-
Northern Ireland's first national park?
The Mountains of Mourne are a spectacular cluster of peaks, rising nearly 3,000 feet above sea level, which are home to unspoilt coast, lush agricultural plains and breathtaking mountain views. Now there's a proposal to make this area into Northern Ireland's very first national park. Many people who live in the Mournes welcome the idea, but local farmers are up in arms, saying that it threatens to destroy a unique way of life that goes back thousands of years. Julia investigates how a change in status could impact on the area and the people who live there.
Mourne Heritage Trust -
Ulster Way walking route
Julia’s off walking again as she takes on the newly re-launched Ulster Way Route. At 625 miles long, it's too much even for her to complete in one day, so she’s on the section that winds through the most beautiful parts of the Mourne Mountains. During her journey, Julia passes through Tollymore Forest on the look-out for red squirrels, and finishes up at Newcastle where the mountains meet the sea.
The Ulster Way -
Tope Tagging
The Irish Sea surrounding the Mournes is the next location for Julia, as she joins a local fisherman on a conservation mission. Oliver Finnegan is in search of Ireland’s native shark, the Tope, and it’s his job to catch, tag and then release them. The aim of this scheme is to understand more about these rare creatures and ultimately to ensure their protection. The project is voluntary and at the moment 150 other fisherman in the area are also involved in tracking their numbers.
Central Fisheries Board: The wanderings of Irish Tope -
Organic food sales in decline?
Has the UK consumer fallen out of love with organic food, and is the recession driving shoppers into buying cheaper produce instead? In the last year organic sales have fallen by thirteen per cent, following many years of continuous growth. Is there anything the industry can do to revitalise the sector? John Craven investigates.
BBC News: Organic food firms eyeing revival -
Guerrilla Gardening
James Wong meets Richards Reynolds, the self-styled leader of the guerrilla gardening movement, who is on a mission to fight the filth with flowers. Richard plants up wasteland, bare borders, neglected roundabouts and council verges all around London in an effort to make local areas greener. Although guerrilla gardening isn't legal and trespassing on other people’s land can get him into trouble, he isn't fazed by the risks. Countryfile finds out what motivates him and learns more about his covert techniques.
Guerrilla Gardening -
Conkers under attack
There are over half a million horse chestnut trees in the UK, but they‘re currently under siege by rapidly spreading pests and diseases. Leaf Miner and Canker were first detected in the UK nine years ago, and scientists are currently trialling treatments to eradicate the diseases before our horse chestnuts and our conkers are lost forever. James Wong finds out more.
Forest Research: Horse chestnut leaf miner
Credits
- Presenter
- Julia Bradbury
- Presenter
- John Craven
- Presenter
- Adam Henson
- Presenter
- James Wong
- Producer
- Teresa Bogan
- Executive Producer
- Andrew Thorman
