Countryfile: New Forest (BBC One, Sunday, January 26, 2025)

Countryfile Key Art

This week, Countryfile heads to the New Forest, a landscape shaped not just by nature, but by the animals that call it home—and the humans who manage them. Adam Henson and Sean Fletcher take the reins (or perhaps the lead ropes), exploring the delicate balance between tradition, conservation, and, of course, the occasional adorable piglet.

Adam looks into the ancient practice of commoning, where local farmers have grazing rights on the forest’s open lands. He meets with the head agister, the individual tasked with overseeing this age-old system, no doubt encountering a few bureaucratic tangles along the way. Meanwhile, Sean tackles the restoration of lowland heath, a vital habitat for a variety of species. He also pays a visit to a community woodland where Shire horses are employed for coppicing, a sustainable forestry technique, and attempts to spot the elusive hawfinch. Because what’s a Countryfile episode without a bit of birdwatching?

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Beyond the picturesque scenery and ecological discussions, Countryfile also shines a light on the entrepreneurial spirit of the region. Viewers will meet a goat farmer who has diversified her business by creating soaps from her goats’ milk, proving that resourcefulness is as much a part of rural life as mud-caked boots and unpredictable weather. Plus, for those who prefer their livestock with a bit more oink, the episode features a young pig farmer in Shropshire who is equally passionate about conservation and bacon sandwiches—or at least one assumes so.

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Countryfile airs Sunday, January 26 at 6:00 pm on BBC One.

Isabelle aka Izzy Jacobs is the features editor at memorabletv.com. Isabelle is particularly drawn to crime dramas, but she also has a not so secret love for all things reality TV. In addition to her work at memorabletv.com, Isabelle is also an avid traveler and a devoted foodie.