It is normally rare birds and wildlife that bring visitors flocking to nature reserves but at one Lancashire haven it is film crews which have proved the draw.
Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Martin Mere has been playing host to Bill Oddie and Kate Humble and the rest of BBC2's Autumnwatch team for over a week.
The nature loving pair have been presenting the live show at 8pm from the reserve at Fish Lane, Burscough, and film their last scenes tomorrow.
The hit programme, which has enjoyed viewing figures of around four million, follows the nightly antics of the beavers, the red deer rut, the Formby squirrels, the geese, swans and tagged birds that have been coming to the centre for years.
A spokesman for Martin Mere said: "We found out back in January that Autumnwatch was coming back again this year so we've been preparing for it all year.
"We have just learned that, due to increased viewing figures and the popularity of the show, there's going to be a Springwatch and an Autumnwatch in 2008.
"The studio's quite different this year. Last year they went for a warm, cosy, living room environment. This year, they've actually converted it into a hide.
"There's been a really good atmosphere at the centre, people coming along – they're more than happy to let people watch the rehearsals and it's quite a crowd-puller."
The next big event for the centre will be wild swans in the moonlight, which is set to take place every Tuesday night from November 20 until Tuesday January 29 at 6.30pm.
Visitors will be able to see beautiful wild swans and ducks at close quarters from the comfort of a heated observatory, while the wardens provide a live commentary and answer any questions.
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