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Matt Baker visits Waddesdon Manor and Estate to find out about one of Buckinghamshire鈥檚 most famous families, the Rothschilds. Probably more known for banking, wine making and art collecting, they have also influenced landscape design, farming practice and conservation across the whole of the UK. Matt hears tales of wild parties and eccentricity, as well as a family passion for natural history. He鈥檚 also on the estate home farm, helping to sow wild flowers as part of a scientific project that will influence national policy.

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This year marks the 15th anniversary of one very special children鈥檚 character 鈥� the Gruffalo. The orange-eyed, terrible-tusked creature, which has scared and delighted children in equal measure, has finally made an appearance in the real world. Ellie Harrison is exploring Wendover Woods to find out how this magnificent monster is helping encourage children to explore their own local woodlands and听discover more about the wildlife around them.

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Box was once a commonplace material. It is a type of tree (or shrub, depending on your leaning) and the slow-growing wood is close in texture to plastic. It carves extremely well and was once made into everything from lace bobbins to light fittings, from musical instruments to hair combs. It even helped revolutionise the printing process, giving rise to illustrated newspapers and magazines. But, as John Craven is finding out, its unique nature has also led to its downfall. Box grows wild in just three locations in the UK 鈥� and the Chilterns is their biggest patch. John learns about the history of this underestimated wood, discovering the very real threat of box blight. He joins the Chilterns Box Regeneration Project to help kick-start its UK revival.

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Last week, Adam Henson met some of the Queen鈥檚 Highland Ponies, including a very sweet new arrival.听 This time, Adam is back at Balmoral for business. With Eric now out of action, Adam is searching for a new Highland stock bull for his farm in the Cotswolds.听 Dochy Ormiston is stockman for the Queen鈥檚 own herd of Highland cattle and introduces Adam听to a young bull who is up for sale.听 Will Adam part with his cash and find the 鈥榥ew Eric鈥�?

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Among the rolling fields and chalk valleys of the Buckinghamshire countryside is Finemere Wood. This ancient woodland has its fair share of lovely walks and beautiful wildlife. But it came as a surprise to the local bat group when they found very rare Bechstein鈥檚 bats roosting in the trees, some 100 miles outside their known range. Ellie joins the North Bucks Bat Group to find out about a research project on the behaviour of the bats. She is also staying up late to help with their night survey in the hope of catching a glimpse of these elusive mammals.

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Phase one of HS2 is on its final approach. Overwhelming cross-party support for the new high-speed line from London to Birmingham means that it could be given the final go ahead next year. But where does that leave the rural landscape that lies along the route? From ancient woodland to wildlife reserves, Tom Heap discovers that many are still concerned about the environmental impact of HS2, despite the promise that it will lead to 鈥渘o net loss to biodiversity鈥�. He also hears about the concerns of farmers whose agricultural land will be lost to the new line. So will the upheaval caused by HS2 be kept to a minimum?