Radio choice Charlotte Runcie

Ramblings RADIO 4, 3.00PM

 Clare Balding dons her sturdy boots once more for a new series of Ramblings, just in time to inspire us all to get out in the countryside and enjoy the autumn colour. In the first episode, she is on Hergest Ridge in Herefordshire with GP Dr Kate Harding, who has a poignant reason for walking and an important message to share. Dr Harding celebrates the life of her late husband, who died by suicide, by spending time in the landscape that he loved. It’s a poignant and moving instalment that should be as touching to the listener as it is for Balding.

The Essay: Italy Outdoors RADIO 3, 10.45PM

 All this week, The Essay attempts to keep the spirit of balmy Mediterranean settings alive as writer Polly Coles presents five evocative essays on outdoor spaces in Italy. Tonight it’s the turn of the Italian garden, which for centuries has been a place of romance and escape loved by Italians as well as revered by artists and writers all over the world. She explores its existence as both a place of quiet contemplation and community spirit. The other spaces under consideration in the series include open roads, streets, piazzas, and ornate church exteriors.