´óÏó´«Ã½

Jules Hudson is in Herefordshire with his dog Teddy sniffing out the spring dangers lurking outdoors and in our homes which could harm our pets. From bluebells and daffodils to adders and Alabama Rot which can carry a death sentence to dogs from just a roll in the mud, Vet Charlotte Watkins warns of the perils and how to avoid them.  Indoors, Jules learns why we need to keep our pets out of harm’s way while we’re Spring cleaning and why onion gravy from the traditional Sunday roast must never find its way into Teddy’s bowl.

Paul Martin’s at Smallholding School in Somerset with two wannabees looking to live the good life. Thomas James and partner Faith Miller have already got chickens and they’ll soon be welcoming pigs but, along with Sally Morgan, who runs courses for smallholders, Paul wants them to be braced for the ups and downs.  Animals wait for no man and need care 24/7. Holidays might be a thing of the past unless you have great friends and family prepared to muck in. On top of this get ready for red tape and a mountain of paper work. Sally has some hot tips about what to grow to break into burgeoning markets plus plenty of advice on squabbling hens, rooting pigs and planting. As Paul knows from having his own smallholding for nigh on ten years, all the hard work can pay off and result in a wonderful life-enhancing experience.

Margherita Taylor is in the beautiful country town of South Molton, the gateway to Exmoor in North Devon, to meet traders and shoppers at the historic Pannier Market. She wants to know how bank closures in town will affect lives and livelihoods. In the last three years, banks have been shutting up shop at the rate of more than 50 a month and it’s rural towns which are feeling the pinch. Gareth Shaw, Money Expert from Which?, explains the impact of closures and why they are happening. Nearly 20 million of us - almost half the population – now have mobile banking apps, and 159 log-ins are registered every second.  But traders and pensioners need local banks rather than having to make long round trips to the nearest town. So what’s the answer, asks Margherita? Accept that things are changing or fight back?

Matt Baker heads to Snowdonia National Park, where he hitches a ride on a train that relies on the laws of gravity to move it.

Steve Brown is at Slimbridge Wetland Centre discovering why love is in the air for avian wildlife at this time of year. With Animal Trainer Selina Reid, he unravels the curious courtship secrets of some of our favourite birds and meets a couple of young pelicans. These two have only got eyes on the career ladder for now as they are being trained for spectacular fly-bys at Slimbridge in the future. But Steve is secretly hoping love could one day be on the cards…