Secret Life of the Forest: Season 2, Episode 5

Episode 5

It's the height of Summer in Dalby and Cropton Forests and the inhabitants are making the most of the abundance the warm weather provides. The forests are a hive of activity. Nowhere more so than the beaver pond. The young kits born earlier in the Summer are now starting to explore further afield. But we see how they are bonding with the rest of the family during one of the beavers' most important tasks: grooming. Keeping their thick fur in the best possible condition is vital, while also being a chance to get close to your nearest and dearest. For the kits it's not all about grooming – as nature's great lumberjacks, they will soon need to master the skill of tree chewing. Gnawing through bark is no easy task, but a beaver's famous two front teeth are the perfect tools for the job, and we witness them at work. The forest is a place that celebrates its recent history as we learn about the Lumberjills, the affectionate name given to the women who worked in the forest during World War Two as part of the Women's Timber Corps. The war brought with it an increased demand for timber building material, but with the nation's men fighting overseas, Dalby needed women to take up the saw. We meet some modern day forest heroes in the form of rescue dogs Ollie and Slate. The North York Moors National Park has over 1400 miles of paths and trails running through woods and across moorland. They are explored by eight million visitors every year and accidents can happen. In an emergency highly trained volunteers from the local mountain rescue team are called. Hoping to become part of the team is two-year-old Slate, who is undergoing a rigorous training programme. Will he pass the test?