Catch Wytham Woods on Countryfile on 5 November

Earlier in October, the BBC Countryfile team returned once more to Wytham Woods to film for an upcoming episode, part of the 12-month Wild Britain initiative that’s aimed at galvanising support for saving the UK’s endangered wildlife.

Ellie Harrison and Hamza Yassin visited the Woods, with the latter climbing into their canopy to learn more about the complex woodland ecosystem and the impact that ash dieback is having. The team also visited other sites in the area including Boundary Brook Nature Reserve in East Oxford.

The episode will air at 5.15pm on Sunday 5 November, and you can watch it on iPlayer  at any time after that

Wytham Woods form an iconic location that has been the subject of continuous ecological research programmes, many dating back to the 1940s. The estate has been owned and maintained by the University of Oxford since 1942. The Woods are often quoted as being one of the most researched pieces of woodland in the world, and their 1000 acres are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The wooded parts of the Wytham Estate comprise ancient semi-natural woodland (dating to the last Ice Age), secondary woodland (dating to the seventeenth century), and modern plantations (1950s and 60s). The fourth key habitat is the limestone grassland found at the top of the hill. Other smaller habitats include a valley-side mire and a series of ponds.

The site is exceptionally rich in flora and fauna, with over 500 species of plants, a wealth of woodland habitats, and 800 species of butterflies and moths.

There are 23 miles of beautiful woodland footpaths and loads of interesting events to connect you to nature check out the website here