大象传媒

As the Women's Institute celebrates 100 years, John Craven visits the oldest WI in England, Singleton and East Dean in West Sussex. With the help of archive and the memories of the Singleton ladies -some of whom are descended from the founder members - he tells the incredible story of the Institute, how it originated to help feed a nation at war and evolved to campaign to improve the lives of people in the countryside. As well as producing food (including jam!) for a hungry nation during two world wars, the WI spent decades teaching women how to cook, preserve regional recipes, make the most of new technologies and make food go further in tough times. Food writer and historian, Mary Gwynn shows John what historic WI recipes can tell us about the times they were cooked in. Anyone for brains and pineapple?

Fracking is process of extracting shale gas from the ground. It has become hugely controversial over the last few years and there are currently moritoriums on its use in both Wales and Scotland. But the British Government is behind it and companies seem confident they can make money out of the shale gas reserves underneath the English countryside. Others, though, are concerned about its safety, its impact on the landscape and the burning of more fossil fuels. But with councils claiming that their planning power is being undermined, Tom Heap asks whether commercial fracking in England is now inevitable.聽

This week Matt Baker launches the first ever Countryfle Ramble for 大象传媒 Children in Need. It takes place on the weekend of Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th October.聽You can join聽rambles with one of five Countryfile presenters 鈥� Matt Baker, John Craven, Ellie Harrison, Adam Henson and Anita Rani.聽We also want as many of you as possible to organise your own sponsored Countryfile Rambles for 大象传媒 Children in Need. Remember just a few simple steps can change the lives of thousands of disadvantaged children.

Over the years, the WI campaigned to improve the lives of its predominantly rural members - from trying to improve sanitary conditions, getting better healthcare for pregnant women or getting rural libraries. John visits a turn of the century house at the Weald and Downland Museum in Singleton to learn more about what rural conditions would have been like between the wars and why the WI's campaigns were necessary.

Standen House is an arts and crafts masterpiece designed by Philip Webb and with interiors by Webb and William Morris. The National Trust has embarked on a project to restore the gardens at Standen to their Arts and Crafts heyday. The diaries of the original 鈥榣ady of the house鈥�, Margaret Beale, have recently been discovered. She lived at Standen and was a keen gardener. Now her original ideas are being reinstated. John meets abseiling gardeners who are restoring an unusually steep rock garde. Then he meets Harry Green, the gardener who stumbled upon a long lost bathing pond that's now being carefully restored by volunteers.

Countryfile is playing host to One Man and His Dog again this.聽 The high profile sheep dog handling competition pits teams from Wales, Scotland, England and Ireland against each other to find the best handlers in the land. Each nation is represented by a pair of handlers 鈥� one highly experienced 鈥渟enior鈥� and a younger 鈥渏unior鈥�. In this week鈥檚 programme Adam Henson is in Wales meeting their team, and Charlotte Smith is in England to catch up with their hopefuls.

Adam Henson travels to the Isle of Anglesey to meet 13 year old Rhion Owen, who this year has astonished judges by beating a double world champion as well as One Man and his Dog teammate, Medwyn. On a neighbouring farm, Adam sees Rhion in action as he practices for this year鈥檚 competition and meets mentor Gwynfor Owen, who believes this Welsh junior is truly 鈥榦ne to watch鈥�. Then Adam visits former One Man and His Dog winner and two time Welsh champion Medwyn Evans in the county of Gywnedd. Medwyn has been a shepherd of Welsh ewes for nearly forty years. 聽He says there鈥檚 little need for training as he and 4 year old Meg work the land together every single day.聽

Charlotte Smith is in the north of England meeting the youngest ever contestant on One Man and His Dog. 12 year old Henrietta Cropper practices by herding sheep while riding her pony 鈥� but for the competition she will be relying on faithful dog Lad.聽 And she has a secret weapon as her mum Katy Cropper was the first woman to win One Man and His Dog back in 1990. Meanwhile in Yorkshire, highly experienced handler James Howard is hoping his dog Wisp can keep up his good form. The dog helped him win the 2014 English Nationals. But this year James has had his distractions 鈥� he鈥檚 just got married.聽 New wife Amy, a vet, tells Charlotte she will be cheering on from the sidelines on competition day.