‘In the stillness - whether I’m enjoying a mindful moment on Springwatch or admiring the majestic birds of prey at the wildlife hospital – my soul soars and I thank God for what he’s created,’ says Emily Bright.
Birders and wildlife enthusiasts, assemble. Springwatch is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a new series starting on Monday 26 May on BBC2.
When the show first graced our screens in 2005, it was initially hosted by bespectacled birder Bill Oddie, TV presenter Kate Humble and naturalist Simon King. Since then, the 12-part documentary series, filmed over the course of three weeks at nature reserves across the UK, has charmed animal-loving viewers. It now has two seasonal offshoots: Autumnwatch and Winterwatch.
With Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan now at the helm of the Springwatch presenting team, there is an enduringly popular combination of striking wildlife footage, storytelling, championing of science, and helpful explanations of animal adaptations through a creative use of props.
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Pre-recorded segments highlight the weird and wonderful behaviour of the animal and plant kingdoms, from the tiniest insects to the largest mammals, and from forests to blossoming gardens. Some segments are filmed live too, adding an element of reportage jeopardy: ‘We have a rare bird on camera two. Oh wait, it’s flown off…’
The Springwatch hosts also play detective as they explore darker wildlife behaviour through camera footage – such as which predator killed chicks in a nest or why a parent turned on its offspring.
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There is the uncertainty of whether baby animals will live through their first spring, and endearing moments, such as parents delicately feeding their young or birds pairing up for life. Who needs Netflix to discover drama?
One of my favourite parts of the show is what the presenters call a ‘mindful moment’.
One of my favourite parts of the show is what the presenters call a ‘mindful moment’. It is a beautiful 90 seconds of stillness, where outstanding wildlife footage is accompanied only by nature’s soundtrack. Without music or commentary to listen to, viewers can pause and be still, treasuring what they are seeing. I find that these mindful moments help me to enjoy the majesty of God’s creation, in all its unadulterated glory.
I’ve always been an animal lover. I volunteer at a wildlife hospital once a week, which borders a forest. Often, foxes and deer ̶ released into the wild after being nurtured back to health by the hospital ̶ drift around the perimeter of the site. There’s something almost sacred about arriving to volunteer at dusk and seeing deer just metres in front of you, gingerly yet gracefully approaching the food that’s been put out for them.
Sometimes, while cleaning out and feeding hedgehogs, I’ll listen to their adorable crunching on cat biscuits or watch the spiny fellows amble around their cages on their little paws.
There are other mindful moments too. Sometimes, while cleaning out and feeding hedgehogs, I’ll listen to their adorable crunching on cat biscuits or watch the spiny fellows amble around their cages on their little paws. And when I’ve sneaked food bowls into the fox cub enclosure without the residents escaping – they’re furry equivalents of Houdini – I’ll enjoy their cheeky playfulness with each other.
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I really value those pauses in my day. It reminds me of one of my favourite Bible verses – ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10). In the stillness - whether I’m enjoying a mindful moment on Springwatch or admiring the majestic birds of prey at the wildlife hospital – my soul soars and I thank God for what he’s created.
Such moments of stillness don’t need to be dramatic. Pausing at the window to watch a squirrel scurrying across my garden or listening to a robin sing its little heart out while out on a walk works for me too.
Watching animal antics can be life-giving and joyful. Whatever difficulties I may be going through, being still and treasuring the moment I’m in helps me to re-evaluate my perspective. So, here’s a wild thought – now and again, give God 90 seconds of stillness and see what he does with it.
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