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Derbyshire
This week Matt and Julia are making their way through the Derbyshire Peaks, exploring the dramatic moorland, rolling limestone hills, and the area’s famous country estate.
National Park Authority: Peak District
Covering more than five hundred square miles in the heart of England, the Peak District is easily accessible to the millions people living on its outskirts, making it one of the busiest national parks in the world. -
Moorland Fires
The wide expanse of open moorland in the Peaks throws up special challenges for the people who manage the land. If the peat below the heather catches fire, it can burn for a long time, even when it appears to have gone out. Matt joins the Fire Operations Group on its last training exercise before the fire season begins and learns how this talented team deals with the difficult terrain.
Moors for the Future Partnership: Fire protection -
Chatsworth House
One of the most iconic landmarks of the Peak District is Chatsworth. The house nestles in 35,000 acres of gardens, parkland, forestry and farmland. It’s currently undergoing the biggest restoration project in its history, so Julia has volunteered to help the team to return the house to its former glory.
Chatsworth House: The Chatsworth Masterplan -
Walking with Dad
Julia is known for her love of walking and Derbyshire is where this romance began. But there’s one walk she’s never tried; joined by her father Julia heads to Dovedale, deep in the south of the Peak District, to walk four miles along the river Dove – and they find a few surprises along the way.
Guide to Derbyshire & the Peak District: Doverdale -
Stanage Edge
Stanage Edge is the most southerly breeding site for a rare bird called the Ring Ouzel. It spends winter abroad, but starts returning in a few weeks from now in spring. But during its foreign vacation, the Ring Ouzels’ habitat is far from deserted, because the craggy overhangs are popular with rock climbers. With a bit of help from Adam Long, an experienced climber and photographer, Matt’s hoping to make it to the top.
The British Mountaineering Council -
Mega Dairy
Plans to build the largest dairy farm in western Europe in the countryside near Lincoln have met with opposition from local people, animal welfare campaigners and MPs. Opponents say the proposal - to house over eight thousand cows capable of producing nearly half a million pints of milk a day - is bad for the environment and harmful to the animals. However, the farmers behind the scheme say they’ve been misrepresented and they argue this is the future for dairy in the UK. John Craven has been to investigate.
BBC News: ‘Super dairy’ meeting in Lincolnshire cancelled -
Adam’s Farm
The long winter has delayed much of the work that Adam needs to do to get his arable land ready for harvest. Ploughing has been put back because the soil is so wet. And in a field of winter wheat a huge hole has appeared. It’s so deep, that Adam has enlisted the help of some local cavers and an archaeologist to explore the cavern.
Gloucester Speleological Society -
Gorge Walking
Gorge-walking is a high-energy sport that is becoming increasingly popular, but what happens when the habitat you’re trampling on is fragile and highly sensitive? Jules meets Gary Evans, who has been gorge walking for 25 years, and Gary shows him how to explore without damaging what’s under foot. After he’s had a chance to dry off, he meets plant expert Ray Woods and learns about the delicate eco-system in the gorge.
Forestry Commission: Dinas Roack
Credits
- Actor
- Julia Bradbury
- Presenter
- Matt Baker
- Presenter
- John Craven
- Presenter
- Adam Henson
- Producer
- Teresa Bogan
- Producer
- Andrew Thorman
