2026 Skydancer Day Broadcast - Rewilding, Nature Reserves, Wildlife Crime and Much More
Broadcasting live from the Attenborough Nature Reserve, the Skydancer Day Team, with Lauren and Ajay hosting, delivered a show packed with exclusive new film, interviews with the RSPB and the National Wildlife Crime Unit and news of ambitious rewilding and landscape restoration schemes. And all on the day after Sir David Attenborough‘s 100th birthday!
Now in its sixth year since the pioneering show back in 2021 with Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin, broadcast during the difficult days of Covid lockdowns, this year’s show also announced the launch of two exciting competitions for children and young people – our annual Young Wild Writers and Young Wild Photographer contests.
If you missed it on the day, you can now watch the whole broadcast on our YouTube channel, or you can just pick the films and interviews that interest you the most. It’s your choice!
There’s a terrific interview with Erin McDaid from Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, talking about the history of the Attenborough Reserve, when local residents fought hard to preserve the site for nature, and how the intervening six decades of scientific research here are looking at solutions to pollution and climate change, in partnership with the University of Nottingham.
Among many highlights of the broadcast was the extraordinary story of how the RSPB and Crossrail used 3 million tonnes of excavated material from the Jubilee Line extension to create a new nature reserve at Wallasea Island with salt marshes, lagoons and mudflats.
And a favourite for many viewers was a very personal journey by Hen Harrier Action Trustee and RSPB Ambassador Indy Kiemel Greene, introducing some the ancient oaks of Sherwood Forest, and describing the work he and fellow volunteers have done to open up heathland for Nightjars and Woodlarks.
Getting Tough on Wildlife Crime
We interviewed two leading figures on the front line of the fight against wildlife crime – RSPB Head of Investigations UK Mark Thomas, and DI Mark Harrison from the National Wildlife Crime Unit.
Mark Thomas talked about the recent successful prosecutions using RSPB covert film footage, and highlighted that the use of satellite tags, including those funded by Hen Harrier Action supporters, as real gamechangers in chasing wildlife criminals.
DI Harrison echoed his sentiments on satellite tags, and described how the NWCU has analysed 152 wildlife crime referrals since 2021, just for satellite tagged Hen Harriers, the ‘sudden stop, no malfunction’ incidents. Using this analysis highlighted eight clear ‘hotspots’, the worst offenders for wildlife crime against this species, of which seven are on driven grouse moors. All have been visited by officers and evidence since then points to a reduction in offences.
But he encourages the public to act as ‘eyes and ears on the ground’, citing the success of Operation Owl, now a national initiative to record and report suspicious behaviour, a kind of Neighbourhood Watch for remote locations.
Moth Trap Discoveries with Emma Butler from
Butterfly Conservation
In a fascinating live session with Emma Butler from Butterfly Conservation, Lauren and Ajay got to meet some amazing moths captured overnight in moth traps set at the reserve.
Emma, who is also a Trustee for Hen Harrier Action, showed us an Eyed Hawk-moth, a large moth that has no functioning mouth parts, as it’s single goal is to breed; a Poplar Hawk-moth, which can only be sexed by the time they visit a moth trap (the female visits before midnight, but the male only arrives after midnight); and a White Ermine Moth, so-called for the ermine-like shroud around the head.
Plus The Launch of Our Young Wild Competitions for Children and Young People Aged 5-16
Children’s author Gill Lewis, who is the judge for our sixth annual Young Wild Writers Competition, was interviewed by Lauren and Ajay and announced the launch of the competition live on Skydancer Day.
The theme for this year’s competition is Our Shared Planet – living alongside nature. It is open to children and young people aged 5 to 16, and there are three age categories – Young, Junior and Senior.
You can find out all about the competition and how to enter here, and you can listen to Gill’s interview here to get some exclusive tips on what she is looking for.
Wildlife photographer Richard Birchett is the judge for our third annual Young Wild Photographer Competition, launched the new competition and gave some tips live on Skydancer Day.
The theme for this year’s competition is The Colour of the Wild. It is open to children and young people aged 5 to 16 and, like the writing competition, there are three age categories – Young, Junior and Senior.
You can find out all about the competition and how to enter here, and you can watch Richard’s video here to get some exclusive tips on what he will be looking for.