When I visited Lindrick Common near Worksop last summer I did indeed see Marbled White, Dark Green Fritillary and Scotch Argus. I met a couple there who clearly knew all about the introductions but I couldn’t wheedle the name of the person responsible out of them. We now know from that TV programme that it is (presumably) Martin White. The same person apparently has been responsible for the Marsh Fritillary (and probably other species) at Chambers Farm Wood in Lincolnshire. The people I met at Lindrick further added that DNA sampling has shown the Marsh Frits at Chambers Farm Wood to be on continental origin....Bozo or not was he the gentleman who introduced Silver-studded Blue, Dark Green Fritillary and from what I have heard the scottish sub species of Scotch Argus into North Notts...
I have mixed views about Mr. White’s actions. But certainly we need to be told more about what he does.
As for the TV programme, Matthew and Neil certainly came across exactly as I know them (but I do suspect the Neil had borrowed Matthew’s bike). Mildly eccentric but their enthusiasm showed through. Excellent! Clive Farrell certainly gave a good advert for his project – a visit is certainly amongst next year’s plans. The photography, especially the time-lapse was stunning.
I found Imelda Staunton’s narration perfectly acceptable but I can’t say the same about the incessant and often gratuitous background “music”. And I couldn’t quite see the point of including the tattoo convention (decidedly unappealing images). The “street artist” and Notting Hill Carnival gave the impression of simply being time-fillers and added very little.
Jack