Cream teas, bunting, thatched cottages swathed in roses. For generations this rural idyll of the village has conjured the very best of Britain. Penelope Keith explores our relationship with the village, discovering traditions under threat and communities undergoing huge changes, as she looks at what the future holds for rural communities.

Penelope Keith explores the nation's villages and rural life as she returns for a second series

Penelope looks back at the hidden villages she has visited across Britain