The Chronicles of Belfast - Season 1

Spring is a season when the city's hills, woods and rivers begin to emerge from winter and come to life. This episode begins with local conservation volunteer Aaron as he goes up Black Mountain. While carrying out an early-morning wildlife survey, he hears a cuckoo - the first time he has heard one on the mountain, and a sign that spring has arrived.

At Minnowburn allotments, harpist Eileen shares her past experiences of domestic violence, finding peace in the natural space and quiet that the allotments afford. They also provide a base for the Belfast Beekeepers Association, and we see a bee emerge to begin its life. We then meet Tofik, who was born in Eritrea and fled Ethiopia five years ago, now living in Belfast while he applies for refugee status. It's his first spring here, and after five years on the road, he is hoping that Belfast can become home.

It's then on to St James' Community Farm. The farm provides a real focus to the community, young and old, and its animals are oblivious to the traffic roaring past on the Westlink. Up in the hills at Slievenacloy, reserves officer Ronald is preparing for the arrival of cattle, while down in the city's parks, Rene is going for a bike ride despite a brain injury that has left her with limited mobility and partial sight.

In the harbour, at RSPB NI's nature reserve, warden Maureen is building a temporary artificial island for nesting terns. The programme ends with Ronald hoping to get a photograph of badgers in bluebells, a picture that has taken years of hard work to capture.

In this episode, local conservationist Aaron travels from his home in Ballymurphy to spend the evening on Black Mountain, where he is hoping to spot long-eared owls, whose chicks are beginning to emerge from their nests. Down on Belfast Harbour, at RSPB NI's nature reserve, warden Maureen is hunting for bats, who come to feed on insects found around the reserve's lagoon.

As night moves into day, we meet Wiehong, who is preparing her Chinese dance class for Mela, an annual festival that celebrates Belfast's range of different cultures. As the class practice in Lady Dixon Park, surrounded by roses, we learn how teaching traditional dance has helped Wiehong come to terms with the death for her husband, who died from cancer three years ago.

While the parks burst with summer flowers, in the city centre, artist Wee Nuls attempts to add some colour to Belfast's streets. With the sounds of the annual Pride festival close by, Wee Nuls' design celebrates the cities LGBTQ + community. In east Belfast, John and Tommy prepare to travel north for a fishing trip at the foot of Cave Hill. Fishing reminds Tommy of childhood trips with his father, and the camaraderie of spending a day with a friend is much more important than the catch.

Up in the hills,away from the bustle of summer in the city, Aaron checks his trail cams for pine martens before camping out for the night, while down on Belfast Lough, reserves officer Ronald is tagging dogfish. The lough is home to a variety of sharks and skate, and Ronald revels in the beauty of the wilder side of Belfast on his doorstep.

As summer visitors leave RSPB NI's nature reserve in Belfast harbour, the warden, Maureen, is preparing for the arrival of Konik ponies, wild ponies who will stay on the reserve all winter, grazing the undergrowth and preparing the reserve for nesting birds in the Spring. Up on Black Mountain, local conservationist Aaron is continuing his mission to make the hill more diverse by building a pond. Down in Colin Glen, Alannah monitors the river for pollution by looking for small creatures buried in the mud.

At Victoria shopping centre, bee keeper David is preparing hives of native black bees for winter, his every move watched closely by shoppers. Also out and about is Terry who has an urban mushroom farm in East Belfast, growing speciality mushrooms for hotels and restaurants across the city. Born in Kuwait he made the Orangefield area of Belfast his home 7 years ago.

Up in Cavehill, Clare is foraging for nuts and berries. Autumn is a time of abundance and if you know here to look and what's safe, you can gather the ingredients for a delicious meal. At Minnowburn, diseased ash trees are being felled but the wood is not wasted. Using traditional tools and techniques Steve, a carpenter on the Estate, makes furniture, including a stool for his daughter.

Up on Black Mountain Aaron's pond is complete and he looks forward to the time when newts and frogs return to the hills. Maybe one day even eagles. Meanwhile the City prepares for Halloween. It's a noisy occasion and at St James' community farm in West Belfast, the animals are brought in for the night, while Speedy the tortoise is preparing for a longer sleep, that will last all winter.

Despite the challenges of the cold wet weather, there is a lot going on in the wilder parts of the City. We learn of the challenges water brings in Belfast and the work done to prevent the City flooding and to control the tide.

But increased rainfall also brings fossils down from the hills and in Colin Glen, Alannah and Paul search the river, finding signs of life that's over 180 Million years old. As the weather gets colder, animals at St James' community farm get extra bedding. We learn how the farm by the Westlink relies on volunteers and the sale of donated aluminum cans. Sustainability is also found on Terry's urban mushroom farm, as he gathers waste sawdust from a saw mill, to make a perfect growing compound.

On Black Mountain, Aaron has organised a team of school children to plant 100 trees. The forest will provide more habitats for birds and mammals and stop bracken taking over. Aaron's conservation work on the hill is recognised later in the programme when he wins an award.

On the Braniel estate we meet glass artist Dagmara. She has turned her garden into a personal nature reserve. As winter revellers enjoy the city's night life, wildlife has also come out to play, in Dagmara's garden and in the woods watched by Ronald, who has looked after a badger set for years.

At St James' community farm it's the annual Christmas light switch on. It's so bright it can be seen from the Royal Victoria Hospital where one of the farm's volunteers Bap, has a relative receiving treatment. Bap talks about how working with animals and nature can provide a lifeline to people who are struggling.