Country Focus

It's feared that nearly a third of the 500 public swimming pools in Wales could close without more government support to tackle crippling energy bills. We dip into a swimming class in Powys and hear from Swim Wales about what can be done to keep pools open.

Once common in our Welsh rivers, the rare freshwater pearl mussel is now critically endangered but efforts are being made to increase their numbers.

And Birds of Conservation Concern in Wales - it's an early start for our ornithologist to witness a wildlife spectacle - it's Black Grouse lekking season!

Aberinnovation is described as world-leading facilities and expertise within the biotechnology, agri-tech, and food and drink sectors. Caroline Evans visits the Innovation and Enterprise Campus on the outskirts of Aberystwyth, where industry and academia are collaborating and expand our green technological horizons.

Anaerobic Digestors - good or bad? Afonydd Cymru and Fish legal call on Welsh Government to stop river pollution from them. We hear how a unique visitor has taken up residence at a Flintshire tourist attraction but what of other beavers in Wales? We explore the landscapes of loss and life with author James Roberts. And nature loss - how you can help turn around the misfortunes of this month's "Bird of Conservation Concern" - the Rook.

Photo: Allard Martinius

We hear about the cross party Senedd inquiry looking at growth and productivity in rural Wales. A new Plant Atlas, produced by the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland says our native plants have been hit by modern agriculture and climate change. In Wrexham. we visit the roof garden in the city, softening the concrete and steel with fruit trees and foliage. And we're out on toad patrol, with the Bryncoch Environment Group near Neath, helping toads on their migration to the local pond.

Lettuce, tomatoes and peppers in short supply but we visit the Cardiff garden growing salad leaves an advocate for local, seasonal produce for resilience. We take a gander at a goose on Anglesey - the White Fronted Greenland Goose is on the red list of the Birds of Conservation Concern. We hear how an equine apprenticeship is a good way to get a foot in the stable door. And the podmakers creating "third spaces" from natural and local materials.

Politicians find a lack of clarity on the number of patients waiting for check-ups or dental treatment but could a new initiative encourage future dental trainees to take up opportunities across rural Wales to help ease the pain? How to "sheep proof" your dog - the farmer training dogs not to chase livestock. And a prickly but homely rescue centre in Powys - a call for volunteers to take on the role of helping hedgehogs in the county.

The Welsh Government's new Agriculture Bill took another step forward this week but does it go far enough? We speak to the chair of the Welsh Affairs Committee which is examining the quality of water in Wales. Duckweed - a "miracle plant" to help farmers turn agricultural waste into feed for livestock and clean slurry water at the same time. New research from the Made with Wool project uncertainty surrounding the industry’s future. And finally, on the eve of this year's Dark Skies Week in Wales we hear how light pollution is doing untold damage to our biodiversity.

We hear concerns that abattoirs will struggle to meet the cost of paying for CCTV to be installed, as the Welsh government considers making cameras mandatory in slaughterhouses across Wales. How you can collect and plant a tree or have one planted on your behalf, to tackle the effects of climate change. And we celebrate St Teilo's day - patron saint of apples and ask what makes a truly Welsh apple?

We catch up with Dr Lucy Sutherland, the new director for the Botanic Garden for Wales. Conservationists team up with climbers to protect some some of Wales' rarest artic alpine plant species, such as the Snowdon Lily, in Cwm Idwal. No show for the popular campsite and festival field at the Royal Welsh Agricultural show as Wales YFC cancel the Young People's Village. And we take an educational visit to the poison garden.

The future of nature - the CEO of the Wales Wildlife Trust says changes to UK environmental laws could have devastating consequences for how we tackle the nature and climate crisis here in Wales. Protecting the traditional craft of hedge laying - a Carmarthenshire hedger appeals for a farm location for a local hedging match. A wildlife corridor - we hear about the “super-highway” hedgerows being created on a National Trust farm in Eryri. Finally, following the latest review of the conservation status of birds in Wales and the shocking news that the Red-listed species more than doubling in number since the first assessment was conducted 20 years ago, we introduce a new series. Country Focus has teamed up with Wales’ leading ornithologists and throughout the year we'll be focusing on a different bird each month that features on that red list. This month, to coincide with next weekend's RSPB's garden bird watch, we're looking at the Greenfinch. It's a new edition to the Red listed species in decline. Photo: Ben Hall (RSPB)