0:00:02 > 0:00:04This huge oak tree is thought to be up to 600 years old,
0:00:04 > 0:00:07making it the real granddaddy of this forest.
0:00:07 > 0:00:10Find out where it is and why it's this particular shape
0:00:10 > 0:00:12in just a few moments.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32Today we're helping a retired couple find a rural retreat
0:00:32 > 0:00:35where they can really crank up their music.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38'But it's the heat we're turning up in one property.'
0:00:38 > 0:00:41- Oh!- Now, that is a burner. - That's a fire.
0:00:41 > 0:00:45'And we reveal something that's music to the ears and eyes.'
0:00:45 > 0:00:48I wasn't expecting this room, and it's stunning.
0:00:48 > 0:00:53I'm in Hampshire, and this is the Knightwood Oak in the New Forest.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Not only is it one of the oldest, it's also one of the thickest,
0:00:56 > 0:00:59measuring over 24 feet around its trunk,
0:00:59 > 0:01:02and this is due to an ancient tree-management system
0:01:02 > 0:01:06known as pollarding, whereby cuts were made in the trunk of the tree
0:01:06 > 0:01:08just a few metres above the ground,
0:01:08 > 0:01:10which would encourage it to grow more branches,
0:01:10 > 0:01:15thus yielding more timber. Now, towards the end of the 1600s,
0:01:15 > 0:01:18this method of pollarding was banned here in the New Forest,
0:01:18 > 0:01:22as the Navy wanted taller trees to produce long, straight planks
0:01:22 > 0:01:24to build ships for Nelson's fleet.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27But it's great to see that even today, this beautiful tree survives
0:01:27 > 0:01:31as a reminder of this county's rich heritage.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34Bordered by five regions,
0:01:34 > 0:01:36including the home counties of Berkshire and Surrey
0:01:36 > 0:01:39to the north and east, and Wiltshire and Dorset to the west,
0:01:39 > 0:01:43Hampshire takes an enviable position on the central southern coast,
0:01:43 > 0:01:46with 34 miles of Solent shore.
0:01:47 > 0:01:49Blending both coast and countryside,
0:01:49 > 0:01:53it's one of the oldest counties in England,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56with a recorded history dating back over 1,000 years.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59The perfect place to keep connected to both the buzz of the city
0:01:59 > 0:02:01and the calm of the West Country,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04the majestic Hampshire once made up part of the Saxon kingdom of Wessex,
0:02:04 > 0:02:10with King Alfred making the county town of Winchester his royal seat.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14This ancient capital is famed for its 11th century castle
0:02:14 > 0:02:17which displays the legendary Arthurian Round Table,
0:02:17 > 0:02:19and its magnificent cathedral,
0:02:19 > 0:02:21the resting place of literary great Jane Austen,
0:02:21 > 0:02:23who spent most of her short life in Hampshire.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27In her latter years she lived in the pretty village of Chawton,
0:02:27 > 0:02:30whose splendid surroundings no doubt helped to inspire
0:02:30 > 0:02:32the settings for her works.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35Today the village's 400-year-old manor house
0:02:35 > 0:02:38is home to a unique library of over 9,000 titles,
0:02:38 > 0:02:41to preserve women's writing in English
0:02:41 > 0:02:43from as far back as the 17th century.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49The average price of a detached house here in Hampshire
0:02:49 > 0:02:51is just shy of £345,000.
0:02:51 > 0:02:54That's over a third more than the national figure.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57Now, this can be put down to two key factors -
0:02:57 > 0:02:59proximity to the New Forest and to London,
0:02:59 > 0:03:03which makes towns like Brockenhurst, with good rail links to the capital,
0:03:03 > 0:03:05highly desirable.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08But if you're prepared to scratch off those two key factors
0:03:08 > 0:03:11from your shopping list, then property becomes more affordable,
0:03:11 > 0:03:14especially around market towns such as Ringwood.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18So let's find out where today's buyers are looking to head here in Hampshire.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21It's the end of working life
0:03:21 > 0:03:23that heralds the beginning of a new country life
0:03:23 > 0:03:26for former civil servant Mike and his wife Jill.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29They've been married for over three decades,
0:03:29 > 0:03:32and have spent the last five years in this 1930s dormer bungalow
0:03:32 > 0:03:35in Warlingham, Surrey. But preparations are underway
0:03:35 > 0:03:38to turn their backs on the southern-London suburbs.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41It's a little bit anonymous.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44Everybody sort of keeps to themselves.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Everybody's very busy.
0:03:46 > 0:03:50There isn't really much of a sense of community here.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54The traffic, if I have to go into Croydon to go shopping,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57it takes a long time in the car.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59There's just too much bustle,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02and I'll be very glad to get away from that.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05'And it just feels like the right time now.'
0:04:05 > 0:04:09We've got used to being retired, and it's time to go.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11So the plan is a rural relocation
0:04:11 > 0:04:14equidistant between their closest loved ones.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18The reason we chose Hampshire is that Mike's mum lives in Devon,
0:04:18 > 0:04:21so we travel up and down to see her quite a lot,
0:04:21 > 0:04:25but our son lives in London, and we don't want to be far away from him,
0:04:25 > 0:04:28so Hampshire's really a perfect place, right in the middle.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30SHE SINGS
0:04:30 > 0:04:33And when it comes to the perfect pad,
0:04:33 > 0:04:35they're hoping to raise the roof.
0:04:35 > 0:04:37We've got a lot of instruments and music,
0:04:37 > 0:04:41so we'd like to have a separate music room or a study, something like that.
0:04:41 > 0:04:46And we'd like it particularly to be light and bright.
0:04:46 > 0:04:51We have played and sung together a bit a long time ago,
0:04:51 > 0:04:55and when we move, we'd like to see if we could get more into that,
0:04:55 > 0:04:58but we don't really do it now. I still play my bass.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01Jill never stops singing. She's always singing to the radio.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04In fact I can't even mention the title of a song,
0:05:04 > 0:05:08- and you have to sing the whole thing!- Yes.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11'I don't think we make too much noise with our music.'
0:05:11 > 0:05:15I suppose if all the windows were open, my bass might carry across.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18I'm far more bothered about other people's noise bothering me
0:05:18 > 0:05:20than my noise bothering other people!
0:05:20 > 0:05:23But when they're not making sweet music,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Jill and Mike have their own separate passions.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29I took up golf when I was a teenager,
0:05:29 > 0:05:32and got quite good at it,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35but then was stopped through working life quite a lot.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38- But I've really taken it up with a vengeance again...- Yes.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41..recently. I can still play in single figures,
0:05:41 > 0:05:43which I'm determined to hold on to as long as I can.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46'I'm not quite a golf widow, but it won't be long!'
0:05:46 > 0:05:49- Give it time! - SHE LAUGHS
0:05:49 > 0:05:53'In the last few years I've been trying to grow a lot of vegetables,
0:05:53 > 0:05:57'and it's my dream to be self-sufficient in vegetables.'
0:05:57 > 0:06:00There's just nothing more thrilling than going out
0:06:00 > 0:06:03and picking them fresh and eating them straight away.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06They're so healthy, and they taste so much better,
0:06:06 > 0:06:10and it's just the most relaxing hobby in the world.
0:06:10 > 0:06:15'We've got a huge garden here, but it's actually too big, and I'd like something a bit smaller.'
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Their current home is already on the market,
0:06:18 > 0:06:21and a budget is set for this new Hampshire venture.
0:06:21 > 0:06:26The maximum we'll look up to for this move is £525,000.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32Jill and Mike want the best of country and coast,
0:06:32 > 0:06:35so a house search will focus on the county's southern portion
0:06:35 > 0:06:39and the pretty villages surrounding the small town of Bishop's Waltham.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41So, with the area sorted,
0:06:41 > 0:06:43I'm meeting up with our buyers on Hampshire soil
0:06:43 > 0:06:45to clarify the details of their move.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49Well, it's always nice to start in beautiful surroundings,
0:06:49 > 0:06:52- so welcome to a beautiful and sunny Hampshire.- Gorgeous.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56Tell me, why have you decided to look for a house here?
0:06:56 > 0:06:59It's got everything we want. It's got the coast,
0:06:59 > 0:07:02it's got the countryside...
0:07:02 > 0:07:06Of everywhere we've looked at, this is where we feel most comfortable.
0:07:06 > 0:07:10And we don't want to be too far from London, cos our son's in London.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12What's your shortlist? What are your must-haves?
0:07:12 > 0:07:16We like a pretty reasonable-size garden,
0:07:16 > 0:07:18cos gardening's very important to me.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21- How about you, Mike? What's important to you?- Golf course.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23- Unfortunately I need... - Tell me it's nearby!
0:07:23 > 0:07:27- ..reasonable access to one. - We don't want to live in one.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29- Well... - Nearby. How far?
0:07:29 > 0:07:32Not too far. If I can get there within 15, 20 minutes,
0:07:32 > 0:07:35- that'll be good. - What about the house itself?
0:07:35 > 0:07:38I know you want a music room. How many bedrooms?
0:07:38 > 0:07:42Very flexible, really, because we'd be willing to change rooms around
0:07:42 > 0:07:47and use them for what we... Minimum is, we only need two bedrooms.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50I'd love a nice kitchen, but everybody wants a nice kitchen.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53- What's a nice kitchen, though, for you?- Um...
0:07:54 > 0:07:56- A five-burner gas hob. - Yes!
0:07:56 > 0:07:58She dreams of a five-burner gas hob.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02- Old or new? - An older property would be fine,
0:08:02 > 0:08:06- if it's been modernised inside. - We've got some properties lined up.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09I'm going to really enjoy showing you round these old new houses,
0:08:09 > 0:08:12or new old houses. Let's start. This way.
0:08:15 > 0:08:18'For their maximum budget of £525,000,
0:08:18 > 0:08:22'Mike and Jill are after a low-maintenance, modernised property
0:08:22 > 0:08:25'that must be detached. It has to have at least two bedrooms
0:08:25 > 0:08:28'and a room they can dedicate to music.'
0:08:28 > 0:08:31And let's not forget the two all-important Gs -
0:08:31 > 0:08:34that's gardening and golf.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36We'll be showing our buyers a selection
0:08:36 > 0:08:39of some of the best homes on the market,
0:08:39 > 0:08:43but as always, I won't reveal their price tags until they've had a guess.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45And our final choice is a mystery house,
0:08:45 > 0:08:48which while straying from their stated wish list,
0:08:48 > 0:08:52could disprove the adage of "age before beauty".
0:08:57 > 0:08:59So, musical instruments.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02Are you really planning on making a lot of noise?
0:09:02 > 0:09:05- Are you the noisy neighbours? - Yes.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08- Oh, right.- Essentially, yeah. - Whenever we're listening to music,
0:09:08 > 0:09:11whether it's the radio or we've got a CD on or something,
0:09:11 > 0:09:13- we like to hear it. - Right!
0:09:13 > 0:09:16We want to hear all the instruments.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19If you can't hear the bass, it's not worth having it on.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22So, this music room is a centre of your search.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25- Let's face it.- Couldn't live without music in the house.- OK.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33The first location on our house quest
0:09:33 > 0:09:35is situated in the village of Durley,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38which lies just a couple of miles from Bishop's Waltham
0:09:38 > 0:09:41and the nearest golf course.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45Lying in the Meon Valley, the small medieval town of Bishop's Waltham
0:09:45 > 0:09:47benefits from a choice range of businesses, shops,
0:09:47 > 0:09:51restaurants and boutiques.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53And just a five-minute drive away in Durley,
0:09:53 > 0:09:55the first house we're viewing is a barn conversion
0:09:55 > 0:09:57right in the heart of the village.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01Now, then - property number one.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04- What do you think, Jill? - I like the look of it.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08It looks like it's quite modern. It looks like it's been...
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Like we said, we don't want to have to do things.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14- It looks like it's been done. - It was an old cow barn.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17It looks like just what we're looking for,
0:10:17 > 0:10:20except the extent to which it looks a little bit squeezed
0:10:20 > 0:10:22between the two adjoining houses,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25- so the overlooking element might be a no-no for us.- OK.
0:10:25 > 0:10:30- Possibly.- Well, it's a good point. It's something to bear in mind.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32What about the appearance of this house, then?
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Just right. The size and the style,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37very much us, I think.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39Good news! OK. Let's look inside.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41Great.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44'Originally an agricultural building for a neighbouring farm,
0:10:44 > 0:10:48'this property was converted into a family home in 1981.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51'So let's see if it's modern enough for Jill and Mike.'
0:10:56 > 0:10:59So, let's start with the kitchen.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05Ooh! Yes. Very nice. You don't have to walk far. Everything's...
0:11:05 > 0:11:09- Yeah, it's right there, isn't it? - Which is brilliant for working,
0:11:09 > 0:11:11- for cooking. That's good. - You're not cramped in here.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14- Not at all. - Plenty of room for a table.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- Quite a sociable room. - Yes.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21And I like the windows, so there's lots of light in...
0:11:21 > 0:11:23Yes, this corner window behind me works well.
0:11:23 > 0:11:28- It's triple aspect, isn't it?- Yeah. - Again, just looking, it's been done.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32- Nice lighting.- It's been finished to a nice standard.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36Great thing about this house is, the living room is just off the kitchen,
0:11:36 > 0:11:40- so let me show you just through this door.- Ah! Sorry!
0:11:40 > 0:11:43So, conveniently off the kitchen.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47- Oh, a vaulted ceiling! - Yes, that's nice. Very attractive.
0:11:47 > 0:11:52- Always like that.- Yeah. - So much light, with a high ceiling.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56- Works well.- That's what you get with barn conversions.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59Now, let me squeeze through, and we'll go to the bedrooms.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Within the main house, there are three bedrooms in total.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05The smallest one is a single,
0:12:05 > 0:12:07and all three are served by a family shower room.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Now, this is the master.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12OK.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17- It's a little small. - Yeah.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20- What we're used to... - But tap that wall.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24It's a stud partition, so then you could knock through here
0:12:24 > 0:12:27and have a lovely master suite, really good.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30- You potentially could do that, couldn't you?- Yeah. Like it.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33'That concludes our tour of the main residence,
0:12:33 > 0:12:36'though we haven't yet addressed the issue of storage
0:12:36 > 0:12:39'for all their musical instruments. But, back outside,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42'I think there could be the perfect solution.'
0:12:43 > 0:12:44So...
0:12:44 > 0:12:47we have the annexe.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51There's an office, there's a double bedroom and a bathroom,
0:12:51 > 0:12:55- so completely self-contained. - Excellent.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57You've still got a double garage here.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01Might not need both of those. Could always build into one of them.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03You'll need to reconfigure the garden.
0:13:03 > 0:13:06- What's your thoughts on this, Jill? - Well, the best thing is...
0:13:06 > 0:13:08the way it's facing, and the sun here, I would think,
0:13:08 > 0:13:11- pretty much all day. - It's really sunny.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13Yeah. You can put rosebeds anywhere.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16You can put rosebeds in the lawn space and up against the house.
0:13:16 > 0:13:20- Make an interesting pattern on the lawn. There's a lot you could do.- OK.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23How much do you think this house, with the annexe,
0:13:23 > 0:13:25is on the market for?
0:13:25 > 0:13:28Um, I'm going to go 470.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31- OK. Jill? - I think it'll be a little bit more,
0:13:31 > 0:13:33- so 480. - All right.
0:13:33 > 0:13:37Well, it's on the market, and has been for two months,
0:13:37 > 0:13:39at £499,950.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42- Oh, I'm well low, then. - Yeah, so am I.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45You're in the ballpark, but it's certainly a line in the sand.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48- Yes.- So why don't you go into the annexe,
0:13:48 > 0:13:50have a good look around there and the house,
0:13:50 > 0:13:53and I'll meet you when you're done. Away you go.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55Thank you.
0:14:00 > 0:14:05Under budget with an asking price £50 short of half a million pounds,
0:14:05 > 0:14:08the first property is a detached barn conversion,
0:14:08 > 0:14:10comprising a large kitchen/diner,
0:14:10 > 0:14:13an impressive sitting room with vaulted ceiling,
0:14:13 > 0:14:17three bedrooms, and a separate one-bedroom annexe.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26- Oh, it's quite big, isn't it? - Yeah, decent size.
0:14:26 > 0:14:30- I like this. - Nice skylight.- Uh-huh.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33When I walked into the house, the thing that struck me
0:14:33 > 0:14:37was that it was quite modern and everything had been updated.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40It looked like it was clean, light, bright.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43I like the look of it.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46I really like the accommodation and the outside space,
0:14:46 > 0:14:53but the location, next to a couple of two-storey houses either side,
0:14:53 > 0:14:56um, which do overlook somewhat,
0:14:56 > 0:15:02that would deter me from actually pursuing this one.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09- Well, then - all done and dusted? - Yes, thank you.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13Good. Well, that's property one finished and viewed. Off we go.
0:15:13 > 0:15:14OK.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20In the heart of Hampshire, along the River Test,
0:15:20 > 0:15:23lies the small, historic market town of Romsey,
0:15:23 > 0:15:25featuring an imposing Norman abbey
0:15:25 > 0:15:28that can trace its origins right back to the tenth century.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31As well as impressive ancient architecture,
0:15:31 > 0:15:35the area also showcases a magnificent man-made landscape
0:15:35 > 0:15:38of trees, plants and immaculate gardens.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41Jill has a real passion for gardening,
0:15:41 > 0:15:44so we arranged for our couple to visit this arboretum
0:15:44 > 0:15:48to meet head gardener Fran Clifton for some green-fingered inspiration.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53Welcome to Sir Harold Hiller Gardens, Jill and Mike.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56It's lovely to have you here, and we have great sunshine today.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59The gardens were started pretty much 60 years ago
0:15:59 > 0:16:02by Sir Harold, when he thought,
0:16:02 > 0:16:06"Actually, I'd like to see the trees grow rather than selling them all."
0:16:06 > 0:16:09He was a third-generation nurseryman, and always selling them,
0:16:09 > 0:16:13but he wanted to collect them. We have a few fantastic champion trees,
0:16:13 > 0:16:17be it the fattest, the tallest, the smallest of its kind.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20- And how many have you got here? - Just over 500.- Wow!
0:16:20 > 0:16:25So we're very proud to be listed one of the top gardens within TROBI,
0:16:25 > 0:16:28which is Tree Register of the British Isles.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31Sir Harold Hillier was an active importer and collector
0:16:31 > 0:16:34of new species from all over the world,
0:16:34 > 0:16:38and today the 180 acre site has 13 national tree collections
0:16:38 > 0:16:41and over 11,000 different species of plants.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45One particular highlight is the Centenary Border,
0:16:45 > 0:16:47created by Hillier in 1964
0:16:47 > 0:16:50to celebrate the 100th anniversary
0:16:50 > 0:16:53of the nursery founded by his grandfather.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56We're here at the Centenary Border of the gardens,
0:16:56 > 0:16:59250 metres of herbaceous plants, grasses,
0:16:59 > 0:17:02bulbs in full bloom at the moment,
0:17:02 > 0:17:06a celebration of colour and shapes and textures, really.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09At times we had 30 volunteers planting on the border,
0:17:09 > 0:17:11be it the herbaceous, the grasses, the trees,
0:17:11 > 0:17:15or 8,000 alliums, which are in full bloom today, as you can see.
0:17:15 > 0:17:20Amazing! What could I do? I'd love to be involved in horticulture.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22Well, there's a multitude of stuff you can do.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26You can either join one of our teams, be it on the border
0:17:26 > 0:17:30or the Magnolia Avenue, or you can join the herbarium team,
0:17:30 > 0:17:33where they go actively out and collect for...
0:17:33 > 0:17:36preserving the collection within the herbarium.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39Today the site is run as a charitable trust,
0:17:39 > 0:17:43and relies on dedicated volunteers to preserve the trees and plants,
0:17:43 > 0:17:47and also to collate the cuttings for their botanical records.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52This is one of the specimens we could cut for the herbarium.
0:17:52 > 0:17:57It's a magnolia Summer Solstice. It's in its prime.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00The flower, or the bud, is just opening now,
0:18:00 > 0:18:04which we then can press out in the arboretum and dry it.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06And we have a piece of the trunk as well,
0:18:06 > 0:18:11cos for identification purposes, you need everything on a plant.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13Right! And here we go.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17That's the beginning of the preparation of a herbarium specimen.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20The cuttings are pressed and labelled,
0:18:20 > 0:18:23then stored in the herbarium, a kind of plant library
0:18:23 > 0:18:27that currently contains over 6,000 specimens.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29And now that Mike and Jill have discovered
0:18:29 > 0:18:31how the community can play a hands-on role
0:18:31 > 0:18:34in preserving the area's horticultural heritage,
0:18:34 > 0:18:38it's time to dig a bit deeper, and hope our house search can...
0:18:38 > 0:18:40well, come up roses.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48For our second property, we're heading four miles south
0:18:48 > 0:18:51of Bishop's Waltham to the village of Wickham.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55Dating back to at least Roman times,
0:18:55 > 0:18:59today the picturesque village is lined with historic buildings,
0:18:59 > 0:19:02housing a great variety of shops and restaurants,
0:19:02 > 0:19:05and just a mile away on the more rural fringes of the village
0:19:05 > 0:19:09and right opposite the Forest of Bere, we find our second property.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13- The house. Do you like it? - Yes.- I do, yeah.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16- Yeah?- Yeah. Very positive first impression, yeah.
0:19:16 > 0:19:19- That's all we want to hear. Let's go inside.- OK.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22'Originally built in the 1930s,
0:19:22 > 0:19:25'this bungalow has been considerably extended over the years,
0:19:25 > 0:19:29'and we're heading straight for the main living areas at the back.'
0:19:29 > 0:19:32Let's start with the living room in this one.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36Ooh! Oh, that's nice.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39Nice! Modern, light, bright.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42- It's got a good feel to it. - It has, hasn't it?- Uh-huh.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45- Oh! - Now, that is a burner.
0:19:45 > 0:19:47That's a fire, isn't it? That really is.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50- You wouldn't need central heating if you've got that.- Almost!
0:19:50 > 0:19:52- But you've got to be... OK... - Nice.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55It's a 1930s house, or bungalow,
0:19:55 > 0:19:58but inside it's very contemporary, isn't it?
0:19:58 > 0:20:01Yes. Yeah. Very tasteful. Nice floor. I like the floor.
0:20:01 > 0:20:06Beyond... I'll show you the kitchen. You don't need to dine elsewhere,
0:20:06 > 0:20:10but you do have a conservatory that's set up for formal dining,
0:20:10 > 0:20:13which I thought was maybe a foot in each camp for you.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15- That might be nice, yeah. - Very nice.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18- Could move in.- Yeah. - Well, I almost think Jill has,
0:20:18 > 0:20:22but let's show you both the kitchen. Let me squeeze past you.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29- So, the kitchen! - Oh, very nice.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32- Lovely view of the garden. - Spacious.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35You have a utility room with this place,
0:20:35 > 0:20:38so you can get the white goods out of the way if you want to.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41- Talking your language there, aren't we?- Very much so.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44- Eh? - Yes, I want white goods out, food in.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48- Lovely.- This feels a bit more like a day room, a morning room,
0:20:48 > 0:20:51you know, with the breakfast bar, casual seating,
0:20:51 > 0:20:53the patio doors open in the summer...
0:20:53 > 0:20:56- There's a lot you could do with this. - Feels good.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58Well, I'm glad you say that,
0:20:58 > 0:21:01because these two rooms are very important to you,
0:21:01 > 0:21:05but I want to show you something that may be a bit unexpected,
0:21:05 > 0:21:09- which is right up your pair street. Let's go.- Oh, excellent!
0:21:10 > 0:21:12So, just through the utility room...
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Oh!
0:21:14 > 0:21:17- Oh, this is super, isn't it? - What a nice little room!
0:21:17 > 0:21:21- Yeah! - Oh, yes. This is good.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24- Now, we know what this room's going to be, don't we?- Mm-hm!
0:21:24 > 0:21:26- I suspect we do. - Mm-hm.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28Music room.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31I was already thinking, "Well, where would we put the piano?"
0:21:31 > 0:21:35- "Not enough room for the piano." - You can see it in here, can't you?
0:21:35 > 0:21:40Your third bedroom is just through there, with its own en suite,
0:21:40 > 0:21:42and you still have a music room.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44You said a third bedroom would be the music room.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47You've got that extra room, that extra space,
0:21:47 > 0:21:50- but also your guests aren't right on top of you.- Sounds perfect.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54This extended arm of the property lies to the rear of the house,
0:21:54 > 0:21:56accessed through the kitchen and utility.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00The remaining two bedrooms are back in the main part of the property
0:22:00 > 0:22:04to the front, and are both large and well proportioned rooms.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08One is a bright double that looks out over the front garden,
0:22:08 > 0:22:10and is served by the family bathroom.
0:22:10 > 0:22:15And the final bedroom is the master suite.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18So...
0:22:19 > 0:22:22- Bedroom.- That's a good, decent size, isn't it?
0:22:22 > 0:22:25I like the storage space.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29Behind that door, en-suite shower and loo.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32Splendid. There's plenty of room for storage as well,
0:22:32 > 0:22:35much as I know I get a bit obsessed with storage.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38It's a practical thing. You can fall in love with a house.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42The sun's shining, so some of our practicalities have already disappeared out the window,
0:22:42 > 0:22:45but you're looking at what it's going to be like when you move in.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48- And it's a big house. - Mm.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50- It's a lot of room. - Is it too big?
0:22:50 > 0:22:54- No.- No.- Great news! Well, it's going really well so far, isn't it?
0:22:54 > 0:22:56- Yes. Yeah. - Let's take a look at the garden.
0:22:56 > 0:23:01- Let me just squeeze past you there. - Sorry.- Thank you very much.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03The front garden has a huge gravel drive
0:23:03 > 0:23:06with plenty of parking, and again, a double garage.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10'But we need to find out if the back garden is appropriate
0:23:10 > 0:23:13'for Jill's veggie aspirations.'
0:23:14 > 0:23:18- So, a cracking garden! - Yes. Lovely.
0:23:18 > 0:23:23Very nicely laid out. Lovely trees, shrubs, everything.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25- Well, not overlooked? - Good size.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27No, not really.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Inside, it's immaculate. This garden is immaculate.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33It's owned, actually... The guys who live here at the moment,
0:23:33 > 0:23:36- he's a green-keeper at a golf course.- OK.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39- Hence the fact that...- I was just looking at the grass. Beautiful.
0:23:39 > 0:23:42Yeah. Which suggests there may be a golf course somewhere nearby.
0:23:42 > 0:23:44Er, three, three and a half miles away.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47- That'll do. - That's good.- Yeah. Like that.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49- So... - That's very nice.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52- ..how much... - Ooh...
0:23:52 > 0:23:55..do you think this place is on the market for, then?
0:23:55 > 0:23:58- 520. - 520. OK. Mike?
0:23:58 > 0:24:00Mm. I'm going to say 535.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Well, yeah. I mean, you've seen the house.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05You've seen the gardens, of course.
0:24:05 > 0:24:09It's on the market for £475,000.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12Oh!
0:24:12 > 0:24:15SHE LAUGHS Wow.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18- You've taken me aback there. - Yeah. I am very surprised.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20In terms of the shopping list we gave to you,
0:24:20 > 0:24:23I find it hard to fault it.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26- Yes, it's good. - Very impressed.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30- Have to give this a lot of thought. - Have a mooch around.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33Get to know it. Have a look round the place you haven't yet seen,
0:24:33 > 0:24:37- and I'll meet you whenever you've finished.- Great.- Thanks!
0:24:43 > 0:24:46A huge £50,000 under budget,
0:24:46 > 0:24:49the second property is a detached 1930s bungalow
0:24:49 > 0:24:52that's had a thoroughly modern makeover
0:24:52 > 0:24:55and features a large kitchen/diner, two reception rooms
0:24:55 > 0:24:58and three bedrooms, two of which are en suite.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00And the whole lot offers plenty of scope
0:25:00 > 0:25:04for our buyers' specific hobbies, both inside and out.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12- Oh, it's a nice room, isn't it? - It's a good size.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Spacious, looking out on the garden, really nice.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19That's a really nice aspect of the front garden, isn't it?
0:25:19 > 0:25:21- I like that a lot. - I like the lounge very much,
0:25:21 > 0:25:23especially the big fireplace,
0:25:23 > 0:25:27and the kitchen was super.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30I love the garden. It's a great size.
0:25:30 > 0:25:35Not too big, very manageable, well laid out.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37Lots of room for what we would want to do.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39Yeah, it seems to fit the bill very well.
0:25:39 > 0:25:41What a great location!
0:25:41 > 0:25:45A quiet road opposite woodland, and pretty close to Wickham.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47My first impression was,
0:25:47 > 0:25:50you know, I could see us living here.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54It's interesting layout, because it's got a kind of extra bit
0:25:54 > 0:25:59built on the back, which gives us the additional room
0:25:59 > 0:26:02which we could use for a den or almost anything,
0:26:02 > 0:26:06and the guest room, so that's made all the difference to the property.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09The house is something that we would seriously consider.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12We're going to have to give it some serious thought.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16- Now, then, have you explored the gardens?- Oh, yes.- Yes.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19- Did you have a good time? - Great.- Yeah.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21Lots to see. Lots of little nooks and crannies.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24And you're both still smiling, which is great news.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27- It's a super place.- A good point to end today's search on, yeah?
0:26:27 > 0:26:29- Yeah. - Very much.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46It's day two of our property search,
0:26:46 > 0:26:49and, on a budget of £525,000,
0:26:49 > 0:26:52we're helping Surrey-based retirees Mike and Jill
0:26:52 > 0:26:54to head for new horizons in Hampshire.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58Still to come, we're revealing a real vintage classic
0:26:58 > 0:27:00in the form of our mystery property.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04- Wow! - Isn't that pretty?!
0:27:04 > 0:27:07'And I'll be getting fired up on a foreign superfood
0:27:07 > 0:27:10'that's found new pastures here in Hampshire.'
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Wow! It's got a bit of a kick to it.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Mike and Jill have told me they'd love to move to a house
0:27:19 > 0:27:23that's contemporary inside and requires little or no work.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Well, the mystery property is a 19th-century thatched house
0:27:26 > 0:27:29that needs some TLC, so we are going a little bit off-piste.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32But, on the up side, it's got the sort of charm
0:27:32 > 0:27:35that I think Mike could really fall for,
0:27:35 > 0:27:39and a garden that Jill could really get her teeth into.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44So, last night, much to discuss?
0:27:44 > 0:27:47- Yes. - Yeah, had a good chat,
0:27:47 > 0:27:50- particularly about house number two. - Good.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53- So, mystery property today. - Hmm.
0:27:53 > 0:27:55- It could be anything, couldn't it? - Yes.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58Especially as I'm thinking... I've got one in the bag.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00I might be taking a real gamble today.
0:28:00 > 0:28:04The biggest gamble for us would probably be not detached,
0:28:04 > 0:28:07so it might be something like a townhouse
0:28:07 > 0:28:09or something that's attached on one side,
0:28:09 > 0:28:12- but you think that maybe we could live with.- Neighbours!
0:28:14 > 0:28:16Well, the neighbours won't need earplugs,
0:28:16 > 0:28:18but at our final property stop,
0:28:18 > 0:28:21Mike and Jill might want to swap instruments for paintbrushes,
0:28:21 > 0:28:25and to get there, we're travelling out of their preferred search area
0:28:25 > 0:28:28to the village of Over Wallop, near the Hampshire-Wiltshire border.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33The most northerly of three attractive villages
0:28:33 > 0:28:37known collectively as The Wallops, the small and charming Over Wallop
0:28:37 > 0:28:39is chock-full of pretty thatched buildings
0:28:39 > 0:28:42as well as a village shop.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45And in the midst of green and tranquil Hampshire countryside
0:28:45 > 0:28:48peacefully sits our mystery house.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56- Oh, my word! - Wow!
0:28:56 > 0:28:58Oh, heavens above!
0:28:58 > 0:29:02- Wow! - Isn't that pretty?!
0:29:02 > 0:29:04- It's not contemporary. - It's "wow"!
0:29:04 > 0:29:07- No, it isn't, is it? But it is "wow". - Totally "wow".
0:29:07 > 0:29:10- Dying to see inside. - Yes. I want to see inside.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13Let's go inside, then. Come on.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16'With a pedigree dating back to the 19th century,
0:29:16 > 0:29:19'the mystery house is an utterly charming Grade II listed cottage
0:29:19 > 0:29:22'under a recently thatched roof.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25'It's absolutely packed with period features,
0:29:25 > 0:29:28'but the twist is that it's a far cry from the modern living space
0:29:28 > 0:29:30'Jill and Mike requested.'
0:29:33 > 0:29:35So, the big moment!
0:29:35 > 0:29:37SHE SIGHS
0:29:37 > 0:29:40- Lovely!- Big inglenook fireplace. - It's dramatic.
0:29:40 > 0:29:44- There's even a little bread oven at the side, as well.- Yeah.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46First reception room. Second one just through here.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49Oh, another reception?
0:29:52 > 0:29:55So, this one's a bit brighter, actually, this room.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58Oh, another reception room, and another open fire.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00- Good size, as well. - Yes, another fire.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03- Three windows. - It's spacious, though.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06That's... Actually, if you combine the size of the lounge
0:30:06 > 0:30:09and this as well, there's a lot of room.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11- Plenty of living space, isn't there? - Yes.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14With two comfortably sized reception rooms to choose from,
0:30:14 > 0:30:17there's definitely a solution for their music room.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19'Time to see if the kitchen fits the bill.'
0:30:19 > 0:30:23Now, then, the lowest ceiling of the house!
0:30:23 > 0:30:26Oh, that's fine. Not a problem.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29- No, it's actually bigger than I thought it would be.- Is it?
0:30:29 > 0:30:32It's quite spacious. I was expecting it to be really tiny.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35Again, you get some white goods out the way,
0:30:35 > 0:30:39- because you got a utility. Have you cooked with one of them?- No.
0:30:39 > 0:30:42Not a clue. But I'm sure you can learn fairly easily.
0:30:42 > 0:30:47It's got two windows, which is great. That brightens it up a lot.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50The last room to see on the ground floor is the bathroom,
0:30:50 > 0:30:53which could benefit from a makeover.
0:30:53 > 0:30:55'But, unusually for a property of this type,
0:30:55 > 0:30:58'there are two spacious bathrooms, and the other one lies upstairs
0:30:58 > 0:31:00'alongside the bedrooms.'
0:31:00 > 0:31:03I love these steps into this master room.
0:31:03 > 0:31:08- Oh, isn't this lovely? - I wasn't expecting that.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12Oh, it's so pretty! I love the staircase coming up,
0:31:12 > 0:31:15and the window. Isn't that smashing?
0:31:15 > 0:31:18Now, you got three bedrooms up here on the first floor,
0:31:18 > 0:31:23family bathroom. With three bedrooms and that second reception room,
0:31:23 > 0:31:25you've got options. You don't have to lose a bedroom
0:31:25 > 0:31:28- to get your music room. - No.
0:31:28 > 0:31:31It's not just heart-versus-head, this house.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33You do have some practicalities here.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36This is a real... This is a real bonus.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39As I said, I wasn't expecting this room,
0:31:39 > 0:31:41and it's stunning.
0:31:41 > 0:31:44So, outside - garden's hugely important.
0:31:44 > 0:31:47Let's go and see where you could get your hands dirty.
0:31:47 > 0:31:49- OK. - Great.
0:31:49 > 0:31:53'I'm really encouraged that both Jill and Mike are keeping positive
0:31:53 > 0:31:55'about this delightful mystery cottage,
0:31:55 > 0:31:58'and I'm confident that the well tended, south-facing rear garden,
0:31:58 > 0:32:02'enveloped by glorious countryside, won't disappoint.'
0:32:04 > 0:32:07Oh... Oh!
0:32:07 > 0:32:10Golly, what a lovely garden!
0:32:11 > 0:32:15Let's have a sit on this flint wall, shall we?
0:32:15 > 0:32:17So...
0:32:17 > 0:32:19- What... - What a picture!
0:32:19 > 0:32:22- Gorgeous, isn't it? - It is absolutely gorgeous.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25- I think I'll just stay here. - It's so pretty!
0:32:25 > 0:32:28- And this garden? - Oh, fabulous!
0:32:28 > 0:32:30All right. How much do you think
0:32:30 > 0:32:34this beautiful thatched house is up for sale for -
0:32:34 > 0:32:38bearing in mind it does need some work, but in a village like this?
0:32:39 > 0:32:42I'm going to say 535.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44OK. Jill?
0:32:44 > 0:32:48There's a lot that needs doing to update it,
0:32:48 > 0:32:52in terms of the kitchen, the bathroom, or the two bathrooms.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56So I would go down a little bit and say 500.
0:32:57 > 0:32:59Not a bad guess, Jill.
0:32:59 > 0:33:04This place is on the market for offers around £495,000.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07Gosh! Yeah. Well, it must be for that reason,
0:33:07 > 0:33:09because everything else about it is just superb.
0:33:09 > 0:33:12This is the last thing we're seeing,
0:33:12 > 0:33:15- so take as much time as you want inside the house.- OK.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17- All right? - Thank you.
0:33:17 > 0:33:21- I'll sit here in the sun! - Don't overdo it, Jonnie.
0:33:21 > 0:33:23No, I'll try not to.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28Yet again comfortably under budget
0:33:28 > 0:33:31for offers in the region of £495,000,
0:33:31 > 0:33:34the mystery house is a listed 19th-century thatched cottage,
0:33:34 > 0:33:38with two separate reception rooms, a roomy kitchen,
0:33:38 > 0:33:42three bedrooms, and large, beautifully kept cottage gardens.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48Oh, a double room! Another double room.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51It's not a bad-sized room. I wasn't expecting...
0:33:51 > 0:33:55The gardens are fabulous, south-facing, rural...
0:33:55 > 0:34:00It's just beautiful. The setting... You couldn't improve on it.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03When I came inside the house, it was pretty much what I expected -
0:34:03 > 0:34:07lovely big inglenook fireplace, low beams, cottagey.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10But I could see there were things that we would need to do to it,
0:34:10 > 0:34:13quite a lot of work.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16Everything about it outside is perfect.
0:34:16 > 0:34:22I'm just not totally convinced that the inside is what we're looking for.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27- Well, then, this got you thinking, didn't it?- Oh, yes!
0:34:27 > 0:34:30- Yes, very much. - Why don't you go away now
0:34:30 > 0:34:32and have a think about all three properties,
0:34:32 > 0:34:35because there's quite a bit to discuss, isn't there?
0:34:35 > 0:34:38- I'll catch you later on. - Cheers.- Good luck!- Bye.
0:34:38 > 0:34:42So, as Jill and Mike's house search here in Hampshire draws to a close,
0:34:42 > 0:34:46let's take a look at other properties here on the market.
0:34:46 > 0:34:50This striking architectural example in Clanfield
0:34:50 > 0:34:52is believed to date back to the 16th century,
0:34:52 > 0:34:55and is abundant with historic character,
0:34:55 > 0:34:57including an inglenook fireplace in the living room,
0:34:57 > 0:35:01quarry tiles in the cosy kitchen, and exposed timbers
0:35:01 > 0:35:03in the two bedrooms. And the price?
0:35:03 > 0:35:06A steal at £250,000.
0:35:07 > 0:35:10But £350,000 could buy you
0:35:10 > 0:35:13this beautifully renovated three-bed semi in Smannell.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17It features a modern kitchen, open-plan lounge/diner,
0:35:17 > 0:35:20as well as separate sanctuary in a second living room.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25Lastly, this listed four-bedroom 17th-century thatch
0:35:25 > 0:35:29in the small village of Amport has a price tag of £620,000,
0:35:29 > 0:35:33and presents a splendid slice of old-English charm.
0:35:39 > 0:35:41More than 80 percent of the land in Hampshire
0:35:41 > 0:35:44is used for farming and forestry,
0:35:44 > 0:35:46but in the depths of the countryside,
0:35:46 > 0:35:49one pioneering farm has successfully diversified
0:35:49 > 0:35:53from cultivating watercress to the native Japanese superfood, wasabi,
0:35:53 > 0:35:56one of the rarest and most expensive vegetables in the world,
0:35:56 > 0:36:00that's notoriously difficult to grow.
0:36:00 > 0:36:03'So I went to the farm to find out from product manager James Harper
0:36:03 > 0:36:05'just how they've managed to cultivate and harvest
0:36:05 > 0:36:07'this valuable crop.'
0:36:07 > 0:36:10- Hi, James. - Hey, Jonnie! How you doing?
0:36:10 > 0:36:13Very good, thanks! Very good. What an amazing place!
0:36:13 > 0:36:15It's not what I was expecting,
0:36:15 > 0:36:18but I was surprised to even hear we had wasabi here in the UK.
0:36:18 > 0:36:20It's Europe's first wasabi farm.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22I don't think it's what anybody expects!
0:36:22 > 0:36:26- Europe's first, eh?- Absolutely. - So, James, what is wasabi?
0:36:26 > 0:36:29- Wasabi is a Japanese aquatic plant. - Yeah.
0:36:29 > 0:36:31Although it looks like a root, it's actually a rhizome.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34It's a swollen plant stem. And you grind this up.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38The paste that you buy in the supermarket is trying to mimic this.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41So, how come you're growing it here in Hampshire?
0:36:41 > 0:36:44You'd think it would only grow in Japan.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46The reason is... We're standing in it. It's spring water.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49It's mineral-rich spring water that comes out at source
0:36:49 > 0:36:53around ten or 11 degrees, so year round, it's protective for the plant.
0:36:53 > 0:36:57It keeps it cool in the summer and nice and warm in the winter,
0:36:57 > 0:37:00and it's the minerals and nutrients that the plant uses,
0:37:00 > 0:37:03- and this is why we're here in Hampshire.- Is this fully grown?
0:37:03 > 0:37:07No. This is less than a year old. It gets to be quite a large plant.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10- Shall we go and have a look? - Yeah, please.- Do some harvesting.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15'Wasabi is a member of the same family as cabbage and horseradish.
0:37:15 > 0:37:20'It grows wild in Japan, but here it takes two painstaking years to harvest.'
0:37:22 > 0:37:26Now, I tell you what, James - this is impressive.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30- Bit bigger, isn't it?- These are magnificent plants, aren't they?
0:37:30 > 0:37:33- Shall we pull one out, have a look at it?- I'd love to.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36- This one looks about ready.- You feel around for what - a rhizome?
0:37:36 > 0:37:40Yeah, rhizome. These bits here are the actual roots themselves,
0:37:40 > 0:37:43but these bits that look like roots are actually rhizomes,
0:37:43 > 0:37:46- swollen plant stems. - Could someone at home
0:37:46 > 0:37:48- grow this kind of plant? - Yeah, it's possible.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51In fact, we actually sell plants to the public.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54We use everything on the plant. The leaves are edible.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56- You can eat it raw? - Yeah.- Can I have a go?
0:37:56 > 0:37:58Yeah.
0:38:05 > 0:38:09That is sweet. Ooh! It's still got a bit of a kick...
0:38:09 > 0:38:12It's still got a bit of a kick to it.
0:38:12 > 0:38:16'The price of fresh rhizome is just as eye-watering as the taste,
0:38:16 > 0:38:19'and costs upwards of £25 per 100 grams.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24'Traditionally ground into a hot paste to accompany sushi,
0:38:24 > 0:38:29'wasabi's intense flavour and heat is now used as a key ingredient
0:38:29 > 0:38:32'in a range of dishes, both surf and turf.'
0:38:32 > 0:38:35It always used to be used with sashimi and sushi,
0:38:35 > 0:38:38because it's got anti-microbial and anti-parasitic properties,
0:38:38 > 0:38:42so any fish parasites or any bacteria that's in the fish,
0:38:42 > 0:38:47they ate wasabi to counteract that. But nowadays, chefs are using it.
0:38:47 > 0:38:49It works fantastically with steak, as you'll find out.
0:38:49 > 0:38:53Now, whilst this steak is just finishing off cooking,
0:38:53 > 0:38:55- I've got one eye on these oysters. - Well, let's give it a go.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58- Yeah, please. - There we are.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01Thank you very... Cor, that is a lot of wasabi!
0:39:01 > 0:39:03- Cheers! - Chin-chin.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10Oh!
0:39:12 > 0:39:15That goes so well!
0:39:15 > 0:39:19'Wasabi is not just simply hot. It has more of a nutty flavour,
0:39:19 > 0:39:22'and unlike chilli, you get a kick through the nostrils
0:39:22 > 0:39:24'as opposed to the back of the throat.
0:39:24 > 0:39:27'But once it's been grated, there's about 15 minutes
0:39:27 > 0:39:30'before it oxidises and loses its flavour.'
0:39:30 > 0:39:32If you don't mind, I'm just going to help myself.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35While you're doing that, I'll stick some leaves in a pan...
0:39:35 > 0:39:38- OK. - ..and, er, we can try those,
0:39:38 > 0:39:41because they're very good with rock salt, tossed in butter.
0:39:41 > 0:39:44This is going along the lines of... I've just done you a bit there.
0:39:44 > 0:39:48This is going along the lines of using the whole plant again.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51Mm!
0:39:51 > 0:39:54- Oh, that is amazing! - Well cooked, Jonnie. Well done.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56'Even the leaves are edible, much like spring greens
0:39:56 > 0:39:58'when they're wilted down.'
0:39:59 > 0:40:02- OK. - Right, see what you think.
0:40:03 > 0:40:07- They're lovely! - Quite fibrous.- Yeah, very much so.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10And after savouring a flavour of the Far East,
0:40:10 > 0:40:13but freshly grown in Hampshire, it's about time we found out
0:40:13 > 0:40:16if any of our three properties are to the taste of Jill and Mike.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26At the start of today, I was pretty sure we had a firm favourite
0:40:26 > 0:40:30from Mike and Jill, but after some amazing reactions from both of them
0:40:30 > 0:40:32at the mystery property, I wonder,
0:40:32 > 0:40:35has it done enough to turn their heads? Let's find out.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42- Howdy-doody. - Hello!- Hi, Jonnie.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45- Oh, lovely spot again. - Beautiful.
0:40:45 > 0:40:47So, you've had a bit of time to think.
0:40:47 > 0:40:49What's your favourite property?
0:40:49 > 0:40:52- In a word... - BOTH: Number two.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55OK. What is it about the second house that makes it your favourite?
0:40:55 > 0:40:58It's the flexibility of the accommodation.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00That annexe that was built onto the back,
0:41:00 > 0:41:02you could use that living room
0:41:02 > 0:41:05between the kitchen and the extra bedroom
0:41:05 > 0:41:09as a music room or a study, or almost as a day sitting room.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12Nice sociable kitchen, airy conservatory
0:41:12 > 0:41:15with a nice outlook from it, gardens just the right size,
0:41:15 > 0:41:18plenty of sun, opposite woodland...
0:41:18 > 0:41:21And everything done. That's a big thing.
0:41:21 > 0:41:26There's nothing immediately crying out to be renovated or modernised.
0:41:26 > 0:41:28Your head wasn't turned by the mystery house, then?
0:41:28 > 0:41:30It was really beautiful to look at,
0:41:30 > 0:41:35and the environment and everything about it was great from the outside,
0:41:35 > 0:41:38but it didn't really fit the bill.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40Are there any question marks over the second property?
0:41:40 > 0:41:44I think we've thought we would like very much to have another look.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47I think you should do just that. Go back there on another day,
0:41:47 > 0:41:49- spend some time there. - I'm sure we will.
0:41:49 > 0:41:53- I want to get it right, and this has been really helpful.- It really has.
0:41:53 > 0:41:55Good. Well, it's been a pleasure to accompany you
0:41:55 > 0:41:59these past couple of days, and find out a bit more about the area
0:41:59 > 0:42:03and what's of interest to you, so thank you both very much.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05- It's been great fun. - Thank you.- Thank you.
0:42:12 > 0:42:16It looks like the mystery property was a fairly tempting option,
0:42:16 > 0:42:19but it seems like Mike and Jill have kept their heads on this one.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22And let's face it, property number two did pretty much give them
0:42:22 > 0:42:26everything they said they're after. But it's a big move for a couple,
0:42:26 > 0:42:28so I think they're doing the right thing in coming back here
0:42:28 > 0:42:32for a second viewing. They'll get the chance to suss out the area too.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34And then, if all goes well,
0:42:34 > 0:42:38hopefully they'll both make an escape to Hampshire sometime soon.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40See you next time.
0:42:40 > 0:42:45On reflection, Mike and Jill decided not to pursue the second property,
0:42:45 > 0:42:49but are looking for their dream home away from their initial search area
0:42:49 > 0:42:52and around the location of the mystery house instead.
0:42:52 > 0:42:54If you want to escape to the country
0:42:54 > 0:42:56in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England
0:42:56 > 0:42:59or even further afield to the continent, and need our help,
0:42:59 > 0:43:02please apply online at...