0:00:02 > 0:00:03This impressive-looking castle behind me
0:00:03 > 0:00:06houses one of the most important documents in British history.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10The touchstone for democracy around the world. What is it?
0:00:10 > 0:00:13And where am I? Find out in just a moment.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44'On today's show,
0:00:44 > 0:00:48'I'm helping a couple of retired expats say au revoir to France
0:00:48 > 0:00:52'as they search for a new home in the beautiful British countryside.
0:00:52 > 0:00:54'At one property, they can't help
0:00:54 > 0:00:57'but fall in love with this simply stunning kitchen.'
0:00:57 > 0:01:02- It took his breath away! - And it is lovely. It is magnificent.
0:01:02 > 0:01:06And it seems there's only one word to describe the mystery house.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09- Different!- It's different. - It is. Very different.
0:01:12 > 0:01:13Today we're in Lincolnshire
0:01:13 > 0:01:17and this red brick prison inside the mediaeval walls
0:01:17 > 0:01:20of Lincoln Castle holds one of the four original copies
0:01:20 > 0:01:25of Magna Carta, which King John was forced to put his seal to in 1215.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29The original document, which was signed by the Bishop of Lincoln,
0:01:29 > 0:01:33guarantees the right to a free trial, and equality before the law.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35And that included the King.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39And these are the underpinnings of our legal rights today.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42But it's not the only much-treasured thing in this county.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46Situated on the East Coast, Lincolnshire is England's
0:01:46 > 0:01:48second largest county
0:01:48 > 0:01:50and shares its eastern border with the North Sea
0:01:50 > 0:01:53and its western border with Nottinghamshire.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56Covering over 2,500 square miles,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59the expansive landscape is noted for its windmills
0:01:59 > 0:02:02that dot the horizon towards the south.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06The fens and agriculture here bear more than a passing resemblance
0:02:06 > 0:02:10to the Netherlands. But the county also has its uplands.
0:02:10 > 0:02:12In the north are at the Lincolnshire Wolds,
0:02:12 > 0:02:17whose chalk downs are a designated area of outstanding natural beauty
0:02:17 > 0:02:21and inspiration for the famed local poet, Alfred Lord Tennyson.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26The county town of Lincoln was originally a Roman settlement.
0:02:26 > 0:02:31Its historic and spectacular cathedral is 271 feet high
0:02:31 > 0:02:34and dates back to the 11th century.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Eminent Victorian writer John Ruskin once said it was
0:02:37 > 0:02:41the most precious piece of architecture in the British Isles.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46The cathedral may be dizzyingly high,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49but house prices in Lincolnshire are not.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53The average price for a detached house here is £167,000,
0:02:53 > 0:02:57which is 35% less than the national average.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Now, if you want to live in an area of outstanding natural beauty,
0:03:00 > 0:03:02like the Wolds, then you're going to pay more.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06But unlike the rest of England, if you head to the coast,
0:03:06 > 0:03:07you may get a bargain.
0:03:07 > 0:03:12And there's also a wide variety of architectural styles to choose from.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16Speaking geologically, Lincolnshire can be split across the middle.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19with the low lying fens of the south and the Wolds in the north.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22and the county's architecture follows suit.
0:03:22 > 0:03:26Local limestone predominates in the villages of the Wolds.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28Fine and slightly sandy in texture,
0:03:28 > 0:03:32its versatility means you'll find properties in all shapes and sizes
0:03:32 > 0:03:34such as this four-bedroom house in Thealby,
0:03:34 > 0:03:38which is on the market at just under half a million pounds.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41And there's also this beautiful two-bedroom grade two listed cottage
0:03:41 > 0:03:45in Scopwick, which is priced at £210,000.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Also in the north, you'll find houses in the distinctive ironstone,
0:03:49 > 0:03:52a blend of sandstone with iron oxides.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55If that appeals, then you might like this semi-detached
0:03:55 > 0:03:57three-bedroom house in Thealby,
0:03:57 > 0:03:59on the edge of the Wolds.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02It could be yours for £315,000.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04Head south, and you'll see
0:04:04 > 0:04:08where the Georgian and Victorian developers have left their mark.
0:04:08 > 0:04:10The legacy of the local brickyards around Louth
0:04:10 > 0:04:12lives on in the surrounding houses.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15This six-bedroomed grade two listed home
0:04:15 > 0:04:16is currently on the market
0:04:16 > 0:04:18at £450,000.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23A great variety of different building styles
0:04:23 > 0:04:24here in Lincolnshire,
0:04:24 > 0:04:28but are they enough to lure our house buyers back from abroad?
0:04:28 > 0:04:29Let's meet them.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31After their retirement, six years ago,
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Terry and Judith upped sticks from their house in Scotland
0:04:34 > 0:04:37to live in what was previously their holiday home in France.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41But now, their thoughts have turned to a future back in the UK,
0:04:41 > 0:04:44and the opportunity to spend time with their family.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47They recently arrived at this British hotel,
0:04:47 > 0:04:50so they can start their country house search.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Well, we haven't done this lightly.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56- We thought about it for perhaps 18 months, haven't we?- Yes.
0:04:56 > 0:05:01About, you know, the benefits of living in the UK as opposed to
0:05:01 > 0:05:02living in France
0:05:02 > 0:05:04'and what things we could get out of it.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06'What's better for us as we get older.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09'We visit my family more than anything.
0:05:09 > 0:05:10'My cousin, whom I'm very close to,'
0:05:10 > 0:05:12her daughter, just four years ago,
0:05:12 > 0:05:16had a little girl and we don't see as much of her as we'd like to see.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19And she's, you know, she's one of the reasons.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22And just being able to see the family.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Their current property is a four-bedroom,
0:05:24 > 0:05:28timber-framed build set in the north east of France.
0:05:28 > 0:05:29And even though they'll miss it,
0:05:29 > 0:05:32they're convinced now is the perfect time for a change.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36It's really hard to think about leaving it,
0:05:36 > 0:05:40because we have become very attached to it.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44But we've got to face facts, that it is too big for us.
0:05:44 > 0:05:48At the moment, we just live on one level. On the lower level.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51- And that is sufficient just for the two of us.- It is.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55It would be ideal to be able to take the lower level from France
0:05:55 > 0:05:59and put it somewhere in England, and that would be ideal for us!
0:05:59 > 0:06:00Unfortunately, we can't do that!
0:06:01 > 0:06:05With their roots in Yorkshire, specifically the town of Rotherham,
0:06:05 > 0:06:08they're looking for good access from their chosen county,
0:06:08 > 0:06:11which is just one of the reasons for choosing Lincolnshire.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13I think the other thing about Lincolnshire, also,
0:06:13 > 0:06:16is the fact that it's really got good produce.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21I like cooking, so obviously, I'm always looking at things like that.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24And along with a large kitchen for Judith to create in,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27there's something else that will definitely be on their wish list
0:06:27 > 0:06:29for their new home.
0:06:29 > 0:06:34I mean, for me, the most exciting thing would be open fireplaces.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Or even a...
0:06:37 > 0:06:41The opportunity to actually put in a wood-burning stove.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45Yes, a wood-burning stove. An inglenook would be great.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48But, you know, that's everybody's dream, so, I don't know.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50But that would be it for me.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Since retiring, Terry and Judith have travelled throughout France
0:06:53 > 0:06:55and Britain in their caravan,
0:06:55 > 0:06:58and they'll be continuing to explore on their return.
0:06:58 > 0:07:03Since we took up caravanning, it's definitely changed my idea about it.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07Because I'd never done it before. And I've really, really enjoyed it.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09We've visited lots of places,
0:07:09 > 0:07:14places that I never thought we'd ever get to visit in the UK.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16And the beauty of it is, you can stay for a few days,
0:07:16 > 0:07:18or you can stay for a few weeks.
0:07:18 > 0:07:22With a return to the UK housing market, it's of course pounds
0:07:22 > 0:07:25and not euros that will decide their finances.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29The budget for our move is £300,000.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Terry and Judith would like to be within easy reach
0:07:40 > 0:07:43of the A1 for convenient access to family in Rotherham in Yorkshire
0:07:43 > 0:07:45and also for return trips to France.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49So the west of Lincolnshire is their preferred area.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52I went to meet them at their rather grand local hotel,
0:07:52 > 0:07:56'to find out more about their expectations for their new British home.'
0:07:57 > 0:08:01- Welcome to Lincolnshire, you two. - Thank you.- All the way from France.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04How does it feel to be in the lovely English summer?
0:08:04 > 0:08:08- Not quite the same as in France! - I know, you've both got lovely tans.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11- We've had a little bit of good weather.- So, Lincoln is the goal.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15And the property, tell me what you're looking for in terms of the property.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19Something that's either two or perhaps three bedrooms.
0:08:19 > 0:08:24A lounge, a fairly large kitchen, and a smallish garden.
0:08:24 > 0:08:29- Somewhere that we can sit out. - Probably on the edge of a village.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31- Or in a small village.- Yes.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33And style-wise, what are you looking for?
0:08:33 > 0:08:37We'd like something cottagey, we don't mind low ceilings.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Beams, we like. An eat-in kitchen.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42I don't mind if it's a small living room,
0:08:42 > 0:08:47as long as it's got an open fire or a log burner.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51Well, so we've got a sort of two to three-bedroom cottage,
0:08:51 > 0:08:55- really, is that what you're looking for?- Yes.- So with some period feel?
0:08:55 > 0:08:59- If possible, yes. - But an eat-in kitchen.- That's right.
0:08:59 > 0:09:04- And what's your budget?- We're looking at £300,000.- Right. Good.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07Well, Lincolnshire has lots to offer.
0:09:07 > 0:09:09No time like the present, let's go.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14For their budget of £300,000,
0:09:14 > 0:09:16Terry and Judith are after a character home
0:09:16 > 0:09:20with a feature fireplace or wood burner, a large kitchen,
0:09:20 > 0:09:23a minimum of two bedrooms,
0:09:23 > 0:09:24a manageable garden,
0:09:24 > 0:09:28and a driveway big enough to park their caravan.
0:09:28 > 0:09:33We found three beautiful properties which we think will really fit the bill for our buyers.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35And at each one, I'll be asking them
0:09:35 > 0:09:37to guess the price before I reveal it.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39One, of course, will be our mystery house,
0:09:39 > 0:09:43which could prove to be something of a modern classic.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47But first, let's hit the road to property number one.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51We've made the journey five miles east of Lincoln
0:09:51 > 0:09:53to the quiet village of Fiskerton.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57And we're around 50 miles from Rotherham, for those family visits.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Fiskerton means "fisherman's town"
0:10:00 > 0:10:02and it was a fishing as well as farming village
0:10:02 > 0:10:06until the drainage of the Witham Fens in the 1780s.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09These days, its amenities include a village hall,
0:10:09 > 0:10:11which serves as a post office,
0:10:11 > 0:10:13a local shop for day-to-day necessities,
0:10:13 > 0:10:17and a hostelry for traditional pub grub.
0:10:17 > 0:10:19Our first property was once two houses,
0:10:19 > 0:10:23the original building dating back to the late 1700s,
0:10:23 > 0:10:26with the front part added in the late 1800s.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30In its past life, it was once a pub and also a post office,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33a clear sign of which you can still see today.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35Here we have it.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38- House number one.- Wow. It's lovely.
0:10:38 > 0:10:39- Quite interesting.- Yes, it is.
0:10:39 > 0:10:44- Really pretty.- On a road, but it's not too busy.- No. No.
0:10:44 > 0:10:46- A little bit of life to it.- Yes.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49- What are your thoughts from the outside?- It looks beautiful.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53- It's really nice.- A nice front to the house. It looks a welcoming house.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56- Good. Well, shall we have a peek inside?- Oh, yes, please.- OK.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59'The traditional frontage of this property is in contrast
0:10:59 > 0:11:02to the first room we'll see on the inside.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06So I'm hoping that Terry and Judith will appreciate the contemporary styling.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11Come on, straight into the kitchen.
0:11:11 > 0:11:12The back of the house.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15You always enter the house from the back in the countryside.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18- Oh, it's beautiful. It's really nice.- There's quite a change of gear
0:11:18 > 0:11:21- because it's very modern inside. - It is.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24It's modern, but it's warm-looking. It looks nice. I like it.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27- You wouldn't have to change it. - No, it's quite nice.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31- Well, you do have a very big utility room with all the white goods.- Yes.
0:11:31 > 0:11:36- So lots of space.- Which is ideal, yes.- And space to eat as well.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38I think it's beautiful. It's really nice.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41'The living space in this property is divided into summer'
0:11:41 > 0:11:43and winter rooms.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46The summer sitting room once housed the post office counter,
0:11:46 > 0:11:48and it's a beautiful light and spacious area
0:11:48 > 0:11:50with a decorative fireplace.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53But it's the winter sitting room that's about to deliver
0:11:53 > 0:11:57one of the key features on their wish list - a wood burner.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01So, yes, a winter sitting room.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04- Oh, very nice. - This is really quite nice.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08- Nice to have choice, isn't it? - It is. It's beautiful.
0:12:08 > 0:12:09I love the fireplace.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12So there's a potbellied sort of log burner there,
0:12:12 > 0:12:15- which will keep you nice and warm. - Yes. It's quite nice.
0:12:15 > 0:12:20- The double aspect windows is quite good.- Yeah, it is.
0:12:20 > 0:12:26Yeah, it's lovely. I mean, we're spoiled! I think this is quite nice.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28- There's plenty of options.- Really?
0:12:28 > 0:12:31Yes, because of the use of the property, for example,
0:12:31 > 0:12:33there's a beer cellar down below.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35And then there's stairs, if you go through this door,
0:12:35 > 0:12:38- there's stairs up which takes you up to three bedrooms.- Right.
0:12:38 > 0:12:40Or two bedrooms and one very small room.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44So you could either have that as a sort of guest wing.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47- But, your bedroom is at the back of the house.- Oh, right.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51- Up a different staircase. - Oh!- Follow me.- Right.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54'The route to the master bedroom is through a useful study,
0:12:54 > 0:12:57'which could be used as a quiet area for reading.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59'There's also a dining room,
0:12:59 > 0:13:03'which features another stunning fireplace that is sure to delight.
0:13:03 > 0:13:05'But it's time to see the room where our buyers
0:13:05 > 0:13:07'could be resting their heads.'
0:13:13 > 0:13:18So, up the back stairs, into, well, this is the main bedroom.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22Yeah, it's lovely. It's quite big.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24- Quite different.- Yes.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26Is it to the right sort of proportions for you?
0:13:26 > 0:13:29- It's big enough for us. Isn't it?- Yes.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32So you've come up into the roof of the old part of the building.
0:13:32 > 0:13:37You've got the beams. And then also, they've got this very nice en suite.
0:13:37 > 0:13:44- Oh! Oh, that's nice. - Big Jacuzzi bath.- Aha. Oh, gosh.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46It's ideal, it's perfect. Yes, I think it would work.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Well, that's pretty much all inside.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50I'll give you a chance to explore later on.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53But let's go outside and talk money.
0:13:53 > 0:13:56'Out here, the very manageable garden is mostly laid to lawn.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58'There's also a patio area
0:13:58 > 0:14:02'if they fancy doing a bit of outdoor entertaining.'
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Unusually, I mean, all the garden is at the front.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09But there is a big parking space, perfect for a caravan.
0:14:09 > 0:14:10Actually, it's perfect.
0:14:10 > 0:14:14At least you can get a car on there and it's quite handy to have.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17- And access to the back door, which is good.- So that's the tour complete.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21House number one. The one missing piece of information is the price.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23How much do you think it costs?
0:14:23 > 0:14:27Oh, it's quite a lot bigger than we expected.
0:14:27 > 0:14:32So I think you've got to be really looking at the top, 300,000,
0:14:32 > 0:14:35- at least.- What about you, Terry?
0:14:35 > 0:14:37I think it's quite near to the top of our budget.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41I would say it was somewhere round about 290,000.
0:14:41 > 0:14:46Well, I'm afraid that your wife was closer to the mark.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50- It's actually on at 299.- Really? - Oh!- I'm even surprised at that.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54- I thought it possibly could have been over.- Good.- So I'm quite pleased.
0:14:54 > 0:14:55That's good.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58So, we haven't actually explored all of it, so I'm going to give
0:14:58 > 0:15:01- you time to go and look at the upstairs and the front.- OK.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04And sort of see whether it's going to work for you.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07And then I'll see you out on the drive and we can press on.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09- That's lovely. Thank you very much. - In you go.- Thank you.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16Just under their top budget of £300,000, this house
0:15:16 > 0:15:20with a varied history meets all of Terry and Judith's demands.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24It has a large modern kitchen, a variety of feature fireplaces,
0:15:24 > 0:15:27four bedrooms, a manageable garden,
0:15:27 > 0:15:30and space to park the caravan.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33The outside of the property is really attractive. It looks really nice.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35It's in a nice position.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39A little bit near the road, but I think I could live with that.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42The bedrooms are quite different.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45Because you've got access through two staircases.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48I think I'd have to probably alter the stairs a little bit to
0:15:48 > 0:15:50make it a little bit easier to climb.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53The house is quite deceiving in the size of it.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56It's bigger than what I first expected from the front.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00We are looking to downsize, but I think it's a good size for us
0:16:00 > 0:16:02actually to downsize to.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05I think it's going to be nice for these guys to be a bit more
0:16:05 > 0:16:09embedded in the community, with a pub there and the church there.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12- It's a good spot. All right, all done?- Yes, thank you very much.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16- Very nice.- So, I'm going to whisk you off to the next property.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31Lincolnshire's farming heritage is rooted in the richness
0:16:31 > 0:16:33and versatility of its soil.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37And it's home to more grade one agricultural land than any
0:16:37 > 0:16:39other county in England.
0:16:39 > 0:16:44As a result, around 20% of the nation's food originates here
0:16:44 > 0:16:47with potatoes, wheat, poultry and cereals as prime examples,
0:16:47 > 0:16:51along with livestock like pigs, sheep and beef.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53In historic market towns
0:16:53 > 0:16:56such as Louth on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds,
0:16:56 > 0:16:59an array of thriving independent suppliers also produce
0:16:59 > 0:17:02and sell food to their local communities.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05As Judith is especially keen to find out more about the produce
0:17:05 > 0:17:09and recipes of the area, we arranged for her and Terry to get
0:17:09 > 0:17:13involved in the preparation of a local speciality pork dish.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16They'll be helping chef Rachael Green,
0:17:16 > 0:17:20whose family has been farming in Lincolnshire for 14 generations.
0:17:20 > 0:17:24OK, guys, let's come and make some Lincolnshire chine, shall we?
0:17:24 > 0:17:27- Have you had chine before? - No, never.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Well, I'm going to do this my grandma's way.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34Lincolnshire chine is a traditional, obviously, Lincolnshire dish.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36We always used to have it for sort of high days and holidays.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40So it's all about stuffing the chine with the parsley.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44Now, today, generally people put it into a roasting bag,
0:17:44 > 0:17:46and they roast it actually in the oven.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49But I'm going to do it a different way and I need your help, Terry.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52I'm going to make a crust, a flour and water crust,
0:17:52 > 0:17:55to seal the chine in, which actually cooks it,
0:17:55 > 0:17:58- sort of half steams it and half cooks it in the oven.- Oh, right.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01Terry, I'm going to get you here to mix some really good old
0:18:01 > 0:18:05Lincolnshire flour from one of the windmills with some water
0:18:05 > 0:18:08into a paste, so you get that consistency.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11- If you keep feeling that, you'll know.- OK.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14- Basically, chine is the old English word for backbone.- Oh, right.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17But these days, we use the shoulder. And you can see this...
0:18:17 > 0:18:22- It's a nice piece of shoulder.- With all that lovely fat gauge on it.
0:18:22 > 0:18:26OK, so the next thing we need to do is chop some of that parsley. OK?
0:18:26 > 0:18:28We want some stalk, but not too much.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30- And I'm going to make the slits, OK?- Right.
0:18:30 > 0:18:33- That parsley smells good, doesn't it?- It smells beautiful.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37Right, I'll open the slits, and you shove some parsley down. How's that?
0:18:37 > 0:18:40- Right, OK.- Don't be too delicate about it. Come and have a look here.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43That's got to be full, it's got to be packed.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45Got to go right to the end as well. Shove it right down.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48Right, our Judith, I need you to hold it like that.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51You can tell I'm from up north, can't you? "Our Judith"?!
0:18:51 > 0:18:53Right now, I'm going to tie this, obviously,
0:18:53 > 0:18:56so you need a long bit at the back and underneath.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58And now it's time to roll out the pastry
0:18:58 > 0:19:00that Terry's prepared for the crust,
0:19:00 > 0:19:04turning the dough regularly to keep it an even thickness.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07That will protect the meat as it cooks.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09And what we'll do, we'll wrap it in it
0:19:09 > 0:19:12and then we're going to cook it for about two and a half hours.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14Pork is very much the heritage food of Lincolnshire,
0:19:14 > 0:19:17being the source of several traditional recipes
0:19:17 > 0:19:21such as haslet, faggots, and this one, chine.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23And then we'll just literally...
0:19:23 > 0:19:26- a bit like a big nappy!- Yeah, yeah.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28Wrap her up like that.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30- Pop it into my oven.- Right.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33So I'm just going to put it into the roasting part of the oven.
0:19:37 > 0:19:41After cooking, the meat needs to be left to cool,
0:19:41 > 0:19:43as it is best eaten when cold,
0:19:43 > 0:19:45and carved into thin slices.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48It's traditional to serve the stuffed chine
0:19:48 > 0:19:51with a dash of vinegar to cut through the fat
0:19:51 > 0:19:53and strong flavour of the parsley.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58- Oh, look at that.- It looks good, doesn't it?- It really does.
0:19:58 > 0:20:03- Have a go, guys.- Thank you.- See what you think.- It smells beautiful.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07- It always smells good, yeah. - It does.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10- Does it taste OK?- Beautiful.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13- Do you think it is?- It really is.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15- Can I have a hug?- Oh, thank you!
0:20:15 > 0:20:18Now Terry and Judith have tasted one local recipe,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21we'd better find them a kitchen to try cooking it in.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24So let's head back to our property search.
0:20:30 > 0:20:32We've travelled 13 miles east of Grantham
0:20:32 > 0:20:34to the historic village of Folkingham
0:20:34 > 0:20:37and we are around half an hour's drive from their family
0:20:37 > 0:20:39in Rotherham.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41In Folkingham, there are a number of amenities,
0:20:41 > 0:20:43including a post office and local shop,
0:20:43 > 0:20:46as well as somewhere to take afternoon tea.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50Our second house is around five minutes away in Threekingham,
0:20:50 > 0:20:54a small village dominated by its impressive 11th century church.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58And there's also a local pub that dates back to 871.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01The property I'm showing them is considerably more modern
0:21:01 > 0:21:03than that, but even so,
0:21:03 > 0:21:04'it's still 200 years old.'
0:21:04 > 0:21:06In you come.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08Thank you.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10- Oh, wow.- That's quite nice.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12Oh, it's beautiful.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14So "wow" from you, and a "quite nice" from Terry!
0:21:14 > 0:21:16So what are your thoughts about it?
0:21:16 > 0:21:18Because it's more contemporary than the last one.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21Contemporary could be good. Do you think, Terry?
0:21:21 > 0:21:23The cottage garden, it's really nice.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27They've certainly put some effort into this area. It's beautiful.
0:21:27 > 0:21:30- They certainly have. It's a real show garden, isn't it?- It is.- Yes.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Plus, look at this.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34- Put what could you put there? - At least a caravan.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37- At least a caravan!- Yes.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39- It would fit there.- It would.
0:21:39 > 0:21:43So it's a very different offering, not least because it's more compact.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46- That might be a benefit. - It might, yes.- Could well be.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48Let's look inside.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50'While it might not look its age from the outside,
0:21:50 > 0:21:54'the interior of this property is a fantastic mix of contemporary
0:21:54 > 0:21:55'and character features.'
0:21:58 > 0:22:00So, come in.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04Straight into the winter room, the sitting room, the snug.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Lovely. It's quite nice.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09So these are the oldest parts of the house,
0:22:09 > 0:22:12- so you can see the age with the beams.- Yes, it's very low.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14But it's lovely.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16And you've got a lovely big log burner,
0:22:16 > 0:22:19- which kicks out a lot of heat. - Yes, it is beautiful, isn't it?
0:22:19 > 0:22:23- It's really nice.- A really nice room.- It is. It'll sort our needs.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26- It's a nice little snug for winter time.- It is, it's beautiful.
0:22:26 > 0:22:31It has very deep windows. You can see the old country cottage walls.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34- Yes.- It's beautiful. It's really nice.- Really nice.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37'They clearly adore the character feel, but now it's time to
0:22:37 > 0:22:41'find out how far their love of contemporary styling might stretch,
0:22:41 > 0:22:42'As we come to the kitchen,
0:22:42 > 0:22:46'which is a rather more futuristic proposition.'
0:22:46 > 0:22:49- Oh!- Oh, wow.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53- See what I mean about the change of gear?- Oh, yes, definitely.
0:22:53 > 0:22:59- Oh, look at that, that's beautiful. - Absolutely. Look at that!
0:22:59 > 0:23:04- It took his breath away! - It is magnificent!- It is.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08- It's an amazing kitchen, isn't it? - It certainly is.- Fabulous.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12- It's absolutely, I love it.- Do you? - I do, yes.- Really?
0:23:12 > 0:23:15Because we were worried it might be a bit modern for you.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17Well, it is modern. It's not like anything I've ever had.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20But I can't say I don't like it, because I do, I love it.
0:23:20 > 0:23:22- I think it's brilliant.- It really is.
0:23:22 > 0:23:25And this has everything you could ever want.
0:23:25 > 0:23:26It's got a double oven,
0:23:26 > 0:23:29it's got a fridge and freezer all built into that back wall.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32Space age! I mean, it really is a super high-tech kitchen.
0:23:32 > 0:23:33I know you love to cook.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37- I do.- So this could be a whole new world of food preparation.
0:23:37 > 0:23:39I mean, for a kitchen, it is absolutely beautiful.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43- Even I might learn to cook! - Ah, well, there you go.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46That would be a dividend! That would be a dividend!
0:23:46 > 0:23:49But if you step across this way, actually,
0:23:49 > 0:23:53- you've got this access as well, which is also a massive room.- It is.
0:23:53 > 0:23:54It's huge.
0:23:54 > 0:23:58And then beyond that sort of sitting area, it's the hallway.
0:23:58 > 0:24:02- There's a log burner, a chaise longue.- It looks very cosy.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04- It really is nice. - Really nice.- Good.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06Well, I mean, this is the downstairs. It's very open,
0:24:06 > 0:24:09- it flows very beautifully. - It does, it's lovely.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12- Shall we check out the upstairs? - Yes, please.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15'Well, the kitchen has really got them excited.
0:24:15 > 0:24:17'And I'm sure they'll be just as impressed
0:24:17 > 0:24:21'with the finish of the bedrooms. Time to check out the master.'
0:24:21 > 0:24:25So, we fulfilled your brief completely by giving you two bedrooms.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28Two is fine. It's quite enough for us.
0:24:28 > 0:24:31- But they are high-quality bedrooms. - Yes, beautiful, isn't it?
0:24:31 > 0:24:36- It's really nice.- This is beautiful. Double aspect bedroom.- Yes.
0:24:36 > 0:24:37It really is nice.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40And a very nice en suite again, with that very contemporary white feel.
0:24:40 > 0:24:42And then in the other bedroom,
0:24:42 > 0:24:45a good-sized bedroom also with an en suite shower and a cupboard.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48- What are your thoughts about upstairs?- I think it's beautiful.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50It's lovely.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53The configuration of this property is ideal for what we want.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55There's plenty of room downstairs
0:24:55 > 0:24:57and the two bedrooms is quite adequate.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01- Is there a sparkle in your two eyes?- Yes, definitely.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04- I've a really nice feeling about this place.- Yes.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07- Let's go into the garden and talk about money.- Oh, no!
0:25:07 > 0:25:09'Love is definitely in the air with this home
0:25:09 > 0:25:11'and our buyers seem quite smitten.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14'We're heading back through the stunning space age kitchen
0:25:14 > 0:25:16'and into the pretty landscaped garden,
0:25:16 > 0:25:20'which also has a patio area for outside dining.'
0:25:20 > 0:25:24So, an attractive proposition. How much would you pay for it?
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Well, I think, taking it that it's slightly smaller
0:25:27 > 0:25:32than the last property, I think probably 295.
0:25:32 > 0:25:37I think, considering the configurations of the property,
0:25:37 > 0:25:40I think it's the opposite. I think it's a little bit higher.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44- I would say 310.- 310.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48Well, once again, Terry, you should listen to your wife,
0:25:48 > 0:25:52because she is exactly on the money!
0:25:52 > 0:25:55- £295,000.- See?!
0:25:55 > 0:25:58- I love it.- So, in budget. Well, there's not so much to explore,
0:25:58 > 0:26:01because we explored most of it. But we didn't look at the room upstairs.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04- See if you can feel at home there. - Lovely, OK.- Let's go back in.
0:26:04 > 0:26:05Thank you.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14Near the top end of their budget at £295,000,
0:26:14 > 0:26:17this house is just tailor-made for Terry and Judith.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21It gives them a huge kitchen that's out of this world,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24a generous amount of sociable living space, two bedrooms,
0:26:24 > 0:26:27a beautiful cottage style garden,
0:26:27 > 0:26:30and enough room on the drive for the caravan.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33When we first came round the corner and saw property number two,
0:26:33 > 0:26:36I thought it was really quite nice.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38The garden is absolutely magnificent.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41I feel really comfortable in this house.
0:26:41 > 0:26:47It is, yes, it's saying, "I could live with you!".
0:26:48 > 0:26:50It's got a lovely warm feeling to it.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53But I really do think, it's different,
0:26:53 > 0:26:56it's different to what I've ever had before.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59But I could definitely live with this. I really like it.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03It's a beautiful garden. I feel like I was born to sit in this garden!
0:27:03 > 0:27:08- You know, guys, if you don't buy it, I might buy it!- Too late!- Ooh!
0:27:08 > 0:27:12- That's fighting talk. Excellent! - It's a beautiful house.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15- It is, it's really lovely. We both love it.- A palpable hit. Very good.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18Well, it's been a long day, so let's find some peace and respite.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20OK, sounds good.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36As dusk falls over the spectacular Lincolnshire countryside,
0:27:36 > 0:27:39it marks the end of a very encouraging day's house-hunting.
0:27:44 > 0:27:47Expatriate retirees Terry and Judith,
0:27:47 > 0:27:49have spent the last six years in France
0:27:49 > 0:27:53but are now yearning for the great British lifestyle again.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55They want to live much closer to their family
0:27:55 > 0:27:58and have plumped for the beautiful county of Lincolnshire.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00So far, they've been impressed by the welcoming feel
0:28:00 > 0:28:03of an old post office, but have fallen even harder
0:28:03 > 0:28:06for the charming features of a country cottage
0:28:06 > 0:28:08with a futuristic kitchen.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11But still to come, our mystery house takes our property search
0:28:11 > 0:28:14to a Jane Austen-tatious level.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16Beautiful! What a surprise.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18It's a shock, isn't it?
0:28:18 > 0:28:20'And I find out more about the use
0:28:20 > 0:28:23'and conservation of an ancient Lincolnshire woodland.'
0:28:27 > 0:28:31I wish the English summer would be a bit more welcoming
0:28:31 > 0:28:32to our homecomers from France.
0:28:32 > 0:28:35Although I have to say, it looks like Terry and Judith
0:28:35 > 0:28:37are very much in love with Lincolnshire.
0:28:37 > 0:28:38No complaints there.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42And they seemed to really like our second contemporary property.
0:28:42 > 0:28:44So for the mystery house, we've gone for something
0:28:44 > 0:28:48much more contemporary, but with an oh-so-period twist.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53We've made the journey 17 miles south-east of Lincoln
0:28:53 > 0:28:55to the village of Timberland.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59And we are around 60 miles from Rotherham for those family visits.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03The ancient church at Timberland has been a place of worship
0:29:03 > 0:29:05for over 800 years
0:29:05 > 0:29:07and amenities include a post office
0:29:07 > 0:29:11and local shop for those day-to-day necessities.
0:29:11 > 0:29:15Our mystery house is a bungalow, built just over a decade ago.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17But we think it delivers all the character
0:29:17 > 0:29:19that Terry and Judith are looking for.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22It's designed in the grand style of Lyme Park,
0:29:22 > 0:29:24which is the blueprint for Pemberley
0:29:24 > 0:29:26in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31Here we have it. The mystery house.
0:29:31 > 0:29:35- Oh! Different!- It's different.- It is.
0:29:35 > 0:29:40- Very different.- Good heavens. - Oh, wow. It looks very nice.
0:29:40 > 0:29:44- It looks a bit like an old courthouse.- Yes, it does.- Exactly.
0:29:44 > 0:29:48- Well, the inspiration is Jane Austen.- Oh, right.
0:29:48 > 0:29:53Yes, it's a sort of Georgian, based on a sort of Georgian orangery.
0:29:53 > 0:29:55In a way, it's a simpler proposition.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58Because, as we see inside, it's actually quite a simple layout.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00And as you'll notice, it's all on one level.
0:30:00 > 0:30:02- Right, OK.- So no stairs.
0:30:02 > 0:30:05- This is nice.- We like that.
0:30:05 > 0:30:07- Yes.- Let's look inside.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13'The Austen inspired style of this property is a winner so far,
0:30:13 > 0:30:17'and I'm sure the quality of the period detail inside is going
0:30:17 > 0:30:19'to really impress our buyers.'
0:30:19 > 0:30:22- Come on in.- Thank you.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25Straight into the hallway.
0:30:25 > 0:30:27That is lovely.
0:30:27 > 0:30:31- See what I mean about the Jane Austen feel?- I do.- It is, yes.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33It really is a work of art, this house.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35It is, it's beautiful. What a surprise.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38- It is a bit of a shock, isn't it?- That is.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42- I see your eyes caught by these amazing arches.- Arches, yeah.
0:30:42 > 0:30:46These are all bespoke. They are made by a local Lincolnshire craftsman.
0:30:46 > 0:30:51Lovely cornicing and the roses here, the rose here, as well.
0:30:51 > 0:30:56You'll see the whole house is this long enfilade of rooms.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59You've got a sitting room there with a lovely log burner
0:30:59 > 0:31:05- and a bespoke Ancaster stone sill and hearth.- Love it.
0:31:05 > 0:31:09Actually, I do like it, it is lovely. It is really nice.
0:31:09 > 0:31:15It's not cottagey, but it's got that old-fashioned style to it.
0:31:15 > 0:31:16I think it's lovely.
0:31:16 > 0:31:20At the opposite end of the house, adjacent to the dining area,
0:31:20 > 0:31:22is a separate family room which could be used
0:31:22 > 0:31:25as a bedroom, as there's an en suite bathroom attached to it.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28But we are going straight ahead into the kitchen.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35Would this work as a kitchen, as it stands?
0:31:35 > 0:31:39I think it's just a little bit too small for me, really.
0:31:39 > 0:31:45Beautiful views, though, but I think that this is just too small.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48However, whether you could maybe knock through?
0:31:48 > 0:31:51Yes, next door, there's a bathroom
0:31:51 > 0:31:53and then there's this utility room at the back,
0:31:53 > 0:31:56so you could actually knock through
0:31:56 > 0:31:59and get a double width kitchen.
0:31:59 > 0:32:01That would be...
0:32:01 > 0:32:05I'm sure that would be a solution because I don't think I could manage.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07I think this area is just a little bit too small.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10- Work would need to be considered?- Mmm.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13Next door to the kitchen is this family bathroom,
0:32:13 > 0:32:16which is situated next to a single bedroom.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19Adjacent to that is another slightly larger bedroom which is
0:32:19 > 0:32:21currently set up as a library.
0:32:21 > 0:32:25With the right permissions, the space that all these rooms occupy
0:32:25 > 0:32:27could make a great kitchen diner for Judith.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32What are your thoughts about knocking through and merging rooms?
0:32:32 > 0:32:34I think it'd be worth doing
0:32:34 > 0:32:38because I think you'd have all this space that you'd use,
0:32:38 > 0:32:41instead of having little rooms that you probably wouldn't use.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45- It's a question on whether it's a project too far.- And cost, yes.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48There is cost and the price of the house.
0:32:48 > 0:32:52- We'd have to have a look at that. - Something to think about, definitely.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55'Well, they don't seem to be put off by a bit of a project,
0:32:55 > 0:32:59'but now I just want to show them where they could be sleeping.'
0:33:02 > 0:33:05- The master.- Oh, lovely.
0:33:06 > 0:33:08It's beautiful, isn't it?
0:33:08 > 0:33:13- Yes.- It's really nice. - It's a lovely sized room.- It is.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17- Nice views and you've got a really big wet room.- Good idea.
0:33:17 > 0:33:23It is, it's lovely. For us, it would be fine and it's lovely.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25Judith is getting really fired up, isn't she?
0:33:25 > 0:33:29She's planning and knocking down walls and moving things.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32- Is that a good sign? - Already thinking colours.
0:33:32 > 0:33:37That is a good sign, but sometimes it has to be reined in a little bit.
0:33:37 > 0:33:41- Worrying for your purse strings? - Yes.- Talking of purse strings...
0:33:41 > 0:33:42It's that time already.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46Outside, the compact garden has a very pretty lawn
0:33:46 > 0:33:51with several features - this Georgian-style summerhouse, for one.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54There's also a very smart seating area on the patio and the front
0:33:54 > 0:33:59of the house has plenty of space in the driveway for a car and caravan.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02Do you like the ambience of the outside?
0:34:02 > 0:34:05I do, yes, I like it front and back. It's beautiful.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07What do you think it costs?
0:34:07 > 0:34:10I think it's perhaps 280.
0:34:11 > 0:34:15- Terry?- 290,000.
0:34:15 > 0:34:20- 290. In this case, neither of you are right.- It's more.
0:34:20 > 0:34:26- It is actually on the market for 275,000.- Oh, right, OK.
0:34:26 > 0:34:28Pleasantly surprised?
0:34:28 > 0:34:30Yes, because that gives you that little bit of leeway.
0:34:30 > 0:34:32It gives you £25,000.
0:34:32 > 0:34:37To have that work done, that's really good, I'm surprised.
0:34:37 > 0:34:41So, you could get it as you like it and still be in budget.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44That's right. It's a good prospect.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47I can probably even think of more things to do.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49Good, well, have a quick peek inside
0:34:49 > 0:34:51and you'll probably get a better idea of what you're going
0:34:51 > 0:34:53- to knock down.- OK!
0:34:53 > 0:34:57- Then we'll meet at the front. - OK, thanks very much, thank you.
0:34:58 > 0:35:03Under budget at £275,000, this beautifully designed property
0:35:03 > 0:35:06gives Terry and Judith a healthy sum to play with
0:35:06 > 0:35:08to make this house exactly as they'd like.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11It offers plenty of character features,
0:35:11 > 0:35:12such as the arches and coving,
0:35:12 > 0:35:17a wood-burner, four bedrooms, one of which is currently used as a library,
0:35:17 > 0:35:20a very manageable garden with lovely views,
0:35:20 > 0:35:22and a driveway for the caravan.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25The mystery house is really quite different.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28It was quite a nice, pleasant surprise when we came round
0:35:28 > 0:35:32the corner to see the shape of the windows, as though it's an orangery.
0:35:32 > 0:35:36And it was really quite nice. It is very impressive.
0:35:36 > 0:35:39The front part of the house would work for Terry and I.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42There's lots of little bits that I would do,
0:35:42 > 0:35:46but the biggest thing for me is the kitchen, which is quite small.
0:35:46 > 0:35:51I think what I'd like to do is to open that up all the way along.
0:35:51 > 0:35:55We'd probably live in the back of the house once it was opened up.
0:35:57 > 0:36:01Right, I have to drag you out of this property. Lots of thoughts.
0:36:01 > 0:36:03Oh, lots and lots.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05- Knocking down walls, redesigning. - Uh-huh.
0:36:05 > 0:36:09Let's move away from all the properties, find a spot
0:36:09 > 0:36:10and digest what you've seen.
0:36:10 > 0:36:12- Yeah.- OK?
0:36:22 > 0:36:27Over the last 80 years, Britain has lost almost half of its ancient forests
0:36:27 > 0:36:31and has become one of the least wooded places in Europe.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34Only around 12% of the UK is now woodland,
0:36:34 > 0:36:39compared to an average of 44% in other European countries.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42Lincolnshire is one of Britain's least forested counties
0:36:42 > 0:36:47but here in Hill Holt Wood, the community is fighting back,
0:36:47 > 0:36:50planting new saplings and protecting trees.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53The woodland is co-owned by Karen Lowthrop,
0:36:53 > 0:36:58winner of the Community Forest Prize at last year's Forestry Awards.
0:36:58 > 0:37:02She invited me to the 34-acre wood which she and her husband Nigel
0:37:02 > 0:37:04are committed to preserving
0:37:04 > 0:37:07and where they've built their fabulous eco-home.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10How long did it take to create this?
0:37:10 > 0:37:12About ten years to get the planning permission
0:37:12 > 0:37:15and then the building control, design, detail etc.
0:37:15 > 0:37:18Cos presumably it's a bit contentious,
0:37:18 > 0:37:20building a house inside ancient woodland.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24Extremely. The initial reaction was "absolutely out of the question",
0:37:24 > 0:37:28and what we had to demonstrate was that the wider benefits to the community
0:37:28 > 0:37:31and to the management of the woodland, the environment,
0:37:31 > 0:37:35outweighed the normal principle of "no development in woodland".
0:37:35 > 0:37:38Talk me through some of the features cos I'm assuming it is very green.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40What are the highlights for you two?
0:37:40 > 0:37:44The fact that it's off-grid, that was one of the challenges I wanted to overcome,
0:37:44 > 0:37:47and that the house has very low power requirements,
0:37:47 > 0:37:50but it's wired up like a normal house.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54Rainwater collection so we're off-grid for water as well.
0:37:54 > 0:37:55And heating?
0:37:55 > 0:37:58The whole house, which is 160 square metres,
0:37:58 > 0:38:01is heated by a single thermal mass wood burner
0:38:01 > 0:38:04and uses about three tons of firewood a year.
0:38:04 > 0:38:06Woodland is vital for generating oxygen,
0:38:06 > 0:38:09storing carbon and stabilising soil,
0:38:09 > 0:38:13as well as providing a home to a variety of wildlife.
0:38:13 > 0:38:15This wood is a registered charity,
0:38:15 > 0:38:18which is run as an environmental social enterprise
0:38:18 > 0:38:22so any profits made are reinvested into sustainable projects.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25It's beautiful woodland here but I also see big paths cleared,
0:38:25 > 0:38:29so what's the ethos about how you manage it?
0:38:29 > 0:38:33The reason for that is that this is a community-owned and controlled woodland,
0:38:33 > 0:38:36open free of charge, in which the community can come and enjoy.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39And our woodland has a history of management
0:38:39 > 0:38:42and if we stop that management, they deteriorate.
0:38:42 > 0:38:47The ethos of the business is to manage ancient woodland in the 21st-century.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50Other buildings on the site, which employs over 20 people,
0:38:50 > 0:38:54are all built from locally-sourced materials such as straw and wood.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57They're used for vocational education,
0:38:57 > 0:39:01with courses in construction and land-based studies on offer.
0:39:01 > 0:39:05We've got three courses but the one that I think is of most importance
0:39:05 > 0:39:08to us here in Lincolnshire is our under-16 programme.
0:39:08 > 0:39:12That's run for young boys who are excluded from mainstream schooling.
0:39:12 > 0:39:17We've got interest from various parts of Britain in replicating this model,
0:39:17 > 0:39:21in Scarborough, in Hampshire, in Shropshire.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25I think with the support of local government in those areas,
0:39:25 > 0:39:27I think it's going to happen.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30It's quite beautiful to be here amongst the trees.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34- Woods are special places. - I think you're doing a special job.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36- Thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:39:41 > 0:39:43What a lovely, inspiring couple,
0:39:43 > 0:39:47and this here is exactly the sort of project that builds community
0:39:47 > 0:39:51in Lincolnshire, and that is what Judith and Terry are looking for.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54The only problem is, have we found them the right house to live in?
0:40:01 > 0:40:04How do the homecomers feel about Lincolnshire?
0:40:04 > 0:40:08I've thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a beautiful place. What about you?
0:40:08 > 0:40:10- It's been really fantastic.- Yeah.
0:40:10 > 0:40:12Let's look at the houses one by one.
0:40:12 > 0:40:16The very first house was right in the centre of the village,
0:40:16 > 0:40:18quite exposed, really.
0:40:18 > 0:40:19What are your thoughts about that?
0:40:19 > 0:40:22We both liked it, didn't we? It's got some nice things,
0:40:22 > 0:40:26but I think it might need quite a bit of spending on it
0:40:26 > 0:40:28to bring it up to what we'd want.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32I think it'd be a little bit more of a project.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34It's actually probably a little bit too big for us as well.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37We did think that, because it had all those rooms upstairs
0:40:37 > 0:40:39which you probably wouldn't use.
0:40:39 > 0:40:42- Never use, no. I don't think so. - I don't think we would.
0:40:42 > 0:40:44Whereas the second property -
0:40:44 > 0:40:47just two bedrooms and a giant kitchen.
0:40:47 > 0:40:50Absolutely beautiful. We both loved it.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53- It was really, really wonderful. I really did like that.- Yeah.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56It's got a beautiful garden.
0:40:56 > 0:41:00- The whole aspect of the house was really, really nice.- I loved it.
0:41:00 > 0:41:01I really did.
0:41:01 > 0:41:06We're trying to think of ways we can overcome the storage situation
0:41:06 > 0:41:09so we're not going to discount it because we both really liked it.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13It might mean that you have to start decluttering.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17It might well do. I think, possibly. I think, definitely!
0:41:17 > 0:41:18Definitely!
0:41:18 > 0:41:22- Now the mystery house was a mystery.- It was.- Unusual.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25Thoughts about that?
0:41:25 > 0:41:30I think the mystery house was really, really nice. I did like it.
0:41:30 > 0:41:34The house itself, the entrance, it was very modern,
0:41:34 > 0:41:37even though it was open-plan with the arches,
0:41:37 > 0:41:40it certainly did have some character.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42Which one are you going to plump for?
0:41:42 > 0:41:45Are you going to make a move on any of them?
0:41:45 > 0:41:48I think I'm just tipped over the edge with the third one,
0:41:48 > 0:41:50the mystery house.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52Because I think it could be made...
0:41:52 > 0:41:56I think it's got more storage space and more opportunity to
0:41:56 > 0:41:59make something of it, so I think that one might be the one for me.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01Terry, are you in agreement?
0:42:01 > 0:42:02I am in agreement with that, yes.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05I think we would do really quite well with that.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08Bonne chance with that. I hope it all goes well,
0:42:08 > 0:42:10because it's a great story that you've come back
0:42:10 > 0:42:14and lovely that you've taken us to this great county.
0:42:14 > 0:42:15It's beautiful.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17I hope very much to see you in one of those properties.
0:42:17 > 0:42:19- Thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:42:19 > 0:42:20Vive le Lincolnshire!
0:42:20 > 0:42:22LAUGHTER
0:42:26 > 0:42:28I have to say we were all quite surprised.
0:42:28 > 0:42:31We were convinced that Judith and Terry would go for house number two
0:42:31 > 0:42:33with its lovely contemporary finish
0:42:33 > 0:42:36but I think the mystery house might offer Judith more scope
0:42:36 > 0:42:38to put her mark on the property
0:42:38 > 0:42:41rather than move into somebody else's dream,
0:42:41 > 0:42:43though I don't envy the movers
0:42:43 > 0:42:46transporting all her knick-knacks from France to England,
0:42:46 > 0:42:49or Terry coming straight into a massive building project,
0:42:49 > 0:42:51but hopefully they'll move soon
0:42:51 > 0:42:56and if you have enjoyed our perambulations around the property market here in England,
0:42:56 > 0:42:59then join us next time for more Escape To The Country.
0:43:00 > 0:43:05In fact, Terry and Judith surprised us by deciding not to go back
0:43:05 > 0:43:06to the mystery house.
0:43:06 > 0:43:10Instead, they're going to have another look at property number two.
0:43:10 > 0:43:14So hopefully, they'll be back in Britain soon.
0:43:14 > 0:43:17And if you'd like to escape to the country in Scotland, Wales,
0:43:17 > 0:43:22Northern Ireland or England and need our help, please apply online -
0:43:38 > 0:43:41Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd