Best Of Natural History Radio

1/24 Saving Species is back for another year of live broadcasting about the world of wildlife conservation, presented by Brett Westwood. We kick off the first programme with look back at the summer of 2012. This summer has been one of the wettest on record, has this affected our wildlife? We look at some of the winners and losers in the battle for survival. Also in the programme - Saving Species heads to Dungeness in Kent where a long term project is underway to return the short haired bumblebee to Britain. This formerly widespread bee was last recorded in 1988 and declared extinct in 2000. At the opposite end of the country, Chris Sperring reports from Devon where he joined a public night-time safari to look for one of our most enigmatic and enlightening beetles, the glow-worm. Presenter: Brett Westwood Producer: Sheena Duncan Editor: Julian Hector

Little Owls Miranda Krestovnikoff goes in search of the little owl, a bird that was introduced in the late 19th century and has since spread throughout England and Wales.

Ouzels of the Moor Miranda Krestovnikoff is in a valley on Dartmoor searching for the last ring ouzels in southern England where an RSPB study of the birds is investigating their decline.

Nature: Quest for the World's Largest Butterfly Queen Alexandra's Birdwing has a 30cm wingspan. Mark Stratton visits remote Papua New Guinea to find the butterfly and to meet its dedicated tribal conservationists.

The UK's Rarest Frog Joanna Pinnock is at a secret location in Norfolk, the home of the rare pool frog, reintroduced after becoming extinct.

In Nature, Matthew Hill takes us from the windswept Maltese countryside, to the corridors of Brussels, to investigate allegations of widespread illegal bird hunting on Malta.

New Series: A Home in the Reeds Joanna Pinnock enters the mysterious world of an East Anglian reed-bed in search of the tightly-woven nests of reed warblers, the hosts of the cuckoo.

Amazonia - Keeping It Alive! The Amazon rainforest covers covering 1.6 million square miles. About 20% has gone in the last 40 years. How can we use the resources it contains, but still keep it alive? Producer/Presenter: Mary Colwell Editor: Julian Hector

The Living World visits the Usk Valley to see a population of lesser horseshoe bats and an expert who studies them.

The Living World: The Pasqueflower Joanna Pinnock is at a nature reserve in Cambridgeshire, developed on a former ancient quarry site, to see one of the largest remaining colonies of pasqueflowers in the country.

Joanna Pinnock joins naturalist John Walters in Devon to find out more about a bee mimic, the Dark Edged bee fly. Like the cuckoo, its young develop in others' nests. Producer: Sheena Duncan Editor: Julian Hector

Nature: In Search of the Japanese Sika Chris Sperring goes in search of sika deer and discovers how conservation groups like the RSPB and National Trust are managing the delicate balance of deer, people and habitats. Produced by Karen Parteidge

Sarah Pitt goes in search of the endangered pearl-bordered fritillary with the help of Richard Fox and Gary Pilkington.

Paul Evans investigates the decline of the British hedgehog and finds out that even estimating the population of this familiar creature is a daunting task for scientists. Producer: Brett Westwood Editor: Julian Hector

Lampreys are some of the most primitive vertebrates and our three British species have declined in recent years, but as Brett Westwood discovers, their fortunes could be improving.

Fish live in trees too. Brett Westwood finds out why conservationists are dropping wood into rivers to improve their wildlife and water quality.

As spring woodlands resound with the drumming of woodpeckers, Brett Westwood hears about a new study of the tiny lesser spotted woodpecker, which has declined by nearly 90%. Producer: Brett Westwood Editor: Julian Hector

Episode 5 of 5: Seals Grey seals are Britain's largest mammal, yet still remain a mystery. Mary Colwell Meets Sue Sayer on a windy cliff in Cornwall to view the animals she loves so much. Sue now spends all her time discovering their lives. She used to be a teacher, but as her passion for seals grew she found herself spending more and more time with seals. Sue eventually gave up her paid job and became a champion of seals.

Episode 4 of 5: Mosses What makes a young man forgo parties with friends to sit at home every evening and weekend and study the intricate anatomy of mosses? What is it about liverworts, best known for smothering seedlings in greenhouses that pushes the buttons of a naturalist? Mary Colwell meets Simon Bosenquet who sees the beauty and the importance of the less glamorous parts of the natural world.

Corvids are the group of birds that include rooks, jays and crows. These birds are known by many to be canny and clever, but does that make them intelligent? Some think so.