HALCYON RIVER DIARIES. By Philippa Forrester and Charlie Hamilton James.

A mayfly dances above honey-gold water in the evening sunshine; a kingfisher plunges into the sparkling depths to emerge with a struggling minnow in its orange beak; an otter slips silently through reeds; a family of moorhens paddles to its night-time lodgings. Here is the perfect, idyllic scene of a British river in summertime captured with love and astonishing skill by two of the leading wildlife filmmakers of our age. "Halcyon River Diaries" was commissioned following the phenomenally successful and award-winning "My Halcyon River" an intimate portrait of a secret world along a river in Britain, where otters hunt on the midnight current, mink lie in wait to ambush unwary victims and gleaming kingfishers pierce the water to spear their prey. Deemed as one of the most beautiful films at the Wildscreen festival, 2004, "My Halcyon River" was the winner of the Kodak Cinematography Award. "Halcyon River Diaries" is an evocative look at the wildlife of a typical English river, through the eyes of Philippa and Charlie's family, including their three young sons Fred, Gus and Arthur, who live beside it. Over the period of a year we experience life on the river following the same group of animal characters as they navigate the seasons, as well as seeing how Philippa and Charlie's passion for the river extends into every part of their family life.

Philippa Forrester is known for her wealth of experience on live television, including Tomorrow's World presenting alongside Peter Snow for seven years. In addition she presented the phenomenally successful Robot Wars and many documentaries for the BBC's Natural History Unit and runs a production company 'Halcyon Media' with her husband Charlie Hamilton-James. Charlie Hamilton-James has been filming and photographing wildlife for over twenty years. He is particularly passionate about otters and kingfishers and has become a world ranked authority on both. Credits include: My Halcyon River - Natural World for BBC2; The Wild Wood'- Natural World BBC1; On the Trail of Tarka - Natural World BBC1; Wye - Voices from the Valley - Natural World BBC1; and Saving Grace - Animal Planet. Charlie has won numerous international awards for his work including Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 1990 and 1991, Best Cinematography - Wildscreen 2004, the Royal Television Society award for Cinematography 2007 and he was BAFTA-nominated in 2008.