ITV - Wild France With Ray Mears (2016) Part 2 Ardeche

Wild France With Ray Mears

Ray explores the geography, flora and fauna of six dramatic French landscapes. The high mountain ranges of the Alps, the coastal waters of the Brittany, the chestnut forests of the Cevnnes, the caves and gorges of the Ardeche, the wet-lands of Camargue and the rolling lavender plains of Provence’s unique maquis landscape. Across the series Ray explores the dramatic physical geography of each region; its topography, its climate and its extreme weather conditions. He tracks down and identifies the key wildlife species that live there and how they have adapted. He introduces us to animals with an ancient history with the land such as wolves and vultures as well as more unexpected and exotic wildlife such as pink flamingos and dolphins.

Part 2 Ardeche

Ray travels to the Ardeche, where miles of gorge and limestone cliffs characterise the region. He discovers a cave with a long history in the area and is given special permission to abseil in through the original sky facing entrance. Deep in the cave he finds a stunning array of stalactites and stalagmites, before crawling through narrow tunnels to see new chambers, sealed off from the public. Once back on land he starts out his journey down the Ardeche River by canoe. Along the way he meets local wildlife ranger Olivier, who shows him a Viperine, frogs and teaches Ray some the traditional uses of local plants. They climb high up the cliff face to find a cave used since prehistoric times and Ray finishes his journey watching beavers busy on the river.

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