Teign Valley
The Countryfile team launch their annual photographic competition, with guests Chris Packham and Jo Brand. Matt Baker visits Castle Drogo in Devon.
The Countryfile team launch their annual photographic competition. The theme is 'Our Living Landscape', with the 12 best photographs making up the 2014 calendar, which will be sold in aid of Children in Need. Chris Packham and Jo Brand are on hand with some top tips, and John Craven has all the details on how to enter.
The rest of the team are in the Teign Valley in Devon. Matt Baker is at Castle Drogo, the last castle to be built in England, which is about to undergo one of the National Trust's biggest ever restoration projects.
John Craven finds out about a community farming scheme called Chagfood. Katie Knapman explores the river Teign and sees if a project to clean up the water is having any effect, and Helen Skelton explores the mystical and magical side of the area. It has inspired artists, musicians and film makers, but will it have any effect on Helen?
Last on
Matt and the crumbling castle
Castle Drogo was created by one of the world鈥檚 greatest architects for a self-made millionaire, but that hasn鈥檛 stopped it falling victim to the British weather.听 Matt Baker visits 鈥榯he last castle built in England鈥� to hear about an 拢11m project to fix the leaky roof and windows.听 Without the repairs it is thought the Lutyens-designed mansion will almost certainly be destroyed.听 But it is not all bricks and mortar 鈥� the garden also needs sprucing up and Matt鈥檚 more than happy to lend a hand.
听
John and the horse-powered farm
Horses are taking on the hard graft at a small community farm in the Teign Valley.听 Samson and Tally help get the land at the Chagfood project ready before a group of dedicated volunteers plant their seasonal vegetables.听 John Craven gets up close with the equine workers as he tries out some traditional farm machinery made by the Amish community in the United States.
听
Adam and the baby animals
This week on his farm, Adam Henson takes two of his stubborn wild Exmoor ponies down the lanes to give them some halter training. He then checks out the latest addition to the Exmoor family - a week old foal that has just about found its feet. An even younger arrival on his farm that also needs Adams attention is a very soggy day old donkey that has to be brought inside during some very wet weather to prevent it catching pneumonia. Then continuing the cute baby theme - and after a huge response from Countryfile viewers - Adam chooses the name of a Highland calf fathered by Eric the Bull.
Helen鈥檚 away with the fairies
Look closely and you might spot something magical in Chagford.听 The small Teign Valley town is a mecca for artists and musicians inspired by fairies.听 Helen Skelton meets a man who played a key role in some of the most famous fantasy films of the 80s and a woman who is keeping fairy stories alive today.听 She then steps behind the camera to direct her own movie scene with the help of some local enchanting creatures.
听
Katie goes fishing
The River Teign runs through stunning Devon scenery, but all is not well beneath the surface.听 The watercourse is officially classed as failing because of the low numbers of fish.听 Katie Knapman heads to the beach at Shaldon where she meets those still involved in the traditional craft of seine fishing.听 She then joins a conservation group aiming to boost salmon and trout populations by using electricity to catch and monitor the species.
听
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Matt Baker |
| Presenter | John Craven |
| Presenter | Helen Skelton |
| Presenter | Katie Knapman |
| Participant | Chris Packham |
| Participant | Jo Brand |
| Series Producer | Teresa Bogan |
