VIDEO: Swans finally welcome their new offspring on the outskirts of Scarborough

That's illustrated by the ongoing success of the BBC's Springwatch, described in The Guardian as "the ultimate reality TV show for our times".

Presenter Chris Packham said: “While we are all confined to our homes, for wildlife this is the busiest time of year.” Our fight against a pandemic virus is not their fight, but they have their own life-and-death struggles, year in, year out.

On a Kenyan safari I've seen lions devouring a buffalo, dozens of the most brilliantly coloured birds, a leopard lounging on a tree branch, elegant and awe-inspiring elephants and giraffes. But now, like many, I've really begun to admire and appreciate the nature on our doorstep.

For several weeks I've taken regular trips to a couple of lakes on the outskirts of Scarborough, both with swans sitting on eggs atop their magnificent nests. Swan eggs take around 40 days to hatch.

And at last they have hatched! I hope you enjoy this video of one couple and their four new cygnets.