Appearing on TV and radio

[Lesley Cox]

I guess my tastes are rather different Hans. As for the gardening, you've only to look at someone's fingernails to know whether he/she is a gardener. I suspect there are lots of hired gardeners in Hollywood.

[JPB]

You are right! I rest my case...

[mark smyth]

Wild About Ulster
http://www.u.tv/utvplayer/search.aspx?search=wild+about

I think I'm featured in the programme on Monday

[Maggi Young]

Mark's piece about Bats is in this video http://www.u.tv/utvplayer/video/135564 at approx. 12.41mins  into the video . Not sure how long this link will be "live" so apologies if you find it broken.

[Graham Catlow]

Mark - enjyed the link provided by Maggi. I now know what you sound like.

I'm a little surprised you don't wear gloves to catch the bats. Scotland is supposed to be rabies free but that didn't stop a bat conservationist from Guthrie, Angus, Scotland, contracting European Bat Lyssavirus, (a type of rabies) from a bite by a Daubenton's Bat in 2002. He didn't recover.

I realise they are small and gloves would make it difficult to handle them but I wouldn't be taking any chances.

[David Nicholson]

I reckon if the bat bit Mark it would surely die!

[Lesley Cox]

....."The man recovered from the bite, the dog it was, who died."
Can't remember where that comes from but not complimentary to the man do you think?

[Maggi Young]

Oliver Goldsmith, Lesley.

An Elegy On The Death Of A Mad Dog


And in that town a dog was found,
As many dogs there be,
Both mongrel, puppy, whelp and hound,
And curs of low degree.

This dog and man at first were friends;
But when a pique began,
The dog, to gain some private ends,
Went mad and bit the man.

Around from all the neighbouring streets
The wondering neighbours ran,
And swore the dog had lost his wits,
To bite so good a man.

The wound it seemed both sore and sad
To every Christian eye;
And while they swore the dog was mad,
They swore the man would die.

But soon a wonder came to light,
That showed the rogues they lied:
The man recovered of the bite,
The dog it was that died.

[mark smyth]

I dont like handling bats while wearing gloves they can be hurt very easily

[Lesley Cox]

Oh Maggi, what a wonder you are. Thanks so much for the whole poem. I must admit that Oliver Goldsmith is mostly a stranger to me, except for his name of course. Must leave off cheap thrillers and go for some literature.

[Stan da Prato]

Beechgrove is back on BBC Scotland. On Monday 11th April the broadcast will include a piece  on the Haddington spring  show which has a small alpine section though whether  it will appear I know not - they spent most of the day at the show but will only use a small proportion of what they filmed. Their main theme will be spring bulbs Those of you at the 'Stirling' show (in Dunblane) last month may  recall me collecting my plants after that show closed as I  spent the afternoon setting up for  the Haddington show.
SdP

[Paddy Tobin]

I've tried to get BBC Scotland here so as to view the gardening programmes but have failed.

Paddy

[mark smyth]

Thanks. Set up and set to record the series. It's on channel 971 on Sky - I know some of you dont have Sky TV

[art600]

Mark's piece about Bats is in this video http://www.u.tv/utvplayer/video/135564 at approx. 12.41mins  into the video . Not sure how long this link will be "live" so apologies if you find it broken.

Watched the whole programme today - should have been weeding - and thoroughly enjoyed it.  It include Barn Owls - my personal favourite.

Well done Mark

[mark smyth]

Thanks Art.

I might be on TV again. BBC N Ireland is doing its own Spring Watch in the week leading up to Spring Watch. They are interested in coming to talk about swifts.