Bbc springwatch show accused of 'ruining' national trust countryside

Bbc springwatch show accused of 'ruining' national trust countryside


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The BBC has come under fire for allegedly causing harm to the Peak District during the filming of Chris Packham's Springwatch. The National Trust Longshaw Estate in Derbyshire, a haven


for endangered birds, protected insects, and rare flora, was reportedly disrupted by the presence of numerous lorries, cars, matting, and tents. Local residents have levelled accusations of


"hypocrisy", at the BBC, arguing that the wildlife programme is ironically detrimental to the very nature it seeks to showcase. As reported by The Telegraph, temporary roads were


constructed for lorries, and a steel plate was placed over a meadow teeming with budding wildflowers, reports the Express. Packham, an outspoken advocate for the climate campaign group Just


Stop Oil, will be joined by co-host Michaela Strachan at the estate for three weeks of live filming to celebrate the show's 20th anniversary. Christine Laver, a local council worker,


has accused the show of wreaking havoc on the natural environment. She alleges that tracks have been "widened by vehicles they were never designed for", and there are "dozens


of staff and production vehicles" on-site. She posed the question: "How many tons of CO2 will this lot produce in three weeks, Chris Packham?" Mo Metcalf-Fisher of the


Countryside Alliance emphasised the importance of respecting natural spaces, stating: "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." A


representative for the BBC responded: "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." They further explained, "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." The spokesperson added, "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 CO emission." _GET ALL THE LATEST CELEBRITY AND TV NEWS STRAIGHT TO YOUR


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