BBC Countryfile Live National Trust Theatre

Our beautiful countryside deserves a bright future and that means getting to grips with some big or controversial issues. Can farmers feed the country while still protecting habitats for wildlife? Can we tackle the problem of plastic pollution? Do young people feel connected to nature, and passionate about caring for it in the future?

Join a host of expert guests including Ray Mears, Simon King, Carol Klein and Lizzie Daly to explore these important questions, and celebrate the British countryside at Countryfile Live 2019.

Hilary McGrady

Thursday 1 August 

Our Director-General Hilary McGrady will be joined by Secretary of State for Environment to officially open the National Trust Theatre for 2019, followed by a panel discussion on politics and nature with teenage activists Bella Lack and Dara McAnulty, as well as Iceland supermarket boss Richard Walker. The day’s debates will cover hot topics such as plastic pollution, living sustainably and safeguarding the environment for future generations. We'll also be hearing from Ray Mears, who'll be sharing his stories of survival in extreme conditions.

See all sessions in a downloadable PDF
JB Gill

Friday 2 August 

Join expert panellists as they explore connections between farming and food. What can farmers do to look after nature and protect the planet? What role can technology play? Our director of land and nature Mark Harold, Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers Union, Tony Juniper, chair of Natural England and shadow environment secretary MP Sue Hayman with discuss how to balance the needs of farming and nature post Brexit. We'll also be hearing from lots of other farming experts, including former boyband member JB Gill, who swapped selling out Wembley Stadium for selling turkeys from his farm in Kent.

See all sessions in a downloadable PDF
Wildlife TV presenter Ferne Corrigan

Saturday 3 August 

Celebrities and nature experts will be exploring what can be done to connect kids to the natural world. They'll be waxing lyrical on everything from making a career out of nature, the power of TV programmes such as Blue Planet and life as a wildlife filmmaker. Wildlife TV presenters Ferne Corrigan, Gillian Burke and Lizzie Daly and naturalist Stephen Moss are among those with stories to share.

See all sessions in a downloadable PDF
Naturalist Dwayne Fields

Sunday 4 August 

Today's discussions will focus on wellness and nature. TV presenter and biologist Patrick Aryee, rugby star Jamie Roberts, naturalist Dwayne Fields and author and chef at River Cottage Gill Meller will debate how nature helps to keep us happy. Learn how to make the most of your downtime from wildlife cameraman Simon King. Discover the joys of gardening with TV gardener Carol Klein, former Gardener’s Question Time presenter Eric Robson and our very own head gardener Alan Power.

See all sessions in a downloadable PDF