OPEN COUNTRY: WOODPECKERS - BBC Radio4 - 2020
"A trail of clues reveals the connection between a garden feeder and the local woodland. Hiding in his garden shed James spends many happy hours in May watching Great Spotted Woodpeckers gorging themselves on the peanut feeders in his garden on the edge of Bristol. Both male and female birds regularly visit the garden and appear to fly back and forth from the direction of a woodland. Are the birds stocking up to feed young in a nest in the woodland and will those young birds return to feed in his garden when they fledge? There’s only one way to find out. It proves to be a fascinating and tantalising quest as James solves the puzzle, discovers a line of connection and unravels the truth about his garden visitors!"
JAMES AND THE PEREGRINES - BBC Radio4 - 2016
"James spends much of his life travelling across the world and climbing up into tree canopies to film the wildlife there, but in his spare time when he's home, James loves to watch the local peregrines. In 2015 he decided to keep an audio diary and follow the lives of these birds in his spare time. He followed the birds from winter through spring and summer as they bred and raised their young, as you can hear in this intimate audio diary about one of the world's most iconic birds of prey."
JAMES AND THE ATLAS CEDARS - BBC Radio4 - 2013
"James travels to Morocco to explore the ancient Atlas Cedar forests and reflect on the challenges facing them. He also finds a suitable tree to climb and sleep in overnight. From his tree top hammock, he watches a spider abseiling on its silken thread and hears owls calling through the darkness. He wakes before sunrise and climbs to the top of the tree to look out across this vast ancient forest in the early morning light. Its an unforgettable experience.”
JAMES AND THE GIANT REDWOODS - BBC Radio4 - 2012
"Coast Redwoods are so very special on so many different levels and for a self-confessed 'Tree-Anorak' like James, the opportunity to travel over to California to visit them on their home turf was a once-in-life-time opportunity not to be missed. Standing at the base of one of the world's tallest trees was an exciting moment for James, but the wonder didn’t stop there. Join James and his friends on the tree-top adventure of a lifetime..."
JAMES AND THE GIANT EAGLE BBC - Radio4 - 2011
"When James was invited to help film one of the world's largest eagles in Venezuela, it was an offer he couldn't refuse. But what happened next was a nerve-wracking and painful encounter with one of the world's most powerful birds.
Recordings made by James Aldred on location are combined with interviews with ornithologist Ian Newton and field biologist, Marta Curti (who has spent many years working with Harpy Eagles with The Peregrine Fund) in a programme which explores the behaviour and ecology of Harpy Eagles and what happens when a female tries to protect her young."
JAMES AND THE GIANT TREEHOUSE - BBC Radio4 - 2010
"James is asked to design and build the ultimate Tarzan-style jungle tree house in the forests of Gabon, Central Africa - a region virtually uninhabited by humans. A pristine wilderness of forest, savannah and inland lagoons home to elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees, buffalo, hippos and crocs. These 5 x 15 minute episodes follow James and his friends as they search for the perfect tree and then spend a month building the house in its huge branches in preparation for the three TV presenters due to spend a month living in it.
Stung by swarms of bees, chased by angry bull elephants...building the tree house is the easy part!"
JAMES AND THE GIANT TREE - BBC Radio4 - 2009
"Professional tree climber James Aldred climbs one of Britain's tallest trees, a giant redwood affectionately called Goliath, and sleeps in its branches.
James has always loved climbing trees. The first time he used ropes to climb Goliath, he was 16 years old; he was absolutely terrified and didn't get further than the first branch. In this programme he returns to climb the tree, even spending the night in a hammock two thirds of the way up.