Rites Of Spring

RITES OF SPRING (320kbs-m4a/101mb/44mins)
BBC Radio 4 Extra broadcast: 6th April 2021

Nature writer Richard Mabey presents an exploration of the natural phenomena of spring and its connections with literature and art.

Richard has kept nature diaries since he was a teenager and retraces some of his old haunts in the Chilterns where he used spend hours walking around by rivers and woods observing spring rites.

He's also joined in Norfolk by bird expert Mark Cocker and together they will be chasing the "spring tide" in Breydon Water.

One of the most respected and senior nature writers in the UK, Ronald Blythe shows Richard the delights of spring in Suffolk. Ronald has been writing about the countryside for more than sixty years and he and Richard discuss how climactic change has affected the season.

Jonathan Bate explores further with Richard the literary connections with spring.

Cornish artist, Kurt Jackson is best known for his dramatic landscapes and his ecological artistic work. He discusses with Richard how spring affects him and his work as an artist.

Producer: Sarah Taylor

First broadcast on on BBC Radio 3 in March 2008.