Behind the scenes as Sam & Ade Go Birding on our nature reserves

When the production company behind 5’s superb Sam & Ade Go Birding told us they had been commissioned for a second series, we were thrilled – even more so when they asked to film at two really special RSPB reserves. We knew they’d both provide some incredible sights for the series!  

RSPB Ynys-hir nature reserve  is nestled beside the Dyfi estuary in mid-Wales and boasts an amazing assemblage of birds in springtime. 

RSPB Bempton Cliffs nature reserve, is home to around half a million seabirds during the breeding season on the east coast of England.  

Poppy Rummery, visitor experience manager at Bempton Cliffs, and Dave Anning, site manager at Ynys-hir, take us behind the scenes on their days with the Frank Film team, to give us a peek at what it’s like to have a film crew on their nature reserve. 

Dubbed ‘seabird city’, Bempton Cliffs is a popular filming destination. Just a day before Sam and Ade arrived, it had been hosting wildlife presenter Iolo Williams and a small BBC production crew, for a four-night live broadcast as part of this year’s Springwatch. 

“It was a busy week, for sure,” agreed Poppy. “But it’s exciting welcoming different film crews to the site – they always discover something distinct for their particular programme and I love seeing how they’ve captured the essence of the reserve in their own ways and what they choose to highlight.”  

With busy careers away from this series, the schedule for Sam & Ade Go Birding is pretty intense. Presenter and RSPB Ambassador Samuel West had just finished filming All Creatures Great and Small, the 5 show in which he plays Yorkshire vet, Siegfried Farnon. And co-presenter Ade Edmondson was preparing to make new episodes of sci fi series, Alien: Earth. 

“We hardly knew they were here – in fact, most visitors weren’t aware of them, they were so discreet!” recalls Dave, of their filming at Ynys-hir. “I would have loved to have spent more time with them, but they obviously had such a tight timetable and I can understand that. We were absolutely thrilled that they chose to come here – we’re always excited about the prospect of showcasing our reserve to a national audience.” 

At Bempton, the crew and presenters also arrived very early to begin set up, explains Poppy.  

“I met both Samuel and Ade before filming started, and they were both really lovely. They are so professional – it’s amazing to watch how at ease they are in front of the cameras.  

“It was a fairly intense morning of filming, but they were happy for me to join them when they stopped and sat down for a bit of an elevensies break and all shared some cakes!” 

Not surprisingly, the crew spent time filming with Samuel and Ade from the reserve’s clifftop viewing platforms. These offer incredible views of the Gannets, Puffins, Razorbills, Fulmars and other seabirds nesting there.  But it was a less showy, land-locked bird that really caught their attention. 

“They really enjoyed seeing our lovely Tree Sparrows,” recalls Poppy.  “Speaking to some of our visitors afterwards, who’d been delighted to see the filming going on, they were really pleased to see them looking at a variety of species, and especially the Tree Sparrows.” 

Dave says the crew were focused on two of Ynys-hirs springtime migratory stars – Pied Flycatchers and Nightjars. The presence of both birds is testimony to the amazing mix of habitat at the site. 

At both nature reserves, Samuel, Ade and the crew were finished in a few short hours and moving on to their next location, having told the teams how much they’d enjoyed their visits. All that was left for the reserve team to do was wait to watch the new series when it aired in October.  

Dave admits this part can be both awesome and excruciating. “When I sit down to watch, it’s absolutely terrifying!” he says. “I’m checking how good the reserve looks, what’s being said about it and so on.  But as I gradually lower the cushion I’ve been hiding behind, and allow myself to relax, then I feel incredibly proud of the reserve, and everyone who works so hard to make it such a stunning place.  

“I really hope this series will introduce us to some viewers who’ve never been here, and encourage them to come and see what a fantastic place Ynys-hir is for themselves.” 

“I watched the first series and loved it, so I was thrilled to hear they wanted to include Bempton in the second,” says Poppy.  “I love the chilled, conversational feel to the programme and was really keen to see how it would translate for our reserve. For me, it’s fun watching something on television that I’ve seen being filmed – it brings back all the funny things that are said and done during the shoot. 

“Watching Bempton Cliffs on programmes like this definitely reminds the team how amazing our reserve is – getting a glimpse into the way other people see the reserve brings home just what a special place it is!” 

Series 2 of Sam & Ade Go Birding is available to watch on catch-up  here on 5.