Open Country - The Forest of Bowland

Helen Mark is in Lancashire to explore the Forest of Bowland, an area often described as England's last great wilderness. Helen meets members of the Pendle Forest History Group, who strongly believe that the history of the area in which they live has more to offer than stories of witches, and who have been unearthing more about the rural heritage of their landscape. Helen then joins ornithologist, Stephen Murphy who gives her an insight into the life of the 'breathtaking' Hen Harrier, the iconic bird which is Bowland's emblem. Will Helen be lucky enough to be able to spot just one of the ten male Hen Harriers in England today? At Halstead's Farm near Slaidburn, Helen meets up with Helen Wallbank who has been unearthing and recording the ancient limekilns along the Hodder Vally, a feature of the landscape all around which can tell so much about the history of the rural communities of Bowland. And as the day draws to a close, Helen joins David Fisher in caves and along riverbanks searching for some of the 10 species of bats that inhabit this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Producer: Helen Chetwynd.