Episode 1 Weather Watchers with Barra Best


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It's all around us. It connects us.

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Should it be wind from the west, rain from the east,

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or the sun above,

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it's our weather.

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We have been forecasting our weather for centuries.

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We once looked to plants and animals

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for hints about what the weather would do.

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We thought rain was on the way if cows were seen to be lying down,

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frogs croaked more frequently,

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pine cones opened, and sheep's wool uncurled.

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Sayings and proverbs were our barometer.

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"Red sky at night, shepherd's delight.

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"Red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning".

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These are natural forecasting methods,

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but today the weather team at BBC Northern Ireland

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have the most up-to-date scientific data at their fingertips

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to bring you an accurate forecast.

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Let's get the latest on the weather forecast now...

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As our weather is so changeable, it makes it very interesting

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for forecasters because each day is different in one way or another.

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So, we need lots of things -

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computer models, satellite imagery, and observations from the ground.

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We collate these and work out what is going to happen

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for the next few days ahead.

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But, as Angie explains, where we live plays a part too.

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People often ask why the weather is so changeable

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here in Northern Ireland, compared to other areas,

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especially those on similar latitudes,

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and a lot has to do with positioning.

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Take, for example, Moscow.

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It's more or less on the same latitude as ourselves,

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but it's in the middle of a large landmass.

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Land heats up very quickly in the summer months,

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the air passing over the land heats up as well,

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and they get very high temperatures.

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In contrast, Northern Ireland, is at the edge of the Atlantic.

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Water doesn't heat up at the same rate,

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and a lot of our weather is coming across that water, off the Atlantic,

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so we don't get the same extremes.

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Now, the opposite happens in the winter months.

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Over the land it cools down extremely quickly,

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plummeting temperatures.

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Here in Northern Ireland, again the sea modifies our temperatures,

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the water doesn't cool down at the same rate,

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and that's why we have what is called a moderate climate.

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I'm going to go out and experience how that moderate climate

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shapes our lives.

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And I'm starting with my head in the clouds.

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# It's a bright sunshiny day

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# Skies are so blue... #

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I've come to the Ulster Gliding Blub at Bellarena

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to meet Alan McKillen.

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And, even though I'm taking to the skies, I won't be in a plane,

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but a glider.

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An aircraft that doesn't have an engine

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and relies solely on the weather for power.

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-OK, Barra.

-Great.

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Just put this on.

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Obviously, this is just for emergencies,

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-I'm not going to need this!

-Absolutely, totally!

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-There we go.

-Brilliant.

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To get off the ground, we need a bit of help.

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There we are. We'll be off in about three seconds.

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One, two, three,

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-and that's us!

-We're up!

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# Sunshiny day

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# Skies are so blue

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# And I'm leaving.. #

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We're going to go to 3,000 feet today, Barra.

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3,000 feet? That's quite high up

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-for something that doesn't have an engine!

-Well...

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HE LAUGHS

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One way the glider stays in the air is by using a thermal,

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which is a stream of rising warm air

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formed by the sun heating the ground.

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What do you know to look for at this stage?

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We'd try and interpret the clouds ahead of us,

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and we'd look for nice young wispy clouds,

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which would be an indication of a thermal just starting to grow.

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And it's a perfect gliding day with lots of puffy cumulus clouds.

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You're in a privileged position. You have all sorts of weather

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coming from different directions that helps you?

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A multitude of different types of weather.

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The skill of a glider pilot is interpreting the weather

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on the day and making best use of it.

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That's what the sport of gliding is all about.

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Extracting that awesome amount of energy

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which can be in the atmosphere.

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It's time to release ourselves from the tug plane and fly solo.

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-OK, off we go.

-Tell me when?

-Now.

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-Wow! We're doing it ourselves!

-That's it, we're on our own.

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Wow, look at that. That is beautiful.

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It's the weather now that is literally allowing us

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to fly without an engine.

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Absolutely, we are soaring.

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Ohh!

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Bit scary!

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The flying club is ideally situated

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at the foot hills of Binevenagh Mountain,

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and Alan is going to use the mountain ridge to gain altitude.

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The wind hits the mountain and has nowhere to go but up,

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taking us with it.

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-So that big burst, that was the lift?

-Ridge lift.

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So the ridge lift is basically as the wind hits the bottom

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of the mountain and lifts up and essentially pushes us up in the air?

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Yes, so we are getting lift all the way along there.

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Whooo!

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You're going to give me a heart attack!

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That's just a very small taste

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of the energy that can be in the atmosphere, Barra.

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This must be how birds feel.

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This is really just harnessing the power of the weather.

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Absolutely. That's what soaring and gliding is all about.

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# Cos I'm as free as a bird now

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# And this bird you cannot change... #

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You really do get a buzz from it.

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Oh, absolutely, Barra.

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I've done a 300-kilometre flight.

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The buzz when you land and the sense of achievement.

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But I'll maybe come round now

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and head in the general direction of back towards the airfield. OK?

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OK.

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Wow, that's a long way down!

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Generally, when we think of clouds,

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we think of, you know, there's a chance of rain here, what do we do?

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You know, bring the washing in...

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But we harness it for this.

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The weather might be keeping us airborne,

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but how do we land this thing?

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Oh-ho!

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Now I know what they mean by a wing and a prayer.

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-Here we go!

-Yes.

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Almost touchdown.

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Whoo!

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Wow! Touchdown!

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That's fantastic and surprisingly smooth!

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Oh, thank you.

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I didn't know what to expect there.

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Thankfully, I didn't need my parachute.

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THEY LAUGH

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From gliding, which relies on clouds,

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to a profession that requires a cloudless sky.

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Across Lough Foyle, as the crow, or indeed the glider flies,

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is the Inishowen Peninsula in County Donegal,

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and I'm going there now to meet up with photographer Martina Gardiner.

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Martina's photographs are dramatic nightscapes

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featuring constellations, auroras and the Milky Way.

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Although we have never met, I feel I know Martina.

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I've followed her work on Facebook and Twitter.

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Martina, you have a lot of night-time photographs here.

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It's a real passion of yours. What got you interested in it?

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Well, I was always interested in photography,

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but it's really in the last four or five years

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that I have got into night-time photography.

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There's something about being out there on a great starry night

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and just looking up and enjoying the stars,

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and I just can't help myself, I just love it.

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It can't be as easy as that.

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Looking at this photograph, that's fantastic,

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but surely you can't just go out and think,

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"I'm going to get that photo tonight"?

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No, to catch the Milky Way in a photograph,

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it has to be the right time of the month,

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that's a time when there is little or no moonlight.

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The other thing is you need an absolutely clear sky,

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so trying to get the two on the one night, that's the difficult part.

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What are the chances of both of those things

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happening at the same time?

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Well, we've picked the right day.

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There is no moon by the time we can photograph the Milky Way tonight,

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and the weather, I'm not too sure about, it's a little iffy,

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but maybe you know better?

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Sure, why don't we have a wee look before we head off?

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A few wee breaks in the cloud. Hopefully they'll continue

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-and we'll get a few photographs like this.

-Yes, fantastic.

-Perfect.

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We're off to Malin Head,

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the most northerly tip on the island of Ireland,

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with the wild Atlantic Ocean for a neighbour.

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You'll have heard of Malin Head as there's a weather station there.

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'Malin, south, five or six, fair, good. Hebrides...'

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And the weather element which distinguishes this

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from other stations throughout the country is the wind speed.

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Storm force 12 winds are regularly recorded.

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We're heading beyond the station to the tower, as it's known locally.

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This is one of Martina's favourite locations to capture the night sky.

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The tower was built by the Admiralty in the early 1800s

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as part of a string of defences around the Irish coast

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to guard against a possible French invasion.

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Well, it looks like we are in a bit of luck, some clear skies.

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Yeah, it's always good when you see some clear skies, that's for sure.

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You've been here before when it's been like this,

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and you've got amazing shots, maybe we'll get more of those tonight?

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Yeah, if we get a clear sky even in one direction

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we'll be able to work with it, so I'm quite optimistic so far.

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And, you know, normally, this is the windiest part of Ireland,

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but barely a breeze.

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I know, this is actually warm for Malin Head.

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It's really very, very nice.

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As beautiful as it is here,

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you can't just turn up with a camera and point it,

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you need to kind of know what you are doing, a little bit at least.

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Yes. It's always a good idea to get to your location before dark,

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have a little look around, make sure it's safe and stuff.

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So tonight, we're trying to get the tower

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and trying to get as many stars as we can.

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So, if we look at this simple planisphere,

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it actually shows me where the stars are going to be tonight.

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I know it's going to be dark, pitch-black at 10pm,

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so basically we want to look at the date that we are on right now

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and look at ten o'clock,

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and we can see that this area here,

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this milky area here of this map, this planisphere,

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stretches all the way from south west through to the north-east.

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So now, with my compass before it gets dark,

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I can decide where exactly we want to stand.

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Where do you think the best place will be for us?

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Well, at the moment towards the north-east is looking really good,

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so we might just stand back here a little bit and set up there,

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and hope that that sky stays clear.

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-Do you want to go and get set up?

-Yeah, let's go.

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This is the spot you reckon we'll get a good shot from?

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Yeah, we'll get a good shot of the tower from here,

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and the sky is looking actually even better than I thought it might.

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We did have a look at the weather apps earlier,

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and it did tell us that the cloud was going to clear off for us,

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and it looks like it has done so.

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Yeah, it's really shaping up nicely, I'm really very excited.

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OK, so tripod, camera, and that's us, we're ready to go.

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So, we just line it up here,

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and have a look,

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try to get all of the tower in and leave space for the stars as well.

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So, here we go.

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It's not looking too bad so far.

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No, the main thing is that we have got the whole tower there,

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and we've got plenty of sky,

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so when that fills with stars it will be a pretty nice shot.

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It's not a bad night to wait out.

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I'm sure you've been here when it's been much worse,

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it's the windiest place in Ireland!

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Yeah, tonight, as nights at Malin Head go, this is amazing.

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Having no wind is really something.

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-So, sit back and wait for that perfect shot.

-Yes.

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It mightn't be windy tonight, but it's cold. Very cold.

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It's no wonder the Romans called Ireland "Hibernia",

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the land of winter.

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We haven't got long to wait.

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-That's hopefully going to heat us up for a wee while. Cheers.

-Cheers.

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-OK, Barra, we're ready for a shot.

-OK, ready!

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So you've got to stay steady for 25 seconds.

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Ready, and action!

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Deep breath in.

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I don't want to end up a blur on the landscape. Here goes!

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That looks great. Come on down and have a look.

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OK, breathe out.

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OK.

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Let's have a look.

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Oh, that's fantastic!

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All the colours have really come out well, haven't they?

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Yeah, it turned out pretty well.

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We haven't got all the stars I'd like -

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a few stars at the top, but...

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The weather hasn't completely let us down, it's been a great day.

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Great photograph.

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-It has got a bit chilly, though, hasn't it?

-Yes!

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But it's all been worth it.

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Maybe not as starry as Martina would have liked,

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but I think it's picture perfect.

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And, as beautiful day follows cold night,

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I make my way from County Donegal

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to the more temperate climate of County Down

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to meet up with organic farmer John McCormick.

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-How are you?

-I'm very well, thank you.

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Perfect weather for the old garden, isn't it?

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It's beautiful. A beautiful day.

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John is passionate about growing organic food.

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Locally produced and completely dependent

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on our Northern Irish climate.

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John, here we are, your field of tunnels. Different veg in every one?

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That's right. This is a row of four of our larger tunnels

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and we would have a four-year rotation going on

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between the four of them.

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You see some kohlrabi in there.

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Carrots were in there first, now it's kohlrabi, then it'll be salad.

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So, different veg planted throughout the year?

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At least three crops per tunnel.

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John, a nice big tunnel here of cherry tomatoes.

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They've done well with our weather this year.

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Yes, I'm very pleased with them.

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They're called Sakura, which is on the big side, you know.

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There's small cherry tomatoes and big cherry tomatoes.

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This would be on the big side. They're a very sweet tomato,

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so would be incredibly popular with children, as you can well imagine.

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And you've got your normal amount of crops for this year?

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Um...yes, by and large, the cropping would appear to be good.

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We normally go for seven or eight trusses. This is a truss.

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They start at the bottom and work up to the last truss at the top.

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This would be the eighth truss on this.

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So eight trusses is actually a very good yield.

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If that, between now and the middle of October, grows and ripens,

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what doesn't ripen will go to chutney.

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But they're actually doing very well.

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So another few weeks left and these boys here will be ready to pick.

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Five, six weeks before I start taking them out.

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Food is a requirement for all life,

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but we need the right weather to grow it.

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County Down is one of the driest counties in Ireland.

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It must have some benefits for your farm.

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Well, I'm very surprised to hear you say that.

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Because while parts of County Down are dry, we're in Helen's Bay.

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And Helen's Bay has a lock on one side and hills on the other side.

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And regularly, when it's raining here, I would phone my friends

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in Donaghadee or Newtownards even, and the sun would be shining.

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And we'd be sheltering from the rain.

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What can you do here that you can't do in the west?

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I suppose we're blessed in the sense that

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if you want to be a vegetable-grower,

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you're far better off on the east coast

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than you ever would be on the west coast.

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We can just about grow everything, except bananas and citrus.

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What I have noticed is we seem to be getting extremes.

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We're breaking records left, right and centre,

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we're getting the hottest days that have ever happened in the year,

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we're getting the wettest days that have ever happened in the year.

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And this does throw particular problems at farmers.

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These nets do a good job protecting against pest and rabbits,

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that kind of thing, but they also protect against our bad weather.

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That's right. We're finding increasingly that in the summertime,

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we're getting very, very heavy rainfall.

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And the result of that is it splashes the mud back up

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all over the lettuce and makes it unsalable.

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So the nets act as a barrier.

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So when the rain hits that, it diffuses

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and you don't get that splash.

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You've even had to dig trenches

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to keep the rainwater away from your greenhouses

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-because they were flooding.

-Yes.

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What you find is that in the summertime, the ground is very hard.

0:18:170:18:19

Um...in the wintertime, the ground's very soft

0:18:190:18:22

and you tend not to work machinery.

0:18:220:18:24

And when the ground is soft, it will absorb the rain

0:18:240:18:26

and filter it and allow it to flow away.

0:18:260:18:29

But when it's hard, as it is in the summertime,

0:18:290:18:31

it hasn't got the capacity to do that.

0:18:310:18:33

And the water hits it and has to flow over the surface

0:18:330:18:36

rather than percolate through.

0:18:360:18:38

And so, with this intensity of rain, what we're finding is

0:18:380:18:40

it's actually flowing into the tunnel and flooding our tunnels.

0:18:400:18:43

And now, as a consequence,

0:18:430:18:45

we're putting in drains around all our tunnels to be able to

0:18:450:18:48

catch the water and divert it away from the polytunnels.

0:18:480:18:51

You also keep bees here. How has the weather affected them?

0:19:030:19:06

Um...2015 has not been one of the great bee years.

0:19:060:19:11

We had a cold May, which wouldn't have been nice for the bees.

0:19:110:19:15

But they were busy enough and survived it

0:19:150:19:18

and managed to build up to a decent brood size for June.

0:19:180:19:20

And then we had a nice June, we had a good June.

0:19:200:19:24

So the bees were very busy in June and there was plenty of nectar

0:19:240:19:27

and pollen around and they started to bring in a lot of reserves.

0:19:270:19:30

But then July turned wet and by the end of August,

0:19:300:19:33

because we had another wet August,

0:19:330:19:35

they'd already started to eat into those reserves.

0:19:350:19:38

There can be up to 50-60,000 bees in a colony

0:19:380:19:41

and they all need to be fed every day.

0:19:410:19:43

If they can't get out to feed, they eat their reserves.

0:19:430:19:45

So we won't be taking much honey off the bees this year

0:19:450:19:48

simply because we want to leave them with the reserves that are there.

0:19:480:19:52

They say the proof of the pudding is in the eating,

0:19:550:19:57

so from earth to plate,

0:19:570:19:59

I'm going to sample John's organic produce.

0:19:590:20:01

It's not often we get this here -

0:20:010:20:03

dining al fresco style, food straight from the field.

0:20:030:20:07

-Are you ready?

-I am, indeed, yes.

-Let's tuck in, eh?

0:20:070:20:09

-What do you think?

-Very sweet.

0:20:160:20:18

Anyone who knows me knows that I don't like tomatoes,

0:20:180:20:20

-but that, I could eat all day.

-Wonderful.

-Very nice.

0:20:200:20:23

Why don't you try a carrot and see what you think of the carrots?

0:20:230:20:25

-Carrot.

-They're very traditional.

0:20:250:20:27

-Any difference to the flavour of these? Just normal?

-You tell me.

0:20:270:20:30

HE CRUNCHES

0:20:300:20:33

-Very nice. Very sweet.

-It's nice and sweet.

-Mm-hmm.

0:20:340:20:36

Well, the secret to retaining the sweetness,

0:20:360:20:39

in both tomatoes and carrots,

0:20:390:20:40

is eat them fresh and don't cool them.

0:20:400:20:44

The minute you put them in the fridge,

0:20:440:20:46

they start to lose their sweetness,

0:20:460:20:48

so if you can keep them at room temperature,

0:20:480:20:50

they'll always retain that sweetness for much longer.

0:20:500:20:52

Well, everything you see on this plate, bar that bread,

0:20:520:20:55

is actually grown within 40 metres of here.

0:20:550:20:59

-Very nice.

-I feel very privileged that I eat this

0:20:590:21:01

every day for my lunch.

0:21:010:21:02

Well, thanks very much for letting me join you.

0:21:020:21:04

-It's delicious.

-It's my pleasure.

0:21:040:21:05

# Well, my mama told me there'd be days like this... #

0:21:050:21:10

But she also told me there would be days like this too.

0:21:100:21:13

# Oh, my mamma told me... #

0:21:130:21:14

Rain, rain, go to Spain, and never show your face again.

0:21:140:21:18

Nope, it doesn't work.

0:21:180:21:20

MUSIC: Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall by Ella Fitzgerald

0:21:200:21:24

In the wettest areas in Northern Ireland,

0:21:260:21:28

over 55 days of rainfall is the norm in the three months of winter

0:21:280:21:33

and over 45 days in summer.

0:21:330:21:36

I'd like to be able to report that the sun shines continuously

0:21:360:21:38

in summer, but that just wouldn't be true.

0:21:380:21:42

# All the ducks are swimming in the water... #

0:21:420:21:46

You'd be disappointed if I didn't say it,

0:21:460:21:48

so I'm not going to let you down.

0:21:480:21:49

It's great weather for ducks.

0:21:490:21:50

# All the ducks are swimming in the water... #

0:21:500:21:53

And this isn't an old wives' tale -

0:21:530:21:56

research has confirmed that ducks like hanging out there in the pond

0:21:560:21:59

to enjoy the rainy weather.

0:21:590:22:02

Something else that relies on rain is bogland

0:22:020:22:05

'and the blanket bog of Cuilcagh Mountain in County Fermanagh

0:22:050:22:08

'is one of the finest examples in Western Europe.'

0:22:080:22:11

This may look like a nice, scenic path for the ordinary rambler

0:22:200:22:23

but, of course, it's doing something important for

0:22:230:22:26

the conservation of this area.

0:22:260:22:27

Yeah, the sole and only reason we put the boardwalk in

0:22:270:22:31

is to help conserve the habitat.

0:22:310:22:33

What was basically happening was the footfall of walkers was

0:22:330:22:36

eroding this rare blanket bog,

0:22:360:22:38

so we had to take some remedial action to protect it.

0:22:380:22:41

Today is quite a nice day but it's not great for the midges here.

0:22:410:22:44

-No.

-We're being eaten alive. I think we need to go for a higher altitude.

0:22:440:22:47

-Yes, I think so.

-Yes.

-We could try and find a bit of a breeze.

0:22:470:22:49

-Well, we're halfway up.

-Mm-hmm.

-It's longer than it looks, isn't it?

0:22:530:22:56

-It is, yes, indeed.

-But some of the views -

0:22:560:22:59

-they're spectacular.

-The views are certainly worth it,

0:22:590:23:01

there's no doubt,

0:23:010:23:03

and you're looking right across Fermanagh, here, out onto Donegal,

0:23:030:23:06

so there you go. It's pretty breathtaking, all right.

0:23:060:23:09

And, what, we've got about 2 or 300 steps still ahead of us?

0:23:090:23:12

Well, we'll get there.

0:23:120:23:14

I suppose we should just be grateful it's not raining.

0:23:140:23:16

Yes, that's very true.

0:23:160:23:17

-So, no trees?

-No, no trees, no.

0:23:260:23:28

Peat is not a very good growing medium so it's only the specialised

0:23:280:23:32

plants that can tolerate those nutrient-poor conditions.

0:23:320:23:35

We're almost at the top. Ooh...

0:23:420:23:45

'The trail across the bogland is over 7km long and takes us to

0:23:450:23:50

'the summit of Cuilcagh Mountain but, so far, it's been worth it.'

0:23:500:23:54

Well, here we are, Richard, up to the top,

0:23:540:23:58

660 metres and it's still quite squelchy, isn't it?

0:23:580:24:03

And you can really tell that the rainfall

0:24:030:24:05

has shaped this land in front of us.

0:24:050:24:06

Yes, it has a profound effect on the landscape around us.

0:24:060:24:09

And how important is the bogland and why?

0:24:090:24:12

Well, the bog is important in its own right for its biodiversity

0:24:120:24:15

and its intrinsic environmental value

0:24:150:24:17

but, equally, it acts as a carbon store.

0:24:170:24:20

This blanket bog and other bogs in Ireland are literally storing

0:24:200:24:23

millions of tonnes of carbon.

0:24:230:24:25

The peat is basically vegetation which hasn't completely rotted,

0:24:250:24:28

so it's locked away in the bog over thousands and thousands of years

0:24:280:24:31

so this is really...

0:24:310:24:32

It's almost playing the same role as the Amazon rainforest

0:24:320:24:35

in helping with climate change.

0:24:350:24:39

This is a European protected habitat

0:24:390:24:41

and, without that level of rainfall, it wouldn't exist.

0:24:410:24:44

So, essentially, you don't mind Fermanagh being called

0:24:440:24:46

one of the wettest counties of Northern Ireland if not Ireland?

0:24:460:24:49

At times. No, on my day off, I'd rather it was a bit drier,

0:24:490:24:52

maybe, sometimes, but what can you do?

0:24:520:24:53

Well, still, like, today, the views are breathtaking,

0:24:530:24:56

-I think.

-Yes. Oh, it's fabulous, it really is.

0:24:560:24:58

'And from a breathtaking but treeless landscape

0:25:060:25:09

'to a lush forestry, and my pathway to the underground,

0:25:090:25:13

'where the waters that fell on the Cuilcagh bogland

0:25:130:25:15

'have made their way to the Marble Arch Caves.'

0:25:150:25:18

-Michelle.

-Hello.

-How are you?

-How are you?

0:25:190:25:21

God, that's some walk. It's poor weather for it, though, isn't it?

0:25:210:25:24

-Yes. Are you ready to go underground?

-I am, indeed. Let's go.

0:25:240:25:27

-If you follow me, we'll head on in?

-Perfect.

0:25:270:25:28

'Michelle is going to be my guide through this fascinating

0:25:280:25:32

'natural underworld of waterfalls, rivers, caves and winding passages.

0:25:320:25:38

'It's beautiful and brilliant.'

0:25:380:25:40

We're deep below Fermanagh,

0:25:400:25:42

and you may be forgiven for thinking that the weather above

0:25:420:25:45

won't affect us, but it does.

0:25:450:25:47

Yes, it does. The rainwater that falls on Cuilcagh Mountain -

0:25:470:25:50

it's actually the catchment area for the three rivers that

0:25:500:25:53

flow into the Marble Arch Caves,

0:25:530:25:55

and we're actually making our way up one of the rivers,

0:25:550:25:57

which is called the Cladagh Glen,

0:25:570:26:00

so you can imagine that the weather that we experience in Fermanagh,

0:26:000:26:03

and in particular up on Cuilcagh Mountain,

0:26:030:26:05

has a large impact in relation to the show cave.

0:26:050:26:08

We're able to come comfortably through this cave but that all

0:26:080:26:12

depends on the amount of rainfall that we get above, doesn't it?

0:26:120:26:15

This cave tour is very much weather-dependent.

0:26:150:26:18

There's days where we have to opt that

0:26:180:26:20

we actually don't have a cave tour available.

0:26:200:26:22

It really depends on the blanket bog -

0:26:220:26:23

whether or not the blanket bog is dry or if it's saturated.

0:26:230:26:27

It depends if it's local rain or it has fallen at a distance

0:26:270:26:30

and it also depends what the rivers are like -

0:26:300:26:32

if they've had a period of time where they've dried up,

0:26:320:26:35

or if there's water in it.

0:26:350:26:36

That is why the staff that work here monitor the weather forecast

0:26:360:26:39

on a daily basis.

0:26:390:26:41

You're actually going outside

0:26:410:26:42

and visually looking at Cuilcagh Mountain to see if it's under cloud,

0:26:420:26:45

if it's raining, what you think is happening on the mountain,

0:26:450:26:49

because it has its own little climate.

0:26:490:26:51

In terms of weather, what's your perfect scenario?

0:26:510:26:54

Best case scenario is probably the rarest situation

0:26:560:26:59

that we ever have, is that when we have a heat wave.

0:26:590:27:01

I knew you were going to say that. SHE LAUGHS

0:27:010:27:03

But even at the moment, you know, we've had a period,

0:27:030:27:06

a whole week now, where we've had just dry weather.

0:27:060:27:09

It's not hot, it's not sunny,

0:27:090:27:10

but there's been no rain up on Cuilcagh Mountain

0:27:100:27:12

and that changes everything.

0:27:120:27:14

It changes the amount of water coming off the mountain.

0:27:140:27:17

It changes the atmosphere in the cave.

0:27:170:27:19

I really like it when we've had a little bit of rainwater

0:27:190:27:22

and it's coming into the cave and the rivers are rising slightly

0:27:220:27:26

and you can hear the rumbling of the river,

0:27:260:27:29

and that is part of the experience

0:27:290:27:30

and the excitement for members of the public,

0:27:300:27:32

so people who do arrive on a rainy day,

0:27:320:27:34

I don't think they're losing out.

0:27:340:27:36

I think they are seeing it in a different way

0:27:360:27:38

and, to me, that's what it's all about.

0:27:380:27:40

Every cloud has a silver lining.

0:27:400:27:42

-Yes, we could say that.

-THEY LAUGH

0:27:420:27:45

The relationship we have with the weather is a complex one.

0:27:470:27:50

We do enjoy sunshine

0:27:500:27:51

and we might complain about days being wet and cold,

0:27:510:27:56

but rain but is refreshing and wind is bracing,

0:27:560:27:59

so I like think that there's no such thing as bad -

0:27:590:28:02

only different types of good weather.

0:28:020:28:06

There is scientific evidence that the profusion of red hair,

0:28:060:28:09

fair skin and freckles is the result of living in a sun-starved climate.

0:28:090:28:14

I'm living proof.

0:28:140:28:15

So there you have it -

0:28:150:28:16

no doubt that the weather is part of who we are and what we are.

0:28:160:28:20

Until next time, bye-bye.

0:28:200:28:22

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