For more than twenty-five years Martin Hesp has written about the landscapes, people and traditions of the West Country. In this episode he reflects on growing up in West Somerset, the shadow that war cast over his childhood, and how local history — from Viking raids to Alfred the Great — shaped the imagination of a generation.

Listen to a podcast in which Martin Hesp explores Tokyo, meeting with an old Somerset friend - Adam Kennedy - who has lived in the city for the past 17 years

It might sound crazy to cook on a beach in midwinter - but a day out with Devon’s Dan the Fishman is just what’s needed to blow away the Christmas cobwebs

Join the last of the River Exe salmon netters as a thousand-year-old West Country tradition comes to an end. A fascinating story of heritage, conservation, exceptional seafood and the people determined to preserve one of Britain's oldest fishing customs.

An introduction to Porthgwarra on the South West Cornish Coast - part of the inspiration for the first Cornish Snapper novel

In this article we hear about the loneliness of the old lighthouse keepers and we feature a remarkable podcast interview with one of the men who used to serve on some of the loneliest lights of them all…

Is Kingsbury Episcopi the true heart of the cider world? Martin Hesp joins poet James Crowden to explore a landscape of 'ghost' apple varieties, Somerset oak brandy, and the proper old-fashioned cider houses of the Levels.

A quick guide to the Adventures in Journalism Podcast which is available on the Libsyn platform and theref[re every other podcast platform and also linked to this website

Martin Hesp recalls visiting the ancient town of Holsworthy on the Devon-Cornwall border on the very last day the old cattle market was in operation near the town centre before moving to a new purpose-built site on the edge of town. The post includes a podcast which Martin recorded at the time - which could now be regarded as part of the rich oral history of the West Country region

Could Britain's favourite drink really be grown in Britain? Discover the fascinating story of Cornwall's Tregothnan Estate, where Jonathon Jones helped create England's first successful commercial tea plantation.

Martin Hesp looks up an old interview he recorded with Sir Tim Smit at an event celebrating 25 years of The Lost Gardens of Heligan - in this fascinating chat Tim shares his thoughts on historic gardens and the future of horticulture

Martin Hesp ponders on the joys of autumn now that the season is turning

<p class="" style="white-space:pre-wrap;">A photograph of M Hesp with ITV film crew on the Isles of Scilly about 12 years ago </p>