ATMEGA328P-PU sending messages via serial to ESP8266 01

Hi guys I have set up my first breadboard prototype with an ATMEGA328P-PU but I am struggling to get it communicating by RX / TX to an ESP. Using the code below there is no information received by the ESP, I have also connected the ATMEGA up to an Intel Galileo via RX / TX and still the same there doesn’t seem to be anything being sent can anyone see anywhere I have gone wrong with the code. I have tried with and without the LED just to be sure but still same results.

/*
 * IntelliLanAVRLED.c
 *
 * Created: 4/23/2016 7:30:43 PM
 * Author : Adam Milton-Barker
 */ 

#define F_CPU 16000000UL
#include <avr/io.h>
#include <util/delay.h>

#define BAUDRATE 9600
#define BAUD_PRESCALLER (((F_CPU / (BAUDRATE * 16UL))) - 1)

void USART_init(void);
unsigned char USART_receive(void);
void USART_send( unsigned char data);
void USART_putstring(char* StringPtr);

char String[]="Hello world!!";

int main(void)
{
	
	USART_init(); 
	DDRB |= (1<<DDB5); 

	while(1){       
		USART_putstring(String);    
		_delay_ms(5000);        
		PORTB |= (1<<PORTB5);    
		_delay_ms(1000);        
		PORTB &= ~(1<<PORTB5);    
		_delay_ms(1000);       
	}

}

void USART_init(void){
	UBRR0H = (uint8_t)(BAUD_PRESCALLER>>8);
	UBRR0L = (uint8_t)(BAUD_PRESCALLER);
	UCSR0B = (1<<RXEN0)|(1<<TXEN0);
	UCSR0C = (3<<UCSZ00);
}

unsigned char USART_receive(void){
	while(!(UCSR0A & (1<<RXC0)));
	return UDR0;
}

void USART_send( unsigned char data){
	while(!(UCSR0A & (1<<UDRE0)));
	UDR0 = data;
}

void USART_putstring(char* StringPtr){
	while(*StringPtr != 0x00){
		USART_send(*StringPtr);
	StringPtr++;
	}
	
}