Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

North Wales

Matt and Margherita are in north Wales where Matt discovers how miniature technology could tell us more about the habits of one of our best-loved insects.

Matt and Margherita are in north Wales where Matt discovers how miniature technology could tell us more about the habits of one of our best-loved insects. He's shown how tiny antennae are strapped to individual bees which are then tracked by drones. Matt also meets the entrepreneurial young beekeeper already farming her own bees and selling the honey to businesses nearby.

Margherita takes a ride on the famous Blaenau Ffestiniog railway along with people living with dementia and their carers. The trip is the brainchild of Emma Jayne Quaeck who saw how being out in nature helped her own mother's condition.

Margherita also heads underground to see how old slate mines are being used to help age prize-winning local cheese.

John is joined by fellow judges Cerys Matthews and Simon King to announce the final 12 in this year's Countryfile Photographic Competition, and Adam comes face to face with a cattle breed that is shaking up smallholding.

55 minutes

Music Played

  • Cliff Richard & The Shadows

    Summer Holiday

Bee Tech

Bee Tech

Little is known about where bees go or where they forage - but scientists at Bangor University have been trying to change that.

Matt gets to see up close the new tech that could give us more of an insight into the world of bees and how to better protect them.聽

Senior lecturer and PHD student Jake Shearwood unveils some extraordinary technology that could revolutionise our knowledge of the world of bees.

Cave Cheese

Cave Cheese

Margherita dons her hard hat to go deep underground at Llechwedd Slate Caverns to discover an unusual method of maturing cheese.

But first Margherita pitches in to聽help out with the morning delivery of cheese before taking it down聽on the old slate train that used to carry miners to their work.

It鈥檚 the steepest cable railway in the UK and Margherita descends to a depth of 500ft...and once there it's a chance to have a taste of this unusual cheese.

Countryfile Photographic Competition

Countryfile Photographic Competition
It's time to judge the thousands of entries into our "Seasons in the Sun" Countryfile Photographic Competition.And six of our previous winners and finalists have come along to Bowood House in Wiltshire to help reduce the mountain of pictures down to just one thousand.John, wildlife cameraman and presenter Simon King and broadcaster and musician Cerys Matthews then sit down to pick their favourite 12 images.And the overall winner? Well, that's down to you...

Lowline Cattle

Lowline Cattle
Adam's off to learn about a very different type of cattle - Lowlines,
Known as the 'belt buckle' cows, this breed is 60% shorter at all stages of life than native and continental breeds.

And farmers like them because they convert minimal grass to quality meat more efficiently than most.
Adam visits one of the largest herds in Europe to find out more.

Friends' Day Out

Friends' Day Out

Margherita goes for a train ride on the Ffestiniog Railway from Porthmadog to Tan Y Blwch for a journey with a difference.

This is a first-time event organised to offer people living with dementia a day out to experience the beautiful scenic journey through Snowdonia and a chance to reconnect with nature.

Margherita finds out more about why this event is so important to those taking part and meets the driving force behind the idea.

Young Beekeepers

Young Beekeepers

The future of our bees relies heavily on the work of future generations - and Matt meets one youngster who's already taken up the challenge.

Nine-year-old Lowri Anker has an interesting hobby outside of school鈥eeping beehives and helping dad with the family business.聽

Lowri shows Matt the process of extracting honey from her bee colony to help supply a local meadery...and a special arrival turns up just in time for the cameras!

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Matt Baker
Presenter Margherita Taylor
Presenter John Craven
Presenter Adam Henson
Executive Producer William Lyons
Series Producer Joanna Brame

Broadcasts