Catch up TV

Series 1: Episode 3

Mark Bonnar narrates the first in a series revealing the hidden world of Galloway Forest, the country's largest afforested area. Join the amazing men and women who live and work in the place known as Scotland's 'Highlands in the Lowlands', where 600,000 tonnes of timber is produced every year. \n\nForestry Commission recreation boss Archie McNeillie has a task for his team. Mountain Bothy volunteer enthusiasts renovate a remote bothy on Forestry Commission land. They need help getting building materials and a new wood-burning stove to the bothy - so it's Cool to the rescue. \n\nThe best way for planning and environment forester Bill Fisher to survey the vast forest and check the health of the cash crop is in a helicopter. The bird's-eye view allows him to better spot any pockets of larch disease. Down on the ground, on the front line of the disease, the Forestry Commission fell infected trees and make great headway. \n\nThe Forestry Commission works hard to balance the needs of the public and the needs of the timber industry. When a popular path meanders through a harvesting site, Archie spray-paints some trees as a marker to the harvesters to save them from the chop, so the public can still enjoy the scenic views. \n\nAnd back at home Archie shares his other great passion - pigeon fancying - with his little granddaughter Katie. \n\nChef Ed and his sister Karen are planning to open a new restaurant in Castle Douglas in an old bank using local produce - including the fruits of Galloway forest - in his dishes. \n\nIn a specially designated area of conservation, environment forester Gareth Ventress is turning back the clock. He's hired some traditional horse loggers to carry out a method called horse rolling in an area of dense bracken. Crushing the bracken using a horse is less damaging to the soil and allows light and space for oak saplings and native herbs and flowers to flourish.

Source: BBC 2