Wild France With Ray Mears

Ray explores the geography, flora and fauna of six areas of France, beginning by visiting Vanoise National Park in the Rhone-Alpes region of the south-east of the country. His journey sees him forage in alpine meadows, herd goats, track ibex and spot playful marmots, before he treks to the top of a mountain in search of the bearded vulture - one of the rarest birds in Europe.2016-07-11

Ray continues his exploration of the geography, flora and fauna of France by heading to the Ardeche, where miles of gorges and limestone cliffs characterise this part of the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region. He visits a cave with a long history and is given special permission to abseil in through the original sky-facing entrance, finding an array of stalactites and stalagmites inside. He then canoes down the Ardeche river and meets wildlife ranger Olivier, who teaches him some of the traditional uses of local plants.

Ray travels to the Camargue in the south of the country, a vast wetland that includes ancient salt pans, huge expanses of river delta, inland salt-water lakes and reed beds. He meets the French cowboys known as gardians who have made it their home and watches as they use their skills to round up powerful bulls, and he also discovers how salt influences the ecology of the area.