Available online
Description
Saving Species on BBC Radio 4 explores biodiversity, conservation and natural history, both in the UK and across the globe. We take a look at British farmland and ask how fit it is for wildlife to ...flourish. The little known Blue Pimpernel is a diminutive flower of arable land and now very rare. Early in the autumn we went to the Midlands to find some, and discovered what changes to farming arable land have been needed to allow this wild flower to re-emerge. And you have probably heard of Africa's "big five" - but have you heard of Britains "Big Six" - these are the six farmland birds in the UK all severely in decline and all of whom would benefit we're told, from the same joined up farming as the Blue Pimpernel arable-loving flower above is. The argument is, get this six right and the rest will follow. But what species are they? And can the UK do it - we'll ask if the funding and leadership is in place to sort out Britains farmland birds. And to South America and the Maned Wolf. Mark Brazil has had a close encounter with this "shaggy fox with long legs" - one of the rarest mammals in the world and perhaps one of the least understood. We're with Mark in South America and talking to the experts too from the IUCN's Species Survival Commission.
Saving Species on BBC Radio 4 explores biodiversity, conservation and natural history, both in the UK and across the globe. We take a look at British farmland and ask how fit it is for wildlife to ...flourish. The little known Blue Pimpernel is a diminutive flower of arable land and now very rare. Early in the autumn we went to the Midlands to find some, and discovered what changes to farming arable land have been needed to allow this wild flower to re-emerge. And you have probably heard of Africa's "big five" - but have you heard of Britains "Big Six" - these are the six farmland birds in the UK all severely in decline and all of whom would benefit we're told, from the same joined up farming as the Blue Pimpernel arable-loving flower above is. The argument is, get this six right and the rest will follow. But what species are they? And can the UK do it - we'll ask if the funding and leadership is in place to sort out Britains farmland birds. And to South America and the Maned Wolf. Mark Brazil has had a close encounter with this "shaggy fox with long legs" - one of the rarest mammals in the world and perhaps one of the least understood. We're with Mark in South America and talking to the experts too from the IUCN's Species Survival Commission.
| Series: | Saving species; Series 1 |
|---|---|
| Episode | 31 |
| First transmission date: | 2010-11-30 |
| Original broadcast channel: | BBC Radio 4 |
| Published: | 2010 |
| Rights Statement: | Rights owned or controlled by The Open University |
| Restrictions on use: | This material can be used in accordance with The Open University conditions of use. A link to the conditions can be found at the bottom of all OU Digital Archive web pages. |
| Duration: | 00:30:00 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Mary Colwell |
| Presenter: | Brett Westwood |
| Contributors: | Kelvin Boot; Mark Brazil; Caroline Corsie; Neil Harris; James Phillips; Peter Richards; Claudio Sillero; Brett Westwood |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Production number: | PBS04810WZ0031 |
| Available to public: | no |
