Northumberland
Matt and Ellie are in Northumberland, where they visit Hadrian's Wall and experience some of the best dark skies in England.
Matt and Ellie are in Northumberland, where Matt finds out how the rock cliffs of the Whin Sill gave rise to some very rare grassland. He also discovers that Hadrian's Wall is one of the last strongholds of one of the UK's rarest plants. He then dons full Roman regalia and learns that most of what we know about Roman armour comes from a world-famous discovery at Hadrian's Wall 50 years ago.
Ellie is with the amateur astronomers, enjoying the best dark skies in England, and learns about the different ways you can photograph stars. She also visits Allen Banks - the famous gardens laid out by Victorian 'superwoman' Susan Davidson - and joins in the effort to restore their renowned picturesque viewpoints. Adam is in the market for a rare breed portland ram, and former farmer and trained butcher Gareth Barlow looks at the British beef industry.
Tom Heap investigates the impact that falling milk prices are having on British dairy farmers.
Last on
The Whin Sill
Matt Baker is exploring the Whin Sill, a breathtaking geological formation formed some 295 million years ago. It cuts through the heart of the Northumberland National Park and was used by the Romans from 122 AD to fortify parts of Hadrian’s Wall. It has also created rare grassland which is now under threat. Walltown is one of only twelve sites in the UK where wild chive can still be found. Matt will be helping a team of volunteers from the Northumberland Wildlife Trust in their battle to save a species which the Roman’s may have grown to flavour their food or even to cure sunburn!
Dark skies
Ellie Harrison is in Northumberland, turning her gaze to the stars at the site of England’s first Dark Sky Park. She meets Duncan Wise of the National Park Authority who was instrumental in winning the area gold status from the International Dark Skies Association. He tells her what it means to be officially one of the darkest places in Europe. Amateur astronomers Ian Glendinning and Joe Gordon describe their passion for the night sky and, not to be thwarted by the cloudy conditions, Ellie learns about radio astronomy and is mesmerised by the sounds of meteors burning up in the Earth’s atmosphere.
Adam’s new ram
Adam Henson checks on the progress of his new Highland bull, Archie, and a brand new calf. He then pays a visit to Calke Abbey, a beautiful country house in Derbyshire. But he’s not there to take in the splendor of the estate. Adam wants to buy a new Portland ram for his flock of rare breed sheep. He has a selection to choose from. Some are too old, some aren’t quite the right colour – but will any of them be just right?
Allen Banks
Ellie explores the beautiful Allen Banks, a wooded wilderness garden on the banks of a Northumberland river. National Trust Countryside Manager, Eric Wilton is on hand to tell her the history of the site, which was the vision of a pioneering Victorian lady named Susan Davidson. Susan loved the wild and the natural and spent fifty years creating a space for tranquillity and inspiration. Ellie helps clear some overgrown rhododendrons from the pathways and turn them into charcoal. She also walks in the footsteps of Lawrence Hewer, the first ranger to begin restoring the site in the 1970s. He loved it so much he wrote poetry about it.
Dairy prices
The price that British dairy farmers are paid for milk has dropped dramatically in the last year. Tom Heap asks whether the falls are down to the global markets or factors closer to home. He meets two farmers: James, who stands to lose tens of thousands if prices don’t pick up, and Jason who is managing to break even because of the way that he runs his farm. So does Jason have any useful tips for James?
The Corbridge Hoard
Matt celebrates the 50th anniversary of the discovery of one of our most significant finds along Hadrian’s Wall - the Corbridge Hoard. In 1964 a chest containing unprecedented preserved examples of Roman armour was uncovered. Matt meets Carole Eke, who was involved in the archaeological dig at Corbridge Roman Town when she was 20 years old. She helped to unearth the hoard.  Matt is then put through his paces by the Ermine Street Guard, a Roman re-enactment group who wear armour inspired by the find at Corbridge.
The price of beef
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Matt Baker |
Presenter | Ellie Harrison |
Presenter | Tom Heap |
Presenter | Adam Henson |
Executive Producer | William Lyons |
Series Producer | Joanna Brame |
Broadcasts
- Sun 26 Oct 2014 18:20
- Sun 2 Nov 2014 07:30
- Mon 3 Nov 2014 01:3591Èȱ¬ Two except Scotland & Wales