Countryfile, the televisual equivalent of a warm cup of tea and a digestive biscuit. This Sunday, however, it looks to be a bit more stimulating than a rich tea, swapping out the usual gentle amble through picturesque fields for a slightly more caffeinated exploration of Woodoaks Farm in Hertfordshire.
Gifted to the Soil Association in 2020, Woodoaks represents a novel approach – a place where nature and agriculture attempt to coexist, possibly even thrive, together. John Craven, ever the inquisitive rural reporter, is on the case, digging into the farm’s ambitious plans for the future and its attempts to rewrite the usual narrative of agricultural exploitation.
But Countryfile wouldn’t be Countryfile without a healthy dose of history, so this week features an intriguing glimpse into the past, thanks to the unearthing of a local farmer’s diary from 150 years ago. One can only imagine the agrarian wisdom contained within those time-worn pages, though if it involves crop rotation and avoiding cow flatulence, some things haven’t changed much.
Margherita Taylor, meanwhile, gets her hands dirty (metaphorically, one hopes), connecting with the Woodoaks Farm community. Expect heartwarming encounters with volunteers, bird watchers, and possibly a fiercely competitive compost club.
And just in case all this rustic charm isn’t enough, Adam Henson will be announcing the finalists for the Countryfile Young Countryside Champion award. Perhaps we can hope for a future where such awards are as hotly anticipated as Strictly Come Dancing?
Countryfile airs Sunday December 1, 2024 at 5:20 PM on BBC One.
