主播大秀

Anita鈥檚 on a fast rib navigating Britain鈥檚 most dangerous inland waterway, the Menai Strait. This narrow body of tidal water separates Anglesey from mainland Wales. It was used by Admiral Nelson as a shortcut and even he is said to have described it as 鈥渙ne the most treacherous stretches of sea in the world.鈥� Anita discovers how the bed of the strait was first mapped and then gets a very modern view of what makes this passage of water so dangerous.

Matt Baker launches this year鈥檚 Countryfile Ramble for 主播大秀 Children in Need. 聽Taking place over the weekend of 8th and 9th October, the aim is that for one weekend Countryfile viewers cover the country, rambling and raising money to help some of Britain鈥檚 most disadvantaged youngsters. 聽Matt, Ellie, John, Adam and Anita are leading the way by putting on their own rambles and you can apply to join them. 聽Some of those helped by Children in Need will also join these rambles 鈥� including the Shilston family whose children are being supported by a Children in Need funded counsellor following their dad鈥檚 diagnosis with motor neurone disease. 聽

Tom Heap gets a sneak preview of the biggest survey ever carried out into Britain鈥檚 plants, animals and insects and it makes for troubling reading. The report highlights farmland as an area of particular worry. Tom investigates why so many of our native species are in decline and what can be done to bring them back. The State of Nature 2016 report will be released on Wednesday 14th September.

Anita stops off in the Menai Strait at Ynys Gored Goch, in English Red Weir Island. This rocky outcrop situated between the Telford and Britannia Bridges has been inhabited for centuries and fishing has always been at the heart of life here. Anita meets local angler Peter Betts who liked the island so much he bought it! He helps Anita recreate a local tradition of Whitebait teas as they both sample the fish caught on the island.

Last week it was Ireland and Wales, this week meet the teams representing England and Scotland for the One Man and His Dog finals. Adam meets England鈥檚 Dick Roper and his dog Will in Gloucestershire as they practice for the trials and then catches up with the other half of the England team, 16 year old, Tom Blease and his bitch Queen in the Lakeland Fells. Heading further north Adam crosses the border to meet team Scotland, John MacKillop and his 7 year old dog Joe and junior Scottish competitor Jocky Welsh and Nell. Find out who will win this year鈥檚 title on September 25th.

Back on dryish land Anita is on the hunt for medicinal leeches. No longer used in medicine they are now an endangered species found in only about twenty locations across the UK.聽 She meets up with Chris Wynne while he is out catching leeches for a survey. After Chris鈥� attempt to convince Anita that these are really beautiful creatures, she catches up with Hannah Shaw, who is surely one of the only people in Britain who keeps one as a pet 鈥� meet Lesley the leech as he/she make his/her Countryfile debut!聽