Fury as BBC accused of damaging National Trust countryside to film popular TV show
The broadcaster has been accused of damaging precious wildlife during the filming of one of its biggest wildlife shows.
The BBC has been accused of damaging parts of the Peak District during the filming of Chris Packham's Springwatch. Images of several lorries, cars, matting, and tents have been pictured in the glorious National Trust Longshaw Estate in Derbyshire, which is home to one of Britain's most threatened birds, protected insects, and rare plant life.
Locals have accused the BBC of “hypocrisy,” saying that the “reality” of the wildlife show is that it actually harms wildlife. Temporary roads have had to be laid down for lorries, and a steel plate has reportedly been laid over a meadow where wildflowers were about to burst into bloom, according to The Telegraph.
Mr Packham, who has been a vocal supporter of climate campaign group Just Stop Oil, will be joined by fellow presenter Michaela Strachan at the estate for three weeks of live filming for the show’s 20th anniversary.
Local council worker Christine Laver has accused the show of wreaking havoc in the natural environment. She claimed that tracks have been “widened by vehicles they were never designed for”, and there are “dozens of staff and production vehicles” on-site. “How many tons of CO2 will this lot produce in three weeks, Chris Packham?” she asked.
Mo Metcalf-Fisher, external affairs director at the Countryside Alliance, said: “It’s incumbent on all of us to treat our precious green spaces and natural environment with respect and care. This applies especially to celebrities and broadcasters out and about in the countryside, who have a special responsibility to lead by example at all times.”
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A BBC spokesman said: “At Longshaw the Springwatch team is working in cooperation with the National Trust. The field location was confirmed as appropriate for temporary use by local land managers and no wildlife has been displaced.
“All of the surfaces installed and modifications are temporary, and the National Trust will undertake any works that may be needed to reinstate the site once Springwatch has departed. This restoration includes reseeding fields, restoring ditches, and reverting any landscape changes.
“Minimising our environmental impact is a top priority and Springwatch is certified by BAFTA Albert, which encourages sustainable TV and film production. Whilst on location, our main power source is a green hydrogen fuel cell, dramatically reducing our CO₂ emission.”
