0:00:03 > 0:00:0675 miles of tracks and towpaths
0:00:06 > 0:00:09make up West Yorkshire's Wakefield Way.
0:00:12 > 0:00:17Encircling the city of Wakefield, the trail winds through a landscape
0:00:17 > 0:00:19shaped and scarred by centuries of industry.
0:00:23 > 0:00:25But, as industry has retreated,
0:00:25 > 0:00:29the emphasis has been on regenerating the communities and reclaiming the land.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35Many of the locals call this "God's own country",
0:00:35 > 0:00:39but whatever your original allegiances, you can't deny
0:00:39 > 0:00:42this is certainly God's own countryside.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46In today's programme, a land
0:00:46 > 0:00:48once given entirely to farming and industry
0:00:48 > 0:00:52is now embracing leisure and artistry.
0:00:52 > 0:00:53A performance from members
0:00:53 > 0:00:57of this year's Yorkshire Championship brass band
0:00:57 > 0:01:01and hymns from a congregation gathered in Wakefield Cathedral.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Under the tallest spire in Yorkshire,
0:01:11 > 0:01:14the cathedral is the focal point for the Wakefield area
0:01:14 > 0:01:18and it's sharing its own renewal for 21st-century worship
0:01:18 > 0:01:19with the whole community.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25And it's worship that's the subject of our first hymn,
0:01:25 > 0:01:29sung by a congregation that's drawn from across the Wakefield diocese.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04Before the last war, Woolley Hall was the seat
0:04:04 > 0:04:08of local land and colliery owners, the Wentworths.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11And everyone in Woolley village was their tenant.
0:04:13 > 0:04:17We paid an annual rent for the land to the Wentworths.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20We knew our place. But it was kindly.
0:04:20 > 0:04:25So it was a bit like living in Downton Abbey. When you say you knew your place, what was your place?
0:04:25 > 0:04:27How did the hierarchy work?
0:04:27 > 0:04:29At the top were the Wentworth family, right?
0:04:29 > 0:04:31There were the Wentworths. And then? The vicar,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35the schoolmaster and then the tenant farmers
0:04:35 > 0:04:38and then the, er...the cottagers.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41When we first came to Woolley village
0:04:41 > 0:04:44we lived in a tied cottage.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47You were always a little bit on edge.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49You've got to do everything right
0:04:49 > 0:04:55because, you know, you could be out if you didn't.
0:04:55 > 0:04:59For the Wentworths, the winds of change came after World War II
0:04:59 > 0:05:01when the family sold the village.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04Woolley Hall became a teacher training college,
0:05:04 > 0:05:07where Margaret worked as a flower arranger.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10But there's one aspect of Woolley village
0:05:10 > 0:05:13that has played an unchanging role in local lives.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17The church played a big part in my life.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Because I was in the church choir
0:05:20 > 0:05:23and I used to make eyes at the village organist.
0:05:23 > 0:05:24Cos there was a mirror.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28And then I got confirmed there.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30And married there.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38Woolley church has been part of my life since being a little boy.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41Um, I think I learnt to tell the time by looking at the church clock
0:05:41 > 0:05:43as I went on my way to school.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49I've made various things for the church -
0:05:49 > 0:05:53the notice boards, the gates, the kissing gate, various other things.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Always in English oak, always,
0:05:55 > 0:05:59whenever possible, using oak from Woolley estate.
0:05:59 > 0:06:03The church has helped me through grief twice.
0:06:03 > 0:06:08My husband died on the 19th of January this year.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11And he was a wonderful man.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16Woolley village has always been close to my heart.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19And, er...and Ken loved it.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21Absolutely loved it.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03During the 1980s, when pits were closing down
0:09:03 > 0:09:06and lots of factories were closing,
0:09:06 > 0:09:09people were losing their jobs, people were fighting,
0:09:09 > 0:09:12not only for employment, but for their own communities.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14And people struggled.
0:09:14 > 0:09:19During that time, I was a head teacher at the small village school
0:09:19 > 0:09:23and children were coming to school hungry.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26I personally took this very hard.
0:09:26 > 0:09:30Not only for my schoolchildren,
0:09:30 > 0:09:32but for my community at home in Castleford.
0:09:32 > 0:09:37And everything that was going on in the parish made me very depressed.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39And I had a breakdown.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44As I recovered, I was surrounded by people
0:09:44 > 0:09:47who wanted to love me and care for me.
0:09:47 > 0:09:52And it's that working together
0:09:52 > 0:09:56of everyone's efforts which I think is the love of God.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58It's not a sentimental soft thing,
0:09:58 > 0:10:03this love, it's a tough, hard-working thing.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06And it's in all of us who want to do good.
0:10:08 > 0:10:09As part of her recovery,
0:10:09 > 0:10:11Alison devoted her energies
0:10:11 > 0:10:15to rebuilding the community she cared so much about.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19She became involved in the Castleford Heritage Trust,
0:10:19 > 0:10:21a project to redevelop the area.
0:10:21 > 0:10:26They've built a new bridge across the river, added fishing platforms,
0:10:26 > 0:10:29but Alison's pride and joy is the flour mill,
0:10:29 > 0:10:32which the trust has bought for the town.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34Two years ago, when they closed the mill,
0:10:34 > 0:10:36it was a real blow.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40It was another part of our industrial heritage gone.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43And we weren't prepared for that.
0:10:43 > 0:10:48And our intention is to use this lovely building to continue milling
0:10:48 > 0:10:52and to tell the story of our industrial and social heritage
0:10:52 > 0:10:55in order to help young people especially
0:10:55 > 0:10:59to be proud of this community and who they are,
0:10:59 > 0:11:03to be proud of their roots and their story because some children,
0:11:03 > 0:11:06they were ashamed to say they came from this community.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11We are God's hands in the world
0:11:11 > 0:11:16and it's that love that motivates us,
0:11:16 > 0:11:20and certainly motivates me, to want to make this a better place
0:11:20 > 0:11:22for the people of our town today,
0:11:22 > 0:11:26for visitors that come here and for our children in the future.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32Proud of their history and heritage
0:11:32 > 0:11:36at the heart of the former mining village of South Elmsall,
0:11:36 > 0:11:39the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band
0:11:39 > 0:11:43has championed local culture and community for well over a century.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46This was them in 1912.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50Today, they're one of the top ten bands in the world.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54But more important to them, they're this year's Yorkshire champions.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58So here's the Quintet from the Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band
0:11:58 > 0:12:01playing a tune called Gresford.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04It was inspired by a Welsh colliery disaster,
0:12:04 > 0:12:09but it's been adopted everywhere simply as The Miners' Hymn.
0:14:50 > 0:14:55The Wakefield Way passes through Newmillerdam Country Park,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58where Roger Parkinson works as a volunteer tree warden.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01These are trees from all over the world, and although
0:15:01 > 0:15:04the neighbouring woodlands are native British trees,
0:15:04 > 0:15:07this is a really varied collection that people can come and enjoy.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10The volunteers are all ages, really,
0:15:10 > 0:15:12and quite varied abilities.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14We like to get people out doing things
0:15:14 > 0:15:18and just enjoying working with trees and being in the countryside.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21People got to know what we were doing and how we were doing it
0:15:21 > 0:15:25and engaging different people from different groups and disabilities.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30And I got a phone call from a social worker a couple of years ago to say
0:15:30 > 0:15:31that she had a young man in her care
0:15:31 > 0:15:34and she wanted to get him involved in something outside.
0:15:34 > 0:15:35Yeah, that's great.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Robert really hadn't spoken for quite some time
0:15:38 > 0:15:41and it was about getting his confidence back.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44That's good, yeah. Let's see what we've got.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46'So Robert came along, and for the first visit,
0:15:46 > 0:15:48'he was about 20 feet away'
0:15:48 > 0:15:51with his head down, didn't really want to engage with us.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53By the second visit, got a bit closer.
0:15:53 > 0:15:57By the third, he was tugging my shirt and pointing at things.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01How much of an area do you cover? Is it just this bit?
0:16:01 > 0:16:04Well, you came from down there, didn't you? Yeah.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07The steps. That's right, all the way down the steps.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10It goes along down that way.
0:16:10 > 0:16:14Do you have to do this every day? No, just once a week.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18And when you come, do you notice the change in the seasons? Yeah.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22Which is your favourite season here? Oh...
0:16:22 > 0:16:26it's all...it's all good.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28It's all nice. Yeah.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30All the time.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34I know I've had many conversations with people who walk onto this site
0:16:34 > 0:16:35and have given me various stories
0:16:35 > 0:16:38as to why they like to be in this particular location.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41A lot of the trees are in memory of someone.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44So it's a nice place if you have planted a memorial tree,
0:16:44 > 0:16:48it's to come and just reflect and enjoy that peace and tranquillity
0:16:48 > 0:16:50and think and perhaps say a prayer.
0:16:53 > 0:16:55It's about getting people out into the woodlands
0:16:55 > 0:16:59and enjoying those environments, so they can find those peaceful places
0:16:59 > 0:17:01and enjoy the tranquillity of the woodlands.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04And I know it's brought the local community together.
0:19:23 > 0:19:28Artist Carrie Scott-Huby lives and works near the Wakefield Way.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32Her art and faith are influenced by the rhythms of life and landscape
0:19:32 > 0:19:35to be found along its varied route.
0:19:35 > 0:19:40My creative process is, I absorb what's around me,
0:19:40 > 0:19:44whether it's the landscape or little details
0:19:44 > 0:19:48of, say, flowers and the ebb and flow of life.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52Or things that have been discarded on the floor
0:19:52 > 0:19:54or things that nobody wants.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58I always look for the element of beauty
0:19:58 > 0:20:01that people don't necessarily see themselves.
0:20:01 > 0:20:04They walk past and go, "Ugh, that doesn't look nice."
0:20:05 > 0:20:08You can just take it on face value,
0:20:08 > 0:20:11but there's a wealth of things underneath if you're willing
0:20:11 > 0:20:14to just take that time and pause.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18When I walk every morning out over the fields, I think
0:20:18 > 0:20:21that that's my meditation time, really.
0:20:23 > 0:20:26And this is one of my favourite spots
0:20:26 > 0:20:28where I've come along the path and it opens up
0:20:28 > 0:20:33and as you walk through, you can see all the different horizons emerging.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37The horizon line is one of my favourite things to draw.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Autumn...I do love autumn.
0:20:42 > 0:20:48And people start getting miserable and I start getting more excited,
0:20:50 > 0:20:55And I think it's that time when you can start reflecting
0:20:55 > 0:20:57and not as busy as summer
0:20:57 > 0:21:00and try and reflect more about being patient in life.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05Things just change. Nothing ever ends, it just changes.
0:21:05 > 0:21:08So through walking, looking at the dying flowers,
0:21:08 > 0:21:09and seed heads kind of depicts
0:22:17 > 0:22:20# Each little flower that opens
0:22:20 > 0:22:24# Each little bird that sings
0:22:24 > 0:22:28# He made their glowing colours
0:22:28 > 0:22:32# He made their tiny wings
0:22:32 > 0:22:36# All things bright and beautiful
0:22:36 > 0:22:40# All creatures great and small
0:22:40 > 0:22:44# All things wise and wonderful
0:22:44 > 0:22:50# The Lord God made them all
0:22:52 > 0:22:56# The purple-headed mountains
0:22:56 > 0:23:00# The river running by
0:23:00 > 0:23:04# The sunset and the morning
0:23:04 > 0:23:08# That brightens up the sky
0:23:08 > 0:23:12# The cold wind in the winter
0:23:12 > 0:23:17# The pleasant summer sun
0:23:17 > 0:23:20# The ripe fruit in the garden
0:23:20 > 0:23:25# He made them every one
0:23:25 > 0:23:29# All things bright and beautiful
0:23:29 > 0:23:33# All creatures great and small
0:23:33 > 0:23:37# All things wise and wonderful
0:23:37 > 0:23:41# The Lord God made them all
0:23:41 > 0:23:45# He gave us eyes to see them
0:23:45 > 0:23:49# And lips that we might tell
0:23:49 > 0:23:53# How great is God almighty
0:23:53 > 0:23:58# Who has made all things well
0:23:58 > 0:24:01# All things bright and beautiful
0:24:01 > 0:24:05# All creatures great and small
0:24:05 > 0:24:10# All things wise and wonderful
0:24:13 > 0:24:21# The Lord God made them all. #
0:24:32 > 0:24:34Margaret Pawson and her dog Rio
0:24:34 > 0:24:38walk the Wakefield Way near their home every single day.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42Even when Margaret was diagnosed with life-threatening cancer,
0:24:42 > 0:24:45she didn't break their daily routine.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49I love this spot. I call it my seat, it's not my seat really.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51I share it with other people.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54What does this place mean to you?
0:24:54 > 0:24:58It gives you a sense of well-being,
0:24:58 > 0:25:00freedom, fresh air.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03Especially when little white feathers come
0:25:03 > 0:25:05and fall on you as you walk along.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09That gives you such a feeling of... you're not alone.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13You lose yourself, you lose yourself in God.
0:25:13 > 0:25:20December 2012, I was going through an uncertain time, where, er...
0:25:20 > 0:25:24they were contemplating operating on my spine
0:25:24 > 0:25:26to remove the tumour. Yeah.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29This was a beautiful December afternoon,
0:25:29 > 0:25:30the sun was shining.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33I walked up and as I approached the seat,
0:25:33 > 0:25:36I could see there was a lady sat at the side.
0:25:36 > 0:25:41So if little Rio doesn't sit on his seat, he doesn't think he's been for his walk, so I just said
0:25:41 > 0:25:44could I join her and sit down, which we did.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46And she just looked up at the clouds and said,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49"You could talk to those clouds, couldn't you?"
0:25:49 > 0:25:53And I just said, "Yeah, I talk to God in those clouds."
0:25:53 > 0:25:58And quite easily we had a conversation and ended up telling her
0:25:58 > 0:26:02about this uncertainty and my cancer and things.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05So we stood up and I said, "I'm walking back this way."
0:26:05 > 0:26:06She said, "I'm going that way."
0:26:06 > 0:26:08So we stood up, and as we stood up,
0:26:08 > 0:26:13she said, "It'll be all right, you know, Margaret. It'll be all right."
0:26:13 > 0:26:16You hadn't told her your name? No, I'd not told her my name.
0:26:16 > 0:26:20And I started to walk away and this, like...
0:26:20 > 0:26:23So I turned round - and I was only there, just beyond the seat -
0:26:23 > 0:26:25and there was nobody here.
0:26:25 > 0:26:27Nobody. And I've not seen her since.
0:26:27 > 0:26:30Not seen her before, not seen her since.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34So you went and had things checked after that, and how's it been?
0:26:34 > 0:26:37I had a complete response to the chemotherapy
0:26:37 > 0:26:39so they actually said I'm in remission.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42Who do you think she was?
0:26:42 > 0:26:43God's messenger?
0:26:43 > 0:26:45An angel?
0:26:45 > 0:26:47She had to be.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51She just disappeared, she couldn't have gone anywhere else.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54And she told me it'd be all right, and it is all right.
0:30:01 > 0:30:06May almighty God, who has filled the Earth with all that is needful,
0:30:06 > 0:30:08for our sustenance and delight,
0:30:08 > 0:30:13grant us grace to rejoice daily at the wonder of creation
0:30:13 > 0:30:18and to be faithful stewards of the world entrusted to our care.
0:30:18 > 0:30:22And the blessing of God almighty,
0:30:22 > 0:30:24the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
0:30:24 > 0:30:28be among you and remain with you always.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30ALL: Amen.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36Walking part of the Wakefield Way hasn't just been about
0:30:36 > 0:30:39seeing communities and countryside transformed.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43This area and its people have an indomitable spirit.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45And at the end of the day,
0:30:45 > 0:30:48it's people that bring about heaven on earth.
0:30:48 > 0:30:52So perhaps this really is God's own country, after all.
0:33:42 > 0:33:43And the hymns include a special performance
0:33:43 > 0:33:43by our senior school choir of the year.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd