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Natural Histories Episodes

  1. Swans: from ancient Greece to Swan Lake to Putin's Russia.

    A swan song, of sorts, for the final episode of this series.

  2. Penguins and us: from engaging funny figures to sentinels of change.

    Penguins and us: from engaging funny figures to sentinels of change.

  3. Orchid

    Our relationship with orchids is a story of obsession, money, deceit, beauty, and sex.

  4. Dog

    Dogs have changed us and we've changed them. Brett Westwood visits Battersea to meet some.

  5. Komodo Dragon

    Brett Westwood on the Komodo dragon - myth, monster and reality!

  6. Adder

    Brett Westwood goes in search of our only venomous snake, the adder.

  7. Narwhal

    Brett Westwood explores our relationship with the Unicorn of the Sea, the Narwhal.

  8. Otter

    The beguiling and mysterious otter leads Brett Westwood on a merry spraint hunt.

  9. Peacock

    Brett Westwood looks at the history of a bird which has become a byword for male beauty.

  10. Willow

    Brett Westwood on the cultural influence of the Willow, via Shakespeare & Joan Armatrading

  11. Reindeer

    Brett Westwood learns that there’s more to reindeer than Rudolph

  12. Pike

    A journey into dangerous waters to explore our relationship with the fearsome Pike

  13. Leopard

    Brett Westwood stalks the leopard and finds him on Exmoor

  14. Rhino

    Brett Westwood meets a rhinoceros nose to nose and is blown away by the experience.

  15. Giraffe

    Brett Westwood admires how the impossibility of the giraffe has captured hearts worldwide

  16. Beaver

    Beavers are back, but Brett Westwood asks if they can recover their place in our culture.

  17. Turtle

    Brett Westwood explores how the venerable, ancient turtle has influenced human culture

  18. Gull

    Brett Westwood follows gulls away from the sea to landfill sites where birdwatchers gather

  19. Swallow

    Swift flies the skimming swallow: Brett Westwood on a much loved seasonal indicator bird.

  20. Moth

    Brett Westwood steps into the world of a creature charged with the lore of the night

  21. Baobab

    Brett Westwood explores our relationship with the Baobab or Upside-Down Tree.

  22. Nightingale

    Brett Westwood hears how the nightingale's song continues to inspire human creativity

  23. Snail

    Brett Westwood explores our complex relationship with the snail.

  24. Louse

    Brett Westwood explores our relationship with one of our closest neighbours, the louse.

  25. Cuckoo

    The cuckoo has many secrets but has got under our skin. Brett Westwood asks why?

  26. Eel

    Brett Westwood explores our relationship with the mysterious and fascinating eel.

  27. Octopus

    Brett Westwood meets an octopus: perhaps the closest thing to an alien life form on earth

  28. Bat

    Brett Westwood investigates our obsession with bats: from Dracula to Batman to Goth.

  29. Earthworm

    Brett Westwood investigates our relationship with earthworms.

  30. Earthworm

    Brett Westwood investigates our relationship with earthworms.

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