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The programme is introduced by Tony Francis and Laura Martin. For the first item Wendy Nelson begins a series in which she takes a train journey on the Heart of Wales line from Shrewsbury to Swansea. She is seen off on the plaform at Shrewsbury station by the town crier Martin Wood. Aerial views of the train on its journey. Her first stop is at Church Stretton in Shropshire. View of the town centre. She meets the historian Tony Crowe who tells her about the local writer and social reformer Hesba Stretton (real name Sarah Smith). Wendy also finds out about an avenue of lime trees planted in the nineteenth cenury by the Reverand Holland Sandford (a still is used). She travels further on the train before stopping again at Hopton Heath in Shropshire. In the village she walks and chats to local historian Bob Milner and visits the Engine and Tender pub which was built for the railway. Along an old Roman road Bob shows Wendy an ancient headgerow. Finally she briefly visits Broadward Hall at nearby Clungunford where the owner Dick Watkins tells the story of a collection of bronzes that were lost from the famous Broadward hoard.
The next report is about the neighbouring villages of Kingston on Soar and Ratcliffe on Soar in Nottinghamshire. On a wet day Tony and Laura report from both locations which could be idyllic English villages but are not only close to the Midland Mainline railway line but were greatly affected in the 1960s by the construction of East Midlands Airport, the M1 motorway and Ratcliffe on Soar power station. Tony talks to local farmer Norman Beeby who remembers the changes that have happened in the area.
For the next report countryman Fred J. Taylor meets the cookery writer Prue Coats and they both cook pigeons at Fred's regular outdoor spot next to the now dried up Shardeloes Lake in Buckinghamshire. Fred also shows how to pluck a pigeon helped by Prue's daughter. Tony chats to Fred and Prue about shooting and eating pigeons.
For the final item Wendy Leavesley visits Ashton near Oundle in Northamptonshire and on land owned by the Rothschild family she meets Ruary Mackenzie Dodds who has created a reserve for dragonflies. Shots of dragonflies on the pond at Ashton Mill. Wendy also meets Ruary’s partner, Kari De Koenigswarter who is a wildlife artist, and landowner Dr Miriam Rothschild who is a noted naturalist. Ruary then shows Wendy some of the features of Ashton Mill.
Camera: Darren Cox; Glen Armstrong; Ian O'Donoghue; Geoff Plumb
Sound: Andrew Chorlton; Mario Mooney; Kiff McManus; Jim Bolton; Alan Green
VT Editors: Justin Eely; Peter Mason; Bob Routes
Graphics: Martin Greenbank
Dubbing: Robin Ward
Research: Holly Tatham; Lynn Todd
Prodution Co-ordinator: Sue Freeman
Reporters: Tony Francis; Laura Martin; Wendy Nelson; Wendy Leavesley
Location Director: John Dickinson
Series Producer: Tony Francis
Production number CEN/25820/006