Still audible... but fading fast

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/opencountry_20071208.shtml

The last workng tin mine in Cornwall closed nine years ago when the price of
tin was just too low for it to be commercially viable. But now the value of
tin is at an all-time high - about eight thousand pounds a tonne - and South
Crofty in Camborne is going to re-open. Matt Baker goes underground to see
what's going on - and also visits the Camborne School of Mines, which was
established in 1888 and is the oldest in the world. He talks to former,
current and future miners and asks, "from beaches to base-metals, can
Cornwall offer tin as well as tourism?


AND

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/opencountry_20080209.shtml

The Tower Colliery made headlines around the world in 1994 when British Coal
decided to close it down after deciding the mine wasn't profitable enough.
Two million pounds was raised by 239 miners with each pledging eight
thousand pounds from their redundancy payouts, allowing a buy-out group to
be formed. However two weeks ago the Tower finally closed after running out
of coal to mine.

Caroline visits the Cynon Valley and talks to the pit manager, Tyrone
O'Sullivan who has become almost as famous as the pit he helped save. He
talks about how the mine will be 'put to bed' and explains what will be
happening to the site. One of the miners, John Woods, talks about what the
future holds for him now the pit is closed after dedicating 40 years of his
working life to it. Caroline meets local businesswoman Judy Toms at the Dare
Valley Country Park in Aberdare and describes her hopes to see the Cynon
Valley restored as a tourist trap for walkers and art lovers. Caroline also
visits Adrian Schofield at the Mines Rescue Service in Dinas and experiences
working life in a mocked-up mine shaft. History Professor Chris Williams
paints a picture of South Wales when coal mining was in its heyday at the
Rhondda Heritage Park and discusses the legacy of the Tower Colliery.

AND

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/news/pip/0iroz/

Chris Young says farewell to a Cornish china clay pit which has been closed
for economic reasons. He follows the journey of china clay from pit to port,
hears from the men who worked it and recounts how it transformed the
landscape. As the industry inexorably declines, will plans for the abandoned
sites provide economic regeneration and hope for those who have been made
redundant?

AND

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/opencountry_20080112.shtml

High up in the Lowther hills at 1531 feet is Wanlockhead Scotland's highest
village and it's near there that Helen gets gold fever as Charlie Smart
discloses the secrets of gold panning in the River Nith. Some of the world's
purest gold at 22.8 carrats has been found in these waters and was used in
the Regalia of the Scottish crown (on display at Edinburgh Castle) and more
recently made in to the mace for the Scottish Parliament. Why the gold is
there is explained by Bob Reekie of the Wanlockhead Leadmining Museum where
visitors can pan for their own gold!
The neighbouring village of Leadhills is Scotland's second highest village
and boasts the highest narrow gauge railway, the highest golf course and its
graveyard is the final resting place of John Taylor, reputedly the oldest
man in Britain who lived to 137. Local resident of Leadhills, Alison White
also takes Helen to the UK's oldest Subscription Library founded in 1741
when 23 lead miners clubbed together to set up the Leadhills Reading
Society.
Yet perhaps the most extraordinary records are held by the Atlantic salmon
which migrate thousands of miles each year to spawn in the River Nith and
its tributaries. Late at night and guided by Jim Henderson, director of the
Nith District Salmon Fishery Board, Helen is enthralled by the sight of wild
salmon spawning just feet away from her

(I'm not sure about the fish bit myself but to be fair to the broadcaster
she did start her career at
Radio Foyle...)

Use the listenagain facility on the listed webpages
(all descriptions are the BBC's own)

and apologies if these have been posted to the list before...

regards

John A W Lock