Countryfile - Season 34

John Craven pays tribute to inspirational young people who are doing their bit for farming and the countryside, including volunteers, rangers and a 14-year-old shepherdess.

Sean Fletcher is in the snowy Cairngorms as we mark the centenary of the death of the great explorer Ernest Shackleton. In this mesmerising yet unforgiving landscape, Sean meets adventurer Mollie Hughes, who solo-crossed the Antarctic following in Shackleton's footsteps, and discovers just how tough it is to train and trek in some of the harshest conditions in the UK. Sean also meets two scouts who are preparing to go on a Shackleton expedition, and learns some vital survival tricks. We also catch up with young naturalist Xander, who is on a mission to help save the northern damselfly, while Adam Henson discovers the damage growing numbers of deer are causing to farmers, and Tom Heap investigates the cost of renewable energy to our rural homes.

Matt Baker and Charlotte Smith visit the last traditional farm in the Bristol postcode to meet a farmer fighting to keep her farm and her connection with the local community she feeds. Matt helps out with a spot of animal husbandry and some porcine romance while Charlotte discovers how the farmland provides the city with a 'green lung' and a wildlife haven. On his Cotswolds farm, Adam Henson is keeping the peace between two testosterone-fuelled rams, and Charlotte also investigates whether cuts to rural youth work are putting youngsters at risk of criminal exploitation.

On the 50th anniversary of the miners' strikes, Matt Baker and Anita Rani are in County Durham on the Heritage Coast to discover how this area has risen from the ashes and reinvented itself after pit closures. Matt finds out how a colliery has become a nature reserve, and Anita discovers how one pit is now enjoying a new lease of life as a source for cutting-edge clean, green energy. Also, Tom Heap investigates the hidden threat facing countryside communities living in the shadow of our mining past, and Adam Henson sees how the avian flu crisis is threatening the livelihood of free range egg farmers.

Matt Baker and Ellie Harrison visit the largest privately owned estate in Devon, which has been in the same family for more than 700 years, to discover how the 25,000 acres are shaping up to the future. Matt joins the calving team at Clinton Devon Estates and sets the wheels in motion at a 900-year-old watermill, while Ellie checks out a mammoth project where the sea will be more than welcome to flood the land. Then, she meets the organic farming duo who also juggle part-time jobs as a lecturer and a GP. Adam's getting ready for spring on his farm, and Charlotte investigates what the new environmental land management schemes will mean for the future of food production.

Matt Baker and Ellie Harrison are at the Allerton Project in Leicestershire, where cutting-edge research by farmers for farmers enables agriculture to keep ahead of the challenges facing the industry. Matt finds out how sheep urine is contributing to climate change, Ellie discovers the miracles of the humble hedge, and binoculars at the ready, both do their bit for the Big Farmland Bird Count. Also, Tom Heap investigates what's being done to keep antibiotic-resistant superbugs out of the food chain, and Adam Henson is busy with winter checks on his livestock.

Matt Baker and Joe Crowley get their walking boots on as they visit Snowdonia National Park. Home to Wales's largest natural lake and its highest mountain, Mount Snowdon, the park shot to the top of the staycation list last summer as more Brits than ever holidayed on home turf. But Snowdonia is paying the price for its popularity, as the heavy influx of tourists is taking its toll on the landscape. Matt finds out about the invisible scourge of micro-plastics plaguing the scenic landscape, while Joe mucks in with a mountain makeover as he helps repair the footpaths. Tom Heap investigates the growing problem of vandalism and anti-social behaviour in our National Parks, and Adam Henson visits a farm in Wiltshire where cow dung is being used to generate electricity.

This week we're visiting the Holkham Estate in Norfolk. Joe Crowley witnesses the awesome spectacle of thousands of overwintering pink footed geese leaving their roost. Matt Baker unearths the remarkable life buried deep in long-abandoned ponds and discovers which exotic creatures have a penchant for a certain type of oak. Charlotte investigates why the UK's sugar beet farmers are facing an uncertain future, and it's a visit to the vet for Adam's trusty sheepdog Peg. Could her working days be numbered?

John Craven is at Wrest Park in Bedfordshire to help with an ambitious 20-year restoration project. He also delves into the archives, revisiting other Countryfile renovation stories.

Matt Baker and Charlotte Smith head to the High Weald on the border of Sussex and Kent, where Matt meets a visionary architect and Charlotte visits a family preserving the art of blacksmithing.

Charlotte Smith and Tom Heap are on the River Severn to find out how living with the constant threat of floods is affecting rural communities and how climate change could make things worse.

To mark British Pie Week, Countryfile is in the birthplace of the pork pie – Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. Margherita Taylor visits the cathedral of pies, home of the British Pie Awards, to find out what makes for pie perfection. Matt Baker discovers Melton Mowbray's other mouthwatering delight, stilton cheese, and Matt and Margherita both put their tastebuds to the test as they try the art of pairing food and beer. Adam is on the trail of Somerset strawberries grown all year round, and who will be top dog when comedians Tim Vine and Kiri Pritchard-McLean go head-to-head in a special Red Nose sheepdog trial for Comic Relief?

Like so many farmers across the UK, Adam Henson is facing a dilemma. In the face of pressure to go green, how can you change your farming habits and still pay the bills? Adam catches up with his neighbor, David Wilson, who is a regenerative farmer, to find out more about one of the big new trends in agriculture and to see what ideas might work on Adam's farm.

Charlotte Smith checks out the soil on both farms and investigates 'greenwashing'. As big companies start buying up land for carbon off-setting, are they putting the UK's food production at risk?

Anita Rani and Sean Fletcher explore the beautiful south west corner of Wales as they celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Anita faces her fears as she abseils 100 feet down a sea cliff to discover how best to protect the nesting spots of the thousands of sea birds that flock here. Sean meets the artist behind the coveted annual fish licence and heads to Angel Bay to discover how to farm oysters. Adam's Exmoor ponies are in for a treat when a farrier gives them a pedicure and they meet a new stallion. and in a special investigation, BBC News's rural affairs correspondent Claire Marshall meets the farmers with Parkinson's Disease who fear their condition could be linked to years of using a toxic herbicide.

Countryfile's Plant Britain by the Sea special shines the spotlight on the incredible coastline of our island and how we can all do our bit to help combat climate change, revive the fortunes of our wildlife and boost our own mental wellbeing. Matt Baker launches Countryfile's Coastal Clean Up initiative while Ellie Harrison helps to sew meadows out at sea and discovers the miracle properties of seagrass. Charlotte Smith goes on the hunt for rare dune plants saved from the brink of extinction, John Craven finds out how helping our coast to be in the best of health is also remedying young people's eco anxiety, and Tom Heap investigates the importance of protecting our sand dunes.

John Craven visits two villages in Herefordshire to find out about ancient rural Easter customs and traditions from field blessings to grave dressing and the pax biscuit, which, 500 years on, is still eaten at this time of year as a token of peace and good neighbourliness. Stained glass artist Tamsin Abbot creates a special piece to celebrate Easter and spring, inspired by the beautiful countryside around her. And John delves into the Easter archives for some treats, including the time Matt made a very special delivery to the Isles of Scilly and when Sean discovered the significance of wild daffodils.

It's springtime in County Down, where Anita Rani and Joe Crowley meet the Mackies of Mahee Island during the first of four seasonal visits this year. Anita gets a tour of the family's very own arboretum and is introduced to the art of a well-known friend, while Joe lends a hand on the farm as the cattle head to the fields for spring. He also hears from the family's conservationist about how they created their own wetland – one of Northern Ireland's wildlife treasures. Also, Tom Heap investigates how the war in Ukraine has sparked a surge in the cost of fertiliser which could affect the price of the food on our plates.

Nothing says spring quite like lambing, and Adam Henson is in his lambing shed getting ready for the last of his new arrivals. Anita Rani meets 15-year-old shepherd Katie on her family farm in Cumbria. Anita has never lambed before but soon finds herself at the sharp end of an emotional rollercoaster in the battle to save lives. Adam is also joined by Pip Jenkins from top knitwear company John Smedley and designer and Great British Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant to decide the winner of Countryfile's bobble competition for Children in Need. And with the cost of living on the rise, we rediscover forgotten cheap lamb cuts which are enjoying a revival.

Countryfile this week visits the breathtaking coastline of Mount's Bay in Cornwall and explores the magical St Michael's Mount. Matt Baker is in for some extreme gardening as he abseils on the island's craggy cliffs, while Margherita Taylor takes to the water to meet the team of female gig boat rowers who are going for gold in the world championships.

Charlotte Smith investigates how the UK's shortage of farm vets is threatening not just animal health but also our own. Adam's getting ready for the arrival of some very special calves. And, in the first of a series of five films, Adrian Chiles explores some of the fascinating customs from around the British Isles. Today, he's just along the coast in Mousehole and discovers an intriguing Cornish tradition or two.

Matt Baker and Ellie Harrison explore the grounds of the beautiful Blenheim Palace estate, meeting the people who make this place tick. Matt catches up with young apprentices who are learning the tools of their trades. As well as lending a hand with lambing, Matt is also kept busy with essential maintenance. Ellie makes a beeline for the ancient woodland and finds herself swinging from one of their prized oaks in search of a rare bee. Adrian Chiles is in Dorking to meet the creator of a weird and wonderful take on the traditional horse-drawn carriage, while Adam Henson catches up with students on a new initiative to introduce young people from the city to careers in agriculture. And Tom Heap investigates claims that by 2050 the UK could run out of water.

In Ystradgynlais in south Wales, Joe Crowley visits a local rugby club where mental health is every bit as important a physical fitness. Anita Rani gets knitting with a group of grandmothers whose woolly wonders have given them a new lease of life. Tom Heap discovers what new rules around gene editing could mean for the future of our food. Nigel Owens, former international rugby referee turned farmer and current president of the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs, explains how he has dealt with mental health, and Adam Henson catches up with a young Welsh farmer to find out what can be done to combat loneliness in agriculture. Adrian Chiles is in Dorking in Surrey to explore more weird and wonderful goings-on in our countryside.

As cycling booms, Matt Baker and Ellie Harrison jump on their bikes to explore a new greenway in Warwickshire. It's the latest National Cycle Route to open in the UK. Matt hops off to discover the secrets of Britain's mini-dinosaur, the great crested newt, and meets the people moving heaven and earth to protect them. Ellie goes in search of the water vole, one of the UK's rarest water mammals, and meets a walking group who are mapping and reviewing thousands of accessible walkways in a whole new way.

Adrian Chiles has a go at a local tradition in the village of Upperthong in Yorkshire, while Adam is in for a surprise when he welcomes Lexi the Suffolk Punch's new foal. And Tom Heap investigates the increase in cycling deaths on our rural roads.

The team visit Flat Holm, an island perched in the middle of the Bristol Channel. Tiny as it is, it packs a punch, as Matt Baker discovers the fascinating history of the place, from pirates and queens to the birthplace of radio. Ellie Harrison ducks for cover from divebombing gulls, while Joe Crowley investigates the water companies still dumping sewage into our rivers. Adrian Chiles coracles off the west coast of Wales as he discovers more fascinating tales from across our countryside, and to celebrate the platinum jubilee weekend, Adam finds out more about the Queen's passion for a special pony.

John Craven visits the Mardale Valley in Cumbria. The Lake District is one of the best-recognised landscapes in Britain, but in this neck of the woods, it's all set to change.

At Haweswater Reservoir, John meets the people behind the new radical thinking to boost biodiversity. John also enjoys a very special breakfast with one of our rarest mammals, the red squirrel, and he meets wildlife film-maker and photographer Hamza Yassin to launch this year's Countryfile photographic competition with two new categories for children and young people. Adrian Chiles lifts the lid on Manx customs on the Isle of Man, Adam sells one of his prized Gloucester bulls, and Charlotte Smith investigates the recent poisoning of sea eagles in Southern England.

Sean Fletcher visits Whitby. Isolated between the North York Moors National Park and the sombre North Sea, it's not a place you stumble upon; it's a destination. This North Yorkshire seaside town has been attracting people with its architectural, geological and literary charms for generations. This May marks the 125th year since the publication of Bram Stoker's Dracula, a novel that was influenced by Whitby's folkloric past and continues to shape this maritime outpost. To celebrate the occasion, Sean is in town visiting the people of Whitby who work and protect its coastline today, providing a springboard for a deep dive into our archives of coastal Britain.

Charlotte Smith is back in the Cotswolds on Adam's farm to find out how he's getting on with his plan to try out regenerative farming, the big new trend in British agriculture. As well as catching up with his farmer neighbour David Wilson, who is showing him the ropes, Adam also meets a robot that could one day eliminate the need for pesticides. Charlotte visits an innovator in Wiltshire who is recycling waste into fertiliser that could help farmers battling sky-high prices. But how realistic is the shift to regen farming for farmers like Adam, and with the war in Ukraine, is this the right time to try it?

Matt Baker and Charlotte Smith pay the first of two visits to Jersey, where they find out about the agile frog that is capable of leaping up to two metres but is on the brink of extinction on this Channel Island.

Matt mucks in on an organic farm producing exotic fruit and vegetables for the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, with a little help from what comes naturally, while Charlotte explores how the brutal landmarks of German occupation are being repurposed to boost the local economy. Meanwhile, Adam is in search of a new sheepdog pup to take over from his faithful companion Peg, who is nearing retirement, and Tom investigates the potential impact on rural communities of plans to double nuclear capacity within 30 years.

Matt Baker and Margherita Taylor are in the New Forest in Hampshire, as the community comes together to help Ukrainian refugees. Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, more than 50,000 people have arrived in the UK, and rural communities across the country are giving them a warm welcome. Margherita meets a mother and daughter who have fled the war and found sanctuary in the Hampshire countryside, while Matt lends a hand to a group of volunteers collecting and packing Humanitarian Aid to send to Ukraine. Tom Heap spends time with Ukrainian farm workers who have escaped the war and are providing a vital rural workforce for the UK, and Adam Henson chats to a farmer in Ukraine and finds out what impact the war is having on agriculture there.

It's summer, and Margherita Taylor is on Mahee Island in County Down to meet the Mackie family for the second of three Countryfile visits to the island. Margherita joins Julie to go through the family archives, which reveal what life was like during World War II when they hosted evacuees from Belfast and Europe. Young naturalist Dara McAnulty reveals how the great outdoors helped with exam nerves, while Charlotte investigates what the Northern Ireland protocol means for farmers, and Adam finds out how avian flu might affect the Christmas turkey market.

Charlotte Smith and Matt Baker are back on Jersey for a second visit to the sunny channel island. After a dramatic entrance via the sea, they discover how people power stopped development on Jersey's sensitive coastline and why the battle is on to save the island's puffins, which are on the brink of extinction. Matt discovers the healing powers of surfing, and we meet the rugby-playing mates who decided to try making their own sea salt after running out of the stuff at a beach barbecue. We also catch up with the Power Rangers, young environmentalists doing their bit for the island. Adam Henson takes some pigs to school, and Tom Heap investigates how the UK's worst ever avian flu outbreak is devastating some of our most precious seabird colonies and could pull the shutters down on British poultry farmers once again.

John Craven and Margherita Taylor are in Blairgowrie, also known as Berry Town, in the east of Scotland, to celebrate the town's passion for producing what are said to be among the finest raspberries in the world.

John steps back in time to discover how this town would come alive in the summer months as people flocked from the cities of Scotland for picking holidays to make a penny or two, and he finds out why this neck of the woods is so perfect for growing these luscious summer fruits. Margherita reveals the secrets of the world's tallest hedge and tries her hand at the dying craft of hand-making kilts.

Adam Henson has a busy day on the farm, including welcoming some new arrivals. And Charlotte Smith investigates if our farmers can still feed us all despite big targets to free up land for nature.

Matt and Charlotte visit the world-famous Hadrian's Wall as it celebrates its astonishing 1900th anniversary to uncover some hidden histories of the area.

Charlotte makes an amazing discovery at the Roman fort of Vindolanda, an archaeological excavation site where they are unearthing the lives of women and children of our past, and meets the chemist trying to chart the changes beneath the surface. Matt finds out about the rich multicultural history of the soldiers that manned the wall - from Syrian archers to Iraqi bargemen on the Tyne - and meets the artist who's brightly coloured art installation has brought a Roman fort's history to life.

Meanwhile, Adam is also in Northumberland, learning how one farming family is turbo-charging birds, and Tom Heap investigates why the aging, government-owned Scottish island ferry service is leaving locals feeling cast adrift.

Ellie Harrison is at Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue to help care for injured creatures great and small, from orphaned fledglings to deer and hedgehogs. Ellie finds out why rescue centres across the UK become increasingly busy during the summer months and why this Oxfordshire centre is under so much pressure that it has had to temporarily close its doors. In just six months, it has taken in the number of wild animals it would normally help in a year.

Ellie also delves into the Countryfile archives to revisit films by some of Britain's finest wildlife film-makers about the wonders of our natural world. Richard Taylor Jones revealed the wooing techniques of a kestrel desperate to impress a potential mate, Tom Hartwell took us up close with the mason bee, Hamza Yassin went in search of red deer fawns, and Jack Perks revealed the wealth of wildlife living in his garden pond.

Just a few miles from London, Matt Baker and Charlotte Smith revel in the serenity and beauty of the Surrey Hills - a landscape that was home to one of Britain's best-loved composers, Ralph Vaughan Williams. This year marks the 150th anniversary of his birth, and world-renowned violinist Pekka Kuusisto treats us to a very special performance of The Lark Ascending. Charlotte finds out how farmers could help to reverse the fortunes of the skylark, one of our favourites songbirds, while Matt sniffs out some fabulous local produce including a cheese called Dirty Vicar. We meet 3D embroiderer Amanda Cobbett, who creates incredibly lifelike masterpieces of local nature. Tom Heap investigates why saving our trees could mean declaring war on grey squirrels, and Adam Henson meets Pat Quinn, one of the driving forces behind saving longhorn cattle and Cotswold sheep, who swapped a life of rally racing for farming. Now in her nineties, she's hanging up her wellies.

As the heat bakes the British countryside into crisis, Adam Henson and John Craven meet those on the front line: the farmer who is double sewing and trying a new crop; the wildlife champions battling to save chalk streams, some of the most vital but fragile habitats in the world; and the firefighters and scientists contending with the wildfires ravaging swathes of our landscape.

John also meets the winemakers who, thanks to the scorching summer, could have a vintage harvest, and finds out how the heatwave has revealed some hidden historic secrets. Lastly, he teams up with Wildlife Trust ambassador and much-loved actress Alison Steadman and wildlife film-maker Hamza Yassin to decide which photographs will grace 2023's Countryfile calendar for Children in Need.

As the BBC marks its centenary, Adam Henson and Margherita Taylor step back in time at Cogges Farm in Oxfordshire to look at farming 100 years ago and to chart the radical changes which have shaped our countryside – from the appearance of the first tractor to the changing role of women in agriculture.

Adam gets behind some serious horse power to tend the land while Margherita tries her hand at pickles and preserves and discovers how women made their mark beyond the farmhouse kitchen. Farmer Helen Browning, Chief Executive of The Soil Association, reveals the heroines who inspired her while 90-year-old author and retired farmer Bryan Edgley reminisces on how farming has changed in his lifetime.

We also meet 10-year-old Isabella in the first of Countryfile's Ramble appeal films whose life has been transformed thanks to her remarkable specially-trained assistance dog Storm, who's helping her with her autism. And Charlotte Smith investigates if trade deals with the likes of Australia could undermine the UK's drive to be carbon neutral.

Margherita Taylor is in the Quantock Hills to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge, one of the leading lights of the Romantic movement that took its inspiration from the beauty of the British landscape. The Quantocks were a huge influence on Coleridge, who was an inveterate walker in the area when he was living here in Somerset, and Margherita joins some young people to put quill to paper.

Margherita also visits the Somerset Levels, which this year is becoming the UK's second 'super' national nature reserve. She comes face to face with some of the wetlands' tiniest residents and discovers a legend or two. Adam introduces the Irish and English rivals who will do battle in this year's One Man and His Dog competition, while Tom examines the crisis facing pig farmers. And, as we prepare to ramble in aid of BBC Children in Need, we meet remarkable 13-year-old Saul, who refuses to let dwarfism stand in the way of adventure.

Joe Crowley is on the south Devon coast, the stunning English Riviera where disco scallops are the talk of the town. A chance discovery that they react to lights could revolutionise scallop fishing. Joe also discovers how new technology can reveal some watery wonders without having to put a toe in the sea, and we meet the farming brothers who've turned to aquaponics. Adam Henson meets the two final contenders going for glory in One Man and His Dog. For Scotland, it's veteran Sandy and his dog Sam, while Dewi and Jock run for Wales. John Craven catches up with the winner of Countryfile's 2023 Calendar in aid of Children in Need, and we meet young Riley, who doesn't let a rare lung condition stand in his way of conquering the world.

For some, it's been the earliest harvest ever in the UK. We join Adam Henson on his farm to find out if he's being persuaded by pioneering neighbour David Wilson to give regenerative farming a go. It's the big new buzzword in agriculture, but how do Adam's conventional crops compare to David's heritage breeds? And who comes out on top in terms of profit and for soil health?

As energy costs rocket, Charlotte Smith finds out whether methane might be fuelling our tractors in the future and also if a giant grass could help to heat our homes. Tom Heap investigates why British farmers need to grow more protein, and we meet the Norfolk whisky maker who reckons he can give the Scots and the Irish a run for their money.

Anita Rani is in a green pocket of Blackburn to catch up with fashion designer and Great British Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant to find out about the growing field-to-fashion movement. Patrick is behind a movement to revive the flax industry, once a mainstay of British agriculture, to create home-grown linen. Anita also tries her hand at spinning and finds out about growing woad to dye locally produced cloth. And she raids the Countryfile archives to celebrate British field-to-fashion artisans from tanners to sock makers, including the time Charlotte gave an angora rabbit a hair cut.

In a small field in north Wales, four of the UK's top handlers and their sheepdogs go head-to-head, aiming to claim this year's One Man and His Dog trophy. Overlooked by the famous Offa's Dyke, the course at Bodfari is small and simple, leaving our competing teams nowhere to hide from the expert eye of the judge, Mike Northwood. Can English outsider Jessica Saukkonen and her dog Gannon or Scottish veteran Sandy McCulloch and his dog Sam outdo the reigning International Supreme Champions, Wales's Dewi Jenkins and Jock? Dewi took the title from Ireland's Tom O'Sullivan, who is looking for revenge with his sheepdog Tess, so there's everything to play for. And we meet 15-year-old Claudia Patterson and her faithful companion Jean. She got the sheepdog trialling bug when she was just five years old, and in a showcase round demonstrates why she's one to look out for the future.

Matt Baker introduces a special episode that comes from all four corners of the UK. Ben Nevis, Slieve Donard, Yr Wyddfa and Scafell Pike – the highest peaks of our four nations are the breathtaking backdrop for a massive art installation. Hundreds of volunteers, or 'lumenators', with specially designed bespoke lights, head for the peaks for this ambitious project celebrating access to and custodianship of the countryside. With a presenter on each of the mountains, we go behind the scenes to discover the vision behind the project, hear the stories of the volunteers and find out how the lighting and drone teams tackled some testing challenges. It all culminates with a 15-minute spectacle marking the finale of the Green Space, Dark Skies project.

It's the big ramble for BBC Children in Need as our presenters step out to meet some inspirational young people and to discover how they have been helped by the charity.

Matt Baker is in Northern Ireland with Saul, aged 12, who has a rare form of dwarfism and an unquenchable thirst for adventure, enabled by CiN support. From canoeing to abseiling in the worst of weathers, nothing deters Saul, and there's a surprise or two to keep him going.

Anita Rani is in Wales on a testing ramble up Pumlumon - the highest peak of the Cambrian Mountains - with 11-year-old Riley, who has a rare lung condition. In North Yorkshire, Charlotte Smith joins Isabella, aged 10, and her special assistance dog, Storm, for a walk and a day on the farm. Isabella is autistic, and Storm has helped to change her life.

In Scotland, Margherita Taylor is with 13-year-old Megan and her brother Euan, aged 15, to discover how they were helped to cope with the tragic death of their best friend who took his own life. And ramble master John Craven is at Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire - one of his favourite walking spots - to catch up with ramblers from all over the UK to find out their favourite haunts and how they're helping to support Children in Need.

Margherita Taylor visits Mount Edgecumbe Country Park in Cornwall to mark Remembrance Sunday. She discovers how ex-servicemen and women are being helped to heal old wounds and develop new skills for the future. For many veterans, the transition from military to civilian life can be tough, but dedicated charities and initiatives can help to give them a new start in life – from solace and healing in nature to training in cutting-edge technology in the battle against poaching and deforestation across the globe. Charlotte Smith meets farmers dealing with eye-watering energy costs, Adam Henson reveals who will be crowned Countryfile Young Countryside Champion of the Year at the BBC Food & Farming awards, and chef and food writer Romy Gill meets some inspiring young countryside cooks.

As Countryfile's Plant Britain initiative to plant three quarters of a million trees across the UK reaches its climax, John Craven and Ellie Harrison are at the Countryfile wood in Cheshire. Planting here began just two years ago, but John and Ellie discover how the saplings are already helping nature. Ellie also checks out the positive impact trees have on the planet, from seed to deadwood. Charlotte Smith finds out how community gardens are changing lives and discovers the fascinating underground system that enables trees to talk to each other. Tom Heap visits the high-security government labs working to protect trees from climate change and disease. And finally, after two years of Countryfile viewers so magnificently pulling together, John and Ellie reveal an exciting update.

Matt Baker and Sean Fletcher roll up their sleeves to help out on a remarkable smallholding in Bedfordshire. Farmer Mike Duxbury lost his sight at the age of six due to glaucoma, but that didn't stop him from achieving his dream to farm. Touch and sound enable him to navigate the farm and take on anything that needs doing, from checking livestock to wielding power tools to build animal enclosures. And Mike is determined to inspire young people with disabilities to get into agriculture by running practical courses.

Meanwhile, Joe Crowley investigates if enough is being done to combat wildlife crime, and Adam Henson catches up with a farmer who nearly lost his livelihood due to injury.

Anita Rani is at the world-famous Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust in Slimbridge, a centre of research and conservation founded by Sir Peter Scott in 1946, to discover some wonderful winter sights. Anita waits for one of the most magical moments in the Slimbridge calendar, the arrival of Bewick's swans. Having flown all the way from Russia, these rarest and smallest of swans land here to spend the winter in warmer climes – a phenomenon known to locals as ‘swanfall'. Anita meets Mary, one of the original ‘swan girls', who explains how she used to spend long hours silently observing the Bewick's. Anita also spends time with Slimbridge reserve manager Dave Paynter as he reveals the changes he's made during his 40 years working at the site. Anita also embraces the coming winter as she raids the Countryfile archives, reminding us of Ellie's wildlife safari in Scotland where she spotted wild mountain hares, and the time John walked with wolves.

Rural households are more vulnerable to the current energy crisis and fuel poverty due to lower wages, poorly insulated buildings and a heavy reliance on cars. However, there are some communities that are finding ways to take power into their own hands - literally.

Ellie Harrison heads to Bethesda, a village in rural north west Wales built around former slate quarries and the River Ogwen that is now home to a growing community of energy self-sufficiency. With hydro pumps, solar panels, e-transport, energy wardens and repurposed buildings, this local community has found a way not only to try and survive this crisis but ultimately thrive. Ellie visits a community warm space in the Ogwen Valley where locals are reducing their fuel bills through communal dining and shared transport. It's a model village for renewable and sustainable energy alternatives, run by and for the locals, that could potentially be rolled out across rural Britain.

Tom Heap investigates whether the UK is bankrolling climate change. The energy crisis and a war in Europe has renewed the debate on the UK's energy security, with the government now incentivising energy companies to invest in new fossil fuel projects in the North Sea - despite the fact that the UK is supposed to be reducing its carbon emissions and moving over to clean energy. Adam Henson provides an update on how the avian flu epidemic is impacting poultry farmers. Chef Romy Gill meets a 10-year-old in north Wales who is passionate about baking with home-grown produce.

John Craven and Anita Rani get into the Christmas spirit at Rockingham Castle, which is celebrating its 950th anniversary. Anita discovers that Charles Dickens was a regular visitor during the festive season, and would perform plays not only for the Lords and Ladies but also the servants.

Anita forages for greenery to make a Christmas wreath, and John joins a wildlife survey to discover what is making their Christmas home in the castle's famous elephant yew hedge.

Chef and food writer Romy Gill is hard at work in Rockingham's kitchen to create Christmas treats with the four young cooks she's met on her travels, while Adam Henson is on the trail of rogue mistletoe. Tom Heap looks at social eating and how it might be the answer to food poverty, social isolation and food waste, while Charlotte Smith finds out how our farmers are getting a raw deal for the produce they put on our plates.

Margherita Taylor is in Auchindrain, a fascinating and perfectly preserved example of a Scottish Highland farm township to discover the roots and traditions surrounding New Year and Burns' Night. She discovers how tough life was and why Christmas was once illegal in Scotland. And she delves into the Countryfile archive to celebrate other seasonal customs, revisiting the time Ellie Harrison embraced Coorie and when John Craven learned about the ancient tradition of Gaelic psalm singing.