Nature on 1: Ireland’s Wild People
Presented by Colin Stafford Johnson. Produced by Juanita Browne and John Davis for Crossing the Line Films.
Episode 1: The Nun with the Gun
Sr Enda Mullen felt a calling to work with wildlife and applied to become a Conservation Ranger with the National Parks and Wildlife Service…
Enda Mullen is District Conservation Officer with the National Parks and Wildlife Service based in the Wicklow Mountains National Park and is well known for her zoological research on badger movements and bat ecology. Enda shows Colin around Coronation Wood in Co. Wicklow, pointing out the resident Long-eared Bats in a local roost. Enda then brings Colin to the Holy Faith Convent, in Kilcoole, where she explains her calling to work with wildlife.
(Recorded on location at: Badger field research areas, N11, Co. Wicklow; Coronation Wood, Co. Wicklow; Holy Faith Convent, Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow.)
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Episode 2: Electrician turned Zoologist
After Tom Doyle finished school, he joined the ESB as an apprentice electrician. But after about five years, he knew he had to follow his dream. He decided to give up a permanent, pensionable job go back to college to become a Marine Biologist. Now, Tom spends much of his working life exploring the life in our oceans, – researching blue sharks, jellyfish and leatherback sea turtles in Irish waters.
(Recorded on location at: Cork Harbour, Cobh, Co Cork; Cuas Harbour, Co. Kerry; Arklow, Co. Wicklow)
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Episode 3: Wildflower Woman
When she was just eight years old, Zoe Devlin was handed a magnifying glass and shown an Irish orchid by a family friend, leading to a lifelong love of Ireland’s wild flowers. Some 60 years later, in 2009, her hobby spurred her to create her own website which lead to two books ‘Wildflowers of Ireland – A Personal Record’ (2011) and ‘The Wildflowers of Ireland – A Field Guide’ (2014). Zoe has an infectious love for these small delicate plants often overlooked in Irish landscapes.
(Recorded on location at: Kilmichael Point, Gorey, Co Wexford; Slieve Carran Nature Reserve, Co Clare; Glenmalure Valley, Co. Wicklow)
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Episode 4: Escape to an underwater world
If you met Nigel Motyer in his day job, in financial services, you might not guess that Nigel spends most of his free time underwater. His friends joke that he spends his free time swimming with sharks and he spends his days working with sharks. An award-winning underwater photographer, Nigel has been scuba diving in Irish waters and all around the world for 30 years.
(Recorded on location at: Dalkey Island, Co. Dublin)
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Episode 5: David Cabot
David Cabot has been studying barnacle geese for almost 60 years, one of the longest running studies of its kind in the world. He studied Zoology at Oxford and Trinity College Dublin, and worked for the BBC Natural History Unit. Author of 11 books, including Wildfowl (2009) and Ireland (1999), Cabot is one of Ireland’s best known naturalists.
(Recorded on location at: White Strand, Westport, Co. Mayo)
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Episode 6: Hunter turned gamekeeper: Kieran Buckley
In the 1970s, Kieran Buckley spent his youth collecting birds’ eggs, fishing and shooting in the countryside around Newbridge in Co. Kildare. As he grew older he noticed many changes to the landscape and the decimation of many bird species. In the 1990s he became involved in the Grey Partridge Conservation Trust, which aims to return this bird to the countryside. Based in Lough Boora Parklands in Co. Offaly, Kieran’s dedication to this bird has helped to bring it back from the brink of extinction.
(Recorded on location at: Lough Boora Parklands, Co. Offaly; Newbridge, Co. Kildare)
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Nature on 1 (series 1)
Juanita was Producer of ‘Nature on One’ – a 10-part series for RTE Radio 1. The first series of Nature on One comprised 10 half-hour documentaries broadcast in 2013. Presented by Colin Stafford Johnson, this series explored some of Ireland’s most spectacular wildlife stories and wild places.
A night on the Skelligs
Colin Stafford Johnson spends a night on Skellig Michael, to record the wild sounds to be heard after dark at this World Heritage Site.
The Beautiful Burren
Colin Stafford Johnson visits Slieve Carron Nature Reserve in the Burren, Co. Clare, to explore this very special botanical haven.
The Iniskeas
Colin Stafford Johnson joins grey seal expert Dr Oliver O’Cadhla on a visit to South Inishkea, off the Mullet Peninsula, home to one of Ireland’s largest grey seal breeding colonies.
Species in Danger
Searching across bog in Co. Mayo, Colin Stafford Johnson sets out to record the once familiar call of this iconic bird of Irish peatlands and Ireland’s largest wader. Anita Donaghy, from Birdwatch Ireland, explains why the curlew is in decline and their ‘Cry of the Curlew’ campaign.
Whaling off Hook Head
Chasing down Fin Whales off Ireland’s south coast.
The Pine Marten
Colin visits a small school in Co. Leitrim, in which a female pine marten chose to set up home and the pupils explain how they felt about this new addition to their school. Colin also explores the impact of this spread of the pine marten on other animals.
Exploring Birdsong
Colin Stafford Johnson explores that beautiful wildlife sound we often take for granted – birdsong. We explore the science behind why birds sing and what it means to people.
The Wild Side of Belfast
Colin Stafford Johnson heads to the bustling city of Belfast to find out what wild stories it might have to offer. The River Lagan flows right through the centre of the city. Ronald Surgenor, is a Wier operative, Department of Culture, Arts, and Leisure, and RSPB volunteer, who knows the river intimately.
The Secret Life of Irish Caves
Stafford Johnson heads underground to explore what wildlife might be found in Irish caves.
An Amphibian Love Story
Singing frogs and Nattering Toads How does one attract the opposite sex?
Listen back to this series here
Kildare’s Wild Places
Juanita produced and presented a six-part documentary series for KFM radio called ‘Kildare’s Wild Places’ about wildlife hotspots around the county. Broadcast 2017.
Pollardstown Fen
Michael Jacob takes you on a journey through Pollardstown Fen, the largest remaining calcareous spring-fed fen in Ireland. Recognised as an internationally important fen ecosystem with unique and endangered plant communities, it contains a number of rare vegetation types and invertebrates.
The Curragh
Learn about the ecology of the Curragh Plains which support a variety of species and habitats. A proposed Natural Heritage Area, the Curragh is probably the oldest and certainly the most extensive tract of semi- natural grassland in Ireland. A lowland acidic grassland, the Curragh supports important populations of rare fungi. It is also of national importance for populations of wintering golden plover and lapwing.
Ballynafagh Bog
Raised bogs are a rare habitat in Europe, and in Ireland continue to be under threat. Ballynafagh Bog, although damaged, is of added interest as the most easterly site with a high proportion of intact raised bog habitat remaining in Ireland. Dr O’Connell will tell us about this intact raised bog habitat.
Donadea Forest
Join Jim Lawlor on a journey through Donadea Forest, old demesne woodland. Donadea Castle and estate was the old home of the Aylmer family up until 1935 when the last member of the family, Miss Caroline died. It is a National Heritage Area. There are many historical features including the remains of the castle and walled gardens, St. Peter’s church, an ice house and boat house. The site is notable for the presence of two rare species of Myxomycete fungus, namely Diderma chondrioderma and Licea testudinacea, the latter in one of only two known Irish sites.
Kildare’s Birds
Listen to Paddy Sheridan (RIP) of Wild Kildare introduce us to the world of birds in Kildare and describe recording programmes he was involved in supporting.
Kildare Bat Group
Did you know that Bats are mammals? Did you know that they are not blind? Did you know that in Ireland we have nine species confirmed as residents? If you are interested in hearing more interesting batty facts tune in to Kfm Kildare’s Wild Places documentary with Anna Collins fromm Kildare Bat group.
Radio Interviews
Podcast:
Gardening for Biodiversity:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/857398/5568322
Newstalk: https://www.newstalk.com/podcasts/highlights-from-moncrieff/national-wildlife-hospital
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