Last updated at 16:37, Wednesday, 08 August 2012

A FLAGSHIP BBC programme is to highlight a Lake District forest as a top destination for sculpture, mountain biking and wildlife.

VIEWING SCULPTURES: Julia Bradbury filming Countryfile at Grizedale Forest

A camera crew from BBC’s Countryfile, including presenters Julia Bradbury and John Craven, visited Grizedale Forest, near Hawkshead, on Thursday and Friday last week.

The programme will focus on Grizedale’s three-year red kite reintroduction scheme, which is to culminate with the release of the final 30 birds this week.

Grizedale Forest manager Dave Lowe said: “We were able to tell them a lot about the birds and our ongoing work to monitor them after they have been released.

“I’m sure it will make a great story on the TV.”

The crew also filmed a piece on the sculptures in the forest. Grizedale has more than 60 pieces of sculpture and there are plans to add more.

Hayley Skipper, arts development curator for the Forestry Commission in England, was interviewed by Ms Bradbury, who also had a go at mountain biking around Grizedale’s many way-marked trails.

She said: “Julia said she was a big fan of sculpture and outdoor art and she was genuinely enthusiastic about the pieces we showed her.

“It’s great Countryfile will be able to show off these fantastic sculptures to a national audience.”

The Grizedale programme is due to be broadcast on BBC1 on Sunday August 19.

First published at 16:10, Wednesday, 08 August 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk