Countryfile Season 33, Episode 28: The Blean

1

Cottage Industries

Countryfile celebrates cottage industries, with Ellie Harrison meeting a woman who sells hand-crafted products all revolving around fire.

60 min

2

Welney Marshes

The team are at Welney Wildlife Reserve in Norfolk. Charlotte Smith helps out with the international swan census, and Sean Fletcher hears how mini donkeys are helping residents of a Welney care home. Steve Brown is on the trail of the elusive cranes that live in the washes around Welney. Margherita Taylor sees how the reserve's staff control flooding on the wetlands, and Sean Fletcher hears how mini donkeys are helping residents of a Welney care home. Tom Heap investigates the threat posed by the alien species making their way to our shores, and Adam Henson has designs on his own mini wetland down on the farm as he starts creating a dewpond.

60 min

3

Ballycastle

The team are in Ballycastle, a coastal community on the north eastern tip of Ireland that's quickly becoming known for its local crafts and artisan food and drink. Margherita Taylor is on a small ‘forward-thinking farm’ that produces ethical and sustainable produce from animals that would other be considered waste products in the dairy industry. Joe Crowley catches up with a couple who produce award-winning smoked salmon and dulse seaweed, a popular local delicacy. Charlotte Smith goes on a red squirrel safari with a local school group, and Adam Henson welcomes new bull Black Prince to his farm.

60 min

4

Hope Valley

This week, Countryfile is in the heart of the Peak District, where the pub is most definitely the hub! Anita Rani hears how the locals here saved Bamford’s village pub. It is now owned by the community and seems to be the epicentre of village life. Anita meets some of the locals and puts her best foot forward with a group of ramblers that meet here before exploring some of the stunning countryside that surrounds it. Sean Fletcher meets Luke Osborne, who is a grocer with a difference. He pulls together the best regional foods from farmers and local producers and delivers it to people in the wider rural community. Helen Skelton hangs out with a few more of the locals. When they are not propping up the bar in the village pub, some of them can be found dangling off rock faces! And the Peak has some of the top climbing spots in the country.

60 min

5

Dungeness

Although it's classed as Britain’s only 'desert' - and despite its bleak aspect in the depths of winter - the shingle headland of Dungeness is home to an incredible array of wildlife, plants and birdlife.  Matt meets Owen Leyshon, who's been the warden of the national nature reserve here for the past 25 years, to find out more about the rich and diverse species that make Dungeness their home. He also discovers that this is a landscape on the move – one that is growing outward at a rate of up to two metres a year.  Matt also joins a group of volunteers to tackle an important winter job that keeps some of the unique species here in tip-top condition – clearing bramble from the blackthorn bushes that grow on the headland.

60 min

6

Auchlyne

Matt, Charlotte and Steve are on the Auchlyne Estate near Killin in Perthshire. It’s the first of four visits they’ll be making over the next year, charting life on the estate throughout the seasons. Matt meets Emma Paterson, the laird of the estate, to learn about its history and the plans for its future. He also gets a lesson in preparing their prized highland cattle for a show. Charlotte hooks up with Emma’s daughter Nicola for a spot of deerstalking and chats to gamekeeper Ian Dingwall about turning a profit from the venison. Steve is down by the river trying his hand at fly fishing for salmon, and there is a closer look at the life of Auchlyne’s resident handyman Dave Christie. Away from the estate Adam discovers that for one rare breed of sheep it’s already shearing time, and Tom goes back to the classroom to see if the next generation of farmers are being given the training they need.

60 min

7

Farm Diversification

Sean is in Essex meeting a farmer who has taken diversification to the next level. David Eagle has let the sea inundate acres of his farmland to create vital saltmarsh habitat for migratory birds, and already thousands of brent geese are making the most of his hospitality. David is also on trend with his sea buckthorn juice, made from the berries of hundreds of sea buckthorn shrubs he has planted. But Sean finds out that they are not so easy to harvest. Sean then dons his running shoes to take part in a farm run – a form of diversification designed to help those with stress. We also look back through the Countryfile archives at other farm diversification stories featured on the programme.

60 min

8

Shaftesbury

Matt, Ellie and Steve are in Shaftesbury in Dorset, where they take part in the town's celebrated snowdrop festival. Matt meets the growers and enthusiasts dedicated to the small white flowers. He discovers some of the rarer varieties and learns of the high prices some bulbs attract. Steve meets a potter whose snowdrop planters are in demand and who has his own special way of sourcing the clay he uses. Ellie finds out that there is more to spring flowers than just snowdrops. She goes on a seasonal stroll and sees some of the different plants whose early flowering is a blessing for insects. She then joins Matt and the townsfolk of Shaftesbury on a snowdrop-themed lantern parade that takes in the famous cobbled street, Gold Hill. Elsewhere, Adam meets a trailblazing vet, and Tom looks at whether the UK’s farmers can go carbon neutral by 2040.

60 min

9

Gwent Levels

This week the team are on the Gwent Levels. Matt Baker meets a group of fishermen who are still catching salmon the way it has been done there for centuries. Ellie Harrison is on the trail of a star species that has made an amazing comeback on the Levels. Tom Heap is looking at what is being done to ensure that those most in need in the countryside can access the healthiest fresh food, and it’s the calm before the lambing season storm down on Adam’s farm.

60 min

10

Holnicote Estate

It’s International Women’s Day, and we’re in Somerset on the Holnicote Estate. Anita Rani meets Holly Purdey who farms with a baby on her back and her three-year-old as her farmhand. She’s part of a local Women in Farming group that aims to reduce the isolation often felt by women who live and work on farms. Meanwhile, Matt Baker finds out that the picturesque Holnicote Estate is at the beginning of an innovative river restoration project that is the first of its kind in the UK. It is also home to a new family of beavers. It's a busy day on Adam Henson's farm as he gets ready for the lambing season, and our special guest reporter, the 'Red Shepherdess' Hannah Jackson, looks at whether times have really changed for women in farming.

60 min

11

Looe Harbour

Countryfile visits Looe in Cornwall during Cornish Pasty Week. Margherita Taylor and Matt Baker meet the town's pasty makers and compete in a pasty-making competition. Margherita finds out more about the area's seal population and the fishermen who live and work on the shores. Adam Henson has his hands full as lambs start to arrive, and Tom Heap finds out if the UK's leading food-standards scheme is delivering when it comes to animal welfare.

60 min

12

Lake Vyrnwy

Lake Vyrnwy in Wales is gearing up for the warmer spring days ahead, when there will be a huge increase in migratory birds and tourists. Matt Baker and Ellie Harrison immerse themselves in the landscape, discovering the history of this man-made Victorian reservoir. Ellie finds out about the bird species that make the surrounding forests and breathtaking moorland home. The Evans family farm the moorland for the RSPB, and Matt helps out as they gather in their ponies for health checks and get their ewes ready for lambing. Meanwhile, Adam, Charlotte and Tom are joining forces for a special report on what future global trade deals could mean for UK farming and food production.

60 min

13

Signs of Spring

Ellie is in the Lugg Valley in Herefordshire, where recent heavy floods have left their mark. Despite this, she is on the hunt for signs of spring - not least toads. She joins volunteers making sure the amorous amphibians can make it safely across main roads to their favoured spawning grounds. Ellie also meets members of the community who have just planted out their first forest garden, and she joins an artist who sees beauty in the flooded landscape.

60 min

14

24 Hours in the Lambing Shed

It is all systems go in the lambing shed as Adam Henson and Helen Skelton work round the clock to help a Wirral farmer at one of his busiest times of the year. Meanwhile, Sean Fletcher is in Carmarthen discovering first-hand the rigours of lambing outdoors.

60 min

15

Presenter Favourites

The Countryfile presenters take you on a trip down memory lane, as they pick out their favourite films from the archive, including Anita Rani surfing in Snowdonia, Ellie Harrison counting gannets, Matt Baker visiting an alpaca blood bank and Helen Skelton fell running. Adam will be on his farm finding out about the pecking order of his chickens, and as always, we’ll be celebrating the glory of the countryside that surrounds us and the people who make it so special.

60 min

16

Anita's Home Patch

In the first of a new-look Countryfile, Anita Rani is on her home patch discovering what the coronavirus lockdown means for Woodberry Wetlands and what the future holds for the animals of Hackney City Farm. Back at home, she gets stuck into reinvigorating her garden and cooks up a barbecue tandoori. Adam Henson is feeling the effects of the pandemic on farming, and Tom Heap investigates how a new British land army might work for our fruit and veg growers.

60 min

17

Matt's Home Patch

With the country still in lockdown, Matt Baker is on his home patch doing all the jobs he has not had time to do until now. He gets stuck in building a pond, meets a peregrine who lacks the confidence to hunt and gets crafty with the paint brushes in his back garden. Also in the programme, wildlife film-maker Jack Perks reveals the wonderful world beneath the surface of his garden pond, Adam has a lot of hungry mouths to feed on the farm, and in the first of a series of new films, Kate Humble takes us round her home village to find out how the community is pulling together in these challenging times.

60 min

18

Joe's Home Patch

Joe Crowley is on his home turf in north London, exploring the wonderful Lea Valley. He pays a visit to one of the UK’s biggest salad growers to see how Covid-19 is affecting them. He also heads to the mysterious gunpowder mills, its overgrown ruins a testament to past battles. As it is International Dawn Chorus Day, bird expert Adrian Thomas will be telling us what to listen out for. We hear from Hannah Jackson, the Red Shepherdess, about how she’s coping with the pandemic, and it is a race against time for Adam as he goes flat out to get his spring barley in.

60 min

19

Helen's Home Patch

Helen is staying close to home in West Yorkshire, finding out how current restrictions are affecting her community. She pays a visit to Harewood House to learn more about their conservation projects, and she drops in to meet some of the lonely residents of her local horse and donkey sanctuary, who are missing their regular volunteers. Local brothers and Olympic medallists Jonny and Alistair Brownlee demonstrate how to keep fit under lockdown, and Tom discovers how school closures have hit vital outdoor education. Adam steps in to help a nanny goat in distress, and we catch up with young naturalist Xander Johnston as he keeps an eye on local insect life on his daily walks.

60 min

20

Ellie's Home Patch

Ellie Harrison is on her home turf in Gloucestershire. At the Slimbridge Wetland Centre she helps with important conservation work and gets a ringside seat to watch some kingfisher parents busy feeding their young. She also visits an ancient bluebell wood, exploring the treasures of the forest floor. Adam Henson reveals how his horses are helping to create a wildlife haven, and Tom Heap investigates how fly-tipping is blighting the countryside more than ever.

60 min

21

Sean's Home Patch

Sean Fletcher visits Hampton Court, not far from his west London home, seeing how the team there keep the gardens and grounds in top condition. There is no machinery here, though - it’s a team of magnificent shire horses that do the work. Sean meets the handlers and takes the reins as the horses start another shift, pulling and harrowing and preparing the grounds for the summer ahead. Back home, Sean gives us tips on how to stay fit during lockdown by building his very own home gym. Kate Humble reports from her Wye Valley home patch on how local food producers are rallying round during the crisis, and Adam turns out a new Gloucester calf onto spring pasture.

60 min

22

John's Home Patch

John Craven is at home in his garden where he gives us tips on what butterflies to look out for and how to get involved in a nationwide survey and he catches up with super fund-raiser Captain – now Colonel – Tom Moore to discover what role the countryside has played in his life. We also find out how Hannah Jackson, the Red Shepherdess, is getting on with her two new collie puppies as she puts them through their first paces as working dogs. And Adam Henson turns teacher as he brings his piglets to the country’s home-schooled children.

60 min

23

Steve and Margherita's Home Patch

Steve Brown explores one of his favourite local haunts, Elmley Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey, where swallows and swifts are gathering in their hordes, heralding the arrival of summer. Margherita Taylor is on the hunt for an invasive species of moth which threatens not just the oaks on Hampstead Heath in London but walkers too. On the farm, Adam’s horses are getting a hoof health check, and he catches up with top trainer Jonjo O’Neill to see how his racehorses are coping with life off the track. And wildlife film-maker Richard Taylor Jones hangs out with a busy vixen and her litter of playful cubs.

60 min

24

Down on the Farm

As well as tending to his crops, much of Adam Henson’s time on his Cotswold farm is devoted to caring for his animals. Each and every one of them is important to him, from his commercial flock of sheep to his chickens, his pigs and his ponies. Many have become much-loved Countryfile characters. We are dipping into the archive to rediscover some of Adam’s highs and lows with his marvellous

60 min

25

Epping Forest

Anita Rani is in Epping Forest to find out about its past, its wildlife and to meet some of the people who look after it. She discovers the art of cattle whispering when she meets the herd of Longhorns that help to conserve the forest, and at dusk she goes on the trail of one of the UK’s rarest creatures. Wildlife film-maker Hamza Yassin gets up close to one of our best-loved seabirds, the puffin, near his home on the west coast of Scotland, Gareth Wyn Jones gives us a glimpse into his life as a hill farmer in Wales, and down on his farm Adam Henson has a shearing dilemma to solve.

60 min

26

Charlecote Park

As organisations like the National Trust open up to visitors again, Ellie Harrison is at Charlecote Park in Warwickshire, one of the great estates of the Elizabethan era. She’s rolling up her sleeves to help with Britain’s oldest managed flock of Jacob sheep and visits a working Georgian water mill that’s busier than ever, supplying the lockdown baking boom. Dwayne Fields investigates the challenges facing members of the BAME community living in the countryside, and Adam is judging entrants in an online livestock show.

60 min

27

Grand Union Canal

Matt Baker explores the stretch of the Grand Union Canal that runs close to his home in the Chilterns. He meets those who live and work on the water and gets to grips with an engineering marvel that keeps the system flowing. Tom Heap investigates how farmers are adjusting to climate change, and with the help of Cerys Matthews and Simon King, John Craven launches this year’s Countryfile photo competition.

60 min

28

The Blean

This week Anita Rani and Matt Baker are visiting The Blean, an ancient woodland in the heart of Kent, to get an exclusive look at a wilding project like no other. Matt comes face to face with the beast that will hopefully make this conservation scheme a reality – the bison - and Anita finds out about a sleepy success story: dormice are being breed here to boost the numbers in the wild. We also revisit the Auchlyne hunting estate in Scotland to catch up with Emma, the incoming laird. Deep in the wilds of Gloucestershire, we get a very special look at some of the UK’s most elusive creatures, pine martens, and down on Adam’s farm one of the driest springs on record is causing big problems.

60 min

29

Shropshire Hills

Ellie Harrison and Tom Heap are in the Shropshire Hills to find out about an ambitious project to create a nature corridor between the two peaks of Long Mynd and Stiperstones. Tom meets a farmer who has become a convert to environmentally friendly regenerative farming, while Ellie goes in search of some rare and much misunderstood wildlife. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, and with Brexit on the horizon, Charlotte Smith tests the strength of Britain’s food supply system. And could the pitter patter of tiny hoofs be on the horizon for Adam’s Suffolk Punch?

60 min

30

Chichester Hills

Countryfile visits Chichester Harbour, the only Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK that’s managed by a harbour authority. Matt Baker and Anita Rani discover how you balance the needs of a very busy harbour with those of nature and wildlife. While Matt is out on the water doing the daily rounds with the harbour master, Anita finds out about projects that help to protect the local populations of oysters, terns and seals. And Adam Henson’s Highland bull Archie might not have long left on the farm, but his legacy lives on…

60 min

31

Wisley and Ockham

Matt Baker and Margherita Taylor are at Wisley and Ockham Common on a mission to discover why heathland habitat like this needs to be prized and protected. Margherita goes in search of one of Britain’s rarest reptiles, the sand lizard, while Matt is on the hunt for one our strangest and most elusive birds, the nightjar. For Adam Henson, it is a time of new beginnings as he opens the farm park again to visitors and celebrates the arrival of a litter of rare piglets, and Tom Heap investigates whether brewers and hop growers can recover from the impact of coronavirus.

60 min

32

Weird and Wonderful

Day in, day out, our countryside is a hive of activity. Farmers grow our food, while guardians nurture our nature and wildlife. But you don’t have to dig too deep to discover the weird and the wonderful, as Ellie Harrison finds out. She is in the Cotswolds to visit Broadway Tower, a folly which sums up British eccentricity.untryside - such as the time Anita Rani met the farmer growing a crop of chairs, and when Margherita Taylor made microscopic art from nature.

60 min

33

Bamburgh

Matt Baker and Anita Rani are in Northumberland in the beautiful coastal village and ancient English royal kingdom of Bamburgh. Matt is busy in the castle, which covers nine acres, discovering what it takes to safeguard it from the elements, while Anita digs into the secrets of bones dating back to the seventh century. Tom Heap investigates the new trend of escaping the city for the country – but at what cost? And on the farm, Adam goes head to head with his actor neighbour Robert Llewellyn to discover how green machines measure up to traditional diesel.

60 min

34

Somerleyton

Matt Baker and Margherita Taylor visit the Somerleyton Estate in Suffolk to find out about an ambitious Wild East project aimed at turning East Anglia into a giant nature reserve. And it’s not just something that’s confined to the the 5,000-acre estate, as Steve Brown discovers. He is in the village of Risby, where residents are doing their bit no matter how small a patch they have. Margherita meets youngsters learning old rural skills to rescue Herringfleet smock mill, the last of its kind in this neck of the woods, and discovers why poo is key to otter communication. Meanwhile, Adam fears the worst for his winter barley as he starts harvesting.

60 min

35

Mary Berry Special

Special guest Mary Berry reveals how farming and the countryside have influenced her life and career – and still do. Matt Baker is by her side to discover what inspired her during her childhood on her parents’ smallholding and the rural issues she holds dear today. Mary is a champion of small producers and local produce, but she loves her pigs too. Adam Henson is despatched to investigate the state of British pig farming, while Anita visits a school with a field-to-fork ethos. This is music to Mary’s ears, and something she would love to see rolled out across more schools across the country. And how will Matt fare when he has to cook for the UK’s queen of the kitchen?

60 min

36

River Burn

Anita Rani goes back to her Yorkshire roots, exploring the lesser-known River Burn in the glorious Swinton Park estate. She discovers why we’ve fallen in love with fishing since lockdown and how the humble willow is the perfect weapon against river bank erosion. Meanwhile, there are competitions all round as Adam Henson meets this year’s One Man and His Dog competitors from Northern Ireland and Wales with their amazing sheepdogs, and John Craven joins Cerys Matthews and Simon King for the photographic competition as they all battle to get their favourites from the thousands of entries into the final twelve for the Childen in Need 2021 Countryfile.

60 min

37

Stoke-on-Trent

Matt Baker and Margherita Taylor are in Stoke-on-Trent to learn about an ambitious scheme to bring the countryside into the heart of the city. Margherita finds out what it takes to move a stretch of the River Trent, while Matt meets the next generation of nature lovers as he glories in mud with some of the city’s youngest residents and their parents. In the light of the coronavirus pandemic, Tom investigates whether the UK is sufficiently armed against further threats of diseases that spread from animals to humans. And Adam meets another set of regional competitors vying to be crowned national One Man and His Dog champion.

60 min

38

One Man and His Dog

Matt Baker and Charlotte Smith are with four of the UK’s top shepherds and their amazing sheepdogs for this year’s Countryfile One Man and His Dog competition. It is taking place on a tough course in the grounds of historic Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire, which really test man and dog alike. Coronavirus means things have to look a little different this year, with just one competitor from each home nation vying for glory. But this socially-distanced shepherding showdown is as testing and competitive as ever. The premier league of shepherding talent from England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland must battle it out over two rounds – the singles, where they run one dog, and the notoriously difficult brace, where they must work two dogs at the same time. Whoever gets the highest combined score secures the pride of their nation and the coveted One Man and His Dog title. Who has got what it takes?

60 min

39

The Lake District

Ellie Harrison and Joe Crowley are in the Lake District to celebrate the 250th anniversary of William Wordsworth’s birth. They discover how his sister Dorothy and her writings were as influential as the beauty around him. And while Wordsworth’s poetry may lure many of us to the lakes, visitors can mean extra challenges. So we’re also commemorating another significant anniversary - 50 years of Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue. And Adam finds out where he might get the best prices for his rams - online or at a traditional livestock market?

60 min

40

South Devon

Matt Baker and Ellie Harrison visit south Devon, once the cider capital of England, to discover how orchards are being revived. Matt meets eighth-generation cider-makers who have as close an eye on conservation as they do in making the liquid gold, while Ellie finds out why one of Britain’s rarest bats is so at home in this particular part of the south west. Adam Henson is on a quest to ensure the survival of one of Britain’s rarest cattle breeds, the Albion, and Tom Heap investigates whether efforts to combat air pollution could come at a high cost to those rural communities already fighting fuel poverty.

60 min

41

Harvest Special

It’s a harvest that will go down in history - downpours and drought, pests and a pandemic. Adam Henson takes us through the toughest harvest of his career on his Gloucestershire farm. Charlotte Smith picks grapes from sun-ripened Welsh vines, and Matt Baker races to keep up with the booming strawberry harvest in Yorkshire. Who will be the winners and losers of harvest 2020?

60 min

42

Big Adventures

We could all do with a bit of adventure in our lives after the last few months - and what better place to find it than in our great British countryside! This week, Joe Crowley visits Box Hill in Surrey to take on its infamous zigzag cycle route – pitting himself against cycling Olympic gold medallist Joanna Rowsell Shand. And we go on an adrenalin-fuelled journey through the Countryfile archives in search of the some of the best thrills and spills in our countryside.

60 min

43

Lake Vyrnwy

Matt and Ellie are in Wales, exploring how industry and conservation are working together to safeguard important habitats at Lake Vyrnwy. Ellie gets hands-on with woodland management in a bid to protect a rare day-flying moth, while Matt discovers the fascinating story of the Bank of the Black Ox. After a disappointing harvest, Adam hopes some new crops will make for an improved yield, and Charlotte investigates concerns that the UK’s environmental watchdogs aren’t doing enough to protect our wildlife and their habitats.

60 min

44

Children in Need Ramble

The Countryfile team head out for Children in Need Rambles like you’ve never seen before. In this 75-minute special of one-to-one rambles with inspirational youngsters from across the UK, Matt Baker goes canoeing, climbing and walking with bereaved teenager Harvey. We discover how a five-year-old has inspired Steve Brown to pit himself against the challenges of Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons. Margherita Taylor is in Northern Ireland with a youngster who has been helped with anxiety issues, while Anita Rani’s in Scotland to find out more about sibling support. Adam Henson rambles in the Cotswolds to learn how dogs are helping to transform the lives of two children, and John Craven catches up with ramblers supporting Children in Need – all putting their best foot forward up and down the country on Covid-safe sponsored rambles.

60 min

45

Cornwall

Matt Baker and Charlotte Smith are in Falmouth for the start of the oyster season, where successful hatching is down to the moon. They also discover how old traditions are being used in modern ways, from boat building to using horse power to manage an ancient landscape. Charlotte also helps out in the exotic gardens of Trelissick, and Adam Henson finds out why British turkey farmers could be in for tough time this Christmas.

60 min

46

Healing Countryside

The healing powers of the great outdoors have never been more valued than now, so Ellie Harrison visits Gloucestershire to discover just how our countryside can provide the perfect tonic in troubled times. From forest bathing to wild swimming, she immerses herself in nature. We also take a restorative visit to the Countryfile archives to rediscover the health-giving potential of the UK’s green havens. John Craven finds out how nature helped wartime wounds, Anita Rani visits a farm giving respite to refugees, and Steve Brown learns about the healing power of goats’ milk.

60 min

47

Lincolnshire Wolds

Anita Rani and Joe Crowley are in the Lincolnshire Wolds at historic South Ormsby, which has ambitions to be the finest farming estate in the world. They discover the entrepreneurial spirit driving the revival of the local rural economy, including two young women carving out new careers. Adam Henson has high hopes for an inner city teenage jockey competing in her first race, while Tom Heap investigates whether it's time to ditch the greenbelt.

60 min

48

Plant Britain

Countryfile launches Plant Britain, an ambitious two-year challenge aimed at galvanising everyone in the nation to get planting. Matt Baker is in Cheshire, planting the very first trees in what will become the Countryfile Plant Britain wood, while Anita Rani is in her home town of Bradford, helping residents of the Canterbury Estate to plant trees in their front gardens and at the local primary school. Anita is also on her home turf in Hackney, discovering how her local area is going green with help from voluntary organisation Tree Musketeers. Margherita Taylor is at Wytham Woods in Oxfordshire, discovering exactly how trees capture carbon. Steve Brown is in Neath, south Wales, to learn which trees to plant in which location, while John Craven discovers a micro-forest close to his home and plants a simple window box to demonstrate how you can still do your bit even if your outdoor space may just be a window ledge.

60 min

49

Black Mountains

Ellie Harrison and Sean Fletcher are in the Black Mountains, which straddle the border between Wales and England, to find out more about a drive to preserve ancient rural skills and traditions. Sean gets a bird’s eye view of the spectacular landscape, while Strictly alumni and former thatcher Joe Sugg battles for supremacy in a hedge-laying competition. Joe Crowley investigates the challenges facing the Scottish salmon industry, and Adam has high hopes that his smart new ram will be a hit with the ewes in his flock.

60 min

50

Stour Estuary

The Stour estuary in Essex has just been added to Suffolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty - the first extension of an AONB for thirty years. At this time of year, birds flock here in their thousands to over-winter, but Matt Baker and Margherita Taylor are on a quest to find the area's unsung heroes that don’t get the recognition they deserve: bugs, beetles, crabs and worms. Adam Henson welcomes early lambs to his farm in the Cotswolds, and Tom Heap investigates a tale of two rural high streets in lockdown .

60 min

51

Christmas Special

Countryfile celebrates Christmas on the stunning Auchlyne estate in Scotland. Charlotte Smith and Joe Crowley join laird Emma and her family to help monitor beavers and tame some deer. Charlotte also discovers the remarkable story behind a Scottish version of German stollen, Matt Baker makes decorations for a special Christmas tree that will help birds survive the winter cold, and John Craven finds out about the ancient tradition of Gaelic psalm singing. Adam Henson is as busy as ever on the farm but gets some welcome help from Countryfile’s very own Christmas elf, Anita Rani, and Tom Heap is in search of festive cheer.

60 min

52

Wildlife Compilation

Ellie Harrison has a love for the natural world and all creatures great and small. She is in Bristol to meet wildlife photographer and friend of Countryfile, Simon King, to get a crash course in how to photograph wildlife. His top tip is, if you’re experimenting with nature photography, don’t make your life too hard by picking nervous subjects. So they attempt to capture on camera birds in flight over the magnificent Avon Gorge, inquisitive city squirrels and a herd of deer who live semi-wild in the nearby Ashton Court estate. Ellie has also combed the Countryfile archive for some of her wildlife highlights plus a few extra treats.

60 min