91Èȱ¬

Bradford in West Yorkshire is the fourth largest urban area in the UK, but this boomtown, created by the Industrial Revolution, is surrounded by breathtaking countryside. Anita Rani was born and bred here and fondly remembers escaping the city to explore the Moors. It’s a journey that city dwellers have taken in these parts for well over 150 years and, increasingly nowadays, on two wheels. Anita meets Brian Robinson, a local cycling hero, to find out more.

Even on the edge of a bustling city there are plenty of opportunities to see wildlife – although not all of it is within easy reach. Running along the western edge of Bristol is the Avon Gorge. Famous for the Clifton suspension bridge and its dramatic beauty, this steep-sided Gorge is an internationally important conservation site. Matt Baker dons climbing gear to go in search of some of the rarest plants in Britain.

A few miles along the National Cycle Network from Bradford is the Victorian village of Saltaire. It was designed to integrate natural beauty into the urban landscape and built by rich mill owner Titus Salt, to house his workforce. The idea was to give them a utopia away from the pollution and disease of Bradford. Anita explores the village – and its rules - with the help of local historian, Maria Glot. Then she meets Jamie Roberts and his three alpacas, to find out why their unusual wool was so significant in Saltaire.

Ellie Harrison heads to the Wigan Flashes, a former coalfield turned wetland that now provides a haven for 200 species of wildlife. Among them is one of the most endangered UK native birds – the willow tit. With the help of Mark Champion of the Wildlife Trust Ellie learns more about why the species is in decline.

Anita continues her journey from town to country on Britain’s oldest working tramway. Now approaching its 120th birthday, this tram was built to take people from Roberts Park in Saltaire, and surrounding mill towns, deeper into the countryside.  At the top of the tramway lies Baildon Moor. Victorians used to flock here in their thousands to escape the pollution of the industrial towns. Today, Baildon Moor is used by over 50 activity groups, from bird watchers to horse-riders and fell runners. Anita meets fellow Yorkshireman Ian Holmes, a champion fell runner, and his local running group, the Bingley Harriers, to be put through her paces.

If you venture just five miles from the historical hub of industry in Stourbridge and into the countryside, you'll find Kinver Edge. For hundreds of years people lived in the caves in the side of the sandstone ridge here and, by the standards of the day, many of these dwellings were quite comfortable. Ellie Harrison explores some of these extraordinary rock homes and meets Nik Novak, who tells Ellie about his experience of growing up in this special community.

During World War Two, the Fenn’s & Whixall Mosses Nature Reserve in Shropshire was one of the sites used for a top secret project, codenamed ‘Operation Starfish’. The operation’s aim was to trick German planes away from bombing our cities, by lighting dummy fires in open countryside. John Craven discovers the history behind this covert project. He also finds out what Natural England are doing at the reserve to preserve this fascinating, and largely unknown, part of our wartime history.

For some people living in busy cities their only glimpse of the countryside comes once a week, on a Sunday evening on 91Èȱ¬ One. Adam Henson decides to give three keen Countryfile viewers the chance to experience a little more on his Cotswolds farm. From cleaning out pigs to rounding up sheep, Adam puts these three city slickers to work. But will they enjoy their day on the farm?

Ellie visits Vetch Field, the former home of Swansea City Football Club, to meet the people giving a new lease of life to the once derelict ground.  The site is now the home of a group of keen gardeners, each with an allotment, growing a variety of produce from around the world.  As well as getting a good meal, Ellie sees what can be achieved when a community pulls together.