91热爆

Matt Baker is in Powys exploring one of the county鈥檚 most distinctive landmarks; Powis Castle. He is joined by volunteer and local lad Peter Watkin, who remembers when the castle first opened its gates to visitors back in 1953. It鈥檚 not just visitors who enjoy the gardens today, the flowers and plants are also a haven for a local hive of bees as Matt discovers when he harvests the castle鈥檚 first jar of honey. He then experiences the Alice in Wonderland like gardens for himself, which host a particularly distinctive feature. Accompanied by National Trust gardeners he gets a unique view of the garden鈥檚 40ft high, 300 year old yew hedges as he lends a hand on their annual trim.

Once a common sight in Wales, the Osprey has become extremely rare in recent times. Its population has fallen to just four breeding pairs. Jules Hudson travels to Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve where he learns about the plight of these majestic birds and sees for himself that all hope is not lost. With the help of nest cameras he catches a glimpse of the latest chicks to have hatched as part of the Wildlife Trust鈥檚 project and learns from staff how they must prepare for their first big flight. He then see鈥檚 how another species, the red kite, has bounced back from the brink thanks to the work of conservationists and farmers like Chris Powell, who has seen numbers soar from just 6 in the 1990鈥檚 to 600 on his farm today.

What do honey, beer and Wagyu beef have in common? Anita Rani is on a food trail through rural Montgomery discovering the unusual link between these three products. Starting with a jar of honey from Powis Castle she meets Pam Honeyman of Monty鈥檚 Brewery who has created her own brew using the locally sourced product. As Anita finds out, it鈥檚 not just Pam鈥檚 customers that enjoy drinking it. The first barrel from Pam鈥檚 brew is often too yeasty to be bottled; however none of it goes to waste. Local farmer, Ifor Humpfreys feeds it to his herd of Wagyu cattle to help improve the mottling in the meat, as Anita gets to taste for herself.

John Craven looks at controversial plans to create a new mine in the North York Moors National Park. The park authority has given the go-ahead for the mine, which will exploit rich deposits of polyhaylite 鈥� a form of potash which is a key ingredient in fertiliser. The company behind the project says it will bring huge employment and economic benefits to the areas. But, as John discovers, there are serious concerns about its impact on this protected environment.聽

Summer is in full swing, which means Adam is having a busy time back on his farm. Not only are the final preparations for harvest taking place, but there is also plenty of stock work to do. Adam has got his work cut out. He has some White Park cattle to relocate, some ewe lambs to inoculate and then there鈥檚 the farms newest arrival - a Gloucester heifer calf called Isere - who has got to have her ear tags attached.

The most rural county in England and Wales, Powys relies heavily on volunteers to provide services to the community. Anita joins some of the inspirational groups who are working to provide affordable food, access and company to those living in Powys鈥� most rural areas. She meets Emma Maxwell, a founder of Newtown鈥檚 community growing scheme 鈥淐ultivate鈥� and helps volunteers to harvest some veg fresh from the vine. She takes her produce to the newly refurbished Newtown Market Hall, which gives groups like Cultivate an opportunity to sell their produce locally. For those that can鈥檛 make it to the Market, Anita discovers that there are volunteers like Jan Chilton who deliver shopping and provide company to those living in rural areas that wouldn鈥檛 otherwise be able to access many vital facilities.