Best of Natural History Radio

Living World goes in search of autumn harvestmen in Yorkshire, a spider looking creepy crawly but as entomologist Paul Richards says, more closley related to a scorpion. Presented by Trai Anfield/Produced by Andrew Dawes.

Living World, presented by Chris Sperring, looks for the Manx Shearwater and Storm Petrel with ecologist David Boyle. To find them they go to Skomer Island after dark.

Ep 10 of 24 Saving Species reporter Karen Partridge travels to Scotland to seek out the Scottish wildcat: an iconic emblem of the unspoilt wilderness of Scotland. It has been suggested that there may be fewer than one hundred pure bred wildcat in Scotland, with some studies concluding that this species may actually be rarer that the Amur tiger or even extinct as a genetic species. Professor Lynne Boddy from Cardiff University travels to the New Forest in search of a very rare fungus, the bearded tooth fungus (Hericium erinaceus). This species is commonly grown commercially however in the wild it is one of the rarest fungi's in the UK and it's importance in the woodland ecosystem as a wood-recycling fungus is giving conservationists cause for concern.

Citzen Science/Giant Havestman Saving Species asks this week what contribution the amateur naturalist makes to our understanding of the natural world through citizen science.

Brett Westwood discusses issues arising in our countryside from a rising bird of prey population and possible conflict this brings to other land users.

Ep 7 of 24 Brett Westwood talks to heads to filmmakers attending International Wildscreen Film Festival 2012 to discuss their work and motivations, Plus, Brett gets the latest on the multi-wildlife organisation conservation breading project to save the critically-endangered Spoon-billed Sandpiper bird. Presenter: Brett Westwood Producer: Sheena Duncan Exec Producer: Julian Hector

In this episode of Saving Species we look at one of Britain's favourite birds - the swallow. Ed Drewitt travels to a swallow roost in Southern England, where overnight he joins the The Wetland Trust to trap and ring swallows as they gather in a mass roost to head south. So how have the swallows and other summer migrants done this year? Chris Sperring travels with entomologist Tristan Bantock to a central London park to track down the rare mediterranean Southern Oak Bush Cricket was first recorded in the UK in 2001. Since then sightings of the bright green, wingless cricket have become more frequent, but still more elusive than its native counterpart. David Robinson from the Department of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems at the Open University joins Brett Westwood in the studio to discuss in more depth how the Southern Oak Bush Cricket came to be in the UK.

In this episode of Saving species we focus on the issues facing our rivers and freshwater systems. The Shropshire Wildlife Trust this year highlight them by saillling a curragh down the Severn. John Hughes from the Trust joins Brett Westwood on the water to give them a perfect otter's eye view of the issues facing our crowded countryside and ever increasing demands on this natural resource.

Can the world's marine environments remain healthy and functioning under the influence of man, from pollution to over fishing and climate change? In Saving Species this week, Brett Westwood looks in depth at some of the issues and research being carried out into the species which depend upon this often abused natural resource. Our reporter Helen Scales travels to the Gambia, where issues of oyster overfishing are having a devastating effect not only on the native oysters but also the coastal mangrove swamps. In Florida, Howard Stableford joins marine researchers for an evening on a sandy beach. And closer to home, we look at the 2012 breeding season of some of our breeding seabirds. Producer : Sheena Duncan Presenter : Brett Westwood Editor : Julian Hector

Saving Species presented by Brett Westwood this week poses the question; with increasing pressures to develop our land for housing, transport and industry, is there still room for Britain's wildlife to flourish? Recently the Government set out proposals to extend development rights into the Green Belt as an aid to economic growth. Brett Westwood discovers the importance of brown-field sites on a visit to Canvey Wick in the Thames Estuary accompanied by Sarah Henshall, Brownfield Manager from the charity, Buglife. And we hear from Dr Chris Baines who discusses whether the plans to build a London to Birmingham high speed rail link could actually benefit wildlife in the longer term. Producer : Mary Colwell Presenter : Brett Westwood Editor : Julian Hector

Episode 2 of 24 Saving Species presented by Brett Westwood this week looks at bats and how research is looking at finding ways to allow them to fly unhindered in our increasingly urbanised land. Also in the programme is a special report about the Sulcata tortoise. Over the years many tortoises have been a special pet to families across the Globe. However the Sulcata tortoise is now of global concern and to discover more of the conservation efforts to return this species in the wild, Helen Scales travels to Senegal to see the pioneering work by Tomas Diagne.

1/24 Saving Species is back for another year of live broadcasting about the world of wildlife conservation, presented by Brett Westwood. We kick off the first programme with look back at the summer of 2012. This summer has been one of the wettest on record, has this affected our wildlife? We look at some of the winners and losers in the battle for survival. Also in the programme - Saving Species heads to Dungeness in Kent where a long term project is underway to return the short haired bumblebee to Britain. This formerly widespread bee was last recorded in 1988 and declared extinct in 2000. At the opposite end of the country, Chris Sperring reports from Devon where he joined a public night-time safari to look for one of our most enigmatic and enlightening beetles, the glow-worm. Presenter: Brett Westwood Producer: Sheena Duncan Editor: Julian Hector

Little Owls Miranda Krestovnikoff goes in search of the little owl, a bird that was introduced in the late 19th century and has since spread throughout England and Wales.

Ouzels of the Moor Miranda Krestovnikoff is in a valley on Dartmoor searching for the last ring ouzels in southern England where an RSPB study of the birds is investigating their decline.

Nature: Quest for the World's Largest Butterfly Queen Alexandra's Birdwing has a 30cm wingspan. Mark Stratton visits remote Papua New Guinea to find the butterfly and to meet its dedicated tribal conservationists.