0:00:02 > 0:00:08Across the UK, days are warmer, brighter, and longer.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12In the countryside, the air is filled with birdsong
0:00:12 > 0:00:14and the scent of flowers.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18Spring has sprung.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21It's the time of year when nature wakes up.
0:00:23 > 0:00:27And there are new beginnings everywhere you look.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31It's a time to plant and sow.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38And to get out and enjoy everything our wonderful countryside
0:00:38 > 0:00:39has to offer.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46All week, we're travelling the length and breadth of the UK...
0:00:46 > 0:00:49The lizards like to sit out when the granite gets hot.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51Those lucky lizards.
0:00:51 > 0:00:56..bringing the very best seasonal stories that matter to you.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Why are flowers so good for our health?
0:00:59 > 0:01:04Well, in short order, it's the healing power of nature.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08A very warm welcome to the most joyous of seasons.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11This is Countryfile Spring Diaries.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19Here's what's coming up on today's programme.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22Jules will be trying out a revolutionary new way
0:01:22 > 0:01:24to keep your dog trim.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26Come on, come on, then.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28Go on. Oh, my goodness me.
0:01:28 > 0:01:29Help!
0:01:30 > 0:01:34Paul's picking up tips on keeping farmyard babies.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36Look at all those piglets.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38- The piglets...- They've just been born, haven't they?
0:01:38 > 0:01:39What, three or four days?
0:01:39 > 0:01:42- Three, four days, yeah.- Ah, they make you smile, don't they?
0:01:43 > 0:01:45And I'll be finding out
0:01:45 > 0:01:48what you can do in the fight against wildlife crime.
0:01:55 > 0:01:56Our base all this week
0:01:56 > 0:01:58is beautiful Devon
0:01:58 > 0:02:01with its vast stretches of wild moorland,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04picturesque villages and stunning coastline,
0:02:04 > 0:02:07like here in the Valley of Rocks.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10All in all, it puts on quite a show in springtime.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18The county covers more than 2,500 square miles,
0:02:18 > 0:02:21but it's sparsely populated.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24It's crammed, though, with jaw-dropping scenery,
0:02:24 > 0:02:27including two national parks,
0:02:27 > 0:02:30and five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38When springtime comes around,
0:02:38 > 0:02:40many of us start to think about getting into shape
0:02:40 > 0:02:42for the months ahead,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45but it's not just our OWN health that we need to worry about.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47Obesity in pets is growing.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51And for one dog owner, enough is enough.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Jules and his four-legged friend, Teddy,
0:02:54 > 0:02:55are about to turn over a new leaf.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01Hello, everybody. This is Sunday morning in the Hudson household.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03It's all got a bit chaotic.
0:03:03 > 0:03:04But this is what we're doing.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08This is the start of a whole new regime for Teddy and for I,
0:03:08 > 0:03:12because we can be a little bit lazy and very playful,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14as you can probably see.
0:03:14 > 0:03:15So as of today,
0:03:15 > 0:03:18we're starting a brand-new regime
0:03:18 > 0:03:21to try and help both of us get a bit fitter.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23Ow!
0:03:23 > 0:03:26HE LAUGHS
0:03:26 > 0:03:28Back in January,
0:03:28 > 0:03:32Teddy tipped the doggy scales at a worrying 39.2 kilos.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35That puts him firmly in the overweight category,
0:03:35 > 0:03:37but he's not alone.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40One study found that a third of dogs are too heavy.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43That makes all those lovable bundles of blubber
0:03:43 > 0:03:44prone to illnesses
0:03:44 > 0:03:46including diabetes and heart disease.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Now, it's best paw forward for Teddy.
0:03:50 > 0:03:51Good, boy. Go on, then.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55But we're not embarking on our springtime fitness regime alone.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58Not when we've got 21st-century tech on our side.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Now, the craze for those activity monitors
0:04:02 > 0:04:04that many of us humans like to wear on our wrists these days
0:04:04 > 0:04:06has, believe it or not,
0:04:06 > 0:04:07made it to the canine world.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09And this is one of the latest.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13And I'm told that if I attach it to Teddy's collar,
0:04:13 > 0:04:16and then sync it up with my smartphone,
0:04:16 > 0:04:20it should record everything that Teddy does.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22So, for the next seven days,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25we're going to keep a close eye on everything
0:04:25 > 0:04:28that you do to see if it can help improve your fitness.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Not only does the monitor track activity,
0:04:31 > 0:04:33it also sets exercise targets.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36In our case, it's 80 minutes a day.
0:04:36 > 0:04:37Will we manage it?
0:04:37 > 0:04:40I guess we'll know at the end of our week-long trial.
0:04:42 > 0:04:44Feeding time at the zoo.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46Doing this without advice is never a good idea.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48Go on, then.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51So I consulted a vet before getting started.
0:04:51 > 0:04:52Going to mix it up for Teddy.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55Good boys.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58And for Iolo.
0:04:58 > 0:05:00On top of exercising like crazy,
0:05:00 > 0:05:03I've been advised to give Teddy just one meal a day.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Let's hope it's enough to keep our doggy monitor happy.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08Pawesome, it says. Pawesome.
0:05:08 > 0:05:12You are pawesome. Not bad for a permanently hungry labrador.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15- Jack.- Daddy.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Come on, Teddy. Teddy bear, good boy.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22Well, we've now come to the end of our seven-day trial,
0:05:22 > 0:05:25and my phone is chock-a-block full of data
0:05:25 > 0:05:27that's recorded Teddy's activity.
0:05:27 > 0:05:28Good boy.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30So, to try and make sense of it all,
0:05:30 > 0:05:32we're off to see an animal behaviourist,
0:05:32 > 0:05:33Dr Emily Blackwell.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41Emily knows a thing or two about what makes our canine chums tick.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44And she also worked on the development
0:05:44 > 0:05:45of Teddy's doggy monitor.
0:05:45 > 0:05:46- Emily.- Hi, Jules.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48- Nice to see you.- Nice to meet you.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50- And this must be Teddy.- This is Teddy, yeah.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53Good boy. We've downloaded all the data from his monitor.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58- OK.- So the red bars are where we've achieved our 80 minutes or more,
0:05:58 > 0:06:01and the orange bars are where we haven't.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03But what else has this recorded
0:06:03 > 0:06:06that can perhaps guide me in terms of his wellbeing
0:06:06 > 0:06:08and exercise that I should be giving him?
0:06:08 > 0:06:10This monitors all kinds of activity,
0:06:10 > 0:06:13so it's not just when you're out walking and going for runs.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16It's when he's playing, playing in the garden, investigating things.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19So, time to see if Teddy's on track.
0:06:19 > 0:06:24Let's go for Monday when you did quite a lot, well over target.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26So he spent 22 hours resting.
0:06:26 > 0:06:27Yeah.
0:06:27 > 0:06:2830 minutes running.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Yeah. 65 minutes walking about.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35What's slightly concerning is only five minutes playing.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38So I think we've got some potential to work on that.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40Well, he'd love a bit more play, wouldn't you?
0:06:40 > 0:06:42But how effective are these monitors becoming
0:06:42 > 0:06:45in terms of how we keep an eye on our dog's activity
0:06:45 > 0:06:47and help them stay healthy?
0:06:47 > 0:06:49Well, it's an estimate, the target,
0:06:49 > 0:06:51because every individual dog is different.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54And as scientists, we'd like to use it
0:06:54 > 0:06:58to monitor treatment protocols and to diagnose problems,
0:06:58 > 0:07:01just to find out whether the activity levels are changing,
0:07:01 > 0:07:04in a simple way, by just attaching a device to a collar.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07And I suppose with the monitors that we can all wear on our own wrists,
0:07:07 > 0:07:09you can sort of compete with your dog a bit, can't you?
0:07:09 > 0:07:11See how you're both doing.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13It's a good excuse for us ALL to get fit.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15Absolutely. But my money's on Teddy.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17THEY LAUGH
0:07:17 > 0:07:19One thing the monitor has shown is
0:07:19 > 0:07:22that Teddy could do with playing around a bit more.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24And Emily's got some nifty tricks to get him started.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26Teddy.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30So what we do is, we hide some low-calorie treats
0:07:30 > 0:07:33inside this puzzle toy.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35- Teddy...- And what he has to do,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38is just think about it a little bit and work for the treats.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40So, over to you.
0:07:40 > 0:07:41What's this? What's this?
0:07:42 > 0:07:44Oh... Good boy, Teddy.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46Good boy, Ted.
0:07:46 > 0:07:47Good boy, Teddy.
0:07:47 > 0:07:48That didn't take very long, did it?
0:07:48 > 0:07:50And he's certainly enjoying it.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52He certainly is. I'm quite impressed.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54Proud of him, actually. Well done, Teddy.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57You've managed to figure it all out.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59So, what else have you got for him?
0:07:59 > 0:08:02OK, well, first of all, remember to reduce his dinner tonight
0:08:02 > 0:08:04by the amount of treats that we've given him today.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06- That's really important.- Which is probably a kilo.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08Yes.
0:08:08 > 0:08:09But what we're going to do now
0:08:09 > 0:08:11is use that incredible sense of smell
0:08:11 > 0:08:12and challenge him a little bit.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14And anyone can try this at home.
0:08:14 > 0:08:15So, to start with,
0:08:15 > 0:08:19all you need to do is show the dog you've got some treats,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22put them quite obviously under a pot, and then let him go.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24Look, Teddy. Yum, yum, yum.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26That's going under there.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28And the last one. Do you want to let him go?
0:08:28 > 0:08:29Good boy, Teddy.
0:08:32 > 0:08:33Doesn't care about me, does he?
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Look. Good boy, Teddy, go on, get on, get on.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Teddy, Teddy. Good boy, get on.
0:08:39 > 0:08:40Move on, mate, there's one more.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44Get on, get on, get on. Oh, good boy.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46Come on, Teddy, good boy, good boy.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Oh, well done. Well done.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51I mean, that is such a simple, but effective exercise, isn't it?
0:08:51 > 0:08:55It's fantastic. And using what they do best, their sense of smell.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59Activity monitors and canine psychology are all well and good,
0:08:59 > 0:09:02but I'm itching to get back inside to the doggy scales.
0:09:02 > 0:09:03Hi, Teddy.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Right, Teddy, it's your moment of truth, mate.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08Well, it would be if he played ball.
0:09:08 > 0:09:09Sit on those scales.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11Children and animals...
0:09:11 > 0:09:14Much-used phrase and absolutely right.
0:09:14 > 0:09:15Come on, Teddy. On you get.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18I think he's terrified about what the weight's going to say.
0:09:18 > 0:09:19Sit.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Now, remember, he WAS 39.2 kilos.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24That's 37.1 kilos.
0:09:24 > 0:09:2637.1, good boy!
0:09:26 > 0:09:28- Good boy!- So it's actually working.
0:09:28 > 0:09:29It's actually working.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32I think he's happy about it.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35- He is.- And so am I. Brilliant.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39So we've managed to knock over two kilos off Teddy's weight.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43Now, whether the activity monitor has helped or not, I don't know,
0:09:43 > 0:09:45but we've certainly had fun with it.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49And the really best bit of news, well, we're still mates.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51Aren't we, Teddy?
0:09:51 > 0:09:52Teddy...
0:09:52 > 0:09:53Oh, Teddy.
0:09:57 > 0:09:59Later, Teddy and I will be testing a contraption
0:09:59 > 0:10:02that could keep man and beast fighting fit in unison.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07I can't keep it up!
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Here in Devon, amidst all this glorious moorland scenery,
0:10:15 > 0:10:19it's hard to believe that our countryside could ever be targeted
0:10:19 > 0:10:24by criminals, but, sadly, rural crime is a grim reality.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29Nationwide, there are specially trained police officers fighting it.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31And eagle-eyed members of the public
0:10:31 > 0:10:33are absolutely vital to their success.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Margherita has hopped over the border into Somerset,
0:10:38 > 0:10:41to follow up leads in a very, very unusual case.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47A beautiful meadow - it's hard to think of a more idyllic setting,
0:10:47 > 0:10:50but it was to become a crime scene.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59A Bristol man who calls himself a butterfly conservationist
0:10:59 > 0:11:02has been found guilty of capturing and killing
0:11:02 > 0:11:04some of Europe's rarest species.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09The large blue is the only British butterfly
0:11:09 > 0:11:11which is globally endangered.
0:11:11 > 0:11:12In March 2017,
0:11:12 > 0:11:16Phillip Cullen was convicted of catching and killing them
0:11:16 > 0:11:18in Gloucestershire and Somerset.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21To an ordinary passer-by, his actions
0:11:21 > 0:11:23might have appeared innocent,
0:11:23 > 0:11:26but he was spotted by members of Butterfly Conservation
0:11:26 > 0:11:29and they caught him red-handed.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33Butterfly scientist Dave Simcox picks up the story.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37It all started on a site called Daneway Banks in Gloucestershire.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40Quite a lot of the monitoring on that site is done by volunteers.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42And what did the volunteers see?
0:11:42 > 0:11:43Well, on this particular day,
0:11:43 > 0:11:48they spotted this chap who was behaving really rather oddly.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52They saw that he was carrying a net and was trying to catch large blues.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55They kept a distance and they took photographs
0:11:55 > 0:11:58and these were sent to one of our other sites
0:11:58 > 0:11:59where we've got wardens working.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02And why would someone go out onto a protected site
0:12:02 > 0:12:03and take a protected species?
0:12:03 > 0:12:07It's either for financial gain,
0:12:07 > 0:12:11or it's because of a sort of obsessive collecting passion
0:12:11 > 0:12:14that stops them from observing the law.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17In fact, rare butterfly samples can be worth
0:12:17 > 0:12:21up to £300 to unscrupulous collectors.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23What if we see somebody doing something
0:12:23 > 0:12:24that looks a little bit suspicious,
0:12:24 > 0:12:26and they don't look very approachable?
0:12:26 > 0:12:28What we would suggest is that you contact the police
0:12:28 > 0:12:30on their non-emergency number.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33You explain what it is that you've been seeing,
0:12:33 > 0:12:38and you ask them to contact the National Wildlife Crime Unit.
0:12:38 > 0:12:42Butterflies are the second most prolific pollinators after bees,
0:12:42 > 0:12:46so a healthy population benefits the countryside as a whole.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Sadly, three-quarters of our species
0:12:48 > 0:12:51have declined in number in the last 40 years.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56But luckily, here in the Exmoor National Park,
0:12:56 > 0:12:57they are thriving.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00The park is home to 30 species of butterfly.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02For butterfly buffs,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05this is the perfect time of year for a treasure hunt.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Butterfly Conservation is working hard
0:13:07 > 0:13:10to encourage new species in the park.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13In recent years, they reintroduced
0:13:13 > 0:13:15the heath fritillary here.
0:13:15 > 0:13:19And today, I'm helping conservation volunteers Simon Phelps and his team
0:13:19 > 0:13:22check on the progress of this all-too-rare species.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28What you are looking for is the caterpillars, which look like this.
0:13:28 > 0:13:29So they are a nice,
0:13:29 > 0:13:32dark grey colour with these kind of nice sort of ornate
0:13:32 > 0:13:34white and yellow horns on.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36And they do show up quite well at the moment
0:13:36 > 0:13:39because they are quite large on the bracken and the moss.
0:13:39 > 0:13:40And what kind of size are they?
0:13:40 > 0:13:44They are about, sort of, maybe four or five centimetres.
0:13:44 > 0:13:45Oh, and I've just found one here.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47Wow! Eagle eyes!
0:13:47 > 0:13:50Yeah. A nice one down here.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52So this one is basking in the sun.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56They absorb the warmth of the sun to help them move round.
0:13:56 > 0:13:57And we've spotted one.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00does that mean more are going to be quite close by?
0:14:00 > 0:14:01Yes, definitely. Normally when you see one,
0:14:01 > 0:14:03and you can get your eye on them
0:14:03 > 0:14:04and see what they look like,
0:14:04 > 0:14:06you'll see them kind of on the vegetation.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11Right, time to roll up my sleeves and get hunting.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15But you don't need to go out into the countryside
0:14:15 > 0:14:18to keep track of these beautiful harbingers of spring.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20You can do it in your own back garden.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24Butterfly Conservation has more than 40,000 volunteers,
0:14:24 > 0:14:28monitoring butterfly and moth species all over the country.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32You don't need to be an expert to help out, and as this project shows,
0:14:32 > 0:14:34your help can make a real difference.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37So signs are looking promising.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39Yeah, we can see that the habitat is looking good,
0:14:39 > 0:14:41and the caterpillars are at good densities,
0:14:41 > 0:14:43and we'd expect that when we finish the count
0:14:43 > 0:14:44and have covered the whole area,
0:14:44 > 0:14:46that there should be a similar or maybe even better
0:14:46 > 0:14:48numbers than last year.
0:14:51 > 0:14:56I can really see why this delicate insect needs such strong protection.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59And it's heartening to know that there are so many people
0:14:59 > 0:15:01willing to volunteer to help ensure
0:15:01 > 0:15:04that beautiful butterflies are here for us all
0:15:04 > 0:15:06to enjoy for many years to come.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15With butterflies in such steep decline,
0:15:15 > 0:15:20it will be no easy task to restore them to their former glory.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23But now we turn to an uphill battle that's a little closer to home.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29Getting healthy can be an exhausting business for all of us
0:15:29 > 0:15:31and a confusing one, too,
0:15:31 > 0:15:33especially when it comes to what we should
0:15:33 > 0:15:35or what we shouldn't be eating and drinking.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39And even some products that are labelled as being GOOD for you
0:15:39 > 0:15:41can hold hidden horrors.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44Well, Keeley has been dipping into the secrets inside
0:15:44 > 0:15:46one of our favourite health foods.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57I don't know about you, but keeping fit can be hard work.
0:15:58 > 0:16:03But now that spring's here, I'm determined to get back in shape.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07But it's not just my outsides that I want to take care of.
0:16:07 > 0:16:08It's my insides too.
0:16:10 > 0:16:15Yoghurt. Us Brits spend a whopping £1.7 billion a year on the stuff.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19It's good for you, right? A great breakfast or snack for the kids.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23Well, actually, it's not all quite as healthy as you might think.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27And finding the best one is, in fact, a nutritional minefield.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32Luckily, we've got dietician and yoghurt expert Helen Bond
0:16:32 > 0:16:34to guide us.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36This looks like a really tasty table.
0:16:36 > 0:16:37It does indeed.
0:16:37 > 0:16:38Now, I eat a lot of yoghurt.
0:16:38 > 0:16:39Am I doing the right thing?
0:16:39 > 0:16:41Is yoghurt a good thing to have as a snack?
0:16:41 > 0:16:45There is no doubt that yoghurt is a really nutritious food.
0:16:45 > 0:16:46After all, it's made from milk.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49So it's full of bone-building calcium,
0:16:49 > 0:16:53it's got high-quality protein and B vitamins, which help release energy.
0:16:53 > 0:16:58All yoghurts contain varying amounts of fat, sugar and protein,
0:16:58 > 0:17:00and, today, we're comparing a few different varieties
0:17:00 > 0:17:02to see how they measure up.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04Which one of these, then, is your basic yoghurt?
0:17:04 > 0:17:06Well, I'd say this one was pretty much your basic.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08Full fat natural yoghurt.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10There's nothing added to it and all the sugars
0:17:10 > 0:17:11that are actually in this product
0:17:11 > 0:17:14are naturally occurring from the milk sugar lactose.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17So, this is a pretty good bet in terms of health benefits.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20- It is.- Standard yoghurt may be naturally sweet,
0:17:20 > 0:17:22but it's also high in fat,
0:17:22 > 0:17:25with almost six grams per 150-gram serving.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28And that's what fuels the market for healthier options.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31I would probably go for a light variety.
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Is that a better bet if somebody did want to lose weight?
0:17:34 > 0:17:37If you are cutting the amount of fat, so calories do go down,
0:17:37 > 0:17:39but because they've taken the fat out,
0:17:39 > 0:17:41usually they replace it with sugar.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45So sugar could be double the amount of the actual full fat variety.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49That's almost 12 grams in our 150-gram portion,
0:17:49 > 0:17:51so some low-fat options may not be the way to go
0:17:51 > 0:17:54if you're watching your sugar intake.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56What about Greek yoghurt?
0:17:56 > 0:17:59Everyone thinks, it is delicious, thick and creamy, but actually,
0:17:59 > 0:18:00it is quite high in fat.
0:18:00 > 0:18:02It actually contains three times as much fat...
0:18:02 > 0:18:05- Really?- ...compared to the full-fat variety.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07And I think what particularly concerns me
0:18:07 > 0:18:09is the amount of saturated fat in there.
0:18:09 > 0:18:15In fact, a 150-gram serving actually contains around 15 grams of fat.
0:18:15 > 0:18:16More worryingly still,
0:18:16 > 0:18:19it's got 50% of your recommended daily intake
0:18:19 > 0:18:22of cholesterol-boosting saturated fats.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24So this is the children's yoghurt.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26Kids' yoghurt can be very sugary.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29There's almost 18 grams in a 150-gram serving
0:18:29 > 0:18:31of the one we're tasting.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33That's nearly six cubes.
0:18:33 > 0:18:35I mean, that's obviously the nicest.
0:18:35 > 0:18:36The one that's got the most sugar in.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38It's obviously why children would want it.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40Should parents be worried about these yoghurts?
0:18:40 > 0:18:43I think it's something to be mindful of, is sugar content,
0:18:43 > 0:18:45and I think it's good to be aware of how much sugar is in your food.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48But you've got to look at it in the broader context of your diet,
0:18:48 > 0:18:50and look what yoghurt is actually delivering
0:18:50 > 0:18:52in terms of nutritional benefits.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54And if it's in place of things like chocolate biscuits
0:18:54 > 0:18:57and other things like that, then it's a good way to go.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00Now, I've only very recently heard of this one.
0:19:00 > 0:19:05Skyr. Skyr is a medieval Norwegian word meaning thick curdled milk,
0:19:05 > 0:19:09but these days, it's considered an Icelandic speciality.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12It doesn't taste that dissimilar, really, from the Greek yoghurt.
0:19:12 > 0:19:13No, it's very similar.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16But what's different from a nutritional point of view
0:19:16 > 0:19:19is quite impressive, because, actually, it's reduced sugar,
0:19:19 > 0:19:20it's virtually fat-free,
0:19:20 > 0:19:23- and it's nearly half the calories of the Greek yoghurt.- Oh, really?
0:19:23 > 0:19:27But it's in the protein stakes that it really delivers.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31Plain skyr packs in over 16 grams per 150.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35That's not far off the amount of protein in three eggs.
0:19:35 > 0:19:36Not bad for a bowl of yoghurt.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39It slows down the eating occasion
0:19:39 > 0:19:41because it is quite thick and luxurious.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43And it's got a high protein content.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46That's good for kind of beating those mid-morning munchies.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49So it seems like the Icelandic invader
0:19:49 > 0:19:52could be worth adding to my springtime health drive.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54It may be relatively new to us here in Britain
0:19:54 > 0:19:57but skyr was actually dreamt up by the Vikings.
0:20:00 > 0:20:04And anything a Viking can do, a Yorkshireman can have a go at,
0:20:04 > 0:20:07so I'm off to the Dales to meet the UK's only skyr producer,
0:20:07 > 0:20:10Sam Moorhouse.
0:20:10 > 0:20:11So, why skyr?
0:20:11 > 0:20:14What is it about it that really appealed to you?
0:20:14 > 0:20:16Once I'd tasted it, I was fully on board.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19It's, you know, got that real thickness,
0:20:19 > 0:20:22it's got the velvety texture.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24And the nutritional side of it that came with that taste
0:20:24 > 0:20:25was quite amazing to see.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28And then also just the uniqueness of it.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31I mean, it's been in Iceland for centuries.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34And it was when researching Icelandic cattle
0:20:34 > 0:20:36that Sam first came across skyr.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38He then travelled to Reykjavik
0:20:38 > 0:20:41to meet producer Thorarinn Sveinsson.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Thorarinn agreed to teach me how to make skyr.
0:20:44 > 0:20:45He'd been making it himself.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47His family had been making it in Iceland for generations.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49And when did you first try the product?
0:20:49 > 0:20:50When did you first taste it?
0:20:50 > 0:20:52I first tried it when I got to the airport.
0:20:52 > 0:20:53I'd only read about it until that point.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56So you went all the way to Iceland before you'd even tried it?
0:20:56 > 0:20:58Luckily, I got there and it was really nice.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Tried it in the airport and I was, you know...
0:21:00 > 0:21:02pretty sure at that point it was the right thing to do.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Since Sam took that extraordinary leap of faith back in 2015,
0:21:06 > 0:21:10his skyr operation has gone from strength to strength.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12Wow! What a set-up!
0:21:12 > 0:21:15And today, he's letting me lend a hand.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17Ooh. It's luminous, almost.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20My first job, yoghurt stirring.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23So, what's the difference between this and normal yoghurt?
0:21:23 > 0:21:25Firstly, it's made using skimmed milk.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Originally, when it was being made in Iceland,
0:21:28 > 0:21:32back as far as the ninth century, it was a by-product, originally.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35So they'd skim the cream off from the cows
0:21:35 > 0:21:37and use that to make butter.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39And then they'd be left with skimmed milk.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42And now, ironically, it's probably the biggest dairy product
0:21:42 > 0:21:43they produce in Iceland.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46And also, you then use a heritage skyr culture
0:21:46 > 0:21:48and vegetarian rennet.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52Another key difference is that it takes four times more milk
0:21:52 > 0:21:54to make skyr than regular yoghurt.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00Most of what Sam produces is plain,
0:22:00 > 0:22:02but he also makes flavoured varieties,
0:22:02 > 0:22:04and today, it's my favourite, blueberry.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07So you can start stirring that now.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09This is very, very satisfying.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13With that mixed in, we are ready to hit the production line.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20I think I'm getting the knack of this.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22- Yeah.- It's like Willy Wonka's factory, isn't it?
0:22:22 > 0:22:24- Yeah.- Only much healthier.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30Who knew making yoghurt could be so much fun?
0:22:30 > 0:22:34And we aren't finished with surprises just yet.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37So instead of the cream cheese, in something like a cheesecake,
0:22:37 > 0:22:38you could use skyr.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40Yeah, skyr works really well.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42It's actually a cheese, itself, skyr.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44- It's a cheese?- Yeah.- I thought it was a yoghurt.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Well, it tastes like a yoghurt.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48It looks like a yoghurt and you eat it in many ways, like a yoghurt.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50But because of the use of rennet,
0:22:50 > 0:22:53it's actually classified technically as a soft cheese.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55- I didn't know that.- Not many people do.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Well, I can honestly say that I never thought of yoghurt
0:22:58 > 0:23:01as anything more than a healthy snack.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03But after today, I'll be paying way more attention
0:23:03 > 0:23:05in the chiller section.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14The landscape here in Devon is not only beautiful,
0:23:14 > 0:23:16it's also bountiful.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19The county produces more milk than any other in the UK,
0:23:19 > 0:23:22and agriculture and food production
0:23:22 > 0:23:25account for over 10% of the local economy.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27And for one Dartmoor resident,
0:23:27 > 0:23:31the area's natural resources have been a real inspiration,
0:23:31 > 0:23:33as Anita discovered.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38This ancient longhouse is home to Sophie Goodwin Hughes
0:23:38 > 0:23:41and her Dartmoor soap company.
0:23:41 > 0:23:42It's a true cottage industry.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47I had a little boy about four years ago, and he had eczema.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50So I thought I'd make a soap for him to clear the eczema.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52And it worked.
0:23:52 > 0:23:53And then I thought, well,
0:23:53 > 0:23:57I might try and make some more soaps and use the Dartmoor name, too.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59And see if I could build a business.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01So, what are the secret ingredients?
0:24:01 > 0:24:04- Can you tell me?- Beeswax, comes from North Bovey,
0:24:04 > 0:24:07which is about half an hour up the road on Dartmoor.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10And we also use goat's milk in our goat's milk soap,
0:24:10 > 0:24:13which comes from about two minutes that way.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15So as locally sourced as it can be.
0:24:15 > 0:24:16Yeah, as it can be.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20It began as one bar of soap for Sebastian.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23But what is it about the finest Dartmoor ingredients?
0:24:23 > 0:24:24It's time to find out.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27Starting with beekeeper Peter Hunt.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29He regularly provides Sophie with beeswax.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34So, that's what you've pulled out of the beehive.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36- Yeah.- And that's the honeycomb.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38So in there, it would have had lovely, drippy honey...
0:24:38 > 0:24:40- Yes.- ..oozing out of it...- Yes.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42The good stuff. And that's what's left behind.
0:24:42 > 0:24:43- Yes.- So, what is that?
0:24:43 > 0:24:45That's just wax.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48It's the wax. And it's made by the bees themselves.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51So, how does that go from there to what I want to take away with me?
0:24:51 > 0:24:55OK, so, when I've extracted the honey, I will cut that frame out...
0:24:55 > 0:24:59- Yeah.- Then I put it in here, which is a honey melter.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02Oh, wow! Oh, it's warm and...
0:25:02 > 0:25:03- Yeah.- It smells delicious.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05It is.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08Once melted, Peter's beeswax is filtered,
0:25:08 > 0:25:12drained from the tank and then solidifies into a golden nugget.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14I mean, that's a lot of beeswax.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16Is that what I'm taking away with me?
0:25:16 > 0:25:18Some of it, yes.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Time to get a chip off the old block.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24The wax is going to get whacked.
0:25:24 > 0:25:25I suggest you back off.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29SHE LAUGHS
0:25:29 > 0:25:31That is so satisfying.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34- Do you think I've done it?- I reckon you have.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36I think the sack got it, as well.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38Right, let's see what we've got in here.
0:25:38 > 0:25:39I think this one is pretty good.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42Wonderful. Thank you for that.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44Right, I can tick beeswax off the shopping list.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Now to find me some goats.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54Another local ingredient Sophie uses is rich goat's milk,
0:25:54 > 0:25:57which she gets from her neighbour Pat Stamford's flock.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59- Hello, there.- Hello, Anita.
0:25:59 > 0:26:00How are you doing?
0:26:00 > 0:26:02- I'm fine.- Lovely to see you.
0:26:02 > 0:26:03Come in and see my goats.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05I'd love to.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08Oh, Pat, they are so sweet.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10They are rather nice, aren't they?
0:26:10 > 0:26:12They're lovely. What type of goats are they?
0:26:12 > 0:26:16They are Golden Guernsey rare breed. They are small, they are docile.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18They give a good amount of milk for family.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20And they have plenty of milk for their babies.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25Luckily, there's enough left over for Sophie's soap.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32Right, let the magic begin.
0:26:32 > 0:26:33- How do we make soap?- Right, OK,
0:26:33 > 0:26:37so I need you to measure out some sunflower oil, please.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39OK. How much?
0:26:39 > 0:26:40660 grams.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44And then we are going to add our olive oil...
0:26:44 > 0:26:47- Olive oil.- ..and our beeswax...
0:26:47 > 0:26:50- Beeswax.- ..that you kindly sourced for me.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52Yes. Natural ingredients.
0:26:52 > 0:26:53In goes the beeswax.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58Right, and on it goes.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01'Peter's beeswax is melted down with the oils,
0:27:01 > 0:27:04'along with two ingredients you won't find on Dartmoor,
0:27:04 > 0:27:07'coconut oil and African shea butter.'
0:27:07 > 0:27:09- We just keep stirring it?- Yeah.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Basically, soap is a chemical reaction
0:27:11 > 0:27:13between an acid and an alkali,
0:27:13 > 0:27:14so you are stirring the fats,
0:27:14 > 0:27:17which is the acid, and when they've melted,
0:27:17 > 0:27:22we'll make the alkali solution, which is a caustic soda solution.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24'Caustic soda may sound off-putting,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27'but it's an essential ingredient in all soap.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29'Once it's been mixed with these fats,
0:27:29 > 0:27:32'it becomes completely harmless.'
0:27:32 > 0:27:34OK, so we need to glove up, goggles on?
0:27:34 > 0:27:35Yeah, absolutely.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37Because chemistry is about to happen.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42'Pat's goat's milk is carefully combined with the caustic soda.'
0:27:42 > 0:27:47So we need to pour the goat's milk solution into the oils.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51'The mixture begins to thicken and that, basically, is soap.'
0:27:52 > 0:27:53It's quite a process, isn't it?
0:27:53 > 0:27:55- Yeah.- Making soap.
0:27:55 > 0:27:57We've been here for five days, you know.
0:27:57 > 0:27:58SHE LAUGHS
0:27:58 > 0:28:00So now, as you can see...
0:28:00 > 0:28:01Oh, it's thickened up.
0:28:01 > 0:28:02Yes, it's thickening up.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05- Yeah, yeah, yeah.- So it's ready...
0:28:05 > 0:28:09- So into the mould.- Yeah, if you pour it up and down, perfect.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11That's a really good soap. You've done really well there.
0:28:11 > 0:28:15It's already starting to solidify, isn't it? That's it.
0:28:15 > 0:28:16Done.
0:28:18 > 0:28:19This is ready to be cut now.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24OK. It smells like soap.
0:28:24 > 0:28:25It feels like soap.
0:28:26 > 0:28:28Oh, that's so satisfying.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31Oh, yeah. It's like fudge.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33My first bar of soap. Thank you, Sophie.
0:28:43 > 0:28:47Nothing says "spring" more than the sight of cute baby animals
0:28:47 > 0:28:49and here in the fields of Devon,
0:28:49 > 0:28:51there are lots and lots of lambs.
0:28:51 > 0:28:55But you don't necessarily need vast amounts of land
0:28:55 > 0:28:56to keep farm animals.
0:28:56 > 0:28:58In Wiltshire, smallholder Paul
0:28:58 > 0:29:01now gives us the inside track on keeping pigs.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04This little piggy went to market.
0:29:04 > 0:29:06This little piggy stayed at home.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09Where did this one go to, then? He didn't know where to go, did he?
0:29:09 > 0:29:11Is that a pig noise?
0:29:11 > 0:29:12To be perfectly honest,
0:29:12 > 0:29:14that is about as close to keeping piglets
0:29:14 > 0:29:16the Martin family has come,
0:29:16 > 0:29:19but things are about to change.
0:29:19 > 0:29:20Aren't they? Big-time.
0:29:22 > 0:29:26Over 11,000 Brits own pigs, and soon, I hope to be one of them,
0:29:26 > 0:29:29by having my own mini pigs.
0:29:29 > 0:29:31The kids will love them.
0:29:31 > 0:29:33If there's one animal that always puts a smile on my face
0:29:33 > 0:29:35and makes me laugh, that is a pig.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39Guaranteed. This area is actually perfect for them.
0:29:39 > 0:29:40It's close to the house.
0:29:40 > 0:29:43They'll need enough space for their own pen each,
0:29:43 > 0:29:47which we can move around in here, and their own pig house.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49Sorted.
0:29:49 > 0:29:53But as with any pet purchase, it's important to look before you leap,
0:29:53 > 0:29:57so I'm getting advice from my neighbour, Aldetha Raymond.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00She's been running a smallholding with her husband Kevin
0:30:00 > 0:30:01for the last ten years.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05Today is all about picking the right breed.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08I'll be getting the pigs later in the season, once they are weaned.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15- Hi, Aldetha.- Hi, Paul. - This is fantastic.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18- You've got it all.- Oh, thank you. - I've just seen spring lambs
0:30:18 > 0:30:21by the entrance as I walked in. You've got ducks, geese, goats...
0:30:21 > 0:30:22And the goats.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24But it's pigs I'm interested in.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26Piglets. So I need to pick your brains,
0:30:26 > 0:30:28and I want some expert advice.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31Look at all those piglets.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33- Piglets...- They've just been born, haven't they?
0:30:33 > 0:30:34What, three or four days?
0:30:34 > 0:30:38Three or four days, yeah. So they're very, very young at the moment.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42- Aw!- They're mini pigs crossed with Kunekunes.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45Because we've got a small farm, we need a small pig.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48- Same as me.- Yeah. They're very, very sweet.
0:30:48 > 0:30:49Will they all go like Mum?
0:30:49 > 0:30:51Will they all go black and hairy?
0:30:51 > 0:30:53- Or will they stay...?- No, the colours they are
0:30:53 > 0:30:54is what they stay as.
0:30:54 > 0:30:56So if they are spotty now, they'll be spotty forever.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58The marks don't change.
0:30:58 > 0:30:59It's very similar to a kitten.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01Oh!
0:31:03 > 0:31:05How do you look after them?
0:31:05 > 0:31:07It's actually relatively easy.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10- Yeah.- You've got to make sure they've got fresh water.
0:31:10 > 0:31:15- Sure.- And you do feed them pig nuts and then for the piglets,
0:31:15 > 0:31:17you can get a smaller grade of pig nuts.
0:31:17 > 0:31:18And they eat those.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22But they also like things that you've got from your garden...
0:31:22 > 0:31:24- Yes.- So, weeds and things like that.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26And they do, when they go first into their pen,
0:31:26 > 0:31:29if there's grass down there, they will eat the grass as well.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31And then they'll start rooting through it.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33So they are real grazers.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35Sounds like they're not fussy.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37So surely they'll eat leftovers?
0:31:37 > 0:31:39You're not allowed to give them anything from your kitchen.
0:31:39 > 0:31:41Nothing that you've cooked.
0:31:41 > 0:31:43Because we do the chickens... Chickens have everything.
0:31:43 > 0:31:44Chickens are allowed...
0:31:44 > 0:31:46Oh, are they? But pigs aren't?
0:31:46 > 0:31:48- They aren't allowed it.- Do you know, I didn't know that.
0:31:48 > 0:31:49I thought pigs ate everything.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51- They would love to eat everything. - Like a loaf of bread.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54They would love to but Defra says they're not allowed to.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56OK. I mean, what about if it gets too hot?
0:31:56 > 0:31:58Do they need suncream?
0:31:58 > 0:32:00I wouldn't fancy putting suncream on a pig.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03- No.- But what we tend to do is we give them shelter.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06So I will grow hops over the top of them,
0:32:06 > 0:32:08so that they actually have dappled shade...
0:32:08 > 0:32:09Or they just go inside the house.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11Yeah, they go inside the house as well.
0:32:11 > 0:32:13And obviously, they like company.
0:32:13 > 0:32:14Yes, you want to keep them in twos
0:32:14 > 0:32:16or when they are having their babies, separate,
0:32:16 > 0:32:18but where they can hear another pig.
0:32:18 > 0:32:20I see. So you can't isolate them.
0:32:20 > 0:32:23- They don't like it.- No, no. They'd get depressed, wouldn't they?
0:32:23 > 0:32:26To keep a pig or any farm animal,
0:32:26 > 0:32:29you need something called a County Parish Holding number
0:32:29 > 0:32:31from Defra.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34It's a number that relates to the location of your land
0:32:34 > 0:32:38to identify your animal, and the best bit is, it's completely free.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40If somebody doesn't have a smallholding,
0:32:40 > 0:32:42and they live, let's say in suburbia,
0:32:42 > 0:32:44can they still get this certificate?
0:32:44 > 0:32:48Yeah, they can. We've had piglets go to Bristol.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50So they are right in the centre of Bristol at the moment.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53And they've got a holding number there, as well.
0:32:53 > 0:32:54Enjoying city life.
0:32:54 > 0:32:56THEY LAUGH
0:32:56 > 0:32:57Right, OK. That is brilliant.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59We need a pig house, that they can all get in
0:32:59 > 0:33:00for shelter from the shade.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02We need a big bowl of water.
0:33:02 > 0:33:04Check it, make sure it's full every day.
0:33:04 > 0:33:05We need special pig nuts.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07We need a pig licence.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09I think we are about ready to go.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11The Kunukune are pretty cute,
0:33:11 > 0:33:14but it's always a good idea to shop around a bit
0:33:14 > 0:33:16and Aldetha's got a different breed
0:33:16 > 0:33:19scratching about in a neighbouring pen.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21So, what are these?
0:33:21 > 0:33:22These are Mangalitsa.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25- And where are they from?- They're from Hungary, from about the 1800s.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28They were sort of bred with wild boar...
0:33:28 > 0:33:30They kind of look wild boarish, don't they?
0:33:30 > 0:33:33They get called the woolly pig.
0:33:33 > 0:33:35- Are they friendly?- They are relatively friendly.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38- Hello.- They were bred because they can actually
0:33:38 > 0:33:40withstand cooler temperatures, as well.
0:33:40 > 0:33:43- Ah!- So the coat keeps them nice and warm.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46This one is starting to tunnel out.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49These are the naughtiest pigs we have on the farm.
0:33:49 > 0:33:51- Yeah.- And they are learning to tunnel.
0:33:51 > 0:33:53And they do the most cultivation...
0:33:53 > 0:33:54That would frighten me.
0:33:54 > 0:33:56Yeah, these are naughty,
0:33:56 > 0:33:58and I think they always are going to be naughty, in truth.
0:33:58 > 0:33:59It's a bit of character.
0:33:59 > 0:34:01THEY LAUGH
0:34:02 > 0:34:04So, what pigs would be good for me?
0:34:04 > 0:34:06Well, you've got children, as well.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08So you want something that's not going to scare them
0:34:08 > 0:34:10by getting too big.
0:34:10 > 0:34:11These are still only babies.
0:34:11 > 0:34:13Oh, they are too big.
0:34:13 > 0:34:18Already. Whereas the mini pigs, they will stay small.
0:34:18 > 0:34:21Yeah. They grow to the size of Mum.
0:34:21 > 0:34:24Yeah, that's right. And you will be able to chuck their feed in,
0:34:24 > 0:34:26handle them, give them a good scratch.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28And they just are a delight to have around.
0:34:28 > 0:34:30They make you smile, don't they?
0:34:30 > 0:34:31They do make you feel happy.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36It's easy to see why these adorable little animals
0:34:36 > 0:34:38have become such popular pets.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41But there have been a few horror stories.
0:34:41 > 0:34:45Some tea-cup size piglets end up larger than Labradors,
0:34:45 > 0:34:47and then get abandoned.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51That's because mums and dads of mini pigs are different breeds.
0:34:51 > 0:34:55So if you want to know how big your piglets might end up,
0:34:55 > 0:34:58it's a good idea to see both parents first.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04Well, I can't wait for my kids to see the piglets...
0:35:04 > 0:35:06- Mm-hm.- ..when they arrive back home,
0:35:06 > 0:35:08but, obviously, they've got to be weaned, haven't they?
0:35:08 > 0:35:10Yeah, they've only just been born,
0:35:10 > 0:35:12so it's going to be ten weeks before they'll be able to leave Mum.
0:35:12 > 0:35:14And, yeah, then they'll be yours.
0:35:16 > 0:35:18After finding out what it takes to look after pigs,
0:35:18 > 0:35:20I'm now thoroughly confident
0:35:20 > 0:35:23that pigs are a great animal to have on a smallholding.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25I'm looking forward to having them,
0:35:25 > 0:35:27and I know our children are, as well.
0:35:27 > 0:35:29And all that's going to happen later on this spring.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34Exciting times ahead, then, for Paul and his ever-growing brood.
0:35:36 > 0:35:40Now, nice as it is to enjoy the spring countryside with our pets,
0:35:40 > 0:35:44a recent study revealed that 15,000 sheep
0:35:44 > 0:35:47were killed by loose dogs in 2016.
0:35:47 > 0:35:50So, just how do you exercise your dog
0:35:50 > 0:35:52without threatening other creatures?
0:35:52 > 0:35:55Well, Jules has stumbled across a novel solution.
0:35:56 > 0:35:58Now, Teddy here is young and full of beans.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01If I had the time and the energy, to be honest,
0:36:01 > 0:36:03I could walk with him all day long.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05Now, most of the time, I don't need to put him on a lead
0:36:05 > 0:36:09but at this time of year, with sheep and lambs around,
0:36:09 > 0:36:11it's really important to be that little bit more considerate
0:36:11 > 0:36:13to the wildlife. But of course,
0:36:13 > 0:36:17being permanently tethered to your canine chum
0:36:17 > 0:36:18can cause its own issues.
0:36:18 > 0:36:19Come on, Teddy.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26Now, I'm sure I'm not alone as a dog walker
0:36:26 > 0:36:29in feeling that sometimes it feels like me
0:36:29 > 0:36:31that's being taken for a walk.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34And that can quite literally feel like a bit of a drag.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38But a new fitness craze aims to harness the energy in our dogs
0:36:38 > 0:36:41in such a way that it can help us all keep a little bit fitter.
0:36:43 > 0:36:47It goes by the catchy name of canicross.
0:36:47 > 0:36:48I'm going for a springtime sprint
0:36:48 > 0:36:51with a group of enthusiasts in the Forest of Dean.
0:36:51 > 0:36:55They get together most weekends to put themselves
0:36:55 > 0:36:57and their dogs through their paces.
0:36:57 > 0:37:01Cushla Leman has been doing it for 15 years.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04Well, Cushla,
0:37:04 > 0:37:06I've only just come across canicross.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10- What is it?- Canicross is cross-country running with dogs.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12So, the dogs are in a harness,
0:37:12 > 0:37:15bungee line attaches the dog to us,
0:37:15 > 0:37:17and we're wearing a special waist belt.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20So basically, canicross is cross-country running.
0:37:20 > 0:37:21But with your dog attached.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24- Yes.- I mean, that automatically throws up
0:37:24 > 0:37:26all kinds of complications to me.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28Falling over leads, tripping over dogs.
0:37:28 > 0:37:31Yeah, there are trips, there are falls.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33That's part of the sport, unfortunately.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35We do have our own vocabulary for things like that.
0:37:35 > 0:37:36So we have the arbortorial halt,
0:37:36 > 0:37:39which generally means that you and your dog have gone
0:37:39 > 0:37:40the wrong side of a tree.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42HE LAUGHS
0:37:42 > 0:37:43The arbor...
0:37:43 > 0:37:47Yeah, basically, you've been snagged up on your lead around a tree.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50- Got it, OK.- But there's very few accidents.
0:37:50 > 0:37:52And in terms of the way the dogs react to it,
0:37:52 > 0:37:56Teddy will walk on a lead but my worry, having trained him...
0:37:57 > 0:37:58..reasonably well,
0:37:58 > 0:38:02is that he might lose that sense of obedience training,
0:38:02 > 0:38:04in putting him on a long lead and running with him.
0:38:04 > 0:38:08We try and teach the difference between the harness and a collar.
0:38:08 > 0:38:10And most of our dogs react to that really well.
0:38:10 > 0:38:13Especially if they've had the early obedience training,
0:38:13 > 0:38:17so the first training they've had is on a collar and lead,
0:38:17 > 0:38:20they learn that and they keep hold of that information.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22As soon as you get the harness out, it's run time.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27Canicross is more than a Sunday afternoon run.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30It's also a fully fledged competitive sport.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34Cushla herself has won medals in the UK and Europe.
0:38:34 > 0:38:37But a nice gentle introduction to the basics
0:38:37 > 0:38:39will do Teddy and I just fine.
0:38:40 > 0:38:42Oh, Teddy.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45Well, while I've been off getting ready,
0:38:45 > 0:38:47you've got dressed up as well.
0:38:47 > 0:38:49It's a bigger harness than I was expecting to see.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51I thought it would be more of an elaborate collar.
0:38:51 > 0:38:52But that's amazing.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54No, these are designed to make sure
0:38:54 > 0:38:57that the dogs are comfortable enough to pull.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00- Yeah.- Lots of different styles of harnesses.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02There's no such thing as a perfect harness.
0:39:02 > 0:39:04There's only a perfect fit for each individual dog.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07Look at you, mate. How does that feel, Teddy?
0:39:07 > 0:39:10You're not looking entirely sure about it, are you?
0:39:10 > 0:39:11So, he's done.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13I'm changed. And that's my harness.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16- This is going to be your harness. So...- Step into it.
0:39:16 > 0:39:17Step into it.
0:39:19 > 0:39:23Teddy and I will be attached via a two-metre length of bungee cord.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26If you stand still, OK, the pull,
0:39:26 > 0:39:28that's where the pull's going to come from.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30- It's right through your hips, isn't it?- It is.
0:39:30 > 0:39:31This is all very odd.
0:39:31 > 0:39:35Eventually, you can actually direct Teddy with your hips, as well,
0:39:35 > 0:39:37because as you start to go round corners,
0:39:37 > 0:39:39he'll start to understand where the pressure is coming from.
0:39:39 > 0:39:41- As I am leaning...- Yes.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43It may all be new to me,
0:39:43 > 0:39:46but there are over 100 canicross clubs in Britain.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49And it's not just for adults.
0:39:49 > 0:39:5214-year-old Rowan Saxton from the Wye Valley
0:39:52 > 0:39:55is currently European Junior Champion.
0:39:57 > 0:39:58Rowan, nice to see you. How are you?
0:39:58 > 0:40:00- Good, thank you.- And who's this then?
0:40:00 > 0:40:02- Munster.- Munster.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05Now, when you started this, did you ever think you'd be a champion?
0:40:05 > 0:40:08No, I started doing it for fun.
0:40:08 > 0:40:09I did agility with our dogs.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11I love running alongside a dog.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15I tried it out and I seemed to enjoy it and pick it up quite nicely.
0:40:15 > 0:40:16Any top tips then from a champ?
0:40:16 > 0:40:18You've got to keep up with your dog, in a way.
0:40:18 > 0:40:23- Yeah.- So it motivates the dog to run faster and to get you going...
0:40:23 > 0:40:25- Yeah.- The good thing is also to be quite fit as well.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28- Yes.- To help.- Yeah, working on that, yeah, OK.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31- And you've got to enjoy it.- Well, we can't put it off any longer.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33- Shall we go for a run?- Let's go.
0:40:33 > 0:40:34Come on then.
0:40:36 > 0:40:41Now, any breed can do this, but dogs should be at least 12 months old.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43It's also important to take it easy at first.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46And after our little run, I can see why.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50- Wow!- Crikey!
0:40:52 > 0:40:54Well, it certainly livens you up on a Sunday morning, doesn't it?
0:40:54 > 0:40:56You flew up there.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59How fast do you run?
0:40:59 > 0:41:03With this dog, I've done just over a mile in four minutes 30.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05A mile in four minutes 30.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07That's incredible.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09So it obviously helps having a really fast dog.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11Definitely.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13Can I borrow your dog?
0:41:13 > 0:41:16- Of course.- Come on, then.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18Come on. Oh, my goodness me!
0:41:18 > 0:41:19Help!
0:41:20 > 0:41:22I can't keep it up!
0:41:22 > 0:41:23Wow!
0:41:26 > 0:41:29Woo! Oh, Teddy bear!
0:41:29 > 0:41:31HE LAUGHS
0:41:31 > 0:41:34Did you miss me? Good boy.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36Rowan, that's amazing.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38He really is
0:41:38 > 0:41:39pulling you through the air...
0:41:39 > 0:41:43That split second when both your feet are off the ground...
0:41:43 > 0:41:45He really helps, doesn't he?
0:41:45 > 0:41:48- Yeah, definitely.- Well, we are in awe, aren't we, Teddy?
0:41:48 > 0:41:50- He'll get the hang of it.- He will.
0:41:50 > 0:41:51Will I?
0:41:51 > 0:41:53THEY LAUGH
0:41:53 > 0:41:54Good boy.
0:42:01 > 0:42:02Well, in canicross,
0:42:02 > 0:42:04Teddy and I have discovered a brand-new way
0:42:04 > 0:42:06of enjoying the countryside,
0:42:06 > 0:42:09not only can, of course, we do it together,
0:42:09 > 0:42:11we can also do it safely in a way that doesn't disturb
0:42:11 > 0:42:13the rest of the wildlife
0:42:13 > 0:42:16that also enjoys these beautiful and enchanted spaces.
0:42:16 > 0:42:18Now, what we've got to do is find our way home.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20Which I think, mate, is that way.
0:42:20 > 0:42:21Come on. Good boy.
0:42:24 > 0:42:25I think he's getting it!
0:42:28 > 0:42:32With Teddy and Jules on the road to a healthier lifestyle,
0:42:32 > 0:42:34it's time for us to say goodbye,
0:42:34 > 0:42:36but please do try to join us the next time
0:42:36 > 0:42:39when Keeley is finding out if we are in store
0:42:39 > 0:42:41for a barbecue summer.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44It's going to be warm and it's going to be damp.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47And if I give that as my forecast, I'm not going to get fired?
0:42:47 > 0:42:49No.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53Jules discovers how a round of golf could help save animals.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55I honestly didn't think one would pop out,
0:42:55 > 0:42:57particularly as we are here talking
0:42:57 > 0:42:58and making a bit of a noise.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01And Margherita is in hot pursuit...
0:43:01 > 0:43:02Can I tempt you?
0:43:02 > 0:43:04..of the recipe for the perfect cream tea.
0:43:04 > 0:43:07- How do you like yours?- The Cornish way.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10That is uniquely delicious.
0:43:10 > 0:43:11So, until then, goodbye.