Countryfile Autumn Diaries

John Craven explores the stunning countryside around the historic city of Oxford, including a visit to Wytham woods, one of the most spectacular ancient woodlands in the country. Margherita Taylor meets 17-year-old Bailey Williams and his family. They have been battling to have full extract cannabis oil prescribed for their severely epileptic son on the NHS. Jules Hudson gets the inside track on how you can get rid of all of your sky high autumn and winter utility bills. If you are prepared to sacrifice a few home comforts to cut these costs, there is a way. In Wales we meet Carys and Matthew Watkins, both vets who left their professions behind to take advantage of Wales’ new One Planet scheme that allows applicants to build on their own land if they are up for a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Keeley Donovan learns that the red squirrel is on the brink of extinction in the UK, and a loophole in forestry law is not helping. There are only 15,000 left in England, so Keeley heads to Anglesey to meet Dr Craig Shuttlesworth, founder of Red Squirrels United, a campaign group trying to raise awareness of the plight of this beloved symbol of autumn. And Paul Martin learns that every planter, pot and windowsill can become a growing area for autumn vegetables.

John Craven continues his exploration of the stunning countryside around the historic city of Oxford. Keeley Donovan goes on night patrol with police who are trying to catch the criminals stealing contaminated meat that could end up on your dinner plate. Jules Hudson uncovers a worrying driver shortage that could throw our heritage railways into crisis. Paul Martin invites two experts to raid his home for plastics that he could ditch in favour of more eco-friendly and often cheaper options. And Margherita Taylor goes head to head with the robot farmers of the future.

John Craven continues his exploration of the stunning countryside around the historic city of Oxford. Keeley Donovan returns to the site of the devastating fires on Marsden moors, discovering how the damage done to this site has impacted on every cup of tea in the country. Our pets consume a staggering one fifth of the world’s meat and fish, and that figure is rising given the recent trend for feeding pets top grade meat. This has a huge impact on the planet. So what can you do if you want to reduce the impact that your pet’s food is having on the environment? And Steve Brown digs into the history of a very humble autumn fruit, the wild blackberry, learning how this berry became a vital source of food for troops during WWI.

Paul Martin investigates an invasive and dangerous aquatic plant that is clogging up our river and waterways and putting wildlife and pets at risk. Keeley Donovan visits the largest roost of endangered bats in the country. These bats also happen to live in one of the most haunted houses in the country, Woodchester Mansion in Gloucester. Steve Brown meets Adele Pember founder of a website called Dog Furiendly. Her dog Charley struggled with separation anxiety, a condition that affects 30% of dogs in the UK. And Jules Hudson investigates why a fifth of children between the ages of eight and ten have never played outside without adult supervision. We often blame devices and games consoles for children being sedentary, but could it be that parents are a bit too cautious when it comes to giving them a bit freedom?

Paul Martin meets legendary Queen guitarist Brian May to discover why he has been buying agricultural land. The UK was once 98% covered by ancient woodlands. Now only 2% of these remain, so Bryan has decided to act to restore these vital habitats for the future. He began with a piece of land in Bere Regis in Dorset and engaged the help of landscape detective Julian Olsen to establish what types of trees were native to the area. So far they have taken 170 acres of land out of agricultural production, and planted 101,000 trees. Dog attacks on sheep have jumped by 67% in the last seven years. Even if they survive an attack, pregnant ewes will often miscarry their young as a result. Jules Hudson investigates what enhanced measures farmers are taking to protect their livestock and how these could impact on you and your unsuspecting pet on a countryside stroll. Margherita Taylor discovers how one of the UK’s most scenic autumnal landscapes could be at risk. The Lake District is a Unesco world heritage site, but 300,000 local people have signed a petition asking for even greater protections to be introduced to curb the use of motorbikess and 4x4s.