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Stroudwater Canal

Charlotte Smith and John Craven explore the Stroudwater canal in Gloucestershire, where a major restoration project is bringing this historic waterway back to life.\n\nAs the final stages take shape, Charlotte meets the team restoring one of the canal’s 12 locks and joins ecologists carefully relocating resident water voles, ensuring they can thrive as the work continues. She also lends a hand, digging the last mound of earth to create a new wetland for the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and helping maintain an ancient orchard - perfect for attracting wildlife.\n\nJohn enjoys a more leisurely trip on the canal, hopping on a boat to meet volunteers making it accessible to everyone. Along the way, he chats with passengers who love getting out on the water, especially in spring when nature bursts back to life. He also joins a local wildlife expert for a nature safari, discovering the rich biodiversity now thriving along the restored waterway. Charlotte then visits a local farm with deep ties to the canal, uncovering its history and learning how the family is farming for the future.\n\nDown on Adam Henson’s farm, his golden Guernsey billy goat, the Duke, is eager for fresh pasture but needs a health check first. The Duke has also sired his first kids, inheriting the breed’s hardy traits. Meanwhile, Adam weans donkey foals and keeps watch on his crops, bringing in bees to boost his struggling sainfoins.

Source: BBC 1