Dedication

For my parents, who always encouraged me to go outside and have little adventures.

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Dedication

Introduction

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Sources of Information and Inspiration

Acknowledgements

About the Authors

List of Searchable Terms

Copyright

About the Publisher

Introduction

Since Springwatch first hit our television screens back in 2005, the series has developed an enduring two-way relationship with its audience that is unique in UK broadcasting. Springwatch tapped into the public’s passion for natural history and invited the audience to get involved, ask questions and share their experiences of observing their local wildlife. It started with good old-fashioned letters, videotapes and comments on the programme’s website, but the conversation has today evolved to various social media networks like Facebook, Flickr and Twitter. Whatever the method of communication, one thing remains the same – the audience’s undimmed enthusiasm and endless thirst for knowledge.

By 2009, frankly, the show was inundated; thousands of beautiful photos, hundreds of hours of interesting footage and countless intriguing queries poured in from the audience. To accommodate all of this brilliant content a sister show called Springwatch Unsprung was spawned, with the inimitable Martin Hughes-Games at the helm. Subsequently, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch also gained their own version of Unsprung. Like its host, Unsprung can be anarchic, chaotic and irreverent, but at its heart lies a desire to rekindle a child-like wonder and curiosity about nature. It includes quizzes, live animal guests, artists and other guests who make a living from or have a hobby that involves nature. As a live, unscripted and unrehearsed show anything can happen – and it often does. Ultimately, though, Unsprung is made by the audience; without their input the show simply wouldn’t exist.

Still, even with Unsprung, there just wasn’t enough airtime to answer all the compelling questions that were sent in – proof, if it were needed, that UK wildlife can be just as fascinating as exotic foreign species. Hence this book, as an effort to scratch that metaphorical itch of a nagging wildlife query. You know what it’s like … those niggling but profound questions in life that strike when you’re walking to work, pottering in the garden or beachcombing with the kids (children always seem to ask the simplest but most challenging questions!). Why do ladybirds have spots? Do snails get slower with age? How do moths find their way in the dark? Do oysters dream? And why, oh why, do dogs love rolling in fox poo?!

You’ll find the answers to all these and other equally perplexing questions in this book, arranged by season. Martin Hughes-Games has written an introduction to each section to inspire, inform and boost your natural history knowledge so that you can impress (?!) your friends in the pub. There are some mind-boggling quizzes thrown in for good measure too. And if reading about nature spurs you into action in the real world, there’s a selection of wildlife organisations that would welcome your support and involvement. While Unsprung can’t be re-created exactly on paper, hopefully its spirit shines through in these pages.

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