The Jordans

As the UK bathes in the golden hues of autumn and in Kate Humble's words we "celebrate nature's last firework", the Autumnwatch team receives a surprise visit on Brownsea Island from Bill and Debs Jordan, the owners of Pensthorpe Nature Reserve near Fakenham, Norfolk.

Pensthorpe, nestled in the Wensum Valley, was the new home for Springwatch in 2008 and like Brownsea is a haven for wildlife. The River Wensum itself was made a European Special Area Of Conservation (SAC) in 2004 to protect the animals and vegetation that flourish in the rich habitat of the river and its ribbon of surrounding valley.

During Springwatch a number of animal characters became stars of the show, with visitors to the site still asking about Toilet Duck. "Toilet Duck made the Fakenham Times," says Debs. "Because it got so familiar with visitors, it started to arrive in the shop with the whole family every single morning."

Springwatch 2009

For the new year the Pensthorpe team are creating a new wildlife habitat on the reserve which will be known as the Springwatch garden. "Viewers to the programme next year will able to see our new wildlife garden being created at Pensthorpe over the winter. This garden is in response to viewers and visitors who asked what they can do to encourage more wildlife into their gardens," says Debs.

"The aim is to work with various leading wildlife and conservation organisations to create a garden which has simple ideas that can be recreated by anybody to increase the chances of attracting all manner of wildlife. It will also incorporate signage and interpretation with simple hints and ideas to make your garden even more enticing to anybody looking for a new home."

"They'll also be a totally new area in front of our viewing gallery which has been created to encourage wildlife," says Bill. "They'll be a chalk mound going in to encourage a butterfly and bat habitat. The Springwatch wrens have been seen and are doing well and the squirrel thing here [on Brownsea] is something we hope to link up with."

East Anglia Red Squirrel Programme

The Pensthorpe Conservation Trust has been a member of the East Anglian Red Squirrel breeding program for a number of years. It works with other organisations within the region to breed and eventually release Red Squirrels on designated sites.

"Work is currently under way to provide a purpose built breeding facility which will allow us to breed more kittens [young squirrels] to then be released into the wild," says Bill. "The facility will also allow us to educate our visitors on why they are endangered and on the work being done across the country to try and protect them.

"This year we were thrilled when our pair of red squirrels bred five kittens but sadly it was just after Springwatch had finished filming. Fingers crossed that next year Squirrel Nutkin can proudly show off her latest arrivals to the Springwatch viewers."

Springwatch is planned to return to our screens in the last week of May 2009.