Countryfile

Berkshire (26x47)

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Countryfile is in Berkshire. John Craven visits the county's agricultural college where, after more than a decade, the agricultural course is back up and running. He meets the native species, including polecats and pine martens, kept here for the students to study. He also discovers the picturesque village of Cookham, the inspiration for great British artist Stanley Spencer, and meets the painter's two daughters. Shauna Lowry is in the valley of the racehorse, exploring the gallops where hundreds of horses train each day. She meets the son of legendary author and jockey Dick Francis, and discovers how injured jockeys get back into the saddle. Wildlife expert and author Sanjida O'Connell is walking the Ridgeway, the Roman road which wends its way across the county. She explores the inspiration this landscape has had on storytellers and authors across the years, including the much-loved author of Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame. And Adam Henson visits a very special dog's home which takes in and rehabilitates collies. The RSPB say it's time to get tough in the fight against the persecutors of British birds of prey. But is the wider shooting industry being unfairly blamed for the actions of a criminal few? Tom Heap finds out.