Jimmy Doherty takes to the tree-tops for new natural history series

4 November 2011

In a brand new immersive natural history series for Channel 4 Jimmy Doherty will be studying, exploring and celebrating the wonders of British woodland.  His escapades and explorations take place from a unique base - a spectacular tree house in the depths of a pristine Norfolk forest. 

Constructed across two iconic Oak trees, the tree house is connected to high walkways and zip lines allowing Jimmy to explore the secret life of the species that dwell there - from the treetops down to the forest floor.  The magic of the woodland is brought to life in Jimmy's ‘Boys Own' laboratory - a tree house annex where he can get up-close and delve deeper into the biology, ecology and social history of his forest.

When he's not just having fun, Jimmy invites expert guests to his tree house camp, including bush cook foragers, ecologists, traditional craftspeople, entomologists, druids and all manner of country folk. 

When he can't find the answers in his wood he takes field trips; tagging new-born red deer calves in the wild, discovering how the mighty oak built Nelson's Trafalgar warships and exploring the threat of the deathwatch beetle as it munches its way through some of our oldest and most important buildings.  All to help him offer new insights into tree ecology, wildlife, and traditional skills - and trace the integral role that woodlands have played in our island story.

Back in his forest, Jimmy is free to create his own hands-on experiments to help him understand the inner workings of his tree, the woodland around it and the vast array of creatures within it.  He scales the height of the woodland canopy, braves the animals of the night and digs in to life on the forest floor. With the help of a professional free-diver he learns to slow his heart rate dramatically in an experiment designed to explore the mysterious behavior of hibernating hedgehogs.

Specialist Factual Commissioning Editor Jill Fullerton-Smith commissioned Fresh One to make the 4 x 60 minute series, Jimmy's Forest (w/t) which charts the unfolding of all four seasons - as the habitat surrounding the tree house awakens, bursts into splendour, procreates and then shuts down to slumber through the darkened months. By the end of the series viewers should be familiar with a completely new side to a woodland world they thought they knew so well.

Jimmy says:  "This series is my personal exploration into our forgotten woodlands; their natural history, social history and how the mighty oak shaped our nation. I've spent the best part of a year reconnecting with my childhood; exploring our countryside and running wild in the woods. After watching this you'll just want to build yourself a large tree house, light a campfire and go explore the wonder of our woodland. It just proves that you don't have to travel to far flung places with the latest camera equipment to still be amazed by the natural world; it's here, right on our doorstep."

Fullerton-Smith, who has worked with Jimmy for more than 10 years, says: "Ever since I have known Jimmy, his first love has been wildlife and natural history. In this series, you will see him in his element. He throws himself into the adventures and exploration that boyhood dreams are made of - and at a deeper level, by immersing himself in the forest environment over four seasons, he learns an even greater appreciation for the wonderful ecology of the woods and becomes attuned to their natural rhythms."

The series is currently in production and will air in 2012.  The executive Producers are Charlie Clay and Roy Ackerman.

Charlie Clay says:  "It's truly exciting times for Jimmy as he moves into new territory from his BBC days and takes a groundbreaking approach to Britain's Natural History.   This is what I call, ‘dirty fingernail, boys own, practical natural history'. It's the Gerald Durrell, Dangerous Book for Boys approach - something that you'll watch with your kids and then go down to the woods to recreate."