Countryfile TV crew films for special Shropshire programme

And the landscape certainly cast its charm over the presenters of Countryfile - with one pledging to return as soon as possible with his family.

The filming, which was organised with the help of Shropshire Wildlife Trust, was completed within two days at the end of last week.

Presenters Matt Baker and Ellie Harrison visited the meres and mosses in north Shropshire, plus RAF Shawbury and Darwin's Garden in the heart of Shrewsbury.

The Shropshire Wildlife Trust bought the acre of land at The Mount after a two-year campaign which brought in more than 430 donations and the backing of Sir David Attenborough.

They plan to restore the woodland, which includes a path where Darwin walked each morning as a child, and open it the public.

"It was a very long day," said Stuart Edmunds, from Shropshire Wildlife Trust, who had been working with show producers since early February to bring the hit programme, which attracts between nine and 10 million viewers each week, to Shropshire.

"I had written to them and told them about Shropshire thinking they would just do a small segment but instead they came along and dedicated the whole show to the county.

"Filming started at 8am on each day and finished at around 7pm," said Mr Edmunds.

"They wanted to know all about why we bought Darwin's Garden, what we have planned for it and what Darwin did during his time here.

"They also talked to members of the staff. I know they also filmed some general features on people in the area about living near The Mount and the importance of the site.

"They did a lot with us as a group as well so it will be a great way to raise the profile of Shropshire Wildlife Trust nationwide."

Stuart and the fellow staff and volunteers at the wildlife trust met with both Matt and Ellie as they filmed a final piece to camera to wrap up the show.

"They were both really nice people and Matt in particular was really interested and impressed with the site and with Shropshire in general.

"He said he wanted to come back and revisit Darwin's Garden again, to see how it develops, with his family. "

Also meeting the Countryfile crew was a group of schoolchildren - called the Young Darwins, who joined Matt in the first bug hunt to have been conducted in the garden since Darwin himself.

"The show will raise the profile of Shropshire and the work of the wildlife trust and also the work of the volunteers who help so much with what we do. One of our volunteers, Rick Morris, helped out on the days of the filming by photographing it all for us. When he volunteered for the trust I bet he never thought he would be doing this."

The show will air on BBC One on May 25 at 7pm.