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Howardian Hills
The Howardian Hills is a region of natural, unspoilt splendour nestling between the Vale of York and the North York Moors national park. It remains relatively undiscovered, despite being designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Its villages of creamy limestone and picture postcard country lanes are among the prettiest in the English countryside.
Natural England: Howardian Hills -
Castle Howard
Castle Howard is one of the most imposing landmarks in the Howardian Hills. The stunning stately home at the heart of the estate took more than a century to complete, and has been home to the same family for 300 years. Adam Henson meets the latest of the Howards who call this grand mansions home, and a tenant farmer whose family have been working on the estate for the past four generations. Adam spends an afternoon with some of the most unlikely labourers to help maintain this northern beauty spot - a herd of Exmoor ponies.
Wikipedia: Castle Howard -
God Acres
Village churches have historically played a central part in rural life, but now they are also being seen as an ecological resource. It is estimated that churchyards cover an area around the size of a small national park; because they have never been treated with pesticides, herbicides or fertilisers this land is a refuge for all kinds of flora and fauna. Ellie Harrison joins members of the Yorkshire Living Churchyards project to find out why churchyards are at the new front line of a major conservation effort.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust: Living Churchyards -
Howsham Mill
Howsham Mill is an old derelict corn mill, but thanks to the first Archimedes screw in the country it’s getting a new lease of life - as a hydro power station. It’s already generating enough electricity for 40 houses and earning its owners more than £30k a year from the National Grid. All the money made is being ploughed back into the restoration of the 18th century mill itself. Ellie meets the master craftsmen restoring the ruined walls and lends them a hand. She also puts the Archimedes screw to a test – using a live fish to find out how fish friendly it is, and meets the woman for whom the project is the realisation of a dream.
Wikipedia: Howsham Mill -
Young Farmer
A few months ago John reported on how difficult it is for young people to get into farming. He met Gareth Barlow, a wannabe farmer, who at just 20-years-old kept a small flock of sheep on land he ‘borrowed’ from friends and neighbours. His biggest challenge is expansion - without land, it's very difficult for him to develop. When the Castle Howard estate became aware of Gareth’s problems they offered him some pasture of his own, so that he could at last start building his business. Adam catches up with Gareth as he chooses 20 new sheep to add to his flock, and helps him bring the stock to their new pastures.
Gareth Barlow: Personal Twitter page -
The Prince’s Countryside Fund
The Prince of Wales reveals in an exclusive interview with John Craven that he is launching a multi-million pound fund aimed at helping rural communities. In his first ever interview for the programme, Prince Charles tells John that one million pounds has already been pledged. His Royal Highness explains that the Prince’s Countryside Fund has already enlisted the help of business as diverse as retailer Waitrose, cereal manufacturer Jordans, McVities biscuits and burger chain McDonalds.
The Princes Rural Action Programme: Business in the Community -
Cheese Sculpting
West Country farmhouse cheddar has been hand-made in Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Cornwall for hundreds of years, but now it’s getting a record-breaking make-over. Traditionally made cheddar has recently been awarded Protected Designation of Origin status, because like Parma ham or Champagne, it has to be made a particular way, in a particular place. To draw attention to its new status artist Tanys Pullin was commissioned to try to break the world record for the largest cheese sculpture made from a single block. Julia went to meet the artist as she completed her work and got to try her hand at the art of cheese sculpting.
Mail Online: Chef Tanys Pullin crafts half-ton chedder cheese crown to smash world record
Credits
- Presenter
- John Craven
- Presenter
- Ellie Harrison
- Presenter
- Adam Henson
- Presenter
- Julia Bradbury
- Producer
- Teresa Bogan
- Executive Producer
- Andrew Thorman
