Helmsley castle has survived 900 years through all weathers, but can English Heritage keep is standing now that wildlife is living in its walls?

Helmsley Castle was originally built from wood, and wasn't converted to stone until late in the 12th century. Kitchens, chapels, and halls were added, as the castle passed through various owners, but remained well used. However, during the English civil war the castle became a strategic bugbear and Parliament ordered that the castle be 'slighted' heavily damaged to prevent it having any value to the opposing royalist forces. The castle has been decaying ever since.

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television rural life programme Up Country, presented by Jessica Holm. In this edition, a report from Upper Teesdale on the decline in the number of Lapwings and a study being carried out into this by Durham University. A report of Gordon Woodruffe who is conducting research in the small mammals living along the riverbanks of the North Yorkshire Moors. A report from Chain Bridge Honey Farm near Berwick-upon-Tweed, where beekeeper Willie Robson is not just making honey but finding using beeswax to make cosmetics such as hand cream. The final report from Helmsley Castle in North Yorkshire on what work English Heritage is doing here and at other sites to manage the wildlife living in these ancient monuments.