WILDERNESS expert Ray Mears has explored a unique Suffolk habitat for his latest television programme.

The television star, who is an authority on the subject of bushcraft and survival, was a guest at Elveden Estate, near Thetford, for his new ITV series called Wild Britain.

The episode, which was shown on Monday, showed Mr Mears exploring the “incredible” Breckland landscape, home to brown hares, red deer and rare pool frogs and stone curlews.

While some of the filming for the episode took place at neighbouring areas, many of the scenes were shot on the Elveden Estate, which covers 22,500 acres and is made up of farmland, heathland and property.

Estate deer stalker Nick Misson, who is originally from Newmarket, guided Mr Mears and his crew to the best spots to film red deer and hare, and even enjoyed a campsite breakfast of coffee, bacon and eggs with the expert.

Mr Misson, 40, a father-of-one, said being involved in the making of the programme had been both enjoyable and exciting.

He said: “I practice a little bushcraft myself so we exchanged questions, ideas and thoughts. The production of the TV programme was very interesting.

“There was so much footage for so little you see on TV, and there appeared to be no script whatsoever.”

Mr Misson said Mr Mears’ knowledge on the outdoors was “world-class”.

“That’s why he is who he is,” he said.

During the episode Mr Mears said: “I have had a fantastic time here in the Brecks. It’s an area that keeps drawing me back.”

Breckland means ‘broken landscape,’ which Mr Misson said was originally because of the effects of rabbits breaking up the landscape by digging holes.

Filming at the Elveden Estate for the programme took place over about four days at the start of the summer but it is not the first time that filming has taken place there.

Frances Armstrong, who provides PR and marketing at the estate, said in the past episodes of programmes such as BBC’s Countryfile, as well as films, including Eyes Wide Shut, had been filmed there.

The episode of Wild Britain revealing Suffolk’s breckland can still be watched by visiting the ITV website.