from http://www.champnews.com/html/newsstory.asp?id=6215

Tuesday, November 06, 2007
 
Autumnwatch returns to Martin Mere
 
Presenters Kate Humble and Bill Oddie have returned to Martin Mere to film a new series of Autumnwatch.

This will be the second series of the BBC TV programme, and it will be shown over the next two weeks.

Autumnwatch first hit our TV screens in September last year, and was such a success the BBC decided to return to the Burscough Wildfowl and Wetland Trust centre this year.

Bill Oddie explained why the West Lancashire site is such a good location for the show: "It is a good venue because it meets the criteria you need to do a live show on this scale. It is a practical spot, and is somewhere where many vehicles can gather together and the access is good. We also know that there is going to be some wildlife here."

This year's show is being screened two month's later than last year, and Kate Humble gave the reason for the decision: "Last year we were waiting around for the swans, and maybe we were too early.

"It is really good to be back this year, we are here nearly a month later and it feels much more autumnal."

Bill and Kate will be reporting on the progress of the whooper swans flying to Martin Mere from Iceland, and will also be showing footage of the beavers at Martin Mere, who were named in The Champion last week as Twiggy and Woody.

"These animals have not lived here for hundreds of years, so this is a really good opportunity to see them," Kate said. "We will be able to dispel some myths around beavers and look into the implications of reintroducing the animals. For example many people don't know that beavers don't eat fish."

Bill added: "In wildlife terms we are intrigued to see the beavers."

A small village has been created at Martin Mere for the BBC cameramen and production staff, who are needed to make the programme. Many of them are staying in Southport. Kate Humble said: "We are staying in Southport, which has been described as the 'Paris of the North'. Someone told me that Napoleon saw Southport's Lord Street and said, 'I want that', and that is why Paris was built the way it was."

By Henry James