20/03/2026
📺 We’re on Countryfile this Sunday! 🐾
We’re excited to share that Countryfile will be featuring Whitby Wildlife Sanctuary this weekend!
🗓 Sunday 22nd
📍 BBC One
⏰ 6:00pm
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002t5ct
💚 Filmed with Welfare First
We want to reassure everyone that filming was carried out very respectfully, with animal welfare at the forefront of every decision.
The countryfile team worked closely with us to ensure stress was kept to an absolute minimum for all animals involved. They quietly filmed as we carried out animal care work on site.
We hope the episode will raise awareness about how artificial lighting can impact wildlife and the little steps we can all do to reduce that impact.
During the programme, we discuss how artificial lighting can affect species such as hedgehogs, owls and deer — and it’s an issue that’s becoming more significant every year.
Here are a few key points:
🦔 Hedgehogs
- Prefer dark environments to forage safely
- Bright lighting can reduce feeding activity
🦉 Owls
- Rely on darkness to hunt effectively
- Artificial light can disrupt hunting patterns
- Prey behaviour also changes under lighting, making feeding harder
🦌 Deer
- Often avoid well-lit areas altogether
- Lighting can disrupt natural movement routes
- May increase stress and reduce access to food and shelter
Even small changes — like reducing unnecessary outdoor lighting, using motion sensors, or choosing warmer, low-level lights — can make a real difference for wildlife.
You will see some lovely footage filmed here at the sanctuary earlier this year — including our two roe deer, Geno and Buck 🦌🦌
🦌 A little update on Geno & Buck
We know many of you will be watching to see how they get on — so just a little note ahead of the episode:
Geno and Buck are still with us.
At the time of filming, we had been assessing them for release, but they weren’t quite ready — and as you’ll see, their bond played a big part in that. Since then, we’ve continued to monitor their progress and discussions about their future are ongoing.
As always, our priority is making the right decision for them 💚
We’re incredibly grateful to the Countryfile team for highlighting our work and the wider challenges facing wildlife.
Let us know if you’ll be watching! 👇🐾
