John Craven and Sammi Kinghorn visit the South Downs to see how the past is inspiring residents to preserve the future of this diverse landscape.
John immerses himself in the world of Gilbert White, whose letters from the 1700s observing animal behaviour made him an inspiration for Charles Darwin and is now influencing a group of farmers to protect the South Downs delicate ecosystem. John also explores the South Downs’ ancient woodland and meets charcoal collier Lucy Wall-Palmer, who teaches him how sustainable charcoal is made.
Sammi meets sheep farmer Lisa Tupper, whose family unearthed an ancient Roman villa in the 1800s whilst ploughing the fields. They’re joined by archaeologist Dr Miles Russell, who sheds light on the significance of such a remarkable find.
