0:00:02 > 0:00:04Stretching across the River Ouse, this bridge behind me
0:00:04 > 0:00:08is a superb example of a very rare kind of structure - a bridge chapel.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12But, which county is it in? We'll find out in just a moment.
0:00:41 > 0:00:42In today's show,
0:00:42 > 0:00:47we help a newly retired couple head to the country, after 30 years,
0:00:47 > 0:00:51and one of our properties almost has them in tears.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53- You seem quite emotional.- I am.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57I am, actually, cos I kept thinking, "They won't find anything we want."
0:00:57 > 0:01:01But the mystery house makes them smile.
0:01:01 > 0:01:02I could hug you!
0:01:04 > 0:01:07- Go on, then!- Really?- Yeah!
0:01:09 > 0:01:11Today, I'm in Cambridgeshire,
0:01:11 > 0:01:14and this is the Chapel of St Leger in St Ives.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18Built around 1420, it's one of only six such bridge chapels
0:01:18 > 0:01:21in the UK, but back in medieval times they were relatively common,
0:01:21 > 0:01:25serving as toll houses and giving travellers a place to pray.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Nowadays, the travellers keep coming,
0:01:27 > 0:01:29because every bank holiday,
0:01:29 > 0:01:32crowds of people gather to observe a tradition
0:01:32 > 0:01:36that's been running for almost 1,000 years - the St Ives street market.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39But bridges and traditions aren't the only thing that this area
0:01:39 > 0:01:42has going for it.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44Lying to the east of England,
0:01:44 > 0:01:47Cambridgeshire is home to some 600,000 people,
0:01:47 > 0:01:51and is dominated by low-lying fenland.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Historically, this was flat, wild, marshland,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57which has given rise to small island towns
0:01:57 > 0:01:59such as Chatteris and Whittlesey.
0:01:59 > 0:02:0414 miles north of the university city of Cambridge, is Ely,
0:02:04 > 0:02:11whose grand Norman cathedral opened in 1189 after 160 years of planning.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13It's known as the Ship of the Fens,
0:02:13 > 0:02:17a name inspired by the distant views of its towers.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20After the 17th century church Reformation,
0:02:20 > 0:02:23a large percentage of fenland that previously belonged to
0:02:23 > 0:02:27the church was sold, and reclaimed for crops such as wheat and corn,
0:02:27 > 0:02:30and evidence of this agricultural history is still apparent
0:02:30 > 0:02:35in the many surviving windmills that continue to dart the landscape.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38The average price for a detached property here in Cambridge
0:02:38 > 0:02:41is just over £260,000.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45That's around £6,000 above the national figure.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49Now, the majority of the county's residents live in the south,
0:02:49 > 0:02:51and villages like Trumpington and Great Shelford
0:02:51 > 0:02:56are in high demand, due in no small part to their proximity to Cambridge.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00Obviously, the town itself has its world-famous university,
0:03:00 > 0:03:04but maybe more importantly, it has excellent transport links to London.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08So it should be no surprise that the closer you get to Cambridge,
0:03:08 > 0:03:10the higher the property values,
0:03:10 > 0:03:15where a detached property there can cost you upwards of £400,000.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18Here's a selection of properties that we found
0:03:18 > 0:03:20currently on the market.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24For £395,000, you could be the owner of this four-bedroom
0:03:24 > 0:03:27thatched cottage in West Wycombe.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31Dating back to the 17th century and grade two listed,
0:03:31 > 0:03:33it offers characterful reception rooms,
0:03:33 > 0:03:37with a feature fireplace and secluded rear gardens.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42This four-bedroom detached house in Burwell
0:03:42 > 0:03:45is on the market for £650,000.
0:03:45 > 0:03:50Built in 1997, the house combines character with modern living.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Its features include exposed timbers,
0:03:53 > 0:03:56and a brick inglenook fireplace.
0:03:56 > 0:04:00And for a budget-busting £800,000, you could be living in this
0:04:00 > 0:04:03grand five-bedroom Edwardian property in Ramsey.
0:04:03 > 0:04:09Built in 1906, it boasts typically spacious rooms, sash windows
0:04:09 > 0:04:11and an acre of well-manicured garden.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15A lovely selection of properties there.
0:04:15 > 0:04:17Time to meet today's buyers
0:04:17 > 0:04:21and find out why they're ready to escape to the country.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Phil and Anne have spent almost 30 years
0:04:24 > 0:04:27in their three-bedroom house in Luton, Bedfordshire.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29But now they've both stopped working,
0:04:29 > 0:04:31they're looking to make a change.
0:04:31 > 0:04:33We've decided now is the best time to move.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37It's really because our children, they're grown-up,
0:04:37 > 0:04:41they've actually moved away, and we're both now retired,
0:04:41 > 0:04:44so we don't need the town for work.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46It's just the time to go.
0:04:46 > 0:04:49We've got the energy and the enthusiasm to move
0:04:49 > 0:04:51and to start again, haven't we?
0:04:51 > 0:04:53- Yeah, hope so!- We hope so!
0:04:53 > 0:04:58And if we, I think, really, if we don't move now
0:04:58 > 0:05:02there's a real danger, because we do love the house, that we won't move.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05It would be nice, as we always say, to lift this house up
0:05:05 > 0:05:07and take it into a different location.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09That would be brilliant.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13Well, we can't promise that, but as their daughter and grandson live just a county away,
0:05:13 > 0:05:17luckily they've got a definite idea where they'll be heading.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20We're looking to move up to the St Ives area in Cambridgeshire,
0:05:20 > 0:05:25because we've seen quite a lot of that since our daughter moved up seven years ago.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27It's close enough within striking distance of here
0:05:27 > 0:05:30and all our roots and our friends and our relations down this end.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32And also, we like the east coast as well,
0:05:32 > 0:05:36- which is also within spitting distance.- Yeah.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40I think, really, we'd like to live in a village with the local amenities -
0:05:40 > 0:05:43shop, bus stop, those sort of things,
0:05:43 > 0:05:48and to feel part of a community, really. That would be ideal.
0:05:48 > 0:05:53Once they move, there's a number of changes they're planning to make to their lifestyle.
0:05:53 > 0:05:57I've always enjoyed swimming. I used to swim regularly before work.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Erm, not so much now, but if the opportunity occurs...
0:06:00 > 0:06:02My grandson loves the water,
0:06:02 > 0:06:05so I'm sure I shall be in the water at some time with him.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08And I walk the dog. I enjoy walking the dog.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11I do a three-mile round trip every morning with her.
0:06:11 > 0:06:16I spend quite a lot of time playing the piano, and more so since I've been retired.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19So we must have space in the new property for the piano
0:06:19 > 0:06:24and also, so we don't upset the neighbours, as well, with the row.
0:06:24 > 0:06:25With the music!
0:06:25 > 0:06:29So apart from neighbours who can handle a bit of a din, I mean, music,
0:06:29 > 0:06:33there's range of other criteria that are in tune with their wishlist.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35We're looking for a secluded garden, and not too big,
0:06:35 > 0:06:38not necessarily any bigger than the one we have.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41And we've sort of more or less come to this decision
0:06:41 > 0:06:44- it's a minimum of three bedrooms.- Yeah.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48And the kitchen, I love my kitchen, but I've always thought it'd be nice
0:06:48 > 0:06:51to be able to sit at a table with a coffee and read the paper.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54- The kitchen may be a bit bigger than the one we've got.- Yeah.
0:06:54 > 0:07:00And we do also need a garage for the car and the do-it-yourself.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04With all that in mind, the budget is all-important.
0:07:04 > 0:07:09If the property ticks all our boxes, we will pay £350,000.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21For our search, we'll be concentrating on the area
0:07:21 > 0:07:25within a 15 mile radius of St Ives, where their daughter lives.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28We'll tempt them with three irresistible properties,
0:07:28 > 0:07:33but, as always, I'll hold back on revealing the price until they've had a guess first.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36Our final property is, of course, the mystery house,
0:07:36 > 0:07:39which could well have them singing its praises.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44So why are you making this big move now?
0:07:44 > 0:07:47- It's the right thing to do for us, now.- Yeah, yeah.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50And where we are, we've got friends,
0:07:50 > 0:07:55but friends are sort of around the area, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire,
0:07:55 > 0:07:57we've got friends in Lincoln.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00So where do you want to be? I mean, St Ives is wonderful.
0:08:00 > 0:08:04- It's not exactly cheap! - No, no, we do realise that,
0:08:04 > 0:08:07and I think there is a danger of following your children
0:08:07 > 0:08:11and living next door, and I'm not sure that that would be right,
0:08:11 > 0:08:15because they have their lives, we have our lives,
0:08:15 > 0:08:18so it's actually that nice balance.
0:08:18 > 0:08:22So how close or how far away do you need to be? Have you got a radius?
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Far enough that we're not automatic babysitters!
0:08:25 > 0:08:29That sounds like Hastings, to me!
0:08:29 > 0:08:32No, we don't mind it, in all fairness, we don't mind that at all.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35And preferably, I mean, getting even more specific,
0:08:35 > 0:08:39we'd rather be slightly south of St Ives than north,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42because we are getting further away from our friends
0:08:42 > 0:08:45- and relations who are down south.- And our son.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48- Yeah. Yes.- Well, I think, I think... - You'll ask the question?
0:08:48 > 0:08:50Yeah, I've asked the question,
0:08:50 > 0:08:55and I think a lot of it is going to be price versus desirability.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58- Yeah.- And there's going to be a trade-off, isn't there?
0:08:58 > 0:09:02- Yeah, course it is. Always is. - OK, well, let's see how we get on.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07So, for a maximum budget of £350,000,
0:09:07 > 0:09:11Phil and Anne's must-haves are three bedrooms,
0:09:11 > 0:09:15a large kitchen for entertaining, a manageable garden,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18and somewhere to keep Phil's piano.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25For our first property,
0:09:25 > 0:09:28we've come to the ancient village of Gamlingay, close to
0:09:28 > 0:09:32the border with Bedfordshire, and on a direct route to St Ives.
0:09:32 > 0:09:37Home to around 3,500 people, Gamlingay is steeped in history,
0:09:37 > 0:09:40and has many listed buildings, such as the church,
0:09:40 > 0:09:43which was constructed from locally quarried stone.
0:09:43 > 0:09:48The house we'll be looking at is a modern property, built around eight years ago.
0:09:48 > 0:09:53- What do you think of this house here, then?- Wow!- Oh, that's pretty!
0:09:53 > 0:09:58- It's got some character, hasn't it? - Yeah, yeah, it has, definitely. - Very nice!- Yeah, it's very pretty.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01I love the wooden beams down the side of the door. That's lovely.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05- Yeah, it's like a porch, isn't it, really?- Yeah.- Yeah, very tasteful.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08Now, location wise, I think this village
0:10:08 > 0:10:11is almost the perfect village for you guys.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15It's, you know, the right distance away from your family,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18but you've got here, two pubs, a local shop,
0:10:18 > 0:10:23a supermarket, a butcher's, a baker's, you got a pharmacy,
0:10:23 > 0:10:25and a doctor's, plus it's on a bus route.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28Brilliant! Everything that we would have asked for.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30- It is, isn't it, really? - It is, definitely.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Maybe I've peaked too early! Let's look inside.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37'The location's right and the front of the house looks good.'
0:10:37 > 0:10:41'Let's hope the inside will give us three our of three.' So come on in.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45- Oh!- This is very nice!
0:10:45 > 0:10:48- Do you like it?- That's lovely, yeah.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52And it's got a really warm feeling, but it's spacious.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56- And it's totally different to what I had in mind.- Yeah.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59All right, well, there's a definite flow to this, cos, obviously,
0:10:59 > 0:11:05- it goes right into the kitchen, which is rather nice.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09- Oh!- Yeah, it's nice.- Well, this is good, isn't it?- Yes, I love it!
0:11:09 > 0:11:12I mean, that's just, yeah... And it's not too big.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14You know, you're not walking miles,
0:11:14 > 0:11:18but you've got all that lovely contact with, you know, downstairs.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21Obviously, it's all very open plan at the moment,
0:11:21 > 0:11:23but you can shut this room off,
0:11:23 > 0:11:26- which I think you'll want to do in the winter.- Yeah.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29- What do you think of it?- It's cosy.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31Yeah, nice size room.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34- But not cosy, too small. This is cosy, comfortable cosy.- Yeah.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37Love the fireplace.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40That fireplace, I feel like it should dwarf the room,
0:11:40 > 0:11:43- but it doesn't. Maybe cos it's recessed.- Yeah, yeah.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45- It's a lovely feature.- Yeah.
0:11:45 > 0:11:49A natural feature. Doesn't look too fussy, and it looks practical.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51- And it's nice and bright, nice and light.- Yeah.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55These are all benefits! Can you see any concerns at the moment?
0:11:55 > 0:11:58- I'm looking at the piano... - Or, rather, lack of...
0:11:58 > 0:12:01..and wondering where that might go.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03But it's a small detail at this stage.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06Well, it's a big part of your life, I know. I mean, at the moment,
0:12:06 > 0:12:10I was thinking, maybe, behind that door or somewhere
0:12:10 > 0:12:13in the dining room. But depending on how strong you're feeling,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16maybe there's another room in the house you could put it.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19'Provided he can get it upstairs, Phil's piano could go in'
0:12:19 > 0:12:21one of the two good-sized spare bedrooms,
0:12:21 > 0:12:25one of which is currently used as a study.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28There's also a family bathroom up here,
0:12:28 > 0:12:32but we're heading to where Phil and Anne could sleep.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36- Master bedroom. En suite.- Right. - That's nice.- What do you think?
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Good-size room! Yeah, it is. Built in wardrobe.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43There's room for a dressing table as well, away from the window.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47- Erm, bedside tables, I mean, that's all we need!- Yeah, I like it.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50- I like it, yeah. - This is really good!- Yeah, I do!
0:12:50 > 0:12:54- Yeah. Don't know what else to say! - You know what I find really interesting here?
0:12:54 > 0:12:58And this is really encouraging for me, is the fact that I know you've
0:12:58 > 0:13:00lived in your house for 30-odd years.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02- This is very different for you, but you like it.- We do.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05But you see, we've never really looked out.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Well, you're looking out in some style now!
0:13:07 > 0:13:13We're looking out now, and it's interesting to see what is on offer.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17'Well, there's plenty on offer outside with regards to the view,
0:13:17 > 0:13:21'however, all is not as it seems.'
0:13:21 > 0:13:26- Lovely outlook, isn't it? - Isn't that beautiful?- That's super. - Never even talked about a view.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28That is lovely.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32- Let's talk dimensions then. - But...- But?
0:13:32 > 0:13:34It's not very...
0:13:34 > 0:13:37It's not quite the garden we were looking for, to be honest.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41I was tempted to not say anything, but I am here to help you,
0:13:41 > 0:13:43and there is no garage here.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45No, that's what we're looking at.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49There's the opportunity here, I think, to put something to the side.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52- Would we be allowed?- You'd need to check with your local planners...
0:13:52 > 0:13:55- Yeah.- ..but other properties do have them here.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59- There's plenty of room at the side. Definitely.- Now, can you make the garden work?
0:13:59 > 0:14:02We can make the garden work, and I think, south-facing,
0:14:02 > 0:14:05looking at a meadow, that is just a bonus.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07- It's lovely, isn't it?- It is nice.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10And there's another bonus to this house just a short distance away.
0:14:10 > 0:14:13This place could be ideal for Anne to take her dog
0:14:13 > 0:14:16on those long walks.
0:14:16 > 0:14:22Now, every owner of a house on this exclusive development gets
0:14:22 > 0:14:28a key to this gate, which gives you direct access to a public footpath.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33- So it's dog-walking paradise!- Yeah! - Right on your door step.- Fabulous.
0:14:33 > 0:14:34So...
0:14:34 > 0:14:36- Oh, wow!- You seem quite emotional!
0:14:36 > 0:14:39I am. I am, actually, cos I kept thinking,
0:14:39 > 0:14:42"They won't find anything we want."
0:14:42 > 0:14:45I really had that feeling that we were just sort of, perhaps,
0:14:45 > 0:14:49being, I don't know, so defensive in a way.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51- Right, OK.- Do you know what I mean?
0:14:51 > 0:14:54- Yeah, yeah.- We're defensive of what we've got, what we've had,
0:14:54 > 0:14:57but that is just amazing, isn't it? It is amazing.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01Well, who wants to go first at trying to price this house?
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Oh, it's got to be top of our bracket, hasn't it?
0:15:04 > 0:15:07- I'd have thought so. - Yeah. I'd have said, 360?- 360.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10- Phil?- 345.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13Oh, he's looking for a deal! Well, not a bad guess.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17- It's on the market for offers around £350,000.- Really?- Yeah.
0:15:17 > 0:15:22- So look...- I'm staggered. - It's a very short walk to the house.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Go back to the house. Have a look around the house.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29- I'll catch you later on. - All right, thank you. - See you in a bit.- Yeah, lovely.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35Hitting their maximum budget of £350,000,
0:15:35 > 0:15:39this property delivers on many of Phil and Anne's demands.
0:15:39 > 0:15:43It has three bedrooms, enough space for the family to stay.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46A study which could be used to house that piano.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48A big kitchen for entertaining,
0:15:48 > 0:15:52and a low-maintenance garden with room to build a garage.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55This is a beautiful house. It has everything we would want.
0:15:55 > 0:16:02The space, the smooth lines... everything beautiful for the family.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06But I think the thing that just blew me away was the meadow.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08That was stunning.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12I think the house is certainly nothing like we expected it to be. It's really attractive.
0:16:12 > 0:16:19The room sizes downstairs are probably just spot on for what we're looking for.
0:16:19 > 0:16:24- All done inside?- Yes, thank you. - Plenty of time to discuss things? - Yeah, we discussed it all.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27- Excellent. All right then, onto the next one.- Lovely.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36Earlier in the week, we found somewhere for keen swimmer Anne
0:16:36 > 0:16:40to indulge in her favourite hobby in a unique way.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44We sent her and Phil to the South Cambridgeshire village of Grantchester.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46Set on the River Granta, it once provided the backdrop
0:16:46 > 0:16:51to a set of literary friends known as the Grantchester Group.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53They were led by the poet, Rupert Brooke,
0:16:53 > 0:16:56renowned for his war poems such as 'The Soldier' and 'The Dead'.
0:16:56 > 0:17:01Brooke was a lodger at the Orchard tea rooms in 1909,
0:17:01 > 0:17:04and now has a museum dedicated to to his memory here.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08One of the group's favourite activities, apart from taking tea,
0:17:08 > 0:17:11was going for a dip in the wild open water of the river.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14And that's what Anne is having a go at today.
0:17:14 > 0:17:20Open water swimming instructor Ed Williams is about to give her her first lesson in wild swimming.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26- Hello.- I'm Ed.- I'm Anne. - Anne.- I'm Phil.- Hello, Phil.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28I'll be teaching you open water swimming.
0:17:28 > 0:17:31I teach swimming pretty much six days a week.
0:17:31 > 0:17:36And open water is great fun. I'll teach you exactly how to do it, all the things to avoid,
0:17:36 > 0:17:39all the things that will help you in the water,
0:17:39 > 0:17:42the safety elements of it as well, which are very important.
0:17:42 > 0:17:48- So when you're ready, shall we go and get changed? - I'm looking forward to it!
0:17:48 > 0:17:55In the early 1900s, Britain was awash with lidos and outdoor swimming clubs.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58But the trend died off with the emergence of indoor pools.
0:17:58 > 0:18:03However, the urge to reconnect with our surroundings is on the increase.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06Founded in 2006, the Outdoor Swimming Society
0:18:06 > 0:18:10is a 4,000-strong organisation of wild swimmers,
0:18:10 > 0:18:16which aims to encourage people to swim safely in a variety of rivers, lakes and the sea.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19- How are you temperature-wise, Anne? - I'm getting cooler.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23One of the important things about open water swimming, keep moving,
0:18:23 > 0:18:26and keep under the water where possible.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29- The more continuously you swim, the warmer you'll be.- Right, OK.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33Technically, the faster you swim, the warmer you'll be, the muscles keep moving.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36- Yeah, OK. - Shall we have a go?- Yeah.- Excellent.
0:18:36 > 0:18:41Choosing where to swim relies more on common sense than set guidelines.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44But there are some general rules you should follow.
0:18:44 > 0:18:48Beware of tidal conditions. And if there's been a lot of rain, watch out for strong currents.
0:18:48 > 0:18:54You should also check that there are suitable entry and exit points to where you're swimming.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57And as a beginner, never swim alone.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00The River Granta is the historic name of the River Cam,
0:19:00 > 0:19:03which had its name changed in Norman times
0:19:03 > 0:19:06when the city it flows through first became known as Cambridge.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08It's is only upstream here in Grantchester
0:19:08 > 0:19:12that its original name has been retained.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15- What's it like in there? - It's lovely.- Beautiful!
0:19:15 > 0:19:18LAUGHTER
0:19:18 > 0:19:22- A bit chilly.- A bit chilly. It's OK once you're out!
0:19:22 > 0:19:26So what better way to finish their journey than with a cream tea
0:19:26 > 0:19:30in Grantchester's famous English tea room.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33- Back in the river after this?- No. No, that's it for today.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37- But I shall do it again.- I'll do a bit more watching as well!
0:19:37 > 0:19:39Will you?!
0:19:39 > 0:19:45Meanwhile, back on dry land, the search for their perfect Cambridgeshire home continues.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54We've travelled just over five miles west of St Ives
0:19:54 > 0:19:57to the pretty village of Upton, which has numerous thatched homes
0:19:57 > 0:20:00and a convenient local pub.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03And house number two has something in common with our first property,
0:20:03 > 0:20:06in that it was built just eight years ago.
0:20:06 > 0:20:12- What are your thoughts? - Well, it's quite similar in style to the previous property.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15I think the timber at the front porch.
0:20:15 > 0:20:19- And the rendered facade.- Yeah. And the three windows.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23- And actually, I do like the entrance. I rather like that.- Good.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26- It's almost chapel-like.- Yes, maybe.
0:20:26 > 0:20:30- But I quite like that.- OK.- Nice entrance.- Let's look inside.- OK.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32The outside seems to have impressed them.
0:20:32 > 0:20:37And I've got a feeling the space inside will be just what they're looking for.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39So in you come.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43- Nice big reception hall, isn't it? - Mm, it's lovely. Yeah.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45- That is nice. I like the staircase. - Very nice.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49And it actually sort of sets the scenery, doesn't it?
0:20:49 > 0:20:54Picking up on what you said in the first house, you said the downstairs the most important part to you.
0:20:54 > 0:20:59You have got loads of space here. You've got one reception room there, which we'll look at in a moment.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02You've got another room here, you've got one there,
0:21:02 > 0:21:06- which could be something else. I know you like the kitchen.- Yeah.
0:21:06 > 0:21:11- Take a look at this beauty. - Oh my goodness!
0:21:11 > 0:21:15Oh! That's lovely, isn't it?
0:21:15 > 0:21:21- That's a beautiful kitchen.- Yeah. - And the hub of the house in a way.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24This is where it all happens, really.
0:21:24 > 0:21:29- Just through there, at the moment that's an office. They use the front room as a dining room.- Yeah.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33But just off here, I thought that would make a great dining room.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36Well, it lends itself to that, really. And practically it does.
0:21:36 > 0:21:43Wow! It's... it's much more magnificent than I'd thought of.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46These are the kitchens other people have.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49- Often who don't cook!- Wow! Well!
0:21:49 > 0:21:53- Yeah.- So happy so far? - Oh, that's amazing.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56Well, it looks like I've found Anne's dream kitchen.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59Let's see if she and Phil feel at home in the sitting room.
0:21:59 > 0:22:04Is this where you'll keep the piano, knowing you've got loads of reception rooms?
0:22:04 > 0:22:07We tend not to keep the piano in the lounge.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09- You've got choices here. - Oh, so many.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12I know you don't want to be rattling around the house.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14I don't think you would feel like you were.
0:22:14 > 0:22:15No, cos they're all quite cosy.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17And it's so interesting,
0:22:17 > 0:22:22cos the house has got the character of a much older property, hasn't it?
0:22:22 > 0:22:23- It has.- The skirting boards,
0:22:23 > 0:22:26- just the...- Chimney breast.- Yeah.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29Everything has that feeling that it could have been here much longer.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33I'm very happy with your reactions, because at the start,
0:22:33 > 0:22:36you seemed a little quieter, but you seem to be warming up to it.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39- It's a nice house.- Yeah, it's just getting into it, isn't it?
0:22:39 > 0:22:44- That impact from the outside is not the same as the last one. - No.- The impact.- No. Sure.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48But once you come through the door, it's a different world.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Well, I'm here to make your decisions hard. In a good way.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55- Right?- All right.- Let's go and have a look at the bedrooms, shall we?- OK.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59On the first floor, there are two spare bedrooms
0:22:59 > 0:23:00and a family bathroom.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03But we're having a look at what could be their room.
0:23:03 > 0:23:07This master has its own en suite. Doorway's just through there.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11- Good size, though, isn't it?- Yeah. - It's better than good, really.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14Plenty of storage, plenty of space around.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16That's excellent for a master bedroom.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19- This is further away from your friends, of course.- Yes.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22North of your radius, if you like.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26A bit further away from your family, I suppose, as well,
0:23:26 > 0:23:28but you've got real room to put them up.
0:23:28 > 0:23:29- Lovely big rooms.- Yeah.- Good.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32Let's get outside, have a look at the garden -
0:23:32 > 0:23:34gardens are make or break at the moment, aren't they?
0:23:34 > 0:23:37- They are, really. - See what you think of that.
0:23:37 > 0:23:41Outside, there are fantastic views of the surrounding fields
0:23:41 > 0:23:43and a Mediterranean-style garden,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46which shouldn't prove too much work to maintain.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50Now, different areas for this garden, I suppose.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54What do you think you'd want to do with this garden? Is it big enough?
0:23:56 > 0:23:58- I wish I hadn't asked that now!- No!
0:23:59 > 0:24:02Oh! I'll have to think...
0:24:02 > 0:24:08- I mean, it's not an unrealistic size, and we could make it something.- Yeah.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11OK. Well, look,
0:24:11 > 0:24:13let's try and price it.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17- Who wants to go first?- 320. - 320? Straight in! OK.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21I would go a bit more, you see. 340, I think, I'll go this time.
0:24:21 > 0:24:22It's yours.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Pulled it back! It's yours(!)
0:24:24 > 0:24:29- It's on the market for offers in excess of £350,000.- Oh, right. OK.
0:24:30 > 0:24:35But your offer of 320 speaks volumes in how you've reacted to this house
0:24:35 > 0:24:37as against the first house.
0:24:37 > 0:24:38Why is that?
0:24:38 > 0:24:43Mainly based on its isolation in terms of the amenities.
0:24:43 > 0:24:46The house is tremendous inside in terms of space.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49Both of you had fantastic reactions inside the house.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52- But it's the whole package we're after.- That's right.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54So go back inside the house,
0:24:54 > 0:24:56have a good look around and I'll catch you later on.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58- All right.- OK? See you in a bit.- OK.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03Priced at the top end of their budget,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06this property gives them everything they need.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08It has a huge amount of living space downstairs,
0:25:08 > 0:25:10so they'll be spoilt for choice
0:25:10 > 0:25:12about where to put the piano,
0:25:12 > 0:25:14a big kitchen for entertaining,
0:25:14 > 0:25:15four bedrooms -
0:25:15 > 0:25:17enough for all of the family to stay -
0:25:17 > 0:25:19a reasonably-sized garden,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22and a garage for Phil's DIY projects.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26A smashing house in terms of its architectural design.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30Some of the detailing around the joinery etc really give it
0:25:30 > 0:25:32a traditional feel.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34Very well-proportioned rooms.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38This house is very different to the previous house we looked at.
0:25:38 > 0:25:45It has been so beautifully designed, with great thought.
0:25:45 > 0:25:50I can't really fault it other than, for us, it's big. Very big.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54- Happy? All done?- Happy. All done.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57- A few more rooms to look around this time?- Oh, definitely.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59- Much bigger place.- Yeah, it is.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01Hopefully something to think about tonight.
0:26:01 > 0:26:05- More to think about than the other one, I think. - Really? The plot thickens!
0:26:05 > 0:26:07Let's go.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20As the evening draws in over the Cambridgeshire countryside,
0:26:20 > 0:26:23it marks the end of day one of our property search.
0:26:27 > 0:26:31Retired couple Phil and Anne are looking to move from Bedfordshire
0:26:31 > 0:26:35over the boarder to Cambridgeshire, to be closer to their daughter.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38The houses so far have certainly impressed them,
0:26:38 > 0:26:42but still to come, the mystery property leaves them speechless.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46Wow! Oh...!
0:26:46 > 0:26:49And I find out about the Polish ponies who are proving
0:26:49 > 0:26:51invaluable to the fence.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58St Ives is obviously your key location and you've got
0:26:58 > 0:27:00- a radius around that.- Yeah.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03If your children and grandchildren weren't in St Ives,
0:27:03 > 0:27:06where would you like to be, do you think?
0:27:06 > 0:27:09Well, the east side of the country is our favourite, really.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11Is it? Why's that?
0:27:11 > 0:27:14My parents lived in Norfolk, and as a child, we came to Norfolk
0:27:14 > 0:27:19every year for a holiday, always up to the north Norfolk coast.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24I love it. I love it for its ruggedness, as much as anything.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28OK, that's interesting.
0:27:28 > 0:27:29Well, that's good,
0:27:29 > 0:27:32as we're headed for the east coast for our third property.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34We're travelling over the boarder into Norfolk,
0:27:34 > 0:27:39around 25 miles north of St Ives, just outside their search area.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43The mystery house is a magnificent converted chapel,
0:27:43 > 0:27:47situated a little off the beaten track near the tiny Fenland village
0:27:47 > 0:27:48of Terrington, St John.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52Now, we are, I admit, around an hour away form your target area
0:27:52 > 0:27:55around St Ives, which is the big gamble that we've made.
0:27:55 > 0:28:01- Right.- And we've made that gamble because...we found this.
0:28:01 > 0:28:06- Which is quite something, isn't it? - What is it?- It's a chapel.
0:28:06 > 0:28:12- It's a chapel, is it?- Yeah! 1870? - Yep.- My mum would have loved this.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15- Would she?- Yeah, she would.
0:28:15 > 0:28:20It's amazing. It is amazing. That's fantastic.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22I'm intrigued to see what they've done.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24The inside is even more spectacular
0:28:24 > 0:28:28than the exterior, so I think they're going to find it quite
0:28:28 > 0:28:31breathtaking once they step through the door.
0:28:31 > 0:28:32So, in we come.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41- Wow! Oh! Goodness!- They've done a lot of work in here, haven't they?
0:28:41 > 0:28:44- Goodness!- They've done a lot of work.
0:28:44 > 0:28:48Come right in. You've got two reception rooms, or two bedrooms,
0:28:48 > 0:28:51but walk to here and it opens up.
0:28:51 > 0:28:56Oh, that's lovely! Oh, my goodness!
0:28:56 > 0:28:58Is that what you were expecting?
0:28:58 > 0:29:02No. I don't know what I expected, really.
0:29:02 > 0:29:06Actually, most probably I was thinking it would be more wood,
0:29:06 > 0:29:12- lots of wood.- There's a Mediterranean feel, it feels...- Yes, very much.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15And I think the light is the thing. Just the detail.
0:29:15 > 0:29:20It's quite an exciting house. You just want to keep looking.
0:29:20 > 0:29:22Well, let's keep looking around.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25I think you will enjoy this house. Follow me.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30I'll let them discover the kitchen for themselves later on,
0:29:30 > 0:29:35but I'm interested in seeing what they think of the sitting-room.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39Oh, isn't that...? I don't want to say the word nice.
0:29:40 > 0:29:42- That's very interesting. - Very clever.
0:29:42 > 0:29:46Nice, cosy place to sit, read the paper, have coffee.
0:29:46 > 0:29:48I like the way they've set it out -
0:29:48 > 0:29:51you can see that it can be lived in really comfortably.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54Lots of clever architectural design gone into this.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57Lots of sympathetic design.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00It's certainly different.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03If you like different, wait till you see upstairs.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06The upstairs really makes the most
0:30:06 > 0:30:10of the original feature windows of this converted chapel.
0:30:10 > 0:30:15The use of the huge amount of space is phenomenal. I can't wait to see their reaction.
0:30:17 > 0:30:22I'm going to look down and then look up.
0:30:22 > 0:30:23My goodness!
0:30:27 > 0:30:30SHE SIGHS It's just amazing!
0:30:30 > 0:30:32isn't that fabulous?
0:30:32 > 0:30:35And this must be original flooring?
0:30:35 > 0:30:39These floorboards are from downstairs, they've been brought up.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41That area, they call that the day area. The daybed.
0:30:41 > 0:30:44- It doesn't have to be a formal bedroom.- Yes, lounge-y.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48I mean, it'd be a shame if you did it... Oh, she's off, look.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50- Oh, sorry!- It's all right.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53You could always put stud partition walls up there.
0:30:53 > 0:30:57But if you look at how you'd have this as your house practically,
0:30:57 > 0:30:59you only want a three-bedroom house.
0:30:59 > 0:31:03You've got two bedrooms downstairs, you can keep that as it is.
0:31:03 > 0:31:06- What a treat.- Yes, it's lovely.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08That is so lovely.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12- I've never seen anything like it. - Let me show you the master bedroom.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15That's more normal, if you like,
0:31:15 > 0:31:18- but I still think it's a lovely room.- Right, OK.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26So, master bedroom.
0:31:26 > 0:31:30- That's cosy. - Yeah, it's not a bad size,
0:31:30 > 0:31:32but compared to the rest of the house, it is cosy!
0:31:32 > 0:31:35It's cosy, but it's not too small.
0:31:35 > 0:31:39You've still got space either side and space to walk in. So it's not...
0:31:39 > 0:31:43- Is that storage in there?- Storage space going into the eaves that way.
0:31:43 > 0:31:48- There's some that way. There's an ensuite that side.- Yeah, I like it.
0:31:48 > 0:31:49Again, I like it.
0:31:49 > 0:31:53And it doesn't look as if it's something that you couldn't maintain.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55You've been very vocal in this house.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57You've always been the heart.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01Phil, you are the head. Now, I know you're impressed by the design.
0:32:01 > 0:32:06- I am.- But let's talk about this as a home for you guys.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08Is it, could it be?
0:32:08 > 0:32:10I'm sure it could be for Anne.
0:32:10 > 0:32:15So while Anne seems to have lost her heart to this house,
0:32:15 > 0:32:19Phil is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21Maybe the gardens will help swing their decision.
0:32:21 > 0:32:25Come right round to see the garden properly.
0:32:25 > 0:32:29Probably needs cutting back a little bit, to your taste.
0:32:29 > 0:32:33- But plenty of beds. - Yeah, plenty of space.- Good size?
0:32:33 > 0:32:37- It is a good size, actually, for what we...- It's wide
0:32:37 > 0:32:39and although it's not that deep...
0:32:39 > 0:32:42- it's medium width and, overall, it's a good-sized area.- Yes, it is.
0:32:42 > 0:32:47Now's the difficult time for you because you've got to price it.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49It's quite a bit out of your target area.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52It's a new area, let's face it.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55How much do you think it's on the market for?
0:32:55 > 0:32:57I don't think we can afford it.
0:32:58 > 0:33:03- 375. I think...- Yeah.- £375,000.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07£375,000.
0:33:07 > 0:33:08£375,000.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11OK, well...
0:33:11 > 0:33:14I would have gone with Phil, really.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17- I think it's out of our bracket, 375.- Well, it's on the market
0:33:17 > 0:33:20- for £325,000.- No!
0:33:20 > 0:33:22- Is it?- Yeah.
0:33:22 > 0:33:23I could hug you!
0:33:26 > 0:33:27Go on, then.
0:33:27 > 0:33:30I can't believe that!
0:33:30 > 0:33:33- Can you believe that?- No.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36Difference in opinion here -
0:33:36 > 0:33:40there's practicality here and the heart, the emotional side, here.
0:33:40 > 0:33:42It's something you guys have got to go and do now.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45Go and have a look around the house, have a good natter,
0:33:45 > 0:33:49and when we go away from here, you need to have a good chat as well.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52But go and have a peek at the kitchen. It's...
0:33:52 > 0:33:55- I like it, let's see if you do. - All right.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57All right, then, catch you in a bit.
0:33:59 > 0:34:03This has certainly set the cat well amongst the pigeons.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05Yes, of course, it's way outside their target area.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08I was very unsure myself when I pulled up outside.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11But when you walk around this house,
0:34:11 > 0:34:14and I hope this comes across through the camera lens,
0:34:14 > 0:34:15it is somewhere quite special.
0:34:15 > 0:34:21It's homely, it's design-led and it's like nothing I've seen before.
0:34:22 > 0:34:26Well within their budget at £325,000,
0:34:26 > 0:34:31this superbly characterful property has everything they want and more.
0:34:42 > 0:34:44Oh, this house is absolutely amazing.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47The fact that we've moved over the border to Norfolk is,
0:34:47 > 0:34:49you know...
0:34:49 > 0:34:52further than we'd anticipated coming,
0:34:52 > 0:34:55but I think you would come to live somewhere like this.
0:35:02 > 0:35:06- It's different, innit? - Yes, again, very practical.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08Yeah, very clean lines.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10There is a difference of opinion
0:35:10 > 0:35:13between Anna and myself over this property.
0:35:13 > 0:35:18She can see the romance of the place and has visions of us living here.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22I'm more conventional in my aspirations and do find it difficult
0:35:22 > 0:35:26to see myself living here. She may well talk me round
0:35:26 > 0:35:31to her way of thinking, which she often does.
0:35:35 > 0:35:37I thought there might be an argument in there.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40We all got on well in that house, but I sense a difference of opinion.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43Let's find out, let's have a chat.
0:35:53 > 0:35:57Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire is one of the few natural wetlands
0:35:57 > 0:36:02left in Britain and one of Europe's most important areas of its type,
0:36:02 > 0:36:06supporting an abundance of wildlife. But it's currently too small
0:36:06 > 0:36:09to provide a sustainable home for many of them.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11To help rare species become established,
0:36:11 > 0:36:14they need more space to expand their territories
0:36:14 > 0:36:17and they need the right sort of habitat to help them thrive.
0:36:17 > 0:36:22Wicken Fen has been owned by the National Trust since 1899,
0:36:22 > 0:36:27but over recent years, there has been a unique project known as the Wicken Fen Vision,
0:36:27 > 0:36:31an ambitious conservation venture aimed at opening up new areas of land to explore.
0:36:31 > 0:36:35I'm meeting Carol Laidlaw to find out more.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38Essentially, it's a 100-year plan
0:36:38 > 0:36:42to create a 5,300-hectare nature reserve,
0:36:42 > 0:36:46stretching from Wicken Fen, the old fen, from there,
0:36:46 > 0:36:49- all the way down to Cambridge. - That's huge.- It is.
0:36:49 > 0:36:56Wicken Fen is a tiny, tiny remnant of what used to be a very wide fen
0:36:56 > 0:36:58that used to cover most of East Anglia.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01East Anglia used to be covered in 99.9% of fenland.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03Now, it's less than 0.1%.
0:37:03 > 0:37:07Wicken Fen is just a tiny section of that. It's just preserving
0:37:07 > 0:37:11and giving the tiny little fragment we've got left
0:37:11 > 0:37:14a chance to breathe and a chance, possibly,
0:37:14 > 0:37:18to expand onto new land as we slowly increase the size of the reserve.
0:37:18 > 0:37:21- This scheme has been going for how long?- 10 years now.- 10 years.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24- And it's a 100-year scheme?- Yes.
0:37:24 > 0:37:26What's happened over the last 10 years?
0:37:26 > 0:37:29Essentially, we've managed to double in size.
0:37:29 > 0:37:30How have you done that?
0:37:30 > 0:37:34- Have you been gifted land, have you bought it?- We've bought it.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37Yes, we've been able to buy land. As local farmers have decided
0:37:37 > 0:37:40they're finding it too difficult to farm this area
0:37:40 > 0:37:44or they want to move on to somewhere else, the land has come up for sale
0:37:44 > 0:37:48and we've been in the fortunate position to be able to buy it.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52The fenland is maintained by some very unusual landscape engineers,
0:37:52 > 0:37:54ones with four legs to be precise.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58These are grazing herds of an exotic breed called the Konik pony.
0:37:58 > 0:38:02- There's a lot of them. How many have you got?- 49.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06First obvious question, where do they come from?
0:38:06 > 0:38:10They are an Eastern European breed of horse. They come from Poland,
0:38:10 > 0:38:12that's their origin.
0:38:12 > 0:38:16Why these, why not a normal pony or even Shetlands?
0:38:16 > 0:38:21These guys are the best suited for the job that we want them to do.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24We do get asked a lot, "Why don't you use one of the British natives?"
0:38:24 > 0:38:28And the simple answer is that they're all heathland and upland specialists.
0:38:28 > 0:38:30That's what they've adapted to be.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34The Konik, which means horse in Polish, is a short, stocky breed
0:38:34 > 0:38:39that's ideally suited to all-year-round wetland grazing.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41It's a close relative of the Tarpan,
0:38:41 > 0:38:46a wild horse that lived in prehistoric time and became extinct in the early 20th century.
0:38:46 > 0:38:50If you just look to the small group over there, to our right,
0:38:50 > 0:38:54- see the tiny little foal just fresh born this morning?- Just this morning?
0:38:54 > 0:38:56Nature always amazes me.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59- Just how quickly newborns are up and about.- Yes.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02- Within 30 minutes.- They're obviously a very hardy species.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05- Yes.- Is that one of the reasons why you chose the Konik pony?
0:39:05 > 0:39:08- Very definitely. - Look at this pair here.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10Yes, just squaring off to each other.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13All part of the social interaction we get with these groups.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17- What exactly is their role here? - Through their social interactions
0:39:17 > 0:39:20and their behaviour and the fact they move around as a herd
0:39:20 > 0:39:24and the way they use the land, they will help,
0:39:24 > 0:39:27along with the Highland cattle, to create a mosaic of habitats.
0:39:27 > 0:39:31There'll be short-grazed lawns, medium-length grasses,
0:39:31 > 0:39:34up to scrub and woodland in the end.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37Because of the way they move around and use the land,
0:39:37 > 0:39:39this will slowly shift over time.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42So the mosaics will change.
0:39:42 > 0:39:46Not in human terms in five or ten years, but possibly over a longer term,
0:39:46 > 0:39:49we will get the gradual change in the landscape
0:39:49 > 0:39:52- and that is the key thing for us. - I see.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55'With the help of the Konik ponies in reshaping the fen landscape,
0:39:55 > 0:39:59'the National Trust aims to make this area of Cambridge
0:39:59 > 0:40:02'grow into an exceptional place to sustain wildlife.'
0:40:08 > 0:40:12A unique UK landscape. And those Konik ponies are quite something.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15It's now time to meet up with Phil and Anne again
0:40:15 > 0:40:19and find out their thoughts on the three properties we've shown them.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27- So, how have you enjoyed the whole process?- Really enjoyed it.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30- Yes, it's been fabulous. - Let's start at the beginning.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32The first property,
0:40:32 > 0:40:36- were you expecting to see a house of that type?- No.
0:40:36 > 0:40:41- We weren't.- Not at all. The open plan was a surprise and I like that.
0:40:41 > 0:40:46The back garden was south facing, albeit small, but the meadow behind was yummy.
0:40:46 > 0:40:52- All our asks, I think, were there, apart from the garage.- Yeah.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55In the afternoon, we looked at a similarly aged house.
0:40:55 > 0:40:59It was almost like our house at the moment,
0:40:59 > 0:41:01but bigger. Much bigger.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04It was probably too big for us, just the two of us,
0:41:04 > 0:41:08with occasional visitors. But wouldn't have been too big
0:41:08 > 0:41:1010 or 15 years ago.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12It would've been an ideal size.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14And then came the mystery house.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17It was a massive gamble taking you that far out,
0:41:17 > 0:41:20but when we got to the destination,
0:41:20 > 0:41:24we were met with quite a different property, weren't we?
0:41:24 > 0:41:29- Amazing.- Different, yes.- In every way.- It took us totally by surprise.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32It was a very well designed property.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34A lot of vision had gone into it.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38And I love the use of the original oak floorboards.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40The parts of the chapel
0:41:40 > 0:41:44that they had actually integrated into the building were just...
0:41:44 > 0:41:46Well, it was just amazing.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48I've only given you a small amount of time
0:41:48 > 0:41:55to think things over, have you been able to come to any decision on what your favourite house might be?
0:41:55 > 0:41:58Mine is the mystery house.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00OK. No big surprises there.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05- Mine would be the first one. - The first one?
0:42:05 > 0:42:10- Even without the garage? - That could be overcome, hopefully.
0:42:10 > 0:42:11Right, OK.
0:42:11 > 0:42:13So what's the next step, then?
0:42:13 > 0:42:18Well, we're actually going back to our daughter, you know, soon
0:42:18 > 0:42:21and she was the...
0:42:21 > 0:42:25she and her family were the people that were keen for us,
0:42:25 > 0:42:28and we were keen, to come and live near them.
0:42:28 > 0:42:32I think what would be good - and we haven't had a chance to talk about this properly yet -
0:42:32 > 0:42:36would be to take them to see both properties.
0:42:36 > 0:42:39So you can put it in the hands of other people to make the decision!
0:42:39 > 0:42:43No, and give... To say, "What do you think?"
0:42:44 > 0:42:47- Don't you think that would be good? - It would be interesting, yeah.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49Please let us know what you're up to.
0:42:49 > 0:42:54- But good luck with whatever you do. - Thank you.- Thanks for your help.
0:42:57 > 0:43:01I'm always relieved when the couple tell us they have a favourite.
0:43:01 > 0:43:06Just in this instance, they each have a different favourite. In fact, they're in different counties.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09So I think it's very prudent of them to get their family involved.
0:43:09 > 0:43:14After all, it was the family that was the catalyst behind this big move to the countryside.
0:43:14 > 0:43:18So whichever they choose, I'm sure, just like me, you wish them the very best of luck.
0:43:18 > 0:43:20See you next time.
0:43:20 > 0:43:23If you'd like to escape to the country
0:43:23 > 0:43:27in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or England and need our help,
0:43:27 > 0:43:32please apply online at...
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