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The Countryfile Team On Location
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Ellie’s Canal Walk
The Bridgewater and Taunton Canal is one of Somerset’s best kept secrets, meandering for fourteen and a half miles through the lowlands of Somerset, it is a place with a fascinating history. Ellie discovers the hidden past of this canal and finds out why it stirs up so much passion with the locals. She even meets two residents who escape work one day a week just to enjoy what the canal has to offer.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE CANAL
IMAGE: Ellie begins her walk by meeting canal warden, John Swayne -
Matt Gets To Work
Matt hops on board a British Waterways boat to cruise down the Bridgewater & Taunton canal, so he can help out with a spot of essential maintenance work. On route his boat breaks down and he ends up literally tugging it to its destination, a wall covered in ivy. Matt has to abseil down the wall, removing the ivy that is masking the grade two listed canal cutting. He also finds out about plans for British Waterways to become a charity known as the Canal & River Trust in April 2012.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BRITISH WATERWAYS -
John Talks Food And Farming With The Prime Minister
In the second of his interviews with David Cameron, John Craven asks about his plans for the future of farming and food production in the UK. John questions the Prime Minister about why he’s so keen to phase out European subsidies for producing food. He also asks if Mr Cameron has any plans to tackle the problem of varying animal welfare standards across Europe – which many claim are putting our farmers at an unfair disadvantage. Plus John talks to the Prime Minister about the controversial subjects of badger culling and fox hunting.
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The Avalon Peat Marshes
Jules finds out about the rich resource of sedge peat lying beneath the Somerset levels, particularly looking into the history of how man has tamed this harsh landscape. He discovers the impact of the peat industry and how new and old excavated sites are now becoming important wetland habitats. He also talks to a local railway man who recounts a crash involving a peat train.
FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP BRING BACK WILDLIFE
IMAGE: Jules talks to Percy Parsons about the peat train crash. -
Fresh Food On Adam’s Farm
This week Adam is looking into alternative ways of feeding his livestock over the winter. The lambs will be benefiting from the nutritious leaves and roots of the stubble turnips out in the field, but there is another scientific option for some of his other animals. Adam will be discovering how to produce fresh green animal fodder 365 days of the year using a system of hydroponics – basically growing plants without using any soil.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HYDROPONICS -
Ellie’s Otter Search
The canal is a haven for wildlife with mute swans, water voles and kingfishers all frequently spotted along this bustling stretch of water, but this week Ellie goes in search of one of Britain’s most elusive creatures, the otter. Armed with a motion sensitive camera and the help of some of the canal’s passionate volunteers, Ellie tries her hand at capturing her own unique footage of this fascinating animal. Will she succeed?
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OTTERS
IMAGE: Ellie and Matt check the camera footage for an elusive otter.
Credits
- Series Producer
- Teresa Bogan
- Interviewed Guest
- David Cameron
- Presenter
- Matt Baker
- Presenter
- Ellie Harrison
- Presenter
- John Craven
- Presenter
- Adam Henson
