Natural Histories

For centuries we've peered at them, delighted and terrified at seeing our best and worst traits in miniature. Brett Westwood investigates why we see ourselves in the Ant. With contributions from the Ant Lab of Nigel Franks, giant ants as seen by Judith Buchanan, slave-making ants as interpreted by John Clarke and Tom Waits, and the robot swarm of Sabine Hauert. Plus St Paul's Cathedral and a whole ant colony between two microscope slides. Readings by Nicola Ferguson and Brian Protheroe: poems by John Clare, Peter Kane Dufault and Matthew Francis; and the works of Ovid, Adam Smith, William Gould and César Vallejo. Plus the fearsome threat of H G Wells' The Empire of the Ants, and the films Antz, and THEM! Producer: Melvin Rickarby

Eat them alive straight from their shell. Or deep fry them. Or remember them - with their little feet - addressing Lewis Carroll's Walrus and Carpenter - the oyster plays a rich and varied part in British life. Brett Westwood eats his subject for the very first time and takes ship to catch some more in the muddy tidal creeks of the Essex North Sea coast. The world may not quite be his oyster but in this programme the oyster is definitely his world. With Richard Haward, Philine zu Ermgassen, and Peter Marren and poems from Simon Armitage, Sean O'Brien and Carol Ann Duffy. Reader: Niamh Cusack. Producer: Tim Dee

Owls are lovable cuddly creatures and wicked associates of witches and the dark: what prompted such contradictions? Brett Westwood investigates. With contributions from a host of hoots and the poetry of William Wordsworth and George Macbeth and Mike Toms of the British Trust for Ornithology, writers Mark Cocker and Richard Mabey, biologist and man-watcher Desmond Morris, a husband and wife team of owl keeper and collector of ceramic figurines, and the museum curator David Waterhouse. Plus a stuffed speciman of the extinct laughing owl of New Zealand. Producer: Tim Dee

Owls are lovable cuddly creatures and wicked associates of witches and the dark: what prompted such contradictions? Brett Westwood investigates. With contributions from a host of hoots and the poetry of William Wordsworth and George Macbeth and Mike Toms of the British Trust for Ornithology, writers Mark Cocker and Richard Mabey, biologist and man-watcher Desmond Morris, a husband and wife team of owl keeper and collector of ceramic figurines, and the museum curator David Waterhouse. Plus a stuffed speciman of the extinct laughing owl of New Zealand. Producer: Tim Dee

Forget your Grammys and Oscars, there's only one awards ceremony that everyone's talking about... Well, nearly everyone. Well, mainly animals really. The Natural Histories Comedy Awards! Presented by the completely jawsome Shaun Keaveny (BBC 6 Music), it features comedy monologues from the totally fintastic David Schneider (BBC TVs The Day Today, Knowing Me, Knowing You... with Alan Partridge), the meteoric Harriet Carmichael, and the dung-believable Kathy Clugston. From a parrot with jealousy issues, to an anemone that doesn't want to live forever - this is a unique take on the world of natural history, told by the species themselves. So, if you want to know which member of the animal kingdom defects in the woods, and who's got the biggest tentacles then good reef, you've come to the right place. Producers: Will Drysdale and Jack Soper.

Lonely male whale seeks female with good sense of humour. Interests include eating plankton and listening to Barry Manilow. Natural Histories comedy with David Schneider.

Do you need an excuse to miss an awkward family reunion? Look no further than Boutique Bubos, a bespoke bijou disease service run by an industrious flea. Natural Histories comedy with David Schneider.

An Australian cockroach struggles to arrange a family reunion for 4500 relatives. At least she's got the catering sorted... Natural Histories comedy with Harriet Carmichael.

A scarab beetle writes a letter to her son and reveals a dark secret about his father... He was a dung beetle. Natural Histories comedy with Kathy Clugston.

Look out! There's a strict oak tree headmistress channelling Joyce Grenfell: "Robinson you will NOT be going on to do great things if you can’t leave your peduncle alone!" Natural Histories comedy with Harriet Carmichael.

A Hornbill struggles to come to terms with fatherhood: "This sounds horrible, but they're so ugly!" Natural Histories Comedy with David Schneider.

Andrew Parker explains why Antoni van Leeuwenhoek is his Natural History Hero.

George Beccaloni explains why Alfred Russel Wallace his is Natural History Hero.

Erica McAllister explains why George Verrall is her Natural History Hero.

Beulah Garner explains why entomologist Evelyn Cheesman is her Natural History Hero.

Sea anemones can live forever. Unfortunately this one isn't too happy about it, so she's booked an appointment with her doctor: "No, I don’t want to look younger. Older. Please." Natural Histories comedy with Harriet Carmichael.

Paul Barrett explains why Franz Baron Nopsca von Felso-Szilvas is his Natural History hero

Botanist Sandy Knapp explains why Alice Eastwood is her Natural History Hero.

Robert Prys Jones explains why Allan Octavian Hume is his Natural History Hero.

Palaeontologist Tori Kerridge explains why Dorothea Bate is her Natural History Hero.