0:00:02 > 0:00:04Today, I'm taking a ride. Find out where in just a moment.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23On today's show, we're helping a couple find a rural home
0:00:23 > 0:00:28fit for them and their rather large collection of much-loved pets.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32I think these will be your primary doggy areas.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35So, I am looking after your canine needs.
0:00:35 > 0:00:40And our house-hunters make some stylistic self-discoveries.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44Yeah, I wasn't too sure, but it's actually really growing on me.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46TRAIN BELL RINGS
0:00:46 > 0:00:50I'm in Shropshire and this is Bridgnorth Cliff Railway.
0:00:50 > 0:00:55Its dramatic height of 111ft connects the low town below
0:00:55 > 0:00:57to the old town above.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59When the railway was built in 1892,
0:00:59 > 0:01:03it was powered by a water-based counterbalance system,
0:01:03 > 0:01:07where the carriage going up would be filled with 2,000 gallons of water
0:01:07 > 0:01:09and at the same time,
0:01:09 > 0:01:12the car going down would be emptied by the same amount.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15Today, of course, all of this runs on electricity,
0:01:15 > 0:01:19but this railway is a prime example of Shropshire's historic links
0:01:19 > 0:01:21to the Industrial Age.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Land-locked Shropshire is bordered to the west
0:01:25 > 0:01:29by the Welsh county of Powys and Staffordshire to the east.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32It's one of England's most sparsely populated counties
0:01:32 > 0:01:36and has a tranquil beauty that makes it hard to conceive it was once
0:01:36 > 0:01:39a progressive engineering hub that gave the world
0:01:39 > 0:01:44its first iron-built bridge and set the Industrial Revolution in motion.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48Another local landmark that was ahead of its time is Stokesay Court,
0:01:48 > 0:01:51a magnificent late-Victorian mansion
0:01:51 > 0:01:53that was one of the first private homes in England
0:01:53 > 0:01:56to have integral electric light.
0:01:56 > 0:02:0020 miles north is Much Wenlock, one of Shropshire's prettiest towns.
0:02:00 > 0:02:05As well as offering a wonderful mix of Tudor and Jacobean architecture,
0:02:05 > 0:02:07the town has its own Olympic Games
0:02:07 > 0:02:10which have been held each July since 1850.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13These Games were actually the inspiration
0:02:13 > 0:02:17behind the launch of the modern Olympics in Athens in 1896.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20In spite of the significant influence it's had on the world,
0:02:20 > 0:02:24Shropshire remains a quiet and unspoilt county
0:02:24 > 0:02:26with an appealing understated charm.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Shropshire's property market serves up good value for money
0:02:31 > 0:02:35when you consider that the average price of a detached home here
0:02:35 > 0:02:37is £230,000.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41That's nearly £30,000 less than the national figure.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45But certain pockets of this county can be costly.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49For instance, Ludlow's heritage and reputation for high-end restaurants
0:02:49 > 0:02:52means buying a slice of property there
0:02:52 > 0:02:55can add as much as a 25% premium.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59Moving west though, to more rural areas near the Welsh borders,
0:02:59 > 0:03:03say around Knighton or Presteigne, will reward you generously.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06So, let's find out which part of this county
0:03:06 > 0:03:08today's buyers are hoping to move to.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14Our house-hunters today currently live in the town of Burgess Hill,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17West Sussex, in this four-bedroom new-build.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20Victoria and Stuart both have demanding jobs in IT,
0:03:20 > 0:03:23but they're ready for a quieter pace of life.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27And for Victoria, the move will fulfil a long-held desire
0:03:27 > 0:03:28to return to her roots.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30I absolutely love Shropshire,
0:03:30 > 0:03:32I couldn't have been brought up anywhere nicer.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34I always intended to go back and I thought,
0:03:34 > 0:03:37"When I retire, I'll retire back to Shropshire."
0:03:37 > 0:03:40But my parents are getting older and I would like to go back
0:03:40 > 0:03:42and spend more time with them.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45I work from home, I can work anywhere within reason.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48So, why not now?
0:03:48 > 0:03:51Although Stuart has only visited Shropshire twice,
0:03:51 > 0:03:55he's more than ready for a change from their current situation.
0:03:55 > 0:04:00Well, we're directly on the road, so you've got no front garden, really.
0:04:00 > 0:04:02Very little privacy, I suppose.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05And it's the same with the back garden, as well, you know.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07- You're overlooked from every angle, aren't you?- You are.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11Which you're not so much when you're in the country.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Perhaps the biggest factor motivating the move
0:04:14 > 0:04:17is their rather large family of rescue pets.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19They have three cats, one collie, two lurchers,
0:04:19 > 0:04:23one Parson Russell terrier and a whippet.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25At the moment, we're quite urban,
0:04:25 > 0:04:27so it's very difficult walking the dogs.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29We always feel, especially as we have so many,
0:04:29 > 0:04:31as though we're imposing on everybody else,
0:04:31 > 0:04:33so it just would be nice to have the open spaces
0:04:33 > 0:04:36that we can just get on and do our own thing
0:04:36 > 0:04:38and not feel as though we're upsetting other people.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41As well as walks in the great outdoors,
0:04:41 > 0:04:45there's a decidedly indoor pursuit Stuart is eager to return to
0:04:45 > 0:04:48when they find their home in the country.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51I've been drumming since, I think, nine or ten
0:04:51 > 0:04:56and I was in bands and sort of semi-pro up until the age of 30.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59I haven't got a drum kit here, haven't got the space to set it up.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03Also, it would really annoy the neighbours cos it's very loud.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06The idea of getting back to having a drum kit,
0:05:06 > 0:05:09being able to practise, it's right up my alley.
0:05:09 > 0:05:14Although Victoria and Stuart bought their current home together,
0:05:14 > 0:05:16they chose it from a developer's plan
0:05:16 > 0:05:19and never actually saw the place until they were about to move in.
0:05:19 > 0:05:20The move to Shropshire
0:05:20 > 0:05:23is going to be our first time actually viewing properties,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26- going in them and thinking, "Wow, can we actually live here?"- Yeah.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29"Is this right for us?" Which is going to be a bit weird.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31It's going to be strange, because buying this place,
0:05:31 > 0:05:34we had a floor plan and we could be very logical about it and say,
0:05:34 > 0:05:36"Yeah, we like this, this, this works."
0:05:36 > 0:05:37There was no emotion involved at all.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40It's going to definitely be an experience, isn't it?
0:05:40 > 0:05:41I'd like to think we're going to agree,
0:05:41 > 0:05:45- but I have this horrible feeling that we're not.- We'll agree.
0:05:45 > 0:05:49Property particulars they definitely don't have any trouble agreeing on
0:05:49 > 0:05:51are those involving the pets.
0:05:51 > 0:05:54It's got to have the right configuration downstairs
0:05:54 > 0:05:56for the dogs and the cats and for us.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59It'd be nice to have a reception room
0:05:59 > 0:06:02that we can keep for ourselves.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05- Yeah.- You know...- Yeah.
0:06:05 > 0:06:10..but then have enough space for the dogs to stretch out, lounge around.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Yeah. A big garden, definitely.
0:06:12 > 0:06:15And it has to be a garden that we're able to fence off, as well.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Because of the lurchers, we need six-foot fencing,
0:06:18 > 0:06:20otherwise they'll just skip over.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22And because of the terrier, we've got to have fencing
0:06:22 > 0:06:25cos he'll go under. He'll dig under, won't he?
0:06:25 > 0:06:28- Yeah, he will. He's an escapologist.- Yeah.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31So, how much have they got to spend on a Shropshire home
0:06:31 > 0:06:32for themselves and their pets?
0:06:32 > 0:06:35So, the budget for the move is £360,000.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43They'd like to be within reasonable distance of Victoria's parents
0:06:43 > 0:06:44who live in Wellington,
0:06:44 > 0:06:48so we're focusing our search within a 45-minute drive of the town.
0:06:48 > 0:06:50I'm meeting up with them to learn some more
0:06:50 > 0:06:52about what they're hoping to find.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56So, Stuart and Victoria, welcome to Shropshire.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59- How do you feel about moving to this area?- We're very excited, aren't we?
0:06:59 > 0:07:01Yeah, really looking forward to it.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04So, tell us what you're looking for in a property.
0:07:04 > 0:07:05Something with a large garden.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09Obviously, we've got dogs so we want somewhere where they can run around
0:07:09 > 0:07:14and ideally somewhere with a larger downstairs than an upstairs.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Only two of us, so we don't need lots of bedroom space.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21- Space for a drum kit.- Yes, definitely space for a drum kit.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24- Somewhere soundproofed, preferably. - Somewhere that we can soundproof.
0:07:24 > 0:07:27Garage would be good, off-road parking.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30- I think that's it, really. - Yeah.- Yeah.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32So, how many bedrooms are you looking for?
0:07:32 > 0:07:34- Two to three.- Yeah.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36- Two to three would do. - Who is the decision-maker?
0:07:36 > 0:07:39Who is going to make the final decision
0:07:39 > 0:07:43- when it comes to picking a property? - It's Stu. It's got to be Stu.
0:07:43 > 0:07:44Possibly.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47Well, no, it's my choice really to move to Shropshire,
0:07:47 > 0:07:50my family are here, I'm the one driving the move,
0:07:50 > 0:07:54so I think it's only fair to give Stu the last say on the house.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58- So, if he's happy, you're happy? - Yes, that's the theory.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02So, are you quite flexible about everything else in the house?
0:08:02 > 0:08:04Yeah, we're leaving our options open to anything
0:08:04 > 0:08:07that might be shown to us that we didn't think of.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11That's music to my ears. So, remind us of the budget.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13£360,000.
0:08:13 > 0:08:14OK, good to know.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Well, we have three houses to show you.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19- Let's go and have a look at them. - Great.- Fantastic.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24With a budget of £360,000,
0:08:24 > 0:08:28Victoria and Stuart are looking for a house with two to three bedrooms
0:08:28 > 0:08:30and plenty of downstairs living space
0:08:30 > 0:08:33that can accommodate both them and their pets.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36They'd like a separate space for Stuart's drum kit,
0:08:36 > 0:08:39ideally an outbuilding, and a good-sized garden
0:08:39 > 0:08:42that can easily be fenced for their five dogs.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45We've lined up a great selection of Shropshire homes for them to look at
0:08:45 > 0:08:49but I won't be revealing the price until they've had a guess first.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52One will be our mystery house, which would give them
0:08:52 > 0:08:55the opportunity to stamp their own style on the place,
0:08:55 > 0:08:59but will it be an opportunity they're willing to take up?
0:09:02 > 0:09:06Our search begins a 40-minute drive west of Wellington,
0:09:06 > 0:09:08to the rural hamlet of Rowley.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11With no amenities, basic provisions can be picked up
0:09:11 > 0:09:15a couple of miles away in the very peaceful village of Worthen.
0:09:15 > 0:09:20And set at the base of a hillside in a rural location is our first house.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23- Wow. - So, this is property number one.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26- Wow.- Oh, it's gorgeous. It's really, really lovely.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30And what we're standing on is a terrace that they've added
0:09:30 > 0:09:34just at the front about six years ago. Lovely suntrap, I think.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37- Yeah, it is.- Yeah. - And quite private.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39- Yeah.- With great views.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42- With amazing views, exactly.- Yeah.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Now, the property has been extended a couple of times,
0:09:45 > 0:09:47so there's lots of lovely features inside
0:09:47 > 0:09:50that I'm very keen to show you.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52- Excellent.- Let's go.- Brilliant.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56The house, which is thought to date back to the 1800s,
0:09:56 > 0:09:58was originally a gamekeeper's cottage
0:09:58 > 0:10:01and it's had a couple of extensions over the years.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08- This is the kitchen, with lots of original features.- Nice.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11- How do you feel about beams? - I like beams.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15I wasn't sure but I actually really like them. They're lovely.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19- Lots of character. - Yeah. And that wall is great.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23And is this the kind of size of kitchen you were thinking?
0:10:23 > 0:10:26- It's smaller.- Maybe a bit smaller.
0:10:26 > 0:10:31But if there are enough reception rooms, then that's absolutely fine.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33And, obviously, it's quite connected to the hallway
0:10:33 > 0:10:37so as we came in, the hallway, which they use as a dining room...
0:10:37 > 0:10:41So, it can all be one space and just back here we have a utility room
0:10:41 > 0:10:44and there's an entrance straight out onto your driveway,
0:10:44 > 0:10:46so great for the dogs.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50- No, I like it a lot. I really do. - A proper country kitchen, then?
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Oh, yeah. That'll keep me happy, won't it?
0:10:52 > 0:10:54Shall we go and see the rest of the downstairs?
0:10:54 > 0:10:57- I want to show you the living room. - Great.- Do you want to lead the way?
0:11:05 > 0:11:09- This would be the main living room. - It's got the beams again.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12- Yes, so this is part of the original house.- Right.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14And then just through there,
0:11:14 > 0:11:17you have a conservatory, which they added on.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19It's a great space with underfloor heating as well.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21- Oh, lovely.- Very nice.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23So, you can keep all the doors open
0:11:23 > 0:11:25and everything's quite open-living,
0:11:25 > 0:11:28or if you would need to keep all the dogs and the cats
0:11:28 > 0:11:32in different areas, you can shut all the doors and keep them away.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34You've seen most of the downstairs now,
0:11:34 > 0:11:36- let's go and check out upstairs.- OK.
0:11:39 > 0:11:44Also downstairs, there's a WC which is just next to the utility room.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48Upstairs, there's a family bathroom and three bedrooms.
0:11:48 > 0:11:51For guests, there's a good-sized double and a smaller one
0:11:51 > 0:11:54- and then there's the master. - Gosh, that's lovely.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57- What do you think of the master bedroom?- This is great.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59It's lovely, it's so pretty.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02And both of you have looked up, but you haven't looked there yet.
0:12:02 > 0:12:07Oh, wow. Oh, gosh. That is absolutely stunning.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10- Imagine waking up to that. - Oh, my goodness. It's gorgeous.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14For a cottage, don't you think it's a really decent-size master bedroom?
0:12:14 > 0:12:16- It really is.- Yeah, it's fantastic.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19- It's bigger than ours at the moment, isn't it?- It really is, yeah.
0:12:19 > 0:12:24- It's lovely.- So, you've seen the majority of the house now.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26What vibe are you getting from it?
0:12:26 > 0:12:29When I first came in, I wasn't too sure,
0:12:29 > 0:12:33but it's actually really growing on me. It has a really nice feel to it.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36- And it's nice and bright.- The good news is, there's still plenty more,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39- I'm not exaggerating, to show you. - Really?
0:12:39 > 0:12:42- Shall we head into the garden? - Yep, let's do that.
0:12:42 > 0:12:43Do you want to lead the way?
0:12:43 > 0:12:45I'm pleased they're warming to this place
0:12:45 > 0:12:48and I'm pretty sure they're going to like what's on offer outside.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51There's almost an acre of land with a range of outbuildings,
0:12:51 > 0:12:54including some old structures that could be repaired
0:12:54 > 0:12:57and converted into kennels for the dogs.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59And there's even a chicken shed.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04- Look at your views. - Oh, fabulous.- Fabulous.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Yeah, it's beautifully positioned, it's incredibly quiet.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10- It is, it's very quiet. - It's fantastic.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12And the other side of the garden,
0:13:12 > 0:13:16there is a workshop that you can do something with, maybe your drums.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18Right.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22And there's also an old tractor shed that's been converted into a studio
0:13:22 > 0:13:25that would work either as a great office space
0:13:25 > 0:13:29or somewhere that would be your very own drum room
0:13:29 > 0:13:33with no surrounding buildings, so no-one would be able to hear you.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36- That sounds perfect. - For you and for everyone else.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Exactly, everyone's a winner.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Are you both ready to guess the price?
0:13:40 > 0:13:44- I guess we have to be.- Yep, OK. - Do you want to go first?
0:13:44 > 0:13:47OK. I don't think it's going to be at the top of the budget
0:13:47 > 0:13:50cos I think there's a little bit of work to be done on it,
0:13:50 > 0:13:56so I am going to go for £350,000.
0:13:56 > 0:13:57What about you, Stu?
0:13:57 > 0:14:02- I actually would have said £350,000 as well.- Really?- Really.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06Yeah, I think around that mark.
0:14:06 > 0:14:12The house is actually on the market for £375,000.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15I know it's above your budget, but they will accept offers,
0:14:15 > 0:14:18- so this is why we've shown it to you.- OK.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22- Interesting.- Yeah.
0:14:22 > 0:14:23Well, while you think about it,
0:14:23 > 0:14:26I want you to go and have a look at the other part of the garden,
0:14:26 > 0:14:27the studio, the workshop,
0:14:27 > 0:14:31- so you can really see whether this space would work for you.- OK.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34- And then I'll come and find you. - Fantastic. Thanks very much.
0:14:34 > 0:14:35Thanks a lot.
0:14:38 > 0:14:43At £375,000, this hillside cottage is above budget,
0:14:43 > 0:14:45but the owners are open to offers.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49It has a characterful kitchen, a living room with sunroom
0:14:49 > 0:14:50and three bedrooms.
0:14:50 > 0:14:53Outside, there's just under an acre of land
0:14:53 > 0:14:55and several outbuildings,
0:14:55 > 0:14:57great for dogs and drumming.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01- Wow.- Oh, look at this.- Oh, my gosh.
0:15:01 > 0:15:05That would make a fabulous studio for you.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08And I like that it's separate from the house.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10You could do so much with it.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14First impression when I saw the house - really nice exterior,
0:15:14 > 0:15:17great location, very quiet, just ideal.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19I really liked the inside of the property,
0:15:19 > 0:15:22I thought the layout worked really well for us.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26I would want to bring the sort of decorative order up,
0:15:26 > 0:15:28lots of clean lines.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30I think there's enough land to make this work for the dogs
0:15:30 > 0:15:32and the cats and for us,
0:15:32 > 0:15:33particularly with the outhouse,
0:15:33 > 0:15:35where I can use the drums - brilliant.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38From a drumming point of view, you really couldn't ask for more,
0:15:38 > 0:15:40it's absolutely fantastic for him.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42From the house point of view,
0:15:42 > 0:15:44I reckon we're probably about 90% there.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48- Did you have a good look around? - Yeah, we did, thanks very much.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50- Ready for property number two?- Yep. - Let's go.
0:15:56 > 0:15:59In South Shropshire, at the foot of the Clee Hills,
0:15:59 > 0:16:03stands Hopton Court Estate, which in the late 1800s,
0:16:03 > 0:16:06played host to regular grand-scale hunting parties.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10The sport continues here today, but increasingly popular
0:16:10 > 0:16:13is the simulated version - clay-pigeon shooting.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16Because Victoria and Stuart are keen to explore
0:16:16 > 0:16:18new potential country pursuits,
0:16:18 > 0:16:22we've sent them to meet the estate's shoot instructor, Martin Shineton.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25So, how did clay-pigeon shooting become so popular?
0:16:25 > 0:16:29Well, clay-pigeon shooting stemmed from pheasant shooting
0:16:29 > 0:16:30and grouse shooting.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34And from about the 1880s to the First World War,
0:16:34 > 0:16:36it was all game shooting.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40During the war, they sort of invented clay-pigeon shooting to fill in
0:16:40 > 0:16:42for the lack of pheasants, grouse, and that sort of thing.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45Shooting's traditionally associated with the wealthy.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49- Is that still the case? - It has changed throughout the years.
0:16:49 > 0:16:54It was quite a prestigious thing years ago for the wealthy to do,
0:16:54 > 0:16:57but clay-pigeon shooting obviously came in
0:16:57 > 0:17:01and it sort of brought it back open to the classes
0:17:01 > 0:17:04- and for everybody to enjoy.- Cool.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06The first targets used were glass balls
0:17:06 > 0:17:10but in 1880, these were replaced by more effective clay disks,
0:17:10 > 0:17:13which evolved into today's targets,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16which are now made of a mixture of lime and pitch.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18Basically, we have three different sized clays
0:17:18 > 0:17:22to represent different flights of birds.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25The big one, which is the standard target,
0:17:25 > 0:17:27represents a pheasant or something of similar size,
0:17:27 > 0:17:30which flies quite slow.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32And then you come down to the midi target,
0:17:32 > 0:17:37which will represent a pigeon or something similar to that.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39And then the little target, a mini,
0:17:39 > 0:17:42which represents a partridge or a grouse.
0:17:42 > 0:17:47So, they vary in difficulty when you're actually shooting at them.
0:17:47 > 0:17:49So, is the size of the targets the only thing you use
0:17:49 > 0:17:51to replicate the flight of the birds?
0:17:51 > 0:17:53No, they're not.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55We use a machine, such as this,
0:17:55 > 0:17:58which can be set at different heights, different angles,
0:17:58 > 0:18:00different speeds that sort of
0:18:00 > 0:18:03will represent different flights of birds.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06Over the years, this rural activity
0:18:06 > 0:18:09has evolved into a sophisticated, competitive sport.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association, formed in 1928,
0:18:13 > 0:18:15has more than 24,000 members
0:18:15 > 0:18:18and the British team is one of the world's strongest,
0:18:18 > 0:18:21claiming gold at the 2012 Olympics.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25Right, what I'm going to show you now is how to hold the gun correctly.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Your head down on the stock...
0:18:27 > 0:18:30and hopefully you should be looking at the barrels.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34- Does that feel comfortable? - Yep, cool.- That's perfect.
0:18:34 > 0:18:38When you're ready to shoot at the target, you call, "Pull"...
0:18:38 > 0:18:42Put the bead on the edge of the target, pull the trigger.
0:18:42 > 0:18:43Pull.
0:18:45 > 0:18:46Bang. GUN FIRES
0:18:46 > 0:18:49Well done. Absolutely brilliant.
0:18:50 > 0:18:51Absolutely fantastic.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53There you go.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58- OK, so we run through it again. - Uh-huh.- Loading the gun.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02You mount the gun in your shoulder, in the pocket.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04When you're ready, you call, "Pull".
0:19:04 > 0:19:07- Pull. - GUN FIRES
0:19:08 > 0:19:10Well done. Very well done.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15So, we load the gun, mount the gun as you did before...
0:19:15 > 0:19:17- Pull.- Bang.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19GUN FIRES There you go.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22It looks like Stuart and Victoria are naturals,
0:19:22 > 0:19:24or it's beginners' luck with their aim.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27Now, it's time to set our sights back on the target
0:19:27 > 0:19:29of finding them a home.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37We're continuing our search 20 miles east, to the hamlet of Kenley,
0:19:37 > 0:19:42just a 25-minute drive from Victoria's parents in Wellington.
0:19:42 > 0:19:47The nearest village, 2.5 miles away in a tranquil setting, is Harley.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51It's one of around 50 settlements known as Thankful Villages,
0:19:51 > 0:19:55a term coined in the 1930s by the writer Arthur Mee,
0:19:55 > 0:19:58to describe the handful of communities that were lucky enough
0:19:58 > 0:20:02to have all their men survive the Great War and return home.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04Back in Kenley is our second property,
0:20:04 > 0:20:09a slightly unconventional three-bedroom converted schoolhouse.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13Wow.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17- Gosh.- OK.- House number two.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19- Wow.- Oh, that is stunning. - That is, isn't it?
0:20:19 > 0:20:24- Yeah, that is beautiful. - Chocolate-box house.- Yeah.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Now, I'm not sure if you've noticed it, but I'm going to get
0:20:27 > 0:20:31the semidetached thing out of the way because it's semidetached, yes,
0:20:31 > 0:20:32but not really.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35That side, you would have no neighbours for most of the year.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38That hall's used about four times a year by the locals
0:20:38 > 0:20:40- and it's empty the rest of the time. - Oh, it's a hall.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44- So, you don't really have neighbours at all.- Ah.- OK.
0:20:44 > 0:20:51And this is a garage/workshop/ wood store that is being built.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53- It's huge.- It is.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56- Yeah, so a space that you could do whatever you wanted with.- Yeah.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59Now after getting to know you during the first house tour,
0:20:59 > 0:21:03I'm very, very excited about showing you the inside, so let's get going.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05Great.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08Built in 1893, this stone schoolhouse is situated
0:21:08 > 0:21:12in one of the most sought-after rural areas of Shropshire,
0:21:12 > 0:21:14with views across to Wenlock Edge.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17But it's not just the setting that's so appealing.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20The inside of this property is pretty spectacular.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23So, into the entrance, there's a utility just there
0:21:23 > 0:21:27and then you have this gorgeous conservatory
0:21:27 > 0:21:30and I wanted to show you those two first
0:21:30 > 0:21:33because I think these will be your primary doggy areas.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36That's what you requested, that we look after the dogs
0:21:36 > 0:21:40and the cats, of course, so I am looking after your canine needs.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44But the rest of the house, a lot of it, I think would be perfect
0:21:44 > 0:21:47- for you two as a couple.- Great.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50And I'm going to be a bit unconventional
0:21:50 > 0:21:52and show you the upstairs first
0:21:52 > 0:21:55because there's a bit of an upside-down situation to the house.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58- OK.- OK.- Let's go upstairs.
0:21:58 > 0:22:00In this slightly topsy-turvy house,
0:22:00 > 0:22:04most of the living space is upstairs, which is accessed
0:22:04 > 0:22:08via a galleried landing that looks over the conservatory below.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13You can see why I called it upside down,
0:22:13 > 0:22:15because the living room is upstairs.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19This is brilliant, this is really got the wow factor, hasn't it?
0:22:19 > 0:22:23It really has and with that balcony... It's just unbelievable.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25- Oh, it's just brilliant. - It's amazing.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27It's just how we would do it.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31So, you can see yourselves both sitting here in front of the fire,
0:22:31 > 0:22:33glass of wine.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Looking out on the gallery out there, keeping an eye on the dogs.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38Well, that's the thing.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41I know that you're used to giving them a sofa area in a...
0:22:41 > 0:22:44- But they would have their own area downstairs.- Yeah.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46- It would work really, really well.- It would.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49Yeah, and our furniture would just fit right in.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51- Shall we go check out your kitchen? - Oh, yes.- Yeah.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54I'm going to call it your kitchen. I'm being presumptuous.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56So, I called it a kitchen
0:22:56 > 0:22:59but actually this whole space is one big living area, isn't it?
0:23:01 > 0:23:06- So, your dining area and then your kitchen area.- Oh, it's gorgeous.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10- It really is lovely.- Fantastic. - Beautiful.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13And what do you think about the decor in here?
0:23:13 > 0:23:16Really in keeping with the rest of the house. Really like it.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19- My favourite colour. - Silver and grey.
0:23:19 > 0:23:24And then the rest of the living space is downstairs.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26- OK.- So, let's go back down.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30I'm delighted by their reaction to what they've seen so far
0:23:30 > 0:23:31of this property.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33With this quirky configuration,
0:23:33 > 0:23:36the family bathroom is on the upstairs floor.
0:23:36 > 0:23:40Downstairs, there are two further shower rooms which are en suite.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43In total, there are three double bedrooms,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46one of which has French doors onto a patio
0:23:46 > 0:23:48and another which adjoins the conservatory,
0:23:48 > 0:23:51which then brings us to the master.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55- So, this is the master.- Right.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57But that's the upside-down living,
0:23:57 > 0:24:01that all your bedrooms are on the ground floor.
0:24:01 > 0:24:05- OK, it's interesting.- Yeah.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07How do you feel about that?
0:24:07 > 0:24:10I probably would have said that I don't like it...
0:24:11 > 0:24:13..but I just love it.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16It sort of keeps its period features
0:24:16 > 0:24:18but it's been done in a very modern way,
0:24:18 > 0:24:20which is just what we would want to do.
0:24:20 > 0:24:24Well, start thinking about how much you think this property is worth
0:24:24 > 0:24:27- because that's what we're going to be asking you in the garden.- OK.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31It's clear the style of this place is more to their taste
0:24:31 > 0:24:32than the first property we saw,
0:24:32 > 0:24:35although it doesn't come with quite as much land.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37It has an eighth of an acre,
0:24:37 > 0:24:40but there are plenty of dog-friendly walks in the beautiful
0:24:40 > 0:24:44surrounding countryside and there is that soon to be completed shed
0:24:44 > 0:24:47that Stuart could use for his drumming.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51- So, this is your garden.- Right.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54- So, a lot smaller, obviously, than the previous garden.- Yeah.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57What do you think about the size for your dogs?
0:24:57 > 0:25:02- It's smaller than what we'd hoped for.- It's bigger than we have now.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06- It is, yeah.- So, that's still a plus point.- Yes.- That's good to know.
0:25:06 > 0:25:10- Yeah.- How much do you think this house is on the market for?
0:25:10 > 0:25:12I think it's more expensive than the other one.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15I think it's going to have to be £380,000.
0:25:15 > 0:25:16Vics?
0:25:18 > 0:25:22Well, it's less land and although you're not really aware of it,
0:25:22 > 0:25:26- it is still a semi.- Mm-hm.- So, I'm going to go a little bit less.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29I'm going to go for £365,000.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33It is on the market for offers in the region of...
0:25:33 > 0:25:38- £369,950.- OK. - Yeah, that's really interesting.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42So, they're open to offers at around your budget.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44- That's great news. - That is, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47- Do you want another look around? - Yeah, definitely.- I think we should.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50- Yeah.- OK. Go and do that and I'll come and meet you.- Fantastic.
0:25:50 > 0:25:51Brilliant.
0:25:53 > 0:25:58At just under £370,000, this beautifully converted schoolhouse
0:25:58 > 0:26:02is just above budget, but that price is negotiable.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06The upstairs living space includes a contemporary bespoke kitchen
0:26:06 > 0:26:11and a stylish sitting room with superb panoramic views.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15Downstairs, there are three double bedrooms and a large conservatory
0:26:15 > 0:26:17which could make a great indoor space for the dogs.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19But outside, there's just
0:26:19 > 0:26:21an eighth of an acre of land.
0:26:22 > 0:26:27When I first walked up to the house, it just looked absolutely gorgeous.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30Really breathtakingly spectacular house.
0:26:30 > 0:26:33When you actually walk through the house, very unconventional set-up.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36But it really works. I'm quite surprised.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39If we'd seen it on paper, we would have discounted it.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42I'm not used to the upstairs-downstairs living arrangement,
0:26:42 > 0:26:45but when you've got views as spectacular as these,
0:26:45 > 0:26:47I can really understand why they would do it.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51- And I think they'd have been mad not to.- Great house.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Unconventional but quirky, that's good.
0:26:54 > 0:26:55It's got a lot going for it.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58My overall impression of the property is just a big wow.
0:26:58 > 0:26:59It's absolutely gorgeous,
0:26:59 > 0:27:01it's everything that we could want in a place.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06- Are you ready to leave?- Not really, but I suppose I have to.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10- Shall we drag her away?- Yes. - We've got lots to think about.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19It's day two of our property search with Victoria and Stuart, who,
0:27:19 > 0:27:23with a budget of £360,000, are leaving the town of Burgess Hill,
0:27:23 > 0:27:27West Sussex, for tranquillity and space in Shropshire.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Still to come, at the mystery house there's a bit of a surprise
0:27:30 > 0:27:34with some unusual fixtures and fittings.
0:27:34 > 0:27:39And that horse comes with the property...if you'd like it.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43And I come face to face with some very prickly characters.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51I think we found out a lot about Victoria and Stuart yesterday.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54They were very particular about style and design
0:27:54 > 0:27:58and preferred the property that was already done up to their taste.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02So, how will they react to the challenge of a mystery house
0:28:02 > 0:28:05that I suspect will require a lot more time and effort
0:28:05 > 0:28:07before it feels like home?
0:28:07 > 0:28:08Let's find out.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17- Did you sleep at all last night? - We got a couple of hours, didn't we?
0:28:17 > 0:28:19We did. Yeah, lots of discussions.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23The second house that we really, really liked -
0:28:23 > 0:28:25there's quite a fundamental flaw with it.
0:28:25 > 0:28:29The conservatory, thinking about it, with the dogs,
0:28:29 > 0:28:33we're really worried that in the summer, it may overheat.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35I mean, there are ways around it.
0:28:35 > 0:28:37Yeah. We could blind it off, or...
0:28:37 > 0:28:39Yeah. Do something like that.
0:28:39 > 0:28:43The dogs really are our top priority.
0:28:43 > 0:28:47Maybe we're not looking for a house that's got the wow factor,
0:28:47 > 0:28:50maybe it's just got to have the doggy factor
0:28:50 > 0:28:52and we can work on the rest.
0:28:52 > 0:28:54So, if it's got the bow-wow factor...
0:29:00 > 0:29:03The final stop on our search takes us 25 miles south
0:29:03 > 0:29:07to the quiet hamlet of Little Isle.
0:29:07 > 0:29:08It doesn't have any shops
0:29:08 > 0:29:12but there are plenty six miles away in Ludlow, a picturesque town
0:29:12 > 0:29:17with more than 500 listed buildings and a reputation for excellent food.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19As well as Michelin-star restaurants,
0:29:19 > 0:29:21it has a regular farmers' market
0:29:21 > 0:29:25and lots of independent specialist food outlets.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27Not far away, at the end of a long drive,
0:29:27 > 0:29:31is our final offering, a three-bedroom detached cottage.
0:29:34 > 0:29:39- So, this is your mystery house. - Wow.- Gosh, it's really lovely.
0:29:39 > 0:29:44The mystery house is a mystery because what we wanted to give you
0:29:44 > 0:29:49was something a lot bigger to work with.
0:29:49 > 0:29:51The amount of land you would have here
0:29:51 > 0:29:53is double the land of the first property.
0:29:53 > 0:29:57And inside, it will require a bit of time, but actually,
0:29:57 > 0:30:00what it will allow you to do, I think,
0:30:00 > 0:30:05is really make it into something that you absolutely adore.
0:30:05 > 0:30:09- Shall we go in and see what I'm talking about?- OK.- Let's do it.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12The house was built around 150 years ago and has been extended
0:30:12 > 0:30:16a couple of times since the current owners bought it in 1998.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22So, the dining room that we've just walked through
0:30:22 > 0:30:23was the original kitchen.
0:30:23 > 0:30:27And when the owners moved in, they felt they just wanted more space
0:30:27 > 0:30:31so this is the extension, this kitchen.
0:30:31 > 0:30:32It's a good size.
0:30:32 > 0:30:33I'm just trying to imagine,
0:30:33 > 0:30:39if this house was decorated in the same way that house number two was,
0:30:39 > 0:30:42whether that would make a big difference and I think it would.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45I think I have to see past the decor.
0:30:45 > 0:30:49I think you need to look at the layout of the house,
0:30:49 > 0:30:52the amount of space it has, the configuration,
0:30:52 > 0:30:54whether that would work for you,
0:30:54 > 0:30:58- because I think cosmetic changes are the easiest thing to do...- Yeah.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01..and can be done over time.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03Shall we go through to the conservatory?
0:31:08 > 0:31:12So, this is obviously part of the extension, too.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15- More of a summer room, I think. - Yeah.
0:31:15 > 0:31:20I love this because I think it brings the outdoors completely in
0:31:20 > 0:31:22with this triple aspect.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25- But size-wise, OK?- Yeah.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28- Yeah.- It's OK.- You're not saying much, this is making me nervous.
0:31:28 > 0:31:32- It's...- It's so different. - Yeah, it is so different.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35Yeah, it's completely different to property two.
0:31:35 > 0:31:38- It's probably more like property one.- Yeah.
0:31:38 > 0:31:40OK, I'm not going to probe too much more.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43I'm going to show you the upstairs and then I do want some thoughts,
0:31:43 > 0:31:46because I didn't mean to silence you with the mystery house.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49- Do you want to lead the way upstairs?- Will do.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52Also on the ground floor, there's a utility room
0:31:52 > 0:31:55and adjoining the dining room in the original part of the cottage
0:31:55 > 0:31:58is a sitting room with an attractive brick fireplace
0:31:58 > 0:32:00and a wood-burning stove.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07- Ah, OK.- Oh.
0:32:07 > 0:32:09Wasn't expecting that size.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12Now, this isn't currently being used as the master bedroom,
0:32:12 > 0:32:16but this, I think, would be what YOU would use as the master bedroom,
0:32:16 > 0:32:19- just because of its size. - Right.- Yeah.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22And then you've got two further bedrooms,
0:32:22 > 0:32:25another double bedroom that's currently being used as a master,
0:32:25 > 0:32:27a single bedroom and then a bathroom just next door,
0:32:27 > 0:32:30so it's not quite an en suite, obviously, but it's just there.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34- Yeah.- What do you think, what are your thoughts?
0:32:34 > 0:32:37Have you been able to have that vision, seeing past the decor?
0:32:37 > 0:32:40It has the space, as you said.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43If we ignore the decor, the space is certainly there.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47The configuration, it's not ideal, it's not perfect,
0:32:47 > 0:32:50but we could make it work.
0:32:50 > 0:32:56- Um, I think it's going to come down, probably, to outside space.- Yeah.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58Then I better get you outside.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00OK, let's go.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04If it really is all hinging on what's outside,
0:33:04 > 0:33:08then our buyers might just be swayed because there's loads of space here,
0:33:08 > 0:33:11with attractive, mature gardens, wonderful views
0:33:11 > 0:33:14and an unexpected extra.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16Welcome to the garden again.
0:33:16 > 0:33:21- So, you've got nearly two acres of land to play with.- Wow.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25So, there is definitely going to be plenty of room for the dogs,
0:33:25 > 0:33:27because as well as the garden that you saw
0:33:27 > 0:33:32just before we went into the house, you have this huge paddock here,
0:33:32 > 0:33:38which goes beyond what we can see, so beyond the fence there as well.
0:33:38 > 0:33:43And that horse comes with the property...if you'd like it.
0:33:43 > 0:33:47- You weren't expecting that.- No! - That's part of our mystery.
0:33:47 > 0:33:52- There's also space for geese, chickens, ducks...- Oh, wow.
0:33:52 > 0:33:54So, we really could add to the family.
0:33:54 > 0:33:56Oh, look. He's coming over.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58- Oh.- Hello.
0:33:58 > 0:33:59(Hello.)
0:33:59 > 0:34:01Gorgeous.
0:34:02 > 0:34:05What do you think about the space and him?
0:34:05 > 0:34:08Oh, it's fantastic. It's really fabulous.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10That paddock area is perfect.
0:34:10 > 0:34:13Let's talk money. Who'd like to go first?
0:34:13 > 0:34:15I think you should.
0:34:15 > 0:34:17I'm going to be a little bit harsh
0:34:17 > 0:34:19because of the work that needs to be done to it.
0:34:19 > 0:34:23I'm going to say £340,000.
0:34:23 > 0:34:28OK. All right. Stuart?
0:34:28 > 0:34:32I'm going to go lower at £330,000.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35So, the property is on for a bit more than you've both said.
0:34:35 > 0:34:39- It's on the market for £350,000.- OK.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41So, it's under budget,
0:34:41 > 0:34:48leaving you with some money to make some adjustments to the interior.
0:34:48 > 0:34:52I think that's reasonable. I think I was going low.
0:34:52 > 0:34:54Maybe there was a little bit of hopefulness in there,
0:34:54 > 0:34:55but I think £350,000...
0:34:55 > 0:34:58I think, compared with the other properties we've seen,
0:34:58 > 0:35:00I think it's a fair price.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03Now you have the price, do you want to have another look around
0:35:03 > 0:35:06so you can assess the house with that price in mind
0:35:06 > 0:35:10- and see whether it'd work for you? - Yeah.- I think we should.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12OK, why don't you go and do that and I'll come and find you?
0:35:12 > 0:35:14Brilliant, thanks very much.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19Below budget at £350,000,
0:35:19 > 0:35:21this detached stone cottage has three bedrooms,
0:35:21 > 0:35:24two reception rooms and a conservatory.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28Set in a wonderful rural setting, there's almost two acres of land
0:35:28 > 0:35:29that includes a paddock -
0:35:29 > 0:35:32and the horse in it.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35My first impression when we walked up to the house was that
0:35:35 > 0:35:38it's a really nice-looking cottage, it's been really nicely rendered
0:35:38 > 0:35:40and I loved all the windows.
0:35:40 > 0:35:42It's just a really nice-looking house.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46When I first came into the house, it was actually quite a shock, I guess.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50It's so far apart from how we would decorate somewhere.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53It was difficult initially to see past that, I think.
0:35:53 > 0:35:57The outside space here is absolutely amazing. Two acres.
0:35:57 > 0:36:00It's also got a really gorgeous garden.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02The only question for me, really,
0:36:02 > 0:36:04is whether or not Stu's going to let me have a horse.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08Overall impression, the land is fabulous.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11I'd say the house needs work, but that's OK.
0:36:11 > 0:36:15Certainly the idea of it is growing on me.
0:36:18 > 0:36:20Vics, come and share my umbrella.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23Now you've both seen everything we have to offer, shall we find
0:36:23 > 0:36:26somewhere nice and dry so you can really discuss what you want?
0:36:26 > 0:36:27- Yes, please.- Let's go.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36In central Shropshire, on the outskirts of Much Wenlock,
0:36:36 > 0:36:38is Cuan Wildlife Rescue,
0:36:38 > 0:36:41a charity dedicated to the care and rehabilitation
0:36:41 > 0:36:44of sick, injured and orphaned animals.
0:36:45 > 0:36:50Set up in 1991, it's Shropshire's only 24-hour wildlife rescue centre
0:36:50 > 0:36:54and it takes in more than 1,500 casualties a year.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57Anna Nicholas, whose parents started the organisation
0:36:57 > 0:37:00when she was just a child, is now the centre's manager
0:37:00 > 0:37:05and is building on the life-saving work they began over 20 years ago.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08What type of animals do you look after here?
0:37:08 > 0:37:11We look after lots of different types, all British wildlife
0:37:11 > 0:37:14and every one's always released to the wild, we don't keep anything.
0:37:14 > 0:37:16Quite a lot of things we have... We have a lot of swans,
0:37:16 > 0:37:19a lot of birds, all your usual garden birds will come in.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22- I can hear the birds in here. - There are some up there, yes.
0:37:22 > 0:37:24There's some little young house martins up there
0:37:24 > 0:37:27- which have been orphaned through one reason or another.- Aw.
0:37:27 > 0:37:28But they're squawking at the moment
0:37:28 > 0:37:30because they think they're going to be fed.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32Are you really busy at this time of year,
0:37:32 > 0:37:35- that transition from summer into autumn?- We're still quite busy.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37Obviously, summer is our busiest period,
0:37:37 > 0:37:40with all the baby birds, all the baby animals.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42However, the autumn period,
0:37:42 > 0:37:44a lot of the autumn juvenile hedgehogs come in,
0:37:44 > 0:37:46mainly due to the change of weather.
0:37:46 > 0:37:49Obviously, it's getting colder now, winter's coming.
0:37:49 > 0:37:51And we get a lot more of the hedgehogs come in
0:37:51 > 0:37:52that aren't coping.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55So, once someone brings you a hedgehog that isn't well,
0:37:55 > 0:37:57what happens?
0:37:57 > 0:37:58They come into the admissions room,
0:37:58 > 0:38:01they obviously get looked over for whatever injuries they've got.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05Sometimes it's not obvious, for example, some of these,
0:38:05 > 0:38:07it isn't actually obvious what injuries they've got on these.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09These are only about three weeks old.
0:38:09 > 0:38:13The reason it's got pink on its head is because we have to mark them
0:38:13 > 0:38:16to make sure we know which one we're weighing. This one's too small.
0:38:16 > 0:38:18It's lost its parents for whatever reason.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21..And then we'll start treating it for things like worming
0:38:21 > 0:38:22and just generally feed them up.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24Over the last ten years,
0:38:24 > 0:38:27hedgehog populations have declined by more than a third.
0:38:27 > 0:38:29The reason is unclear
0:38:29 > 0:38:31but a key factor is thought to be habitat loss
0:38:31 > 0:38:33from intensive farming practices
0:38:33 > 0:38:36and increased road and housing construction.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39- I've noticed some syringes there. - Yes.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41- Are they ready for these hedgehogs? - They are, unfortunately.
0:38:41 > 0:38:43They're having their worming treatment
0:38:43 > 0:38:46cos they're suffering from worms at the moment, tummy worms.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49Once the hedgehogs have completed their course of medication
0:38:49 > 0:38:50and have gained weight,
0:38:50 > 0:38:53they're transferred to the centre's hedgehog garden,
0:38:53 > 0:38:56where they spend time readjusting to the outdoors
0:38:56 > 0:38:59before being released back into the wild.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01So, I'll just show you this one that's in here.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03He's asleep at the moment, unfortunately.
0:39:03 > 0:39:05He's a bit bigger than the ones we've seen.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09And once they're ready to go back out into the wild,
0:39:09 > 0:39:10where do you release them?
0:39:10 > 0:39:13These'll get released as a group cos obviously they know each other,
0:39:13 > 0:39:15they have a bit of a best chance.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17We'll release them into certain areas of Shropshire,
0:39:17 > 0:39:20not near any main roads and things like that.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23How do people, how do the public, how can WE help prevent them
0:39:23 > 0:39:26getting to a state where they need a rescue centre?
0:39:26 > 0:39:28It's great if you can encourage them into your garden.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31If you've got a little bit of your garden that you can leave a bit wild,
0:39:31 > 0:39:34that you don't need to strim back, you don't need to cut back,
0:39:34 > 0:39:36you can leave lots of wild plants,
0:39:36 > 0:39:39wild things like that, that would be great. That'll encourage them in.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42And actually, we could just put something like this in our garden,
0:39:42 > 0:39:45- couldn't we?- Absolutely. I mean, it doesn't have to be as fancy as this.
0:39:45 > 0:39:47Anything like an upturned crate you've got,
0:39:47 > 0:39:50cover it in a bit of hedge, bit of earth, bit of bracken.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53Anything like that will provide a nice, dry, safe place for them to go
0:39:53 > 0:39:54and you'll probably find
0:39:54 > 0:39:56that they'll come and live in your garden.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58- Thank you so much, Anna. - That's all right.
0:39:58 > 0:40:02It's been very informative and good luck to Mr Pink And White over here.
0:40:02 > 0:40:05With increased public awareness
0:40:05 > 0:40:08and the important work being done here at the centre
0:40:08 > 0:40:11and others like it, hopefully these wonderful creatures
0:40:11 > 0:40:14will be a familiar sight in our gardens once more.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19Having now shown Vicky and Stu all three of our properties,
0:40:19 > 0:40:23I'm not quite sure which house suited them best
0:40:23 > 0:40:25because they liked aspects of all of them,
0:40:25 > 0:40:28but expressed reservations about all of them, too.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30What I'd really like to do is pin them down
0:40:30 > 0:40:33on which property is their favourite.
0:40:37 > 0:40:42Victoria and Stuart, which of the houses, if any, do you prefer?
0:40:42 > 0:40:45We are still favouring house number two.
0:40:45 > 0:40:47Even though you had reservations
0:40:47 > 0:40:50that it might not quite suit the dogs?
0:40:50 > 0:40:53Yeah, I think the conservatory is definitely a worry,
0:40:53 > 0:40:54but there are ways around it.
0:40:54 > 0:40:58We can look at having blinds fitted.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01The back wall is too low, so we'd need to build that up,
0:41:01 > 0:41:03so we'd need to see if we could get permission
0:41:03 > 0:41:05to put a six foot fence in.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09But apart from that, it really was perfect.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13Now, the one big thing that house two was missing
0:41:13 > 0:41:14was the outdoor space.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16That's true, um...
0:41:18 > 0:41:21There are lots of walks in that area, though.
0:41:22 > 0:41:26- So, the outside space may not be such an issue.- Yeah.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29I think, from the moment I saw it, I just thought it was amazing.
0:41:29 > 0:41:31And I think even if it had needed work,
0:41:31 > 0:41:33I think I still would have loved it.
0:41:33 > 0:41:35So, if you think you would have liked house two
0:41:35 > 0:41:38even if it hadn't been done up to that standard,
0:41:38 > 0:41:40what drew you to the house?
0:41:40 > 0:41:43- I think it had the best location. - It had a really great location.
0:41:43 > 0:41:47I mean, it looked over Wenlock Edge, I mean, absolutely stunning.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50It's closer to my parents.
0:41:50 > 0:41:51It just felt right for us.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54So, will you be going back to house number two?
0:41:54 > 0:41:57- Think so...- Yeah, I think so.
0:41:57 > 0:42:01And if you're happy with the answers you get to all of your questions,
0:42:01 > 0:42:04do you think you would put an offer in?
0:42:05 > 0:42:08- I think we probably would. - Yeah, I think so, too. Yeah.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10Well, let us know how you get on with house two
0:42:10 > 0:42:13- and whether you do indeed put an offer in.- We will do.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17- And thank you for letting me take you house-hunting.- Thanks very much.
0:42:17 > 0:42:19Thank you.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24Well, that was revealing.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27Vicky and Stu's main request was enough space and land
0:42:27 > 0:42:30for their pets, yet they've fallen for the one property
0:42:30 > 0:42:33that didn't quite meet that demand.
0:42:33 > 0:42:37I think what we've all learnt during this search is that
0:42:37 > 0:42:40this is a couple who instinctively go with their gut feeling
0:42:40 > 0:42:43on a house, rather than sticking with a wish list.
0:42:43 > 0:42:45Until next time, goodbye.
0:42:48 > 0:42:52If you'd like to escape to the country in Wales, Scotland,
0:42:52 > 0:42:55Northern Ireland or England and need our help,
0:42:55 > 0:42:57you can apply online at...