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Matt and Julia prepare for the big day
Every year, hundreds of farmers and breeders across the country compete to show off their best animals in a bid to win top prizes at rural shows. This year, Matt and Julia are getting stuck in and showing some rare breed animals of their own. But first they have to select them and then learn how to prepare them for a show. It’s a serious business and without a bit of help they stand no chance, so Adam is on hand to provide the two novices with a couple of potential winners from his farm - and to offer a few pointers.
Rare Breeds Survival Trust -
Photo: Matt and Julia at the Shropshire Show
Countryfile presenters Matt Baker (in the foreground, wearing a hat) and Julia Bradbury take their rare breed sheep forward for judging at the Shropshire County Show.
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Inter-Hunt Relay
While Matt and Julia are busy grooming their show animals, Jules Hudson is trying his hand at inter-hunt relay. This sport, which originated in Dublin, involves two teams of four horses and riders competing against each other on identical jump courses. The fastest round the track wins. But it will be no easy ride for Jules: he's got to prove he's good enough to make the team, and only then will he get the chance to appear at the Shropshire show.
British Equestreian Foundation: How to Start Riding -
Exotic food
Summer is the ideal time for cultivating home-grown crops. For more adventurous types, that doesn’t just mean runner beans, lettuces and gooseberries. As James found out in Cornwall, there are some much more exotic food plants thriving here in the UK.
BBC News: Estate tea brews up foreign sales -
Kayaking the Caledonian Canal
Air fares are up and the pound doesn't buy you much these days on the Costas - so millions of us are opting for a summer holiday here in the UK. Katie Knapman has added a bit of adventure to her trip to Scotland, in the shape of kayaking and wild camping. She's heading up the Caledonian Canal - a stretch of water which slices across the Scottish Highlands and through some of its most spectacular sights, including Loch Ness.
British Waterways Council: Scottish Canals -
Coastal walks
Summer is the perfect time to take a walk along parts of the UK's spectacular coastline. But, as John Craven found out, sometimes it's only possible to walk for a few miles before hitting an obstacle such as a private beach or even the garden of a stately home. This is a problem that new legislation is attempting to address by opening up the whole of our coastline to walkers. But not every coastal landowner is happy with the plan.
BBC News: Marine Bill enters final stages
Credits
- Presenter
- Julia Bradbury
- Presenter
- Matt Baker
- Presenter
- John Craven
- Presenter
- Adam Henson
- Presenter
- Katie Knapman
- Presenter
- James Wong
- Director
- Sharon Fisher
- Producer
- Sharon Fisher
- Producer
- Andrew Tomlinson
