Shropshire gets a starring role in Countryfile

Presenters from the weekly programme have spent the last few weeks scouring the county's rural areas to find unique methods of farming, bird life art and rare wildlife to feature in the final cut which will air at 6.20pm on BBC One.

Fordhall Farm near Market Drayton was one of many to play host to Countryfile's team, with presenter John Craven keen to learn about its organic farming system that has been running since the Second World War.

The system was created 65 years ago by the late Arthur Hollins, whose two children Ben and Charlotte Hollins now run the farm and have spent the year celebrating what would be his 100th birthday.

Mrs Hollins, manager of the community society which owns the farm, said: "It was fantastic to spend the day with the legendary John Craven. He was really interested in our Foggage farming system, our conservation methods and the ways we involve the community with the farm here.

"The whole team were really lovely to work with –even if filming did take over eight hours."

The Countryfile team spent the day filming the farm's cattle and sheep which are kept outdoors and purely grass-fed throughout the year as well as interviewing the two siblings.

Mrs Hollins added: "It was a great way to celebrate the end of dad's centenary year and we are all really excited to see the outcome on TV this Sunday."

Also featuring on the programme tomorrow will be work from the Woodland Trust which is currently trying to provide millions of trees to schools and communities around the country.

The trust is working with a Shropshire seed bank to tackle threats to British trees from diseases and pests. John Craven met up with Norman Starks from the Woodland Trust to find out why the project is so important and also spent some time helping with the harvest.

The team also met up with Matt Sewell – known as the Banksy of the bird world. The artist is best known for murals painted on walls up and down the country as well as caricatures of birds.

Presenter Ellie Harrison met Matt at the Hollies Nature Reserve on the Stiperstones where a migrating winter thrushes including redwings are often spotted.

She spent time working on sketches with the artist before they travelled to Shrewsbury to finish spray painting a mural dedicated to Shropshire wildlife.

Also on the program tomorrow will be a look at the elusive pine marten showing the team spend a day with chair of the Shropshire Mammal Group Stuart Edmunds in search of the animal.

This year pine martens have been discovered in Shropshire for the first time in about 50 years and the group has since started work with trail cameras.