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Judging The Photographic Competition
On this week’s Countryfile we’ll be announcing the twelve finalists in this year’s photographic competition. But, as you’ll see on the programme, getting tens of thousands of entries down to just a dozen was no easy task. First a selection of previous finalists painstakingly whittled nearly fifty thousand pictures down to around three thousand. Then it was the turn of our celebrity judges, Chris Packham, Jo Brand and our own John Craven to pick the final twelve. They came together in the scenic surroundings of the Royal Palace at Eltham in Greenwich to make their selection. We’ll be revealing the photographs they chose on the programme and then you have a chance to pick the overall winner.
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The Home Of Croquet
Four centuries ago the grandson of a wealthy wool merchant built Chastleton House in the middle of the idyllic Oxfordshire countryside. It was here that one of his descendants, the eccentric Walter Whitmore Jones, came up with the rules for croquet. Helen Skelton picks up a mallet and finds out how the game has changed since then, before helping with the upkeep of the romantic topiary garden. Finally, Helen takes on Matt Baker using her newly acquired croquet skills.
Find out more about Chastleton House and Gardens
IMAGE: Matt & Helen filming croquet in traditional dress -
Saving Our Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are becoming an increasingly scarce sight in the UK. In the last 25 years numbers have halved and it’s feared by 2050 they could disappear from some areas altogether. The good news is there’s a campaign underway to try and reverse that trend. Matt Baker meets a family who are trying to make their garden more hedgehog-friendly and finds out what we can all do to help.
Could you help a hedgehog?
IMAGE: Matt and the family of hedgehog champions -
Tom's New Sea Life
The seas around Britain are getting warmer because of climate change. Tom Heap investigates what impact this is having on the fish and other sea life around our shores. He discovers that some of our tradition species, like cod and haddock are starting to move north in search of warmer waters. In their place, new fish are arriving, together with unusual crabs, plants and even dolphins. But will the British fishing industry be able to adapt?
IMAGE: Tom inspects a new arrival with local fishmonger Shaun Mitchell. -
Matt And The Solitary Bees
You might not recognise a solitary bee at first glance. Instead of living in hives they can make their nests in discarded insect shells or in small holes in the ground. Some aren’t even black and yellow, but they are important. These bees pollinate a lot of our flowers, without them our countryside could look quite different. Matt goes in search of solitary bees and helps enthusiast Ivan Wright to carry out research which could help protect them in the future.
Find out more about solitary bees
IMAGE: Filming a solitary bee -
Crocodiles In Oxfordshire
Matt finishes his walk on the wild side by coming face to face with some fearsome predators. Luckily for him it’s just the baby ones. With their armour-plated bodies and huge teeth crocodiles have a frightening reputation, but animal lover Shaun Foggett wants to change people’s perceptions. He keeps almost a hundred of them in a sanctuary in the countryside.
Meet the crocodiles
IMAGE: Matt and Shaun pose for a snap
Credits
- Series Producer
- Teresa Bogan
- Presenter
- Matt Baker
- Presenter
- Helen Skelton
- Presenter
- John Craven
- Presenter
- Tom Heap
Summer of Wildlife
A special season celebrating the UK's unique and extraordinary wildlife.
