About the Trust
Wild thing I love you
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The making of Barn Owl TV
From October to December 2006, Channel 4 broadcast a series of ten programmes called 'Wild thing I love you'. Each week presenter Bill Bailey led a team of experts as they attempt to solve an urgent wildlife crisis. Each show featured a different animal/issue with the team helping the animals overcome problems that mankind had put in their way.
Barn Owls were the species featured on Sunday December 10th and here we give you an inside view on the making of this programme.
In March this year we were approached by RDF Media who were making a series called "Wild Thing - I love you" for Channel 4. They were looking for an idea for a Barn Owl story. We suggested a wildlife refuge on the site of a derelict barn in terminal decay.
By the end of the month we had arranged for BOT volunteer Alison Blackler to visit them in London with pictures of a proposed location. Phone calls & emails bounced back and forth throughout the summer and at the beginning of June we sent them sketches of a building that could provide homes for bats, kestrels, little owls, sparrows, stock doves, invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles and of course Barn Owls.
By August planning permission was applied for and on 14th September the first film crew arrived and the foundations were laid. A local company, Riviera Stonemasons, was contracted to build the refuge and a marquee was erected to make sure the weather didn't interfere with the tight 10-day schedule..
By Saturday the refuge was beginning to take shape and more of the crew had arrived on site. Left to right Claudia De Wolff - Runner, Jack Bootle - Researcher, Phillipa Murphy - Programme Producer/Director, David Ramsden BOT, Catherine Ross - Assistant Producer/ camera
By Monday more of the crew had arrived along with presenter Bill Bailey.
The builders had put in the joists for the first floor and filming had begun in earnest. There were 3 crews involved in the filming (25 RDF staff in total over the 10-days) and they travelled all over the county to shoot different scenes.
Bill and David outside the derelict barn discuss the project. They then move inside with producer Phillipa, Nigel Dupont - camera and Kiff McManus - sound.
On Monday afternoon Bill and the crew came to Waterleat to film with Dusty the Barn Owl.
He also met Baley the Barn Owl and had his picture taken with her to help promote the Trusts Adoption scheme - thanks Bill.
Above Alison Blacker - BOT volunteer (left) with runners, Sam Turner and Claudia. The programme has 3 other presenters - eco-strategist Dusty Gedge, zoologist Sasha Norris and engineer Jem Stansfield - below - the scaffolding is up and the builders just keep on going.
By Tuesday afternoon the refuge has grown and has access for bats.
Series producer David Johnson directs Hugh Lambert - camera.
On Thursday morning presenter Sasha visits the Lennon Legacy Project field.
She and David (BOT) are filmed looking at good habitat for voles. Researcher Jack (left) looks on, as David Johnson(RDF) directs; Mark Wellman - sound, Hugh Lambert - camera.
By Thursday you could really see how the refuge would look........
......and on Saturday after more than a week of frantic activity everyone mucked in to take the scaffolding down to shoot the final scene.
Before the final touches were made David (BOT) and presenters Jem (2nd left), Bill and Dusty (right) posed for this picture - note the skip still in the background.
Stone piles were left at the foot of the refuge to provide a habitat for amphibians and reptiles. From this side you can see the provision for kestrels and holes for Little Owls, sparrows and other birds.
On this side there is access for Barn Owls, bats and hole nesting birds. Small holes have been made between the stones to provide access for invertebrates.
You can see here how beautifully the refuge fits into its surroundings. The final scene was shot in November when Bill came back to see if any wildlife has taken up residence. Amazingly, a little owl had already roosted in the refuge and butterflies, lacewings, and other insects were over-wintering. A few bat droppings were found too! The programme, screened on Channel 4 on Sunday 10th December 2006, was extremely well received.
For info.on this amazing little building check out the link >
Photos: Alison Blackler, David Ramden BOT, Chris Richards BOT, Jack Bootle RDF Researcher, Morgen Harper-Brown RDF Location Manager, Frances Ramsden BOT
