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APPLES FROM THE GARDEN OF ENGLAND
IMAGE: Matt transporting some old Warner’s King apples.
FIND OUT ABOUT BROGDALE FRUIT COLLECTION
Matt is at Brogdale, home of the National Fruit Collection, where they have the largest single collection of fruit varieties in the World. He visits the heritage orchard, a living historical database where over 2300 types of apples grow. Matt discovers what is being done to help the modern commercial grower and meets the owner of an old orchard where unusual British cooking apples make interesting juice. -
THE LADY WITH A MILLION HIDDEN OYSTERS
IMAGE: Can Ellie’s ‘butler’ tempt her to try an oyster?
FIND OUT ABOUT OYSTER RECIPES
Ellie meets Lady Sondes, a New Yorker by birth who inherited the Lees Court Estate and the privately owned Swale Estuary - a beautiful location where millions of rock oysters lie hidden from view. Ellie finds out from a local fisherman how his great environmental work and pioneering oyster growing have helped to preserve the estuary and create a sustainable local delicacy. But Ellie’s not too keen on oysters, so can anyone convince her to try one? -
JOHN CRAVEN INVESTIGATES: BLUE GREEN ALGAE
IMAGE: John and Adrian Williams searching for signs of algae in Lake Elterwater.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BLUE GREEN ALGAE
John travels to the Lake District to investigate a growing problem in Britain’s waterways. Recent spells of hot weather have encouraged the growth of algae, particularly the toxic blue green variety. John discovers that, although warmer conditions are a factor, it is actually something that most of us do every day which is encouraging algal growth. So what are we doing wrong? And is there something we can do about it? -
DARWIN’S LANDSCAPE LABORATORY
IMAGE: James with Darwin’s great, great grandson, Randal Keynes.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT DARWIN’S LANDSCAPE LABORATORY
James is at Down House, home to Charles Darwin for 39 years. It was here that he penned over 13,000 letters and wrote many well known books including On the Origins of the Species. Darwin’s house, garden, greenhouse, fields and woods became his laboratory, where he made his ground-breaking scientific discoveries. Down House and the surrounding area has now been shortlisted, with ten other UK sites, for World Heritage status. -
MATT AND ELLIE’S BAT & TRAP CHALLENGE
IMAGE: Ellie & Matt with the Bat & Trap teams ready for their challenge.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BAT & TRAP
Ellie goes in search of the origins of ‘Bat & Trap’, a fascinating old Kent game that has been played since at least the 16th Century. At a Canterbury pub, where they have played regularly for hundreds of years, Ellie decides to enlist the help of some locals who give her some playing tips. She then joins a side of local ladies who challenge Matt & the ‘Baker Boys’ to a match. -
ADAM’S FARM: CHICKENS & LONGHORNS
IMAGE: Adam meets fellow farmer Russell Bachelor.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LONGHORN CATTLE
Adam visits fellow farmer Russell Bachelor on his farm in Somerset. Russell and his family have recently moved into new areas of business after their dairy herd was struggling to make a profit. Adam discovers how Russell has moved his farm forward by converting his cattle shed into a chicken barn for 7,500 egg laying hens. Adam is particularly interested in Russell’s herd of 80 Longhorn cattle and how they graze and survive in the woodlands.
Credits
- Series Producer
- Teresa Bogan
- Presenter
- Matt Baker
- Presenter
- Ellie Harrison
- Presenter
- John Craven
- Presenter
- Adam Henson
Broadcasts
Summer of Wildlife
A special season celebrating the UK's unique and extraordinary wildlife.
