THE red squirrels of Brownsea Island will hit TV screens across the country this evening.

Cameras from BBC One’s The One Show were in Dorset this morning to film the animals for a segment due to be aired tonight (Thursday).

It comes as part of the Autumnwatch revival, which sees presenters Chris Packham, Iolo Williams, Michaela Strachan and Gillian Burke in live or pre-recorded sections on the popular magazine show.

Iolo broadcast live from Dorset on Tuesday, and was back in the county this morning for filming on Brownsea Island.

He was joined by the Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT), a charity which works in partnership with the National Trust to manage 100 hectares of land on the northern side of the island.

They were there to film red squirrels, which can still be found on Brownsea and in other isolated areas of the UK, such as Anglesey and the Isle of Wight.

Photo: Izzy Williamson, Dorset Wildlife trust

The DWT said: “Native red squirrels are a lot rarer in the UK than their American cousins, grey squirrels.

“Usually found in coniferous woodland, they like to feast on hazelnuts by cracking the shell in half.

“If you’re lucky you may also find pinecones that have been nibbled, leaving what looks like an apple core behind.

“Red squirrels make a rough nest called a ‘drey’ out of twigs, leaves and strips of bark high up in the tree canopy.

“Males can be seen chasing females through the trees, leaping across branches and spiralling up tree trunks.”

The One Show airs at 7pm on BBC One.