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Springwatch is moving to a new home in the Cotswolds. The series, which starts on Monday 29th May, will come from the National Trust estate at Sherborne in Gloucestershire. 

Simon Nicholas is the Countryside Manager for the estate. He previously worked as a Ranger at Dovedale in the Peak District. He explains why he loves his job, and why Springwatch's new home is such a special place.

What is so special about Sherborne Park for you?

My first sight of Sherborne Park was when I was driving through the village for my interview. I caught a beautiful view of the park: the lake, the veteran oak trees and the historic green parkland. It’s an idyllic Cotswolds landscape. Before I came to Sherborne I worked in the Peak District – an area that was dripping in designations. Sherborne Park has nothing like that: we’re not in a National Park and it’s not a Site of Special Scientific Interest. But we’ve got plenty of wildlife here: otters, water voles and farmland birds like yellowhammers and linnets.

What makes the estate so good for farmland birds and other wildlife?

The variety of habitats makes it suitable for lots of different species. The mix of grassland, parkland, arable land, woodland and watercourses provides habitats for an abundance of invertebrates, small mammals and aquatic life. These, in turn support predators from otters to red kites, barn owls to stoats and flocks of farmland birds. Farmers contribute through wildlife-friendly measures such as leaving uncropped arable field margins and supplementary feeding with wild bird seed. We’ve put owl next boxes around the estate. Barn owls are doing well here, which suggests that there are plenty of voles for them to eat. Management work on the river - with the help of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust – has also had benefits for otters and water voles.

What’s the best thing about your job? That would have to be the pleasure of working in such a beautiful and varied place. Watching the landscape and the wildlife change through the seasons reminds me that there is always something going on, and that makes me feel so lucky to work here.

And the more difficult parts? Working in the countryside, you get to see the result of things like rubbish being left or wildlife habitats being lost. Nature is a central part of all our lives as it gives us clean water, food and a place to escape and breathe fresh air. It's important that we look after it.