0:00:00 > 0:00:01Hello.
0:00:01 > 0:00:04Is is time to think out of the box when it comes to honey?
0:00:04 > 0:00:07With bee numbers falling, something needs to be done.
0:00:07 > 0:00:09Modern beekeeping is definitely adding to the trouble.
0:00:09 > 0:00:12It's developed in such a way that the most profit can
0:00:12 > 0:00:15be made from the bees.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17If people suggest that we should stop collecting honey,
0:00:17 > 0:00:21they don't actually understand the principle the bees work on.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23And a Hampshire family opens up about their battle with mental
0:00:23 > 0:00:27health and the struggle to get help.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29He'd be taking knives, like this, out of my kitchen drawer.
0:00:29 > 0:00:35He said he wanted people to feel his pain that he was suffering.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38I feel that it's unfair on my family that they've had to put
0:00:38 > 0:00:39up with all of this.
0:00:39 > 0:00:40But they love you.
0:00:40 > 0:00:50Yeah, I know they do, but...
0:00:55 > 0:00:57Every year, thousands of people with mental health problems
0:00:57 > 0:01:03end up in police cells, in court or in prison.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06With one in four of us expected to struggle with our mental health
0:01:06 > 0:01:09at some point in our lives, there simply aren't the support
0:01:09 > 0:01:13services to go round to everybody who needs them.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16David Fenton's been finding out what happens when those asking
0:01:16 > 0:01:21for help are turned away.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24As you can see, both of my windows have gone.
0:01:24 > 0:01:29This was just all smashed and jagged.
0:01:29 > 0:01:35For Anna Holder, living with her son can be difficult.
0:01:35 > 0:01:42This is when Taran's been really frustrated and unable to cope
0:01:42 > 0:01:45with how he's feeling, he's come and actually punched
0:01:45 > 0:01:51through the cupboards, he's had knives and been
0:01:51 > 0:01:55stabbing at the cupboards.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59I'm having to try and calm him down while he's got a knife in his hand
0:01:59 > 0:02:04and punching things.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08For Anna, everything changed when Taran was 11.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12He fell off a swing and cracked his head.
0:02:12 > 0:02:13Taran's always been a joker.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16A happy child.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18Until he had his head injury.
0:02:18 > 0:02:25He became a different person, very angry and aggressive.
0:02:25 > 0:02:31My thought process goes a bit nuts sometimes.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35I don't feel in control all the time, so my mind comes up
0:02:35 > 0:02:38with all sorts of ideas which are going to happen so I m
0:02:38 > 0:02:44starting to get ready for things like fight or flight.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48Taran has paranoia and multiple personality disorders.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53For him, the world outside his house is a scary place.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57I'd end up end up breaking and smashing things in a rage,
0:02:57 > 0:03:01breaking down crying.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04I felt like one day was years.
0:03:04 > 0:03:09I felt like a lot of time I was going through...
0:03:09 > 0:03:12In 2015, his paranoia got worse.
0:03:12 > 0:03:17He began carrying weapons whenever he went outside.
0:03:17 > 0:03:22He'd be taking knives like this out of my kitchen drawer.
0:03:22 > 0:03:29He said he wanted people to feel his pain that he was suffering.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31There was times when people were walking up to me and I've
0:03:31 > 0:03:35put my hand there and I'm ready to take it out.
0:03:35 > 0:03:41So yeah, I guess I was dangerous.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45I could hear people talking outside, so when I walked past them
0:03:45 > 0:03:48that day I knew something was going to happen to me and that
0:03:48 > 0:03:53they're going to get me.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55So I thought, "Right, I m not going to say nothing."
0:03:55 > 0:03:59I started looking out the window a lot as well and then see vans
0:03:59 > 0:04:00waiting outside.
0:04:00 > 0:04:01They could be there for two minutes
0:04:01 > 0:04:04and I'd already come up with something in my head that
0:04:04 > 0:04:05something's going on.
0:04:05 > 0:04:07I thought that someone was definitely out to get me
0:04:07 > 0:04:10and that the people in the area were waiting.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12It's not just been people,
0:04:12 > 0:04:16I've had conspiracy things with the police as well.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19You must have known that was illegal to be carrying
0:04:19 > 0:04:20knives out in the street?
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Yeah, of course I knew it was illegal, but I also
0:04:22 > 0:04:24had my life right at the time.
0:04:24 > 0:04:30I felt my life was at risk, so that's why I carried them.
0:04:30 > 0:04:31What would have been the trigger?
0:04:31 > 0:04:34If I was threatened in any way, then I would have used it.
0:04:35 > 0:04:41I wouldn't have liked to.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43And did you use them?
0:04:43 > 0:04:46Only on myself, in the end.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48Taran wanted to be in hospital.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52His family wanted him sectioned for his own good.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55But the professionals said no.
0:04:55 > 0:04:57I was begging them to come and see him,
0:04:57 > 0:05:01begging the psychiatrists to see him to review the meds,
0:05:01 > 0:05:04begging for him to go into hospital.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06And basically the only way I can describe it is
0:05:07 > 0:05:09they left him like an animal.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13A year on, Taran was still not well.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16I had a phone call from his girlfriend and she was screaming
0:05:16 > 0:05:21and crying and saying Taran had been shouting saying, "I've had
0:05:21 > 0:05:25enough, I want to be dead" and he was actually throwing himself
0:05:25 > 0:05:30in front of cars.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32It ended in a stand off with police.
0:05:32 > 0:05:38Now, he's on his way to court with mum and partner Andrea.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40We are going to court and they will decide whether Taran
0:05:40 > 0:05:46needs to be punished for his mental health or not.
0:05:46 > 0:05:47How are you feeling about that?
0:05:47 > 0:05:54I feel really angry and really upset because we have been asking for help
0:05:54 > 0:05:59since August for psychologist or medication review or anything
0:05:59 > 0:06:03and we didn't get it and the question today should be
0:06:03 > 0:06:08whether Taran get a psychologist and proper help or not.
0:06:08 > 0:06:13And it's still not nothing about helping us.
0:06:13 > 0:06:18He's been charged with damaging cars and spitting at two officers.
0:06:18 > 0:06:24Taran could be going to jail today.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26He is nervous.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31He's been drinking a little bit for a couple of days.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35He doesn t like to make out that he's nervous but he is, definitely.
0:06:35 > 0:06:36You can tell.
0:06:36 > 0:06:42Yeah.
0:06:42 > 0:06:43BLEEP.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Court is there.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48That's where I go magistrates, I'm not in crown court.
0:06:48 > 0:06:49That's where we go.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52In the taxi, the nerves begin to show.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56It's not BLEEP good, is it?
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Depending on what happens, if they say it was down to my mental
0:06:59 > 0:07:03health or not or if I say I plead guilty, I don t know what's
0:07:03 > 0:07:07going to be the outcome, so I just expect the worst and then
0:07:07 > 0:07:11whatever happens happens.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15I feel it's unfair on my family that I m here and they have to put
0:07:15 > 0:07:18up with all of this.
0:07:18 > 0:07:19But they love you.
0:07:19 > 0:07:24Yeah, I know they do, but...
0:07:24 > 0:07:31It's hard sometimes to explain why.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34I should feel better if they didn't have to put up
0:07:34 > 0:07:41with all the problems in my life.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44What if he goes to prison?
0:07:44 > 0:07:50Well, we wait until he comes home and start again
0:07:50 > 0:07:54the game, asking for help.
0:07:54 > 0:07:55Taran has pleaded guilty.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58He's about to hear his sentence.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00He wouldn't cope in prison.
0:08:00 > 0:08:02No way.
0:08:02 > 0:08:08I think he'd kill himself, that d be it.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11It's quite positive, he's not going to prison.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14It's the result they were hoping for.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16And he will get, hopefully, the proper help.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20He's on a community order,I think that s what they call it.
0:08:20 > 0:08:25The court has ordered Taran to see a psychologist.
0:08:25 > 0:08:26It's exactly what he d been asking for.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28You'll be all right.
0:08:28 > 0:08:29Yeah, it's all sorted now.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31They obviously see I wasn't well at the time
0:08:31 > 0:08:34and took into consideration the things that were going on.
0:08:34 > 0:08:41So I'm lucky this time.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43Yeah, so I'll speak to you when I get home
0:08:43 > 0:08:45anyway, but it's all gone well.
0:08:45 > 0:08:46It's good, isn't it?
0:08:46 > 0:08:47Bye-bye. Bye.
0:08:47 > 0:08:52Outside the court, I notice there's something different about Andrea.
0:08:52 > 0:08:53That's the engagement ring, is it?
0:08:53 > 0:08:56It was a surprise for me, I didn't really expect it.
0:08:56 > 0:08:57He was on his knees.
0:08:57 > 0:08:58So, yeah, bit of crying.
0:08:58 > 0:09:03Quite romantic and really surprising, actually.
0:09:03 > 0:09:04You were very pleased.
0:09:04 > 0:09:06Yeah, I was, yeah, really pleased.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08I'm wearing my ring quite proudly, yeah.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11If you are going to miss an appointment for whatever reason,
0:09:11 > 0:09:13make sure you phone.
0:09:13 > 0:09:18Taran says goodbye to the mental health team who helped in court.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22He'll get the treatment he wants.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26Not everyone is so lucky.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Taran may struggle with his mental health, but whatever the future
0:09:29 > 0:09:38holds, at least he's not facing it alone.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40David Fenton reporting there.
0:09:40 > 0:09:42If you've been affected by any of the issues
0:09:42 > 0:09:44raised in David's film, grab a pen because details
0:09:44 > 0:09:47of where to get some help and advice are coming up at
0:09:47 > 0:09:50the end of the show.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52Still to come: Joe Crowley asks if Government cuts
0:09:52 > 0:10:01are putting our farmers and our food at risk.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05Just time for a quick reminder about Twitter.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08You can find out more about what we're up to at...
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Next, is our sweet tooth putting the long-term future
0:10:11 > 0:10:13of the honey bee in jeopardy?
0:10:13 > 0:10:15Every year, we get through a staggering half
0:10:16 > 0:10:19a billion jars of honey.
0:10:19 > 0:10:28Are we simply asking too much of the little honey bee?
0:10:28 > 0:10:32Bees ? nature's wonder.
0:10:32 > 0:10:38Man's sweetest friend.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40For thousands of years, we've benefited from these
0:10:40 > 0:10:42incredible insects.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46Here in the UK we consume more than 25,000 tonnes
0:10:46 > 0:10:50of honey every year.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54Bees are very calm, very content and you'll notice we've not used any
0:10:54 > 0:10:57smoke on them at all yet.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00Ian Homer from Dorset has been mastering his skills as a beekeeper
0:11:00 > 0:11:03for the last 36 years.
0:11:03 > 0:11:04Total relaxation.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09I've never come across anything that gives me quite as much variation
0:11:09 > 0:11:14of interest as beekeeping does.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17It also gives you honey.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21There's probably just a little over ?3 of honey there.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24Ian collects around 300 jars of honey every year,
0:11:24 > 0:11:27from his 12 hives near Bridport.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30I enjoy so many different aspects of beekeeping.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33It teaches you so much about geology, about flora,
0:11:33 > 0:11:37about the social structure within the colony.
0:11:37 > 0:11:38Although Ian's hives appear to be healthy,
0:11:38 > 0:11:40the UK population of bees
0:11:40 > 0:11:44has fallen by a third over the last century.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47Some experts blame the use of pesticides and the destruction
0:11:47 > 0:11:51of natural flower rich habitats.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54Others say that intensive farming of bees leaves them more
0:11:54 > 0:11:57vulnerable to attack from the Varroa destructor -
0:11:57 > 0:12:02a parasitic mite that can wipe out a colony.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06In an attempt to halt the bees' decline, in this Sussex garden,
0:12:06 > 0:12:08Heidi Hermann has adopted a controversial
0:12:08 > 0:12:13approach to beekeeping.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15Modern beekeeping is definitely adding to the trouble.
0:12:15 > 0:12:20Over the last 100 years, it's developed into what I could only say
0:12:20 > 0:12:24is a kind of control freak, taking control of every process
0:12:24 > 0:12:28of the hive in such a way that the most profit can be made
0:12:28 > 0:12:34from the bees for their product.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36Heidi is one of a growing number of natural beekeepers
0:12:36 > 0:12:39who are suggesting that our sweet tooth might be contributing
0:12:39 > 0:12:42to dwindling bee numbers.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46How many different colours there are, some more black than others.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49She doesn't use any chemicals and builds hives out
0:12:49 > 0:12:53of natural materials.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56So is it all about trying to keep bees happy with
0:12:56 > 0:12:59the minimal amount of stress?
0:12:59 > 0:13:02Happy is, sort of, a human term, but the main aim
0:13:02 > 0:13:04is to keep the bees healthy.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08Yes, and to keep colonies, long lived colonies, that
0:13:08 > 0:13:13are in tune with their environment and are able to perform
0:13:13 > 0:13:20their pollination task in an effcient way as possible.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25This is a hive made of straw, ideally organically grown straw
0:13:25 > 0:13:28because this is the home where all the babies
0:13:28 > 0:13:29in the future will be raised.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32And as they expand, bees expand downwards not upwards,
0:13:32 > 0:13:39and I gave them more room by putting those boxes underneath.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41The Natural Beekeeping Trust believes taking honey
0:13:41 > 0:13:44from the bees weakens the colony.
0:13:44 > 0:13:49Heidi only harvests a very small amount for use as a medicine.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51And you'd never take honey from this?
0:13:51 > 0:13:52You would never gather honey?
0:13:52 > 0:13:55No, I would not take honey from this because it would mean
0:13:55 > 0:13:57disrupting that hive.
0:13:57 > 0:14:02There are hives I have that make it possible to take honey.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06But, I have to say, it's neither for myself nor for any of my fellow
0:14:06 > 0:14:08trustees in the Natural Beekeeping Trust.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12The honey is definitely not a priority.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15I think if people suggest that we should stop collecting
0:14:15 > 0:14:18honey, they don't actually understand the principle
0:14:18 > 0:14:20that bees work on.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Bees will go out to gather enough honey for themselves
0:14:22 > 0:14:25and they will keep gathering honey until the nectar flow stops
0:14:25 > 0:14:28or the colony dies out.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30If we stopped gathering honey, eventually we'd get to a stage
0:14:30 > 0:14:34where a lot of colonies would cease to function because they wouldn't
0:14:34 > 0:14:38have anywhere to keep all of the honey.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41Traditional beekeepers, like Ian, also worry that Heidi's chemical
0:14:41 > 0:14:44free approach to disease control could increase
0:14:44 > 0:14:47the spread of Varroa mites.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50They have to remember that the bees that they keep are part
0:14:50 > 0:14:53of a national stock of bees.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57Those bees fly freely and interact with other people's bees.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59And if they're not inspecting for disease, which few
0:14:59 > 0:15:03of the natural beekeepers are able to do because of the way
0:15:03 > 0:15:05in which the bees are kept, then that could spread
0:15:05 > 0:15:07disease into my hives.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11You can't be on the treatment treadmill forever.
0:15:11 > 0:15:13If a colony is stressed, it has no possibility
0:15:13 > 0:15:17of defending itself, of actually developing its own innate
0:15:17 > 0:15:20defences against Varroa.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23My bees have never been treated against Varroa
0:15:23 > 0:15:25and they do absolutely fine, they have better longevity
0:15:26 > 0:15:30than most beekeepers' bees.
0:15:30 > 0:15:39One thing both Ian and Heidi do agree on is that bees need our help.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41In Andover, carpenter Matt Sommerville has taken a natural
0:15:41 > 0:15:45approach to lending a hand.
0:15:45 > 0:15:49Matt, this is everything a traditional hive isn't.
0:15:49 > 0:15:50It's not square.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52No.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54It's just a beautiful thing.
0:15:54 > 0:15:55What's the idea behind it?
0:15:55 > 0:15:57It's not that complicated.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00All I've really done is look at bees in the wild and try to replicate
0:16:00 > 0:16:02a nice habitat for them off the ground, away
0:16:02 > 0:16:08from people and predators, where bees can evolve to be healthy.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11And we're finding that set up in trees, bees just thrive
0:16:11 > 0:16:14without human intervention.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Bees have been round for millions and millions of years,
0:16:16 > 0:16:19long before we came on the planet, and they've always been looking
0:16:19 > 0:16:22for places like caves or trees, that was their place to go,
0:16:22 > 0:16:25and nowadays a lot of trees are being cut down and there isn't
0:16:25 > 0:16:28a habitat for the bees.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31So by making these, we can allow bees to find them by themselves
0:16:31 > 0:16:38and we're getting strong bees from them.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41This one was my first.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43I had no idea whether bees would find it.
0:16:43 > 0:16:48We just found a suitable looking tree and whacked it up there.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50Within two weeks - bingo, bees found it.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54So the theory is you just let the bees do their thing?
0:16:54 > 0:16:55Yeah.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58If there aren't bees in the area, then you don't get any bees.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01Just like a bird box.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04I quite often come back just to watch them, their progress.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08If the queen's healthy and laying, then they bring back lots of pollen.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11Seeing bees bring back sacks full of pollen is a good sign that
0:17:11 > 0:17:15everything's strong in the hive.
0:17:15 > 0:17:20If they're surviving, then they're genetically strong bees.
0:17:20 > 0:17:21However they're doing it, they're strong.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25We need them so much for pollination, not just
0:17:25 > 0:17:28for ourselves, for all our fruits and vegetables that we eat,
0:17:28 > 0:17:31but for nature, generally, all the flowers in our landscape.
0:17:31 > 0:17:37That's the primary importance of bees.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39No dead bees.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43It's dry and I can just see one Varroa mite in the middle there.
0:17:43 > 0:17:49So it's amazingly healthy, really.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53In this natural environment, the bees appear to be thriving.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56This small scale, hands off approach is what the Natural Beekeeping Trust
0:17:56 > 0:17:59wants to see more of.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02Rather than a few people keeping hundreds or thousands of hives,
0:18:02 > 0:18:06we need thousands of people keeping two or three hives,
0:18:06 > 0:18:10taking honey in small quantities, at the same time using honey only
0:18:10 > 0:18:20for medicinal purposes rather than food.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24Do you get people go, "Aw, it's all well and good,
0:18:24 > 0:18:26but it'll never work in practise?"
0:18:26 > 0:18:29It's almost an idealistic approach.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31It's certainly an idealistic approach, but without idealism
0:18:31 > 0:18:33there will be no future.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36If we carry on in the rapacious way that we are using
0:18:36 > 0:18:46in relation to all of nature, there will be no future.
0:18:47 > 0:18:49What do bees mean to you?
0:18:49 > 0:18:50What fascination do they hold?
0:18:50 > 0:18:52You feel that they know you and they are very
0:18:52 > 0:18:53aware of your intention.
0:18:53 > 0:18:59Yes, I do keep bees for the pleasure of their company.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01They are very pure.
0:19:01 > 0:19:11We need to strive to be the same.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15Now, don't forget, if you want to get in touch with the show why
0:19:15 > 0:19:19don't you drop me an e-mail?
0:19:19 > 0:19:22Finally, these days we expect what we eat to be safe.
0:19:22 > 0:19:24But with Government cuts hitting the labs which help
0:19:24 > 0:19:28keep our farms disease-fre, Joe Crowley has been hearing
0:19:28 > 0:19:32from those who fear our farming industry and, more importantly,
0:19:32 > 0:19:42our health is at risk.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46There's money in meat.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50We spend ?18.7 billion on it every year, so it's no surprise that
0:19:50 > 0:19:54monitoring and stopping the spread of diseases like foot-and-mouth
0:19:54 > 0:19:57is a top priority.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59The fight to eradicate foot-and-mouth has
0:19:59 > 0:20:00been going on for over
0:20:00 > 0:20:0290 years and this place, The Pirbright Institute,
0:20:02 > 0:20:04is right on the front line.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07It's a world-class research facility responsible for developing vaccines
0:20:07 > 0:20:14and trying to control some pretty nasty diseases.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17There are countries that are endemic to foot-and-mouth disease along
0:20:17 > 0:20:19the border of Europe, but what we are starting to see
0:20:19 > 0:20:22is we see certain strains popping up in places that we don't
0:20:22 > 0:20:25usually see them.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27At the moment, we're actually developing something that will look
0:20:27 > 0:20:29like a pregnancy test, where you get a simple
0:20:29 > 0:20:33line across the little cassette to tell you whether or not
0:20:33 > 0:20:34a sample is positive or negative
0:20:34 > 0:20:37and, of course, the quicker that you can identify an outbreak,
0:20:37 > 0:20:39the quicker you can put in certain bio-safety regulations and prevent
0:20:39 > 0:20:42the outbreak from spreading.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46Pirbright may be at the cutting edge, but it has the odd blemish
0:20:46 > 0:20:53on its safety record.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Pirbright may be at the cutting edge, but it has the odd blemish
0:20:56 > 0:20:57on its safety record.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00The 2007 foot-and-mouth outbreak, which cost farming ?100 million,
0:21:00 > 0:21:01started when the virus escaped from Pirbright.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04In the last decade, there have been 15 safety breaches here,
0:21:04 > 0:21:06including a ?70,000 fine in 2014 for failings
0:21:06 > 0:21:10over foot-and-mouth.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12Why is the record here so poor?
0:21:12 > 0:21:15There is always a risk with running facilities like this,
0:21:15 > 0:21:20but by the infrastructure we have here now and the improved procedures
0:21:20 > 0:21:24and protocols we have in place, I think we've contained that risk
0:21:24 > 0:21:28to the smallest possible.
0:21:28 > 0:21:30You handle live viruses here, with that there's always
0:21:30 > 0:21:31going to be a risk.
0:21:31 > 0:21:33Is it worth it?
0:21:33 > 0:21:36It certainly is, with all the diseases that are approaching
0:21:36 > 0:21:37the borders of Europe.
0:21:37 > 0:21:40We are seeing viruses move like we hadn't
0:21:40 > 0:21:43seen them move before.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46And so there's a real threat of a number of these viruses coming
0:21:46 > 0:21:49into Europe and coming into the UK.
0:21:49 > 0:21:55I would say we're between outbreaks, they're not going away.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58Recent diseases to reach us in Britain include Bluetongue,
0:21:58 > 0:22:04avian flu and then there's the ongoing Bovine TB epidemic.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06Keith Cutler is a vet based in Salisbury.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10His practice is the only one left in this part of Wiltshire,
0:22:10 > 0:22:13covering more than 2,000 square miles, half of it
0:22:13 > 0:22:18in TB infected areas.
0:22:18 > 0:22:24In my experience, it's worse than it's ever been.
0:22:24 > 0:22:30TB is increasing in prevalence and now we have a significant proportion
0:22:30 > 0:22:34of the country endemically infected.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38Wiltshire is now in what's called the high risk area and Hampshire
0:22:38 > 0:22:48is in the edge area where new cases are cropping up fairly frequently.
0:22:49 > 0:22:54Today, Keith is TB testing and checking for pregnancies.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57This dairy farm is constantly producing milk and new calves,
0:22:57 > 0:23:01but recent inconclusive TB results mean they're on lockdown -
0:23:01 > 0:23:08losing money every single day for farmer Phil Shearing.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11I can't sell any calves at the moment, so I've got to either
0:23:11 > 0:23:14keep them or humanely get them killed.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17There's a lot more disease we're finding we've got to do a lot more
0:23:17 > 0:23:21vaccinations and DEFRA being cut is going to affect us big time.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24We're sort of being left out on our own and we are dealing
0:23:24 > 0:23:27with the consequences.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30With the ?220 million animal health budget set to be cut
0:23:30 > 0:23:35by a third within the next three years, seven regional labs that used
0:23:35 > 0:23:43to diagnose and identify new diseases have already shut down.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Winchester's gone, so Keith's nearest Government lab is now over
0:23:46 > 0:23:47100 miles away.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49Diseases tend not to be investigated to the extent
0:23:49 > 0:23:54that they were when Winchester was open, and it means we don't
0:23:54 > 0:24:00have the surveillance network for the new and emerging diseases.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04Concerns are that our surveillance system will fail.
0:24:04 > 0:24:09A new or exotic disease will already be established in this country
0:24:09 > 0:24:12before we find out it's here and it will be difficult then
0:24:12 > 0:24:22to bring it under control.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28Now, when you see good money being bid for fine beasts like this,
0:24:28 > 0:24:30you might think everything's rosy, but actually farmers are struggling.
0:24:30 > 0:24:35Profits for the industry overall fell by ?1.5 billion last year,
0:24:35 > 0:24:38mainly due to falling food prices, and that means that farmers
0:24:38 > 0:24:42are vulnerable to any outbreak in disease,
0:24:42 > 0:24:47indeed it's thought many wouldn't be able to survive it.
0:24:47 > 0:24:50We could have a lot more help, there could be a lot
0:24:50 > 0:24:51more Government support.
0:24:51 > 0:24:52There aren't enough politicians that farm.
0:24:52 > 0:24:58If they farmed, they wouldn't cut.
0:24:58 > 0:25:00It's farmers that are suffering from not having these
0:25:00 > 0:25:02centres because obviously if they have an animal die
0:25:02 > 0:25:06on the farm they want to know why it died because they want to know
0:25:06 > 0:25:08if there's anything wrong with it and should they,
0:25:08 > 0:25:09what action should they take.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12And so it's getting harder and harder to get
0:25:12 > 0:25:12a postmortem done.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15And it's worrying for the vets, they're all trying to do their very
0:25:15 > 0:25:18best to help everybody, but there s not enough of them.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20And that's the knock-on effect of Winchester closing,
0:25:20 > 0:25:23that you don't have this information at your fingertips you don't
0:25:23 > 0:25:25have a local centre you could have gone to.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27Exactly, we would go, in fact ours would be
0:25:27 > 0:25:30Bury St Edmunds from here, believe it or not.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32We've had two well publicised diseases come into the UK recently,
0:25:32 > 0:25:38bluetongue 2006, Schmallenberg two or three years ago, thank
0:25:38 > 0:25:41goodness those don t cause problems to humans.
0:25:41 > 0:25:45Another very well-known example is something like Zika virus
0:25:45 > 0:25:50which is catastrophic to humans.
0:25:50 > 0:25:52And that's why it's so important that we pick up
0:25:52 > 0:25:54on these diseases early.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56The classic example of that, I suppose,
0:25:56 > 0:25:58is mad cow disease or BSE.
0:25:58 > 0:26:01So, back in 1986, vets started noticing and, farmers of course,
0:26:01 > 0:26:05started noticing some strange behaviour in some of their animals
0:26:05 > 0:26:08and they were able to get a really professional diagnosis from those
0:26:08 > 0:26:12animals by submitting them to their local surveillance centre.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14From that, a whole new disease was discovered which no-one had
0:26:15 > 0:26:17really recognised before.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19We never know what's around the corner.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22So we have to have the facilities in place and we need
0:26:22 > 0:26:27to have the experts in place to deal with that when required.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29There are more than 800 diseases that can pass
0:26:29 > 0:26:31from animals to humans.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33You're in a deep sleep, aren't you?
0:26:33 > 0:26:35Hmm?
0:26:35 > 0:26:37Did you hear that?
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Christine Lord lost her son Andrew 10 years ago to CJD ?
0:26:40 > 0:26:46the human form of BSE.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49To hold your once fit, strong 24-year-old son
0:26:49 > 0:26:55in your arms and watch him die, it's indescribable and the pain that
0:26:55 > 0:26:59I feel today, time doesn t heal.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03Food should be safe, it shouldn't kill.
0:27:03 > 0:27:10I lost my son because of an animal disease.
0:27:10 > 0:27:14I'm just appalled that no lessons have been learnt,
0:27:14 > 0:27:21but I'm not surprised.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23We asked the Government why it's cutting animal health budgets
0:27:23 > 0:27:29and surveillance centres.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32A spokesperson told us
0:27:32 > 0:27:34the remaining labs are in areas with the main
0:27:34 > 0:27:36populations of farmed animals, and that world-class expertise
0:27:36 > 0:27:39at the central lab means it's well placed to detect
0:27:39 > 0:27:46new and emerging diseases effectively.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50But with around 23,000 farms in the south-east, vet Keith Cutler
0:27:50 > 0:27:55is worried we are vulnerable to new disease outbreaks.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58All the time there are cuts coming to the surveillance budget
0:27:58 > 0:28:01and from Government, perhaps, the wrong message is being sent,
0:28:01 > 0:28:05perhaps the message is that it's not important and I think
0:28:05 > 0:28:09it's vitally important.
0:28:09 > 0:28:13There's a reduction in surveillance.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15Is it the start of the end?
0:28:15 > 0:28:17I don't know where it's going, but we're
0:28:17 > 0:28:24probably not as on the ball as we used to be.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27Joe Crowley reporting there. That's just about it for now.
0:28:27 > 0:28:29Plenty more stories from the south to come next week.
0:28:29 > 0:28:34Till then, bye-bye.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37Details of organisations offering help with mental health are
0:28:37 > 0:28:40available at bbc.co.uk?actionline.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43Or you can call for free at any time to hear recorded
0:28:43 > 0:28:49information on 08000 564 756.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04Hello, I'm Riz Lateef with your 90-second update.
0:29:04 > 0:29:08Overcrowded - the number of patients on wards in England have been
0:29:08 > 0:29:11at unsafe levels in nine out of ten hospitals this winter.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13That's according to BBC analysis.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16NHS bosses said there were problems discharging frail patients.