Episode 5

Mark Bonnar narrates a series revealing the hidden world of Galloway Forest, the country's largest afforested area. Join the amazing men and women who live and work in the place known as Scotland's 'Highlands in the Lowlands', where 600,000 tonnes of timber is produced every year.

When two fishing huts are discovered on remote Forestry Commission harvesting sites, community liaison forester Lyndy Renwick must investigate. With worrying signs of fire damage around the first hut she visits plus concern that the huts are in the line of danger from harvesting machines, she puts up notices for the owners to get in touch before the huts are demolished. But the second hut she visits is very well made with a jetty. Can it get a stay of execution?

Chainsaw operators need to be expertly trained and highly skilled. Specialist contractor Dewi Williams regularly comes to Galloway to fell trees in the forest's most inaccessible areas. It's all good training for the UK Logging Competition, where the best precision chainsaw operator in the country is crowned. Former champion Dewi is taking part this year, but so is his employee Gethin. Can the underdog beat the top dog?

Because so few people live in Galloway Forest, the area has some of the darkest skies in Europe. And it has become the continent's first gold tier Dark Sky Park. The observatory near Dalmellington houses two huge telescopes to give the public an open-air, hands-on observing experience. At a Wednesday evening stargazing event, all they need is clear skies for a perfect view of Saturn.

At Balloch O'Dee campsite, owner James organises an impromptu pony show for the younger campers.