Countryfile Season 38, Episode 15: Stroudwater Canal

1

Winter Wonders

John Craven visits Farmoor Reservoir in Oxfordshire, where many bird species find sanctuary in the cold winter months. John joins up with a local bird spotter to hear about the vast array of species that call this place home during winter. He also meets a biologist who has created a series of ponds on the reserve, which are some of the most monitored in Europe. John discovers these wetland habitats are important for all sorts of life in winter - above and below the surface. As the sun sets, John witnesses the spectacle of birds coming into roost and learns the importance of one of the UK’s least revered bird species – gulls. Throughout, we open the Countryfile archives to revisit winter wildlife stories from around the UK.

54 min

2

The Waterways of the Shropshire Hills

Sammi Kinghorn and Matt Baker are exploring the waterways of the Shropshire Hills, where the critically endangered Atlantic salmon makes its ancient journey upstream to its spawning grounds. Sammi and Matt meet the people of Shropshire, from ecologists reshaping rivers to farmers maintaining clean waterways, as well as an artist crafting steel fish. Together, they work to raise awareness about the importance of preserving these rivers for the salmon and the many species that depend on them. Meanwhile, in the Cotswolds, Adam reflects on a challenging year on his farm and plans for the year ahead.

55 min

3

Dartmoor

Countryfile is in Dartmoor, famous for its rugged landscape, vast moorland and ponies. Anita Rani assists a team from the Devon Wildlife Trust, armed with radio scanners and trail cameras, as they try to locate one of the 15 pine martens released into the wilds of Dartmoor earlier in the year, part of an exciting attempt to re-establish this native creature back into these woodlands. Joe Crowley visits Fingle Woods to explore a large-scale restoration project, joining the foresters to remove conifers and bring back native trees and wildlife. A few miles away, Joe puts the milled wood to use, constructing one of a series of blocks forming part of a vital peatland restoration project. In the Cotswolds, Adam is shepherding with his dog Gwen and looks back at the time he visited the International Supreme Championship to see how the best handlers from the British Isles use whistles to command their dogs.

55 min

4

New Forest

Adam Henson and Sean Fletcher explore the rich landscapes of the New Forest, where the animals that roam the heath and woodlands play an essential role in shaping the landscape. Adam joins the head agister on his rounds, overseeing the commoners' livestock, and meets the people who have the right to graze their animals in this ancient landscape. Sean helps to restore Europe's largest remaining area of lowland heath and visits a community woodland where Shire horses are helping with coppicing. He also goes in search of the elusive hawfinch and meets a woman building a successful soap-making business from goat's milk. Beyond the New Forest, Adam travels to Shropshire to meet a young pig farmer who is passionate about both agriculture and preserving the countryside.

55 min

5

Welney Wetland Centre

Matt Baker and Charlotte Smith head to Welney Wetland Centre in Norfolk for World Wetlands Day, uncovering the vital role these habitats play in supporting a host of bird species, including the whooper swan and black-tailed godwit. Along the way, they meet the dedicated individuals working tirelessly to safeguard these precious environments. Matt is captivated by a breathtaking display by whooper swans while assisting with crucial winter counts, and Charlotte joins volunteers building a new hide, offering visitors a closer look at the magical wildlife that calls this stunning location home. Meanwhile, Joe Crowley investigates concerns over new border checks and the impact they could have on farmers and our food.

55 min

6

Mourne Mountains

Tucked away in the south east corner of Northern Ireland are the Mournes – a mountain range which stretches all the way down to the coast. Matt Baker and Charlotte Smith uncover the threats the area faces, from raging wildfires to destructive storms, and they meet the people who are protecting the mountain range, from the summits to the sea. Matt helps rebuild essential pathways up the mountain, joins rangers installing dams to restore peat bogs, and meets the people bringing barn owls back to the area. Charlotte restores a precious patch of ancient woodland and helps to stabilise a fragile dune system. In the Cotswolds, Adam Henson scans his ewes ahead of lambing season.

57 min

7

Sound of Mull

2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the reintroduction of white-tailed eagles to the UK, following their release in Scotland. Hamza Yassin takes us on a sea eagle safari across the Sound of Mull to Tobermory, checking in on the thriving population of these majestic birds. He also recounts his involvement in the daring rescue of one of Mull’s famous sea eagles. Charlotte Smith visits the banks of Loch Sunart to meet the passionate team working to protect an ancient Atlantic rainforest, a haven for native plants and wildlife. Meanwhile, Tom Heap reflects on two decades since the fox-hunting ban was enacted, investigating the ongoing battle against illegal hunting in today’s landscape.

57 min

8

Stirling Bull Sales

Adam Henson and Charlotte Smith are at the Stirling Bull Sales, one of the most prestigious events in the farming calendar. Over two action-packed days, approximately 300 pedigree bulls are showcased and sold, attracting thousands of buyers, sellers and enthusiasts, eager to see and bid on the country's finest livestock. Adam teams up with local farmer Graeme Fraser as he prepares his prized Aberdeen Angus bulls for the sale, following their journey throughout the event. But will they attract the high bids Graeme is hoping for? Meanwhile, Charlotte immerses herself in the buying process as she discovers how bidders catch the auctioneer’s eye and secure a top-quality bull for their herds. We also meet the woman behind the lens, capturing the stunning images of these prize bulls, and take a closer look at the dedicated caterers, vets and auctioneers who keep the event running smoothly.

55 min

9

Humber Estuary

Matt, Anita and Adam discover the wonders of the Humber Estuary, a region famed for its bustling port and industry that is also home to diverse wildlife. Matt visits Far Ings Nature Reserve, where he helps manage a habitat for the rare bittern bird. Adam meets a farmer and butcher working in harmony with nature, while Anita heads to Blacktoft Sands to assist with a bird count and encounters a herd of wild konik ponies grazing in the reeds. Away from the Humber, Adam travels to Derbyshire to meet a young farmer transforming a traditional family dairy farm into a modern, thriving business.

57 min

10

Kielder Forest

Matt Baker welcomes new presenter Vick Hope to Countryfile. Together, they explore England’s largest forest – Kielder in Northumberland – where they meet the people protecting its ecosystems and preserving its future. Matt joins a landscape-scale project looking to diversify the woodland’s make-up by collecting the seeds of the country’s rarest native trees. He also helps a team construct one of England’s longest mountain bike trails and sees how they are being made accessible to adaptive cyclists. Vick helps with a project aiming to restore critically endangered freshwater pearl mussels to Kielder’s waterways, and in the Cotswolds, Adam Henson looks at using woodland on his farm to graze livestock and benefit wildlife.

55 min

11

The Slate Landscape of North West Wales

Matt Baker and Joe Crowley explore the slate landscape of north west Wales, a Unesco World Heritage site, which is being prepared for a new role in rural tourism after securing a grant. Joe visits Dinorwig Quarry to uncover the rich history of slate mining in the area and the dangerous lives of those who worked tirelessly to extract it. He meets individuals dedicated to preserving the Penrhyn Quarry Hospital and takes part in Wales's first ever raptor count. Meanwhile, Matt visits a family that is keeping the tradition of slate fencing alive, before getting up close to their semi-feral Welsh Carneddau ponies. In Staffordshire, Adam meets a dairy farmer who, after being diagnosed with ADHD later in life, is raising awareness about the impact of neurodiversity in farming.

55 min

12

River Otter Return

It’s ten years since the start of the River Otter Beaver Project – England’s first official beaver reintroduction. John Craven is back in Devon to see how these industrious creatures have been faring. This is the perfect time of year to be looking for evidence of beaver activity – they’re particularly active now, gnawing trees and shifting vegetation to create dams. John joins the Devon Wildlife Trust team looking for tracks and trails, seeing first-hand their impact on the landscape. But beavers go – and gnaw – where they please, and some steering is needed to stop them from settling where they’re not wanted, so John meets the volunteers with clever techniques to keep them on track. Along the way, John reflects on some of Countryfile’s most memorable reintroduction films from years gone by.

55 min

13

Watercress Line

Matt Baker and Margherita Taylor commemorate 200 years since the birth of the railways with a journey on the Watercress Line in Alresford, Hampshire. They explore how the advent of steam engines connected rural England to cities, providing farmers with the vital link needed to distribute their fresh produce across the UK. Matt visits watercress growers gearing up for this year’s crop and helps prepare their gravel beds ready for seeding, and he learns about the role of river invertebrates in modern farming practices. Margherita meets the people keeping the heritage line alive, helps volunteers clear a disused railway to create a new wildlife corridor, and she meets a local who has set up a community farm shop which sits in the middle of what put this area on the map – watercress beds! Meanwhile, Tom Heap investigates the system designed to protect farmers selling to big supermarkets and asks how well it’s really working.

55 min

14

Cairngorms Capercaillie

Adam Henson and Charlotte Smith are in the Cairngorms National Park, home to a quarter of the UK’s rare and endangered species.

54 min

15

Stroudwater Canal

Charlotte Smith and John Craven explore the Stroudwater canal in Gloucestershire, where a major restoration project is bringing this historic waterway back to life.

54 min

16

Wembury Coast

John Craven and Vick Hope celebrate new life on the Wembury Coast, from high up on the clifftop to the bed of its natural harbour.

54 min

17

Forest of Bowland

Margherita Taylor and Joe Crowley are in the Forest of Bowland for a sensory spring feast – soaking up the sights, sounds and flavours of the season.

57 min

18

Lambing Special

Lambing season is the crux of the UK’s sheep-farming calendar – a high-stakes, hands-on period that defines rural livelihoods, demands round-the-clock care and shapes the year’s success from pasture to plate. As three of the programme's presenters know only too well... Adam Henson, Sammi Kinghorn and Matt Baker are busy on their own farms at the height of lambing season. Each has a different system and different goals. Sammi and her dad lamb large flock numbers indoors and are looking to breed the ‘best mothers’. Matt and his mum recently changed from intensive numbers to a small flock of hardy sheep outside, while Adam continues to develop ways to breed more efficiency into his flock.

54 min

19

Dyfi River

John Craven and Sean Fletcher are in Mid Wales around the Dyfi river, exploring the hidden stories of wildlife that flock to the area at this time of year - and the people ready to welcome them.

54 min

20

Shropshire’s Nature Comeback

Charlotte Smith and Matt Baker are in Shropshire, where landscapes are being brought back to life - floodplains are being rewilded, meadows restored and ancient woodlands reimagined.

54 min

21

Storrington

Vick Hope and Joe Crowley are in West Sussex to celebrate the revival of the white stork.

54 min

22

Bradford: City of Culture

As the BBC celebrates this year’s UK City of Culture, Countryfile explores how the countryside around Bradford shaped the city and its creative legacy. A story of grit and wool.

54 min