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Winter is a harsh time of year for wildlife in the UK. Our exposed coastlines usually bear the brunt of these unforgiving conditions. But for one native species this is pupping season. ÌýGrey seals haul out of the chilly British waters to pup in early winter. Over the following critical months the new born pups must fatten up on their mother’s milk. At South Walney Nature Reserve in Cumbria, there is what is believed to be this country’s newest grey seal breeding colony. Cumbria Wildlife Trust trainee conservation officer, Jade Chenery has been trained in a new technique for monitoring the seals, drone photography. Keeley Donovan heads to South Walney to get a bird’s eye view.ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý

ÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌýÌý For some seal pups, though, it’s a tough start to life. Many can become separated from their mothers during bad winter weather, some suffer illness and others are simply abandoned. Luckily for them, help is at hand.Ìý A number of sanctuaries rescue and rehabilitate pups, giving them a second chance. Keeley travels to Skegness to meet Richard Yeardon and his staff care for over 40 seal pups throughout the year. She’s just in time to help with the release of common seal pups Daryl and Delia into the wintery North Sea.

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With increasing numbers of people turning to the internet to find love, is there still a place for the more traditional methods of meeting The One? This St Valentine’s day Margherita joins a new kind of walking group aimed at those who want to get out and about in the countryside and, who knows, maybe find love along the way. ÌýMargherita joins Gemma Butchart and the Metropolitan Walkers to hear about how romance has blossomed on hikes, even leading to the odd wedding.

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Wild boar numbers in the Forest of Dean have now exploded – so much so they’re in danger of being given wildlife ASBO by the locals. With food scarcer over winter, they’re coming out of the forest, digging up gardens and football pitches, and causing road accidents.Ìý Jules discovers the scale of the problem. ÌýKevin Stannard of the Forestry Commission sheds light on the situation and explains how they hope to address it.Ìý But local farmer Alistair Fraser believes he has the perfect long term solution.

The winter storms of 2014 saw major tidal surges that destroyed the sea wall at Dawlish and swept away the coastal railway, leaving it suspended in mid-air. ÌýCountryfile Cameraman Steve Briers, who lives next to the railway line, recorded the dramatic events as they unfolded.Ìý Anita went to catch up with Steve and meet the teams who were working around the clock to get the railway back on track.Ìý

The winter season means that Paul’s vegetable patch is looking a bit bare, but he’s keen to keep growing despite the chill.Ìý He visits local Market Gardener, Kate Collyns to learn how she grows organically all year round - inside poly-tunnels - and comes away with an idea about how to make use of all his spare horse manure!

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