0:00:01 > 0:00:04'It's the winter of 2011.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07'For the people that live off the land,
0:00:07 > 0:00:11'it's normally a time of recovery and preparation for the new year.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14'But this year is a little bit different.'
0:00:14 > 0:00:16Oooh! Good lord!
0:00:16 > 0:00:20'Wales has experienced a particularly mild winter.'
0:00:20 > 0:00:23It's a bit early in the year for that.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25Oooh! Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!
0:00:25 > 0:00:26'I'm Renee Godfrey,
0:00:26 > 0:00:31'and as a surfer, my life has always been controlled by the seasons.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34'This year, I want to find out
0:00:34 > 0:00:38'what these seasons mean to the people of Wales.
0:00:38 > 0:00:39'In December, I'm off to explore
0:00:39 > 0:00:43'what the winter brings to the farmers in the north.'
0:00:43 > 0:00:46It's such an important part of what we are.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50'I want to find out what this season means to those who look after us when things go wrong.'
0:00:50 > 0:00:53- Mountain Rescue. - Thank you.- All right.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56'Winter is changing in Wales.'
0:00:56 > 0:00:59This is the mildest winter I've known. The previous winter was the coldest.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03'And so are the lives of those who depend on the seasons.' Thank you very much.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12'Snowdonia in December.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15'The livestock are off the hill.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18'And for farmers like Gareth Wyn Jones, it's time for rest,
0:01:18 > 0:01:21'recuperation and a bit of sport.'
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Standing room only.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30What we usually do is we put Steve in front of us
0:01:30 > 0:01:33as a bit of a windbreaker, because he's a big lad.
0:01:33 > 0:01:37He stops the draught. So he's usually at peg number one,
0:01:37 > 0:01:39and then the wind just breaks for everybody else.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43'Gareth is part of a local farmers' shoot.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46'And every fortnight between October and January,
0:01:46 > 0:01:50'he joins his neighbours shooting pheasants in the woods around their farms.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54'14 farmers divide into two groups.'
0:01:54 > 0:01:57That was a smooth ride. Thank you.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01'They take it in turn to shoot and flush out the pheasants.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05'Each of us chooses a peg, which will be our shooting position for the day.'
0:02:05 > 0:02:07If you can send the birds right over 14...
0:02:07 > 0:02:10- As slow as possible. - THEY LAUGH
0:02:10 > 0:02:13- As slow as possible! - That would be good.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17'I'm joining Gareth for the last shoot before Christmas.'
0:02:17 > 0:02:20- We'd better get in position quick. This is our peg.- OK.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22So you're going to do the first round
0:02:22 > 0:02:25- and I'll just be your apprentice? - Yeah.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33'More than 100,000 people shoot in Wales.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37'It's an industry worth £73 million a year.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41'And pheasant shoots aren't just for posh people on large country estates.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44'Shooting means something else up here.'
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Today's the day when we have a break, a rest.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50And a chat, you know, social with these people.
0:02:50 > 0:02:51And it does make a difference.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54You need something. Just work, work, work.
0:02:54 > 0:02:56You need something that gets you out of the house.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00- And, you know, you've got something to take home to your wife. - Brilliant.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03You haven't been sitting in the pub all day drinking with your mates.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05You've been out in the fresh air.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08You'd think we get enough of it, but we don't. I love it.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11'Gareth has grown up shooting,
0:03:11 > 0:03:16'and it plays an important role in the way he manages the land.'
0:03:16 > 0:03:20It's important for us as farmers, as well, to shoot crows and magpies and things.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24You know, that helps the wildlife. You've got to have a balance.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26'They shot four birds on the first drive.
0:03:26 > 0:03:33'As we spread out for the second, it's my turn in the firing line.'
0:03:33 > 0:03:37- Ren, this is Eiros, our head gamekeeper.- Hiya.- All right?
0:03:37 > 0:03:39- All right, thank you. And you? - Good. Yeah, yeah.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42- Now, we're going to beat this wood through here.- OK.- OK?
0:03:42 > 0:03:45The plan is, you stay wherever you can get a clear shot
0:03:45 > 0:03:48at anything in open trees. You stay about 100 yards behind us,
0:03:48 > 0:03:50then keep on moving on through the wood.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Get a good place like this where you can get a clear shot,
0:03:53 > 0:03:56- where you can select your birds. - How close should I stay to you?
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- Stay about 100 yards behind us, really.- OK.- OK?
0:04:03 > 0:04:05I'm pretty much shooting towards them.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11It doesn't quite sit right with me, that doesn't.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15You've always got to remember it's totally safe if you're looking at blue sky.
0:04:15 > 0:04:20It's got to be clear, it's got to be blue sky, and you'll shoot nobody.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23'I'm in unfamiliar territory here.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27'I've never even held a gun, let alone shot one.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32'The beaters start driving the birds out of the wood.'
0:04:32 > 0:04:33Ren!
0:04:33 > 0:04:37- I can hear my name.- He's coming. Here! Here! Go! Go! And again!
0:04:39 > 0:04:41- Oh, that was a nice bird! - Good stuff, wasn't he?- Oh!
0:04:41 > 0:04:45Suddenly, I heard my name being called and my heart started
0:04:45 > 0:04:48to race double time as I quickly got ready with the gun.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52Here he comes! Here! Here, here, here, here. Go on! Go on!
0:04:52 > 0:04:54- Oh! (BLEEP!)- The safe!
0:04:54 > 0:04:57Oh! Schizer!
0:04:57 > 0:05:00Note to self, don't leave the safety latch on.
0:05:00 > 0:05:04Otherwise it's somewhat of a false start and everyone thinks,
0:05:04 > 0:05:07and rightly so, that you're a bit of a ninny.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09OK.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12'The way of life up here is very different to my own.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14'Over the course of the year with Gareth,
0:05:14 > 0:05:17'I've learnt that on the farms,
0:05:17 > 0:05:20'death is much more a part of everyday life.
0:05:20 > 0:05:26'As the day progresses, the number of birds shot grows from five to 15.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29'Gareth and I each have one more go,
0:05:29 > 0:05:32'but neither of us shoot anything.
0:05:32 > 0:05:37'And at midday, his sons join us and we swap to do some beating.'
0:05:37 > 0:05:39What have we got in this dump area?
0:05:39 > 0:05:42- (Yeah, that's why we've got to be a little bit quiet.)- (OK.)
0:05:42 > 0:05:44- (We've got partridge in here, hopefully.- Oh!- Yeah.)
0:05:44 > 0:05:48(So, um...we should get a few partridge,
0:05:48 > 0:05:51(pheasants and might be a few woodcock.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54(So, um...fingers crossed.)
0:05:54 > 0:05:57'There is cruelty in shooting.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00'And if I'm honest, I don't know how I would've felt
0:06:00 > 0:06:02'if I had killed something.'
0:06:02 > 0:06:05- Do you want to go forward? - Go out that way a little bit.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08'But strangely, some wildlife does actually benefit from it.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11'Gamekeepers feed pheasants through the year,
0:06:11 > 0:06:14'which provides food for other woodland birds.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16'And land that would otherwise be fields
0:06:16 > 0:06:19'is turned into useful wildlife habitat.'
0:06:19 > 0:06:22This most probably would have been part of the field, this dump cover.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26- Yeah.- The shoot's fenced it off, planted trees.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29So that's an ideal habitat for all kinds of different wildlife.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32You just haven't got green fields.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37'By 3.00, the short winter day is over.
0:06:37 > 0:06:39'And having spent the day with the gang,
0:06:39 > 0:06:41'I now feel like one of the lads.'
0:06:41 > 0:06:43She's the celebrity, I'm just the sidekick.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45LAUGHTER
0:06:45 > 0:06:48'Whatever I think about shooting, for this tight-knit community,
0:06:48 > 0:06:52'days like this seem really important.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56'They're not just a chance to escape the farm, but a place to meet,
0:06:56 > 0:07:00'swap stories and pass knowledge onto the next generation.'
0:07:00 > 0:07:06Number of shots for today for the 42 birds that's been shot is...191.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08Oh! Great!
0:07:08 > 0:07:11That will be nice for Christmas dinner for you.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14That'll be lovely, yeah. Thank you. There's a good weight on them.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17- I hope you've enjoyed today, anyway. - It was absolutely brilliant.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23It's such an important part of what we are.
0:07:23 > 0:07:28And what makes me, as well, and what's made me tick.
0:07:28 > 0:07:30Deep down, there's a lot of friendship there.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33There's a lot of talking about their own problems
0:07:33 > 0:07:35in farming, in our industry.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38And I can come home a happier man.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41- And I hope you've seen a little bit. - I really have.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45And I feel...quite honoured, actually, to have been a part of it.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49- Over the last 12 months. - I know. It's been amazing.
0:07:49 > 0:07:51'It's really sad to say goodbye to Gareth.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54'He's let me be a small part of his life,
0:07:54 > 0:07:56'rooted in a beautiful area of Wales.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59'But now I've got to head south.
0:07:59 > 0:08:03'Because elsewhere in the country, winter brings new problems and hard work.'
0:08:03 > 0:08:06'It's the Crickhowell Walking Festival,
0:08:06 > 0:08:08'and for the Brecon Mountain Rescue team,
0:08:08 > 0:08:11'a chance to raise much-needed funds.'
0:08:11 > 0:08:15Not a lot of people, but you'd be surprised what's going in the box.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18'The Brecon team covers over one fifth of Wales.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22'They're all volunteers and on 24-hour callout.
0:08:22 > 0:08:25'I'm joining them at one of their busiest times of the year.'
0:08:25 > 0:08:28- Hi. How are you doing?- You must be Mark.- I'm Mark. This is Dave.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31- Nice to meet you. Hi, Dave. - Nice to meet you.
0:08:31 > 0:08:32Packing up or on your way out?
0:08:32 > 0:08:35Packing up kit from training on Wednesday.
0:08:35 > 0:08:39'Mark Jones and Dave Coombes are two leaders of the Brecon team.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43'They cover everything, from trapped climbers to missing children,
0:08:43 > 0:08:45'and are always on call, ready to respond.'
0:08:45 > 0:08:49This is the heavy...medical bag that's got
0:08:49 > 0:08:52pretty much everything that we're able to deal with.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Wound dressings, burns dressings.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57Why we do it, I don't know. We discuss it sometimes.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01Sometimes at 3.00am when we're all soaking wet, why we do it.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04And none of us really know. There's not a straightforward answer.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06I don't believe in altruism.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09We do it because we enjoy it. We get something from it.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12But what, I don't know, apart from blisters!
0:09:12 > 0:09:13THEY LAUGH
0:09:13 > 0:09:16'This team is one of the busiest in the country.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19'And the best way to see them in action is to join in with them.'
0:09:19 > 0:09:23Someone will contact you, and if you make your way here, to base,
0:09:23 > 0:09:25and then we'll all go from base.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27You need to come prepared with, um,
0:09:27 > 0:09:30with all your hill kit ready to go on the hill.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32Waterproofs, food to see you through the night,
0:09:32 > 0:09:36cos you could be on the hill for an hour, you could be on the hill for eight hours.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41Radio Two receiving you. Two with background, over.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44'The Brecon team runs weekly training exercises at night.'
0:09:44 > 0:09:47I'll take the first-aid kit.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51'Simulating the incidents they might encounter.'
0:09:51 > 0:09:55- Better take the neck collar as well. - 'Tonight, I am the casualty.'
0:09:55 > 0:09:58You don't need to feign any symptoms.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00The very fact that you've fallen off a horse
0:10:00 > 0:10:04should lead them to treat you as if you've got spinal injuries.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06So if you sit on that...
0:10:06 > 0:10:09'In this exercise, I'm an injured horse rider.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13'But last year, half of their winter callouts
0:10:13 > 0:10:16'were for a very different type of casualty.'
0:10:16 > 0:10:21People get a bit...fed up when the nights draw in and, er...
0:10:21 > 0:10:23we get an increase in the number of searches
0:10:23 > 0:10:26for what we call despondent missing people.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29Um...not necessarily suicidal,
0:10:29 > 0:10:31but just going out to contemplate things and, er...
0:10:31 > 0:10:35yeah, there is a definite peak around about the time the clocks go back.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Zebra Control, Zebra Control, 617 message, over.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40'617, send.'
0:10:40 > 0:10:43Control 617, we have a known location casualty.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47Fallen horse rider. Request party immediately, over.
0:10:47 > 0:10:50Zebra One, Mark Jones! Zebra Three, Nigel Dawson!
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Yes!
0:10:52 > 0:10:56All the information we've got is the grid reference and a fallen horse rider.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59Um...we don't know what the injuries are,
0:10:59 > 0:11:01- so we'll go in and report back.- OK.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05'Winter temperatures in the Beacons can dip down to minus 15."
0:11:05 > 0:11:08'Casualty is a female named Renee, over.'
0:11:08 > 0:11:12'Heavy rain and strong winds increase the risk of exposure.'
0:11:12 > 0:11:14How are we going to cross this?
0:11:14 > 0:11:17'If the team is on a callout for someone who doesn't want to be found,
0:11:17 > 0:11:21'this search can take days.'
0:11:21 > 0:11:23- Hello, there. Can you hear me? - Hi, there.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26- It's Dave, Mountain Rescue. - Hi, Dave.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29- Hi. How are you doing? - I came off my horse.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32OK. Did you black out at all?
0:11:32 > 0:11:34- I don't think so, no.- OK.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38- We'll get you in a shelter to keep you out of the wind.- Yeah.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40- And then we'll do an assessment.- OK.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43- And we'll get you out of here. OK? - Thank you.- All right.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46We've got a good night, but we can be out in absolutely
0:11:46 > 0:11:49any weather the Beacons can throw at us, really.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52Immediately, with our body heat, you'll start warming up.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56Sometimes, the disheartening weather is the lashing down with rain,
0:11:56 > 0:11:58horizontal rain, and it's getting in through your zips.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01It doesn't matter how expensive your kit is, you'll get wet.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05And it's 3.00am and you'd rather be in bed.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07I'm going to do a quick... top to toe survey.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10- You say you're not injured, but I just want to check.- Sure.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13People who are injured, when we get to them,
0:12:13 > 0:12:14it's more relief than panic.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17I think people who are lost when we get to them,
0:12:17 > 0:12:19they tend to be more panicky.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22- Control, Control, Zebra One, over. - 'Control.'
0:12:22 > 0:12:27Control, I have an equipment list for Zebra One casualty site, over.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31'Confirm you require a Vac map, stretcher...'
0:12:31 > 0:12:36'With Mark's advance team having found me, the cavalry are called in with the stretcher.'
0:12:36 > 0:12:37Mind the drop on your left.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39A fallen horse rider is very common.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44Um...when we come across a site,
0:12:44 > 0:12:46this is quite normal for us.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48It's probably fair to say
0:12:48 > 0:12:51that we have more callouts at night than during the day.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55Generally speaking, during the day, people are more able to help themselves.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58If they're genuinely missing, they won't be reported missing
0:12:58 > 0:13:02until the end of the day, generally, when they fail to return home.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07'The Brecon team had one callout every four days last year.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11'Over half were at night, and nine were fatalities.'
0:13:11 > 0:13:14This is the first time we're going to move the casualty.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17And if we bring any twists into the spine,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21we can cause...permanent damage.
0:13:21 > 0:13:23- Are you ready, guys? - Yeah, we're ready.- OK. So, er...
0:13:23 > 0:13:27'My rescuers include a physicist, a prison officer,
0:13:27 > 0:13:30'a farmer and a stay-at-home dad.'
0:13:32 > 0:13:36'And they all put their lives on hold when the call comes in.'
0:13:36 > 0:13:38- Lance, would you be able to take control?- OK, OK.
0:13:38 > 0:13:43'As all team members are volunteers, there are few fixed roles.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47'Everyone has to be able to take charge of any situation.'
0:13:47 > 0:13:51Two on the stretcher, and then I'll have three either side here.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53Ready, raise, lift.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56Oh, that's such a strange feeling.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58OK.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01It's a really reassuring feeling when they lift you up.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04You feel like they're all looking after you.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06- Raise!- Raise!
0:14:09 > 0:14:11We haven't got much room either side.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14'We're fortunate that we've got an RAF Sea King base
0:14:14 > 0:14:16'40 minutes away in North Devon,
0:14:16 > 0:14:20'but there are times that those guys can't fly, and the rescue then is protracted.'
0:14:20 > 0:14:22There's always a chance that someone can slip,
0:14:22 > 0:14:23and she can be bumped around.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25OK, take it easy now, guys.
0:14:25 > 0:14:26Nice and slow.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30'The whole ethos around evacuation is a nice, slow, steady evacuation.'
0:14:30 > 0:14:32Hold it there, gents.
0:14:32 > 0:14:33Take a step back there.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35That's not level, that's not level.
0:14:35 > 0:14:36Back up, back up.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Speed isn't of the essence, it's smoothness.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41And without a helicopter, that's pretty difficult.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44OK, Simon, if you can bring the rope around that tree?
0:14:45 > 0:14:47'Whatever the season,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50'these volunteers put themselves on the line for other people.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52'Not because they're paid to,
0:14:52 > 0:14:56'but because of a genuine love of the outdoors.'
0:14:56 > 0:14:57Keep going.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02Oh, it's nice to move.
0:15:02 > 0:15:03There you go.
0:15:04 > 0:15:05Watch your head.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07- Thank you so much.- Pleasure.
0:15:07 > 0:15:08No problem.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10- Your back's OK?- Back's fine, yeah.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13- We had to have your horse put down, though.- Aaah!
0:15:13 > 0:15:15- SHE LAUGHS - Break it to you gently.
0:15:15 > 0:15:16THEY LAUGH
0:15:16 > 0:15:18'After all that hard work,
0:15:18 > 0:15:22'we finish with a traditional Mountain Rescue warm-down.'
0:15:22 > 0:15:24- Nige, Renee, can I have you here? - Yes.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27You're both team captains, you're in charge.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30The scenario is, we've got two severely hypothermic casualties,
0:15:30 > 0:15:32represented by the buckets of water.
0:15:32 > 0:15:37- THEY LAUGH - You have one minute to get the hypothermic casualty
0:15:37 > 0:15:40round the light at the bottom and back.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42- OK.- Yeah? And that's it.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45Ready? Brace, lift.
0:15:45 > 0:15:46THEY ALL SHOUT: Go! Go, go, go!
0:15:49 > 0:15:52RENEE LAUGHS
0:15:52 > 0:15:54Go, go, go, go, go!
0:15:54 > 0:15:57THEY ALL LAUGH AND SHOUT ENCOURAGEMENT
0:15:57 > 0:15:59There's a woman winning!
0:15:59 > 0:16:02INDISTINCT SHOUTS
0:16:03 > 0:16:06Come on! Put your back into it!
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Oh, no!
0:16:08 > 0:16:10Flipping heck!
0:16:10 > 0:16:13We spilled the whole bucket of water!
0:16:13 > 0:16:14But you both made the helicopter.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18Unfortunately, both of your casualties died.
0:16:18 > 0:16:19Oh...
0:16:19 > 0:16:22- I think we need to practice more on this, guys. - RENEE LAUGHS
0:16:22 > 0:16:25Next week's training is going to be stretcher work.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27THEY LAUGH
0:16:27 > 0:16:29ENGINE STARTS
0:16:29 > 0:16:30This is amazing.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33It's ten o'clock at night, in the middle of the week,
0:16:33 > 0:16:35these guys have all got work tomorrow morning,
0:16:35 > 0:16:38and yet they're out here doing their training exercises.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40Serious dedication.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49The grim weather forces many of us to hide indoors over the winter.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52We watch the seasons change
0:16:52 > 0:16:55from behind the safety of double glazing and central heating.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59But 2011 has been different.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Winter temperatures are five degrees warmer than last year,
0:17:02 > 0:17:06and by the new year, the beaches of Mid Wales are already busy.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10It's February, I'm in Aberdovey,
0:17:10 > 0:17:13and we're at the end of what's been a really mild winter.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15Even so, I've still got two coats on,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18and I can't quite believe what I'm about to go and do.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21'I'm joining Mike Alexander from the Outdoor Swimming Society.'
0:17:21 > 0:17:25- Hi.- You must be Renee.- Yeah, hi, nice to meet you.- Nice to meet you.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29'Mike believes that swimming without my wetsuit on is not just more fun,
0:17:29 > 0:17:30it is actually better for me.'
0:17:30 > 0:17:33There's been quite a bit of research done
0:17:33 > 0:17:35about the benefits of cold water immersion.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38The blood from your extremities, your hands and your feet,
0:17:38 > 0:17:43- rushes to your core to keep your core body going and your brain.- Yeah.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45And then when you get out, after about half an hour,
0:17:45 > 0:17:48the blood that's been oxygenated a lot,
0:17:48 > 0:17:51and almost, kind of, refreshed in the core of the body,
0:17:51 > 0:17:53rushes back out to your extremities.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56And they've found it helps the immune system,
0:17:56 > 0:17:58erm...libido...
0:17:58 > 0:18:01- Really?- Er...outlook on life. Yeah, apparently.
0:18:01 > 0:18:02OK.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04- Let's get in there, then! - THEY LAUGH
0:18:04 > 0:18:05Let's go!
0:18:13 > 0:18:15Ooh-hoo-hoo-hoo!
0:18:15 > 0:18:17It's chilly!
0:18:17 > 0:18:20It's not as warm as my wetsuit!
0:18:20 > 0:18:24Can I put my coat on until... until we're ready to go in?
0:18:24 > 0:18:25SHE LAUGHS
0:18:25 > 0:18:26Hoo-hoo-hoo...
0:18:26 > 0:18:29Aaah, I can do this...
0:18:29 > 0:18:31- Ha! - SHE EXHALES - OK.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33How long do you think we'll actually be in for?
0:18:33 > 0:18:34Er...
0:18:34 > 0:18:3615 minutes, but there's no time limit,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39if we feel that we need to get out, we'll get out.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42'The water temperature is seven degrees.
0:18:42 > 0:18:43'And there's a strong current.
0:18:43 > 0:18:46'In these conditions, swimming can be dangerous
0:18:46 > 0:18:48'if you don't know what you're doing.'
0:18:48 > 0:18:50In terms of signs, you know, if you're getting too cold,
0:18:50 > 0:18:53I normally look at my hands and feel,
0:18:53 > 0:18:55- if I can't close my hands together, like that...- Yeah.
0:18:55 > 0:18:57- ..and make a fist...- Yeah.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59- ..then it's time to get out.- OK. - Yeah.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02Just take it easy.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05Ooh!
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Ooh, yes!
0:19:07 > 0:19:12'The water is so cold, I can feel my body start to react immediately.'
0:19:12 > 0:19:15Ooooh-ho-ho! It's really cold!
0:19:17 > 0:19:19'But Mike seems immune to it.'
0:19:19 > 0:19:22- Ooh!- Focus, focus on the breathing now.- OK.
0:19:22 > 0:19:26- SHE BREATHES DEEPLY - Oh!
0:19:26 > 0:19:28Ooh! Good lord!
0:19:28 > 0:19:31Oh, yeah, now I'm cold!
0:19:32 > 0:19:35- Which way, this way? - Let's go this way for a little bit.
0:19:35 > 0:19:36Brrrrr!
0:19:44 > 0:19:48'After two minutes, the blood in my fingers and toes
0:19:48 > 0:19:51'starts to move back towards the centre of my body.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53'My muscles start to weaken,
0:19:53 > 0:19:56'and I lose co-ordination as the blood drains out of them.'
0:19:56 > 0:19:58Now we're cold.
0:19:58 > 0:20:00Now I'm shivering.
0:20:00 > 0:20:01It's cold.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03Really...
0:20:03 > 0:20:06shiveringly...freezing.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09'After 10 minutes, I've lost feeling in my feet.
0:20:09 > 0:20:13'My body is shivering uncontrollably.
0:20:13 > 0:20:14'And I find it difficult to talk.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17'I've stayed in too long.'
0:20:17 > 0:20:20- How are your hands?- Hands are... Hands are cold.
0:20:20 > 0:20:21- Yeah?- Teeth are chattering.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23Try to close them tight.
0:20:23 > 0:20:25Tight... Yeah, slight lack of control.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27- Yeah.- We'd better get out.
0:20:27 > 0:20:28Time to warm up.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30Ooh!
0:20:30 > 0:20:32- Dry our tops.- Yeah.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34And get those down jackets on.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36And go for a run.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38I... Well...I'm finding it even... hard to think.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40Yeah, that's an early sign
0:20:40 > 0:20:43that perhaps hypothermia is about to set in.
0:20:43 > 0:20:48Just all of a sudden, you...you go from it being a little bit tingly,
0:20:48 > 0:20:51and a little bit brisk, and almost invigorating,
0:20:51 > 0:20:52to suddenly...
0:20:52 > 0:20:56really, quite, quite violently cold, and...
0:20:56 > 0:21:00I... I...I'm uncontrollably shaking now.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02SHE PANTS
0:21:02 > 0:21:05And my breathing has kind of gone a bit...
0:21:05 > 0:21:07mad.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09- Are we going to run? - Yeah, let's run.
0:21:09 > 0:21:11OK. I can't, I really can't feel my feet.
0:21:11 > 0:21:12It doesn't matter.
0:21:12 > 0:21:17I really can't feel my feet at all, I feel like I'm running on stumps.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19'I need to get my blood pumping again,
0:21:19 > 0:21:23'and force the warmth from my core back out to my arms and legs.'
0:21:23 > 0:21:26- Feeling warm?- Amazing, after just a bit of running.- Yeah, yeah.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28- I've actually got a layer on.- Yeah.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32- And you've got your core protected, you soon start to...- Yeah.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36- I wouldn't say warm up. Yeah, you... I'd say thaw out.- Yeah! SHE CHUCKLES
0:21:44 > 0:21:49I don't think it's the best of signs when your kneecaps start to go blue.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53No comment on my libido!
0:21:53 > 0:21:55'Winter swimming is not without pain,
0:21:55 > 0:21:59'but the feeling as you warm back up is brilliant.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02'You really feel as if you've done something good for your body.'
0:22:02 > 0:22:04- Lovely jubbly.- It makes...
0:22:04 > 0:22:06It makes the tea better. It makes life better!
0:22:06 > 0:22:07SHE LAUGHS
0:22:16 > 0:22:20We're just back normally dressed now, as other walkers,
0:22:20 > 0:22:24but I've got a kind of feeling of, a real smugness, about me,
0:22:24 > 0:22:28because we've been in the sea, and we've had a really nice swim,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31and feel refreshed and invigorated,
0:22:31 > 0:22:33and everyone's smiling and feeling nice
0:22:33 > 0:22:36cos they've been for a walk, but I've got one up on them.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44By the end of February, winter seems almost over.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47Spring flowers are already in bloom.
0:22:47 > 0:22:50And for some people in Wales,
0:22:50 > 0:22:52this warmth has brought nothing but headaches.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55MOWER ENGINE STARTS
0:22:59 > 0:23:01Joseph Atkin and his assistant, Alex,
0:23:01 > 0:23:03run the gardens at Aberglasney House.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07Home to one of Britain's finest winter gardens.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11This winter, he's been unusually busy.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15It's, erm... It's the middle of winter, and look at this weather.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17RENEE LAUGHS And we're out mowing.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19Last year, I didn't have to mow from...
0:23:20 > 0:23:23..October till March, we didn't do any mowing.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26This year, we're out once every three weeks mowing.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29- You can see how much stuff's in here. - Yeah, God!- Yeah?
0:23:29 > 0:23:31That's three weeks' growth in the winter,
0:23:31 > 0:23:33it's completely unheard of for the time of year.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36- That's a smell of summer to me, not of winter.- No.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40- Come and have a look at this. - Wow!- This is really interesting.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42- There was 5,000 crocus planted here, right?- Yeah.
0:23:42 > 0:23:43And I put them in in the autumn,
0:23:43 > 0:23:45this is exactly when they're supposed to flower,
0:23:45 > 0:23:48but this autumn, a couple of them, right after they were planted,
0:23:48 > 0:23:51they flowered, so I had spring flowering crocus
0:23:51 > 0:23:53flowering in November.
0:23:53 > 0:23:54Why did they flower in the autumn?
0:23:54 > 0:23:57I think they just got fooled. They just thought it was spring.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00And I was really panicking, because there's 5,000 of them in here,
0:24:00 > 0:24:02and if they all flowered in November, December,
0:24:02 > 0:24:05my display for this time of the year would have been over.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08This is the mildest winter I've known in Wales.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10And then the previous winter was the coldest.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13So, you know, we've had the two extremes in two years.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17The big freeze bites across much of the UK again.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19Plummeting temperatures and falling snow
0:24:19 > 0:24:22disrupt travel and close schools.
0:24:22 > 0:24:272010 was Wales's coldest winter for 25 years.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31Temperatures at Aberglasney dropped down to minus 15,
0:24:31 > 0:24:34and a deep frost devastated Joseph's winter plants.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36This is the winter garden.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39Specially designed to give you interest in the middle of winter.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41It should all look like that.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44You know, all these nice, lovely cushions.
0:24:44 > 0:24:45You look on the other side,
0:24:45 > 0:24:48and it looked like someone threw a hand grenade.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51This Sarcococca is a real sort of standard, hardy, tough plant.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55I've seen this growing at 3,000 metres altitude in China,
0:24:55 > 0:24:56you know, three times the height of Snowdon.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58- Do you see all these old stems? - Yeah.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00All of this got cut off by the winter.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03Not supposed to happen to this plant, ever.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05You get pretty down and depressed with it,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08because, you know, you're taking something out,
0:25:08 > 0:25:10- and your garden's going backwards.- Yeah.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12Rather than forwards, because of the weather.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14Joseph depends on the seasons.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17They drive the changes in his garden.
0:25:17 > 0:25:21If one season fails, it affects his whole year.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23- Have you seen the vegetable garden? - No, I haven't, no.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25'Winter in the vegetable garden
0:25:25 > 0:25:29'is when the ground usually gets cleared for spring planting.'
0:25:29 > 0:25:32This is some of our leftover winter veg,
0:25:32 > 0:25:34and it's actually, I want to show you this,
0:25:34 > 0:25:35cos...
0:25:35 > 0:25:37- Because this weather's been so mild...- Yeah.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39We're still actually eating it.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42And one of the downsides of all this mild weather is, you look at this,
0:25:42 > 0:25:44- you see the hole straight through the middle of it?- Yes!
0:25:44 > 0:25:47- Something's been nibbling away at that.- Yeah, that's mice.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50- Really?- They've eaten all the way round the core of it.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52Things like mice are supposed to go dormant in the winter.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55So they're eating all winter, they're breeding all winter,
0:25:55 > 0:25:56and so you actually end up
0:25:56 > 0:25:59- with twice as much of a problem the following spring, you see?- Yeah.
0:25:59 > 0:26:00So, so in some ways, you know,
0:26:00 > 0:26:03this mild weather is a bit of a double-edged sword, really.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Cold weather can be a really good thing, really,
0:26:06 > 0:26:08because it's a good cleanser, it gets rid of a lot of pests
0:26:08 > 0:26:09and diseases and so on.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13Whatever weather you get, it's got a good and a bad side.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15All around Aberglasney,
0:26:15 > 0:26:19the unusual temperatures have thrown species out of kilter.
0:26:21 > 0:26:23Last year, every one of these died.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27- Look at them this year, they're really romping away. - They're flourishing, yeah.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30The narcissus have come out really early, snowdrops were fairly early this year.
0:26:30 > 0:26:35The bluebells in the woods, that didn't happen until April last year.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37Even the wildlife is acting strangely.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39SHE LAUGHS
0:26:39 > 0:26:42I didn't plan on showing you this! THEY LAUGH
0:26:42 > 0:26:46- Erm...- Hello! Is this particularly seasonal behaviour?
0:26:46 > 0:26:47SHE LAUGHS
0:26:47 > 0:26:50I think it's a bit early, and certainly it shouldn't be on before nine o'clock.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53SHE LAUGHS Not something that happens at Aberglasney every day.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55SHE LAUGHS This is not how we behave here!
0:26:55 > 0:26:56SHE LAUGHS
0:26:59 > 0:27:02With all the changes that we're seeing now
0:27:02 > 0:27:06at different times of year, does the idea of four distinct seasons
0:27:06 > 0:27:08still apply, do you think?
0:27:08 > 0:27:10The seasons are less reliable.
0:27:10 > 0:27:11You know, I mean, when I was a kid,
0:27:11 > 0:27:14- you always used to get nice hot school summer holidays.- Yeah.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16Well, I can't remember the last time
0:27:16 > 0:27:17we had a hot summer in Wales, you know.
0:27:17 > 0:27:20Even in England, they've got the same problems,
0:27:20 > 0:27:22it's will they get rain now, not when they get rain.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26From a gardening point of view, um...it has a big impact.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29Because you don't really know exactly what you're going to get each year,
0:27:29 > 0:27:30you don't know how to plan.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33And when it all happens at once, it looks great for two weeks...
0:27:33 > 0:27:37- Then...- And then you've got nothing for two, three weeks or something, so...
0:27:37 > 0:27:40Not often you hear a gardener who doesn't complain about the weather!
0:27:40 > 0:27:42'The seasons have turned once again.
0:27:42 > 0:27:44'And I've come full circle.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47'Over the last year, I've lived through all weathers,
0:27:47 > 0:27:50'and met some incredible people.
0:27:50 > 0:27:55'But after 12 months, I'm back on my home beach in Penarth.'
0:27:56 > 0:27:59What this year has taught me is that for everyone,
0:27:59 > 0:28:02from the fishermen on Penarth Pier to the farmers in North Wales,
0:28:02 > 0:28:05the seasons are critical.
0:28:05 > 0:28:09They're the engine that drives all the vital changes in the year.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12But our seasons are becoming much less predictable.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15Our winters much warmer, our summers much wetter,
0:28:15 > 0:28:17and our challenge now
0:28:17 > 0:28:21is how we adapt our lives to these new rhythms of nature.
0:28:22 > 0:28:26March, 2012, was the driest for 50 years,
0:28:26 > 0:28:29while April was the wettest on record.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32Wales is changing.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36And if we're still to live by the seasons,
0:28:36 > 0:28:38then we need to change with them.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd