Open Country

The Malvern Hills


Listen Later

Helen Mark visits the Malvern Hills. She meets a landscape historian, who shows her how human history has left its marks on the topography - if you know where to look for them. She finds out about the inspiration which the composer Edward Elgar drew from the area, and learns how the landscape is reflected in his music. Malvern is famous for its spring water, which has been bottled in the town since the 17th century. Helen meets the man who bought one of the springs by accident - and then went on to revive the Malvern spring water brand. The area is also known for its gas lamps, which are believed to have inspired C.S. Lewis in his description of the entrance to Narnia in 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'. Helen finds that there are some very 21st century developments afoot for the Victorian gas lamps, and meets the man who's worked out how to power them using something which is in plentiful supply on the hills - dog poo!

Produced by Emma Campbell.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Open CountryBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

83 ratings


More shows like Open Country

View all
Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,595 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,055 Listeners

In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,459 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,803 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,750 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,042 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

2,090 Listeners

Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs

1,978 Listeners

Great Lives by BBC Radio 4

Great Lives

477 Listeners

Saturday Live by BBC Radio 4

Saturday Live

39 Listeners

Farming Today by BBC Radio 4

Farming Today

66 Listeners

Gardeners' Question Time by BBC Radio 4

Gardeners' Question Time

283 Listeners

The Food Programme by BBC Radio 4

The Food Programme

266 Listeners

Scotland Outdoors by BBC Radio Scotland

Scotland Outdoors

250 Listeners

Ramblings by BBC Radio 4

Ramblings

158 Listeners

The Plodcast by Our Media

The Plodcast

105 Listeners

Gardening with the RHS by Royal Horticultural Society

Gardening with the RHS

252 Listeners

Wild Tales | Nature Podcast by National Trust

Wild Tales | Nature Podcast

101 Listeners

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle by BBC World Service

13 Minutes Presents: The Space Shuttle

4,164 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

3,193 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

723 Listeners

As the Season Turns by Ffern

As the Season Turns

238 Listeners

Life Changing by BBC Radio 4

Life Changing

101 Listeners

A Life More Wild by Canopy & Stars

A Life More Wild

26 Listeners

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth by Gyles Brandreth / Plain Jaine Media

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

484 Listeners