0:00:02 > 0:00:04In this churchyard within the boundaries of a national park lies
0:00:04 > 0:00:06one of Britain's literary greats.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09Even though he died in Sussex in 1930,
0:00:09 > 0:00:14his remains were reinterred here 25 years later in 1955.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17Who was he? Well, the answer...
0:00:17 > 0:00:19..dear viewer, is elementary.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43Today it's happy-holiday memories drawing our house-hunting couple
0:00:43 > 0:00:45towards a new life in the countryside.
0:00:46 > 0:00:48- Oh, wow.- Wow.
0:00:48 > 0:00:50- Yeah.- Now, that is something.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52That is stunning.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55We serve up a space for every season.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58- Another sitting-room? - Another sitting-room, yeah.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00So this could be the winter room and the other one the summer room.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03- Exactly! Exactly.- I like it.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09Today we're in the New Forest in Hampshire and the
0:01:09 > 0:01:13Church of All Saints in the village of Minstead is the
0:01:13 > 0:01:16final resting place for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,
0:01:16 > 0:01:19who began life as a physician but found fame as the creator of the
0:01:19 > 0:01:23fictional detective hero, Sherlock Holmes.
0:01:23 > 0:01:25But it was actually while he was researching his historical novel,
0:01:25 > 0:01:30The White Company, that Conan Doyle discovered the New Forest.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33There's a village very similar to Minstead that features heavily in
0:01:33 > 0:01:36the novel and he ended up buying a house nearby.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38So, with that illustrious seal of approval,
0:01:38 > 0:01:43let's turn our attention to other inspiring parts of this unique
0:01:43 > 0:01:44national park.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49The New Forest in southern England sits primarily in Hampshire,
0:01:49 > 0:01:53but crosses borders into Dorset and Wiltshire.
0:01:53 > 0:01:58Protected by national park status, it covers 350 square miles and
0:01:58 > 0:02:02encompasses unspoiled woods and heathlands scattered with gorse.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08A key feature of the landscape here is the free-roaming ponies,
0:02:08 > 0:02:09cattle and deer.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13Residents of the area, known as Commoners,
0:02:13 > 0:02:17have ancient rights to turn their livestock out to graze.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21Within the park are a number of historic towns and villages,
0:02:21 > 0:02:25including Lyndhurst, dubbed the capital of the New Forest.
0:02:25 > 0:02:30Nearby Beaulieu looks out over the river and is a conservation area
0:02:30 > 0:02:33on account of the decorative 17th and 18th century buildings
0:02:33 > 0:02:35that line its high-street.
0:02:35 > 0:02:40These stand testament to the enduring wealth of the local estate.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42So, with its far-reaching coastline,
0:02:42 > 0:02:46a diverse natural landscape and distinctive architectural heritage,
0:02:46 > 0:02:49the New Forest is an attractive area
0:02:49 > 0:02:52to escape to and enjoy a life in the outdoors.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00The New Forest is a hot-spot for tourists and home-buyers alike.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02Lying just 90 minutes from the capital,
0:03:02 > 0:03:06the average price for a detached house here is £450,000 -
0:03:06 > 0:03:11that's £120,000 higher than the national figure.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15And demand for property in the Forest is at an all-time high,
0:03:15 > 0:03:20with prices having risen more than 30% in the last five years.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23You pay a top premium for properties
0:03:23 > 0:03:26near the towns of Lyndhurst and Beaulieu,
0:03:26 > 0:03:29but you can get a bit more for your money in the north of the area.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33So, let's meet our buyers today who are keen to invest in the Forest.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36But let's find out which area will charm and most.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41Retired flight purser Jill and her husband Rob,
0:03:41 > 0:03:46a former strategic analyst, met through a friend 30 years ago.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49It took awhile to get on each other's radar.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53I just remember meeting him several times and just always liked him.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55But he could never remember my name.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58I wasn't sure of his!
0:03:58 > 0:04:00I just thought he was a nice chap.
0:04:00 > 0:04:04A quarter of a century later they're still going strong.
0:04:04 > 0:04:0725 years, just had our silver wedding anniversary.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09- Fourth of January.- Yeah.
0:04:09 > 0:04:14The couple have lived in Windlesham in Surrey for over two decades and
0:04:14 > 0:04:15have spent the past 12 years
0:04:15 > 0:04:17in their five-bedroom detached property.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22But now that both of their children have left home and Jill has recently
0:04:22 > 0:04:26retired, they've decided the time is right to head to pastures new.
0:04:28 > 0:04:33It's something we've always wanted to do and now just seems to be
0:04:33 > 0:04:34the right time.
0:04:34 > 0:04:39Zoe and James are both at university, so this is our time now.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44They've decided they'd like to put down roots in the New Forest.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48First time we ever went to the New Forest together was actually
0:04:48 > 0:04:49when we were on honeymoon
0:04:49 > 0:04:53and we went for a drive one day into the New Forest and
0:04:53 > 0:04:55just fell in love with it.
0:04:55 > 0:04:56Happy memories there.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58And also I've got the benefit, too,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01I have a sister who lives in Bransgore,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04which is right on the edge of the New Forest.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07And another sister up in Salisbury.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11So we'll be moving a bit closer to family that side of things.
0:05:11 > 0:05:16The key thing is having access to the coast at a reasonable distance,
0:05:16 > 0:05:19and just slowing down a bit.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24As well as looking forward to long walks with their pet dog, the couple
0:05:24 > 0:05:26have plenty of hobbies to keep them
0:05:26 > 0:05:30busy when they make their leap to the country.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34Rob is the creative cook out of the two of us.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38I tend to do more the family favourites.
0:05:39 > 0:05:45We're both very new beginners on golf and we're trying that out.
0:05:45 > 0:05:50I have recently, since I retired, joined the WI.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55But we thought joining the local clubs is a way of making friends.
0:05:55 > 0:06:02Absolutely. It gives you a ready-made in to the community.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05Rob has always wanted to keep chickens and bees,
0:06:05 > 0:06:08and I can see I'm going to have to give in to him one day.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11- So you'd be happy then, wouldn't you?- Yeah.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13So, with plenty of plans up their sleeves,
0:06:13 > 0:06:15Jill and Rob are all set to begin
0:06:15 > 0:06:19the journey to find their future rural retreat.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23Our present home here has been a home where we have brought up the
0:06:23 > 0:06:25children, had great experiences,
0:06:25 > 0:06:29got lovely memories here as well and I'm getting quite excited about
0:06:29 > 0:06:33creating new memories in a new home,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35something that will suit us.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38I know it's a hackneyed phrase, is, our forever home.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44Jill and Rob would like to live within easy reach of the coast,
0:06:44 > 0:06:47so we're edging our search towards the south of the New Forest.
0:06:47 > 0:06:52But before that I'm catching up with them to discuss the finer details of
0:06:52 > 0:06:53their house move.
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Welcome to the New Forest,
0:06:55 > 0:06:57it's a lovely slightly damp spring day.
0:06:57 > 0:06:58- Very much so.- Just a bit, yeah.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01I grew up around here so this is a bit my hunting ground.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Let's talk about the spec of the house -
0:07:03 > 0:07:05how many bedrooms are you looking for, things like that?
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Either three-bedroom house with a study,
0:07:08 > 0:07:10or else four bedrooms where we could
0:07:10 > 0:07:13maybe use one of the bedrooms as a study.
0:07:13 > 0:07:16- A man cave, as such. - A man cave. We love those.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19What about the reception rooms? What are you looking for there?
0:07:19 > 0:07:22We'd like a kitchen-breakfast room.
0:07:22 > 0:07:23We have a dining room at the moment
0:07:23 > 0:07:25but it's probably the least used room in the house.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27And what about the style?
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Are you looking for old, traditional, modern?
0:07:30 > 0:07:32We're open to anything, really.
0:07:32 > 0:07:37Open to just about anything but one thing we are keen on is character.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40But inside ultramodern is quite fine.
0:07:40 > 0:07:41- OK.- Old is also fine.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44What about the outside space? Because that is obviously important.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47So, we're after something which is low-maintenance.
0:07:47 > 0:07:51We're also interested in a bit of land because I've always wanted
0:07:51 > 0:07:54to keep bees. Jill's never allowed me to keep bees.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57- He's had a tough life. - So this is my chance, you see.
0:07:57 > 0:07:58How much land are we talking?
0:07:59 > 0:08:01Half an acre.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Let's talk money because you've got a very healthy budget.
0:08:03 > 0:08:04Tell me your budget again.
0:08:04 > 0:08:08At the moment we've targeted ourselves £850,000.
0:08:08 > 0:08:13- Mm.- But if you can find something really, really special
0:08:13 > 0:08:17we could stretch ourselves up to £1 million.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20- Good. We always like a top budget. - Yes, I'm sure.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22Great. Well, we have three lovely houses,
0:08:22 > 0:08:24all quite different and there's no time like the present.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27- Shall we go and look? - Looking forward to it.- Let's do it.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34Jill and Rob have a maximum budget of £1 million to secure themselves
0:08:34 > 0:08:39a character home where a large kitchen-diner is essential.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42They'd like at least three bedrooms along with a study.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45Outside they're hoping for a manageable garden,
0:08:45 > 0:08:49and land for keeping bees and chickens would be a bonus.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51Location-wise they prefer to be
0:08:51 > 0:08:54close to a community rather than remote.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57We've selected a thought-provoking line-up of properties for Jill
0:08:57 > 0:09:01and Rob to view, but it will only be after they've toured each one
0:09:01 > 0:09:04that they'll discover the price.
0:09:04 > 0:09:05Final stop is the Mystery House
0:09:05 > 0:09:07and that will give them a big surprise and
0:09:07 > 0:09:09something new to think about.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22We're starting our house-hunt in the village of East Boldre right in the
0:09:22 > 0:09:24heart of the national park.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27In classic New Forest tradition,
0:09:27 > 0:09:31it's not unusual to see ponies wandering freely around the village,
0:09:31 > 0:09:34which is well served by a handful of amenities.
0:09:34 > 0:09:39Back in 1910 the heathland here was the site of the New Forest's
0:09:39 > 0:09:40first airfield.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45Close by there's a traditional dining pub, and opposite,
0:09:45 > 0:09:48a long driveway leads down to this gleaming white property,
0:09:48 > 0:09:51which even looks stylish in the pouring rain.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54This is our first offering.
0:09:54 > 0:09:57- Wow. Right.- What do you think?
0:09:57 > 0:09:58- Big.- Yeah.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00So, it dates back turn-of-the-century
0:10:00 > 0:10:03but it was completely redone about seven or eight years ago.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05These new beautiful kind of floor-to-ceiling windows
0:10:05 > 0:10:08all along its side, because this is the south-facing garden,
0:10:08 > 0:10:10so it's just awash with sunlight.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12- Nice and small.- Not today. - That's gorgeous.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15- So, let's have a look inside.- OK.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18This handsome home is topped with a smart slate roof,
0:10:18 > 0:10:21part of the property's more recent renovations.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24We're entering and heading through
0:10:24 > 0:10:26to a striking monochrome kitchen-diner,
0:10:26 > 0:10:28perfect for two keen cooks.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34- If you come here you get the full wallop of the...- Wow.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36- ..effect.- That is lovely.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38That is a whole lot more modern...
0:10:38 > 0:10:41- Yeah.- ..than we were expecting from the outside.
0:10:41 > 0:10:43Not what I was expecting at all.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46The thing I do like about the conservatory there
0:10:46 > 0:10:48- is the full-length windows. - You see the gardens.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51- Yeah, straight into the garden. - You're straight into it.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53Come through, let's have a look in the sunroom.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55I think the sun's sort of peeking through.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57- The sun's coming out.- Wow.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00You can see why they built it here. It really is a lovely sunny spot.
0:11:00 > 0:11:05But it's got that elusive good feeling that I can't define.
0:11:05 > 0:11:06- Yeah.- It just...but it's got it.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11There's another older conservatory, used as a utility room, behind the
0:11:11 > 0:11:13kitchen, but we're heading to the
0:11:13 > 0:11:15other side of the property to take in
0:11:15 > 0:11:20the dual-aspect sitting room with a log-burning fire as a focal point.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24So, we're coming into the older part of the house here, so the
0:11:24 > 0:11:28ceiling's a little bit lower but the same floor-to-ceiling concertina
0:11:28 > 0:11:31- doors.- Lovely.- Quite cosy, I would call it.- I was going to say,
0:11:31 > 0:11:34with the slightly lower ceiling it makes it -
0:11:34 > 0:11:36it's got a cosy feeling to it.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38But this is pretty much it downstairs.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40It's quite a simple layout. That's sort of what you were looking for.
0:11:40 > 0:11:42It is. Indeed, yeah.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45- No dining room.- No dining room, no. - LAUGHTER
0:11:45 > 0:11:49Behind the sitting room is one of the four double bedrooms.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52It has doors to the garden and a neighbouring shower room.
0:11:53 > 0:11:55The other three are found upstairs.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59There's one at the front, currently used as a twin, with views on two
0:11:59 > 0:12:03sides, and then to the rear is another set up as an office,
0:12:03 > 0:12:06which is a light, bright dual aspect.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Next door is a tiled family bathroom,
0:12:10 > 0:12:13but I'm keen to get their take on the fourth bedroom.
0:12:13 > 0:12:17Ah, the sun has come out now. It's super-bright in here.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20- Lovely.- Oh, it is.- This they're using as the master bedroom because,
0:12:20 > 0:12:23- on the other side of here, you've got an en suite.- OK.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26I don't know how big you like your bedrooms, or how...
0:12:26 > 0:12:30Probably a little bit bigger than this, because we've got a big bed.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33A very large bed. We could use maybe one of the other rooms and have this
0:12:33 > 0:12:36- as a guest suite.- Yeah, the other room is actually probably a little
0:12:36 > 0:12:38bit bigger because they haven't used it up, it doesn't have an en suite.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41But then has the downside of having to use family bathroom as such,
0:12:41 > 0:12:45- yeah.- Yeah.- But when it's just the two of us, does it matter?- Yeah.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47I like Jill's pragmatic approach.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50With the house interior covered, we're heading outside to appreciate
0:12:50 > 0:12:53the views from the pleasantly secluded garden.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58The extensive grounds wrap around the house and would provide a great
0:12:58 > 0:13:00playground for their pet dog.
0:13:01 > 0:13:05The front overlooks a south-facing garden, and to the rear there's an
0:13:05 > 0:13:07area perfect for growing vegetables,
0:13:07 > 0:13:10complete with garden shed and log store.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12In addition, there are two garages,
0:13:12 > 0:13:16a workshop and numerous outbuildings, including stables.
0:13:17 > 0:13:22On top of that, this property comes with a generous two paddocks.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30- So, here we have a real selling point for you particularly, Rob.- OK.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34This is the second of the two paddocks, and the whole thing adds
0:13:34 > 0:13:38- up to two acres.- They're beautifully maintained paddocks, I must say.
0:13:38 > 0:13:42And we could portion off a bit there to put bees and chickens in as well.
0:13:42 > 0:13:45So the missing part of the puzzle is the price, of course.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47What do you think its price tag is?
0:13:47 > 0:13:50I think it's probably over our budget because of where we are in
0:13:50 > 0:13:54the New Forest, the amount of land, and the size of the house.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56I think...
0:13:56 > 0:13:58875,000?
0:13:59 > 0:14:04- Rob?- Rightio. Well, I'm thinking 890,000 is where I would put it.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08So this is where you need to hold on to your horses, because this is,
0:14:08 > 0:14:13I think, going to be a wake-up to the prices inside the National Park.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15This is right at the very top of your budget.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18- Wow.- This is £995,000.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22- OK.- OK.- So we do need to do a...a total recheck.
0:14:22 > 0:14:24So why don't you go back and explore, and then when you've had
0:14:24 > 0:14:27your fill of looking and thinking and scratching your head,
0:14:27 > 0:14:29then we can regroup to go and look at the next one.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31- Great.- OK.- Thanks a lot.
0:14:34 > 0:14:40This turn-of-the-century house rings in £5,000 below the top budget.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43It provides a state-of-the-art kitchen/diner and conservatory,
0:14:43 > 0:14:46a cosy sitting room, four bedrooms,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49a manageable garden and two additional paddocks,
0:14:49 > 0:14:52all in a perfect New Forest setting.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57- OK, the front bedroom.- This is bigger than the master bedroom.
0:14:57 > 0:14:58- Yeah, it's a good size.- I would probably,
0:14:58 > 0:15:01I would use this one is a master.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04- And those views. - I love the property.
0:15:04 > 0:15:09It's very deceptive, the difference between the outside and the inside.
0:15:09 > 0:15:13I love the downstairs - the way it's been modernised is lovely.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17Upstairs is more in keeping with the old style of the house,
0:15:17 > 0:15:21which we would need to do something about.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23I was pretty floored, staggered,
0:15:23 > 0:15:27- I could almost say embarrassed by being so far out with the price. - HE CHUCKLES
0:15:27 > 0:15:31But obviously, yes, it's the value of that land out the front.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34It's just got a lovely feel about it.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36I could actually see ourselves here.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40To be honest, it's way at the upper end of our limit.
0:15:40 > 0:15:45Also out the back, I saw there's a big stand of Leylandii, and it's not
0:15:45 > 0:15:47a tree that I'm particularly fond of,
0:15:47 > 0:15:49so that does give me concern as well.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52Have you seen everything you want to see?
0:15:52 > 0:15:55- Yes, we have.- We have, thank you, yes.- Thanks very much.- Oh, the
0:15:55 > 0:15:57rain's about to start again, so let's get in the car
0:15:57 > 0:16:00- and we'll go and see the next house. - Wonderful.- Thank you.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07When they make their move, Jill has
0:16:07 > 0:16:10plans to create a beautiful country garden,
0:16:10 > 0:16:14while Rob's got his sights set on beekeeping - two hobbies that should
0:16:14 > 0:16:18work in perfect harmony to give them a healthy supply of home-made honey.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23To discover more about keeping bees on their country plot, using a low
0:16:23 > 0:16:27maintenance approach, they've come to meet Natural Beekeeping Trust
0:16:27 > 0:16:31member John Haverson at his home just north of the New Forest, to see
0:16:31 > 0:16:34what the latest buzz is in the bee world.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39We've just been walking through your garden and the flowers here are just
0:16:39 > 0:16:41gorgeous. How do you keep it flowering all year round?
0:16:41 > 0:16:45Well, we literally just plant in plants that come into flower
0:16:45 > 0:16:48naturally all year round, and we do it for the bees.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52Wonderful, and we see you actually have hives in your garden as well.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56- Never seen these before. What are they?- The tall one is a Warre hive,
0:16:56 > 0:16:59which is a French design, designed by a priest, really, in about 1900,
0:16:59 > 0:17:021920, that sort of era.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06I mean, the main reason was to try and support the bee.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09So, in our beekeeping, we are natural beekeepers.
0:17:09 > 0:17:13That means we try and let the bee live as naturally as possible as it
0:17:13 > 0:17:17- would do in nature.- Emile Warre,
0:17:17 > 0:17:21who designed the unconventional hive that John uses to house his bees,
0:17:21 > 0:17:26experimented with 350 different designs before he settled on his
0:17:26 > 0:17:29eponymous one in the early 1900s.
0:17:29 > 0:17:34He wanted to create a hive that was efficient, cost-saving and aimed at
0:17:34 > 0:17:38a smaller-scale yield rather than maximising productivity.
0:17:38 > 0:17:43Across the garden, John has an empty hive to show Jill and Rob, so they
0:17:43 > 0:17:46can take a closer look at how it works.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49Looking at it, this seems a lot narrower and taller than the ones
0:17:49 > 0:17:52that I'm used to seeing. Why is that?
0:17:52 > 0:17:54We can have a look at the basic structure...
0:17:54 > 0:17:57- OK.- ..which does show a much narrower box.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59It means that the cluster
0:17:59 > 0:18:03- will be tighter and more cosy in the winter.- OK.
0:18:03 > 0:18:08Most people are not aware that bees consume an awful lot of honey, just
0:18:08 > 0:18:10keeping their hive warm.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13They generate heat to keep their brood warm.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18Another way the Warre hive differs from more conventional hives is that
0:18:18 > 0:18:22new boxes are added at the bottom rather than the top,
0:18:22 > 0:18:25because in the wild, bees live in warm places like tree trunks and
0:18:25 > 0:18:28naturally build from the top down.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31Pretty straightforward. Not as heavy as I thought it might be.
0:18:31 > 0:18:33We happen to have here
0:18:33 > 0:18:38a window where you can look into the hive and see...
0:18:38 > 0:18:41- OK, fascinating.- ..the comb coming down, and it's that...
0:18:41 > 0:18:44and they all grow down, and normally you will look underneath
0:18:44 > 0:18:46when the comb's got down to about here
0:18:46 > 0:18:48before you'll put another box on.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51- OK.- What about getting the honey out of the hive?
0:18:51 > 0:18:53How do we do that?
0:18:53 > 0:18:56We will lift out the combs.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58Now, they would normally be full-length,
0:18:58 > 0:19:01so we actually take less honey in this method.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05So, we do less work but we have healthy bees and happy bees.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08So it's a win-win situation for both.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12Rob's taking it all in, but before he heads off to start planning his
0:19:12 > 0:19:16own hives, he and Jill are going to get a chance to sample the fruits of
0:19:16 > 0:19:20- the bees' labour.- Wow, that's a bit darker than I was expecting,
0:19:20 > 0:19:24- I must admit.- It does have all the pollen in it and it does have
0:19:24 > 0:19:27- propolis in it.- OK.- So it's got far more nutrients in there than you
0:19:27 > 0:19:29will get in processed honey.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35Propolis is an architectural glue made by bees to seal unwanted gaps
0:19:35 > 0:19:39in the hive, protect them from the elements, and keep them warm.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42It's also edible and has been consumed for centuries due to its
0:19:42 > 0:19:44reputed healing properties.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50That is delicious. Absolutely delicious.
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Got a lovely texture.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54And in here I've got some pressed honey,
0:19:54 > 0:19:57which is pressed out of the honeycomb,
0:19:57 > 0:19:59and then it's just allowed to drain.
0:19:59 > 0:20:00In we go.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Mm.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09- So, what do you think?- I find like an appley kind of character coming
0:20:09 > 0:20:14through, and then very floral, fragrant kind of character -
0:20:14 > 0:20:16taste of the garden, you could even say.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19So, having seen all that, what are your thoughts about your own hive?
0:20:20 > 0:20:24Well, I was very sceptical to start off with, but I must admit, having
0:20:24 > 0:20:29seen the hives and tasted the honey, I've been won over, definitely.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32Good, so all we have to do now is find a place to put them.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41Keeping the house-hunting momentum going, we're travelling to the
0:20:41 > 0:20:44hamlet of Beckley, on the edge of the New Forest, near the
0:20:44 > 0:20:46Hampshire-Dorset border.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Just 20 minutes away is the coastal town of Lymington.
0:20:49 > 0:20:50A haven for yachting,
0:20:50 > 0:20:55there are three marinas and a ferry service to the nearby Isle of Wight.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58I've brought our coastal-loving couple here to show them what could
0:20:58 > 0:21:01be at their disposal when they make their move.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06This is a lovely sort of typical kind of town in the New Forest,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08in the sense it's got lots of amenities.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11It's lovely, cos the last house is only about 15 minutes away,
0:21:11 > 0:21:14the next one is only about 15, 20 minutes away, so this would probably
0:21:14 > 0:21:17- be the place where you'd come to do your fancy shopping.- So,
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- access is quite good, then?- Yeah. Yeah, I mean you wanted to be by the
0:21:20 > 0:21:22coast, but obviously not on the
0:21:22 > 0:21:24coast, so this would probably be a good central point for your,
0:21:24 > 0:21:28- kind of, adventures. Come on, let's go and see the next house.- Lovely.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Eight miles away in Beckley,
0:21:32 > 0:21:35a long quiet driveway leads us to our next offering.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42We've brought you round the back of the house because it has the most
0:21:42 > 0:21:45- beautiful aspect. - Oh, wow.- Wow!
0:21:45 > 0:21:48- Yeah.- Now, that is something! - That is stunning.
0:21:48 > 0:21:52- Isn't it beautiful?- Extraordinary. - It really is.- It was originally two
0:21:52 > 0:21:55- workers' cottages, back 200 years ago.- Uh-huh?- And then an extension
0:21:55 > 0:21:58at the end of the houses also, which kind of extends the property even
0:21:58 > 0:22:01- further out into the landscape. - Even further.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04- It's just really unusual. - Wow.- It's beautiful.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08Now, what's interesting about this plot is that, actually, this is the
0:22:08 > 0:22:12garden, you know, this fence post is your garden, and then all the land
0:22:12 > 0:22:15around is actually leased from the nearby estate.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18- OK.- So it doesn't actually belong to you.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20- OK.- OK.- No, that really is stunning.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23- It gets the heart all aflutter. - LAUGHTER
0:22:23 > 0:22:25- Yeah. Let's go inside.- Wonderful.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30The original centre part of this beautifully extended home is built
0:22:30 > 0:22:34from cob, and used to be topped with thatch, but after a fire it was
0:22:34 > 0:22:37replaced with this attractive curved, tiled roof.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41We're going in through one of two entrances.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43This one leads to the kitchen and breakfast room,
0:22:43 > 0:22:46which would have formed one of the two original cottages.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49Mind your head, low beam.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53- OK.- We are in a historic building here, so you're going to notice the
0:22:53 > 0:22:55proportions are long and thin.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58This is not the big open-plan kitchen that you were asking for.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00- No.- It's not, it's more compact.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04- Yeah.- But it's still... - But it's a lovely kitchen.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07And on the other side there's a little utility room, so you can have
0:23:07 > 0:23:09all your white goods in here, cos this would be purely for cooking.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12- Indeed.- So this is a very different offering, but much more historic
0:23:12 > 0:23:14- and much more characterful.- Yes.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16And the finishes are beautiful in this house.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18Everything is done to a high quality.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20The walls are really kind of well looked after.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23- The roof...- Very sympathetic to the building.- Yeah.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26Next to the kitchen is the sitting room,
0:23:26 > 0:23:30which would have been the second of the two former cottages...
0:23:31 > 0:23:34..and it still retains a raft of character beams.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Flowing on beyond this is a dining room,
0:23:39 > 0:23:41and this was originally the stable.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46A nice log burner, so you can keep yourself all toasty-warm in the
0:23:46 > 0:23:48- winter.- Heating both sides, I see, yeah.
0:23:48 > 0:23:50- Yeah.- And this is all cob?
0:23:50 > 0:23:52- It's cob, yeah.- Yes.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55Well, the thing about this house is, actually, you've got this sort
0:23:55 > 0:23:58of sausage of rooms, and then at the other end there's a sort of
0:23:58 > 0:24:00extension, so you've got another very light,
0:24:00 > 0:24:03sunny sitting room at the other end of the house as well.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06- Another sitting-room?- Another sitting-room, yeah.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09Oh, so this could be the winter room and the other one the summer room?
0:24:09 > 0:24:11- Exactly. Exactly.- I like it. - LAUGHTER
0:24:11 > 0:24:14Even though the windows are small, we're still getting
0:24:14 > 0:24:16- a view down to the outside as well, which is extraordinary.- Sure.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19Which is lovely, yeah.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22Also on the ground floor to the other side of the kitchen is the
0:24:22 > 0:24:25family bathroom, which was once the dairy.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28But we're heading upstairs to explore the four bedrooms on offer.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33There are three bedrooms above the original part of the house.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39A spacious and bright double sits above the kitchen with its own
0:24:39 > 0:24:41en suite, and then there are two
0:24:41 > 0:24:43smaller rooms above the sitting room.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48But I'm taking Jill and Rob to the largest of the bedrooms,
0:24:48 > 0:24:52a later addition which used to stand alone but was joined to the
0:24:52 > 0:24:57main house 11 years ago by a hallway on the ground floor and a staircase.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03This is a lovely sunny room in comparison to the...
0:25:03 > 0:25:04- Wow!- Oh, this is beautiful!
0:25:04 > 0:25:06Sort of lower ceilings than the other house.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08Right, and this is the modern annexe?
0:25:08 > 0:25:11Yes. So this is above the garage.
0:25:11 > 0:25:12It looks absolutely stunning.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16- Yeah.- The only thing is that it's not actually a full en suite,
0:25:16 > 0:25:18you've just got a toilet and a washbasin here.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21There's...the option is you could also turn this room,
0:25:21 > 0:25:24it's quite a big sort of, like, storage cupboard, into a shower.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27- Yeah.- Turn that into the shower, right.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31This home is a sympathetic mix of old meets new, and one of the best
0:25:31 > 0:25:35spots to take it all in is from the outside.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38The impeccable garden extends to around half an acre -
0:25:38 > 0:25:43manageable, with enough space for a dog and their outdoor aspirations.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46As they saw earlier, it's surrounded by fields and views galore.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49It is a stunning garden, isn't it?
0:25:49 > 0:25:52- It's beautiful.- That view over there, fantastic.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54What do you think it costs?
0:25:54 > 0:25:57My guess would be roundabout the
0:25:57 > 0:25:59- 950,000-960,000.- Mm-hm.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03I'm thinking a little bit lower.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05Probably about 920.
0:26:05 > 0:26:08- OK. So, in this instance, you're both a bit pessimistic...- Oh, dear. - LAUGHTER
0:26:08 > 0:26:11- ..because this is on the market... - Once bitten, twice shy.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14- This is on the market for £900,000. - 900?- Wow, that's...
0:26:14 > 0:26:17And it's just come on the market, so... Why don't you go and explore,
0:26:17 > 0:26:20- revisit some of the rooms that we kind of skated over....- Indeed.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23..and when you come back, we can sum up for the day.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25OK, lovely. Thank you.
0:26:27 > 0:26:32This 19th-century property is priced £100,000 below their budget and is
0:26:32 > 0:26:35full of character and charm throughout.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37There's a variety of living spaces,
0:26:37 > 0:26:41four bedrooms and a manageable garden, with the option to rent a
0:26:41 > 0:26:44further five acres, all set within the New Forest.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47Absolutely blown away by the exterior.
0:26:47 > 0:26:52Fantastic. Interior, done to a fantastic finish.
0:26:52 > 0:26:53Slight issues -
0:26:53 > 0:26:58having the dining room up at the one end and the kitchen halfway down,
0:26:58 > 0:27:00and also having a downstairs bathroom.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04But absolutely stunning building.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06I love this property.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08Beautifully renovated inside.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10I was happy with the price.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13I probably went slightly over.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16I think you get a lot of house for your money with this.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21That is your lot for the day.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23I told you we had rich pickings.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26- They were good houses, huh?- You did. - Very much so.- Very good, yeah.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29- Lots to think about.- Extreme... Very much so.- Lots to think about this evening.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33- Let's go and find somewhere so you can think about them in peace. - Thank you.- Thank you.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43It's the second day of our house-hunt in the New Forest,
0:27:43 > 0:27:46finding a country retreat for retired couple Jill and Rob to move
0:27:46 > 0:27:49to from their commuter village in Surrey.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53They've got a top budget of £1 million to spend on a character
0:27:53 > 0:27:58property to accommodate them and their visiting children.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00Coming up, there's a surprise in store,
0:28:00 > 0:28:02with our magnificent Mystery House.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05A bit gobsmacked, but...
0:28:05 > 0:28:08Gobsmacked is one word, but what I've seen so far, I love it.
0:28:08 > 0:28:13And I'm lucky enough to encounter a whole herd of New Forest deer.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15Look at that, we've turned our back and then they all arrived.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19I thought there was going to be about three, but there seems to be 300.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25Day two of our property search here in the very springy New Forest,
0:28:25 > 0:28:29and I have to say that Jill and Rob have been exemplary house-hunters.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32Jill has responded very warm-heartedly to the properties we
0:28:32 > 0:28:35showed them yesterday, and Rob has also been appreciative, but also a
0:28:35 > 0:28:38little bit more in his head, thinking about things like large
0:28:38 > 0:28:41Leylandii hedges and bathrooms.
0:28:41 > 0:28:44Well, the Mystery House certainly has bathrooms,
0:28:44 > 0:28:47and I'm hoping it's going to blow the other two contenders out of the
0:28:47 > 0:28:51water, because even though it's outside of the National Park,
0:28:51 > 0:28:55and it is a new build, I'm pretty sure they're going to love it.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04So, what are you feeling about the Mystery House?
0:29:06 > 0:29:11Well, we're hoping that it is something really different.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14I've just been going through in my mind all, you know,
0:29:14 > 0:29:17the list of nice-to-haves
0:29:17 > 0:29:20and likes that we gave
0:29:20 > 0:29:24originally, and I'm thinking, "How far away from that can we go?"
0:29:24 > 0:29:26- So I'm thinking... - LAUGHTER
0:29:26 > 0:29:29possibly modern, because the two that we've seen so far
0:29:29 > 0:29:32- have been older. - Yeah, that's a good point, yeah.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34But I don't know, it's exciting.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39Jill's analysis of what lies in store is surprisingly accurate,
0:29:39 > 0:29:43as we head just outside the southwestern edge of the New Forest
0:29:43 > 0:29:45to the Dorset village of Burton.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48Still within easy reach of the National Park,
0:29:48 > 0:29:51there's a great sense of community here.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54Ten minutes away, the historic market town of Christchurch serves
0:29:54 > 0:29:57up a good variety of independent shops and restaurants,
0:29:57 > 0:30:00plus the natural harbour and attractive quay.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05Back in Burton, our mystery proposition is a striking thatched
0:30:05 > 0:30:11cottage which, despite its classic exterior, has very modern origins.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14- Here we have it.- Wow.- Wow.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17This is the Mystery House.
0:30:17 > 0:30:18That is pretty.
0:30:18 > 0:30:21- Extraordinary.- It's a brand-new thatched cottage.
0:30:21 > 0:30:23- It's brand-new?- Brand-new? - Brand-new.
0:30:23 > 0:30:27- It is so beautifully done. It's just...- Amazing, yes.
0:30:27 > 0:30:29- ..incredible.- Yeah. - Absolutely incredible.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31That's a picture.
0:30:31 > 0:30:33My only concern here is, um...
0:30:34 > 0:30:36- Yes.- ..where it is actually located.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39You know, the mystery is, you know, it's outside of your search area,
0:30:39 > 0:30:43it's a different...it's not the rolling hills of the New Forest.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45But look what you get.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47- Shall we look inside?- Right, can we have a look?
0:30:47 > 0:30:49- Yeah.- We'd love to.- Thank you.
0:30:49 > 0:30:53This mystery thatched cottage is so new, it's waiting for its
0:30:53 > 0:30:55first buyers to cross the threshold,
0:30:55 > 0:30:57meaning it's a blank canvas,
0:30:57 > 0:31:00ready for new owners to put their stamp on it.
0:31:00 > 0:31:05We're starting off our tour in an impressive bespoke kitchen, beyond
0:31:05 > 0:31:08anything Jill and Rob could have expected.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11Come on in.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14- Oh, goodness me! - That's a huge space!
0:31:14 > 0:31:17You wanted a kitchen family room.
0:31:17 > 0:31:19Here it is!
0:31:19 > 0:31:22It's lovely, because you've got room for people to sit over there.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24You could entertain.
0:31:24 > 0:31:26Bifold doors, so in the summer you've got the...basically
0:31:26 > 0:31:29- just got a garden room. - Open it right out.- Fantastic.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32You've got a big skylight over there.
0:31:32 > 0:31:36- You really have got everything.- Yes. - There is a utility room on the other side for your white goods.
0:31:36 > 0:31:38Let's step forward in to the, I think they call it the orangery,
0:31:38 > 0:31:41which is a little grand, but I guess that's what it...could grow
0:31:41 > 0:31:43oranges in here, if you wanted, on a sunny day.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46So, what are your thoughts? You're a bit gobsmacked, but...
0:31:46 > 0:31:48Gobsmacked is one word.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51What I've seen so far, I love it.
0:31:51 > 0:31:52Um...
0:31:52 > 0:31:55My only concern is just the surrounds.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57So it's going to be a compromise.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01Our remarkable Mystery House has already given them plenty to think
0:32:01 > 0:32:05about, as we continue to explore the unfurnished rooms.
0:32:06 > 0:32:07This is the sitting room.
0:32:07 > 0:32:12Similarly bare of any furniture, but full of this fantastic brand-new
0:32:12 > 0:32:15- inglenook fireplace.- It's cosy.
0:32:15 > 0:32:17- Yeah.- Even with no furniture.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21I still can't believe, looking around with all the beams and
0:32:21 > 0:32:24- everything, that it's a new build. - Mm.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27Well, I think you will believe that when you go upstairs and you'll
0:32:27 > 0:32:29be like, "Where are we going to put the bathrooms?"
0:32:29 > 0:32:32In this house, you do not have to worry. LAUGHTER
0:32:36 > 0:32:38Also located on the ground floor,
0:32:38 > 0:32:42there's a cloakroom, and a bright study that Rob could make his own.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47Upstairs, the four bedrooms are all en suites.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51There's a dual-aspect double with a stylishly fitted shower room.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55Then there's a larger double with a bright, tastefully tiled bathroom.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00Next door there's a single with yet another shower,
0:33:00 > 0:33:03and lastly there's the master.
0:33:04 > 0:33:08This is the biggest of the four bedrooms upstairs, and you could
0:33:08 > 0:33:13pick and choose which is yours, because they all have en suites.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16- All of them?- All four? - All four rooms.
0:33:16 > 0:33:18Two bathtubs, two showers.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20Actually this one's got a bathtub AND a shower.
0:33:20 > 0:33:23And it's a good size, big enough for our bed.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26- So you can...yeah.- And it's got a rather charming, kind of, eaves drop
0:33:26 > 0:33:29- on either side.- Yeah, gives it a bit of character, rather than just being
0:33:29 > 0:33:32- a square.- That's where the thatching would come in, I guess.- Yeah.
0:33:32 > 0:33:33Absolutely.
0:33:33 > 0:33:38Let's step outside and talk about money and the obvious issues about
0:33:38 > 0:33:39- outside.- Right.- OK.
0:33:43 > 0:33:47From outside, the Mystery House has real presence.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49There's also a sympathetically-designed
0:33:49 > 0:33:51double garage, and the orangery
0:33:51 > 0:33:55opens on to a terrace overlooking an enclosed lawn.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59Obviously you've got the situation with the houses around you.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02But you do have a lovely kind of double garage, and upstairs in the
0:34:02 > 0:34:04- double garage, you see those windows.- Indeed.- That's a completely
0:34:04 > 0:34:07boarded-off...could be a nice little man cave. LAUGHTER
0:34:07 > 0:34:10- I like it.- Now, you might be wondering what it costs.
0:34:10 > 0:34:14Right, well, I'm thinking 880,000.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18I'm going to go for 875,000...
0:34:21 > 0:34:22..because of the location.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27- Well, you're both wrong. - Surprise, surprise. - LAUGHTER
0:34:27 > 0:34:32- Surprise, surprise.- This is on the market for £850,000.
0:34:32 > 0:34:34Wow! That is something.
0:34:34 > 0:34:39- So the location definitely plays in your favour.- Yes, it plays an enormous effect, yes.- It does.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42Well, for the last time, I'm going to send you back in and you can
0:34:42 > 0:34:43have a quick whizz round.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47- OK.- And then we can find a space to think about all three houses.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49- OK.- OK.
0:34:53 > 0:34:57Our surprising and delightful Mystery House is priced below
0:34:57 > 0:35:01budget, and because it's brand-new it's ready to move into.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04The show-stopping kitchen/diner/conservatory is a
0:35:04 > 0:35:09huge positive, but there's also a cosy sitting room, four bedrooms and
0:35:09 > 0:35:11a manageable garden.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14I was just about speechless when we arrived. I couldn't believe it.
0:35:14 > 0:35:17And when Alistair said that it was a new build...
0:35:17 > 0:35:20in fact, I'm still...still not 100% sure about that.
0:35:20 > 0:35:24I'm taking his word for it, but it is so beautifully done.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27The attention to detail is just phenomenal.
0:35:27 > 0:35:31Well, coming through the drive, it was...
0:35:31 > 0:35:33the vision was simply stunning,
0:35:33 > 0:35:35absolutely extraordinary.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39If you could pick this property up and move it, I know you'd be paying
0:35:39 > 0:35:42a lot more money for it,
0:35:42 > 0:35:44but I'm not sure about the location.
0:35:44 > 0:35:46We would have to give it some serious thought.
0:35:48 > 0:35:51- Hey.- Hello.- All done?- Hello. - Oh, long faces.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54Never mind, we're going to find somewhere to have a cup of tea and
0:35:54 > 0:35:57- talk about all the houses. Come with me.- OK.- All right, cheers.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08The New Forest is famous for its freely roaming wildlife,
0:36:08 > 0:36:11and just outside Lyndhurst, within the National Park,
0:36:11 > 0:36:13is the Bolderwood Deer Sanctuary,
0:36:13 > 0:36:16where herds of wild deer have a safe habitat in which to thrive.
0:36:17 > 0:36:21There are around 60 deer within the 30 acres of the sanctuary,
0:36:21 > 0:36:25and visitors are able to see these beautiful animals up close.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29I've come to meet Sandy Shaw, the Forestry Commission's first
0:36:29 > 0:36:33female Crown Keeper, whose vital role is to look after 10,000 acres
0:36:33 > 0:36:36of forest within this special protected area.
0:36:38 > 0:36:39So, tell me a bit about your job.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42So you're a Crown Keeper?
0:36:42 > 0:36:44That is correct, I am a Crown Keeper.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48The Crown Keepers are traditionally regarded as being guardians of the
0:36:48 > 0:36:52New Forest, and they have a history dating back over 900 years,
0:36:52 > 0:36:56and today there's nine of us that hold beat areas,
0:36:56 > 0:36:58primarily wildlife and conservation-based.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01Is that in your blood? Are you a kind of animal person?
0:37:01 > 0:37:05I actually am a Commoner as well, so I turn livestock out onto the Forest.
0:37:05 > 0:37:08We have ponies, cattle and pigs that we turn out.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11And what's going on at this time of year, sort of early spring?
0:37:11 > 0:37:15OK, this time of year we're coming up to the deer census time, when
0:37:15 > 0:37:18we'll be looking at monitoring and counting the number of deer that we
0:37:18 > 0:37:21have here on the forest. But we're also coming up to the Easter
0:37:21 > 0:37:24holidays when we start to feed the deer here up at Bolderwood, and so
0:37:24 > 0:37:27that the public can come and
0:37:27 > 0:37:30see these deer, and it makes it much more accessible for all families.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33And what's the likelihood of us seeing deer today?
0:37:33 > 0:37:35- It's 50-50. - LAUGHTER
0:37:35 > 0:37:38- So, can we go and have a peek? - Of course we can.- Great.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40- Come on, Sky.- To heel.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45Within the sanctuary is a mile long fenced area,
0:37:45 > 0:37:48not to keep the deer in, but the humans out.
0:37:48 > 0:37:52I'm lucky enough to be inside this enclosed part where we are greeted
0:37:52 > 0:37:57by some New Forest ponies, but the deer appear to be rather shy today.
0:37:57 > 0:37:59We've got some ponies.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01Are we going to see any deer, do you think?
0:38:01 > 0:38:04We can give it a go. I mean, if you look back up on that ridge,
0:38:04 > 0:38:06I reckon I can see something just round the corner.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09So I should ease back so that I don't spook them?
0:38:09 > 0:38:11Yeah, if you go back into the woodland,
0:38:11 > 0:38:13because they wouldn't be familiar with your scent.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16I'll put out some food and then we'll see how it goes.
0:38:16 > 0:38:17- Good.- OK.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22The deer graze on naturally occurring food sources,
0:38:22 > 0:38:25including acorns and chestnuts, but
0:38:25 > 0:38:28a trail of maize and nuts encourages them to come closer so
0:38:28 > 0:38:30that visitors can get a better look.
0:38:35 > 0:38:37Look at that, we turned our back and then they all arrived.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41I thought there was going to be about three, but there seems to be 300.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44What you've got here is, you've got a collection of a number of family
0:38:44 > 0:38:47groups. They've just collected in an area whereby there's an abundance
0:38:47 > 0:38:51- of food.- These are all fallow deer? They all look different species,
0:38:51 > 0:38:53- are they?- They are all fallow deer.
0:38:53 > 0:38:55Fallow deer come in a variety of different colours.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57You've got three different types here today.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01You've got the common or wild colour, which are dark brown in the
0:39:01 > 0:39:03winter and they have spots in the summertime.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06Then you've got the Menil, which you can just see beyond,
0:39:06 > 0:39:08which are very brightly spotted deer,
0:39:08 > 0:39:10and they keep the spots all year round,
0:39:10 > 0:39:14and then you've got the white deer, commonly mistaken as being albinos.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16That is not the case.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18And then there's some males at the back.
0:39:18 > 0:39:20There are some males.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23With the antlers, they're easily distinguishable at this time of year
0:39:23 > 0:39:25because they have got their antlers, but bearing in mind, in the next
0:39:25 > 0:39:29month or so they're going to start to cast those antlers, because every
0:39:29 > 0:39:32year they cast the antlers and grow a new set.
0:39:33 > 0:39:35It's interesting because the men are being quite...
0:39:35 > 0:39:38they're hanging back. Is that to let the ladies eat or..?
0:39:38 > 0:39:42Not really, they're not normally as kind as that, and also the does are
0:39:42 > 0:39:45just that little bit hungrier than some of those males because, to bear
0:39:45 > 0:39:47in mind, they are heavily pregnant now.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53So beautiful.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59Wonderful. Thank you so much for taking the time.
0:39:59 > 0:40:01- I know you've got a busy day ahead of you.- You're welcome.
0:40:01 > 0:40:03And, yeah, so lovely to see them.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06I thought we weren't going to see them and suddenly they surprised us.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08- The weather got nicer. - LAUGHTER
0:40:17 > 0:40:20OK, so the Mystery House wasn't quite the bombshell that I hoped it
0:40:20 > 0:40:22was going to be, but all three
0:40:22 > 0:40:25houses have made a big impact on Jill and Rob,
0:40:25 > 0:40:28so it'll be interesting to see what their thoughts are now.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31I'm not at all clear about whether they're going to buy any of them,
0:40:31 > 0:40:33but we're about to find out.
0:40:41 > 0:40:45I have loved showing you around the houses in the New Forest.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48Have any of them really taken your fancy?
0:40:48 > 0:40:52The house with the two paddocks and the stables,
0:40:52 > 0:40:54although it was a bit of a shock with the price -
0:40:54 > 0:40:57we were both drastically wrong there - that is funnily enough the
0:40:57 > 0:41:01one that we've been talking about a lot, and we think there might be
0:41:01 > 0:41:04ways that we would consider that one.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06That is a contender, yeah.
0:41:06 > 0:41:12- Right.- That one has got potential, potential, in that there are
0:41:12 > 0:41:14currently some stumbling blocks,
0:41:14 > 0:41:17and the key one behind that is that,
0:41:17 > 0:41:21internally, it does need modernising.
0:41:21 > 0:41:26But a big thing that gives me a lot of concern are the Leylandii
0:41:26 > 0:41:31trees out the back. So I think the next step will be to go back to the
0:41:31 > 0:41:35neighbour, talk to them about the Leylandiis, and see if there's a
0:41:35 > 0:41:39possible solution to removing those.
0:41:39 > 0:41:44And then talk to local estate agents about the land side of things, and
0:41:44 > 0:41:48see if we can come up with a solution whereby we could possibly
0:41:48 > 0:41:52sell that or develop it to offset the cost.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54If that house doesn't come through,
0:41:54 > 0:41:57cos it sounds like there's quite a lot of ifs and buts,
0:41:57 > 0:42:00what have you taken away from this week in the New Forest in terms of
0:42:00 > 0:42:02house-hunting here?
0:42:02 > 0:42:05For myself, it has definitely confirmed in my mind that
0:42:05 > 0:42:08this is the area I want to live in.
0:42:08 > 0:42:11- How about you?- Yeah, and I couldn't agree more.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14My final question is...
0:42:14 > 0:42:17can you see yourself moving to the New Forest within the next year?
0:42:17 > 0:42:21- Absolutely.- Yes.- Well, it's been a real pleasure showing you around the
0:42:21 > 0:42:25New Forest, and I do hope that you buy here. Maybe one of our houses,
0:42:25 > 0:42:27- but however it pans out, best of luck.- Fantastic.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29Thank you very much. We've really enjoyed it.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38A magnificent week here in the unique beauty of the
0:42:38 > 0:42:40New Forest National Park.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44The sun didn't always shine on us, but it did not dim the enthusiasm
0:42:44 > 0:42:46of Jill and Rob for the area.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50I think they've got quite a number of ducks they have to get into a
0:42:50 > 0:42:53row, but they said they'd be here in a year, and I believe they will be.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56Though you don't have to wait that long before you can join us again
0:42:56 > 0:42:59for more Escape To The Country.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04If you'd like to escape to the country in England,
0:43:04 > 0:43:07Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales and need our help,
0:43:07 > 0:43:11you can apply online at...