Strath watched closely by BBC
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THE BBC is keeping a Winterwatch on the strath – and it's mutual!
"We're so excited to see how this fantastic team roll out their unique storylines," Polly Cameron told the Strathy.
She and her husband Ross run the popular Dell of Abernethy retreat on the edge of Nethy Bridge, which the Beeb have now adopted as the home of their famous "Watches" through the seasons.
"We are delighted to be hosting the hub for the Watches this year and to be working alongside such an expert and passionate team.
"We feel the showcase of the Cairngorms will be stunning and also highlight some key forward-thinking environmental projects such as Cairngorms Connect," she said.
"Looking ahead to spring, we are looking forward to co-ordinating the connections with our local schools for the junior version of Springwatch, Wild Academy, which is a live lesson streamed out to classrooms nationwide.
"I think the show will leave a really positive legacy for the valley in terms of tourism environmental awareness."
It's a win-win for the strath, with the Cairngorms "zone" receiving the kind of attention naturalist Chris Packham feels its wildlife and landscape fully merit, but with the local economy benefitting at the same time.
In fact, the company's own caterers – Wild Rover – are in turn happily being catered for by another local concern.
The Balliefurth Farm Shop is keeping the Winterwatch team fuelled with fresh beef and lamb, vegetables and eggs during filming.
The team arrived last Thursday and will be based at The Dell of Abernethy until broadcasting ends.
At the farm shop, Jamie Barnett celebrated: "The team at the shop are delighted to be supplying Wild Rover with our local farm lamb and beef.
"We're all looking forward to sitting down to watch what wildlife the BBC will share with us from the local area too."
Balliefurth Farm Shop and Wild Rover have worked together on previous BBC filming projects.
The BBC team explained that their "Watches" will come back to the Cairngorms throughout the year to cover the changing seasons in Springwatch and Autumnwatch.
They will be catching up with some of the year-round residents including golden and white-tailed eagles, red squirrels and pine martens, as well as meeting the seasonal rivals as they flock to this wild landscape in spring and summer.
Chris Packham said: "This is the happening zone in conservation and home to the most amazing diversity of sexy species."
He will be joined by Michaela Strachan, Gillian Burke and Iolo Williams on the presenting couch as the show explores winter's effects on wildlife and habitats.
It will also feature the work of Cairngorms Connect, the UK's largest landscape-scale conservation project.
Nestled on the edge of the ancient Abernethy Forest, the Dell is seen as perfectly placed to experience the unique habitat and wildlife of the area.
A BBC spokesperson said: "From here, the team will be able to reach out to the heart of the Cairngorms; look at the habitat provided by the ancient 'granny pines', home to everything from tiny insects to marauding pine martens.
"The Cairngorms will provide the backdrop for a much bigger story – the way our landscape has changed on both geological, and anthropological timescales.
"Don't forget to tune in and see some of your favourite spaces in a brand new light!"
Mark Tate, chief executive of the Cairngorms Business Partnership is delighted that the series has come to the strath.
He said: "We live in a very special area and the BBC are acknowledging that. It is wonderful to get this type of national exposure for the strath and wider Cairngorms National Park."
* The first in the new series of Winterwatch was broadcast on BBC2 on Tuesday and continues tonight and tomorrow at 8pm.
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