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South Downs

John Craven and Sammi Kinghorn visit the South Downs to see how the past is inspiring residents to preserve the future of this diverse landscape.\n\nJohn immerses himself in the world of Gilbert White, whose letters from the 1700s observing animal behaviour influenced Charles Darwin and are now inspiring a group of farmers to protect the delicate South Downs ecosystem. John also explores the South Downs’ ancient woodland and meets charcoal collier Lucy Wall-Palmer, who teaches him how sustainable charcoal is made.\n\nSammi meets sheep farmer Lisa Tupper, whose family unearthed an ancient Roman villa in the 1800s whilst ploughing the fields. They’re joined by archaeologist Dr Miles Russell, who sheds light on the significance of such a remarkable find.\n\nDatshiane Navanayagam spends 48 hours with a community of hill farmers in Northumberland who live without mains electricity. Datshi discovers how these families try to live normal 21st-century lives, what impact not having mains power has, and whether the national grid will finally agree to ‘plug them in' after decades of saying no. And Adam Henson explores how a volcanic rock and a revolutionary new trial could help farmers fertilise their soil while also saving the planet.

Source: BBC 1