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John's Home Patch

John Craven meets super-fundraiser Captain – now Colonel – Tom Moore. Adam Henson turns teacher as he introduces his piglets to some home-schooled children.

John Craven is at home in his garden where he gives us tips on what butterflies to look out for and how to get involved in a nationwide survey and he catches up with super fund-raiser Captain – now Colonel – Tom Moore to discover what role the countryside has played in his life. We also find out how Hannah Jackson, the Red Shepherdess, is getting on with her two new collie puppies as she puts them through their first paces as working dogs. And Adam Henson turns teacher as he brings his piglets to the country’s home-schooled children.

54 minutes

Butterfly Conservation

Butterfly Conservation

Butterfly Conservation ask for help to record butterfly sightings in our gardens and local areas across the UK. 

Butterflies are a highly-sensitive indicator of environmental health so this data is vitally important, as butterfly scientist Dr Caroline Bulman explains from her home in Dorset.

Here Dr Bulman is recording butterflies with her family and shows us how it’s done.

Captain Sir Tom Moore

Captain Sir Tom Moore

Captain Sir Tom Moore shares memories with John of growing up in the countryside of West Yorkshire and serving in Burma during the Second World War.  

John’s father was a prisoner of war in Burma but rarely spoke of his experiences, so John asks Captain Sir Tom to shed some light on what it was like to be part of the ‘Forgotten Army’.

Farming Fortnight

Farming Fortnight

This week Adam receives a challenge from an old friend to ditch his Countryfile cameraman, get out his phone and record some footage of the fantastic pigs he has on the farm.

This is all part of Countryside Classroom's 'Farming Fortnight', which starts on the 1st of June.

The scheme is designed to encourage farmers around the country to record videos of the vibrant mix of life around them - and help educate young people about the farming world.

Ecklinville apple tree

John has a rare Ecklinville apple tree at the bottom of his garden which was once popular with Victorians for making apple sauce. 

Red Shepherdess

Red Shepherdess

Hannah Jackson - aka vlogger The Red Shepherdess - has her hands full with the arrival of two new Welsh collie puppies.  

They are only a few weeks old so their proper training won’t begin for months but right now it’s important and fun to introduce the puppies to all the other animals on her mixed upland farm.

Witney Town Band

Witney Town Band

Witney Town Band in Oxfordshire has been continuing to practice and play during coronavirus restrictions via the internet.  

And the community brass band even performed the Countryfile theme tune.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter John Craven
Presenter Hannah Jackson
Presenter Adam Henson
Series Editor Jane Lomas
Executive Producer Bill Lyons

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