also the access for bringing in animal feed.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12It makes life really difficult.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17It's not just the bridge that they're rebuilding.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20They're resurrecting their livelihood, too.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24The arrival of spring heralds new hope in the form of new life.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27It's lambing time on the farm.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31- Can I give you a hand, Sarah? - Yes, please.- OK.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33This must give you hope,
0:19:33 > 0:19:36- seeing these beautiful little lambs arriving?- Yes.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39- Especially after the floods.- It's wonderful, it really, really is...
0:19:39 > 0:19:43- Wow.- ..because it's been a hard winter and now look what we've got -
0:19:43 > 0:19:46beautiful, beautiful babies.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51Every farm down the valley has suffered some damage,
0:19:51 > 0:19:53in some form or other.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57Miles of fencing gone, stone walls that have been stood
0:19:57 > 0:20:00for hundreds of years just gone, just demolished.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03- But you didn't think of giving up? - No, never.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08Cumbrian folk are a resilient bunch.
0:20:08 > 0:20:12During the flood, the fences that bordered their land were levelled,
0:20:12 > 0:20:15scattering their sheep far and wide.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18Sarah's local community was on hand to help out.
0:20:18 > 0:20:21We put a plea out on social media
0:20:21 > 0:20:26and we had 40 volunteers come from all over the place and we cleared it
0:20:26 > 0:20:31all up and as a result of it, we've got two stock-proof fields now.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34Things are getting back to normal, aren't they?
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Oh, I think so. I think so, yes.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44The Cumbrian community has rallied round.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47Paths have been restored and roads reopened.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51There are signs that visitors are returning.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55B&B owner Martin Lancaster believes the local tourist industry
0:20:55 > 0:20:57will bounce back.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00- How are things looking? - The weather's improving.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02The flowers are out, the daffodils look wonderful.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05You can hear birds everywhere. The footpaths are open.
0:21:05 > 0:21:07Yeah, there's a real positive vibe going on.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10I think many of the businesses in town, people I talk to,
0:21:10 > 0:21:13they're very confident that we're going to have a good season.
0:21:13 > 0:21:18For these communities, it's been a long five months,
0:21:18 > 0:21:21not just rebuilding homes and businesses,
0:21:21 > 0:21:23but also their self-belief.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27It's great to see how the people of Cumbria have pulled together
0:21:27 > 0:21:28to overcome the flooding
0:21:28 > 0:21:32and I, for one, can't wait to get back out on the mountains this year.
0:21:40 > 0:21:43The stormy weather that batters the UK every year
0:21:43 > 0:21:45doesn't just affect communities.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47It also hits local wildlife.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52Among the victims are ground-nesting sea birds like the little tern,
0:21:52 > 0:21:54as Jules now reports.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00This spring, Storm Katie hammered the Hampshire coastline,
0:22:00 > 0:22:02not only did it damage many sea defences,
0:22:02 > 0:22:05but it also started to erode a shingle ridge
0:22:05 > 0:22:07that the little terns had been nesting on.
0:22:09 > 0:22:11Now, the race is on to repair the damage
0:22:11 > 0:22:14because the little tern is already making its way
0:22:14 > 0:22:17back from Africa to breed and nest this spring.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23It's thought that fewer than 2,000 pairs of little terns
0:22:23 > 0:22:28now nest in the UK, so Storm Katie couldn't have come at a worse time.
0:22:30 > 0:22:31Hi, Bob.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33Very nice to see you, sir.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36The man responsible for managing both the inland
0:22:36 > 0:22:40and offshore breeding sites is reserve manager Bob Chapman.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47Now, Bob, I'm surprised at the numbers of terns now in the UK -
0:22:47 > 0:22:49just 2,000 breeding pairs.
0:22:49 > 0:22:52What's happened to reduce numbers so dramatically?
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Well, all the terns are suffering from squeeze, essentially.
0:22:55 > 0:22:56The sea level's rising,
0:22:56 > 0:22:58so it's reducing the amount of habitat they've got,
0:22:58 > 0:23:01and competition with gulls and other terns, just other birds -
0:23:01 > 0:23:03everything's getting pushed together.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05They're the smallest, so they get squeezed out.
0:23:05 > 0:23:07So, how bleak is the future for the little tern?
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Well, it's not great, to be honest.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14Ideally, they would probably nest on sandy beaches,
0:23:14 > 0:23:16and fine shingle beaches.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20The trouble is, WE love those, so most of the best beaches
0:23:20 > 0:23:24that they like to nest on are covered in people, essentially.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28- Yeah.- So, they're pushed out onto these little shingle ridges
0:23:28 > 0:23:31and this kind of thing - the kind of places they can't get to.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33This breakwater, built to defend the harbour,
0:23:33 > 0:23:37is the perfect sanctuary for tiny sea birds like the little tern,
0:23:37 > 0:23:40away from both humans and predators.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44We're heading out to assess the damage that Storm Katie has caused.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46I mean, where would the shingle ideally be?
0:23:46 > 0:23:47Presumably up to my boots, would it?
0:23:47 > 0:23:49Er, sort of...yeah, around the level...
0:23:49 > 0:23:52- These rocks were just sticking up out of the top of it.- Yeah.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54- We had shingle all through here... - Yeah.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56..and Katie has not done us any favours.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58So, this is all Storm Katie?
0:23:58 > 0:24:00- Yep.- Just a couple of days.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03It was all here, end of February, early March, it was all still here.
0:24:03 > 0:24:04- Yeah.- Survived the winter.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07So, we all thought, "Great," you know? "We're on for the spring,"
0:24:07 > 0:24:11and then Easter comes, and all the shingle goes.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17It's going to take time to fully restore this valuable nesting site,
0:24:17 > 0:24:19but with the gravel we've brought today -
0:24:19 > 0:24:21well, at least we can make a start.
0:24:23 > 0:24:29I mean, I suppose, Bob, that if you can prove the principle,
0:24:29 > 0:24:32this might act as a model for the future, will it?
0:24:32 > 0:24:34Yeah, well, that's really the idea.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36We know there's going to be more of these built,
0:24:36 > 0:24:39and we could potentially have all of this, the whole length,
0:24:39 > 0:24:40with a shingle top -
0:24:40 > 0:24:43and then you're talking serious areas of habitat,
0:24:43 > 0:24:45and we could really start redressing the loss of habitat
0:24:45 > 0:24:47out on the salt marshes.
0:24:47 > 0:24:52So, we just need some terns to decide that this could be for them.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55Yeah, I mean, I have no doubt, in principle,
0:24:55 > 0:24:58that if we could make a shingle ridge here,
0:24:58 > 0:25:00sooner or later, terns would nest on it.
0:25:00 > 0:25:05And, to that end, Bob has a secret weapon to further entice the birds.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07Well, there's one last trick we can try,
0:25:07 > 0:25:10which is to deploy some decoy terns.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14Ha! I never thought I'd see a little tern today, but there you are!
0:25:14 > 0:25:17Yeah, well, it's...it's worth a try!
0:25:17 > 0:25:19How easily fooled are they?
0:25:19 > 0:25:20It not so much fools them,
0:25:20 > 0:25:22but it encourages them to come over and take a look,
0:25:22 > 0:25:25investigate the site - which is what we want them to do first.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27These are great! Where did you get these from?
0:25:27 > 0:25:28- I made them, actually. - They're fabulous.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31So, you were, basically, through the winter months,
0:25:31 > 0:25:33- making hundreds of little terns? - Oh, no, not hundreds -
0:25:33 > 0:25:36it turns out you don't actually need very many,
0:25:36 > 0:25:38just a few, strategically placed.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41It pays to face them into the wind, cos that's how they naturally sit.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44- OK.- Prevailing wind... - That way.- That way.- Right, then.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46So, there you are, sunshine.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52- HE CHUCKLES - Brilliant.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55- Well, the job is done. - See what happens.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00There's a lot more work to do to repair the storm damage,
0:26:00 > 0:26:03but, with a little help from Bob and his home-made decoys,
0:26:03 > 0:26:06this breakwater ridge could soon turn the tide
0:26:06 > 0:26:08and save one of our smallest sea birds.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20Another species under threat has caught Ellie's attention.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22It lurks beneath the waters of Gloucestershire,
0:26:22 > 0:26:25and the battle is on to save it from extinction.
0:26:33 > 0:26:38Shadowy figures at the water's edge, with what look like huge sieves.
0:26:40 > 0:26:41Elvermen,
0:26:41 > 0:26:45netting one of the oldest species on earth -
0:26:45 > 0:26:47elvers, or baby eels.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51It's the height of the elvering season.
0:26:51 > 0:26:56Eel larvae drift 3,000 miles from the Sargasso Sea near Bermuda
0:26:56 > 0:26:58to grow up in these waters -
0:26:58 > 0:27:01but the eel is critically endangered.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03Only 1% survive the long journey,
0:27:03 > 0:27:07and for that minority, the rivers ahead are fraught with challenges.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11They might make it from the sea to the river, but...
0:27:11 > 0:27:13they're then faced with physical barriers
0:27:13 > 0:27:17across the river from flood and tidal defences,
0:27:17 > 0:27:19which prevents them reaching their nursery habitats,
0:27:19 > 0:27:21where they need to go to grow and develop
0:27:21 > 0:27:23into the next stage of their lives.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32Here on the River Severn, they're getting a helping hand.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Elvermen, the fisheries and conservationists
0:27:35 > 0:27:38are all working together to net them safely
0:27:38 > 0:27:40and carry them over man-made obstacles.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45Bill Burley from the Environment Agency patrols the river bank
0:27:45 > 0:27:47to make sure everything's above board,
0:27:47 > 0:27:50to keep both the elvers and elvering alive.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Tell me about the nets. They're quite traditional, aren't they?
0:27:53 > 0:27:54They are traditional.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57They're called dip nets, elver dip nets, or box nets.
0:27:57 > 0:27:59They're made of an aluminium frame nowadays,
0:27:59 > 0:28:02but years ago they'd have been made of timber, wicker.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04In those days, they were catching them for food.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07- Yeah.- Nowadays they're going for restocking,
0:28:07 > 0:28:09and we need them alive and in top condition.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12The River Severn's becoming the model for Europe
0:28:12 > 0:28:14on how to catch elvers in this condition,
0:28:14 > 0:28:17and the elvers from the Severn will all go for restocking -
0:28:17 > 0:28:19some will go to fish farms,
0:28:19 > 0:28:22most will go either into the UK or the rest of Europe.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24They've got to be absolutely pristine elvers for that.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26So, is there a nice high tide tonight -
0:28:26 > 0:28:28will we get many people out?
0:28:28 > 0:28:29Oh, it's going to be a good tide tonight.
0:28:29 > 0:28:31Good - I'm excited to be out!
0:28:31 > 0:28:34It's the first time for me - I'm a local girl, but I've never seen it.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40It's amazing, it's like a secret world
0:28:40 > 0:28:41underneath these road bridges -
0:28:41 > 0:28:45people drive past, they've got no idea that all this is going on.
0:28:47 > 0:28:49The elvers linger on the riverbed,
0:28:49 > 0:28:51and, under the cloak of darkness,
0:28:51 > 0:28:55ride the high tide to make a move upriver.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03After a night's netting, the elvers are then sold to Peter Wood
0:29:03 > 0:29:05at the local eel station.
0:29:07 > 0:29:11Wow! So small - and yet they've come so far.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14In terms of their size to our size,
0:29:14 > 0:29:17it's really like us trying to walk to the moon.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20It's a very, very long way.
0:29:20 > 0:29:2440% of Peter's eels are sold on for aquaculture -
0:29:24 > 0:29:27but the rest go into restocking rivers all over Europe,
0:29:27 > 0:29:32and he provides many free of charge to help restock local rivers.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34Am I right in thinking you're happy to give me a few
0:29:34 > 0:29:35to put back in some rivers?
0:29:35 > 0:29:37We'll take some out of the tank,
0:29:37 > 0:29:38and you'd better guess how many we've got -
0:29:38 > 0:29:41and then we'll put them through the counter and see if you're right.
0:29:41 > 0:29:42Like a country fair!
0:29:42 > 0:29:45- Like a country fair, yes, yes. - I like the sound of that.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47They're slippery customers,
0:29:47 > 0:29:49but in the true spirit of Peter's game...
0:29:49 > 0:29:52I'm going to guess at...800.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55I'm going to guess at...1,800.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57Oh, wow, so I'd be way off the mark!
0:29:57 > 0:30:00- Right...- We'll see. - Let the computer decide.
0:30:00 > 0:30:02- Like this OK?- Yes, that's fine.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04This miraculous machine counts the eels
0:30:04 > 0:30:07as they squirm their way past the camera.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09So, we're at 49 already.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13Look at this spaghetti!
0:30:13 > 0:30:14Glass eels going in.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17You were wrong, too, Peter - we're over 2,000 now.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19Wrong, too, yes - undersold, I'm afraid.
0:30:19 > 0:30:21This is a good game!
0:30:21 > 0:30:25OK, so I was way out - but before I release these youngsters,
0:30:25 > 0:30:29I'm taking a look at the work of the Sustainable Eel Group.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32With efforts from the eel station and the Environment Agency,
0:30:32 > 0:30:34the group has built 600 eel passes
0:30:34 > 0:30:39that help them swim freely upstream and over any man-made barriers.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42Andrew Kerr is the chairman.
0:30:42 > 0:30:46Well, what you've got here is a stainless steel tray,
0:30:46 > 0:30:52and in the main channel you've got lots and lots of baffles,
0:30:52 > 0:30:58and these create the effect of a slow current and a fast current -
0:30:58 > 0:31:00and then here, on the right-hand side,
0:31:00 > 0:31:05you have got two sets of ceramic tiles in a vertical channel.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08So, the river can go up and the river can go down -
0:31:08 > 0:31:12the studs act as a lever for the eels to crawl through
0:31:12 > 0:31:15as they head upriver.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23We're putting our young eels back upstream of any man-made barriers,
0:31:23 > 0:31:25to give them a fighting chance.
0:31:25 > 0:31:27- Is this a good spot? - This is ideal, yeah.
0:31:27 > 0:31:29- Absolutely.- What makes it so good?
0:31:29 > 0:31:34Well, this is the perfect habitat - we call it nursery habitat,
0:31:34 > 0:31:38because when they're in the river, there's a shortage of food.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41Here, it's full of little insects
0:31:41 > 0:31:44and all the other detritus that they want to eat.
0:31:44 > 0:31:47The chances of surviving here are so much greater
0:31:47 > 0:31:50than only a few hundred yards into the River Severn.
0:31:50 > 0:31:54- Ooh, looking super ready to go. - And take that...
0:31:54 > 0:31:55- Some going already.- Yep.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58Right, are we ready for this?
0:31:58 > 0:31:59Off you go.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01Brilliant.
0:32:01 > 0:32:02Look at them go.
0:32:03 > 0:32:05All these years of living in Gloucestershire,
0:32:05 > 0:32:09I'm so happy to have finally seen this centuries-old spectacle,
0:32:09 > 0:32:13and how today it's offering these extraordinary animals a future.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21It's not just the changes in the ecology of our rivers
0:32:21 > 0:32:24that's proving a challenge for wildlife.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27The loss of pond habitats has meant that once-common species
0:32:27 > 0:32:29have become a rarity.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32So, Paul has decided to do his bit
0:32:32 > 0:32:35by turning a garden pond into a wildlife haven.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45PAUL: This spring, I'm injecting new life into my Wiltshire smallholding.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50I'm learning how to get the best from my land -
0:32:50 > 0:32:51to provide for the family,
0:32:51 > 0:32:54but also to be a haven for wildlife.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58With our new bees busy building their hive,
0:32:58 > 0:33:01it's reminded me of another bug haven in our garden.
0:33:04 > 0:33:08This is our Victorian drainage pond - now, every spring,
0:33:08 > 0:33:12we get a whole host of wildlife emerging from its murky waters.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16We get damselflies and dragonflies, which flutter all around the garden,
0:33:16 > 0:33:19much to the delight of Woof and the kids.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22It's got potential, but it...it just looks a mess.
0:33:23 > 0:33:27Garden ponds in Britain support two thirds of our freshwater species,
0:33:27 > 0:33:32and yet, 50% of these amazing habitats have been lost
0:33:32 > 0:33:34since the 20th century.
0:33:34 > 0:33:39Mine is overgrown, overshadowed and in desperate need of some TLC.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41So, to help me give my pond a makeover
0:33:41 > 0:33:45and provide some top tips on maintaining a healthy pond,
0:33:45 > 0:33:50I've called in Jeremy Biggs from the Freshwater Habitats Trust.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52I'd be worried by all that duckweed you've got there.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55I think there's probably a lot of organic material
0:33:55 > 0:33:57built-up in the pond here. Often, when there's lots of duckweed,
0:33:57 > 0:34:00it's a sign there's too many nutrients in the pond,
0:34:00 > 0:34:02which is really a form of pollution
0:34:02 > 0:34:05and getting those nutrients down as low as we can
0:34:05 > 0:34:08- is really crucial for pond life. - Right, let's test the water now.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10- Come on, then, there's a shallow bit down here.- OK.
0:34:15 > 0:34:16I'm just going to get a bit of water
0:34:16 > 0:34:18in this pot first of all. There we are.
0:34:18 > 0:34:21Now we can use the test kit for pollutants that we're worried about.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24OK. And this should change colour, should it?
0:34:24 > 0:34:26Well, if there's any pollution here, it'll change colour.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29And anyone can get these kits and test their own ponds?
0:34:29 > 0:34:33- They can, yeah.- The good news is that's perfectly clear!
0:34:33 > 0:34:34The phosphate is really low.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37It's right down at the natural levels that we should see
0:34:37 > 0:34:39in waters not polluted by anything.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42With all this organic matter in the pond, I'm a bit surprised by that.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44I would've thought there might be more.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47So, appearances can be deceiving.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50Despite Jeremy's fears about my prolific duckweed,
0:34:50 > 0:34:53it seems there might be hope for my pond yet.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56What we need to do next is have a look at what's living in the pond.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59- Oh, well, I've just the perfect person for that.- Excellent.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05And here he is. Jeremy, this is my son, Dylan,
0:35:05 > 0:35:08who is our resident bug expert. I know you're our expert today,
0:35:08 > 0:35:11but he loves anything to do with wildlife, don't you, Dylan?
0:35:11 > 0:35:13When children and water are close together,
0:35:13 > 0:35:15safety has to be paramount,
0:35:15 > 0:35:19so I always keep a close eye on Dylan when he's near the pond.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23- What do you think of these, Dylan? - They look...really stupid.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25They do, don't they? A bit ridiculous, but,
0:35:25 > 0:35:28I'll tell you what, they'll keep us dry.
0:35:28 > 0:35:29This is the fun bit.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32Time to work out what lurks beneath the duckweed
0:35:32 > 0:35:34in our 100-year-old pond.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39Most animals are where there are plants growing in the water.
0:35:39 > 0:35:41Go on, Dylan, you have a go through there.
0:35:44 > 0:35:48- Ooh, look what I found.- What have you got? Oh, wow! Look at that.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50We've found a newt. Grab the tray.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54There's a smooth newt, Dylan, look.
0:35:57 > 0:35:58So, this is a female smooth newt.
0:35:58 > 0:36:02You can tell because she's pretty plain on the top and if we very
0:36:02 > 0:36:07gently turn her over, we'll see she's orange and spotty underneath.
0:36:07 > 0:36:11- She's beautiful.- Yes, it's an amazing little creature.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13Let's see what animals we've got.
0:36:13 > 0:36:15This is the common water slater, or water louse.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18- Will the newts be feeding off them? - They could eat those, yes.
0:36:18 > 0:36:20Anything smaller than them, they'll eat.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23And the other creatures that are very common here are these
0:36:23 > 0:36:27- freshwater shrimps.- Oh, I see them! - Yeah!- Oh, look at those, Dylan.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30- I know!- People might've heard of killer shrimps.
0:36:30 > 0:36:32These are just ordinary, nice shrimps.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35They're not native to this country, but they're not doing any harm.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38And the other animal that there's quite a lot of in here
0:36:38 > 0:36:41is this water snail. This is called the wandering snail.
0:36:41 > 0:36:45- Do you know, I'm so surprised there's so much wildlife.- Yeah.
0:36:48 > 0:36:52Now we know who lives here, it's time to add some big rotting logs
0:36:52 > 0:36:56and leafy pond plants to improve their habitat.
0:36:56 > 0:36:57Go on, put that one in.
0:36:57 > 0:36:58And, as it's spring,
0:36:58 > 0:37:02it'll provide somewhere for our newts to lay their eggs.
0:37:04 > 0:37:06It's looking really good already.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08And hopefully all these plants will spread out
0:37:08 > 0:37:11from where we've been planting them now.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15And join that shelf coming along there, around here.
0:37:15 > 0:37:17These different types of pond plant
0:37:17 > 0:37:20can provide an excellent varied habitat to attract newts.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24They'll also absorb some the nutrients and lock them away,
0:37:24 > 0:37:26to keep the water clean.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28That's the plants sorted.
0:37:28 > 0:37:32Next, I need to do something about our overgrown trees.
0:37:34 > 0:37:36More light on the pond will warm the water
0:37:36 > 0:37:39and help our new plants take root.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43Dylan has been sent on a mission of his own,
0:37:43 > 0:37:48to create a safe haven for our newts while they're out of the water.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55- Dylan, have you made use of all those little offcuts?- Yeah.
0:37:55 > 0:38:00That is fantastic, isn't it? Look at that! It's brilliant.
0:38:00 > 0:38:01That's absolutely brilliant.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05You've got bits of old slate and rock and pipe and dead wood.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08Lots of bugs in there. You know what you call this, don't you?
0:38:08 > 0:38:11- Hibernacula.- Hibernacula. In other words, it's a newt hotel!
0:38:11 > 0:38:15There's lot of nooks and crannies, look, where the newts can hide
0:38:15 > 0:38:19- from hedgehogs and the cats. - Yeah.- Other predators.
0:38:19 > 0:38:23- Well, we've got some clearing up to do now.- Yeah.- Come on, then.
0:38:25 > 0:38:30With our overgrown trees stripped away, sunlight now streams down
0:38:30 > 0:38:34on to our old pond for the first time in nearly 30 years,
0:38:34 > 0:38:38allowing our new aquatic plants to stretch out their roots.
0:38:38 > 0:38:42Who knows what else we might attract to our pond this spring?
0:38:42 > 0:38:45- It looks a lot different, especially with the tree down.- Yeah.
0:38:45 > 0:38:49The good news is our pond wasn't as bad as we thought it was.
0:38:49 > 0:38:52It can only get better, so we can attract even more wildlife
0:38:52 > 0:38:55- with this habitat we've just planted up.- Yeah.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58- So it's a pond to be proud of, don't you think?- Yeah.- High five.
0:39:08 > 0:39:12One of the biggest money-spinners in the rural economy is angling.
0:39:12 > 0:39:18It generates upwards of £3 billion every year in the UK.
0:39:18 > 0:39:21In Scotland, one of the big magnets is the River Tweed.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25Spring brings the mayfly, the mayfly bring the trout
0:39:25 > 0:39:28and the trout bring the fishermen.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41The Tweed is one of Britain's great rivers.
0:39:41 > 0:39:46For centuries, man has fished these waters for salmon and trout.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50It's a place where fly-fishing takes on an almost artistic form.
0:39:52 > 0:39:53See a fish jump out that time?
0:39:57 > 0:40:00The spring awakening attracts fishermen like Kenny Galt,
0:40:00 > 0:40:03keen to take advantage of a spring miracle,
0:40:03 > 0:40:06where tiny creatures emerge from the depths.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11I went fishing today to take advantage of the March Brown hatch.
0:40:11 > 0:40:14The March Brown's a mayfly that we have in many Scottish rivers
0:40:14 > 0:40:15and it's the time of year
0:40:15 > 0:40:17when it changes from the juvenile form to the adult
0:40:17 > 0:40:20and when it does that, it comes to the surface of the water,
0:40:20 > 0:40:22changes into the adult, which flies off.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26And when that happens, quite often trout will come up and feed on them.
0:40:26 > 0:40:28And, as such, you can imitate the adult March Brown
0:40:28 > 0:40:30and catch lots of trout.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34Timing is everything for the mayfly hatch.
0:40:34 > 0:40:39The temperature has to be just right. The light has to be perfect.
0:40:39 > 0:40:43Only then will the March Browns rise and take flight.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49It's now just approaching 1pm and the March Brown hatches generally
0:40:49 > 0:40:52occur around lunchtime, generally starting about 1pm.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55Just how long the hatch will last varies from day to day, but for the
0:40:55 > 0:40:59most part you can almost set your watch by the timing of the hatches.
0:41:00 > 0:41:05Mayflies are one of the most primitive life forms on the planet.
0:41:05 > 0:41:08Underwater, the March Browns live amongst the rocks
0:41:08 > 0:41:12for up to a year, avoiding predators with stealth and camouflage.
0:41:13 > 0:41:18Their feather-like gills extract oxygen from the fast-flowing water.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26The mayfly, as adults, only live for a few days,
0:41:26 > 0:41:28maybe a week or so at most.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30Their sole purpose as the adult is to reproduce,
0:41:30 > 0:41:32so they don't even have mouths for feeding.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34They just emerge out the water, reproduce,
0:41:34 > 0:41:37go back to lay their eggs and then die.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41The art of the angler is to wait for the perfect moment.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48Until, at last, the hatch begins.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57The river becomes a frenzy of activity, above and below the water.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02You can see the gulls are flopping down,
0:42:02 > 0:42:05swooping down and taking the March Browns off the surface of the water.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08The hatch is carefully choreographed.
0:42:08 > 0:42:12Millions of March Browns will emerge during the early spring,
0:42:12 > 0:42:17ensuring that enough insects survive the waiting predators.
0:42:17 > 0:42:19On the river banks, the newly emerged adults
0:42:19 > 0:42:21dry off in the spring sunshine.
0:42:21 > 0:42:25Mottled wings feel the air for the first time
0:42:25 > 0:42:28and the three nymph tails are now down to just two.
0:42:28 > 0:42:32The trout also start to feed on the plentiful supplies
0:42:32 > 0:42:36and finally Kenny is rewarded for his patience.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38Got it.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46What we do now is we just wet our hands
0:42:46 > 0:42:48and quickly get the hook out of the fish's mouth.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51We wet our hands so as not to burn the flesh of the fish.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55The hook's barbless, so it just slips out.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58Before putting him back, just for our records,
0:42:58 > 0:43:00we'll record the length of the fish.
0:43:01 > 0:43:06This trout is, to the fork of the tail, 31.5 centimetres.
0:43:06 > 0:43:08That's not bad. It's quite slim, this one.
0:43:08 > 0:43:10It's only started feeding after the winter.
0:43:10 > 0:43:12Most anglers release their trout nowadays,
0:43:12 > 0:43:15so they can go on and reproduce, and it's good to see a trout like that
0:43:15 > 0:43:18cos it really is a good indicator of a clean, healthy river full of food
0:43:18 > 0:43:20and the Tweed has lots of trout like that in it.
0:43:20 > 0:43:24Just cradle the fish at first, to make sure it's OK...
0:43:24 > 0:43:28and then, once it's ready, once it's breathing and strong, off it goes.
0:43:28 > 0:43:32Just as quickly as it started, the hatching stops.
0:43:32 > 0:43:36A mini miracle, missed by most but, for the lucky few,
0:43:36 > 0:43:38one of spring's defining moments.
0:43:47 > 0:43:49And I'm afraid that's all we've got time for today,
0:43:49 > 0:43:51but please do try to join us
0:43:51 > 0:43:56again tomorrow for our final edition of Countryfile Spring Diaries.
0:43:56 > 0:43:57We'll be giving you a how-to
0:43:57 > 0:44:01on planting a low-allergen garden for hay-fever sufferers.
0:44:01 > 0:44:03Quite excited about planting some different things
0:44:03 > 0:44:06and maybe not having so many allergic reactions
0:44:06 > 0:44:07when I'm doing it!
0:44:07 > 0:44:09And Margarita finds out
0:44:09 > 0:44:12all you need to know about the epitome of spring, eggs.
0:44:12 > 0:44:14Every guillemot egg is unique.
0:44:14 > 0:44:17So, it's like a fingerprint on the egg, that they recognise?
0:44:17 > 0:44:19That's a perfect description, yeah.
0:44:19 > 0:44:23So, goodbye for now and hope to see you again tomorrow.