05/12/2011

Charlotte Smith hears how DNA techniques used in murder investigations could now detect deer poachers.
Dr Shanan Tobe from the Centre for Forensic Science at the University of Strathcylde has been running the trial. He tells Charlotte, gloves on or gloves off, the trial proved 7 out of 10 poaching cases can be solved using DNA.

On Thursday 8th December, the Independent Panel of Forestry is expected to publish its interim report on the future of England's forests and woods. Charlotte talks to Andrew Weatherall at National School of Forestry in Cumbria about the state of England's forests compared to the rest of the UK and the world.

So far this year, the UK has imported £249m of New Zealand lamb. But what if we could eat British lamb all year round? Sheep farmer David Eglin farms two breeds in North Warwickshire - Poll Dorset and Charmoise - which can lamb at anytime throughout the year. Melvin Rickarby asks if the demand is there, why aren't more farmers doing the same?

Presented by Charlotte Smith. Produced in Birmingham by Clare Freeman.