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John On Octavia Hill
John Craven takes a walk around Toy’s Hill, an area once home to one of our most important social reformers. Octavia Hill is often forgotten despite the gift she gave our country, The National Trust. John takes a walk with Gillian Darnley, Octavia’s biographer, to learn more about the woman and the impact she has on our lives today. John also joins a group from the National Trust and a local housing association who are working together to continue her legacy.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OCTAVIA HILL
Image courtesy of the National Trust. -
The Art Of Chartwell
Ellie Harrison is walking through the landscape that inspired Octavia Hill, but Octavia wasn’t the only great person enthused by the breathtaking views from the Three Kentish Hills. Winston Churchill also fell in love with the area and made his home at Chartwell. Ellie meets with Helen Moulsley from the National Trust and discovers that a leader, most famous for his defence of a nation, had a creative side as well. Ellie also meets with children from Crockham Hill Primary School as they learn all about their famous neighbour.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CHARTWELL -
Bedgebury Pinetum
John visits Bedgebury Pinetum, one of the world’s most extensive collections of conifers. The site isn’t purely for people’s enjoyment, Bedgebury is an important refuge for endangered trees. Its avid ‘tree hunters’ travel around the world to collect samples for conservation. John also meets Pearl Bostock a local artist who has turned her passion for art into a useful tool for recording the collection.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT BEDGEBURY PINETUM -
Tom And The Village Pub
In recent decades the village pub has gone into an almost terminal decline. These days four are closing every week, taking with them a vital social centre for the community. So what is going wrong? And is there anything that can done to stop more pubs calling time? Tom Heap visits two villages in Derbyshire to find out.
FIND HELP FOR STRUGGLING RURAL PUBS -
Adam Shops For Dorset Horn Sheep
Adam meets up with farming friend Kate Humble and helps her shop for some Dorset Horn Sheep. These are a great breed for smallholdings as they are placid, easy to handle, adaptable to any climate or altitude and produce a wonderful fleece and tender meat. One of their best attributes is that they are the only native breed that can lamb at anytime of the year. The ewes can produce lambs frequently, three times in two years. So can Adam find the right ones for Kate?
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT DORSET HORN SHEEP -
Ellie Tries Kentish Ale
Kentish Ale is renowned for its quality and taste and it is difficult to walk through the county without seeing the distinctive shape of an oast house – where hops are dried for brewing. Ellie visits Westerham Brewery at the foot of Mariners Hill to find out how this local ale is not only steeped in tradition but is also full of new ideas. And it would be rude not to have a little taste whist she is passing through!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT KENTISH ALE -
Ellie's Moth Photos
Ellie meets with Jake Everitt, a ranger and avid photographer. Jake shows her how something as fun as moth trapping can be a perfect opportunity to take a ‘walk on the wild side’. Cameras at the ready! For details about this year’s photographic competition visit the main Countryfile page.
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Credits
- Series Producer
- Teresa Bogan
- Presenter
- John Craven
- Presenter
- Ellie Harrison
- Presenter
- Tom Heap
- Presenter
- Adam Henson
Broadcasts
Summer of Wildlife
A special season celebrating the UK's unique and extraordinary wildlife.
