Countryfile Season 35, Episode 21: Ystradgynlais

1

Review of the Year

John Craven pays tribute to inspirational young people who are doing their bit for farming and the countryside, including volunteers, rangers and a 14-year-old shepherdess.

55 min

2

The Cairngorms

Sean Fletcher is in the snowy Cairngorms to mark the centenary of the death of the great explorer Ernest Shackleton.

55 min

3

Bristol's Last Farm

Matt Baker and Charlotte Smith visit the last traditional farm in the Bristol postcode to meet a farmer fighting to keep her farm and her connection with the local community she feeds. Matt helps out with a spot of animal husbandry and some porcine romance, while Charlotte discovers how the farmland provides the city with a 'green lung' and a wildlife haven. On his Cotswolds farm, Adam Henson is keeping the peace between two testosterone-fuelled rams, and Charlotte investigates whether cuts to rural youth work are putting youngsters at risk of criminal exploitation.

60 min

4

Durham Heritage Coast

On the 50th anniversary of the miners’ strikes, Matt Baker and Anita Rani are in County Durham on the Heritage Coast to discover how this area has risen from the ashes and reinvented itself after pit closures. Matt finds out how a colliery has become a nature reserve, and Anita discovers how one pit is now enjoying a new lease of life as a source for cutting-edge clean, green energy. Also, Tom Heap investigates the hidden threat facing countryside communities living in the shadow of our mining past, and Adam Henson sees how the avian flu crisis is threatening the livelihood of free range egg farmers.

60 min

5

Clinton Devon Estates

Matt Baker and Ellie Harrison visit the largest privately owned estate in Devon, which has been in the same family for more than 700 years, to discover how the 25,000 acres are shaping up to the future.  Matt joins the calving team at Clinton Devon Estates and sets the wheels in motion at a 900-year-old watermill, while Ellie checks out a mammoth project where the sea will be more than welcome to flood the land. Then, she meets the organic farming duo who also juggle part-time jobs as a lecturer and a GP. 

60 min

6

Allerton

Matt Baker and Ellie Harrison are at the Allerton Project in Leicestershire, where cutting-edge research by farmers for farmers enables agriculture to keep ahead of the challenges facing the industry.  Matt finds out how sheep urine is contributing to climate change, Ellie discovers the miracles of the humble hedge, and binoculars at the ready, both do their bit for the Big Farmland Bird Count. Also, Tom Heap investigates what’s being done to keep antibiotic-resistant superbugs out of the food chain, and Adam Henson is busy with winter checks on his livestock.

60 min

7

Snowdonia

Matt Baker and Joe Crowley get their walking boots on as they visit Snowdonia National Park. Home to Wales’s largest natural lake and its highest mountain, Mount Snowdon, the park shot to the top of the staycation list last summer as more Brits than ever holidayed on home turf. But Snowdonia is paying the price for its popularity, as the heavy influx of tourists is taking its toll on the landscape. Matt finds out about the invisible scourge of micro-plastics plaguing the scenic landscape, while Joe mucks in with a mountain makeover as he helps repair the footpaths. Tom Heap investigates the growing problem of vandalism and anti-social behaviour in our National Parks, and Adam Henson visits a farm in Wiltshire where cow dung is being used to generate electricity.

60 min

8

Holkham

This week we’re visiting the Holkham Estate in Norfolk. Joe Crowley witnesses the awesome spectacle of thousands of overwintering pink footed geese leaving their roost. Matt Baker unearths the remarkable life buried deep in long-abandoned ponds and discovers which exotic creatures have a penchant for a certain type of oak. Charlotte investigates why the UK’s sugar beet farmers are facing an uncertain future, and it’s a visit to the vet for Adam’s trusty sheepdog Peg. Could her working days be numbered?

60 min

9

Wrest Park

John Craven is at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire to help with an ambitious 20-year restoration project to breathe new life into fabulous features that reflect fashions across three centuries, from statues to cascades and an 18th-century bath house. And it’s the perfect place for John to dip into the Countryfile archives, revisiting the occasions when Ellie Harrison helped to spruce up the Cerne Abbas Giant, Anita Rani mucked in to clear a toxic scrapyard in Shropshire, and Matt Baker rolled up his sleeves to help restore a 12th-century church in Herefordshire.

43 min

10

High Weald

Matt Baker and Charlotte Smith head to the High Weald, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the borders of Sussex and Kent, to discover the role of wood, iron and clay both historically and for the future. While Matt meets a visionary architect, Charlotte explores an ancient clay technique for fermenting wine and catches up with a father-and-daughter duo keeping alive the craft of blacksmithing. Tom Heap investigates what’s being done to ensure rural communities get the GP access they need, and Adam Henson is on the trail of British strawberries grown all year round.

54 min

11

River Severn

Charlotte Smith and Tom Heap are on the River Severn to find out how living with the constant threat of floods is affecting rural communities and how climate change could make things worse.

55 min

12

Melton Mowbray

To mark British Pie Week, Countryfile is in the birthplace of the pork pie – Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. Margherita Taylor visits the cathedral of pies, home of the British Pie Awards, to find out what makes for pie perfection. Matt Baker discovers Melton Mowbray’s other mouthwatering delight, stilton cheese, and Matt and Margherita both put their tastebuds to the test as they try the art of pairing food and beer. Adam is on the trail of Somerset strawberries grown all year round, and who will be top dog when comedians Tim Vine and Kiri Pritchard-McLean go head-to-head in a special Red Nose sheepdog trial for Comic Relief?

55 min

13

Seasonal Hub

Like so many farmers across the UK, Adam Henson is facing a dilemma. In the face of pressure to go green, how can you change your farming habits and still pay the bills? Adam catches up with his neighbor, David Wilson, who is a regenerative farmer, to find out more about one of the big new trends in agriculture and to see what ideas might work on Adam's farm. Charlotte Smith checks out the soil on both farms and investigates 'greenwashing'. As big companies start buying up land for carbon off-setting, are they putting the UK's food production at risk?

55 min

14

Pembrokeshire

Anita Rani and Sean Fletcher explore the beautiful south west corner of Wales as they celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Anita faces her fears as she abseils one hundred feet down a sea cliff to discover how best to protect the nesting spots of the thousands of sea birds that flock here. Sean meets the artist behind the coveted annual fish licence and heads to Angel Bay to discover how to farm oysters. Adam’s Exmoor ponies are in for a treat when a farrier gives them a pedicure and they meet a new stallion. And in a special investigation, BBC News’s rural affairs correspondent Claire Marshall meets the farmers with Parkinson’s Disease who fear their condition could be linked to years of using a toxic herbicide.

55 min

15

Plant Britain by the Sea

Countryfile's Plant Britain by the Sea special shines the spotlight on the incredible coastline of our island and how we can all do our bit to help combat climate change, revive the fortunes of our wildlife and boost our own mental wellbeing. Matt Baker launches Countryfile’s Coastal Clean Up initiative, while Ellie Harrison helps to sew meadows out at sea and discovers the miracle properties of seagrass. Charlotte Smith goes on the hunt for rare dune plants saved from the brink of extinction, John Craven finds out how helping our coast to be in the best of health is also remedying young people’s eco anxiety, and Tom Heap investigates the importance of protecting our sand dunes.

65 min

16

Easter Treats for Easter Sunday

John Craven visits two villages in Herefordshire to find out about ancient rural Easter customs and traditions from field blessings to grave dressing and the pax biscuit, which, 500 years on, is still eaten at this time of year as a token of peace and good neighbourliness. Stained glass artist Tamsin Abbot creates a special piece to celebrate Easter and spring, inspired by the beautiful countryside around her. And John delves into the Easter archives for some treats, including the time Matt made a very special delivery to the Isles of Scilly and when Sean discovered the significance of wild daffodils.

55 min

17

County Down Spring

It’s springtime in County Down, where Anita Rani and Joe Crowley meet the Mackies of Mahee Island during the first of four seasonal visits this year. Anita gets a tour of the family’s very own arboretum and is introduced to the art of a well-known friend, while Joe lends a hand on the farm as the cattle head to the fields for spring. He also hears from the family’s conservationist about how they created their own wetland – one of Northern Ireland’s wildlife treasures. Also, Tom Heap investigates how the war in Ukraine has sparked a surge in the cost of fertiliser which could affect the price of the food on our plates.

55 min

18

Lambing Special

Nothing says spring quite like lambing, and Adam Henson is in his lambing shed getting ready for the last of his new arrivals. Anita Rani meets 15-year-old shepherd Katie on her family farm in Cumbria. Anita has never lambed before but soon finds herself at the sharp end of an emotional rollercoaster in the battle to save lives. Adam is also joined by Pip Jenkins, from top knitwear company John Smedley, and designer and Great British Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant to decide the winner of Countryfile’s bobble competition for Children in Need. And with the cost of living on the rise, we rediscover forgotten cheap lamb cuts which are enjoying a revival.

55 min

19

Mount’s Bay, Cornwall

Countryfile this week visits the breathtaking coastline of Mount’s Bay in Cornwall and explores the magical St Michael’s Mount. Matt Baker is in for some extreme gardening as he abseils on the island’s craggy cliffs, while Margherita Taylor takes to the water to meet the team of female gig boat rowers who are going for gold in the world championships. Charlotte Smith investigates how the UK’s shortage of farm vets is threatening not just animal health but also our own. Adam’s getting ready for the arrival of some very special calves. And, in the first of a series of five films, Adrian Chiles explores some of the fascinating customs from around the British Isles. Today, he’s just along the coast in Mousehole and discovers an intriguing Cornish tradition or two.

55 min

20

Blenheim

Matt Baker and Ellie Harrison explore the grounds of the beautiful Blenheim Palace estate, and Tom Heap investigates claims that by 2050 the UK could run out of water.

55 min

21

Ystradgynlais

Joe Crowley and Anita Rani visit Ystradgynlais in south Wales, and Adam Henson catches up with a young Welsh farmer to find out what can be done to combat loneliness in agriculture

55 min

22

Warwickshire Greenways

As cycling booms, Matt Baker and Ellie Harrison jump on their bikes to explore a new greenway in Warwickshire, and Tom Heap investigates the increase in cycling deaths on our rural roads.

55 min

23

Flat Holm

Matt Baker discovers the fascinating history of Flat Holm, an island in the middle of the Bristol Channel. Joe Crowley investigates the water companies still dumping sewage into our rivers.

55 min

24

Haweswater

At Haweswater Reservoir, John Craven meets the people behind radical new thinking to boost biodiversity, enjoys a breakfast with red squirrels and launches the calendar photographic competition.

54 min

25

At the Seaside

Sean Fletcher visits Whitby, the setting for the novel Dracula, published 125 years ago. He meets people protecting Whitby's coastline and introduces clips about coastal Britain from the archives.

43 min

26

Cotswolds

Charlotte Smith visits the Cotswolds to see how Adam is getting on with his experiment in regenerative farming. Adam also meets a robot that could one day eliminate the need for pesticides.

54 min

27

Jersey 1

Matt Baker and Charlotte Smith pay the first of two visits to Jersey. Matt mucks in on an organic farm, and Charlotte explores how the brutal landmarks of German occupation are being repurposed.

55 min

28

A Rural Welcome

Matt Baker and Margherita Taylor visit the New Forest in Hampshire, where the community are coming together to help Ukrainian

55 min

29

County Down - Summer

Margherita Taylor makes the second of three visits to Mahee Island in County Down. Charlotte Smith investigates what the Northern Ireland protocol means for farmers.

55 min

30

Jersey 2

Charlotte Smith and Matt Baker hear about the fight to save Jersey's puffins from extinction, Matt discovers the healing powers of surfing, and Tom Heap investigates another avian flu outbreak.

54 min

31

Blairgowrie

John Craven and Margherita Taylor are in Blairgowrie, in the east of Scotland, to celebrate the town’s passion for producing what are said to be among the finest raspberries in the world.

55 min

32

Hadrian’s Wall

Matt and Charlotte visit the world-famous Hadrian’s Wall as it celebrates its astonishing 1,900th anniversary, while Adam learns how one farming family in Northumberland is turbo-charging birds.

55 min

33

Wonderful Wildlife

Ellie Harrison is at Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue to help care for injured creatures great and small, and to find out why the centre has been so busy that it had to temporarily close its doors.

55 min

34

Surrey Hills

To mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Ralph Vaughan Williams, violinist Pekka Kuusisto performs The Lark Ascending, and Charlotte Smith finds out how farmers could help to save the skylark.

55 min

35

Heatwave Special

Adam Henson and John Craven meet those affected by the recent heatwave, including farmers, firefighters, scientists, wildlife champions and winemakers.

55 min

36

100 Years of Farming

As the BBC marks its centenary, Adam Henson and Margherita Taylor step back in time at Cogges Farm in Oxfordshire to look at farming 100 years ago.

55 min

37

Quantocks

Margherita Taylor is in the Quantock Hills to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Tom Heap examines the crisis facing pig farmers.

54 min

38

Brixham

Joe Crowley visits Devon, finding out about a discovery that could revolutionise scallop fishing. Adam Henson meets the final contenders in One Man and His Dog.

54 min

39

Harvest

We join Adam Henson on his farm to find out if he is being persuaded to give regenerative farming a go. Charlotte Smith finds out whether a giant grass could help to heat our homes in the future.

54 min

40

Field to Fashion

Anita Rani visits Blackburn with fashion designer Patrick Grant to find out about the growing field-to-fashion movement. She tries her hand at spinning and finds out about growing woad.

54 min

41

One Man and His Dog

Four of the UK’s top handlers and their sheepdogs go head-to-head for this year’s One Man and His Dog trophy.

54 min

42

Green Space Dark Skies

Matt Baker goes behind the scenes of an ambitious art installation celebrating access to and custodianship of the countryside.

54 min

43

Ramble

John Craven and the team catch up with ramblers from all over the UK to find out their favourite haunts and hear how they are supporting Children in Need this year.

54 min

44

Mount Edgcumbe Country Park

Margherita Taylor visits Mount Edgecumbe Country Park in Cornwall to mark Remembrance Sunday. Adam reveals who will be crowned Countryfile Young Countryside Champion of the Year.

54 min

45

Plant Britain Finale

John Craven and Ellie Harrison visit the Countryfile wood in Cheshire, and Charlotte Smith finds out how community gardens are changing lives.

44 min

46

Inclusive Farming

Matt Baker rolls up his sleeves to help out on a remarkable smallholding in Bedfordshire, while Joe Crowley investigates if enough is being done to combat wildlife crime.

55 min

47

Winter Wonders

Anita Rani is at the world-famous Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Slimbridge to discover some wonderful winter sights, including the visiting Bewick's swans.

54 min

48

Rural Power

Ellie Harrison heads to Bethesda, in north west Wales, to see how the village has transformed itself into a growing community of energy self-sufficiency.

54 min

49

Rockingham Castle

John Craven and Anita Rani get into the Christmas spirit at Rockingham Castle. Anita learns about Charles Dickens's visits to the castle, and John joins a wildlife survey.

49 min

50

Hogmanay and New Year Traditions

Margherita Taylor is in Auchindrain, a fascinating and perfectly preserved example of a Scottish Highland farm township to discover the roots and traditions surrounding New Year and Burns Night.

54 min