TELEVISION REVIEWS AND PUBLICATIONS

Halcyon River Diaries

Uncovering our wild neighbours

The secret life of animals living in and around a typical British river has been captured on film by the award-winning cameraman Charlie Hamilton James, and his wife, the TV presenter and conservationist, Philippa Forrester. They've been exploring with their children, some of the fascinating creatures found in our waterways for this new BBC One series.

Halcyon River Diaries is on Sunday, 6.10pm, BBC One and BBC iPlayer

See the BBC interview here.

RADIO TIMES
"It's so beautifully photographed, charming, funny and startling, it'll leave you yearning for a taste of their riverside lifestyle." "Enchanting." "It's beautifully shot."
Pick of the Day every week (4 weeks)

DAILY MAIL,WEEKEND
"There are so many beautiful images in the series"
Nigel Andrews ‘Pick of the week’

TV TIMES
"It feels a real privilege to spend an hour with Philippa Forrester and her lovely family.Their dedication to the plants and animals living along the river at the bottom of their garden is truly inspiration."
Ian Abbott ‘Editor's pick of the week’

THE GUARDIAN
"It is absolutely lovely of course, a picture of absolute dreaminess."
Sam Wollaston

THE TIMES
"This was the wonderful surprise of the week...The photography is filled with beauty and drama, while his attempts to get his children to share his passion for the natural world might as well have come straight out of Outnumbered. Not to be missed."
David Chater

THE INDEPENDENT
"It's prefect family viewing"
Tom Sutcliffe

WHAT’S ON TV
"The result is some stunning footage... combined with the often hilarious observations of the ever-curious kids."

TV & RADIO INCLUDED:
BBC Breakfast, BBC R2 Patrick Keitley Show and Angela & Friends on Sky 1

HALCYON RIVER DIARIES
Accompanying the major four part BBC1 TV series to be broadcast starting 16 May 2010 for 4 weeks, here is the perfect, idyllic scene of a British river in summertime captured with love and astonishing skill by two of the leading wildlife filmmakers of our age.
Published by Preface 4 March 2010.

Purchase from Amazon.

GET OUT! AND EXPLORE YOUR LOCAL RIVER
This Halcyon River activity book is the perfect way to engage children on everything to do with wildlife in streams and rivers.Written by Philippa Forrester, with lots of input from their three children Gus (three) Arthur (six) and Fred (nine), this book is full of things to do with facts about the river wildlife. Featuring photographs by Charlie and illustrations by the children themselves. It follows key stage learning.

THE RIVER
When Philippa and Charlie decided to get out of the rat race and set up home in an old mill-worker's cottage on a river in the heart of the West Country, they got considerably more than they bargained for. Populated by otters, kingfishers and water fowl, the river is teeming with life and the young couple soon fall in love with it. Written with endless charm and real affection, featuring a cast of memorable characters,The River is packed with hilarious stories spanning floods, chicken keeping and wildlife watching. The result is sheer delight.
Re-published by Preface in 2010.

Purchase from Amazon.

KINGFISHER: TALES FROM THE HALCYON RIVER
Charlie Hamilton Jame's achievement in producing this book is remarkable. He has built up a unique portfolio in which his skills as a film-maker are apparent - his shots of kingfishers diving make us believe we are watching them in motion.

The accompanying text is equally exceptional. Written in diary form, it covers the kingfishers' habits season by season and describes them with real intimacy.
Available from all good bookstores.

Purchase from Amazon.