Launch of North Norfolk Safaris

Martin has launched a new venture: North Norfolk Safarishttps://northnorfolksafaris.co.uk

Explore the wildlife of one of the UK’s few remaining remote landscapes by classic Land Rover, under huge open Norfolk skies.

Bespoke trips to hidden byways and remote salt marshes with Martin. Choose between a one-day “Hare and Barn Owl Safari” safari, a one-day “Wild Goose Chase Safari” or you may wish to undertake an adventure to other remote parts of Norfolk such as the Broads or Brecks over one or more days. You can combine any safari with a photography and filming masterclass.

Step out of the fast lane, tune into nature and enjoy exclusive access to wildlife on private land. We use hides overlooking water meadows, nest boxes where barn owls and their young are regularly seen and little-known old cart tracks successfully used for filming hares.

Let nature come to you on a wildlife adventure. The only clock in the day will be the sun rising to reveal the landscape and setting to make its edges blur once more.

Choose between The Safari (half a day) or his other (full day) Safaris. Learn more – click the image below:

My Year With Hares Book Launches 18 October 2014

Book Launch & Signing

Martin will be launching his new book “My Year With Hares” on Saturday 18 October 2014 at Binham Village Hall in North Norfolk.

It would be great to see you there. RSVP below.

myyearwithhares_cover

Invitation
You are warmly invited to the book launch of

My Year With Hares

Saturday 18 October 2014 | 6 – 9pm
Binham Village Hall, Warham Road, Binham Norfolk NR21 0DQ

Martin will be signing copies of his stunning new book that celebrates a year in the life of the hare. From searching the fields around his Norfolk home to living in close quarters with a young leveret, this book offers a fascinating insight into one of the country’s best loved animals.

Join Martin for a glass of wine and come see for yourself!

RSVP | martinhaywardsmith@btinternet.com | 01328 820660

Click Here to read more and read the full Press Release.

New Book Launches in October 2014

New Wildlife Book Due in October

Martin has been hard at work writing his new book – My Year With the Hares – over the early part of this year.

Editing is complete and the manuscript is now with the publishers for final editing and proofing.

With an expected launch date of 18 October 2014 Martin is excited that he can share his images and thoughts about this enigmatic creature.

 

Stoatally Amazing!

Stoat Film on BBC1 One Show

Mike Dilger presents a segment on the BBC1 One Show airing on 30 September 2013.

Filmed by Martin, it allows Mike Dilger and the One Show audience a rare opportunity to peep into the world of the stoat and have a close encounter with these pint-sized predators.

BBC Presenter Mike Dilger and Martin Hayward Smith

BBC Presenter Mike Dilger and Martin Hayward Smith

Watch it here:

‘Great British Year’ Series Airs October 2013

New BBC1 Documentary Series Starts on 2 October 2013

gby_screenshotA new television series of 4 episodes – filmed for BBC1 – will air on successive weeks throughout October 2013.

All will be transmitted at 9.00pm and each programme will feature one of the four seasons of the year. The line up is as follows:

  • Winter (programme 1) – Wednesday 2 October 2013
  • Spring (programme 2) – Wednesday 9 October 2013
  • Summer (programme 3)- Wednesday 16 October 2013
  • Autumn (programme 4) – Wednesday 23 October 2013

You can learn more at the BBC micro web site for the series | Click Here

The Burrowers – BBC Two Series Airs August 2013

Martin Contributes ‘Kits’ Stoat Footage To BBC Nature Series

packham_burrowers

The Burrowers will be presented by naturalist Chris Packham

The 3 part series for BBC Two is a natural history first as presenter and top naturalist Chris Packham takes us on an extraordinary journey underground into the secret lives of some of Britain’s most-loved animals – badgers, water voles, rabbits, stoats and moles.

A real-life Fantastic Mr Fox, THE BURROWERS enters their world to bring new science and animal behaviour never captured before.

It’s TV Production Company DRAGONFLY’s first foray into the world of wildlife television and they do so with typical ambition and scale. They are probably most famous for producing bold factual event television such as Plane Crash as well as using the latest camera technology to reveal family and organisational behaviour.

In THE BURROWERS, Dragonfly creates full-scale mega-size burrows to see inside the underground animal kingdoms of some of Britain’s most iconic wildlife.

The production team worked closely with scientists, vets, conservationists and some of the world’s top wildlife cameramen to build unique filming burrows – a year in the making.

So far the Dragonfly team have scored a string of natural history and science firsts including:

  • baby stoats in their nest (filmed by Martin)
  • baby rabbits – including thermal imaging to show how they keep warm
  • orphaned badger cubs learning to live as a family
  • and the most elusive burrower of them all – the mole in glorious close-up devouring a worm, which it wipes and squeezes its guts simultaneously to get rid of any soil.
    Nice.

Series Producer is Martin Williams (GALAPAGOS 3D, NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS 3D), and Fiona Pitcher (SPRINGWATCH, BIG CAT DIARY) is the Executive Producer with Ed Silver for Dragonfly. PDs are Kirsty Wilson and Oliver Page, Producer Owen Gower, Researcher Hannah Sneyd, Production Managers Samara Friend and Kate Boundy.
Web site: www.dragonfly.tv

Transmission Dates:

  • Episode 1 First broadcast Friday 16 August 2013 at 21:00
  • Episode 2 First broadcast Friday 23 August 2013 at 21:00
  • Episode 3 First broadcast Friday 30 August 2013 at 21:00

Filming at Highgrove Talk

Highgrove House Film & Talk

Martin will be giving an illustrated talk about his time filming at Prince Charles’ home Highgrove House a film he made 2 years ago for ITV.

The venue is the Hawk and Owl Trust Education Centre at Sculthorpe Moor Community Nature Reserve: Turf Moor Road, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 9GN

Date: Tuesday 5 February 2013

Starts: 7.00pm

Tickets: £5.00 | Friends of Sculthorpe Moor: 3.00

Please book in advance.

Tel. 01328 856788 or click here to email

Visit the Hawk and Owl Trust Web Site | Click Here

Filming Wild Britain TV Series with Ray Mears

The Third Series of Wild Britain – presented by Ray Mears – Aired on ITV1 on Friday 4 January 2013

Martin with Ray Mears

Martin with Ray Mears

Martin has been the wildlife cameraman on series 1 (2010), series 2 (2011) and now series 3 (recorded in 2012).

The first episode of this new series was filmed on the Isle of Mull in Scotland with seven further episodes to follow which will cover the Isle of Wight, Salisbury Plain and the Yorkshire Dales amongst other locations.

Much of 2012 was spent with Ray and the rest of the crew on location thoughout Great Britain:

“It’s been an absolute joy working with Ray and the team; it’s been pretty much the same people for the past 3 years.

I think the team did a fantastic job in all weathers to show wildlife and the landscape in Great Britain at its best”.

Wild Britain with Ray Mears is on ITV1 at 8.00pm for 8 episodes starting on 4 January 2013.

The Eastern Daily Press carried a feature with Martin talking about the tv series and his past work on 4 January 2013 | Click Here for the Press Clippings page