UK NEWS
MOUNTAIN CONCERN OVER BLUE PETER'S NEVIS TREK
UNDER FIRE: The BBC have been criticised for the presenters (above) of Blue Peter's latest challenge
Thursday February 14,2008
By Rod Mills
THE BBC children’s programme Blue Peter has come under fire from environmentalists over filming a charity walk on Ben Nevis.
Yesterday presenters Gethen Jones, Zoe Salmon and Andy Akinwolere had planned to scale the 4,406ft (1,344m) peak in the final leg of their 48-hour Trek to the Top challenge for Sport Relief.
The walk was called off after the Merlin Royal Navy helicopter they hitched a ride on had to abort a landing near the mountain.
But last night the BBC was criticised for promoting damaging charity challenge walks, which see large groups of walkers tackle several hills against the clock.
Last month charity watchdog the Fundraising Standards Board said it planned to order a crackdown on fundraisers whose efforts badly damage Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak.
And environmentalist branded the BBC’s use of a helicopter to reach some of the peaks as irresponsible.
Last night Andrew Campbell from the John Muir Trust, which has responsibility for the Nevis Estate, said: “We’ve had quite a bit of concern and discussion with Blue Peter about their visit.
“They had initially asked for permission to land a helicopter on the mountain, as well as using it to film from above.
“There will a number of visitors on the hill, and the last thing we want is their day spoiled by a big party charging up the mountain.”
The broadcaster was accused of hypocrisy recently by Jeremy Paxman over their “high moral tone” while pursuing environmentally irresponsible policies.
The group had successfully climbed Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland, Snowden in North Wales and Scafell Pike in the Lake District on Tuesday and Wednesday morning.
A Scottish Green Party spokesman said: “Blue Peter encourage their young viewers to do their bit for the environment, but if they’re unnecessarily flying around the country in a helicopter to film their challenge it seems they haven’t listened carefully enough to their own messages.”
Last night the show’s editor, Tim Levell, said: “Obviously we’re a flagship programme, with a huge responsibility to our young viewers.
“We’ve all worked really hard with national park authorities and land owners to make sure they were happy.
“We have only used a helicopter for a couple of legs. We travelled between Wales and the Lake District by bus and hitched a ride on a military helicopter to Ben Nevis.”
