A state-of-the-art ‘badgerland’ specially created at Secret World Wildlife Centre near Burnham-On-Sea is to feature in a new BBC TV nature series starting this week.
The Burrowers, presented by Chris Packham, starts on Friday August 16th at 9pm on BBC 2 and runs for three weeks.
Chris, a patron at Secret World in East Huntspill, will go underground to investigate the subterranean world of animals such as badgers, rabbits and water voles.
As filmmakers and scientists cannot investigate animal behaviour inside wild burrows without disturbing them, the TV crews found an ingenious way to film the underground creatures by recreating full scale replicas.
Chris says the centre has been the ideal choice to build the elaborate artificial sett, complete with hidden cameras.
Earlier this year, the TV crew spent many hours filming orphan badgers which had been rescued by Secret World’s carers and then introduced to their new underground home.
Charity founder Pauline Kidner told Burnham-On-Sea.com it had been a most exciting time and doubly rewarding as the sett was now being renovated in preparation for next year’s opening of Secret World’s new education centre.
“The programme will give viewers a unique insight into the secretive life of the badger and how this often maligned and misunderstood creature plays such an important part of our heritage and countryside,” she said.
“This will enable children and groups to visit the unique observation sett which the resident badgers will occupy once the project is completed.”
Meanwhile, besides the young orphan badgers, hundreds of other wild animals and baby birds are being cared for at the rescue centre during the current breeding season. To help the charity, see http://www.justgiving.com/Secret-World3
