Secret Life of the Forest: Season 2, Episode 3

Episode 3

In Yorkshire the great British summer is in full swing. But this year the sun is blazing hot as Dalby and Cropton forests are in the midst of a heatwave. Record-breaking temperatures in the area are reading as high as 38 degrees celsius and the forest is drier than ever. For some creatures the heat could be deadly, with bumblebees forced to stay in their nests so they don't overheat. Fortunately for the resident beavers, while they may be wrapped in thick fur, their cleverly constructed dams have created deep ponds of cool water. It is an important time for the family: Mummy beaver hasn't been seen recently and it is thought she has given birth to kits - the name for beaver babies. Beavers can give birth to up to four kits at a time, so forest ecologist Cath is on a mission to discover just how many new members of the family there are. Elsewhere, it is hoped Dalby can play a crucial part in the survival of Britain's most endangered bird, one that is on the brink of extinction: the turtle dove. A band of dedicated volunteers monitor the appearance of this elegant bird, which makes a gruelling 11,000 kilometre round trip from Africa every year. Through their hard work Dalby Forest has become one of the country's most important sites for this dainty songbird. We also follow Wildlife Manager Nigel, who has one of the forest's most challenging jobs: to ensure the forest habitat is healthy for all the animals that live in it, he must investigate the tree damage caused by deer and then monitor their population and work out the right animals to cull. It is a big responsibility, but a necessary job to preserve the forest for future generations.