A BBC Countryfile Plant Britain autumn special airs this weekend promising a fascinating look at how trees and hedgerows help in combatting climate change, boosting wildlife and our own wellbeing. And there’s a guest appearance from Dr Philip Wheeler, Senior Lecturer in Ecology at the OU.
Countryfile has been reporting on rural, agricultural, and environmental issues for 33 years and with the global climate crisis getting ever more critical, its focus on Britain’s countryside is more important than ever.
In this special, which comes to our screens this Sunday 7th Nov on BBC1 at 17:05 the team celebrate the magic of trees and hedgerows, Charlotte Smith finds out about green careers, and Matt Baker meets a six-year-old environmentalist with big ambitions. The OU’s Dr Wheeler also conducts experiments that demonstrate how trees help mitigate floods.
Scientific expertise on this autumn special has been provided by OU academic consultants, Dr Clare Lawson and Professor David Gowing.
Professor Gowing said:
“The Plant Britain episode of Countryfile this weekend is a great rallying call for us all to get involved in making a difference to benefit our planet. There is an update on their tree-planting target and some helpful hints about how to get involved, but as John Craven says “it is not all about trees.” Natural habitats of all kinds can help address both the climate and the biodiversity crises. The role of our natural habitats in capturing carbon is something we should all appreciate.”
He added:
“The Countryfile series is a great vehicle by which to motivate the British public to get involved and to develop their appreciation of our plant communities and the soils which support them. The programme reaches several million people each week and we as OU academics have helped steer its Plant Britain theme in terms of both engagement and accuracy.”
The programme will also look at the future guardians of our planet as Charlotte Smith finds out about green careers and Matt Baker meets a six-year-old environmentalist with big ambitions.
Tom Heap joins the front line in the fight against tree disease, John Craven is at Westonbirt Arboretum to discover what our future forests could look like, and Joe Crowley is busy learning how to collect and sow seeds. Margherita Taylor pops into a Bristol community garden to help them get ready for winter, and there are some special messages from well-known faces to encourage us all to plant Britain.
This programme was commissioned by Broadcast and Partnerships and is supported by the Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics with particular relevance to Q52 BSc (Honours) Environmental Science, Q52 BSc (Honours) Environmental Science (Environmental Management) and Q64 BSc (Honours) Natural Sciences (Biology)
- Commissioned by Dr Caroline Ogilvie, Head of Broadcast & Partnerships
- Academic Consultants Dr Clare Lawson and Professor David Gowing
- Media Fellow Dr Julia Cooke
- Broadcast Project Manager Clair Robinson
- Broadcast Platforms and Public Engagement Managers: Andrew Hudson and Chris Belson
Online:
Visit the new Broadcast & Partnerships website where you can watch a video highlighting the importance of wildflower meadows. Discover how they were central to British farming and became a symbol of our countryside. (NB: this site may not be live or complete prior to broadcast)
