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Matt Goes Mountain Biking
Matt Baker starts the programme with a mountain bike tour of the reservoirs of the Derwent Valley. A meeting with Dave Ashton, one of the local volunteer rangers, uncovers the rich history behind the construction of the reservoir’s dams. Matt learns about ‘Tin Town’, the tin shack village built to house the families of the men working on the dams more than a century ago.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT VISITING THE DERWENT VALLEY -
The Disappearing River at Lathkill Dale
Ellie Harrison spends the day in Lathkill Dale on the hunt for a river that appears to simply disappear into thin air. For years the River Lathkill has been drying up in places, but recently that problem has got worse and Ellie sets out to find out why. Professor John Gunn from the University of Birmingham has spent years researching the area and he takes Ellie underground, armed with dye, to try and find the answer.
FIND OUT ABOUT WALKING THROUGH LATHKILL DALE -
Snake Pass and the Corpse Road
Matt continues his journey down the Derwent Valley along the Snake Pass and discovers the real reason this winding road through the mountains got its unusual name. He then heads through the tiny village of Bamford towards the ominously titled ‘Corpse Road’. Ken Smith, a local historian, explains to Matt how roads like this were created to help people carry bodies to cemeteries, particularly when old burial grounds were being flooded to create reservoirs.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CORPSE ROADS -
Water Power: Past and Present
Ellie visits the Lower Derwent Valley where over a hundred years ago Richard Arkwright harnessed the power of the river to run his cotton mills. Later the water was turned into electricity using hydro-electric power generators. Today these units are not as commonplace, but Ellie meets up with Bob Griffiths, a retired dentist who has set about restoring an old corn mill and the 100 year old turbine within it. Ellie discovers Bob’s unit can make enough electricity to power more than 30 houses and bring in a tidy sum of money.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HYDRO POWER IN THE DERWENT VALLEY -
Matt’s Downhill Challenge
In the final leg of his cycle tour of the Upper Derwent Valley, Matt meets Wayne Bexton, a Greenways & Countryside Officer, at “Chapel Gate” – a favourite spot for mountain bikers. Wayne was put in charge of restoring this ancient pack-horse route after floods and general wear and tear meant it was in danger of being destroyed. But why is it such a favourite with all-terrain cyclists? There’s only one way for Matt to find out.
DISCOVER OTHER MOUNTAIN BIKE ROUTES IN THE AREA. -
Tom Heap Investigates Britain’s Struggling Pig Industry
In recent years the global demand for meat has increased dramatically. But while many beef and lamb farmers are feeling the benefit, their colleagues in the pig industry are still struggling to make money. So why is that? Tom Heap investigates the problems faced by British pig farmers and looks for ways to make producing pork profitable again.
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Adam Learns How to Make Sausages
When it comes to pig farmers finding it hard to make a profit, Adam’s no different. This week he visits a neighbouring pig farmer, Sarah Righton, to help find a solution. She has her own butcher’s cutting room on site and it gives Adam a few ideas about how to make his pigs pay. But before he goes to meet Sarah, there are a few jobs on the farm that need taking care of…
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Matt Baker's Ride for BBC Children in Need
On Friday 11th November Matt Baker set off on his epic rickshaw ride in aid of BBC Children in Need. In just a week he's attempting to cycle more than 480 miles from Edinburgh to London. To find out how he is getting on and make your own donation, click on the weblink below.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MATT'S RICKSHAW RIDE
Credits
- Series Producer
- Teresa Bogan
- Presenter
- Ellie Harrison
- Presenter
- Matt Baker
- Presenter
- Adam Henson
- Presenter
- Julia Bradbury
