Milkshake! Secret Life of the Forest

A year in the forest brings lots of incredible changes for the plants and creatures that live there. We learn about hibernation, perennial trees and the ways the forest changes.

Beavers have an incredible ability to work hard as they build a home that benefits all of the forest around them, using their skill to build dams which prevents flooding.

We meet a variety of water-dwelling birds including kingfishers, dippers, wagtails, heron and ducks. Plus a fish that can fly: the leaping salmon!

Toads are slimy and shiny, and they love to hop into the water for a good old croak. We see them grow from wriggly tadpoles into froglets before turning into grown up toads.

Badgers, bats, foxes and pine martens all keep the forest busy after dark. There is a lot to see in the dark and loads to learn beneath a twinkling starry night sky.

Red squirrels are some of the cutest, cleverest creatures in the forest. They are always busy and have amazing jumping abilities. They also hide nuts in secrets spots for later.

On the forest floor there is a magical world right beneath your feet, such as Mushrooms, ants, water voles, and butterflies.

A look at caterpillars, such as how they can eat many times their own body weight, and form a chrysalis in order to transform into a butterfly.

The forest is full of busy insects, like bees taking pollen from flower to flower, grasshoppers that are amazing at jumping, and semaphore flies that dance to attract a mate.

Some creatures make their homes underground. Bunnies live in a warren with lots of entrances to escape danger. Badgers live in a sett which they keep very tidy.

A look at sheep and goats.

A look at the lives of deer and ponies, including their diets, their animal instincts and how they contribute to their ecosystems and habitats.

A look at the lives of birds, such as Chaffinches and Nightjars. Focusing on their birdsongs, nesting habits and migration patterns.

Osprey are expert at fishing, and another expert hunter is the owl. They have special feathers which allow them to fly silently and swoop down on their prey.

Trees help to create the air we all breathe. Every year new trees are grown in a tree nursery and planted in the forest.