Landward returns for a new series

Landward returns for its Autumn run on BBC Scotland with presenters Dougie Vipond, Shahbaz Majeed, Rosie Morton, Anne McAlpine, Arlene Stuart, and Cammy Wilson, out covering in the best stories from the Scottish countryside.

In the first programme back, it’s all about this year’s harvest. Dougie’s at Lochty Farm near Brechin in Angus to lend a hand bringing in the spring barley. He finds out how challenging the growing season has been with the very unsettled weather this summer. It’s a tense time for Scotland’s arable farmers as they find out whether their barley crop will make the grade, and top prices, for malting.

Staying on a harvest theme, Cammy’s visiting a farm near Dundee as the blackcurrant crop is being gathered. He sees how one fruit grower is dealing with the changing climate conditions with a bit of help from scientists. Rosie’s in the fields of Fife to see intercropping, a mix and match approach to growing crops that keeps pest at bay and reduces the use of fertilisers.

Further special episodes in the autumn run will feature a programme dedicated to ‘man’s best friend’ and discovering dogs that play important roles in the working life of the countryside - from sheep dogs, to gun dogs, to guardian dogs. And Landward will mark 20 years since the Scottish Parliament passed the Land Reform Act and investigate the issues that have arisen with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

Also in the series, the team travel to the most westerly point in the British mainland, Ardnamurchan to discover what lies at the end of the remote single track road.

And Shahbaz is looking for your pictures as he launches the Landward photo competition.

He’ll outline the six themes Landward is looking for and how to submit your special images.

Shahbaz will select some of the best to be shown on the programme throughout the series. He’ll also share a few tips on how he captures the stunning Scottish landscape.

From farm and forests, mountains and moorlands, rivers to seashores, Landward’s back to bring the best stories from the Scottish countryside to BBC Scotland this Autumn.

Landward airs on Thursday, September 21 on BBC Scotland at 8.30pm.

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