BBC Earth - British Wilderness / Wild Britain [ 2013 ]

1. Prequel - the subtitle issue:Unlike other Dutch issues this Bluray provides an onscreen menu which enables viewers to select episode and subtitle options (Dutch / off). The fast forward button on the handset enables skipping past the promotional examples which precede the main feature. The handset subtitle button provides an easy alternative control and will be the first choice for many once they get used to it.2. Review:This is a four part documentary – 1 - Winter; 2 – Spring; 3 – Summer; Autumn – with each section lasting about 50 minutes, 206 minutes in total. There are no extras.The voice over is provided in English read by actor Joseph Fiennes whose narration is a fine example of how to transmit what is obviously a pleasurable script to him. There is even a suggestion of amusement at times during his narration which adds to the considerable sense of involvement.The films themselves seem to be HD quality throughout and can sustain close viewing distance indicative of that quality. The disc is copyrighted as 2013 vintage.The four episodes make good use of returning visits to various thus enabling the viewer to identify easily with the changes occurring during the changing seasons. A technique which is used to excellent effect on many occasions is the use of time-lapse photography. This is particularly valuable in showing the development and decline of various plant life forms such as the cellular damage that plants suffer with frost. A further use of variable speed photography is the slowing down and speeding up of sequences which enables the viewer to closely observe winged flight for one example. Music is remarkably well chosen to accompany photographic sequences.This entire venture differs from many others in this series by exhibiting and communicating a real love of the subject and delivers a remarkably high incidence of pure delight. This can be the use of photography, the behaviour of just about all forms of life, the nature of the narrative and its narrator and a fine sense of dramatic timing so that all the above are especially effective.As a ‘retired’ photographer now living in Argyll, this has proved to be a particularly joyous series. The imbalance between the examples taken from England compared to Scotland and Wales as mentioned by some commentators has to be acknowledged as accurate. This is really a series about English wildlife with barely any passing reference to Scotland (all the illustrated squirrels are red) or, even less, Wales. Ireland is not technically part of Britain nor of Great Britain. It IS part of the UK which can also be correctly described as either Britain or Great Britain AND Northern Ireland. Its absence from this documentary is therefore correct.So far as Scotland is concerned, viewers can be strongly recommended to invest in the BBC 236 minutes documentary ‘Highlands – Scotland’s Wild Heart’ where they will be fully satiated! There are no equivalents yet for Welsh viewers.This is a wonderfully uplifting documentary illustrating the sheer variety of natural life forms to be found through the year.

The camera work is well up to BBC Earth standards and I couldn't fault the content except to say that it's really Wild England...I say this because of the amount of time devoted to English flora and fauna cannot justify the DVDs title....four parts of 48 (approx.) minutes eachand a total of less than 8 minutes reflecting Scottish, Welsh or N.Irish wildlife. This fact doesn't detract from the excellence of the series of course, except if you were expecting to see what Scotland, N.Ireland and Wales has to offer.WINTER had around a minute of the Highlands where the narrator recommends 'special equipment' and 'even then you can't stay outside for long'concluding with...'Each year the elements kill at least 20 people on these mountains' (I don't know the tally for Snowdonia, the Lakes, Dartmoor or the Peak District etc.) As for wildlife in N.Ireland or Wales, no mention.SPRING exclusively England... fabulous photography around Somerset, Dorset (great underwater work!) Oxford, Farne Islands (exceptional birdphotography) Gloucester and Salisbury Plain and other parts of England. No mention of Scotland, N. Ireland or Wales.SUMMER Great shots of Essex and village green cricket in Worcestershire, terrific underwater photography again- Cornwall and Dorset.No mention of Wales, N.Ireland or Scotland again.AUTUMN fabulous colours in Dorset, Devon and the Wye Valley which stays green a week longer than Scotland (Narrator).We had just over 2 minutes on the Barnacle Geese on Islay and 30 seconds of starlings in Aberystwyth...and then the DVD wenttotally crazy with pixelations and freezing but it may be my over-heating DVD player.Unless you wanted to see Golden or White Tailed Eagles, Ospreys, a Crossbill, Pine Marten, European Wildcat, Capercallie or as a treat:- shots of the only native Scottish/British honeybee in one of their 50 legally protected colonies on Oronsay and Colonsay (a miracle!)...you would not be disappointed by another great BBC Earth DVD.A shame that there's no English sub-titles for the hard of hearing but it does state that in the description.All in all, a great DVD but don't expect a balanced coverage of UK/British wildlife. I'm not criticising the DVD or its content it's Wild BBC at its best but the constant mentioning of us "British" and "We are an island Nation....." is not reflected in the amount of time dedicated solely to English flora and fauna.

A true one of a kind experience, "The Great British Year" (to give it its English title) provides a simply wonderful insight into the processes of Mother Nature which take place right under our noses, over our back fences and all around us. Breathtakingly filmed via Time Lapse, Thermal Imaging, slow motion etc. this four-part documentary takes you on a beautiful journey across all four of our seasons. Stunning photography aside I particularly enjoyed the gentle commentary, punctuated here and there with subtle humour, which provides just enough fascinating but topical information without bombarding you with never-ending facts and statistics.If ever you feel the need to de-stress I can hardly think of a better way than to select any one of the four episodes for the benefits of a gentle, enlightening meander through the wonderful British landscape which we are blessed to have virtually (for some, actually) on our doorsteps. This documentary series is a genuine triumph to be recommended to anyone who appreciates the beauty and mystique of our island nature. How lucky we are!