Animals

Can you recognise the cheerful chirrups of the house sparrow? A song thrush singing out at winter's darkest hour? Or the beautiful, haunting call of the curlew? At a time of great anxiety and uncertainty, while coping with the untimely death of his mother, Charlie Corbett realised his perspective on life was slipping. In a moment of despair, he found himself - somewhat damp - lying on the side of a lonely hill staring up at a leaden sky, a melancholy drizzle seeping into his bones. 

Suddenly he hears the song of a single skylark - that soaring, tinkling, joyous sound - and he is transported away from the drizzle and dark thoughts. Grounded by the beauty of nature, perspective dawns. No longer the leading role in his own private melodrama, but merely a minor part in nature's great epic. Such is the power of these creatures to raise you from life's periodic depths.

Through twelve characterful birds, Charlie show us that there is joy to be found in the very smallest of events - if we know where to look, and how to listen. From solitary skylarks to squabbling sparrows, he explores the place of these birds in our history, culture and landscape, noting what they look like and where you're most likely to meet them. By reconnecting with the wildlife all around him, through learning to understand, love, and begin to move with the rhythms of the natural world outside his door, Charlie discovered nature's powerful ability to heal.

Season 1 of the hugely successful BBC radio series about the natural world and the awesome ways it has inspired us.

Over billions of years, animals have evolved and adapted, learning through trial and error the best strategies for surviving and thriving. So who better to help us humans when it comes to solving our own challenges? In this fascinating series, biologist and wildlife filmmaker Patrick Aryee tells the incredible stories of some remarkable animals, and the surprising ways they have enabled us to make technological and scientific breakthroughs.

From the kingfisher whose beak led to a redesign of the bullet train, to the spider's web that may help us detect the earth's vibrations and turn them into electricity, the animals in these 30 episodes all have extraordinary abilities that could revolutionise our world. There's the bloodsucking mosquito whose mouthparts might hold the key to a future of painless injections; the woodpecker whose hard head has given us ideas for better bicycle helmets and black box recorders; the shark whose scaly skin could show us how to fight superbugs, the tenacious mussel that could make risky foetal surgery safer and save lives - and many more.

And in the final, live show, we dig deeper into the world of biomimicry, and hear from listeners about other creatures who could spark innovation - including scorpions, tarantulas and hibernating bears...

Full of brilliant, bingeable tales and astonishing revelations, this mind-blowing natural history series will thrill animal lovers, science fans and anyone who's curious about our wonderful natural world.

Welcome to The Accidental Countryside. This is the fascinating and remarkably empowering story of our influence upon the landscape and wildlife of these crowded islands, and of how wildlife has co-opted its most unlikely corners - even when we least expected it. From the seabirds sheltering in the prehistoric stone structures of Shetland to the peat diggings in Somerset teeming with life, and from the rare insects hidden in Belfast's docklands to the falcons that make London's Shard their home, Stephen Moss reveals the unexpected oases which foster the crucial links in the chain that bind the natural world together.

For over 25 years, Daphne Sheldrick and her husband, David, the famous founder of the Tsavo National Park in Kenya, raised and rehabilitated back into the wild orphans of many wild species. As one of Africa's greatest living conservationists, in 2006 she was made Dame Commander of the British Empire by the Queen.

We are in the midst of an extinction event: the sixth mass extinction on earth and one entirely caused by mankind. All species become extinct sooner or later, but we have accelerated that natural process several hundredfold and now, it is happening right in front of our eyes.

Extinction has a terrifying finality to it. And many species have already been lost to us forever; there is little we can do about that.

What we can do, however, is reflect, remember, and ultimately acknowledge the unvarnished truth. We must see the natural world as it is, and not as we might want it to be. Our trajectory is one that has benefited one species alone - humankind. For all other beings, from mammals to fish, from birds to insects and coral, from plants to lichens and fungi, the future, for better or worse, is in our hands.

Enter Graeme Hall: The Dogfather. Having worked with more than 5,000 dogs - from Great Danes to Chihuahuas, and everything in-between - he's seen pretty much every behavioural issue going and whether it's house-destruction, fear and anxiety, or aggression, he's fixed it. Backed up by scientific research, Graeme has established a set of golden rules for dog training which he follows each and every time he works with dogs and their people. His simple, practical and effective rules will enable you to understand your dog and help you drive better behaviours. With chapters on communication, rewards, getting a puppy, kids and dogs, lead walking, and much more, Graeme has an answer for every dog-related worry imaginable.

You will learn how to talk to dogs like he does - and understand what they're saying in return. You'll find out how to be a kind leader your dog will willingly follow and you'll get to see why excitement might be at the root of the problem. A dog with behavioural issues is an unhappy dog. And likely has an unhappy owner. But the good news is, at heart, every dog wants to be a good dog. Through sharing entertaining and sometimes hilarious stories of some of the very special dogs Graeme has loved or helped, All Dogs Great and Small will give you the tools to help your beloved pooch practise perfect manners, and bring much-needed harmony to your home.

For thirty years Sylvia Fenton nourished a dream of leaving London and providing a secure home for animals in need of protection. Eventually she realised her ambition and here she recounts her experiences but also reveals that country life is not all roses round the door - more like thistles round your ankles and nettles round your knees!

This is a moving story of a wildlife sanctuary. Stone Hills is a game sanctuary and safari lodge in Zimbabwe. It is a place where you can share your shower with an owl or share the sofa with a warthog..

A tribute to the role of animals in wartime, including stories of dogs sniffing out mines in the Second World War, the medal winning pigeon G.I. Joe and the parachute jumping SAS mongrel Rob.

When the Iraq war began, conservationist Lawrence Anthony could only think of the fate of the Baghdad Zoo, caught in the war's crossfire. Anthony discovered that full-scale combat and uncontrolled looting had killed nearly all the animals of the zoo. But not all of them. Here he chronicles the zoo's transformation from bombed-out rubble to peaceful park in an uplifting story of both sides working together for the sake of innocent animals.

Barkham delves into the fascinating natural and rich cultural history of the badger - from their prehistoric arrival in Britain, to their savage persecution over the centuries, to their change of fortunes in the 20th century, when Kenneth Grahame's Badger spurred a growing fondness for them.

Tony Saunders loved animals from a young age and the RSPCA was the only career choice for him. After being a highly successful inspector he joined the Special Operations Unit, a group set up after an alarming growth in illegal animal trading. As an undercover agent he has saved the lives of thousands of creatures.

A collection of recorded bird songs

When Steven Jamieson met Bilbo, a chocolate Newfoundland puppy, little did he know that the small bundle of fluff would change his life forever. The pair were inseparable, with Bilbo accompanying Steve to his job as head lifeguard of Sennen beach in Cornwall. But Bilbo and Steve couldn’t have foreseen the obstacles that life would throw at them.

A narrative guide to the songs and language of some of our best loved birds, to help those who are unable to see them. It also includes a contribution by BBC correspondent, Frank Gardner, with the voices of soldiers who have found consolation in bird watching in times of stress.

Looking to the skies above, we have variously worshipped them as gods, hunted them for sustenance, adorned ourselves in their feathers, studied their wings to engineer flight and, more recently, attempted to protect them.

In Birds and Us, award-winning writer and ornithologist Tim Birkhead takes us on an epic and dazzling journey through this mutual history with birds, from the ibises mummified and deified by Ancient Egyptians to Renaissance experiments on woodpecker anatomy, from Victorian obsessions with egg collecting to the present fight to save endangered species and restore their habitats.

Weaving in stories from his own life as a scientist, including far-flung expeditions to wondrous Neolithic caves in Spain and the bustling guillemot colonies of the Faroe Islands, this rich and fascinating book is the culmination of a lifetime's research and unforgettably shows how birds shaped us, and how we have shaped them.

The Durrell family returns to live on the island of Corfu, and already an ardent naturalist at the age of ten, the young Gerald lives in an unconventional and disordered household with his mother, sister and two brothers. Gerald spends hours observing and marvelling at the natural environment around him describing the island's beauty with a child-like wonder that he never fails to impart to his reader. Book 2 of series.

Birdsong in a Time of Silence is the story of a man rediscovering his passion for birdsong and nature. Narrated against the backdrop of the current pandemic, the book opens by acknowledging the new awareness of birds and birdsong that was made possible by the coincidence of spring and the experience of lockdown. Starting with a portrait of the blackbird - most prominent and articulate of the early spring singers - the book proceeds through 10 chapters to explore how birds sing, the variety of singing birds (including the arrival of summer migrants), the science behind their choice of song and nest-sites, and the varied meanings that people have brought to and taken from birdsong - ultimately demonstrating that natural history and human history cannot be separated. In closing, the book reflects on the collective reawakening brought on by this strangest of springs.

Fifty years ago Joy Adamson first introduced to the world the story of her life alongside Elsa the lioness, whom she had rescued as an orphaned cub, and raised at her home in Kenya. But as Elsa had been born free, Joy made the heartbreaking decision that she must be returned to the wild when she was old enough to fend for herself.

Following Tony Fitzjohn's journey from London bad boy to African wildlife warrior, the heart of the story is a series of love affairs with the world's most beautiful and endangered creatures.

The hen harrier is seen as a totemic species in the battle between the conservationists and ruralists, and as one of the key players in this emotive debate. In this powerful narrative, David Cobhame provides us with a profound tale which helps to illuminate the larger implications of the species' decline, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts to reverse this.

Why do cats soil in the house, fight with next door's cat, behave aggressively towards people or pull out their own fur? This book answers these questions and many more, and will enable all cat owners to reach a far better understanding with their feline companions.

Cats need not so much our sympathy, but our understanding, if they are to continue to enjoy our companionship. The recent surge in feline science means we are now better equipped to understand them than ever before. Cat Sense offers us, for the first time, a true picture of one of humanity's closest and most enigmatic companions.

Beryl Reid, one of Britain's best-loved comediennes, celebrates a lifelong love affair with cats in this charming collection of catty tales and snippets. With useful tips and personal anecdotes she creates an amusing and touching volume essential for every cat-lover.

A unique way to discover some of Britain’s beautiful cathedrals, with plenty of feline interest along the way. Meet Tomkin from Chelmsford Cathedral, who was rescued from a derelict house in south London, or Olsen, the Siamese from Chester Cathedral whose nocturnal wanderings often end up at the local jazz club.

charming portrait of life in the company of hens, by the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Flower Yard Growing up in an ex-mining town in Nottinghamshire, Arthur Parkinson never wanted a dog, or a cat, or a pony - just hens. As a kid, he was known as 'chicken boy', a taunt Arthur now proudly reclaims with his crested coterie that includes countless hens, from Sheila the white Silkie to Clarissa the champagne-coloured Buff Cochin. A personal and humorous memoir of Arthur's life amongst his hens, Chicken Boy is illustrated throughout with his own characterful watercolours and candid photography of his 'ladies'.

This is an invitation to discover the joy that is only possible in the company of these intriguing creatures: Pekins are friendly, Lavender Leghorns aloof, while Burford Browns have a bad habit of feather-pecking... Having already earned renown as 'king of the small-space garden', Arthur's appreciation for the natural world is inspiring and relatable. The quiet fulfilment of hen-keeping rituals has rescued his mental health from pervasive depression. His sanctuary is the backyard: nurturing chicks who grow into happy hens and planting hardy, chicken scratch-resistant foliage. Chicken Boy is a joyful ramble through the hen house - sleeves rolled-up - and a testament to the mutual rewards and delights of keeping hens.

Adam Henson has spent his whole life on Bemborough farm - over 50 winters and Christmases. During that time, the troughs have frozen over, snow has fallen so thickly riding shire horses out to the fields has been the only option, puppies have been found under the Christmas tree - and crises out in the world have almost brought the farm to a close...

Christmas for a farmer takes a different shape to everyone else's, because the animals always have to come first. So settle down - ideally by a fireside and with a cup of something hot - to hear the tales that have defined festivity for the Henson family, and the turbulent times that have ensured Christmas is now more important than ever for Adam and his loved ones.

The true story of Clara, the three-ton rhinoceros with a taste for tobacco and beer, who was taken on a tour of Europe in the 18th century and shown to everyone, from peasants to princes.

Presenter Brett Westwood joins forces with BAFTA award-winning producer and naturalist Stephen Moss for six delightful and informative series, introducing us to some of Britain's most popular and best-loved birds. Together with wildlife sound recordist Chris Moss, they tour the UK, tracking down the rich variety of species that make their home there - from garden and woodland birds to ones that live on water, by the coast, on farms and in the mountains and moors. Recorded on location in Somerset, the Forest of Dean, Devonshire, the Marlborough Downs and Shropshire's Long Mynd, each programme focuses on a different habitat and type of bird, giving us a comprehensive overview of British avian life.

There's a wealth of advice on how to recognise birds from their appearance, and identify them from their songs and calls - enabling you to easily sort out your Blue Tits from your Great Tits, and your House Sparrows from your Tree Sparrows. Brett and Stephen also share fascinating facts about bird behaviour, revealing that playful jackdaws enjoy doing acrobatics in air currents, and ravens love to 'ski' in the snow. Full of useful information and helpful tips, this box set will appeal to novice and experienced birdwatchers alike, as well as gardeners, walkers, ramblers and anyone who is keen to know more about the beautiful birds of the British Isles.

Our precious archipelago is ravaged by climate change, bereft of natural ecosystems and lies at the mercy of global warming, flooding, drought and catastrophic biodiversity loss. But could restoring species that once helped protect our islands help turn this crisis around?

From familiar yet imperilled honeybees and ancient oak woods to returning natives like beavers and boars, Britain's cornerstone species may hold the key to recovering our biodiversity on land and in our seas.

In Cornerstones, we discover how beavers craft wetlands, save fish, encourage otters, and prevent rivers from flooding. We learn how 'disruptive' boars are seasoned butterfly conservationists, why whales are crucial for restoring seabird cities and how wolves and lynx could save our trees, help sequester carbon and protect our most threatened birds. 

Collected together for the very first time, this is the complete Series 1 and 2 of Life Stories, written and presented by Sir David Attenborough.

One of the nation's most popular presenters, Sir David examines 40 marvels of the natural world from his extraordinary and pioneering experiences.

What was Sir David's first pet? Which animal would he most like to be? How did he track down a giant earthworm? Why does he respect rats? And what did he do when confronted by a ten-foot-long reptile?

His enthusiasm is as infectious as ever, and conveys a unique fascination on topics as diverse as the sloth, monstrous flowers, the platypus, dragons, the fire salamander, the coelacanth, the dodo, bird's-nest soup and the large blue butterfly. So listen to these stories to find out the real reason why animals sing, the story behind a 150-million-year-old feather, and what it is about snakes that really unnerves Sir David.

The true story of Dewey, an abandoned kitten discovered by librarian Vicki Myron in the returns box of the library in Spencer, Iowa. He grew into a lovable and very large cat, whose exploits kept the library customers entertained.

Special Forces soldier Jason Morgan was left crippled by a mission that went wrong. This is the story of how Napal, a black Labrador service dog, enabled Jason to rebuild his life, and to find true peace against all the odds.

Jan Fennell has bridged the language barrier between man and his best friend and this remarkable gift has earned her the admiration of dog lovers everywhere. Here she shares her secrets and methods and explains her dog training techniques.

Devon farmer David Kennard battles to save his farm after a succession of potentially disastrous setbacks in this true story. The one thing he knows for sure is that he can always rely on his faithful sheepdogs.

Water voles are small, brownish, bewhiskered and charming. Made famous by 'Ratty' in The Wind in the Willows, once they were a ubiquitous part of our waterways. They were a totem of our rivers. Now, however, they are nearly gone. This is their story, and the story of a conservationist with a wild hope: that he could bring them back. Tom Moorhouse spent eleven years beside rivers, fens, canals, lakes and streams, researching British wildlife. Quite a lot of it tried to bite him.

He studied four main species - two native and endangered, two invasive and endangering - beginning with water voles. He wanted to solve their conservation problems. He wanted to put things right. This book is about whether it worked, and what he learnt - and about what those lessons mean, not just for water voles but for all the world's wildlife. It is a book for anyone who has watched ripples spread on lazy waters, and wondered what moves beneath. Or who has waited in quiet hope for a rustle in the reeds, the munch of a stem, or the patter of unseen paws.