大象传媒

John Craven explores the atmospheric ruins of Jervaulx Abbey, which was plundered and pillaged during the dissolution of the monasteries. Monks made it their home in the twelfth century, working the land and using ewes milk to make an early version of Wensleydale Cheese. John helps an artisan cheese maker revive the original recipe. Together they make history, creating cheese in the abbey鈥檚 grounds for the first time in more than five hundred years.

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Widdale is one of seventeen red squirrel conservation reserves in the north of England. These squirrels are threatened by the American grey variety which has taken over their habitats in many parts of the UK. So, great efforts are being made by local people to help the red squirrels to thrive and flourish. Julia Bradbury joins the newest group as it sees what can be done to make the reds feel at home. She also gets a lesson from a wildlife photographer. But can she snap more than a blurred tail as the bouncy creatures play in the snow.

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After struggling to farm because of torrential rain and waterlogged fields, Adam Henson is now having to contend with freezing conditions. That means bringing out extra food for animals which can no longer eat grass hidden under the snow. So why has he had such a difficult year? Adam invites 大象传媒 weatherman John Hammond to his farm to explain the changing weather and to see if things are going to improve in the years to come?

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Veterinary surgeon, Alf Wight, is better known by his pen name, James Herriot. He enthralled readers with his many tales of working in rural Yorkshire during the 1930s, 40s and 50s. Since then there have been major advances in technology and medicine, so Jules Hudson sets out to discover if the colourful characters of the novels can still be found in the area. He joins a couple of real life vets as they traverse the Dales dealing with a variety of animals, from pet border terriers to prize winning dairy cows.

Rising feed prices and terrible weather have made life difficult for farmers across the UK in the last 18 months. Tom Heap visits two farms that have been struggling to make money. On one he meets a cattle producer who has been forced to sell his prize-winning herd. On the other there鈥檚 a sheep farmer who is making no money at all from his livestock. Tom discovers that the aftershock of a difficult 2012 will also make life tough for farmers in 2013. He also finds mixed views on the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board, which looks after the working conditions of farm workers.

IMAGE: Tom with sheep farmer Steve Wooldridge

Medieval stronghold, Bolton Castle, has looked out over Wensleydale since the fourteeth century . It has been in the same family for 600 years and now the current owner is attempting to bring back the kind of animals that would have been around in its heyday. Julia meets up with him as they feed the boar, which are now housed in the grounds.听 She also discovers what is being done to restore salmon to the River Ure, which runs through the estate and Wensleydale.

IMAGE: Julia with Tom Orde-Powlett

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