'Hypocritical' BBC is accused of damaging the countryside to film Chris Packham's Springwatch

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

The BBC has been accused of wreaking environmental damage on a National Trust estate in order to film Springwatch.
Residents in the Peak District claim the production team for the hugely popular nature programme is destroying an area of the Longshaw Estate.
Live filming for the 20th anniversary series of the programme - fronted by environmental campaigner Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan - is taking place on the estate, which sits within the Peak District National Park, near Sheffield.
But images taken by local resident Christine Laver, supplied to MailOnline, show what some alleged to be hypocritical behaviour on the part of the BBC Natural History Unit, part of BBC Studios, the commercial production arm of the broadcaster.
Steel plates are laid out across part of the estate - which only some vehicles belonging to the production team are parked on, with others in the grass.
Large plates were also laid out across paths and ditches were filled in with bags of stones, topped with plastic mats to widen the roads for larger vehicles such as production lorries.
The BBC and the National Trust both say the site will be restored to its original condition once filming is concluded.
But in a viral social media post Ms Laver said the apparent damage reflected 'the reality of Springwatch at Longshaw'.
Large plates were laid out across paths and ditches were filled in with bags of stones, topped with plastic mats to widen the roads for larger vehicles such as production lorries
She wrote: 'Tons of limestone tipped in a gritstone landscape to facilitate access for huge lorries. Ditches blocked and tracks widened by vehicles they were never designed for.
'A meadow covered in steel plating, just when the wildflowers are coming into bloom and dozens of staff and production vehicles parked there.
'How many tons of CO2 will this lot produce in 3 weeks, Chris Packham?'
The first episode of the latest series of Springwatch, which aired on Monday, opened with Chris and Michaela praising the habitats and the wildlife at the location.
Among Longshaw's fauna are wild hares, herds of deer and birds including short-eared owls and ring ouzels.
But some of those who saw Ms Laver's post fear that the wildlife may have been disrupted. The BBC has denied this is the case.
'Saw a pair of curlews in the field the wagons are in now, probs a week before the arrived, two days in a row,' one said.
'If they had a nest, that'll be trashed now.'
One social media user opined that it was an example of 'hypocrisy and feeding a narrative' on the part of the BBC.
Another, referring to Chris Packham, said: 'The hypocrisy of these environmentalists knows no bounds. Educate and inform by all means but stop the campaigning.'
The BBC and National Trust supplied MailOnline with similar statements outlining how the site would be preserved after production came to an end.
Some have given the broadcaster the benefit of the doubt as production continues.
One said: 'Why not be thankful for the good that comes from this programme? For me personally I think it is fantastic that Springwatch is coming from my own backyard.'
Another commented: 'I like they are trying to [put] wildlife to the forefront of people's attention and get people interested in wildlife and support mental health.
'And all people can do is look at the negative side if things.
'They're not destroying habitats to build homes like the government. They're trying to bring the beautiful side of nature.'
The row comes despite Chris being a prominent environmentalist campaigner and vocal supporter of groups such as Just Stop Oil.
In November last year, he joined thousands of people marching through central London to demand the government cleans up Britain's waterways.
Speaking outside Westminster, he said: 'Rachel Reeves gave a Budget in 2024, whilst Valencia was being flooded and people were losing their lives, and she didn't use the word climate or nature once in that Budget. Now that's scary.'
Pointing at Parliament, Mr Packham added: 'I know there are plenty of MPs and ministers over there who are desperate to do what they need to do and do their job - but they need to be given access to the resources, and part of that is finance.'
Meanwhile in April last year Chris joined Extinction Rebellion protesters as they stormed the Science Museum's new climate gallery over its sponsorship by a mining company.
The criticism centred on the fact the gallery's sponsor – the Adani Group – derives 60 per cent of its revenue from the coal industry.
Speaking to the 30-strong band of young people, scientists and activists, Mr Packham deemed the sponsorship deal 'beyond greenwash – it's grotesque'.
He continued: 'Science tells us that the fossil fuel industry is responsible for the accelerating destruction of our natural world.
'The Science Museum is a place to spark imagination, to provide answers but also to encourage us to ask questions.
'The question I'm asking today is a big one, 'why on earth are we allowing a destructive industry to sponsor an educational exhibition whilst simultaneously setting fire to young peoples futures?'
'This is beyond greenwash - it's grotesque.'
A BBC spokesperson said of the Springwatch row: 'At Longshaw the Springwatch team is working in cooperation with the National Trust.
'The field location was confirmed as appropriate for temporary use by local land managers and no wildlife has been displaced.
'All of the surfaces installed and modifications are temporary, and the National Trust will undertake any works that may be needed to reinstate the site once Springwatch has departed.
'This restoration includes reseeding fields, restoring ditches, and reverting any landscape changes.
'Minimising our environmental impact is a top priority and Springwatch is certified by BAFTA Albert, which encourages sustainable TV and film production.
'Whilst on location, our main power source is a green hydrogen fuel cell, dramatically reducing our CO₂ emission.'
In a similarly worded statement, the National Trust said it would 'uphold the highest possible environmental standards' during production.