farming

Countryfile – Lower Hampen Farm – In the idyllic landscape of the Cotswolds, specifically at the charming Lower Hampen Farm, we find our dynamic duo, Charlotte Smith and Matt Baker. They are on a mission to unveil the mysteries of traditional farming, a path faithfully tread by Lydia and Clive Handy. This couple has consciously chosen to push against the currents of modernity, returning to the time-tested methods and ethos of farming that rekindle a connection with the land and nature itself. Matt Baker, always eager to learn and engage, finds himself immersed in the fascinating art of yarn weaving. […]

Countryfile – Compilation: Modern medicine has transformed our lives and wellbeing, but some ancient remedies still have a place in our hi-tech hospitals. Sean Fletcher is in Hendy, south Wales, visiting Europe’s most productive leech farm, which supplies 70 per cent of medicinal leeches worldwide. He joins for feeding time and discovers how these often-reviled three-jawed creatures are making a comeback, helping patients recover from trauma or severe infections. Leeches aren’t the only creepy crawlies with a place in modern medicine. In Swansea, Sean discovers how maggots are working their magic for a patient recovering from a major infection. And

Countryfile – Troubled Waters: The Wye is one of the most spectacular rivers in Britain, winding through stunning countryside, the muse of writers and artists, and a Site of Special Scientific Interest and conservation. With that sort of reputation, you’d expect the river to have a pristine bill of a health. But like so many of our waterways, the Wye’s waters are in trouble. Suffocated by pollution, it is slowly dying. But all is not lost.         Matt Baker and Anita Rani meet the volunteers going to the rescue of the Wye, from the cider maker turned