The Chronicles of Strangford

The programme follows a summer on the lough, tracking Katy Bell as she searches for thriving barn owl chicks. It also follows a man recovering from PTSD who discovers comfort while carrying out a dawn‑chorus survey for the RSPB.

Short 7 is a programme presented as a single episode that centres on a summer scene around a lough. It offers viewers a glimpse of the seasonal atmosphere and the lives that intersect with the water’s edge. The episode follows two distinct narratives. One thread follows Katy Bell, who spends the warmer months hoping to encounter healthy barn‑owl chicks in the surrounding countryside. The other thread follows a man who, as part of his recovery from post‑traumatic stress disorder, finds a sense of calm by taking part in a dawn‑chorus survey organised for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). Both storylines unfold against the backdrop of the lough, using the natural setting to frame personal quests. The programme captures the quiet moments of observation and the subtle rhythms of wildlife, highlighting how the environment can become a source of hope and reassurance. By juxtaposing Katy’s search for thriving owls with the man’s therapeutic involvement in the bird‑counting exercise, Short 7 illustrates how summer on the lough can serve as a catalyst for both ecological interest and personal healing. The episode remains focused on these two experiences, offering a concise yet evocative portrait of life and recovery in a rural landscape.