Your Farm and Mine

Originally from Derrylin in County Fermanagh, the collage artist, Sheila Gilroy Collins, launches an exhibition of her work, called Legends and Landscapes, in the Ardhowen Theatre on the banks of Lough Erne. Helen Mark investigates a Woodland Trust initiative on 150 acres of land at Oughtagh Road, which connects fragmented woodlands around the River Faughan and even underneath the newly-constructed A6. And a project begins to tell the stories of the Causeway Safari Park, at Benvarden near Ballymoney in County Antrim. The attraction opened in 1970 and closed in 1997, but drew thousands of visitors to see real life lions, tigers, chimpanzees... and a donkey-zebra cross called Nora who drew attention from the national media.

Presented by Anne Marie McAleese.

Life Cycles is an initiative in Derry to restore bicycles which would have been dumped. Monica Downey started the project during lockdown, when people were cycling for exercise and to get about. So far they have saved 790 bikes in partnership with Zero Waste North West, and given away 150 fully restored bicycles. Helen Mark went to visit.

And Anne Marie McAleese hears the remarkable story of Robert Hart, from Portadown in County Armagh, who became one of the most powerful people in China. In the 19th century many Irish people worked and lived in China, Japan and Korea - but Hart was one of the most notable, involved in administering taxes on the opium trade, and presenting China overseas. His life and times are the focus of a new book by historian Robin Masefield from Holywood, County Down.

Presented by Anne Marie McAleese.

Evelyn Milne is inspired by her granddaughter, Bethany, to pick litter from the road at her townland, at Tullyhappy near Newry. They hope to inspire others to do the same in their own areas. And Jenny Hope from Larne and Tanya Dragininie from Bangor join the fight against Covid and cancer, after learning with the Open University.

Presented by Anne Marie McAleese.

Willie Magowan, an artist from Garvagh whose work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian Institute in America, explains the historic art of banner painting. He shows Anne Marie McAleese into the workshop at the back of his house where he creates the banners.

And in Sion Mills, the Buildings Preservation Trust has reopened the newly-refurbished Stables Museum. It's an historic building that outlines the life and times of this industrial village which started with the establishment of Herdman's Mill in 1835. Molly McNutt from Strabane, the new tourism co-ordinator, and Celia Ferguson, one of the Herdman family, gave Brian Kernohan a guided tour.

Presented by Anne Marie McAleese.

A pilgrimage to St Moninna's Holy Well at Killeavy and a royal visit to Garvagh Forest.

Real Women, Big Lives - a photographic project documenting the lives of older women from across Northern Ireland involved in the arts. Sheila Fairon, the photographer behind the idea, says older women need to have their stories told.

And Summer Falls - music inspired by summer holidays in both County Down and County Sligo. The composer, Neil Foster, describes his music as a way to feel connected and inspired by tuning in to the natural sounds in the environment.

Presented by Anne Marie McAleese.

The pine martens of Balloo Woodland in Bangor, county Down, are elusive creatures, but becoming much more common. The population has almost doubled in the last five years. Anne Marie McAleese speaks to Katy Bell, the Senior Conservation Officer with Ulster Wildlife, who says the increase in pine martens has been a big boost for the local red squirrel population.

And Anne Marie visits the farm of Richard Orr at Comber, County Down, where a very special potato is grown. Comber Earlies grow in an area which is protected from frost by the salt water of Strangford Lough, which creates a kind of microclimate, perfect for an early harvest.

Helen Mark visits an example of what was once described as the "most feared and hated institution in Ireland". The entrance block of Enniskillen Workhouse, which once housed families facing destitution, has now been restored and is open to the public. And Colum Arbuckle finds out about Dungiven Castle.

It's a fascinating building with an interesting history and these days it's home to an Irish Language Secondary School, Gaelcholáiste Dhoire.

Presented by Helen Mark.

Helen Mark reports on the community based theatre group, The Dungannon All Stars, who have created an opportunity for people with a learning disability to be part of a hugely active dance and drama group. They also put on a live performance, their version of High School Musical at the Burnavon Theatre in Cookstown.

And Helen also visited Carnlough on the east coast of Antrim. The sun shone, boats were moored in the harbour and tourists dandered along the shoreline - a tranquil place, but one which once played a key role in heavy industry, because of limestone. Helen took a walk through the area with local historian Mary Watson.

Seventy-seven years after his last visit, Raymond Compton returns to Irvinestown Railway Station where he started his first job. The old station house was converted into a family home when the railway closed but just a few weeks ago he met up with Helen Mark there to remember sights, the sounds, and the smells of the old station.

And Anne Marie McAleese hears from Orlagh Thompson from County Down, who is building a traditional Irish boat, a wooden-framed currach in San Sebastian in Spain at an international Boat Building School.