Rural Schools, Pond Life and Apples

Rural Schools - the Education Secretary, Kirsty Williams has said that Wales, unlike Scotland and England, has never had a rural schools policy but she hopes to address that this autumn with a consultation. Our Education Correspondent, Bethan Lewis assesses the current policy on surplus school places and how a potential new law could be introduced "with emphasis on rural schools"

Ponds support two-thirds of all the freshwater species found in Britain, including some of Wales' rarest species including Fairy Shrimp, Medicinal Leech, Pond Mud Snail, and Pillwort. The Freshwater Habitats Trust is currently conducting the UK's largest and most ambitious freshwater monitoring project ever undertaken and are always looking for volunteers to get involved in their surveys. Our reporter, Huw Jenkins goes in search of the Medicinal Leech at Cors Bodeilio on Anglesey. If you are interested in helping with any of the surveys or would like more information, please contact Hannah Shaw [email protected]

The number of Common Toads in Britain has fallen by more than two-thirds in the past 30 years. The charity, Froglife, says they are now on the brink of qualifying for protection as a vulnerable species

and the man with a life mission to save Welsh apples