Nature Features

This summer, the BBC marks the 50th anniversary of the BBC Natural History Unit with a series looking at wildlife conservation.

The series - Saving Planet Earth - features programmes on TV and web pages. Sir David Attenborough and Alan Titchmarsh are among the presenters.  

The BBC 1 series during June and July includes a special half-hour show about local conservation issues.

The South West programme, aired on Wednesday 4 July, looked at species conservation in our region.

Presenter Dick Strawbridge focused on rare beetles in Devon; the ongoing attempts to boost numbers of cirl buntings in the South West; otters on the River Dart; and sharks off the Cornish coast.

Dick learnt how to become an otter spotter on the River Dart - and used his nose to sniff them out!

Cirl buntings are thriving in Devon (RSPB)

You can find out more about cirl buntings, otters, and the rare Kugelann's beetle, using the links on this page to BBC Devon articles.

The Saving Planet Earth series ends with an appeal  for donations towards wildlife conservation.

During the series, viewers can donate to the BBC Wildlife Fund by calling 08705 100 700, or by going to bbc.co.uk/savingplanetearth.

The money raised will fund wildlife conservation projects in the UK and around the world.