THE natural world is the inspiration for a brand new series presented by celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

A lifelong nature lover, Hugh, whose famous River Cottage is based near Lyme Regis, will be exploring the Jurassic Coast and the rockpools he knew as a child for the series, which is produced in partnership with the Open University.

The series began on Saturday and the episode featuring the Jurassic Coast will be screened this Saturday, January 13.

A spokesman said: “Hugh will explore the Jurassic Coast to investigate the strange life of its most curious creatures and to meet the local heroes dedicated to helping them. His fascination for marine life centres on an intriguing ocean oddity: the cuttlefish. With the help of local fishermen Hugh devises a plan to see them close up and to try to understand their otherworldly behaviour.

“On the shingle expanse of Chesil beach, a team of dedicated volunteers keep a 24-hour watch over a colony of little terns to help these rare birds raise their tiny chicks in safety. 

“And Hugh revisits the rockpools he knew as a child, in search of new finds and familiar favourites.”

Dr Andy Morris, senior lecturer in geography at The Open University, was the academic consultant for the series. 

He said: “This series captures the enthusiasm of people involved in wildlife observation and conservation projects, many of whom are not scientific ‘experts’ or conservation professionals. Many of these stories cover people making significant wildlife observations and collecting data in their own gardens or in their local area, and this speaks to a growth in ‘citizen science’ - where dedicated amateurs are making a significant contribution to conservation work through the volume and detail of the data they collect.”

To accompany the series, The Open University has produced a free booklet and bookmark, ‘Understanding Nature, Landscapes and Lives’, with ideas for how to create your own garden wildlife habitat. You can request your free copy at www.open.edu/openlearn/hughswildwest

The series was filmed over a year and also showcases Dartmoor, the Forest of Dean and the wetlands and waterways of the Somerset Levels.
Catch the series at 6.15pm on BBC2.