Countryfile
2024
Series looking at people and stories with a rural theme.
Where to Watch 2024
52 Episodes
- Lambing
E18LambingTo wrap up this year’s lambing season, we’re at Adam Henson’s farm in the Cotswolds to see what’s next for his new spring additions. As well as the mischievous lambs, Adam checks in with his Highland calves, Gloucester old spot piglets and a brand new Exmoor pony foal. With ewes and lambs to sell on, and one-year-old rams to shear, there’s plenty to be getting on with. Adam also takes a dive into the Countryfile archives to revisit some of our favourite lambing memories – from hardy breeds that lamb outdoors to exhilarating moments from the lambing shed. - Wakehurst
E34WakehurstWakehurst, Kew’s botanic gardens in West Sussex, is the location for judging this year’s Countryfile photographic competition. John Craven and Charlotte Smith are joined by presenter, journalist, author and avid nature lover Vick Hope to pick the final 12 images that will grace the 2025 Countryfile calendar in aid of BBC Children in Need. Charlotte also explores Kew’s millennium seed bank at Wakehurst, looking at the work being done to support our native meadows. She meets the high-tech team using robots, drones and LiDar to unlock the mysteries of trees and plants. We also catch up with Wakehurst’s nature reserve warden as he repurposes an area felled due to ash dieback, as well as meeting a bee expert deciphering the DNA of pollen. - Angling
E35AnglingFishing is one of the most popular outdoor pursuits in the UK, with three million anglers casting their lines each year. The UK’s coastlines and rivers offer incredible fishing opportunities, from bass swimming in our seas to trout meandering through our rivers. Some fish, however, are trickier to catch than others. Joe Crowley visits the Dorset coast to team up with a local fly fisherman as he takes on one of the UK’s most difficult fish to catch – the mullet. Joe learns about a very specific method, using unique flies created to hopefully entice one in. Along the way, we trawl the Countryfile archives in search of stories about our relationship with the fish that call our rivers and seas home. - Salisbury Plain
E37Salisbury PlainThe Ministry of Defence is not only responsible for the nation's security, but they are also one of the UK’s major landowners. Charlotte and Matt have security clearance to enter their largest site, Salisbury Plain, where they find out how the MoD maintain a balance between military training, farming and conservation. Matt dons his waders and meets a team looking after a threatened and vitally important chalk river, whilst Charlotte finds out how endangered flora and fauna survive under the wrath of heavy military vehicles. We also hear from a farmer managing his cattle around tight military training operations, and meet a passionate birder who has dedicated his life to bringing back one of the heaviest flying birds in the world to Salisbury Plain, the great bustard. And Adam is in Northern Ireland catching up with young farmer Emily McGowan to help with harvest. - Wild Britain - Anglesey
E38Wild Britain - AngleseyJoe Crowley and Anita Rani continue Countryfile’s Wild Britain initiative, galvanising the nation into helping our beloved wildlife. This week, they’re exploring how communities are supporting nature on the wild island of Anglesey, off north west Wales. Joe takes to the seas looking for rare Risso's dolphins and finds out how a citizen science project is monitoring marine life around the UK’s coast. Joe also visits a community woodland to learn about the ongoing challenges facing red squirrels and meets the volunteers looking out for them. Anita catches up with the people championing choughs on Anglesey, and we visit the island's only hedgehog hospital. Adam Henson is in Cornwall, seeing how a change in farming practices has increased the population of dung beetles on one farm. - Kelso Ram Sales
E39Kelso Ram SalesThe Kelso Ram Sales on the Scottish Borders is one of the largest and oldest ram sales in Europe, with more than 3,500 rams expected to be sold on the day. Charlotte Smith joins local farmer Anne Mair-Chapman as she prepares her prized animals for the big event and meets the farmers buying the all-important ram that will help their flocks flourish over the next year. She also goes behind the scenes to see how this massive market is organised, including moving thousands of sheep around the sale in their very own taxis. Away from Kelso, Charlotte finds out about the official vets who keep key parts of our food supply chain running. Adam Henson is in Cumbria helping shepherdess Katy move her flock down from the fells, and we hear from an inspiring young person who will be joining us on this year’s ramble for BBC Children in Need. - Stranraer Oyster Festival
E41Stranraer Oyster FestivalJoe Crowley is on the west coast of Scotland, celebrating a local delicacy – the oyster! Every year, people flock to the small coastal town of Stranraer to visit the Stranraer Oyster Festival, where people come together to celebrate these very special shellfish. Joe meets the people behind the festival and finds out why this event has put Stranraer back on the map. He sails out onto the sparkling waters of Loch Ryan to discover how the fisherman harvest oysters with sustainability at the forefront. Over a campfire, Joe is shown how to cook a simple oyster dish by chef Pam Brunton and meets the competitors of the weekend's biggest event - the shuck-off! Meanwhile, Adam Henson is in the Cotswolds, welcoming two new additions to the farm. - Autumn Harvest
E42Autumn HarvestThe cereal harvests of summer are finished, and now it’s the time to gather in our autumn crops, including one of our most popular - potatoes. Joe Crowley visits an Essex potato farm at the height of their harvest, only to discover that the recent rain isn’t making it easy to lift the crop. He finds out that it’s been a challenging time for potato farmers across the country, with the weather and higher production costs taking their toll on this staple crop. Joe follows the potatoes from field to factory, where he sees the farm's onsite production line making their very own crisps. Along the way, we dig into the Countryfile archives to unearth some treasures of autumn harvests gone by. - Westonbirt at Autumn
E45Westonbirt at AutumnJohn Craven visits Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, in Gloucestershire, to see it in all its autumnal glory. At this time of year, 2,500 different species of trees, from around the world, burst into a mosaic of colour. John finds out about the history of the arboretum’s autumn colour parties, which were celebrated in the Victorian period, and discovers why leaves change colour at this time of year. He meets the team saving the arboretum's older trees from the winter storms and plants a rare native Sorbus tree to help preserve the species for the future. In celebration of the season, we also delve into the Countryfile archives to revisit autumn stories from around the UK. - Yorkshire Dales
E46Yorkshire DalesSean Fletcher and Sammi Kinghorn are in the Yorkshire Dales with its craggy hills, plunging valleys and expansive moors - but the landscape hasn’t always looked like this. Sean discovers the Dales were once covered in trees as he joins one of the biggest native tree planting projects in England, helping to restore woodland to the area. He also meets a young farmer embracing the local tradition of making cheese from a small herd of cattle. Sammi learns the story of Yorkshire wool, from the cottage industry of knitting shepherds, to the water-powered textiles mills of the 18th century. We also meet the man who has spent 35 years filming the underwater world of one of the Yorkshire Dales’ many rivers, and join a printmaker who takes inspiration from her daily fell runs. And Tom is looking at the government’s plans for a big increase in house building and what that will mean for the countryside. - Northumberland Coast in Autumn
E47Northumberland Coast in AutumnHamza Yassin and Charlotte Smith are on the beautiful Northumberland Coast. Hamza travels to Coquet Island with the RSPB’s site manager, warden and volunteers to help restore a nesting platform for the very rare roseate tern, repairing the damage caused to it by burrowing puffins. Hamza also embarks on a wildlife safari at Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve as he attempts to spot some of the magnificent birds that flock to the area over the winter months. Charlotte meets Kuki the biosecurity dog, who is tasked with seeking out pests that could have a devastating effect on precious seabird colonies. We also meet community volunteers from the coastal village of Alnmouth who are restoring their three-acre pond into a haven for wildlife. In the Cotswolds, Adam harvests apples to make into juice. - Woodoaks Farm
E48Woodoaks FarmJohn Craven and Margherita Taylor explore Woodoaks Farm in Hertfordshire, where efforts are under way to restore nature’s balance and reconnect people with farming. John discovers the rural heritage of the farm, which was donated to the Soil Association in 2020, and learns about the vision for its future. He also meets a historian who has unearthed the lost diary of a local farmer, written over 150 years ago, and hears about the wisdom within its pages that still holds true for farming today. Margherita meets the community of people that are part of daily life on the farm, from the volunteers that make up the compost club to the local bird enthusiasts who follow the feathered fortunes of some of the farm’s wildlife. Away from Woodoaks, Adam reveals the Countryfile Young Countryside Champion finalists. - Christmas at Highgrove
E51Christmas at HighgroveIt's Christmas, and Countryfile has received a very special invitation to visit Highgrove Gardens, which surround the private residence of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. Matt Baker, Margherita Taylor and Adam Henson meet staff from His Majesty’s charity The King’s Foundation, who manage Highgrove and transform it into a festive wonderland each Christmas, all while staying true to His Majesty’s passion for nature and sustainability. Matt joins Highgrove’s garden team to harvest the King's brussels sprouts and meets students taking part in The King’s Foundation education programmes using British timber, and Adam joins a local farmer shepherding his Shropshire sheep onto the estate's wildflower meadow for grazing. To finish the episode, there's a taste of a Highgrove Christmas, as the royal chef prepares a delicious feast of turkey and brussels sprouts. - Winter Walks
E52Winter WalksAfter the indulgences of the festive season, one way to blow away the cobwebs is getting outside for a winter walk. Charlotte heads out on one of Britain's most famous trails, the South West Coast Path, to get a breath of fresh air and discover the power of walking. She meets inspiring people taking to the footpath for their health and wellbeing, looks out for wildlife from the clifftops, and joins an artist for whom this coastline is his muse. Along the way, we explore the Countryfile archives for adventures of winters past.
