Dairy cows indoors - what next?

More trees in our towns and cities? Could that be the answer to climate change It's Spring - and the sap is rising fast - but would you ever think of drinking it straight from the tree and Kestrels are on the decline in Wales - now help is at hand to save them

Last updated: 21 March 2010

Country Focus - Sunday 21st March 7.30am, presented by Melanie Doel.

There's nothing nicer than a walk or drive through the countryside as you watch the cows and sheep grazing in the pastures and hillsides. But could all that be a thing of the past ? With concerns about the environment - and farmers and food producers seeking better profits - would it be better to keep dairy cows indoors? A recent report looking at how agriculture in Wales can limit geenhouse gas emissions says cows should be mainly kept inside to enable the capture of methane gas The report was put together by the Land Use Climate Change Group on behalf of the Assembly Government.

And it's not just dairy farming that could change the look of our countryside if we are to combat climate change. We also look at how a dramatic increase in the number of trees planted in Wales could help and what role our forests can play.

They're often seen hovering over roadside verges, but like so many of our native birds of prey, kestrels have been declining in numbers recently And the reason isn't completely clear. We hear how a group in Pembrokeshire is trying to give the birds a helping hand. Members of a local biodiversity project have been busy putting up kestrel nest boxes all over the county, to try to increase the local kestrel population and to get a better understanding of their needs.

And at this time of year for about 2 weeks, sap is rising fast through the trunks of silver birch trees. And as bushcraft instructor, Heath Dawson suggests if you know what to do you can enjoy an invigorating tonic of vernal sap. Which some say is the perfect way to pep you up and get you ready for spring.