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For the second year running, Countryfile plays host to the legendary One Man and His Dog sheepdog trial competition.听 This year it's set in North Yorkshire, in the shadow of Byland Abbey a site once at the heart of Britain鈥檚 wool trade.

Matt Baker and Helen Skelton present all the action as teams from England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland compete to take home the title.听 Helen also explores the beauty and history of the surrounding countryside.

Lancaster duo Richard Hutchinson and Alex Briggs make up team England.听 Richard is a five times veteran of the competition and his dog Sweep has made two previous appearances.听 The title has so far eluded them, but this year they鈥檒l be hoping to change that.听 They鈥檙e teamed up with young handler Alex Briggs and his dog Wenndale Rio.听 Fifteen year old Alex has been trialling for four and a half years and has picked another youngster in听two year old collie dog Rio to run with him.

Kevin Evans and Elin Hope are flying the flag for team Wales.听 Kevin makes his living as a sheepdog trainer.听 His fully trained dogs are sold to clients across the world and Kevin often travels abroad himself to run training workshops. 听From his 33 dogs he鈥檚 chosen Jimmy to run with him.听 Kevin came 2nd with Jimmy听two years ago, this year they鈥檙e going for gold.听听 Kevin鈥檚 team-mate is young handler Elin.听 At 15, Elin is the competition鈥檚 youngest competitor and only female participant.听 Her dog is 5 year old Floss, who she describes as 'really sweet', but she worries might get too close and spook the sheep.

Old hand Michael Shearer and young talent Allan McKenzie are hoping to take the trophy home for Scotland.听 Michael farms near Thurso at the very tip of the Highlands.听 From his three working dogs he鈥檚 chosen three year old Jim to compete with.听听Michael and Jim听won the Scottish National together last year and could be a formidable pairing.听 Completing team Scotland is 18 year old Alex McKenzie with his dog Coal.听 Coal was the runt of the litter, but has bounced back to become a formidable sheepdog.听 Can he also help team Scotland claim the One Man and His Dog title?

Team Ireland are James McLaughlin and Caleb O鈥橩eefe.听 Hill farmer James and his dog Ben have become local celebrities and have the town of Carndonagh cheering them on.听 It was watching One Man and His Dog as a child that sparked James鈥檚 interest in sheepdog trialling.听 He鈥檒l be hoping that this year he鈥檒l be lifting the trophy himself.听 The other half of team Ireland are 17 year old handler Caleb and his dog, five year old听Tess.听 Caleb won the Young Handler鈥檚 International last year.听 He鈥檚 had Tess since she was a 6 month old pup and says she鈥檚 a good all-rounder, but worries she鈥檒l perform less well with flighty sheep.

Helen Skelton learns about the history of this former Cistercian monastery.听 She discovers how monks transformed its marshland into a profitable farming venture and how sheep made this not only a place of prayer, but of great power that would eventually lead to its downfall.

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Helen discovers why a flock of 200 pink sheep are roaming the North York Moors.听听 She meets local artist Trish Hutchinson who teaches Helen the art of creating natural dyes from the plant life found in surrounding woodland, as Helen makes a pink fleece of her own to add to this colourful flock.

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Helen travels a few miles from the site of the sheepdog trials to Ampleforth Abbey.听 Here she meets the modern day monks who are still working the land, but supporting themselves with the help of cider rather than sheep.

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