A garden compost made of sheep’s wool and bracken from the Cumbrian fells was at the centre of a new BBC TV series championing rural entrepreneurs.

Award-winning Dalefoot Composts, based on a 120-acre family farm in the hills of the Lake District, was highlighted on 'Back to the Land' presented by Kate Humble on BBC Two on Tuesday evening.

The wool that could turn you into the next Alan Titchmarsh is the brainchild of Jane Barker, a former university lecturer with a PhD in environmental science, and her sheep farmer husband Simon Bland.

They spent six years developing the concept of peat-free compost from sheep's wool. The seed compost runs alongside Lakeland Gold, made from cow manure and bracken.

Dalefoot, based at Helton near Penrith, says the all-natural compost contains the ideal mix of nutrients to give seeds the perfect conditions for germination, whilst providing the correct level of support for healthy growth.

The documentary series travels the UK meeting the growing band of rural entrepreneurs who have forged their own innovative products and businesses from the land in the Lake District, Devon and Pembrokeshire.

The programme took a behind-the-scenes look at Dalefoot’s eco compost-making using wool and bracken from the Cumbrian fells, joining the firm during the busy lambing season and then again for the bracken harvest.

It also highlighted the specialised peat bog restoration work the Dalefoot team undertakes across the nation for organisations such as Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage.

Jane and Simon Bland were filmed throughout the year for the third episode of the series, which showcased companies in the Lake District. Their 11-year-old daughter Arabella also made an appearance, helping Kate and her parents with lambing.

Jane said: "It was a wonderful experience meeting Kate and the film crew, being taken through a process of reflecting on what we have achieved so far, and helping us celebrate the 20th anniversary of Dalefoot Composts.”

The enterprising couple began manufacturing compost and selling mail order prompted by diminishing returns from their sheep farming business.

Using Simon’s practical farming knowledge and the scientific input of Jane, they began their composting using bracken – a by-product of their environmental and habitat restoration work - before adding wool to the mixture.

As well as helping the growing number of gardeners and horticulturalists who want to switch to peat free, the compost finds a novel use for British wool - good news for struggling sheep farmers.

The use of bracken in Wool Compost is also beneficial for the local Cumbrian landscape, as the spread of this aggressive, waist-high plant in the Lake District makes grazing difficult and impacts upon native species. Harvesting improves the biodiversity of flora and fauna, in particular ground-nesting birds and butterflies.