Countrywise

Paul Heiney, Bettany Hughes and Rachel de Thame travel through some of Britain's most beautiful landscapes to discover the extraordinary part played by the nation's coastal and rural communities in helping to win the Second World War.

"The countryside is my home. I love the landscape, and share with the people who live and work there, the endless fascination about what makes it tick. Countrywise is going to take me into every corner of rural Britain. Who could turn down a job like that?" This spring a new series for ITV1 showcases the fabric of Britain's rural and coastal life. Countrywise dedicates 36 episodes to the riches which lie beyond Britain’s major cities. It is presented by journalist turned farmer and sailor Paul Heiney. Countrywise highlights exactly what makes our countryside tick. Combining items presented by Paul with features drawn from ITV’s regions, the programme takes in the breadth of Britain's countryside, from its crumbliest coastline and happiest valley, to its secret tunnels, rescued gardens and haunted hills. On his travels around rural Britain, Paul Heiney visits the only place in the UK to grow tea, learns the inside story of Dover's white cliffs, and discovers the country's most bizarre beach huts. In these credit-crunch times, a growing number are now turning their backs on foreign breaks and Countrywise provides an invaluable reminder of what's here on our doorstep. Through the stories of the guardians for our landscape, wildlife and traditions, Paul leaves no stone unturned in his quest to uncover the secrets of Britain’s beautiful countryside. (24 episodes in summer + 12 episodes in autumn.)

Paul Heiney explores Britain's coast and country, and meets the people that make it special. Today, he visits one of Britain's first farm shops which is in Surrey and celebrates its thirtieth birthday with an annual marmalade-making extravaganza. He takes time to try his hand at Victorian farming, and meets some of the champions who keep country traditions alive.

Today, Paul visits "The Birthplace of Industry" where a single event changed the British countryside forever. Paul discovers more about Victorian farming methods.

Paul Heiney has a close encounter with a wolf and food expert Mike Robinson explains how the countryside is his `larder'. Plus, a report on a vicar who trains sheepdogs in different languages, and a visit to a watermill producing some of the nation's healthiest flour. Mike Robinson narrates

Paul Heiney and the team visit Dorset's Jurassic coastline, classed as one of the natural wonders of the world, and discover how the landscape has shaped the lives of those who have made their homes there. The programme hears from a family that has been fishing along the coast for three centuries, and reveals how the area provided inspiration for the great novelist Thomas Hardy

Paul Heiney and the team explore the Durham Dales, one of Britain's best kept secrets, which boasts the most powerful waterfall in the country, with the River Tees tumbling through a gap a few feet wide. Bettany Hughes visits the site of the first railway, and Mike Robinson prepares a pheasant stroganoff

The team visits Sussex to uncover the countryside's living history. Paul Heiney meets a family that once owned Beachy Head, Mike Robinson gets up close to the ancient cattle breed farmed at the time of the Battle of Hastings, and Bettany Hughes unearths the secrets of the county's Roman iron mines. Rachel de Thame spends time at a world-famous garden where the rule books were thrown away

New season. Paul Heiney investigates the myths, legends and folklore of the Isle of Man, takes a railway trip to the summit of Snaefell, the island's only mountain, and tries to find out why the Manx breed of cat has no tail. Meanwhile, historian Bettany Hughes explores the area's proud Viking legacy

Paul Heiney heads to central Scotland, going on safari at the point where the Highlands meet the Lowlands and taking a raft down the rapids of the River Tay. Meanwhile, Rachel de Thame discovers a Perthshire garden that is home to plants from the Himalayas

The team tours the coast of Northern Ireland, where Paul Heiney goes on a voyage in a Viking fishing boat, and Charlotte Uhlenbroek visits Co Antrim to explore spectacular geological feature the Giant's Causeway

In this first episode Ben Fogle heads out on a tour of the stunning Isles of Scilly with his guide Colin Taylor - the police sergeant in charge of this little piece of British paradise.Meanwhile Liz Bonnin is in Dorset on the spectacular jurassic coast to meet some of the millions of birds who travel thousands of miles to reach our shores each spring; and Olympic cyclist Victoria Pendleton joins the Household Cavalry on their annual holiday ride out at Holkham Sands in Norfolk

This week on Countrywise Guide to Britain we continue our tour of the spectacular countryside - inspiring us all to pull on our wellies pack a picnic and get out and explore the great outdoors this weekend.In this episode Ben Fogle gets very close to nature as he takes a chilly naked dip in one of Snowdonia's hidden lakes; Liz Bonnin is in Galloway in Scotland and its Dark Skies Park with a group of inner city kids - to inspire them with a nocturnal safari and the magic of the stars; and we are in a remote corner of the Yorkshire Dales to meet Shepherdess Amanda Owen and her family as they welcome baby number 9 into the flock.

This week sees Ben Fogle head to his favourite county in Britain - Cornwall - to explore it from a whole new perspective as he tries his hand at free diving for the very first time - and his prize if he reaches a target depth of ten meters is the chance to dive with a colony of Grey Seals.Great British Bakeoff winner John Waite travels back home to Lancashire and the family farm he grew up in - and cooks up some traditional Lancashire treats - Eccles Cakes. Liz Bonnin is working with a team of volunteers at Cuan Wildlife Rescue centre in Shropshire- caring for injured birds; and actress Lesely Joseph is indulging her love of stately homes as she turns guide for the day at Osterley Park in Middlesex.