0:00:02 > 0:00:06It's the season that brings with it a kaleidoscope of colour,
0:00:06 > 0:00:10when nature puts on some of its greatest displays.
0:00:12 > 0:00:13Autumn.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18When our countryside is bursting with bounty.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23Whilst some of us are preparing for the colder months ahead.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29It's the perfect time to get your boots on, get out for a walk,
0:00:29 > 0:00:31and enjoy the changing colours of the countryside.
0:00:34 > 0:00:38And blow away the cobwebs in the great outdoors.
0:00:38 > 0:00:42All week, we're travelling the length and breadth of the UK.
0:00:44 > 0:00:46Five seconds, five seconds and we've got our first one.
0:00:46 > 0:00:51Bringing the very best seasonal stories that matter to you.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53If autumn continues to come later,
0:00:53 > 0:00:56could that potentially wipe out the dormouse?
0:00:56 > 0:00:58It could easily disappear completely from the English countryside,
0:00:58 > 0:01:00which would be devastating.
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Welcome to Countryfile Autumn Diaries.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16And here's what we've got for you on today's programme.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20With the arrival of some new piggy Mini Mes...
0:01:21 > 0:01:23There you go, you're getting little grunts there,
0:01:23 > 0:01:25that means they're happy.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28Paul's out to discover if hogs are as smart
0:01:28 > 0:01:30as dogs at the pig Olympics.
0:01:30 > 0:01:33OK, come on, through here... No, we've missed that one... Over the,
0:01:33 > 0:01:37over the... Come on, come on, no, no, no, no, no.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40Keeley is uncovering Britain's deadliest gardens.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43- It's called Ricinus communis. - Oh, ricin, poison!
0:01:43 > 0:01:45- Ricin, the deadliest poison known to man.- Really?
0:01:45 > 0:01:49And Jules takes a Halloween walk in a graveyard
0:01:49 > 0:01:51to meet the creatures of the night.
0:01:51 > 0:01:56Whenever you shine the torch, there are these astonishing monuments.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09All this week, we're celebrating the season here in the Lake District.
0:02:09 > 0:02:11And today I'm in Dodd Wood,
0:02:11 > 0:02:15with its dramatic views down to Bassenthwaite Lake.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20We really are spoilt for choice here in the UK
0:02:20 > 0:02:23when it comes to wonderful scenery,
0:02:23 > 0:02:27but to get to and from these locations, drivers often have
0:02:27 > 0:02:31to tackle some of our notoriously difficult country roads,
0:02:31 > 0:02:34and that can sometimes lead to tragedy.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36Margherita is in West Sussex
0:02:36 > 0:02:41investigating a growing and alarming trend on our rural roads.
0:02:44 > 0:02:51In 2016, 1,792 people were killed on our roads.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56To help improve driving standards, the government has announced that
0:02:56 > 0:03:01learner drivers in 2018 will be able to have motorway driving lessons.
0:03:03 > 0:03:05But dangerous as they may be,
0:03:05 > 0:03:09only 5% of road deaths occur on motorways.
0:03:09 > 0:03:13More than 50% happen on our rural routes.
0:03:13 > 0:03:18Luckily here, both horses and riders survived,
0:03:18 > 0:03:20but in another shocking statistic,
0:03:20 > 0:03:2380% of those drivers killed on country roads
0:03:23 > 0:03:26are aged between just 17 and 24.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29So, should we be training our new drivers
0:03:29 > 0:03:31on rural roads as well?
0:03:33 > 0:03:37So, what is it that makes our country roads so dangerous?
0:03:37 > 0:03:41To find out, I'm going for a drive with Dr Suzy Charman
0:03:41 > 0:03:44from the Road Safety Foundation.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47Unlike motorways and urban roads,
0:03:47 > 0:03:51they haven't really evolved in a way that's suitable for the kind of
0:03:51 > 0:03:53traffic that we have these days.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Originally, they might have been used by horse-drawn carriages,
0:03:56 > 0:03:58and now we're in these vehicles
0:03:58 > 0:04:02that can go 60mph on a national speed limit road,
0:04:02 > 0:04:06and, actually, if you left this road right now at 60mph
0:04:06 > 0:04:08and crashed into one of the trees at the roadside,
0:04:08 > 0:04:10you might not survive that.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14- And that 60mph...- It's a limit and not a target.
0:04:14 > 0:04:19And what can we as drivers do to ensure we're driving more safely?
0:04:19 > 0:04:21The best drivers look ahead.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24They'll be reading the road, they'll be anticipating hazards,
0:04:24 > 0:04:29they'll be spotting entrances to properties and farms.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31They'll be able to assess bends
0:04:31 > 0:04:34and the speed that they're meant to go around bends.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38Good drivers will also be really careful about overtaking.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41Overtaking is one of the riskiest things we do on this kind of road.
0:04:41 > 0:04:42Take your time, be patient,
0:04:42 > 0:04:45and if you do encounter horses or pedestrians,
0:04:45 > 0:04:48or cyclists, make sure you pass slow and wide.
0:04:48 > 0:04:53It's an awareness of these potential dangers that young drivers might not
0:04:53 > 0:04:55have the experience to anticipate.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01So, as a driver, there are changes I can make to ensure
0:05:01 > 0:05:04I'm looking after my safety, passengers, other road users -
0:05:04 > 0:05:06what changes would you like to see made
0:05:06 > 0:05:08in terms of the roads themselves?
0:05:08 > 0:05:12Things like clearing roadside hazards, including pheasants.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17Or protecting trees with crash barriers.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Another really effective thing is shoulder rumble strips
0:05:20 > 0:05:21that you can put down the side of the road,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24where if you go over them, they give you that rumbling feeling,
0:05:24 > 0:05:27and it just alerts you to the fact that you're coming off the road.
0:05:27 > 0:05:28So, there's lots that could be done?
0:05:28 > 0:05:31There's a huge amount that can be done, and they are simple,
0:05:31 > 0:05:34they're affordable, they're effective, they save lives.
0:05:36 > 0:05:41The A285 from Petworth to Chichester in Sussex, an old Roman road,
0:05:41 > 0:05:45is often dubbed Britain's most dangerous.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47Impatient drivers come over the hill,
0:05:47 > 0:05:49see a mile of straight road ahead
0:05:49 > 0:05:51and try to overtake,
0:05:51 > 0:05:55but what they miss are cars in front turning right,
0:05:55 > 0:05:57straight across their speeding path.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02Chris Davies has lived on this road for 17 years
0:06:02 > 0:06:07and sees a couple of accidents happen every week outside his home.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10But in 2006, one accident in particular
0:06:10 > 0:06:14almost cost Chris and his wife their lives.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17We actually had a car come through this wall behind me
0:06:17 > 0:06:19and into the kitchen,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22crashed all the furniture we have in here up against the far wall.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Came right into the room.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26So you'd been sitting here moments before?
0:06:26 > 0:06:28We'd been having our breakfast.
0:06:28 > 0:06:33Just before nine o'clock, we got up and out we went and in came the car.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37I can't even imagine what you must have felt.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40Well, it was just an enormous noise,
0:06:40 > 0:06:42obviously, we had both gone upstairs,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45and we were both sort of thrown up into the air
0:06:45 > 0:06:48from the shock of the car coming in. I rushed outside
0:06:48 > 0:06:51and he actually managed to get out of the car.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55He was staggering and he was stunned that he was actually OK.
0:06:55 > 0:06:57How many accidents do you think you've witnessed,
0:06:57 > 0:06:59or over the years have happened outside there?
0:06:59 > 0:07:01It's probably hundreds in total.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05Serious, probably 30 to 40 in the 17 years we've been here.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09And I'm talking about life-threatening sort of injuries.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11And you've almost become a bit of an emergency service,
0:07:11 > 0:07:13this house of yours.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15- Yes, had to.- Helping people out.
0:07:15 > 0:07:20Yes, had to do the kiss of life, and that sort of thing, sometimes.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23- So you've actually had to resuscitate someone?- Yes.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25- Goodness.- A couple of times, yeah.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27With so many accidents,
0:07:27 > 0:07:31Chris's local council has recently introduced double white lines
0:07:31 > 0:07:34to the road and he feels this simple measure
0:07:34 > 0:07:37has definitely reduced the number of accidents.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41Given the massive dangers,
0:07:41 > 0:07:43especially for young and inexperienced drivers,
0:07:43 > 0:07:45is it time for a change in the law?
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Road safety charity Brake want all new drivers
0:07:50 > 0:07:53to have compulsory lessons on rural roads.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56Jason Wakeford from the charity believes there should be
0:07:56 > 0:08:00a complete overhaul in the way we learn to drive.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03Well, rural roads are statistically the most dangerous in the country,
0:08:03 > 0:08:05and that's why we would like to see
0:08:05 > 0:08:07what's called a graduated licensing system.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10It allows new drivers to build up their skills and confidence
0:08:10 > 0:08:12over a much longer period of time.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16This would include a minimum number of hours before you're able to pass
0:08:16 > 0:08:20your first test, and then a two-year probationary period where you have
0:08:20 > 0:08:23restrictions, for example, a zero drink-drive limit
0:08:23 > 0:08:25and a night curfew.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27And why does it seems that young people are so affected
0:08:27 > 0:08:30and so vulnerable when it comes to driving on our rural roads?
0:08:30 > 0:08:34Well, young drivers are more likely to take risks,
0:08:34 > 0:08:39for example, drinking when driving, or taking drugs, and speeding,
0:08:39 > 0:08:42particularly male drivers, unfortunately,
0:08:42 > 0:08:45and that's why young people make up, unfortunately,
0:08:45 > 0:08:48a large percentage of the death statistics.
0:08:48 > 0:08:53And what advice would you give to, say, a young driver, 17 to 24,
0:08:53 > 0:08:55to be safer on our roads?
0:08:55 > 0:08:58I think my advice would be not to rush to learn to drive.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Take some time. Make sure you've had proper tuition
0:09:01 > 0:09:04and you've got a lot of good hours under your belt
0:09:04 > 0:09:07so you can really build your skills and your confidence over time.
0:09:08 > 0:09:13Several countries have introduced a graduated driver's license,
0:09:13 > 0:09:17which allows new drivers to build up their driving skills and experience
0:09:17 > 0:09:20in structured stages.
0:09:20 > 0:09:25So what could an overhaul of the driving test system mean for the UK?
0:09:27 > 0:09:30The graduated licensing system has already been implemented
0:09:30 > 0:09:32in countries like New Zealand, Australia,
0:09:32 > 0:09:35and in some of the states in the US,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38and they've seen massive reductions, up to a quarter,
0:09:38 > 0:09:42of the number of young people dying in road crashes.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45That's why we believe we could be seeing a reduction
0:09:45 > 0:09:49of some 400 deaths and serious injuries on UK roads.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54Whether or not those changes are brought in in the future,
0:09:54 > 0:09:56it's clear to me from today
0:09:56 > 0:10:00that there are small changes that each of us can make to how we drive
0:10:00 > 0:10:03on these rural roads that will really help reduce
0:10:03 > 0:10:08the number of injuries and fatalities that we see every year.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13Worrying, indeed.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15Now, you don't have to be in the open countryside
0:10:15 > 0:10:19to see an abundance of wildlife. In our cities,
0:10:19 > 0:10:22public cemeteries can offer peaceful places
0:10:22 > 0:10:24for nature to thrive,
0:10:24 > 0:10:27and across England and Wales, at least 6,000 churchyards
0:10:27 > 0:10:30are now offering sanctuary to wild creatures.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32And, as it's Halloween,
0:10:32 > 0:10:37Jules is exploring life after death in our graveyards.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44Who on Halloween would dare enter a spooky graveyard
0:10:44 > 0:10:46at the witching hour?
0:10:47 > 0:10:51This cemetery is where creatures of the night come out to play.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56It's just as well I'm arriving in the daytime.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02Large historic cemeteries like this one at Arnos Vale in Bristol
0:11:02 > 0:11:06can for very obvious reasons often be quite emotional places,
0:11:06 > 0:11:10but if, like me, you're interested in the social history of a town
0:11:10 > 0:11:13or a city, they can be fascinating places to explore.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17And sad as they are amongst the urban sprawl, well,
0:11:17 > 0:11:20they're often a real haven for wildlife.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25Arnos Vale is one of Britain's best examples
0:11:25 > 0:11:28of a Victorian garden cemetery.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30As well as 50,000 graves,
0:11:30 > 0:11:33the grounds are covered with classical buildings
0:11:33 > 0:11:37and historic monuments designed to echo classical Greece.
0:11:38 > 0:11:42To find out more about the cemetery and the wildlife amongst the graves,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45I'm meeting estates manager Nick Bull.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48It was designed as a garden cemetery, so you know,
0:11:48 > 0:11:50it was intended to be quite dramatic.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54The variety of monuments here is absolutely staggering.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56I mean, that in itself is absolutely fabulous.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58It's a piece of architecture.
0:11:58 > 0:12:02It's our Anglican chapel, so it had to make a big impression.
0:12:04 > 0:12:09But for a more exotic aspect, look no further than this Bengali tomb,
0:12:09 > 0:12:12which houses the remains of Rammohun Roy,
0:12:12 > 0:12:16a revered Indian ambassador who died in Bristol in 1833.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20The cemetery was built at the height of the British Empire,
0:12:20 > 0:12:22but during the 20th century,
0:12:22 > 0:12:25it fell into disrepair and the grounds went wild.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28But, with the cemetery now restored,
0:12:28 > 0:12:32needs of both wildlife and a working historical cemetery have to be met.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36We're trying to strike a balance between the needs of the graves
0:12:36 > 0:12:38and the needs of the wildlife.
0:12:38 > 0:12:41We're slowly trying to chip away at certain areas
0:12:41 > 0:12:44that have become overwhelmed, really, by the vegetation.
0:12:44 > 0:12:49We're treating a lot of it as meadow because it's really important that
0:12:49 > 0:12:53we allow the wild grasses and wild flowers to thrive before we go round
0:12:53 > 0:12:56and cut it. If we cut it all really regularly,
0:12:56 > 0:13:00then it would lose a lot of the diversity that does well here.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04The cemetery still conducts burials, but Arnos Vale is so rich
0:13:04 > 0:13:08in wildlife, it's now managed as a site of nature conservation.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12But to get up close to that wildlife,
0:13:12 > 0:13:15I'll have to wait until darkness falls.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19Well, it is about six o'clock, it's getting dark,
0:13:19 > 0:13:21and it's starting to rain,
0:13:21 > 0:13:23and the cemetery is about to close.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25Now, let's face it, being locked in a graveyard
0:13:25 > 0:13:27isn't exactly everybody's cup of tea,
0:13:27 > 0:13:30but this one is about to come alive with nature.
0:13:31 > 0:13:35My guide for the night is ecologist Dan Flew,
0:13:35 > 0:13:36a former grave-digger
0:13:36 > 0:13:39who now studies the cemetery's living residents.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41Now, Dan, who else shares this space?
0:13:41 > 0:13:43What else shares this space?
0:13:43 > 0:13:46There's a whole range of nocturnal creatures here.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50We've got badgers, foxes, owls, and my favourite, which is the bats.
0:13:50 > 0:13:51How do they sort of manifest themselves?
0:13:51 > 0:13:53Where are they roosting at the moment?
0:13:53 > 0:13:55Well, the main roost of lesser horseshoe bats
0:13:55 > 0:14:00is in the West Lodge and there's a tunnel between the buildings.
0:14:00 > 0:14:02There's a tunnel? What, between these two gate houses?
0:14:02 > 0:14:06Yeah, and it used to be used by staff in the Victorian time
0:14:06 > 0:14:10to keep the grave-diggers and the riffraff out of the way
0:14:10 > 0:14:13- of the people that had the money that come in...- The mourners?
0:14:13 > 0:14:15- Yeah.- How interesting.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18I love the idea of a secret tunnel that links these two buildings.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20But bats have made that their own?
0:14:20 > 0:14:21Yeah, they have. They have, indeed.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23How many are down there?
0:14:23 > 0:14:28- Any idea?- On the last check, there was 11 lesser horseshoe bats.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32The lesser horseshoe bat is rare in the British Isles
0:14:32 > 0:14:34and doesn't like disturbance,
0:14:34 > 0:14:39so we're using an infrared camera to accompany Dan into the tunnel.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46Lesser horseshoe bats begin hibernation in the autumn
0:14:46 > 0:14:50using caves, mines, cellars and tunnels,
0:14:50 > 0:14:53and unlike many bat species, they don't huddle together.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58- WHISPERS:- This is a lesser horseshoe bat.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00He's very torpid at the moment
0:15:00 > 0:15:03so we can't disturb him too much.
0:15:03 > 0:15:07So just the heat off our body will wake him up
0:15:07 > 0:15:11so we'd better move on pretty quickly.
0:15:13 > 0:15:19So I've had a look about and I can see six.
0:15:19 > 0:15:24- So the bats are starting to... - INAUDIBLE
0:15:24 > 0:15:28If we go out to the entrance, we will hopefully see them emerge.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31With dusk falling,
0:15:31 > 0:15:34we'll hopefully see these shy creatures fly out into the night.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39So, Dan, you've got your bat detector out there.
0:15:39 > 0:15:40What exactly's that picking up?
0:15:40 > 0:15:44It's picking up the ultrasonic sounds of the bats' echo location,
0:15:44 > 0:15:48and it will also play back the audible sound so we can hear it,
0:15:48 > 0:15:52and it sounds a bit like a warble, from the lesser horseshoe bat.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54- So it's a bit like a... - HE WHISTLES
0:15:54 > 0:15:56- Oh!- And it's a beautiful sound.
0:15:57 > 0:16:02As the dusk embraces us, we get serenaded by these bats.
0:16:02 > 0:16:08But when it comes to bat song, it's not what Dan was expecting.
0:16:08 > 0:16:09Oh...
0:16:09 > 0:16:11A Leisler.
0:16:11 > 0:16:12SQUEAKING
0:16:12 > 0:16:16So a Leisler is one of our big bats,
0:16:16 > 0:16:18and if you heard that, it was like a chip-chop, chip-chop,
0:16:18 > 0:16:20but a bit faster.
0:16:20 > 0:16:21These bats fly really high.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24We've got 45 acres of habitat here,
0:16:24 > 0:16:29which is what they use, and this is kind of like an island of darkness
0:16:29 > 0:16:30within the city.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32Apart from bats,
0:16:32 > 0:16:34there are a number of other nocturnal creatures
0:16:34 > 0:16:37that go bump in the night in this graveyard.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Dan is up ahead of me,
0:16:39 > 0:16:41just trying to find a badger set,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44where they've managed to record some of the badgers
0:16:44 > 0:16:46about their nocturnal business.
0:16:46 > 0:16:51Wherever you shine the torch, there are these astonishing monuments.
0:16:52 > 0:16:53Any luck with the badger set?
0:16:53 > 0:16:56Well, the badger set here has been protected
0:16:56 > 0:17:00- by some woven fence line...- Yeah.
0:17:00 > 0:17:02And it's only a small set.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06Badgers in graveyards have had a bad press,
0:17:06 > 0:17:09as their digging can disturb the graves,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12but this badger has been a little bit more respectful.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15If you can see here, slightly,...
0:17:16 > 0:17:18- Is that a run?- Yeah.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21So you can see the vegetation is slightly cleared there
0:17:21 > 0:17:23and if you look closely, there is scratch marks,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26and they are creatures of habit so they like to use the same path.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29I mean, there's absolutely no chance we're going to see one tonight
0:17:29 > 0:17:32- with our torches, is there? - I don't think so.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35But you know, urban foxes famously, of course, you know...
0:17:35 > 0:17:36much on the rise.
0:17:36 > 0:17:40Presumably, there are urban foxes that are using the cemetery?
0:17:40 > 0:17:43Oh, yeah, yeah. If you sit down on your own long enough in the dark,
0:17:43 > 0:17:45you'll see one pass you.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49It's like a little nocturnal paradise for nocturnal creatures.
0:17:54 > 0:17:58This place has proved to be as fascinating in the dark as it was
0:17:58 > 0:18:01during daylight, and I've got a real sense not just of its history,
0:18:01 > 0:18:06but also of the wildlife that like to call this place home.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08Talking of which, where's the gate?
0:18:08 > 0:18:10I think it's this way.
0:18:10 > 0:18:11HOOTING
0:18:15 > 0:18:19Now, from Victorian splendour to a much more modern fad.
0:18:23 > 0:18:24In the past decade,
0:18:24 > 0:18:28the sale of micro-pigs small enough to keep in your back garden,
0:18:28 > 0:18:30or even in your home, has really rocketed,
0:18:30 > 0:18:35and research has shown that pigs in general are far more intelligent
0:18:35 > 0:18:38than we give them credit for, perhaps even rivalling dogs,
0:18:38 > 0:18:41but when it comes to agility training, well,
0:18:41 > 0:18:44surely dogs have their paws on the prize?
0:18:44 > 0:18:45Well, perhaps not.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48Paul has been to an autumn show
0:18:48 > 0:18:51where hogs are trying to be top dogs.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55Back in the spring, I picked some piglets
0:18:55 > 0:18:57for my Wiltshire smallholding
0:18:57 > 0:19:00from my neighbour Aldetha Raymond.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02They've just been born, haven't they? What, three or four days?
0:19:02 > 0:19:06Three or four days, yes. So they're very, very young at the moment.
0:19:06 > 0:19:07Oh!
0:19:07 > 0:19:11Now they've been weaned, they're ready to come home.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15Well, that's it.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17That's the run all sorted out.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19We're getting a little pig house, got a nice little sty,
0:19:19 > 0:19:22got a water trough.
0:19:22 > 0:19:23I tell you what, we've got all the kit here,
0:19:23 > 0:19:25we're not doing it in half measures.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27We're going the whole hog.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32Any moment now, Aldetha will be arriving
0:19:32 > 0:19:34with our two little piggies.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36- Yay!- One for you and one for you.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38And do you know what they are? They're Kunekune crosses.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42So they're kind of, you know, slightly related to the wild boar.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44- Yeah?- The hairy pigs.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48From New Zealand, Kunekune pigs were raised by the Maoris,
0:19:48 > 0:19:51and their name literally means fat and round.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53Have you thought of names yet?
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- Yes.- But I think you've got to name them when you see them, really.
0:19:56 > 0:19:57- OK?- Yeah.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59That'll be the final decider.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01You've got a little inkling, haven't you?
0:20:01 > 0:20:03Go on, then, whisper in my ear.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07You'll find out when they arrive.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09In fact, I can hear Aldetha. I can hear the van now.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12There it is. Come on, let's go and say hello.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14- Hi, Aldetha!- Hi, there.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16- Great to see you.- And you.
0:20:16 > 0:20:17We've been looking forward to this.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19- Brilliant.- Haven't we?
0:20:19 > 0:20:21- Yeah.- Hello.- Oh, we're very excited.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25Ready? OK.
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Can you see them?
0:20:27 > 0:20:28- Yeah.- Oh, aren't they cute?
0:20:29 > 0:20:31What do you think?
0:20:31 > 0:20:34- OK, what's their names? - Toffee and Fudge.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36- Toffee and...- ? Fudge.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Time to introduce Toffee and Fudge to their new home.
0:20:40 > 0:20:41I hope they like it.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45Oh, here they go... Ah!
0:20:45 > 0:20:48Oh, they look so tiny now, don't they?
0:20:48 > 0:20:52Kunekunes are the smallest domesticated breed of pig
0:20:52 > 0:20:54in the world,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57and Toffee and Fudge might only grow 24 inches high.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01And how do we go about training these pigs?
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Do you train them like a dog with titbits and rewards?
0:21:04 > 0:21:06Yeah, they are food orientated.
0:21:06 > 0:21:07Their tummy rules.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09So if you give them titbits,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12they're going to love it, but always feed them and talk to them.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14The most important thing is to talk to them.
0:21:14 > 0:21:19Pigs, whatever their size, are social, friendly animals,
0:21:19 > 0:21:23and in the animal IQ stakes, they're very intelligent.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Toffee and Fudge will need feeding twice a day,
0:21:26 > 0:21:29with one very important addition.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32A handful of peat goes in with their food.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36They will actually eat this and they will also move their noses around
0:21:36 > 0:21:38- in it, and it's really good for them.- OK.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40Can you put that in for me, Meredith?
0:21:40 > 0:21:42There you go. You're getting little grunts there.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44That means they're happy. They're actually saying to you,
0:21:44 > 0:21:47you're doing a good job with their ingredients there, you two.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49Well done.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51But which is which again?
0:21:51 > 0:21:53This one's Toffee.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55And this is Fudge.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57Over the next couple of days,
0:21:57 > 0:22:00Toffee and Fudge settle into the Martin family life,
0:22:00 > 0:22:03but I don't want them to get bored in their enclosure
0:22:03 > 0:22:07so I'm setting up objects like this to help stimulate them
0:22:07 > 0:22:09and enrich their lives.
0:22:09 > 0:22:14Because some scientists believe that pigs are just as intelligent
0:22:14 > 0:22:16or if not more intelligent than dogs.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21And to prove it, some piggies have taken over the patch
0:22:21 > 0:22:26of the cleverest dogs. Yes, pig agility is now a thing.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28At country shows across the land,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31snout-nosed athletes are swerving through cones
0:22:31 > 0:22:32and jumping through hoops,
0:22:32 > 0:22:36and in this game, they start them young.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38At the Malvern show in Worcestershire,
0:22:38 > 0:22:39a group of young trainers
0:22:39 > 0:22:43are putting their little trotters through their paces.
0:22:43 > 0:22:44Including Robert,
0:22:44 > 0:22:48who's training his piglets to sit when they get a treat.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53Nearly. Keep going, Robert.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56Look, I've got a fresh bit here.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Yeah, take that...
0:22:59 > 0:23:01Fantastic!
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Just look at that. Well-behaved pigs.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06With time and more training,
0:23:06 > 0:23:10Robert's proteges might soon be in the big pig school.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12But to find out more about pig agility,
0:23:12 > 0:23:15I'm meeting Hayley Simpkin from the junior pig club.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19- Hayley!- Hi, nice to meet you.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21Nice to meet you as well. This looks fantastic.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23I've heard of dog agility,
0:23:23 > 0:23:24obstacle courses for dogs.
0:23:24 > 0:23:26- Is pig agility the same thing? - Very similar, yeah.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29It's a bit of a cross between dog agility and One Man And His Dog.
0:23:29 > 0:23:30But we do it with pigs.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Yeah. And are they obedient?
0:23:32 > 0:23:34Generally. We'll find out shortly, won't we?
0:23:34 > 0:23:36Yeah, generally speaking, they're pretty good.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38Yeah. They're not too volatile.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40I notice you use sticks and a whiteboard.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43It sort of coaxes them in the right direction.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46That's it. So the idea is they won't go anywhere they can't see...
0:23:46 > 0:23:47The board says no, you can't go that way.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50And the stick is just for steering, slowing down and speeding up.
0:23:50 > 0:23:51Will they run off?
0:23:51 > 0:23:53Will they jump a barrier?
0:23:53 > 0:23:54They might. We'll see.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56They may well do. Hopefully not, though.
0:23:56 > 0:23:59The kids have got them under control.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03I hope I don't make a pig's ear out of this.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05So this is Will and this is Grace and they'll show you
0:24:05 > 0:24:06- how to use the board and stick.- Hi.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09This is basically getting the pigs to walk in a straight line,
0:24:09 > 0:24:10- if you can.- Well, in a circle.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12- In a circle.- That's right.- OK.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14So when they're showing them, they go round in this direction.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16- Yeah.- So Grace will show you how to do that.
0:24:16 > 0:24:17Stand by her shoulder.
0:24:17 > 0:24:19- Like this?- Keep going.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21So you've got your board in your left hand
0:24:21 > 0:24:24- and your stick in your right. - So, keep their head up, yeah?
0:24:24 > 0:24:26- Yeah.- Keep them moving all the time?
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Yeah. And if they stop, just hit them just behind the shoulder.
0:24:29 > 0:24:34Light gentle taps with the stick encourage the pig to keep walking.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36And what's this pig called?
0:24:36 > 0:24:37- Olive.- Olive! Oh, how cute!
0:24:37 > 0:24:39- And what is she?- A middle white.
0:24:39 > 0:24:40A middle white.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44- Is she fully grown? - No, she's only a year old.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48Middle whites have been a recognised breed since the 19th century,
0:24:48 > 0:24:51and their dished face comes from a lineage
0:24:51 > 0:24:55that includes imported Chinese and Siamese pigs.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57- Come on.- So, just tap her behind her shoulder...
0:24:57 > 0:24:59- Just there?- She's very doddery,
0:24:59 > 0:25:02- so she's slow. - Are you listening to me?
0:25:04 > 0:25:07Come on. Let's go round this way, Olive.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10Head up. Hey, you are a good girl.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12- I think I got it.- I think you have.
0:25:12 > 0:25:13- You've done really well there, Paul. - Yeah,
0:25:13 > 0:25:16I learned how to drive her along and keep her in a line.
0:25:16 > 0:25:17Would you like to have a go at an obstacle course?
0:25:17 > 0:25:19Yeah, let's do the clever stuff.
0:25:19 > 0:25:20We'll get that set up for you.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22Well done, Olive.
0:25:24 > 0:25:29I've had little training, but it's time to tackle the agility course.
0:25:29 > 0:25:34And this is my pig, so say hello to number nine, who belongs to Oliver.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36What is she, anyway?
0:25:36 > 0:25:37- Pietrain.- Pietrain?
0:25:37 > 0:25:38Yeah.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42Pietrains are a modern pig breed from Belgium and are considered
0:25:42 > 0:25:45social and easy to train.
0:25:45 > 0:25:46OK, through here, come on.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48No, we missed that one. Over this...
0:25:48 > 0:25:49Over the... Come on, come on.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51No, no, no, no. Oh!
0:25:51 > 0:25:53OK.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55Oh, good girl. Good girl.
0:25:55 > 0:25:57Let's try and get over the ramp.
0:25:57 > 0:25:59Here we go. Come on, number nine.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02She's not doing it!
0:26:02 > 0:26:04Right, OK, through the cones this time.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Ready?
0:26:08 > 0:26:11With a little more practice...
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Through the hoop.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15..number nine becomes number one.
0:26:15 > 0:26:16Yay!
0:26:16 > 0:26:19And, finally, we're bringing home the bacon.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22There we are. And now over the ramp.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26And what does a winning pig do to celebrate, I wonder?
0:26:27 > 0:26:30She's a good digger. Oh, wow!
0:26:30 > 0:26:35Well, that's pig agility, and it's great to see the young generation
0:26:35 > 0:26:37getting involved. Hands on.
0:26:37 > 0:26:39Whilst pigs might not be able to fly,
0:26:39 > 0:26:42they can certainly do an obstacle course.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48At four miles long,
0:26:48 > 0:26:52Bassenthwaite is one of the largest lakes in the National Park.
0:26:52 > 0:26:56In 2001, ospreys were reintroduced to the area
0:26:56 > 0:26:58for the first time in 150 years,
0:26:58 > 0:27:03and since then, more than 30 chicks have been successfully raised.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10Well, I've actually stood here on a lovely summer's day and watched
0:27:10 > 0:27:12the ospreys fishing out there on the lake.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14A fantastic sight.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18And this is also a great place to see autumn's change of colours,
0:27:18 > 0:27:20and here are a few more suggestions
0:27:20 > 0:27:23of where you can catch the season's palette.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Greens turn to vibrant yellows,
0:27:28 > 0:27:33oranges and reds before carpeting the floor with fallen leaves.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37Why not take a walk in your local woodlands or treat yourself
0:27:37 > 0:27:41to a trip around Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire?
0:27:41 > 0:27:43A real must-see at this time of year.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48With 2,500 species from around the world,
0:27:48 > 0:27:51this seasonal display lasts longer than most.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Here, the trees really are the stars of the autumn show.
0:27:56 > 0:27:58And if you have the head for heights,
0:27:58 > 0:28:00how about a hot-air balloon ride,
0:28:00 > 0:28:02giving you the perfect view?
0:28:06 > 0:28:10Another landmark location to witness the changing colours of autumn
0:28:10 > 0:28:12is the New Forest.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15But beware, at this time of year,
0:28:15 > 0:28:18the commoners let their pigs run free.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23They fatten up on the seasonal fruits of the forest,
0:28:23 > 0:28:25feasting on acorns,
0:28:25 > 0:28:27which can be poisonous to other livestock.
0:28:30 > 0:28:32Further north, in Perthshire,
0:28:32 > 0:28:37russet leaves are falling along the shoreline of Loch Dunmore,
0:28:37 > 0:28:41against a backdrop of native evergreen firs and pines.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45But if you're strolling through the woods here in the Lake District,
0:28:45 > 0:28:49don't forget to look down to catch sight of the colourful world
0:28:49 > 0:28:51in miniature all around you.
0:28:51 > 0:28:54Peeping through the undergrowth and on branches,
0:28:54 > 0:28:58tree trunks and dead wood, fungi is fruiting everywhere,
0:28:58 > 0:29:00making this time of year feel truly magical.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05So before the darkness of winter sets in,
0:29:05 > 0:29:08catch a glimpse of the autumn spectacle.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10It really is one of the greatest shows on Earth.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19Much like your garden, places like Dodd Wood
0:29:19 > 0:29:23have to be managed to make them a fruitful haven for wildlife.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25And just like your garden,
0:29:25 > 0:29:28not everything that grows there would be good for you.
0:29:29 > 0:29:33Keeley is in Northumberland to visit a garden with a deadly difference,
0:29:33 > 0:29:39and to discover which toxic nasties could be lurking in your back yard.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49Like something out of a horror film,
0:29:49 > 0:29:51here in the shadow of a Norman castle,
0:29:51 > 0:29:55a garden that will send a shiver down the bravest spine,
0:29:55 > 0:30:01its contents so potent, so deadly, that it needs 24-hour surveillance.
0:30:02 > 0:30:06Behind this gate is the most dangerous garden in the UK,
0:30:06 > 0:30:08filled with plants such as deadly nightshade,
0:30:08 > 0:30:11which have a history of murder most foul.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16The poison garden at Alnwick Castle is the brainchild
0:30:16 > 0:30:18of the Duchess of Northumberland.
0:30:18 > 0:30:22But it's her head gardener Trevor Jones
0:30:22 > 0:30:26who has the dangerous job of looking after it.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28- Hello, Trevor.- Hi. - Good to see you.- Thank you.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31Nice to meet you. I am a little bit nervous about going in here.
0:30:31 > 0:30:32- Should I be?- You'll be fine.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34- Yeah?- You'll be fine. Just stick with me.
0:30:34 > 0:30:36But I would ask that you don't sniff anything,
0:30:36 > 0:30:38you don't touch anything...
0:30:38 > 0:30:42- OK.- ..you don't taste anything and you don't stand too close.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44- OK.- All these plants have the ability to kill you.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47- OK.- Ready to go in?- You'd better lead the way.- Come on.- I think so.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56- This is a pretty one. - This is a really nice plant,
0:30:56 > 0:30:58and a very common plant,
0:30:58 > 0:30:59grown from seed every year,
0:30:59 > 0:31:02it's an annual. It's called Ricinus communis.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05- Ah, ricin, poison.- Ricin, the deadliest poison known to man.
0:31:05 > 0:31:06- Really?- Yes.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08Just a small dose of ricin powder
0:31:08 > 0:31:11the size of a few grains of table salt
0:31:11 > 0:31:14is enough to kill an adult human.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17The flower, you get a castor bean,
0:31:17 > 0:31:20and from castor beans, you get castor oil.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23The oil's very good for you, but within that seed coat,
0:31:23 > 0:31:26within that casing, you can extract ricin.
0:31:26 > 0:31:28So there's something that's good for you
0:31:28 > 0:31:30- and something that's bad for you?- Correct.
0:31:30 > 0:31:32How do you make sure that you can separate it without mixing the two?
0:31:32 > 0:31:34Ah, nature's very, very clever.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37You have quite a hard seed coat and within that hard seed coat,
0:31:37 > 0:31:38you can extract the ricin,
0:31:38 > 0:31:40but you need almost laboratory techniques to do that,
0:31:40 > 0:31:42so your average gardener, quite safe.
0:31:42 > 0:31:46It's hard to believe that is the most deadly plant on the planet.
0:31:46 > 0:31:47- Isn't it?- But beautiful.
0:31:47 > 0:31:48Yes.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54So this looks a rather impressive plant.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56Yes. It's a Brugmansia.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58It's called the angel's trumpet
0:31:58 > 0:32:00and the whole of the plant is poisonous.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02But if you were to put that flower to your lips,
0:32:02 > 0:32:05then all your lips would start to blister because of the toxins.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07The pollen is a hallucinogenic.
0:32:07 > 0:32:08And it's deadly, is it?
0:32:08 > 0:32:09It's deadly. It could kill.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11If you start to eat the foliage,
0:32:11 > 0:32:14then you start to have major problems with internal organs.
0:32:14 > 0:32:15- OK. Right.- We'll move on.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20Some plants in this garden are so dangerous they're actually kept
0:32:20 > 0:32:24in cages. But even the most innocent looking and common plant
0:32:24 > 0:32:26has the potential to do harm.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32I have to say, I'm a bit surprised to see a laurel in the corner there.
0:32:32 > 0:32:33Yeah, very, very common plant,
0:32:33 > 0:32:36but it's here in the poison garden because it produces cyanide.
0:32:36 > 0:32:39We have met many visitors that have come through the garden
0:32:39 > 0:32:42who have told us of that experience of cutting their laurel hedges,
0:32:42 > 0:32:46putting their laurel hedge into the car to take it to the dump,
0:32:46 > 0:32:49and as they've been driving along, they get very light-headed.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51This is because the cyanide's building up in the car
0:32:51 > 0:32:54- and it's starving their brain of oxygen.- So, what should people do?
0:32:54 > 0:32:56Because people will want to prune these, won't they?
0:32:56 > 0:32:59They will. Ideally, you will just take the clippings,
0:32:59 > 0:33:02put them into a bag, tie a knot in the top of the bag,
0:33:02 > 0:33:03you're perfectly safe.
0:33:03 > 0:33:06As a precaution for handling some of these poisonous plants,
0:33:06 > 0:33:09garden gloves are a minimum requirement.
0:33:09 > 0:33:14For others, you need a full body gardener's hazard suit.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16Very glamorous.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22Another beautiful plant.
0:33:22 > 0:33:25This is a real stunner. This is aconitum, wolfsbane
0:33:25 > 0:33:29or monkshood. It's a really common cottage garden plant.
0:33:29 > 0:33:30Beautiful blue flowers,
0:33:30 > 0:33:34as you see here, but the whole of the plant is deadly poisonous.
0:33:34 > 0:33:36With such toxicity,
0:33:36 > 0:33:38Trevor won't be dumping this plant on the compost heap.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41He'll burn it instead.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43And what was the reason behind the garden?
0:33:43 > 0:33:46Why would someone want to create a garden like this?
0:33:46 > 0:33:49I think the Duchess on her tour of Europe to get inspiration
0:33:49 > 0:33:53found a garden that had been planted by the Medici family.
0:33:55 > 0:33:59One of the many arts cultivated in Renaissance Italy
0:33:59 > 0:34:01was the black art of poisoning
0:34:01 > 0:34:04and none were more notorious than the powerful Medici family,
0:34:04 > 0:34:09who poisoned their enemies using toxic plants they grew themselves.
0:34:11 > 0:34:15So what kind of reaction do you get from people visiting the garden?
0:34:15 > 0:34:19Well, many people can't believe how common some of these plants are,
0:34:19 > 0:34:22and they are fearful then to go home and find that they're growing in
0:34:22 > 0:34:25their own gardens, but some people also react by fainting.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28- Really?- We have one plant here in the garden called henbane,
0:34:28 > 0:34:32and henbane has a very pungent aroma, quite a strong scent.
0:34:32 > 0:34:34Only some people can actually smell that.
0:34:34 > 0:34:36I'm never affected by it.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38But some people will actually faint on smelling it.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41- Really?- So in the height of summer, when it's in full flower,
0:34:41 > 0:34:44we'll have perhaps two or three faintings a day.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47- It's very dramatic.- You didn't warn me about this, Trevor.
0:34:51 > 0:34:55The poison garden is only a small part of the 12 acres of land here
0:34:55 > 0:34:58at Alnwick. And while that garden has great potential to harm,
0:34:58 > 0:35:00there's something just around the corner
0:35:00 > 0:35:02which has great potential to heal.
0:35:02 > 0:35:06The Gentleman's Gardening Club at Alnwick Gardens was set up
0:35:06 > 0:35:09to combat isolation and loneliness in the elderly.
0:35:11 > 0:35:16Here, men of a stately age can grow veg and strong mental health.
0:35:16 > 0:35:18For Tom, whose wife passed away,
0:35:18 > 0:35:21this project has become his lifeline.
0:35:24 > 0:35:25How long have you been doing this?
0:35:25 > 0:35:31Well, we started off three years ago, the gentleman's gardeners,
0:35:31 > 0:35:34and we started off with seven, so when we first started up,
0:35:34 > 0:35:38we called ourselves the Magnificent Seven, you know?
0:35:38 > 0:35:41So, why did you start coming down here in the first place?
0:35:41 > 0:35:44Well, I had depression and anxiety years ago.
0:35:44 > 0:35:47I had that and I was in hospital for about eight months.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49- OK.- But it sort of went away,
0:35:49 > 0:35:52so I'm all right now. I feel quite happy.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58The force behind this wellbeing group is Tracey Jones.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02And what do you think the gents get out of it?
0:36:02 > 0:36:04It just makes them socialise,
0:36:04 > 0:36:08they're interacting with each other and enjoy each other's company.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11How important is this kind of thing for them?
0:36:11 > 0:36:13Extremely important.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16Extremely important. You just see it on their faces.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19The benefits of gardening for good mental health are well-known,
0:36:19 > 0:36:23but something more scientific has recently been dug up.
0:36:24 > 0:36:28There are microbes in our soil called mycobacterium vaccae,
0:36:28 > 0:36:31which have similar properties to antidepressants,
0:36:31 > 0:36:34stimulating serotonin production.
0:36:34 > 0:36:35When the soil is worked,
0:36:35 > 0:36:40these tiny microbes become airborne and are breathed in by gardeners.
0:36:40 > 0:36:45So, it seems digging in the garden could scientifically put a smile
0:36:45 > 0:36:46on your face.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48The power of nature, for good or for bad,
0:36:48 > 0:36:50can't be underestimated.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53We can all learn from the work happening here at Alnwick,
0:36:53 > 0:36:55whether it's identifying hidden killers in our garden
0:36:55 > 0:36:58or enjoying nature as a place of healing and happiness.
0:37:05 > 0:37:10In the autumn, birds and animals feast on the season's harvest
0:37:10 > 0:37:12before the long months of winter set in.
0:37:12 > 0:37:17But for many of them, a perennial favourite on their dinner menu
0:37:17 > 0:37:19lives just beneath the ground.
0:37:19 > 0:37:23The humble worm might be at the bottom of the food chain,
0:37:23 > 0:37:25but it plays a vital part
0:37:25 > 0:37:28in the health of our ecology and our gardens.
0:37:29 > 0:37:32Ellie went to a strange farm in Worcestershire
0:37:32 > 0:37:34growing all things wiggly.
0:37:39 > 0:37:43The 19th-century naturalist Charles Darwin
0:37:43 > 0:37:47is best known for his theory of evolution as set out in his book
0:37:47 > 0:37:49On The Origin Of Species,
0:37:49 > 0:37:52but what is less well-known is his deep admiration
0:37:52 > 0:37:55for the humble earthworm.
0:37:55 > 0:38:00"It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played
0:38:00 > 0:38:03"so important a part in the history of the world
0:38:03 > 0:38:06"as these lowly organised creatures."
0:38:08 > 0:38:11But Darwin isn't the only person to recognise the attributes
0:38:11 > 0:38:13of these humble invertebrates.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16Ken Nelson is a farmer with a difference.
0:38:16 > 0:38:18He farms worms.
0:38:24 > 0:38:28Ken farms on a two-acre site in Worcestershire
0:38:28 > 0:38:30where he breeds worms for sale,
0:38:30 > 0:38:34supplying gardeners looking to improve the quality of their soil
0:38:34 > 0:38:36and fishermen out for the catch of the day.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38Hi, Ken.
0:38:38 > 0:38:42- Hi.- I think this must be the first worm farm I've ever been to.
0:38:42 > 0:38:43Well, it's your lucky day.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47It is my lucky day. What was the appeal for you with worms?
0:38:47 > 0:38:49Well, worms, they do a lot for the planet.
0:38:49 > 0:38:53If you love the planet, you've got to love these guys.
0:38:56 > 0:38:58And they really do play an important role,
0:38:58 > 0:39:03breaking down dead organic matter in a process called decomposition.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07The process releases nutrients from dead plants and animals,
0:39:07 > 0:39:11making them available for living plants.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13And what types of worms have you got here, then?
0:39:13 > 0:39:17Well, there's three types I use for composting.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19This is what you call a dendrobaena veneta.
0:39:19 > 0:39:21That's a big, chunky worm, isn't it?
0:39:21 > 0:39:23Yeah, it likes a lot of food waste.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25OK. Then eisenia fetida.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28That's called the brandling or the redworm.
0:39:28 > 0:39:31- And the third one?- Eisenia andrei.
0:39:31 > 0:39:34A bit smaller than the dendrobaena.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36And this is what they call a tiger worm.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38- It's got the stripes there. - Yeah.- All right.
0:39:38 > 0:39:42Ken doesn't just breed worms ideal for composting,
0:39:42 > 0:39:45his gardening clients are keen to get the right mix of creatures
0:39:45 > 0:39:47to produce the finest soil possible.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49And what other types of worms are there?
0:39:49 > 0:39:51There's the longus terrestris...
0:39:51 > 0:39:54I can't even... They call them the log worms.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57- The log worms.- Or some people call them the nightcrawlers.
0:39:58 > 0:40:00Completely different. Wow!
0:40:00 > 0:40:04- Yeah.- These are what you call the backbone of the planet.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06Their function is to aerate the soil.
0:40:06 > 0:40:07Keep the water from...
0:40:07 > 0:40:10the drainage and stuff like that within the soil.
0:40:10 > 0:40:12The log worms are the garden worms.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15When you think about their kind of function in the soil
0:40:15 > 0:40:17for both creating the soil structure
0:40:17 > 0:40:19and also just decomposing everything...
0:40:19 > 0:40:22- Yeah.- It starts to blow your mind a little bit about how important
0:40:22 > 0:40:26- they are, how much we overlook them. - Well... Well, I didn't.
0:40:26 > 0:40:27I don't overlook them.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30- You don't.- I don't.- The rest of us do, unfortunately.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33It's one of those things. You need to be taught about it, isn't it?
0:40:35 > 0:40:40Globally, there are about 3,000 species of earthworm.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43They can grow up to three metres in length,
0:40:43 > 0:40:45like the giant Gippsland earthworm from Australia.
0:40:47 > 0:40:50In the UK, there are 26 earthworm species,
0:40:50 > 0:40:53some of which Ken has here on his farm.
0:40:54 > 0:40:56So these tubs are full of worms, are they?
0:40:56 > 0:40:58Well, they've got loads of worms in them.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00Quite a lot of worms.
0:41:00 > 0:41:02What do you think you've got, hundreds of thousands here?
0:41:02 > 0:41:03It's hard to say, isn't it?
0:41:03 > 0:41:06I could say you would find ten or more thousand in a bin.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09And the great thing about farming worms is they don't
0:41:09 > 0:41:11need much looking after.
0:41:11 > 0:41:12Food waste...
0:41:13 > 0:41:15- In the top.- In the top.
0:41:15 > 0:41:16And then the worms...
0:41:16 > 0:41:19That's remarkable. You just top that up with organic food,
0:41:19 > 0:41:22- organic matter, food...- Waste. Yes. Shredded... Shredded food waste.
0:41:22 > 0:41:24Veg waste and shredded paper.
0:41:24 > 0:41:25A bit of paper.
0:41:25 > 0:41:29The dead matter the worms eat passes through their systems
0:41:29 > 0:41:32and produces an amazing by-product.
0:41:33 > 0:41:34This, the good stuff.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38Worm cast, black gold, worm poo, whatever you want to call it.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40- And is it worm poo? - Well, yes, it is,
0:41:40 > 0:41:41because it comes from a worm.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44And this is really the good stuff for gardeners.
0:41:44 > 0:41:45The best. Yeah. 100%.
0:41:45 > 0:41:47100% organic.
0:41:47 > 0:41:51There's ways you can use it to make just fertiliser to put over
0:41:51 > 0:41:54- the plants.- If I was a gardener, I'd be all over this.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56I have terrible gardening fingers, unfortunately.
0:41:56 > 0:41:58Well, trial and error.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00Maybe I need more of this. That's what I need in my life.
0:42:00 > 0:42:01That's it. There you go.
0:42:06 > 0:42:10The importance of worms cannot be overstated in decomposition,
0:42:10 > 0:42:13in the structure of our soils.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16It is unlikely they're going to become the nation's favourite pet
0:42:16 > 0:42:19any time soon, but really, we should cherish them and ask ourselves,
0:42:19 > 0:42:21where would we be without them?
0:42:30 > 0:42:33Well, sadly, that's all we've got time for today,
0:42:33 > 0:42:36but please do join us again tomorrow for more entries
0:42:36 > 0:42:38in our Countryfile Autumn Diaries.
0:42:38 > 0:42:39Including...
0:42:39 > 0:42:42Keeley, who's finding out whether hill walking
0:42:42 > 0:42:44could actually damage your health.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47We talk about the Ambulance Service wanting to get to casualties
0:42:47 > 0:42:50within 8-12 minutes - we just can't do that.
0:42:52 > 0:42:55Steve's investigating why one corner of Kent
0:42:55 > 0:42:58could be harbouring dangerous creatures.
0:42:58 > 0:43:02Look at that, five seconds, five seconds and we've got our first one.
0:43:02 > 0:43:03Ooh!
0:43:03 > 0:43:07And I'll see how my home-grown giant veg
0:43:07 > 0:43:10measures up to some monster competition.
0:43:11 > 0:43:13So, until then, goodbye.