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0:00:03 > 0:00:07- I'm on a journey - to six areas in England.
0:00:07 > 0:00:12- These areas are renowned for - their beauty and incredible scenery.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16- I'm heading to the Lake District.
0:00:16 > 0:00:21- Millions are attracted here - by the scenery and famous poets.
0:00:22 > 0:00:27- I'll head to the ancient north and - cross Hadrian's Wall to Northumbria.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35- My next stop is the Peak District...
0:00:36 > 0:00:39- ..the vast wilderness - between Manchester and Sheffield.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48- This is Norfolk, - Britain's largest wetland.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54- I'll cross the Severn Bridge - to visit Somerset.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57- I'll walk along - its levels and hills.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02- I'll follow - the southern hills path...
0:01:02 > 0:01:05- ..to the white cliffs - of southern England.
0:01:07 > 0:01:12- These locations attract - millions of tourists every year...
0:01:12 > 0:01:15- ..to enjoy the splendid landscapes.
0:01:16 > 0:01:22- There's some excellent wildlife - that you will rarely see in Wales.
0:01:22 > 0:01:27- That's the main reason for visiting - these remarkable locations.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48- My first journey takes me - to the Lake District.
0:01:48 > 0:01:52- It's a part of England that looks - very similar to parts of Wales.
0:01:52 > 0:01:57- The name Cumbria suggests - close links to Wales in the past.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03- It's a mountainous area - with four summits over 3,000ft.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07- The lakes are the major attraction.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10- There are 16 lakes in all.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15- Some names, such as crag - for 'craig' (rock) sound Welsh...
0:02:15 > 0:02:19- ..but most local names - come from the Norse language.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22- Many Vikings settled here - after the Celtic Age.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30- A stream is called beck, - from the Norse bekkr.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36- A mountain is a fell, - from the Norse fjall.
0:02:38 > 0:02:43- A small lake is tarn, from the - Norse tjorn, which means earthquake.
0:02:44 > 0:02:49- My journey begins in a nature - reserve close to Lake Windermere.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52- It's the second week of April.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06- This lake is very popular.
0:03:06 > 0:03:10- It attracts millions of visitors - every year...
0:03:10 > 0:03:14- ..but it's possible to find - quiet little nooks like this.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16- I've followed an ancient path.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21- To illustrate its age, this - stone wall is covered in mosses.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25- Much of this area - reminds me of Wales.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29- Something else that reminds me - of Wales is the rain.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38- As I walk - through such a beautiful copse...
0:03:38 > 0:03:42- ..it's easy to forget - that much of the Lake District...
0:03:42 > 0:03:44- ..was shaped my man and industry.
0:03:47 > 0:03:53- This building, in the shape - of a wigwam, has caught my eye.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55- It's been recreated.
0:03:55 > 0:04:00- When people used to work - in the forests many years ago...
0:04:00 > 0:04:05- ..they would build huts - such as this for shelter.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08- This is the most important area.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11- This is original - it's an old kiln.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15- I've seen a charcoal kiln, - I've seen a lime kiln...
0:04:15 > 0:04:17- ..but this is different.
0:04:17 > 0:04:24- They would fill it with wood and - bracken and build a roof over it.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27- Once that was lit - and burnt to ash...
0:04:27 > 0:04:30- ..the ash was used to make potash.
0:04:30 > 0:04:36- Centuries ago, there were numerous - industries in this rural location.
0:04:54 > 0:05:00- Before travelling further north, - I meet Will Williams on Scout Scar.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04- It's a limestone hill - near Will's home in Kendal.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06- Will, hello.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08- Hello there, how are you?
0:05:08 > 0:05:10- Hello there, how are you?- - Are you alright? What a morning.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13- What a great view too.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15- It's a glorious morning.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19- I'm going to take a closer look - at the Lake District.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23- Let's descend and we can see - all the mountains on our way.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25- Can you tell me their names?
0:05:25 > 0:05:28- This area is to the south - of the Lake District.
0:05:29 > 0:05:34- You can see from the sea to the - highest peak on the Lake District...
0:05:34 > 0:05:37- ..Scafell Pike.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40- That's Morecambe Bay, - England's largest bay.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43- You pass the Old Man of Coniston...
0:05:43 > 0:05:46- ..and the Langdales, - Crinkle Crag, Bowfell...
0:05:47 > 0:05:50- ..mountains that Wainwright - enjoyed walking across.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53- Wainwright Walks. - I've seen the programmes.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57- It's a wonderful landscape - - I'm looking at the big picture.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59- It's magnificent.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01- I can understand why you live here.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04- Where are you from originally - - Llandeilo?
0:06:04 > 0:06:09- I was born near Llandeilo. I lived - on my father's farm near Trapp.
0:06:10 > 0:06:15- I left Llandeilo about 40 years ago.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19- You probably walk - across these mountains regularly.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21- Well, yes.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25- Have you seen the numbers - of visitors increase?
0:06:25 > 0:06:29- The Lake District - is England's largest national park.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32- It's a wonderful area...
0:06:32 > 0:06:37- ..with wonderful mountains, - valleys, forests, moors...
0:06:37 > 0:06:39- ..and many people live here.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11- I'm in Swindale now.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15- This farm is called Swindale Head.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19- I'm heading up this mountain.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23- I'll cross the moors and come out - on the other side in Haweswater...
0:07:23 > 0:07:26- ..another large lake.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30- There's an interesting path - called Old Corpse Road.
0:07:30 > 0:07:36- Many years ago, back before 1750...
0:07:36 > 0:07:40- ..there was a village - on the other side call Mardale...
0:07:40 > 0:07:43- ..but there was no graveyard there.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46- When someone died, they carried - the body, in a coffin...
0:07:46 > 0:07:50- ..across the mountain and down - this way to the village of Shap.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56- I'm following the Old Corpse Road - over the mountain...
0:07:56 > 0:07:58- ..to Haweswater.
0:07:58 > 0:08:03- Similar to Wales, these valleys - were formed during the Ice Age.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09- The highlands are home to sheep, - as you would also expect in Wales...
0:08:13 > 0:08:17- ..but you'll also find - red deer on the summit here.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21- These are all males.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25- They live apart from the females...
0:08:26 > 0:08:28- ..until it's time to mate - in the autumn.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45- This lake is called Haweswater.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50- I'm going to head around the lake - to the far side.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54- Haweswater differs - from the other lakes.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56- It's a reservoir.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58- The dam was built in 1929.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02- Two lakes and two villages - were flooded.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05- That's another similarity - to Wales...
0:09:05 > 0:09:10- ..when you think back - to Tryweryn, Vyrnwy and Elan.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20- One bird you're guaranteed to spot - in the highlands is the raven.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24- This is its primary habitat.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32- It's here because it has plenty - of food to eat on the slopes...
0:09:32 > 0:09:35- ..especially animal carcasses.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44- I've walked around the lake - to sit down here.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47- Only when you look - in that direction...
0:09:47 > 0:09:50- ..do you appreciate - the size of Haweswater.
0:09:50 > 0:09:54- It's vast. - The whole valley was flooded.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58- The raven I saw - on the far side of the lake...
0:09:58 > 0:10:02- ..has flown across the lake - to nest.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04- Here it comes.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06- Its nest is up there.
0:10:06 > 0:10:10- I've been sitting here - for about an hour and a half.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13- It's flown in with food - every 15 minutes.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15- It's fed itself and its chicks.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18- Then it flies away to search - for more.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20- I could never do this at home.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- In Wales, they're very shy birds.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26- Once your head - pops above the horizon...
0:10:26 > 0:10:30- ..it'll fly away from the nest - right away.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33- There's a path - between the nest and myself.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35- They're used to seeing people.
0:10:35 > 0:10:40- It's given me the chance - to enjoy the raven's secret life.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48- I think there are two chicks - in the nest...
0:10:48 > 0:10:50- ..but as many as five can survive.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56- You can see the chicks' beaks - when the parents feed them.
0:10:56 > 0:11:01- The second week of April is early - - the chicks are still small.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10- What I like most about the raven - are its calls.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16- It has around 30 of them.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22- They're very sensible birds.
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0:11:59 > 0:12:03- I'm at the most northerly point - of the Lake District.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06- This is the Borrowdale valley.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09- It's a well-known area - that attracts a lot of visitors.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11- I've come off the beaten track.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14- There's an ancient oak forest here.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18- The damp climate is influenced - by the Atlantic Ocean.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22- Numerous mosses and ferns - cover the landscape.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25- I hope this is a good place - to spot birds.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32- The best way to find birds - is by listening.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38- One call is easy to recognise.
0:12:39 > 0:12:41- The call of the nuthatch.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51- It builds its nest in a hole - in a broken branch of an old tree.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01- People ask me how I find nests.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06- When you have a noisy bird like - the nuthatch - can you hear it...
0:13:06 > 0:13:09- ..it's difficult - not to find the nest.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11- It tells you where it is.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14- It's going into a hole in the tree.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18- You'd think its behaviour - would be similar to other birds.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22- Collecting moss, wool, grass - or something comfortable...
0:13:22 > 0:13:24- ..but these don't.
0:13:24 > 0:13:29- They go back and forth with small - pieces of bark from nearby trees.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33- They lay their eggs on the bark.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36- I wouldn't imagine - it's a comfortable nest.
0:13:40 > 0:13:41- The hole is too big...
0:13:41 > 0:13:46- ..so the nuthatch makes it smaller - by adding mud to the entrance.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56- It then strengthens the mud - using its beak.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06- When it's finished, the entrance - has become a tight squeeze!
0:14:34 > 0:14:38- There are numerous small bridges - in this area.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41- This is just down the road - from Keswick.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43- They're very small bridges.
0:14:43 > 0:14:48- They would have been built - centuries ago for a horse and cart.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52- Today, they carry cars - and they're still here.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57- The bridge is almost 300 years old.
0:14:59 > 0:15:03- It leads to an old road - to the highlands above Keswick.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06- It passes a very special copse.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22- You don't see mature birch trees - like this very often.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27- If you went back - around 4,000 years...
0:15:27 > 0:15:32- ..you would have found trees - like this on the upper slopes.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36- They're excellent trees - for all kinds of wildlife...
0:15:36 > 0:15:39- ..especially in places like this...
0:15:39 > 0:15:43- ..where dead trees - are left to rot naturally.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46- This is a good tree - - there's another one behind me too.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49- Fungi are growing on the trees.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52- This is birch polypore...
0:15:52 > 0:15:55- ..and it creates - a wonderful pattern.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59- When it starts to rot, - it attracts all kinds of insects.
0:15:59 > 0:16:03- Some of the trees have holes - in them.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07- They were made by woodpeckers - searching for food.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20- This is the great spotted - woodpecker.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25- It's a male. It's made a hole - in the tree to make a nest.
0:16:29 > 0:16:34- I often find woodpecker nests - in birch trees.
0:16:34 > 0:16:39- I don't know why they choose birch - over any other tree.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43- This tree in particular, - it's starting to rot.
0:16:43 > 0:16:48- It's still quite hard but - it's softer than the living trees.
0:16:49 > 0:16:53- It's chosen that one because it's - easier to make a hole inside it.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55- You can tell this one's a male.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58- If you look behind its head, - there's a red patch.
0:16:59 > 0:17:03- I've been watching birds - since I was a young boy.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08- This is the first time I've ever - seen a woodpecker making a hole.
0:17:08 > 0:17:12- I've seen nests before but I've - never seen a woodpecker at work.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19- Usually, woodpeckers - make a new nest every spring.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23- It takes around three weeks - to complete the nest.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26- Both the male and female - make the nest.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31- This one's partner - waits her turn in a nearby tree.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42- They fill the bottom of the hole - with small pieces of wood.
0:18:14 > 0:18:20- This is the Castlerigg stone circle, - a mile outside Keswick.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24- No-one's sure when it was built...
0:18:25 > 0:18:29- ..possibly three or four thousand - years ago by the early Celts.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33- It's well worth coming here - at dawn...
0:18:33 > 0:18:36- ..as the sun rises - over the mountains.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40- I must say, there's a very special - atmosphere here.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44- It's one of Britain's - best stone circles.
0:18:46 > 0:18:48- There are 38 stones here.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54- We don't know much about the people - who brought them here...
0:18:55 > 0:19:00- ..but we know they were erected - accurately in order of the stars.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04- That's what makes this place - so special.
0:19:04 > 0:19:09- It was created by people - who were very close to nature.
0:19:41 > 0:19:46- This is the most northerly point - of my journey - Bassenthwaite Lake.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51- Skiddaw, one of the highest peaks - of the Lake District...
0:19:51 > 0:19:52- ..is to my left.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55- This is Dodd Wood.
0:19:55 > 0:20:00- I'm told this is a great place - to find one very special animal...
0:20:00 > 0:20:02- ..the red squirrel.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08- Before the 18thC, there were no - evergreen forests in Great Britain.
0:20:09 > 0:20:14- These aren't native trees - - they were imported and planted.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19- The natural habitat for - red squirrels are deciduous trees...
0:20:19 > 0:20:24- ..but they moved to pine trees - because of the grey squirrel.
0:20:25 > 0:20:30- Red squirrels spend so much - of their time in the trees.
0:20:30 > 0:20:35- Even if you know they're here, - it's still difficult to find them.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37- It's a case of watching - and listening.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41- Sometimes, - you'll hear a quiet bark...
0:20:41 > 0:20:44- ..or see a quick movement - in the trees.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50- It's difficult to find - red squirrels...
0:20:50 > 0:20:54- ..but this forest is one of the - best in the country to find them.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57- According to a recent survey...
0:20:57 > 0:21:00- ..around 400 of them live here.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11- They appear to be - quarrelsome animals at times...
0:21:11 > 0:21:14- ..and attack each other.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18- These quarrels are usually - between two partners.
0:21:20 > 0:21:22- Seldom do things go too far.
0:21:27 > 0:21:32- They're used to people because - of the nearby feeding station.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39- Nothing makes me happier - than seeing a red squirrel.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44- The battle to safeguard - the future of the red squirrel...
0:21:45 > 0:21:47- ..continues in this area now.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51- The grey squirrel was introduced - from America 150 years ago.
0:21:51 > 0:21:56- It's pushed the red squirrel out - of Wales and many parts of England.
0:21:56 > 0:22:01- They survive only in the north - of England, in areas like this.
0:22:02 > 0:22:07- The nuts and the feeding station - behind me look very artificial...
0:22:08 > 0:22:13- ..but this is an important part - of the work to safeguard its future.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18- You need places like this where the - public can see the red squirrels.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22- Only when we see them - do we appreciate them.
0:22:22 > 0:22:27- Safeguarding their future - through this work is very important.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58- My journey around - the Lake District ends...
0:22:58 > 0:23:01- ..with Derwentwater - in the background.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04- The land of high mountains, - the land of lakes.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07- If you're here to search - for wildlife...
0:23:07 > 0:23:12- ..you'll see many things you see - at home with a few additions...
0:23:12 > 0:23:15- ..but you must work hard - to find them.
0:23:15 > 0:23:19- The landscape here is magnificent.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43- S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.
0:23:43 > 0:23:43- .