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South Yorkshire

Ellie is in South Yorkshire, right on the border of the Peak District, following in the footsteps of the Clarion Ramblers.

Ellie is in South Yorkshire, right on the border of the Peak District, following in the footsteps of the Clarion Ramblers. They were England's first working men's walking society and were founded by the legendary GHB Ward. Ellie joins historians Roly Smith and Terry Howard to find out more about the Ramblers and their visionary founder. She also meets poet and songwriter Sally Goldsmith, who draws inspiration from the Clarion guidebooks and writes songs about the South Yorkshire landscape she loves.

Finally, Ellie visits the Peak District, where she meets former Clarion Ramblers Les Johnson and Graham Baxby, who actually walked with Ward. And to help prompt their memories Ellie has brought with her Ward's actual rucksack and walking jacket.

The winner of this year's Countryfile Photographic Competition is revealed.

Tom gives up the countryside for the streets of Sheffield, where an argument is raging over the future of the city's trees.

55 minutes

Last on

Tue 10 Oct 2017 00:15

Music Played

  • Noah and the Whale

    L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N.

The Clarion Ramblers

The Clarion Ramblers

Ellie鈥檚 on the trail of George Herbert Bridges Ward a rambling legend who paved the way for all of us to get out and about in our countryside. His belief that that the countryside and fresh air were good for the workers in Sheffield鈥檚 mills and forges led him to found the Britain鈥檚 first rambling club, the Clarion Ramblers in 1900. Ellie begins retracing his footsteps through the South Yorkshire landscape that he fought so hard to open up to all. 聽

Sheffield's trees

Sheffield's trees
Just down the road Tom Heap's swapping country for city and is looking into the argument surrounding Sheffield's trees. The council is cutting down trees in the city that it deems dead, diseased or dangerous and a protest group is trying to stop them. The argument over the trees has been to the High Court twice and even the Secretary of State for the Environment, Michael Gove has waded into the fight. So what is going on? 聽

The Countryfile Photographic Competition 2017

The Countryfile Photographic Competition 2017
Finally after weeks of sorting through the thousands of photos you sent in, the results of the public vote are in. Judge, Simon King is on hand to reveal the winner. But which of the final twelve stunning pictures will grace the front of the 麻豆社 Countryfile calendar sold in aid of Children in Need? You'll have to watch to find out. 聽聽

The Clarion guidebooks

The Clarion guidebooks

GHB Ward wrote his own Clarion guidebooks describing the walks the Clarions would take come rain or shine. Ellie meets up with writer and singer Sally Goldsmith who takes place names and descriptions from the guidebooks and turns them into poems and songs. Sally explains to Ellie how the Clarion Ramblers became one of the first places where women were seen on an equal footing as men.

The Countryfile Ramble

The Countryfile Ramble

With just two weeks to go until the big Ramble weekend, Matt Baker meets his walking partner for the Countryfile Ramble for 麻豆社 Children in Need. 聽Nineteen year old Georgia has made an incredible recovery after diagnosis of a cancerous brain tumour seven years ago meant she had to undergo an emergency operation which left her in a coma for three months. 聽She鈥檒l be attempting to walk three miles over the demanding terrain of Dartmoor with Matt on the ramble weekend, that's further than she鈥檚 ever walked since her operation. Matt and Georgia go for a test ramble, and get to know each other while preparing for the challenge that lies ahead.

The Countryfile Young Farmer 2017

The Countryfile Young Farmer 2017
It's a week for winners. Adam and Charlotte have been at the 麻豆社 Food and Farming Awards to announce the Countryfile Young Farmer for 2017. Once again we were overwhelmed by entries and congratulations should go to all those nominated. But there can only be one winner (we did ask for more!) 聽聽

The Barrel Inn

The Barrel Inn

Ellie鈥檚 final stop brings her to the Barrel Inn where Ward started many of his walks. There she meets two members of the Clarion Ramblers who walked alongside Ward and experienced first-hand his passion for the great outdoors. Now in their 80鈥檚 Len Johnson and Graham Baxby were just youngsters, but the walks left a lasting impression. Ellie reveals to them both the rare collection Ward鈥檚 artefacts, his boots, glasses and backpack sparking memories of those early walks. It鈥檚 all a far cry from today鈥檚 technical all weather gear we now take for granted.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Ellie Harrison
Presenter Tom Heap
Executive Producer William Lyons
Series Producer Andrea Buffery
Series Producer Joanna Brame

Broadcasts