2007

In an edition looking at how to make the best of the great outdoors, Tom Heap tries his hand at wakeboarding, Adam Henson takes to the treetops of Sherwood Forest, Diane Louise Jordan is coasteering in Wales and Ben Fogle has a go at the game of quoits.

In this, the 900th edition, John Craven pays a lighthearted tribute to the unsung heroes and heroines of the British countryside - its animals. Ben Fogle reports on how pigs are the unlikely saviours of the ponies of the New Forest, Michaela Strachan meets the Newfoundland dogs which save lives at the sea, while Charlotte Smith finds out what is being done to safeguard the future of water vole.

John Craven heads to Ayrshire to celebrate poet Robbie Burns, while Juliet Morris gets caught up in the Lincolnshire tradition of the Haxey Hood - a game with no teams, just plenty of players, and where the only winner is a pub. Plus, does the supermarket building boom mean the death of the British high street?

John Craven heads to the shifting coastline of Sussex and the historic town of Rye, while Adam Henson tries his hand at sled dog racing in Aviemore. Plus, the controversy surrounding a water company's plans to build a massive reservoir rather than plugging its leaks.

20th anniversary show This week Countryfile celebrates its 20th anniversary. Since 1988 the programme has been reporting on the people, places and stories making news in the British countryside. Swaledale The first ever Countryfile was filmed in Swaledale in North Yorkshire. The sweeping river valley is carved out by the River Swale, but access to the river is an ongoing issue. John Craven heads to Keld on the river bank to revisit a story which Countryfile reported on two decades ago. Many canoeists think they should have access to rivers just like ramblers do in the countryside, however, anglers are concerned that their private, and often paid for, retreats will be overwhelmed. John also explores an institution which the show has become famous for - the BBC weather forecast. Weatherman Bill Giles, who presented the first ever Countryfile weather forecast, takes a trip down memory lane. John gets a surprise when he comes face to face with his dead ringer. Impressionist Jon Culshaw dons the famous red jacket, Wellington boots and glasses for their first meeting.

John Craven visits Weymouth as it prepares to host the 2012 Olympic sailing events.

John Craven heads to Warwickshire, where this year's harvest is in full swing.