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This winter has been a washout with almost every part of the UK being affected by the weather. Adam Henson heads to the Somerset Levels and Moors, where they’ve had the biggest flood on record.Ìý It’s estimated that the area has been swamped by 65 million cubic metres of water – that’s 26000 Olympic swimming pools. In a county with agriculture at its heart, this has been devastating.Ìý Adam meets local cattle farmer, James Winslade who has had 95% of his farm overwhelmed by the floods.ÌýFor James - and many farmers like him - the impact is both emotional and financial.

Witley Court, the once grand residence of the Earls of Dudley. It was built on the riches of coal and iron in the Midlands and was the place to be seen for the wealthy and the famous. It now stands burned-out and in a state of ghostly dereliction - a mere shadow of its former days of glory and decadence. Matt Baker is delving beneath the shell of the building to see how English Heritage is maintaining and restoring this once magnificent building, from the footings to the fountain.

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Even in the depths of winter, there are wildlife wonders to be discovered. But finding them can take some detailed detective work, as Helen Skelton is finding out. She meets up with members of the Wyre Forest Study Group on their quest to accurately record and monitor the wildlife of the area. Helen learns that this very special corner of Worcestershire plays host to the unusual land caddis, the rare lemon slug, the elusive water shrew and a special type of fungus that is completely new to science.

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Pigswill, made from waste food, used to be a staple part of a pig’s diet. But it was banned following the Foot and Mouth crisis. Now a group of campaigners, called ‘The Pig Idea’ want to see it return. They say it would be a great way to use much of the 15 million tonnes of food that we throw away in the UK every year. But although some pig farmers support the idea, most of the industry is against it. Tom has been finding out why.

Worcestershire is a county well known for its orchards. These orchards aren’t only good for apple juice and cider, they offer a vital habitat and source of food for our native and immigrant wildlife. And where there are lots of wildlife, there is a great opportunity to gather data on their welfare and behaviour. Helen joins Tim Dixon as he rings the Fieldfares and Redwings that frequent the orchards of the Midlands. Then she gets her hands dirty, with farmer WillÌýEdmonson, replanting the traditional orchards started by his grandfather.

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It’s not just the wildlife that enjoys the fruits of Worcestershire. Helen is investigating the delights of the Malvern Pudding. While the real heritage of the pudding has been lost to the mists of time, it has been enjoyed in the dining halls of Malvern College since 1976. Helen does her best to bake it for a room full of hungry pupils.

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