Springwatch Stars

Cause UK were proud to host Springwatch stars – Martin Hughes-Games and Iolo Williams – at Harrogate’s beautiful Royal Hall on Sunday 17 October. Thanks to Gerard Binks (in action below) for the stunning photos of the pair.

The TV presenters gave an entertaining tour of how they respectively fell in love with nature, before taking audiences on a behind the scenes tour of the making of BBC Springwatch.

Martin shared his love of hens, and Iolo of Hen Harriers, with clips from the duo’s career highs.  Martin showed jaw-dropping footage from his 30-year career as a wildlife TV producer of the presenter and vet, Steve Leonard, jumping out of a hot air balloon chased by a Peregrine Falcon to test how fast it flies.

Iolo caused a few giggles with behind the scene tales filming gorillas; their vegetarian diets caused a huge flatulence problem for the sound crew. Something, Iolo insisted, would not happen to Sir David Attenborough.

The Cause UK event was part of Harrogate’s first Climate Action Festival fringe, delivered by the Harrogate District Climate Change Coalition, an independent collaborative group of businesses, public sector organisations and voluntary groups, which promotes and supports greenhouse gas reduction activities throughout the Harrogate District.

Since it launched in 2005, Springwatch is credited for changing our relationship with nature.

We have worked on many nature and wildlife projects over the years to help raise awareness of the importance, and the plight of, nature. Past talks include Chris Packham, Lindsey Chapman and Steve Backshall.

Cause currently work with Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Nosterfield Nature Reserve and the Pendle Hill Landscape Partnership.

Climate change is the biggest pressing issue of our time. The great outdoors is also vital for our own well-being.

You can read Ann’s interview with Martin in the Yorkshire Post, here with a longer version in the York Press.

Martin and Iolo with Ann from Cause UK.