SOME of South Lakeland’s badgers played a starring role in the latest instalment of a BBC series.

The third episode of Chris and Meg’s Wild Summer-which aired on Sunday- saw Chris Packham and stepdaughter Megan McCubbin explore Cumbria.

Starting at Derwentwater, where they took a pair of alpacas from Alpacaly Ever After for a walk, they headed down through the Lakes and stopped to find red squirrels, badgers and birds before they ended their journey on Walney.

Stopping off for a drink at Glen Rothay’s Badger Bar, Rydal, they waited for darkness while keeping a keen eye out for the badgers to emerge on the bar’s live web cam.

They were not disappointed as the animals began to appear in droves at the badger buffet , and the naturalists exclaimed ‘badger, badger, badger!’ before creeping into the bar’s grounds to take a closer look.

Armed with a pair of binoculars Chris watched more of the badgers appear.

“This is more like it,” said Meg.

“It’s lovely isn’t it?” said Chris.

After a few moments the badgers disappeared back the way they had come.

“Do you know what scared them away,” said Meg to her stepfather.

“You’re cardigan.”

The TV presenters’ next stop was at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve, Grange-over-Sands, where their mission was focussed on finding some white-faced darter dragonflies.

Soon they bumped into another visitor to the reserve who had managed to photograph the rare dragonfly and who took them to where he found the insect.

On the way they spotted an osprey before being rewarded with a sighting of the white-faced darter.

“I can’t believe it it’s only the second time in my life I’ve seen those,” said Chris.

“It’s sensational isn’t it?

“One of Britain’s rarest dragonflies.

“Lake District is paying dividends isn’t it in rare animals.”

Back on the road and the pair headed off to Walney where they were taken over the sands to Piel Island by guide John Murphy.

Discussing their adventures at the end of the show Chris asked Meg what her favourite part of the trip was.

“Before we depart what’s your favourite part of the Lakes? he said.

"It's so difficult I loved the alpacas because who doesn't?" said Meg.

"But I think my favourite was Walney."