Clips
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Countryfile Meets The Archers
The Archers celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, making it the world’s longest running soap – not bad for a radio drama originally written to educate farmers during post-war rationing. Julia Bradbury and Ellie Harrison are in the villages surrounding the Vale of Evesham in Worcestershire, meeting the people and communities who have influenced this great British institution. Then they take part in an Archers scene especially written for Countryfile. Julia meets actor Charles Collingwood aka Brian Aldridge whilst Ellie learns the art of creating sound effects for the programme from producer Julie Beckett.
Click here to learn more about The Archers -
The Real Life Archers
Ellie meets brothers Andrew and Doug Drinkwater who have been growing fruit and vegetables in the Vale of Evesham for years. Just like the dynasty at the centre of The Archers they keep things very much in the family – employing ten of them. Growing vegetables is so labour intensive they believe that by employing family they’ve been able to survive because they all work harder when they have to. Ellie also meets a traditional market gardener in Badsey who still plants by hand and then sees how the next generation of growers are keeping small-scale food production alive.
All about Badsey -
Capability's Croome
Croome Park in Worcestershire is home to some magnificent parkland, statues, temples and ‘outer eye-catcher’ follies. It was the vision of the 6th Earl of Coventry who hired the previously unknown Capability Brown to create a breathtaking natural landscape. Julia meets Michael Smith (pictured) who manages Croome Park mansion for the National Trust. Then she helps a dedicated team of volunteers to re-establish the park’s woodland that was cut down to clear space for the World War II RAF base just next door. But will they manage to plant all 5000 trees in the one day they have available?
Click here to learn more about Croome -
Peopleton Community Shop
With just one bus a day to Worcester or Pershore, these villagers in Peopleton in the Vale of Evesham rely heavily on their local shop. So when it was threatened with closure two years ago they stepped in to save it. Now the Pantry at Peopleton is a thriving community business. Ellie drops in to meet more real-life Archers - the locals and the people who run it.
Learn more about rural community shops here -
Testing Times On Adam's Farm
Having lost seven pedigree cattle in his last Bovine TB test in November, Adam is desperate his cattle get the all-clear this time around. Meanwhile he meets scientists at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency in Weybridge (pictured) to find out about progress being made in creating a vaccine for the disease. Could vaccinating cattle help eradicate the disease any time soon?
All About The Veterinary Laboratories Agency -
Rural House Prices Double
New figures revealed to Countryfile show that the gap between earnings and house prices in rural areas is now bigger than ever. John Craven heads to the Cotswolds to investigate. He meets Simon Nunn from the National Housing Federation. The federation's reveals that ten years ago in the Cotswolds the average house would have cost around 10 times the average household income - now it would cost 20 times the average income. John also talks to Camilla Tracey and Lance King, a couple in their 20's. They each have to live at home with their parents because they can't afford to buy their own place.
Read about rising house prices
Credits
- Series Producer
- Teresa Bogan
- Presenter
- Julia Bradbury
- Presenter
- Ellie Harrison
- Presenter
- John Craven
- Presenter
- Adam Henson
- Executive Producer
- Andrew Thorman
