Countryfile S38E12 · River Otter Return

Overview

It’s ten years since the start of the River Otter Beaver Project – England’s first official beaver reintroduction. John Craven is back in Devon to see how these industrious creatures have been faring. This is the perfect time of year to be looking for evidence of beaver activity – they’re particularly active now, gnawing trees and shifting vegetation to create dams. John joins the Devon Wildlife Trust team looking for tracks and trails, seeing first-hand their impact on the landscape. But beavers go – and gnaw – where they please, and some steering is needed to stop them from settling where they’re not wanted, so John meets the volunteers with clever techniques to keep them on track. Along the way, John reflects on some of Countryfile’s most memorable reintroduction films from years gone by.

Torrents

Subtitles

Episodes

1. 1 1. Winter Wonders2025-01-05 · 54mJohn Craven visits Farmoor Reservoir in Oxfordshire, where many bird species find sanctuary in the cold winter months. John joins up with a local bird spotter to hear about the vas
2. 2 2. The Waterways of the Shropshire Hills2025-01-12 · 55mSammi Kinghorn and Matt Baker are exploring the waterways of the Shropshire Hills, where the critically endangered Atlantic salmon makes its ancient journey upstream to its spawnin
3. 3 3. Dartmoor2025-01-19 · 55mCountryfile is in Dartmoor, famous for its rugged landscape, vast moorland and ponies. Anita Rani assists a team from the Devon Wildlife Trust, armed with radio scanners and trail
4. 4 4. New Forest2025-01-26 · 55mAdam Henson and Sean Fletcher explore the rich landscapes of the New Forest, where the animals that roam the heath and woodlands play an essential role in shaping the landscape. Ad
5. 5 5. Welney Wetland Centre2025-02-02 · 55mMatt Baker and Charlotte Smith head to Welney Wetland Centre in Norfolk for World Wetlands Day, uncovering the vital role these habitats play in supporting a host of bird species,
6. 6 6. Mourne Mountains2025-02-09 · 57mTucked away in the south east corner of Northern Ireland are the Mournes – a mountain range which stretches all the way down to the coast. Matt Baker and Charlotte Smith uncover th
7. 7 7. Sound of Mull2025-02-16 · 57m2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the reintroduction of white-tailed eagles to the UK, following their release in Scotland. Hamza Yassin takes us on a sea eagle safari across the
8. 8 8. Stirling Bull Sales2025-02-23 · 55mAdam Henson and Charlotte Smith are at the Stirling Bull Sales, one of the most prestigious events in the farming calendar. Over two action-packed days, approximately 300 pedigree
9. 9 9. Humber Estuary2025-03-02 · 57mMatt, Anita and Adam discover the wonders of the Humber Estuary, a region famed for its bustling port and industry that is also home to diverse wildlife. Matt visits Far Ings Natu
10. 10 10. Kielder Forest2025-03-09 · 55mMatt Baker welcomes new presenter Vick Hope to Countryfile. Together, they explore England’s largest forest – Kielder in Northumberland – where they meet the people protecting its
11. 11 11. The Slate Landscape of North West Wales2025-03-16 · 55mMatt Baker and Joe Crowley explore the slate landscape of north west Wales, a Unesco World Heritage site, which is being prepared for a new role in rural tourism after securing a g
12. 12 12. River Otter Return2025-03-23 · 55mIt’s ten years since the start of the River Otter Beaver Project – England’s first official beaver reintroduction. John Craven is back in Devon to see how these industrious creatur
13. 13 13. Watercress Line2025-03-30 · 55mMatt Baker and Margherita Taylor commemorate 200 years since the birth of the railways with a journey on the Watercress Line in Alresford, Hampshire. They explore how the advent of
14. 14 14. Cairngorms Capercaillie2025-04-06 · 54mAdam Henson and Charlotte Smith are in the Cairngorms National Park, home to a quarter of the UK’s rare and endangered species.
15. 15 15. Stroudwater Canal2025-04-13 · 54mCharlotte Smith and John Craven explore the Stroudwater canal in Gloucestershire, where a major restoration project is bringing this historic waterway back to life.
16. 16 16. Wembury Coast2025-04-20 · 54mJohn Craven and Vick Hope celebrate new life on the Wembury Coast, from high up on the clifftop to the bed of its natural harbour.
17. 17 17. Forest of Bowland2025-04-27 · 57mMargherita Taylor and Joe Crowley are in the Forest of Bowland for a sensory spring feast – soaking up the sights, sounds and flavours of the season.
18. 18 18. Lambing Special2025-05-04 · 54mLambing season is the crux of the UK’s sheep-farming calendar – a high-stakes, hands-on period that defines rural livelihoods, demands round-the-clock care and shapes the year’s su
19. 19 19. Dyfi River2025-05-11 · 54mJohn Craven and Sean Fletcher are in Mid Wales around the Dyfi river, exploring the hidden stories of wildlife that flock to the area at this time of year - and the people ready to
20. 20 20. Shropshire’s Nature Comeback2025-05-18 · 54mCharlotte Smith and Matt Baker are in Shropshire, where landscapes are being brought back to life - floodplains are being rewilded, meadows restored and ancient woodlands reimagine
21. 21 21. Storrington2025-05-25 · 54mVick Hope and Joe Crowley are in West Sussex to celebrate the revival of the white stork.
22. 22 22. Bradford: City of Culture2025-06-01 · 54mAs the BBC celebrates this year’s UK City of Culture, Countryfile explores how the countryside around Bradford shaped the city and its creative legacy. A story of grit and wool.