Essential Viewing

[Neil Hulme]

All next week BBC1's One Show will feature 5 minute pieces on various butterflies, presented by Miranda Krestovnikoff with contributions by Matthew Oates. 'The Emperor's Breakfast' goes out on Friday.
Neil

[Pete Eeles]

Thanks Neil. The running order is (from Matthew Oates):

Mon 25th Large Blue, filmed at Collard Hill (on Friday 13th of June - in lovely weather).

Tues 26th Swallowtail, filmed at Hickling in the Broads. This butterfly gave us a ghastly time (and has been reclassified as a moth as a punishment), but eventually we hired a boat, stormed the reedbeds, and nailed the blighter. The problem is that Swallowtails only visit flowers in hot sun, and we had wind or cool sun.

Wed 27th High Brown Fritillary, filmed at Heddon Valley in North Devon, plus Dark-green Fritillary and Silver-washed Fritillary.

Thurs 28th Cabbage Whites and probably Small Tortoiseshell, filmed at Barrington Court garden, near Ilminster in Somerset. It's a seriously good garden for Cabbage Whites as the Head Gardener deliberately grows loads of Nasturtiums.

Fri 29th The Emperor's Breakfast, filmed in Fermyn Woods, Northants, a little late in the season, starring a white trestle table, candelabra and a series in tempting baits.

Cheers,

- Pete

[eccles]

What's a cabbage white?

[Pete Eeles]

That's Matthew getting all technical on us

Cheers,

- Pete

[Dave McCormick]

Cabbage white? never heard of it... Swallowtail? Thats a butterfly? I thought it was a bird... err wait, thats a swallow well, I'll be watching

[Susie]

I watched it tonight about the Cabbage Whites and afterwards when the gardening woman was on she said that butterflies don't like brightly coloured flowers ... is that true? If so, I've never heard of that before.

[Denise]

Oh WOW. I've just watched the fritillary slot. I am defo going to Heddon Valley next summer.
Can I hire Matthew Oates?

Denise

[Rogerdodge]

That's virtually my back garden Denise - OK, about 18 miles.
I didn't see the show tonight, but Heddon Valley is my favourite butterfly site in Devon.
If you can't get Matthew Oates, you might have to put up with little old me!
Roger

[Denise]

That's virtually my back garden Denise - OK, about 18 miles.
I didn't see the show tonight, but Heddon Valley is my favourite butterfly site in Devon.
If you can't get Matthew Oates, you might have to put up with little old me!
Roger

Your on Roger. You name the day and I'll be there. Can't wait.

Cheers
Denise

[Rogerdodge]

First weekend in July is best.
Pencil it in your diary
Roger
Any more takers?

[eccles]

I watched it tonight about the Cabbage Whites and afterwards when the gardening woman was on she said that butterflies don't like brightly coloured flowers ... is that true? If so, I've never heard of that before.

I haven't heard it before either. Perhaps cultivated varieties are less appealing to butterflies and these happen to be brightly coloured?

[Dave McCormick]

I watched fritillaries - wow, surprised they managed to get so close to them, I never had that much luck getting near them at all so far.

As for flowers, all I know white and purple ones butterflies go for more (not totally sure why yet), helps if they have lots of nectar and it can be easily accessed by butterfly, also a nice smell helps too.

[eccles]

Any more takers?

Could be another here....

[Matsukaze]

Hi Roger,

Is there work in the region?

It seems a much more tempting prospect than where I am, as it seems they are hell-bent on turning the whole area between the Avon and the Mendips into suburbia.

[Danny]

Just to help everybody out, I've just watched all 5 snippets on BBC I Player. If you go there you can find all this weeks One Show episodes.

I located the snippets at the following times (so you don't have to watch the whole prog)

25/8/08 - 17.23
26/8/08 - 21.01
27/8/08 - 23.05
28/8/08 - 11.48
29/8/08 - 15.15

Hope this helps

Danny

[Annie]

cheers for that, Danny - I missed the Large Blue episode so I shall have a gander at that later

I love watching Matthew on telly - he has an enthusiasm which I find very contagious.

[Charles Nicol]

here are the programme links:


25/8/08 - 17.23 minutes into the show.... http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00d609q/ large blues
26/8/08 - 21.01 minutes into the show.... http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00d623m/ swallowtails
27/8/08 - 23.05 minutes into the show.... http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00d6242/ fritillaries
28/8/08 - 11.48 minutes into the show.... http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00d624j/ whites
29/8/08 - 15.01 minutes into the show.... http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00d624x/ purple emperor

they are only kept up for about a week ; it is possible to download the episodes but they self destruct after 30 days

charles

ps thanks to Danny for the starting times

pps one of the episodes credited a still shot to a certain Peter Eales.... who he ?