Lives in a Landscape

Alan Dein goes to Northern Ireland to talk to former Royal Ulster Constabulary officers who have formed a writing group. The Maryfield Writers meet once a month to share their work and come to terms with the trauma of the past. Producer: Neil McCarthy

In the first ever Lives in a Landscape, the Ancient and Honourable Society of Ratters leave London clubland behind and head for Yorkshire to experience the excitement of a real rat-hunt, masterminded by ex-miner Brian Oliver. But when he invites them back to his council semi, it's not quite what they're expecting. Alan Dein has presented the programme since 2008 - before then, most editions were audio montages without a presenter. Producer: Laurence Grissell

Alan Dein travels to Elsecar Park, Barnsley. For the past 4 years it has been home to Francis McDonald who both runs the cafe and acts as unofficial park keeper. It seemed like a paradise when McDonald opened the doors on a world he had known since his childhood. But gradually it became a kind of lonely hell. Now this will be his last autumn and the house on the hill will fall silent and shuttered. Producer: Mark Burman

Alan Dein goes to Boston, Lincolnshire to explore the simmering tensions caused by a large influx of migrant workers from Eastern Europe. On arriving in this traditional market town dominated by its vast church known locally as the Stump, Alan hears rumours of escalating crime, homelessness and enforced repatriations. Alan talks to Bostonians and migrant workers alike, attempting to build up a picture of the reality behind the rumours. Producer: Laurence Grissell

Alan Dein meets the evangelising travellers of Edinburgh who live amid the decaying remains of the city's Craigmillar estate and worship in the Life and Light church. Once a thriving community, today Craigmillar lies two thirds empty, with promised re-development on hold. Venturing into the heart of a housing scheme rife with drug dealers, according to the travellers, Alan is not sure what kind of reception he will receive. Producer: Kate Bissell

The village of Woodhouses near Manchester is a half-rural, half-suburban idyll. Right now, the place is buzzing with excitement as the village cricket team are about to contest the the final of the Village Cricket Cup at Lords. But as Alan Dein discovers, just as the team dream of victory, this proud Lancashire cricketing village is under threat. Once home to quarter of a million pigs, Woodhouses suddenly finds itself in real danger of being consumed by bricks and concrete, threatening its village status. Producer: Neil George

In the London Borough of Hackney, they're sweeping up after the riots. As worldwide media attention subsides, Alan Dein returns to hear how life has changed. He follows story of Siva Kandiah's quest to rebuild his shop after it was gutted during the disturbances. Producer: Sara Jane Hall

Welcome to this new BBC podcast. If you subscribe to the podcast feed, you should receive the first episode of this series automatically within the next seven days. To find other podcasts from the BBC, visit www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts.