Chris Packham Michaela Strachan Springwatch – Derbyshire 2025 Guide

BBC Springwatch 2025 has returned for its landmark 20th anniversary, broadcasting live from a brand-new location in Derbyshire’s Peak District. Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan lead the presenting team from the National Trust’s Longshaw Estate, marking the first time the show has filmed in this region.

The three-week series kicked off on May 26, 2025, with evening broadcasts on BBC Two and iPlayer running through June 12. Audiences have been treated to live footage of species rarely seen on the programme before, including short-eared owls, ring ouzels, and several bat species native to the upland habitats of Britain’s oldest national park.

Are Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan Friends?

Reports confirm that Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan share a long-standing friendship that forms the foundation of their presenting partnership. The duo has worked together on Springwatch for multiple years, with sources describing their dynamic as collaborative and genuine.

While Packham has publicly acknowledged occasional tensions in their working relationship, he has characterised these as normal aspects of a close professional partnership. Their friendship has been highlighted as a key strength of the programme, with Strachan’s warmth complementing Packham’s more analytical approach to wildlife presenting.

• Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan lead the three-week live series from Longshaw Estate
• The first episode aired May 26, 2025, showcasing local wildlife including hares, deer, short-eared owls, and ring ouzels
• Iolo Williams joins from Northern Ireland for his first Springwatch appearance
• No sources confirm Megan McCubbin’s involvement in the 2025 lineup
• The programme marks Springwatch’s first time filming in Derbyshire
• Residents have raised concerns about filming operations potentially damaging sensitive wildlife habitats

What to Know About Springwatch 2025

Anniversary Celebrations

The 20th anniversary of Springwatch brings special significance to this year’s broadcasts. The programme has evolved from its early days into one of the BBC’s flagship wildlife series, documenting seasonal changes across Britain’s ecosystems.

This year’s anniversary celebrations feature audience favourites alongside new wildlife moments. Songbirds, kestrels, and barn owls return to screens, while the Peak District location introduces species not previously featured from lowland England habitats.

Broadcast Schedule

The series runs from May 26 through June 12, 2025, with episodes scheduled for Monday through Thursday evenings at 8 PM on BBC Two. All programmes become available on BBC iPlayer the following day. This scheduling allows the presenting team to capture and broadcast live wildlife moments as they unfold across the Derbyshire countryside.

Where Is Springwatch 2025 Being Filmed?

Longshaw Estate Details

The National Trust’s Longshaw Estate serves as the primary filming location for Springwatch 2025. Situated on the eastern edge of the Peak District, this estate represents Britain’s first national park and offers diverse upland habitats rarely showcased on mainstream wildlife programming.

The estate supports an impressive range of species including curlews, merlins, redstarts, dippers, woodcock, snipe, ring ouzels, whinchats, badgers, foxes, and at least eight bat species. Many of these creatures are being captured on camera live for the first time in Springwatch history.

Longshaw’s moorland, woodland, and wetland areas provide contrasting landscapes to previous Springwatch locations, which have typically focused on lowland England environments. Find out more about exploring Longshaw Estate on the National Trust website.

Controversy Over Filming Practices

Local residents have accused the BBC of hypocrisy following the arrival of production equipment. Concerns centre on roads constructed for lorries and a steel plate installed over wildflower meadows, which some fear could damage the habitat of threatened ring ouzels in this environmentally sensitive area.

Who Are the Springwatch Presenters?

Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan

Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan anchor the three-week series from Longshaw Estate, opening the first episode on May 26, 2025, by highlighting local species such as hares, deer, short-eared owls, and ring ouzels. Their combined expertise spans decades of wildlife broadcasting, with Packham known for his conservation advocacy and Strachan for her accessible presenting style.

Their friendship has been noted in multiple reports as a defining feature of the programme’s enduring appeal. The duo navigates the demands of live broadcasting together, bringing complementary perspectives to the wildlife stories unfolding across the estate.

Iolo Williams

Wildlife presenter Iolo Williams contributes to the series from Northern Ireland for the first time in Springwatch history. His segments involve trekking through diverse wildlife hotspots over the three-week run, introducing audiences to species found across the region.

Megan McCubbin

No sources currently reference Megan McCubbin in connection with the 2025 Springwatch lineup. The extent of her involvement, if any, remains unconfirmed based on available reporting.

Timeline of Events

1. 21 May 2025: BBC announces Derbyshire’s Longshaw Estate as the new filming location for Springwatch 2025
2. 22 May 2025: Reports emerge discussing Packham’s perspectives on his working relationship with Strachan
3. 26 May 2025: First episode airs, featuring Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan from Longshaw Estate
4. 29 May 2025: The Telegraph reports on resident concerns regarding filming operations at Longshaw

What We Know and What Remains Unclear

The Significance of Springwatch’s 20th Anniversary

Two decades of Springwatch represent a significant milestone for British wildlife broadcasting. The programme has documented seasonal changes across the United Kingdom, from emerging spring wildlife to the complex ecosystems found in habitats like those at Longshaw Estate.

Moving the anniversary broadcast to Derbyshire marks a deliberate shift toward upland environments. The Peak District provides access to species and landscapes that differ substantially from the wetland, coastal, and lowland habitats typically featured in previous series.

The anniversary format also allows the presenting team to reflect on how wildlife broadcasting has evolved. Technical advances mean audiences now see species live that would have been impossible to capture on film two decades ago. Find additional wildlife content on the RSPB website.

Sources and Quotes

The series celebrates with audience favourites like songbirds, kestrels, and barn owls, alongside new Peak District species to contrast prior lowland England locations.

— National Trust media release, May 2025

Residents accuse the BBC of hypocrisy and countryside damage, citing roads for lorries and a steel plate over wildflower meadows.

— The Telegraph, 29 May 2025

Reporting for this story draws from BBC announcements, National Trust press releases, The Telegraph’s coverage from Longshaw Estate, and direct statements from the presenting team. The programme’s official pages on BBC iPlayer provide ongoing access to full episodes.

Summary

Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan continue their friendship and presenting partnership into Springwatch’s 20th anniversary year, broadcasting live from the newly selected Longshaw Estate in Derbyshire. The series brings audiences unprecedented access to Peak District wildlife through June 12, 2025, with Iolo Williams contributing from Northern Ireland for the first time. Questions remain about filming practices following resident concerns about environmental impact. For related viewing, see our guide to Will Trent Season 2 and Cast of Hazbin Hotel.

Frequently Asked Questions