Barra's Wild Days Out

Barra begins his journey in Gortin Glen Forest Park, home to a wild population of sika, a small deer that was brought into Ireland from Japan. Traveling on to Clogher Valley, he meets alpaca farmers Roger and Elaine who tend to over 100 of this species native to South America.

Barra meets artist Kevin McHugh, who is part of Sliabh Beagh Arts, a group bringing art to the countryside. As he helps Kevin complete his latest work using only a power-hose, Barra hears how Kevin loves to incorporate native animal species into his work. In Boho in Fermanagh, he meets Mary Polizzi, who rescues and rehabilitates wild animals from across Northern Ireland.

Barra finishes by heading deep into Cladagh Glen, where bat lovers Karen Healy and Catherine Reilly from the Northern Ireland Bat Group take him to find some of our native bat species.

Barra starts off on the Inishowen peninsula in Donegal, where he meets Killian McLaughlin, who has set up Wild Ireland, an animal sanctuary for rescued animals. Barra helps him with the feeding rounds and gets up close with some of the bigger animals.

Further east along the coast, Barra comes to the species-rich dunes of Umbra Nature Reserve, near Magilligan. There, he meets maverick moth recorder Andy Crory and goes on an overnight moth survey among the dunes.

Barra then heads up to Ballycastle and takes the ferry over to Rathlin in search of Irish hares. There is one in particular that he is keen to see - the golden hare. He meets local photographer Tom McDonnell, one of only a handful of people to have ever photographed this elusive creature. The pair head off on a long search across the island to try and catch a glimpse of one
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Barra then heads to Downhill Beach, where he meets Gavin Wallace, an artist who uses rakes to create huge, temporary artworks in the sand. Together with a group of local people, they make one of Gavin's biggest pieces before Barra enlists the help of a drone operator to reveal their from the sky.

Barra then heads out to sea from Ballycastle with local fisherman Ian Latham and conservationist Erin McKeown. He is taking part in a project that is monitoring the population of sharks, rays and skates. Barra helps the team as they measure, tag and release sharks, and hears from Ian and Erin about the importance of this work.

Strangford Lough may be best known for seals and birds, but Barra is surprised to discover that it's also becoming famous for its honey bees. He meets beekeeper Valentine from Veesbees and her husband Chris at their loughshore apiary. Barra dons beekeeping gear and has a go at collecting some honey from the hive.

Travelling on to Colin Glen in Belfast, Barra becomes one of the first people to try out Ireland's longest zip wire. He goes into the city centre to take a boat ride through the busy Belfast docks with Dr Justin Judge, a local marine biologist. Barra is blown away by the amount of seals here and how close they are to the city centre.

He heads up to Glenarm beach, where he meets sea glass hunter Ria McCullough and her daughter Emily. Barra's last visit is to the Slievenacloy nature reserve in the hills above Lisbunr. He meets ranger Ronald Surgeoner and is amazed to hear that there are lizards in Belfast.

Barra visits Oxford Island on the shores of Lough Neagh. Former water ski champion Janet Gray, who is blind and a lover of wildlife, is joined by birdcall expert Dot Blakely, and the three try their hand at ear-birding, which allows blind or visually-impaired people to distinguish different types of birds through their calls.

Barra meets Andrea Cowan who runs Loughgall Hedgehog Rescue, helping her care for an injured creature. He drops into Carrowhoney pet farm outside Lisnaskea where Veronica Greenaway takes him to meet wildlife from across the world including emus, rhea and raccoons.

Barra visits a couple who live on a Lough Erne narrow boat, before meeting Mark Butler from the Devenish Wildfowlers and Conservation Club who build, install and maintain specialist hides that wading birds can use for nesting.