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Episode 1

The team take a look at interesting autumn stories. John Craven enjoys the natural splendour of the Lake District, while Jules Hudson investigates Lyme disease.

John Craven is enjoying the natural splendour of Cumbria's Lake District. Meanwhile, Jules Hudson is investigating the rise in Lyme disease, which has hit celebrities such as former international rugby player Matt Dawson, and finds out how it could be just as deadly for people's pet dogs.

Keeley Donovan unravels the story of the home-grown wool industry that is warming up after decades in the doldrums. Margherita Taylor lifts the lid on a surprising culinary tale of one of our favourite Autumn staples.

There are also some Countryfile top tips to see wildlife this Autumn, and Paul Martin is on the trail of the magical powers of the mushroom.

44 minutes

Last on

Tue 31 Oct 2017 06:30

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Music Played

  • Wild Beasts

    Hooting and Howling

Lyme disease

Lyme disease

Lyme disease is one of the most painful, debilitating diseases and there is no cure. Jules Hudson and his dog, Teddy, discover how a simple visit to the park for former rugby player, Matt Dawson, resulted in his hospitalisation after a bite from an infected tick.

Jules finds out if an increase in deer in the UK can be blamed for a rise in ticks, the tiny terrors that can pass on this awful illness.

But it is not only us who are in danger of infection. Jules finds out about The Big Tick Project and learns that the illness can also affect our favourite pets and what we can do to protect both ourselves and our canine companions while still enjoying the great outdoors.

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Knitting for Britain

Knitting for Britain

With autumn in full swing it won’t be long before we’re reaching for our favourite woolly jumpers and when it comes to British wool, it seems there has been something of a resurgence. Crafts such as knitting have become so popular that there is even a hotel solely dedicated to knitting holidaymakers. Keeley Donovan has checked in to find out what all the fuss is about before embarking on a road trip to find out how and why British wool is back on trend.

Bonkers for conkers

Bonkers for conkers

Every Autumn the village of Southwick hosts the World Conker Championships, with children and adults battling it out. But there is more to this nut than meets the eye, as Naomi Wilkinson discovers. 

During the First World War a call went out for Scouts and schools across the country to gather as many conkers as possible, but how could the humble conker help the war effort?

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The great British bean

The great British bean

As the summer draws to a close, farmers across the country are gathering in the harvest. Amongst the usual suspects is a new variety of a much loved bean that has the potential to bring one of our favourite British food staples a lot closer to home. Margherita Taylor is in Hertfordshire to find out what it takes to grow the first British baked beans.

Does a ‘Wood Wide Web’ exist?

Does a ‘Wood Wide Web’ exist?

Can trees communicate? And what have mushrooms got to do with it? Paul Martin meets a fungi expert to dig into the myths surrounding a network for trees, nicknamed the ‘Wood Wide Web’. Find out what is really going on beneath the forest floor and learn one way you can grow your very own mushrooms. 

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter John Craven
Presenter Keeley Donovan
Presenter Jules Hudson
Presenter Paul Martin
Presenter Margherita Taylor
Presenter Naomi Wilkinson
Series Producer Rebecca Nunn
Executive Producer William Lyons

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