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.
0:00:10 > 0:00:11STAG GRUNTS
0:00:12 > 0:00:14Autumn.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18When our countryside is bursting with bounty.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23While some of us are preparing for the colder months ahead.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28It's the perfect time to get your boots on,
0:00:28 > 0:00:32get out for a walk and 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...
0:00:42 > 0:00:43You start to eat the foliage,
0:00:43 > 0:00:46you start to have major problems with internal organs.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50- OK.- ..bringing the very best seasonal stories that matter to you.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53We've actually had a car come through this wall behind me and into
0:00:53 > 0:00:57the kitchen. Crashed all the furniture we have in here up against
0:00:57 > 0:00:58the far wall.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04Welcome to Countryfile Autumn Diaries.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14Here's what we've got for you on today's programme.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Keeley reveals how a warmer autumn could spell disaster for a
0:01:17 > 0:01:20much-loved woodland creature.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23The dormouse population has plummeted by about 70%,
0:01:23 > 0:01:25so they could easily disappear completely
0:01:25 > 0:01:27from the English countryside.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32Steve is witnessing a rare and beautiful autumn event that attracts
0:01:32 > 0:01:35- people in their droves. - Look at that!
0:01:35 > 0:01:36- Amazing, isn't it?- It is.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39Thousands of them! Wow!
0:01:41 > 0:01:44And I'll be investigating the food you could be eating
0:01:44 > 0:01:46to beat the autumn blues.
0:01:51 > 0:01:54UPLIFTING MUSIC
0:01:58 > 0:02:02We're spending all of this week in the unrivalled beauty of
0:02:02 > 0:02:04the Lake District National Park.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08We've seen it in glorious sunshine, and now it's raining.
0:02:08 > 0:02:09But that's autumn for you.
0:02:13 > 0:02:14When the weather's on side,
0:02:14 > 0:02:18the Park's lakes and mountains are jaw-droppingly gorgeous.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21And even with autumnal clouds rolling in,
0:02:21 > 0:02:25the landscape here manages to retain a haunting beauty.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33Traditionally, autumn has meant longer nights, harvest festivals,
0:02:33 > 0:02:35bonfires - but things are changing.
0:02:35 > 0:02:40The season is now warmer than it was 50 or 60 years ago.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44But can these rising temperatures be all bad news for farmers and
0:02:44 > 0:02:48wildlife? Keeley has been on the search for silver linings amongst
0:02:48 > 0:02:50the clouds of climate change.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55The changing of the season is always reflected in the flora and the
0:02:55 > 0:02:58fauna, and for me, the turning colour of the leaves is a sure sign
0:02:58 > 0:03:00that autumn's here.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03But some studies suggest that autumn is actually starting later, and over
0:03:03 > 0:03:04the last ten years,
0:03:04 > 0:03:08leaves like this are turning brown much later in the season.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12But it's not just the leaves that are changing.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16Last year saw the second-warmest September since records began.
0:03:16 > 0:03:21So is talk of shifting seasons just a storm in a teacup or are we really
0:03:21 > 0:03:24witnessing a major alteration in our weather?
0:03:24 > 0:03:29I'm meeting climate change lecturer Dr Frances Drake to find out.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32Welcome to my woodland office. Come on in.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34- LAUGHTER - The map of the UK.- Yeah.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37We'll get onto this in a sec, but first, how is autumn changing?
0:03:37 > 0:03:41Well, autumn is gradually warming up.
0:03:41 > 0:03:45We can see that if we look back over the decades.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Between 1960s to the 1990s,
0:03:49 > 0:03:53it was 9.1 Celsius over the whole of the UK.
0:03:53 > 0:03:54For a 24-hour period?
0:03:54 > 0:03:58For a 24-hour period, that was the average temperature.
0:03:58 > 0:04:04When we move forward in time to the 1980s to 2010,
0:04:04 > 0:04:10then we're at 9.4 Celsius, so we've gone up 0.3 degrees.
0:04:10 > 0:04:15In the last decade, it's been up to 9.9,
0:04:15 > 0:04:18so that's a really big increase.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22Because the latest figures only span ten years rather than 30,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25experts are cautious about claiming that temperatures will continue to
0:04:25 > 0:04:28accelerate at this rate.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31But what they can say with confidence is that temperatures
0:04:31 > 0:04:34across the whole year have gone up by half a degree.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36Hardly too dramatic, surely?
0:04:36 > 0:04:38Lots of people at home will be saying,
0:04:38 > 0:04:40"That doesn't seem like very much of a rise."
0:04:40 > 0:04:43It doesn't sound like very much, but when you
0:04:43 > 0:04:49consider that the last ice age, it was 4-7 Celsius over 5,000 years,
0:04:49 > 0:04:53we're talking, you know, 50 years, which is very, very quick.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56It's not just the temperature change,
0:04:56 > 0:05:00it's also the speed at which that change is taking place.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04So what does a rise in temperature mean for our countryside and the
0:05:04 > 0:05:09food we produce? Yorkshire-based dairy farmer John Dickinson and his
0:05:09 > 0:05:13270-strong herd of Jersey cows are on the front line.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17What's this year been like for you with the weather, then?
0:05:17 > 0:05:20If I could order another year like this, I would do.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23Living here on the eastern side of the Pennines, the grass stayed
0:05:23 > 0:05:27green, the winter was mild, and then by February again we were grazing
0:05:27 > 0:05:30again, the grass was growing, and it was good grass -
0:05:30 > 0:05:33- that's the important bit. - And why was it so good, then?
0:05:33 > 0:05:36Well, sunshine, for a start, produces more sugar in the grass.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40More sugar is more energy, so the grass is more nutritious.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43And when it's raining, the grass is very wet.
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Every mouthful has a bigger percentage of water, and water does
0:05:47 > 0:05:50not make milk, it's the grass that makes the milk,
0:05:50 > 0:05:53so when it's dry, they tend to graze far better.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56- They're happier.- We're seeing some of the seasons change.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59What kind of effect is that having on you?
0:05:59 > 0:06:03Seasons have changed since when I was young.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05If we're having climate change, it's actually suiting us.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07- Really?- Really.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10The autumns have got longer and, of course,
0:06:10 > 0:06:12we've managed to graze cows outside
0:06:12 > 0:06:15for longer periods on good grass.
0:06:15 > 0:06:16The cows have liked it.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19If it became much wetter then it would be too much of a good thing.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22- So they're a bit like us, really? - Oh, very much so.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24- LAUGHTER - They like it dry and bright, and
0:06:24 > 0:06:27- when it's cold and wet they want to be indoors.- Yeah, just the same,
0:06:27 > 0:06:29yeah. They would beat you home if it was raining.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35So our changing autumns seem to be suiting John and his herd just fine.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44- Lovely. - We may make a milker out of her yet.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47LAUGHTER
0:06:47 > 0:06:51But is John's experience of climate change reflected in farms all over
0:06:51 > 0:06:53the country? To get the bigger picture,
0:06:53 > 0:06:56I'm meeting dairy farming specialist Chris Flint.
0:06:56 > 0:07:01So, Chris, we heard from John that he's having a great year, but also
0:07:01 > 0:07:05that a later autumn, a warmer autumn, is good for him.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09- Yes.- Is that true for all dairy farmers in the UK, do you think?
0:07:09 > 0:07:13Yes, I think it is, because it... The main thing is it extends
0:07:13 > 0:07:17the growing season, so grass will grow for longer, so we can harvest
0:07:17 > 0:07:20more of it by mechanical means or cows.
0:07:20 > 0:07:25Maize is a big crop in the UK for feeding dairy cows, and that wants
0:07:25 > 0:07:28warmth and sunshine to mature, and we get bigger crops.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33A milder, longer autumn with plenty of good grass and feed sounds like a
0:07:33 > 0:07:37win-win situation for cows, but does it really make any noticeable
0:07:37 > 0:07:40difference? If they're happy with their environment,
0:07:40 > 0:07:42do they tend to milk more?
0:07:42 > 0:07:46Yes, they do. Comfortable cows are efficient cows.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50When they're happy, everything's working well within their bodies.
0:07:50 > 0:07:51If they've had plenty to eat,
0:07:51 > 0:07:55they'll lie down and then that's when they're producing milk.
0:07:55 > 0:07:58Obviously a warming autumn isn't good for everyone.
0:07:58 > 0:08:02That said, it's interesting to hear a positive take on the situation.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05But as I'll be finding out later,
0:08:05 > 0:08:09our shifting seasons may actually be propelling one native creature
0:08:09 > 0:08:11towards extinction.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19One sure sign that autumn's here is the annual migration of summer
0:08:19 > 0:08:22visitors like house martins and swallows,
0:08:22 > 0:08:25heading off to warmer climes.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27But just as we bid farewell to them,
0:08:27 > 0:08:30we welcome new arrivals from the north, escaping the sub-zero
0:08:30 > 0:08:33temperatures of an Arctic winter.
0:08:33 > 0:08:37Millions of them turn our beaches into their winter homes.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41And at one particular spot on the east coast, that creates quite a
0:08:41 > 0:08:44spectacle, as Steve has been finding out.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52It's 6am on a chilly September morning, and normally
0:08:52 > 0:08:53I'd be tucked up in bed.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59But today's a special day, when natural forces align to produce a
0:08:59 > 0:09:00rare wildlife event.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05For one day each year, this beach in Norfolk plays host to a superb
0:09:05 > 0:09:08natural spectacle.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11It's a highlight in the birding calendar, and I can't wait see it.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17The RSPB reserve at Snettisham, on the Norfolk side of the
0:09:17 > 0:09:22Wash Estuary, draws an incredible variety of migrating birds.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26Site manager Jim Scott has been lucky enough to work here for
0:09:26 > 0:09:3121 years, and, just like me, he set his alarm early this morning.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Jim, I can just see the mist lifting now but you can hear everything out
0:09:34 > 0:09:37there, can't you? Tell me some of the species that we might be
0:09:37 > 0:09:39- listening to.- We can hear oystercatchers at the moment,
0:09:39 > 0:09:41they're really quite obvious, that high,
0:09:41 > 0:09:45sort of shrill call, and lots of bar-tailed godwits.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49Redshank coming into the pits now in little groups.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53- The shelduck out there, greylag geese...- Yeah.- ..dunlin, plovers,
0:09:53 > 0:09:56a whole variety of different waders that are coming in now
0:09:56 > 0:10:00to spend the winter on the mudflats here at the Wash.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03And there's one bird in particular, isn't there? The knot.
0:10:03 > 0:10:06Now, tell me a little bit about a knot.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08That's the species that we get here in the biggest numbers.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12We can get 80,000, 90,000, 100,000-plus,
0:10:12 > 0:10:14just here at Snettisham.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16And sometimes up to 160,000, 180,000
0:10:16 > 0:10:19within the whole Wash itself.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22The ones that winter in the UK breed up in north-western Greenland and
0:10:22 > 0:10:26north-east Canada, so they're coming all that distance here to spend the
0:10:26 > 0:10:29winter. They're a sort of medium-sized, dumpy wader, and to
0:10:29 > 0:10:33look at, they don't look particularly special, but en masse,
0:10:33 > 0:10:36because they love to concentrate in these big flocks,
0:10:36 > 0:10:38they really are quite spectacular.
0:10:43 > 0:10:47Tens of thousands of migrating birds are attracted here by the massive
0:10:47 > 0:10:51mudflats of the Wash Estuary, where they feed on worms and shellfish.
0:10:51 > 0:10:56It's a bird-watcher's paradise at this time of year, but this morning
0:10:56 > 0:10:58us twitchers are in for a real treat.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01What makes today the day?
0:11:01 > 0:11:03The height of the tide, basically.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06On the highest tides, the really big spring tides,
0:11:06 > 0:11:08all the mudflats get covered, so all these wading birds,
0:11:08 > 0:11:11they'll all get pushed off and hopefully all come up,
0:11:11 > 0:11:14you get them flying right over your head into the lagoons behind us.
0:11:14 > 0:11:16So it only happens on a handful of occasions.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19And you can see, can't you, while we've been sitting here, already the
0:11:19 > 0:11:23water's been creeping along, and some of them making their way across
0:11:23 > 0:11:26the water, some of them trying to stay ahead of it on land,
0:11:26 > 0:11:28but they're all moving in the same direction?
0:11:28 > 0:11:31Yeah. Time for feeding's over, it's now a case of just escaping the
0:11:31 > 0:11:33- tide.- Shall we move along, go and catch them up?
0:11:33 > 0:11:35- Yeah, let's do that.- Let's do it.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43It's not just Jim and I and tens of thousands of birds out here this
0:11:43 > 0:11:47morning. Autumn is the best time to see the mass flight because the
0:11:47 > 0:11:50number of knots on the mudflats is at its highest,
0:11:50 > 0:11:52so bird-watchers flock to see the spectacle.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56These people travel, don't they?
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Yeah, absolutely. These people come from all over the country,
0:11:58 > 0:12:01some of them will stay overnight, but I've had people getting up at
0:12:01 > 0:12:041am, 2am, to travel up from the West Country or the south coast
0:12:04 > 0:12:06or wherever to get here.
0:12:06 > 0:12:08And this is all about following the tide now, isn't it?
0:12:08 > 0:12:10They're being pushed up, we're following them up.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14- They're going to run out of land soon.- Yeah, just about.
0:12:14 > 0:12:16- Not much to go now.- How many do you think's out there now? 30,000?
0:12:16 > 0:12:19- 40,000?- The knots, something like 30,000-plus.
0:12:19 > 0:12:21- Yeah?- Yeah, possibly.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24There's been about 6,000 or 7,000 oystercatcher, plus.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26Several thousand other waders as well. So a lot of birds.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28That is going to be loud when it goes over, isn't it?
0:12:28 > 0:12:33- Yeah.- Everyone's travelled miles to see these birds take flight, but
0:12:33 > 0:12:37will our feathered friends rise to the occasion?
0:12:37 > 0:12:40- Here they come, am I right? - Yeah, yeah.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYS
0:12:52 > 0:12:55- Look at that!- Amazing, isn't it? - It is!
0:12:58 > 0:13:02- There's thousands, thousands of them!- Yeah, yeah!- Wow, look!
0:13:09 > 0:13:10Ha-ha!
0:13:10 > 0:13:14Do you know what, Jim? I think if I was going to do any job for
0:13:14 > 0:13:1721 years-plus, I'd like it to be yours.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20It's not too bad, is it, on days like this?
0:13:20 > 0:13:22No, it's something special.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26Beautiful as it is,
0:13:26 > 0:13:30it's possible that this magnificent spectacle could soon be a thing of
0:13:30 > 0:13:34the past. To get an idea of the enormous challenges these shore
0:13:34 > 0:13:38birds face, I'm travelling along the coast to Titchwell Marsh.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41I'm meeting the man who knows this area better than most,
0:13:41 > 0:13:43the RSPB's Steve Rowland.
0:13:45 > 0:13:48This is one of the most important coastlines, but it's also one of the
0:13:48 > 0:13:52- ones most under threat.- The North Norfolk coast and the Wash are
0:13:52 > 0:13:54incredibly important wildlife habitats.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Huge number of birds come here, right throughout the year,
0:13:57 > 0:14:00specialist species that depend on these unique habitats.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03And the special thing is, for the knot in particular, is the expanse
0:14:03 > 0:14:06- of mudflats, isn't it?- That's right, so the Wash, where you've just been,
0:14:06 > 0:14:10is the UK's most important estuary for wild birds. Over 350,000 birds
0:14:10 > 0:14:13can be on the Wash in the middle of winter, possibly as many as
0:14:13 > 0:14:162 million birds pass through the Wash every year as a
0:14:16 > 0:14:20brilliant place to stop and fuel up after a long migratory journey.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23And what do you expect to see if the climate keeps changing the way
0:14:23 > 0:14:28- it is?- Climate predictions are for rising sea levels and increased
0:14:28 > 0:14:31storminess, and that will affect our coastal habitats.
0:14:31 > 0:14:36Quite simply, a rise in water levels will mean the flats are covered.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41If we don't allow our coastline to behave naturally, and to move inland
0:14:41 > 0:14:46in places, we'll lose species like the knot, the numbers will decline,
0:14:46 > 0:14:48it's already happening with many of our shore birds.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51And storm surges are having effects now, aren't they?
0:14:51 > 0:14:55That's right, so the surge tide of December 2013 created havoc all
0:14:55 > 0:14:59along this coast. Where you were at Snettisham, we had four hides there.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02One hide was picked up by the sea, turned through 180 degrees and
0:15:02 > 0:15:04knocked back down at a 45-degree angle.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07One just disappeared, one had huge holes punched in it.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10That's the sort of impact that the sea can have.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13But more to the point, it changes the habitats that the birds we're
0:15:13 > 0:15:16interested in depend upon as well, and that's a real cause for concern.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19You're already having to take evasive action because of issues,
0:15:19 > 0:15:22- aren't you?- What we've done here at Titchwell is something called
0:15:22 > 0:15:25managed realignment, where you look at the coast and its need to
0:15:25 > 0:15:28breathe, its need to move, and what we've done here on the brackish
0:15:28 > 0:15:31marsh is we've knocked a hole in the sea wall that we put in 40-odd years
0:15:31 > 0:15:34ago, we're letting the sea come back in, the salt marsh vegetation is
0:15:34 > 0:15:37building up and that's going to act as a natural sea defence to help
0:15:37 > 0:15:41protect the freshwater habitats here for the foreseeable future.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45Anything that helps maintain these amazing mudflats has got to be a
0:15:45 > 0:15:48good thing, and I for one will be adding the Snettisham knots
0:15:48 > 0:15:51to my list of autumn must-sees.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55As a wildlife lover, I've had a fantastic time today.
0:15:55 > 0:15:57I just hope it's here for generations to come.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04It's hard to argue that preserving our visiting birds can be anything
0:16:04 > 0:16:05other than a good thing.
0:16:07 > 0:16:11But there's one creature that can't lay claim to universal popularity,
0:16:11 > 0:16:13and that is the mole.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16Now that autumn's here, moles are busy preparing for the cold
0:16:16 > 0:16:18winter months ahead,
0:16:18 > 0:16:21and that makes them far from welcome in gardens and fields.
0:16:22 > 0:16:27But as Paul discovers the first worrying signs at his smallholding,
0:16:27 > 0:16:30are we doing these little creatures a big injustice?
0:16:30 > 0:16:34This is our heritage orchard, which I planted up
0:16:34 > 0:16:35from graftings last year.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37It's doing exceptionally well.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Our bees are here and they're doing well.
0:16:39 > 0:16:43But there's another resident that's also getting on fine, and it's
0:16:43 > 0:16:46something I didn't anticipate would arrive.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49Moles. Look, there's a molehill there, there's one there.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52There's several in fact, cutting a line right the way through the
0:16:52 > 0:16:54orchard, going up towards the house.
0:16:56 > 0:17:01The mounds of earth are the work of the busy but elusive European mole,
0:17:01 > 0:17:05sometimes considered one of Britain's biggest nuisances.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09As they prepare for winter ahead by burrowing more tunnels in their
0:17:09 > 0:17:13pursuit of food, many gardeners go to great lengths trying to eradicate
0:17:13 > 0:17:15them from their gardens.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20With an estimated 31 million moles living in the UK,
0:17:20 > 0:17:24this isn't a battle we're going to win any time soon.
0:17:24 > 0:17:26So what are we going to do about it?
0:17:28 > 0:17:32Because they spend most of their lives digging the tunnels they live
0:17:32 > 0:17:35in, moles are one of our least known wild animals.
0:17:35 > 0:17:40Some people believe that moles are actually good for your garden and we
0:17:40 > 0:17:41should be celebrating them.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44But I need to be convinced.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50One man who knows a whole lot of mole and thinks we should be
0:17:50 > 0:17:53welcoming the little diggers into our garden
0:17:53 > 0:17:55is zoologist Dr Rob Atkinson.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00Rob, I've brought you up here to our local village playing field,
0:18:00 > 0:18:02and you can see here, look, all along this fence line
0:18:02 > 0:18:04where the kids' playground is,
0:18:04 > 0:18:06you see the work the moles are doing, you know.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10And a lot of people say this is unsightly and moles are pests,
0:18:10 > 0:18:12but you disagree, don't you? You love moles.
0:18:12 > 0:18:13I do. I do love moles.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16I think there's an awful lot to respect about moles.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20They lead these solitary lives, they're underground, unseen,
0:18:20 > 0:18:23but they just have so many good qualities that humans admire.
0:18:23 > 0:18:24They're terrifically strong,
0:18:24 > 0:18:27they look after their children, and they're very industrious.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31These molehills are basically the deposit of earth
0:18:31 > 0:18:34that he's got to get out of the ground from building his tunnel.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36Pushing, with one hand, because they have to brace themselves
0:18:36 > 0:18:38with the other hand, a sort of tube of earth.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40They depend 100% on their tunnels.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42That's how they collect their food.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44And the deeper the mole is tunnelling,
0:18:44 > 0:18:45then the wider dispersed the molehills are.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48Is that one mole or is that two or three?
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Looking at just how close the molehills are together
0:18:50 > 0:18:52and what molehills are surrounding us,
0:18:52 > 0:18:54I think this is likely to be one mole.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57A single mole lives up to 5ft underground
0:18:57 > 0:19:02in a spaghetti network of tunnels more than half a mile long.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06This mole, this great engineer, this mini miner,
0:19:06 > 0:19:07is really a tower of strength.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09A tower of strength. A tower of strength.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11The whole body is designed for digging.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15The shape of the bones is different, the way the muscles attach.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18- I mean, a mole can lift 20 times its own body weight.- 20 times?!
0:19:18 > 0:19:2020 times. And a power lifter...
0:19:20 > 0:19:22Olympic power lifters can only manage three times.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25- Are they blind? - No, they're not blind.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28No, they have perfectly formed eyes. They're just very, very small.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31It's like the head of a pin - about that sort of size.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33And they do use their eyes. They're monitoring daylight...
0:19:33 > 0:19:36- To see where cracks come through the tunnel.- That's right, yeah.
0:19:36 > 0:19:37The size of these shafts vary.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40- Look, they're tiny there, there's a big one there...- Yeah.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44- ..and that's a huge pile there. - Yeah.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47That's... That one is very, very interesting.
0:19:47 > 0:19:49That could well be a fortress.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51- Only one in 20 moles makes them... - So this is quite rare?
0:19:51 > 0:19:53..which is why we're incredibly lucky to see this.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56A fortress is a large mound of soil
0:19:56 > 0:19:59containing one or more nests and food stores.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02It acts as a refuge in times of flooding,
0:20:02 > 0:20:05and insulates the nest against low temperatures.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08That takes 3,600 calories, believe it or not.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10- Wow!- You know, a mole's only...
0:20:10 > 0:20:14- Wow!- ..10cm long, so this is an enormous investment.
0:20:14 > 0:20:18- That's a lot to burn off, isn't it? - Absolutely.- What a big investment.
0:20:18 > 0:20:23And all that tunnelling could actually benefit your garden.
0:20:23 > 0:20:28This soil that they move up is beautifully aerated, isn't it?
0:20:28 > 0:20:30This is soft. It's very dry.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Yeah. Yeah, that's all been scraped off by their long nails,
0:20:33 > 0:20:36and all the big lumps have been broken up and then pushed up.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39- It's full of nutrients.- Bringing up nutrients from down below
0:20:39 > 0:20:41and bringing it up to the surface, exactly.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43So they're good for our gardens?
0:20:43 > 0:20:45I believe they're good for our gardens.
0:20:45 > 0:20:46They're certainly a very good indicator
0:20:46 > 0:20:49of the health of the garden. If you've got moles in your garden,
0:20:49 > 0:20:52you should celebrate it because you've got a healthy garden.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56Rob's certainly dispelled some of the myths surrounding moles,
0:20:56 > 0:20:58but if you're still worried about them,
0:20:58 > 0:21:02there are some ingenious ways to gently discourage them
0:21:02 > 0:21:04from wrecking your lawn.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07Now, there are one or two theories out there,
0:21:07 > 0:21:09which haven't been scientifically proven,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12which you could try, and here's just a few.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16Cat litter. Now, moles hate cats. Cats are predators.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19Scatter some used cat litter down a mole hole.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21That just might drive them away.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24If you don't have a cat and you don't fancy doing that,
0:21:24 > 0:21:28try burying a couple of glass bottles near the molehills
0:21:28 > 0:21:29just with the neck showing,
0:21:29 > 0:21:32and, hopefully, the wind will blow across the top
0:21:32 > 0:21:35and create that haunting sound that you get.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38And I'll try and give you an example.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40BOTTLE PLAYS NOTE
0:21:40 > 0:21:43It may work, it may not.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45Or you could try one of these.
0:21:45 > 0:21:50It's a solar-powered mole repeller, and every two or three minutes,
0:21:50 > 0:21:53it emits this sort of irritating vibration.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56You stake it in the lawn near where the molehills are,
0:21:56 > 0:21:58and it's supposed to drive them away.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02It didn't work for me but I know it does work for some people.
0:22:02 > 0:22:05But at the end of the day, moles hate activity.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07They hate noise. They hate music.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10And there's one thing I haven't tried.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22Obviously not a music fan.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26Well, if that doesn't get rid of them, nothing will.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28But to be perfectly honest with you, I don't care
0:22:28 > 0:22:32because, after listening to Rob, I've fallen in love with moles
0:22:32 > 0:22:35and it's about time we appreciate the virtues
0:22:35 > 0:22:37of these industrious little mammals
0:22:37 > 0:22:40that are working hard underneath our feet.
0:22:40 > 0:22:41Love 'em!
0:22:51 > 0:22:55The Lake District certainly has plenty of natural assets to boast about.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58It's England's biggest national park.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00It's got the country's longest lake, Windermere,
0:23:00 > 0:23:02and the deepest, Wast Water.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04And here at Whinlatter,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07you'll find one of England's highest forests.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12The woodland reaches altitudes of up to 1,500ft,
0:23:12 > 0:23:14and when the weather's a bit better,
0:23:14 > 0:23:16trails here and all over the Lake District,
0:23:16 > 0:23:20attract hikers keen to blow away the cobwebs.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23And if the autumn weather puts you in the mood
0:23:23 > 0:23:25to get out and stretch your legs,
0:23:25 > 0:23:28here's a rundown of some of the best walks across the country.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33With over 11,000 miles of coastline,
0:23:33 > 0:23:36there are coastal walks aplenty around the British Isles.
0:23:39 > 0:23:43Get your feet wet on the south-west coast of Scotland.
0:23:43 > 0:23:46The four-and-a-half-mile walk between Rockcliffe and Sandyhills
0:23:46 > 0:23:49has great views across the Solway Firth,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52which is the UK's third-largest estuary.
0:23:55 > 0:23:59Autumn sees the return of thousands of migrating birds
0:23:59 > 0:24:01and the twitchers that follow them.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08Inland, a stroll through Epping Forest in Essex
0:24:08 > 0:24:11is literally a walk through time.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13For decades, if not centuries,
0:24:13 > 0:24:15walkers have carved their names on the trees,
0:24:15 > 0:24:19and those initials grow larger and taller as the trees mature.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27And as the leaves are falling from beech and oak,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30underfoot a forest of fungi is bursting into life.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34Experienced foragers can grab tonight's dinner.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36Novices should walk on by.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41Instead of a hike, take a stroll
0:24:41 > 0:24:45through the classic landscaped gardens of Stourhead,
0:24:45 > 0:24:49where the maples and acers are burning amber and red.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53But wherever you decide to walk,
0:24:53 > 0:24:56we can guarantee autumn will be putting on a show.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04Earlier, Keeley discovered how this year's balmy weather
0:25:04 > 0:25:07has been a boon for the dairy industry.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11But if autumn continues to get warmer and start later,
0:25:11 > 0:25:14can it be good for everything in our countryside?
0:25:14 > 0:25:18Keeley now discovers that where there are climate-change winners,
0:25:18 > 0:25:20there are also climate-change losers.
0:25:21 > 0:25:23For centuries, the seasons have marked
0:25:23 > 0:25:25the passage of time through the year,
0:25:25 > 0:25:27each one with their own distinctive signature.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30And autumn, with its beautiful, changing colours,
0:25:30 > 0:25:34and crisp, atmospheric mornings, is one of my favourites.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37But a shift to warmer, wetter weather
0:25:37 > 0:25:40may mean that some of the familiar sights and sounds
0:25:40 > 0:25:43of the season could be under threat.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46I'm meeting Tim Benton, who advises the government
0:25:46 > 0:25:49on food security and farming, to find out more.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53So, Tim, tell me how autumn is changing.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55Well, as the climate changes,
0:25:55 > 0:25:57the seasons are typically getting longer.
0:25:57 > 0:26:02So autumn is taking place later in the year than it used to,
0:26:02 > 0:26:04and one of the things that's quite interesting
0:26:04 > 0:26:06is the way that the weather is changing.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09We are potentially getting more stormier,
0:26:09 > 0:26:11more extreme rainfall in the late autumn,
0:26:11 > 0:26:13so there are lots of things going on.
0:26:13 > 0:26:15You mentioned about it getting warmer.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17Are we able to grow anything in the UK
0:26:17 > 0:26:19- that perhaps we couldn't have done 50 years ago?- Yes.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22There are a lot of things that we used to think of as exotics,
0:26:22 > 0:26:26like peaches and apricots, and even melons and figs.
0:26:26 > 0:26:32And potential, in the long run, for things like avocado and quinoa.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35A future filled with exotic British fruit
0:26:35 > 0:26:37may not sound too bad, but don't forget -
0:26:37 > 0:26:39our autumns aren't just getting warmer.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41They're also getting wetter.
0:26:43 > 0:26:44If we're getting more rainfall,
0:26:44 > 0:26:47is that going to be good or bad for our crops?
0:26:47 > 0:26:51A lot of it depends on the way that the rain falls.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55So although on average we are projected to get drier,
0:26:55 > 0:26:59on average, when the rain falls, it is going to fall harder.
0:26:59 > 0:27:02And so we'll have periods where the rainfall is very intense.
0:27:02 > 0:27:06It'll wash soils away, floods, and all the rest of that.
0:27:06 > 0:27:08If it's getting warmer and wetter,
0:27:08 > 0:27:10are pests going to be more prevalent?
0:27:10 > 0:27:13Yeah, absolutely. So the archetypal example
0:27:13 > 0:27:15is something like an aphid
0:27:15 > 0:27:19that is not going to get killed off so much during the winter.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22It's going to be emerging earlier in the spring.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25And aphids just breed repeatedly and repeatedly.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28And by 2050, there are some projections that are saying
0:27:28 > 0:27:30that an aphid - at the moment,
0:27:30 > 0:27:32a pest that can get through ten generations -
0:27:32 > 0:27:34- will be able to get through 20 generations...- Right.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36..and the population will go out of control.
0:27:37 > 0:27:41Aphids can wreak havoc on crops like maize,
0:27:41 > 0:27:45and increased numbers of bugs will almost inevitably mean
0:27:45 > 0:27:48a rise in the use of pesticides.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52There's clearly potential for some pretty startling changes
0:27:52 > 0:27:54to our countryside.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56So we might have to adapt what we grow
0:27:56 > 0:27:57and how we grow it in the future.
0:27:57 > 0:28:01But what about some of our wildlife that might be less adaptable?
0:28:02 > 0:28:06Dormice have long been the stuff of fairy-tale autumns,
0:28:06 > 0:28:10but the number of hazel dormice are in rapid decline,
0:28:10 > 0:28:14and they're now one of our most endangered native species.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16To get a sense of the challenge they face,
0:28:16 > 0:28:20I'm meeting Stuart Edmunds from the Shropshire Wildlife Trust.
0:28:20 > 0:28:21What exactly are you doing today, then?
0:28:21 > 0:28:23So, today we're at Hope Valley Nature Reserve
0:28:23 > 0:28:25doing a dormouse nest-box check.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28OK. And what does that entail, then? What have we got to do?
0:28:28 > 0:28:30So, we've got 50 dormice boxes across this site,
0:28:30 > 0:28:33and we basically check them for evidence of dormouse use
0:28:33 > 0:28:35or, hopefully, presence of dormice.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38- OK. So we might see some dormice this morning?- Fingers crossed.
0:28:38 > 0:28:42Dormice are not only nocturnal, they're also notoriously shy,
0:28:42 > 0:28:45so I just hope we get lucky today.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51If you hold that we can lift the lid.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53- So this is actually a woodmouse nest.- Ah.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56So, I know it's a woodmouse nest cos it's all brown leaves.
0:28:56 > 0:28:57If it was a dormouse nest,
0:28:57 > 0:28:59there'd be lots of nice, fresh, green leaves on top.
0:28:59 > 0:29:02- So wildlife, but not the wildlife we're looking for.- No.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05So not a great start, but even at the best of times,
0:29:05 > 0:29:08population density among dormice is low,
0:29:08 > 0:29:10and estimates put the number
0:29:10 > 0:29:12currently living in this 45-acre wood
0:29:12 > 0:29:14at between 20 and 30.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16Yeah, not a dormouse, I'm afraid.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19The words needle and haystack spring to mind.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21- OK, onto the next.- This way?
0:29:21 > 0:29:24- So, lots of woodlice. - But no dormice.- No dormice.
0:29:26 > 0:29:29The search continues.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32But just when it looks like we're in for a dormouse no-show,
0:29:32 > 0:29:34there's finally some hope.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38OK. So, we're pretty sure we've got...
0:29:38 > 0:29:39Yeah, we're quietly confident.
0:29:39 > 0:29:43To make sure that no napping dormouse makes a break for freedom,
0:29:43 > 0:29:46we put the contents of the box into a plastic bag,
0:29:46 > 0:29:48and finally our search is over.
0:29:48 > 0:29:50- There you go. - Oh, hello, little fella.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52You can see there's actually a dormouse in there.
0:29:52 > 0:29:54How old do you think he is?
0:29:54 > 0:29:56So, this would be from... Probably from this summer.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58- Oh, really? - So, it's just a few months old.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00What are you looking for, then?
0:30:00 > 0:30:03So what we're looking for is how much weight they've put on.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06This, I would say, is probably about 25g,
0:30:06 > 0:30:07so it's still quite a bit underweight.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09What would you want it to be, really?
0:30:09 > 0:30:12We'd want it to put another 10g on or so,
0:30:12 > 0:30:14just to get nice and fat for the winter.
0:30:14 > 0:30:17So this little guy has got a fight on his hands
0:30:17 > 0:30:19to get hefty enough to hibernate,
0:30:19 > 0:30:21and he's not the only one struggling.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24Across the country, dormouse numbers are taking a nosedive.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28So, how much has their population declined?
0:30:28 > 0:30:31The dormice population has plummeted by about 70%,
0:30:31 > 0:30:33so it's a huge amount.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35And based on that, they could easily disappear completely
0:30:35 > 0:30:38from the English countryside, which would be devastating.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40- What's the biggest reason for that? - There's a few reasons,
0:30:40 > 0:30:43but one of the big reasons, really, is the loss of their habitat.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45So where hedgerows have been removed
0:30:45 > 0:30:48across fields and things like that, that's all dormouse habitat.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50But then the climate changing,
0:30:50 > 0:30:52it obviously has quite a big impact on them as well.
0:30:52 > 0:30:54It affects their foraging behaviour,
0:30:54 > 0:30:56their ability to put on weight for the winter.
0:30:56 > 0:30:59And they're so slow to breed and they live in really low density,
0:30:59 > 0:31:02so just one bad year of really harsh weather
0:31:02 > 0:31:06or just not enough food around can really hit the population.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08So with later autumns and warmer winters,
0:31:08 > 0:31:10are their hibernation habits changing?
0:31:10 > 0:31:14So what is likely to happen is if we've got a warm autumn -
0:31:14 > 0:31:17and, I mean, for the last few years, it's actually been quite warm
0:31:17 > 0:31:18at the start of winter, as well -
0:31:18 > 0:31:21the dormice go into hibernation a bit later than they normally would
0:31:21 > 0:31:24and because of that, they're hanging around
0:31:24 > 0:31:25when there's not as much food around,
0:31:25 > 0:31:28and of course then they're going to go into hibernation completely underweight
0:31:28 > 0:31:31and they're probably not going to survive the winter.
0:31:31 > 0:31:34If autumn continues to become later and winter warmer,
0:31:34 > 0:31:38- could that potentially wipe out the dormice?- Potentially, yes.
0:31:38 > 0:31:41They're so habituated to having that winter period of sleep
0:31:41 > 0:31:44that the later they leave it, the less chance they've got
0:31:44 > 0:31:47of finding food and actually surviving the hibernation.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50It would be a real tragedy
0:31:50 > 0:31:54if warmer autumns spelled the end for our native dormouse.
0:31:54 > 0:31:58Of course, the British climate has undergone change in centuries past
0:31:58 > 0:32:02and our wildlife and landscape have managed to adapt to it.
0:32:02 > 0:32:03But what's different this time
0:32:03 > 0:32:06is the rate at which our climate is warming,
0:32:06 > 0:32:09and there's no doubt there'll be crops, species and ecosystems
0:32:09 > 0:32:11that simply struggle to keep up.
0:32:11 > 0:32:13And while there will be winners that thrive,
0:32:13 > 0:32:18there'll be also losers that could potentially be wiped out completely.
0:32:18 > 0:32:21It's worrying stuff, but with raised awareness
0:32:21 > 0:32:23and thoughtful stewardship of our landscape,
0:32:23 > 0:32:26perhaps we can save our countryside
0:32:26 > 0:32:28from the worst effects of our warming climate.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34This is, of course, the season of plenty,
0:32:34 > 0:32:37and it's wonderful to see our trees and hedgerows
0:32:37 > 0:32:40bursting with abundance at this time of year.
0:32:40 > 0:32:44But in one corner of England it's not all about apples,
0:32:44 > 0:32:45hazelnuts and blackberries.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49They take particular pride in gathering a local speciality,
0:32:49 > 0:32:53and I went along to get a flavour of the harvest.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57I'm in Kent, the Garden of England,
0:32:57 > 0:33:01with its bountiful landscape of hop fields and orchards.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04I'm not here today for the fruit.
0:33:04 > 0:33:08Instead I'm going to be discovering about a particular Kentish delicacy
0:33:08 > 0:33:11that's also ripe for picking.
0:33:12 > 0:33:16One field where it grows is here in the village of St Mary's Platt.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21And this is what I'm here for, the Kentish cobnut -
0:33:21 > 0:33:26the only nut in the world that can be eaten straight from the tree.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29The owner of this cobnut field is Alexander Hunt.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32He's also chairman of the Kentish Cobnut Association.
0:33:32 > 0:33:34Alexander, I've heard of Kentish cobnuts,
0:33:34 > 0:33:36but I don't really know what they are.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40I mean, it's not a thing you see in shops every day, is it?
0:33:40 > 0:33:42Well, they're a cultivated hazelnut.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45They are a lovely, fresh dessert nut,
0:33:45 > 0:33:48full of moisture and succulence at this time of the year.
0:33:48 > 0:33:54And here we have hazelnut trees, and here we've got cobnuts.
0:33:54 > 0:33:55Let's have a look at the difference.
0:33:55 > 0:33:58These are the wild hazels in the hedge here.
0:33:58 > 0:34:01- Can you see that's a much smaller nut there?- Oh, yeah.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04Slightly rounder with a slightly serrated husk.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06- And what about a cobnut? - Behind me here
0:34:06 > 0:34:08is one of our Kent cobnut trees.
0:34:08 > 0:34:11This was planted in about 1900
0:34:11 > 0:34:13and you can see from the little cluster there...
0:34:13 > 0:34:16- Oh, much bigger, isn't it? - ..it's a much larger,
0:34:16 > 0:34:17- bigger, bolder nut.- Yeah.
0:34:17 > 0:34:21- What do they taste like?- Well, let me crack one for you, John.
0:34:23 > 0:34:24Thank you. Ooh, they are soft, aren't they?
0:34:24 > 0:34:26They are very, very fresh.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29They're the finest nuts you can buy in the country.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33And they do have a very strong taste as well.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36- They do.- A sweet, strong taste. - In the middle of September,
0:34:36 > 0:34:39the husk begins to go a little bit more mellow,
0:34:39 > 0:34:41golden and light brown,
0:34:41 > 0:34:46and that's when they really gain their true Kentish cobnut flavour.
0:34:46 > 0:34:50- Well, I'm converted to cobnuts now. - I'm really pleased to hear it!
0:34:52 > 0:34:54Hugely popular in Victorian times,
0:34:54 > 0:34:58cobnuts lost some of their appeal during the last century,
0:34:58 > 0:35:01but now a group of dedicated enthusiasts
0:35:01 > 0:35:04is encouraging us to fall in love with them again.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08The orchards where the cobnuts grow are known as plats.
0:35:08 > 0:35:11It's an old Kentish word for flat, cultivated land.
0:35:11 > 0:35:14And the people who pick the nuts call themselves -
0:35:14 > 0:35:16guess what - nutters!
0:35:17 > 0:35:20After a hard day's picking out in the fields,
0:35:20 > 0:35:25what could be better than a cobnut feast for us nutters?
0:35:25 > 0:35:29Let's tuck in, everybody, shall we? Come on, help yourselves.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31Local chef Matthew Kearsey-Lawson
0:35:31 > 0:35:35is part of the culinary cobnut renaissance.
0:35:35 > 0:35:36What have you laid on for us, Matthew?
0:35:36 > 0:35:39Well, this is a harvest salad.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42We've got plums in there - Victoria plums - which are local.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45We've got Discovery apples, and, of course,
0:35:45 > 0:35:49the Kentish green cobnut sprinkled on top.
0:35:49 > 0:35:54That's a Victoria plum with a cobnut and brioche crumble on there,
0:35:54 > 0:35:57and then this is traditional hop-pickers' cake there.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59- Traditional cake?- Yes, yeah.
0:35:59 > 0:36:06This is a pork and apple pie with green Kentish cobnuts in it.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10- Now...- So this is all part, then, of the revival of cobnuts?
0:36:10 > 0:36:13It is, yes. All these recipes have actually come from
0:36:13 > 0:36:15an old Kentish recipe book as well.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18I must admit, my mother has given me good training, John.
0:36:18 > 0:36:22Everything's either topped up with a bit of brandy or a bit of port.
0:36:22 > 0:36:26- And some cobnuts.- And some cobnuts. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30Absolutely delicious.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33Now, the change from the bright days of autumn
0:36:33 > 0:36:37to cooler temperatures and darker autumn evenings
0:36:37 > 0:36:40can have a massive impact on our mood,
0:36:40 > 0:36:43and experts estimate that one in 15 of us
0:36:43 > 0:36:46now suffers from symptoms of SAD.
0:36:46 > 0:36:48That's seasonal affective disorder,
0:36:48 > 0:36:52and those symptoms include insomnia, depression and anxiety.
0:36:52 > 0:36:56We may, though, be able to eat our way out of the autumn doldrums,
0:36:56 > 0:36:58but not in quite the way you might think,
0:36:58 > 0:37:00as Margherita discovered.
0:37:05 > 0:37:08It's starting to get cold and dark outside,
0:37:08 > 0:37:11so what better way to beat the blues than, well,
0:37:11 > 0:37:12with a little treat or two?
0:37:12 > 0:37:15But if we really want to eat ourselves happier,
0:37:15 > 0:37:18is it time to start ditching the comfort food?
0:37:19 > 0:37:21I haven't finished!
0:37:21 > 0:37:25Someone who definitely thinks so is dietician Kaitlin Colucci.
0:37:25 > 0:37:28Kaitlin, autumn's on the way, winter's coming up.
0:37:28 > 0:37:29What can we do nutritionally
0:37:29 > 0:37:32to help us sort of beat those autumnal blues?
0:37:32 > 0:37:35Well, first of all we're actually going to start talking about water.
0:37:35 > 0:37:38You can become dehydrated in the winter months
0:37:38 > 0:37:40just as much as you can in warmer weather.
0:37:40 > 0:37:44And dehydration really can zap your energy levels.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47You should ideally be trying to reach about six to eight
0:37:47 > 0:37:49200ml glasses a day.
0:37:49 > 0:37:51What else should we be adding into our diets
0:37:51 > 0:37:53to make sure we're healthy?
0:37:53 > 0:37:56So, now I've got some dark green leafy vegetables.
0:37:56 > 0:38:00So, broccoli, and I've got a lovely bowl...
0:38:00 > 0:38:02- Ooh!- Ho-ho!
0:38:02 > 0:38:04- That's a few sprouts! - ..of spinach and Brussels sprouts.
0:38:04 > 0:38:09Dark green leafy vegetables are packed full of B vitamins,
0:38:09 > 0:38:13and these help us release the energy from our food.
0:38:13 > 0:38:18Broccoli in particular is high in vitamin C and folate,
0:38:18 > 0:38:21and folate helps the body to make healthy red blood cells,
0:38:21 > 0:38:25again, reducing tiredness and irritability.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28Folate, or folic acid, is a type of vitamin D,
0:38:28 > 0:38:32and 100g of broccoli contains nearly half
0:38:32 > 0:38:34of your recommended daily allowance of it.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36But if broccoli is not your bag,
0:38:36 > 0:38:38there's something sweeter on the mood booster menu.
0:38:38 > 0:38:42Blueberries, they are very rich in vitamin C,
0:38:42 > 0:38:45which can really help to boost the immune system
0:38:45 > 0:38:50and also aid the absorption of iron, reducing feelings of tiredness.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53100g of blueberries contain about a quarter
0:38:53 > 0:38:56of your recommended daily allowance of vitamin C,
0:38:56 > 0:38:59so they really do deserve that superfood title.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02But it's not just fruit and veg that can boost your mood.
0:39:02 > 0:39:07Omega-3 fatty acids are commonly found in oily fish,
0:39:07 > 0:39:10such as salmon, mackerel and sardines.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14Omega-3s are crucial for nerve and brain development,
0:39:14 > 0:39:18and without it, we may be susceptible to lower moods.
0:39:18 > 0:39:19If you're not keen on fish,
0:39:19 > 0:39:22then nuts and seeds are another great source
0:39:22 > 0:39:24of mood-boosting omega-3s.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28Green veg, oily fish, berries and nuts
0:39:28 > 0:39:31are amongst the usual suspects in our health-food line-up,
0:39:31 > 0:39:36but another slightly unexpected dish could help to lift the autumn blues.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39- Crikey! - SHE LAUGHS
0:39:39 > 0:39:41Well, if this is good for me
0:39:41 > 0:39:44this is good news, because that smells delicious.
0:39:44 > 0:39:49Turkey contains the essential amino acid tryptophan.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53Tryptophan is used in the body to help make serotonin,
0:39:53 > 0:39:57and serotonin is known as that mood-boosting neurotransmitter.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00Turkey's also high in vitamin B6 and selenium,
0:40:00 > 0:40:03both of which can help beat tiredness and low moods.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06So at this time of year, when we're missing the sunshine,
0:40:06 > 0:40:10and for some people who are affected by seasonal affective disorder,
0:40:10 > 0:40:12this could be a really good ingredient in their diet?
0:40:12 > 0:40:14Absolutely.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16Turkey is also lower in calories
0:40:16 > 0:40:18than nearly every other meat...
0:40:18 > 0:40:20Beautiful. Oh, my goodness, that looks good.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23..so perhaps we should consider eating more
0:40:23 > 0:40:25of this seasonal bird all year round.
0:40:25 > 0:40:27That was delicious!
0:40:27 > 0:40:28Not just for Christmas.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33And with a festive season on the horizon,
0:40:33 > 0:40:35turkeys are now being fattened up,
0:40:35 > 0:40:40and there's one particular farmer who believes that happier birds
0:40:40 > 0:40:42could produce tastier meat.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45- Tom, great to see you. - Great to meet you.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48Countryfile last met second-generation turkey farmer
0:40:48 > 0:40:52Tom Copas to find out how he was training his birds
0:40:52 > 0:40:54to cope with firework night.
0:40:54 > 0:40:55Calm down.
0:40:55 > 0:40:59And now he's trying out some even more inventive techniques
0:40:59 > 0:41:01to keep his feathery flock flying high.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04- They can be quite noisy, I'm noticing.- Yeah, they can be.
0:41:04 > 0:41:06They get pretty chatty. They're always keen for a chat.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09HE GOBBLES LIKE A TURKEY, TURKEYS RESPOND
0:41:09 > 0:41:12I'm catching up with him at his turkey farm
0:41:12 > 0:41:14near Maidenhead in Berkshire.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17- You believe happier animals make for better eating.- Absolutely.
0:41:17 > 0:41:19You know, if you've got happy animals,
0:41:19 > 0:41:22they're going to eat better, they're going to drink better, they'll have more meat on them,
0:41:22 > 0:41:24and they're going to taste better as a result.
0:41:24 > 0:41:29Tom's turkeys are protected 24/7 by nine alpaca,
0:41:29 > 0:41:31who ward off predators like foxes.
0:41:31 > 0:41:36Alpacas are very territorial, so they are our night guards.
0:41:36 > 0:41:40But his latest idea is to introduce some free-range entertainment
0:41:40 > 0:41:43to get his roosters rocking.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46Tom, what is going on here?
0:41:46 > 0:41:48Oh, right. So, erm, I came up with the idea -
0:41:48 > 0:41:51will turkeys respond to different musical instruments?
0:41:51 > 0:41:54So we actually ended up getting started with a xylophone,
0:41:54 > 0:41:57then got quite a range of different instruments,
0:41:57 > 0:41:59- just to see... - You've got an orchestra in there!
0:41:59 > 0:42:03Yeah, there's different practice centres all over the range.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05And what do you think they get out of this?
0:42:05 > 0:42:08I think it's just something different. It's another thing.
0:42:08 > 0:42:11It's spurring their curiosity and they're thinking, "Ah, what's that?
0:42:11 > 0:42:14"I can have a peck at it. That's different."
0:42:14 > 0:42:18- Have they got a band together yet? - There isn't any formal one,
0:42:18 > 0:42:22but there's definitely a bit of practice going on. You never know.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24It might seem like a bit of fun,
0:42:24 > 0:42:28but it's been proven that environmental enrichment like this
0:42:28 > 0:42:30helps reduce stress in poultry.
0:42:30 > 0:42:33Right, gang, Adele or Ed Sheeran?
0:42:33 > 0:42:34Maybe some Beethoven?
0:42:39 > 0:42:41And that's all for today,
0:42:41 > 0:42:45but please join us again tomorrow for the last of our Autumn Diaries,
0:42:45 > 0:42:50when Paul will be opening his doors to vulnerable wildlife...
0:42:50 > 0:42:53Oh, that's prickly! That is sharp!
0:42:55 > 0:42:58..Greg McKenzie will discover how to keep pets calm
0:42:58 > 0:43:00during the season's noisiest night...
0:43:00 > 0:43:03They can actually teach their dogs to associate the sound of fireworks
0:43:03 > 0:43:05with something really positive.
0:43:05 > 0:43:07And I'll be finding out how one community
0:43:07 > 0:43:09is fighting back against flooding.
0:43:09 > 0:43:12And let's hope the weather is a little bit better tomorrow.
0:43:12 > 0:43:14Until then, bye-bye.