BBC TV’s ‘Winterwatch’ series returned to Mar Lodge Estate for a second successive year in January. Once again, the crew, presenters and cameramen were delighted with the facilities and the wildlife on view, despite losing the log cabin studio during a gale and instead transferring indoors to film from the Mar Lodge Dining Room. Hoping for snow, after last year’s wet & windy offering, they were not disappointed with plenty during arrival on site to make life a bit challenging, and during transmission a beautifully white winter background. The reward was some fabulous views of red squirrel, otter and pine marten, and amazing footage of dipper swimming under the ice. In a ‘double whammy’ this year, ‘Blue Peter’ also chose to get in on the action and send out a live programme with the Braemar schoolchildren as a willing audience.

Above: Towing in the production lorries

 Below: Photo of a watercolour of Braemar sent in by Val Brassington. The artist was Caroline Greg and dated 1861 - entitled ‘View from Braemar with Catholic Chapel’

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