Exploring the Estate at Mount Stewart

When Springwatch Came to Mount Stewart

We were delighted to welcome the BBC Springwatch team to Mount Stewart in May 2025. 2025 year marked the 20th anniversary of this special series, which has beamed live images of UK wildlife into our homes, sharing the highs and lows of various species with viewers everywhere.

We looked forward to seeing the cameras get up close and personal with the unique range of wildlife that lives in and around the grounds of Mount Stewart.

Springwatch 2025 brought some magical moments of nature watching from 26 May. For three weeks, viewers enjoyed stories from our colleagues at Longshaw – National Trust, Rathlin Island, and from 9 June, highlights from Mount Stewart. The programme featured wonderful wildlife that relies on the mixture of important habitats in our landscapes, including stories about the recovering populations of Red Squirrels and Pine Martens, Brown long-eared bats and how recent major storms created surprising opportunities for nature and wildlife at Mount Stewart.

Where to Watch

There was plenty of excitement from nests, setts, burrows and roosts across the demesne. The programme was broadcast on BBC Two and iPlayer from Monday to Thursday, 26 May to 12 June at 8pm, with Mount Stewart featured from 9–12 June. Viewers can still catch up on iPlayer.

Rosemary Edwards, Executive Producer of Springwatch, said:

“In celebration of our 20th anniversary year, we wanted to broadcast live from two brand new locations that offered new habitats and exciting new wildlife stories.
That ambition led us to the National Trust Longshaw Estate in the Peak District and to create a live travelogue through the wild spots of Northern Ireland.
Longshaw, where presenters Chris Packham and Michaela Strachan were based, is alive with activity at this time of year and its upland habitats offered the opportunity to put hidden cameras on a range of species for the first time, including the Red Listed ring ouzel, whinchats, and the moorland curlew.
Presenter Iolo Williams embarked on a very different journey through Northern Ireland. Starting in Belfast, he explored the city’s harbourside and unexpected wild spots within the inner city, watching guillemots, terns, swifts, and more. He then travelled to Rathlin, one of Northern Ireland’s richest wildlife islands and a vital breeding ground for many seabird species, and home to the famous golden hare. Iolo ended his journey at the National Trust’s Mount Stewart Estate, which boasts 10,000 recorded wildlife species in habitats ranging from woodland glades to ghost ponds, hedgerows and a tidal lough.
Filming in new locations is always a challenge, but getting to know the wildlife and uncovering new, uplifting stories about our native flora and fauna never ceases to excite us.”

Looking Ahead to Winterwatch 2026

We’re thrilled to share that Winterwatch will be coming to Mount Stewart in January 2026, continuing the celebration of our rich and diverse natural heritage.

Wildlife Stars of the show

The woodlands, gardens, lake and coastline at Mount Stewart support a wide range of wildlife. Red squirrels can often be seen in the trees, the elusive Pine Marten has returned to the woodlands, while otters are occasionally spotted along the shores of Strangford Lough. The area is also home to bats, badgers, and a variety of amphibians such as frogs and newts. Bird species including buzzards, swans, woodpeckers and treecreepers are regularly recorded, along with many types of insects and butterflies.

We don’t yet know exactly what the wildlife camera crew will capture during their visit, but their footage will help us learn more about the species that live here and how they use the landscape.

Be a wise wildlife watcher

Wildlife watching can be so rewarding, but it’s important to do it in a way that doesn’t disturb the species you want to see or damage the landscapes that they need for food and shelter.

Here are 3 top tips to help you see more wildlife and look after the places they live.

1. Keep your distance – don’t get too close to whatever species you are watching. Your presence could scare them and stop them in their tracks or frighten them away.
2. Activate your stealth mode –  silence is golden and the aim is to go unnoticed by the wildlife you are watching so go quietly and don’t hang around in one place for too long.
3. Leave no trace –  make sure you are not damaging the spaces that our species call home, and everything they need to live and thrive.  Leave plants and vegetation intact, take your litter home and don’t light fires or barbecues.

Autumn highlights around the estate

Embark on an autumn adventure at Mount Stewart. Here's some inspiration to get you started. 

• Take a walk to our Natural Play Area and build a den, balance on our beams and see what magical creatures you can spot
• Go for a walk on our trails and head to the Glen Woodland to take a dive into some forest bathing
• Climb up to the Temple of the Winds and take in the views of Strangford Lough 
• Geocaching is an exciting outdoor adventure for the whole family and Mount Stewart demesne is full of hidden digital treasure. All you need is a hand-held GPS or smartphone and a sense of adventure.