0:00:02 > 0:00:07Long sunny days when our countryside is bursting with colour and life.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12It's the season that brings out the child in us all.
0:00:14 > 0:00:15Summer is here.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23It's the perfect time to enjoy the beauty of our great British landscape.
0:00:27 > 0:00:30And our amazing wildlife.
0:00:30 > 0:00:31OWL CHIRPS
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Some of us are still hard at work.
0:00:35 > 0:00:36HE GRUNTS
0:00:38 > 0:00:42But whatever you're doing and whatever the weather, our island is at its very best.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49All week we're travelling the length and breadth of the UK...
0:00:51 > 0:00:55..bringing the very best seasonal stories that matter to you.
0:00:57 > 0:01:0246% of young adults have at least some hay fever symptoms.
0:01:02 > 0:01:07It's hard to believe that such microscopically small grains could cause
0:01:07 > 0:01:09such trouble for millions of us.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18The very warmest of welcomes to Countryfile Summer Diaries.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28And here's what's coming up on the programme today.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32Joe Crowley investigates what dry summer weather means for you.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36Nobody asks the question, "Have we got enough water in the locality to
0:01:36 > 0:01:38"ensure that the taps will be running in those new houses?"
0:01:38 > 0:01:43Nationwide, we've got our rivers at a real crisis.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47Greg McKenzie discovers how our heritage sites will try to keep us
0:01:47 > 0:01:50visiting them all summer long.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52- Don't go too low. - Why can't I go low?
0:01:52 > 0:01:54Because you're going to hit...
0:01:54 > 0:01:55Ooh!
0:01:57 > 0:02:01And I'll be discovering how you can create your own perfect garden hideaway.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12All this week, we're celebrating the season
0:02:12 > 0:02:14on the beautiful Isle of Wight.
0:02:14 > 0:02:18With its stunning coastline and rolling green landscape, it's often described
0:02:18 > 0:02:20as England in miniature.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24It's also one of the sunniest spots in the whole of the country.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27The perfect place for us to see the very best of summer.
0:02:28 > 0:02:33Sitting in the English Channel, more than half of the 150-square-mile
0:02:33 > 0:02:36island is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,
0:02:36 > 0:02:39and a haven for British wildlife.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42It's 57 miles of breathtaking coastline,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45including the famous chalk Needles,
0:02:45 > 0:02:47draws visitors from all around the world.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56And, today, I'm at what's possibly the grandest seaside retreat anywhere
0:02:56 > 0:03:01in the country, the newly restored private terrace at Queen Victoria's
0:03:01 > 0:03:03summer residence, Osborne House.
0:03:05 > 0:03:10The lower terrace, which had lost its original Mediterranean yellow render,
0:03:10 > 0:03:12is back to its former glory.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16And now visitors can relish the same view Victoria and Albert would have
0:03:16 > 0:03:20enjoyed over 150 years ago on their summer hols.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29The Victorian era saw a surge in plant hunting,
0:03:29 > 0:03:33as adventurers explored the world in search of exotic species to bring
0:03:33 > 0:03:35back to the UK.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Now, many of those have become much-loved garden favourites,
0:03:38 > 0:03:40but others are now a scourge.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44It's estimated that invasive species cost the British economy
0:03:44 > 0:03:47£1.7 billion a year.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50And they are a headache for many gardeners.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52So, is there a natural solution?
0:03:52 > 0:03:53Keeley is on the case.
0:03:58 > 0:04:03It's summertime and our gardens are bursting into colourful song.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10But watch out! There are some thugs threatening your pleasant patch.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15And, if they win, you might never get rid of them.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22Many of these prolific weeds are familiar and often beautiful,
0:04:22 > 0:04:24but how do you tell the good from the downright criminal?
0:04:24 > 0:04:28Here are your top five worst offenders and how to spot them.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33Giant hogweed from Russia is a ten-foot Goliath
0:04:33 > 0:04:36whose sap can cause severe burns.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40Next it's waterside beauty Himalayan Balsam.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42More about the trouble it's causing a little later.
0:04:43 > 0:04:47A surprising entry is a garden favourite, rhododendron.
0:04:47 > 0:04:52But in the wild, it starves native plants and is poisonous to wildlife.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55Another garden favourite is buddleia,
0:04:55 > 0:05:00which can interfere with power lines and cover railway signals.
0:05:00 > 0:05:05But maintaining its place in the top spot is the UK's most invasive and destructive plant.
0:05:05 > 0:05:10This thug can rip through brickwork, the foundations of your home, and,
0:05:10 > 0:05:11for worried homeowners,
0:05:11 > 0:05:14wipe thousands of pounds from your property's value.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16It's Japanese knotweed.
0:05:17 > 0:05:18We're trapped, we can't do anything,
0:05:18 > 0:05:21nobody can get a mortgage on this property until something
0:05:21 > 0:05:22is done about it.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Up until now, the only way of getting rid of Japanese knotweed or
0:05:27 > 0:05:30other invasive plant species was by using powerful chemicals
0:05:30 > 0:05:32or laboriously digging them up by hand.
0:05:32 > 0:05:37But now we're working on more natural solutions to these pesky pests.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43Here at the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International,
0:05:43 > 0:05:47scientists like researcher Dick Shaw are using Mother Nature's very
0:05:47 > 0:05:51own bugs and bacteria to defend our gardens and wild habitats.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Hello there, Dick, are you in there?
0:05:55 > 0:05:57- Hi, yes.- Hello. So, this is the Japanese knotweed?
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Yes, the famous Japanese knotweed, from Japan, as its name suggests.
0:06:00 > 0:06:01From a place called Nagasaki.
0:06:01 > 0:06:06It's more attractive than I thought it was going to be. I thought it was going to look a bit villainous.
0:06:06 > 0:06:08Yes, it was a very popular plant when it came in in the Victorian era.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10It was very reliable, grew very fast.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13But the repercussions of bringing it in have not been so good, have they?
0:06:13 > 0:06:15No. Very soon it became something you really didn't want.
0:06:15 > 0:06:16And now it's a real blight.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20It's difficult to believe that a plant like this could damage property,
0:06:20 > 0:06:21could damage concrete.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23It is remarkable, but it's mainly in the root.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25It's not just any root. If you have a look at this...
0:06:25 > 0:06:28- Look at that!- This is a relatively small version of a Japanese knotweed root.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31And it's more of a tree root. And that's where the strength lies.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34This can push through concrete and tarmac and things and break into
0:06:34 > 0:06:37drainage, which is why it's such a big issue for homeowners and land developers.
0:06:37 > 0:06:41And if you discover Japanese knotweed on your property,
0:06:41 > 0:06:44you are legally responsible for removing it and footing the bill,
0:06:44 > 0:06:46which can cost thousands.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49And, if it spreads to your neighbour's land, you can be sued.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54- You can actually end up with a Japanese knotweed ASBO.- An ASBO?
0:06:54 > 0:06:58Yes, indeed. If it's invading someone else's property and you haven't done anything to stop it.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01So, if people are worried about this, how can they identify it?
0:07:01 > 0:07:03It's quite easy. They have alternate leaves,
0:07:03 > 0:07:08they are never opposite each other, they have a very flat base to the leaf, a zigzag-y stem,
0:07:08 > 0:07:10sometimes with brown flecks on the base of the stem.
0:07:10 > 0:07:14But the key identifier is if you get a piece of rhizome, or underground stem,
0:07:14 > 0:07:16which is the root, and you snap it,
0:07:16 > 0:07:18it snaps like a carrot and it's a bit yellow in colour.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24It seems this stuff is almost invincible.
0:07:24 > 0:07:25What is it?
0:07:28 > 0:07:32Meet Aphalara itadori, a little bug with a big punch.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Flown from Japan to Dick's lab,
0:07:35 > 0:07:38this little psyllid has a very particular diet.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41This tiny little insect you can see is the psyllid.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45It's a sap sucker. And it's a small insect, but it does big damage.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48It can suck the juice out of the plant as a nymph and an adult.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52And that's what suppresses the plant in the cage that you're seeing here.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56- They don't get on the root, that's the only thing they don't suck. - So, they don't kill it altogether?
0:07:56 > 0:07:57- They don't eradicate it?- No.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01It's very unwise to kill your host if you're a specialist on that species.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03And could these survive on their own in the UK, then?
0:08:03 > 0:08:05As long as there's Japanese knotweed there, yes.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09We've spent an awful lot of time testing 91 species of plant very closely
0:08:09 > 0:08:12related to make sure it only feeds on Japanese knotweed.
0:08:12 > 0:08:17And is it kind of feasible to say that these little bugs brought over now could control
0:08:17 > 0:08:19Japanese knotweed right across the UK?
0:08:19 > 0:08:21That's my hope and our expectation is that it can do it.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24From the lab data, it tells us they could certainly have a massive impact.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28Why is this natural solution better than chemicals?
0:08:28 > 0:08:30When you're dealing with something of this scale,
0:08:30 > 0:08:31with the invasion of this scale,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34you simply can't do it on a chemical basis or a private basis.
0:08:34 > 0:08:35You need help from nature.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37And that's why we look at a long-term,
0:08:37 > 0:08:39large-scale solution of biological control.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46Perhaps the time of Japanese knotweed destroying our homes could be coming to an end.
0:08:46 > 0:08:51But Himalayan Balsam is set to quickly overrun our countryside.
0:08:51 > 0:08:55It's definitely beautiful, but this non-native plant is overwhelming
0:08:55 > 0:08:56streams and river banks.
0:08:58 > 0:09:03I'm going for a dip with plant pathologist Susie Wood to see just
0:09:03 > 0:09:04how invasive it's become.
0:09:06 > 0:09:07- So, this is it here.- Yeah.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10If you don't mind me saying, it's actually quite pretty, cos...
0:09:10 > 0:09:14Those purple flowers belong to this plant, don't they?
0:09:14 > 0:09:16That's the one, yeah, it's just coming into flower now.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20But it's escaped from the gardens, and it's just taking over our river banks.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23There's tonnes of it, isn't there? It's so dense.
0:09:23 > 0:09:24It's really prolific.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26It can grow up to three metres tall,
0:09:26 > 0:09:30and one plant can produce over 2,000 seeds.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33So, once it gets hold along a river bank, for example,
0:09:33 > 0:09:34it can spread really easily.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38But if it looks so pretty and it's thriving, what's the problem?
0:09:38 > 0:09:42Well, you can see it forms this sort of dense thicket here,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45and actually stops our native plants growing.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48That has an effect on our native biodiversity of our insects as well.
0:09:49 > 0:09:54It's estimated Himalayan Balsam is occupying 13% of our river banks and
0:09:54 > 0:09:58would cost £300 million to eradicate by hand.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02But, again, Mother Nature might have a solution.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06So, we're introducing a rust pathogen.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09It's a fungus, and it infects the leaves,
0:10:09 > 0:10:12and basically reduces its vigour.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16And, over time, we hope that it will reduce the density of the stems of
0:10:16 > 0:10:19these Balsam and allow the native vegetation to start coming back.
0:10:19 > 0:10:25As you can see, it's forming this yellow spotting on the upper surface of the leaf.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29- Oh, yeah.- And, underneath, you can actually see the spores here.
0:10:29 > 0:10:31So, these are the pustules that develop,
0:10:31 > 0:10:35and they're producing spores that can get carried in the wind and spread,
0:10:35 > 0:10:37hopefully, across to our release sites.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42Introducing a natural pathogen would certainly be cost effective,
0:10:42 > 0:10:43but is it safe?
0:10:45 > 0:10:47If you're introducing another non-native species,
0:10:47 > 0:10:50isn't that going to then cause more problems?
0:10:50 > 0:10:54We tested it on over 70 different species to make sure the pathogen is
0:10:54 > 0:10:56specific just to this plant.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59- So the rust shouldn't affect any other species, then?- No.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06In my garden, I'm used to encouraging and nurturing plans, so today's been
0:11:06 > 0:11:11a bit of an eye-opener to see how destructive the wrong plant in the wrong place can be.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15But it's brilliant that we're coming up with solutions where nature is fighting back.
0:11:24 > 0:11:28In the UK, we're lucky to have an abundance of medieval castles,
0:11:28 > 0:11:33historical monuments, royal residences, like Osborne House over there,
0:11:33 > 0:11:37and it's reckoned that every year about 40 million Brits and foreign
0:11:37 > 0:11:40visitors spend a day out at places like that.
0:11:40 > 0:11:45But grand settings need grand events to make us want to go back for more,
0:11:45 > 0:11:47as Greg McKenzie discovers.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Gone are the days when a limp sandwich and a polite notice
0:11:56 > 0:11:59to keep off the grass pulled the punters in.
0:11:59 > 0:12:04Now our National Parks and Heritage Sites are taking up a challenge to
0:12:04 > 0:12:07get more of us into the great outdoors.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13Whether it's ballooning from a deer park in Bristol
0:12:13 > 0:12:17or establishing horse trials at a country estate,
0:12:17 > 0:12:22hosting events using our stunning rural settings and history as a backdrop
0:12:22 > 0:12:24have the tills ringing across the UK.
0:12:24 > 0:12:29Last year, the National Trust saw a record 22 million visits at their
0:12:29 > 0:12:34pay-for-entry sites, with much of the increase coming from imaginative
0:12:34 > 0:12:38activities which encourage visitors to revisit time after time.
0:12:40 > 0:12:44And I've come to the largest ruined castle in the country,
0:12:44 > 0:12:48where English Heritage are staging a summer of events with the aim of
0:12:48 > 0:12:51bringing history back to life.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53And I think it's about time I rolled back the clocks.
0:12:56 > 0:13:01English Heritage host over 500 individual events at their historic sites every year.
0:13:03 > 0:13:08From ghost tours to the medieval event they are hosting today at Kenilworth Castle in Warwickshire.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12After 900 years,
0:13:12 > 0:13:17these ancient ruins are once again alive with the battle cries of
0:13:17 > 0:13:20chivalrous knights and clashing of swords.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25But today's event isn't just for medieval men.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30In the summer, we live here for two days, and it's great.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32The kids grow up doing it, as well.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36They get born into it and then they pick up a sword when they can and
0:13:36 > 0:13:38start hitting us soon as they can.
0:13:38 > 0:13:39And it's pretty good.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42There is rules. They're only allowed to hit you when someone's wearing armour.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44You're only allowed to hit the armour.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49Originating centuries ago on the battlefield,
0:13:49 > 0:13:53medieval jousting tournaments are now a firmly established modern-day crowd-pleaser.
0:13:59 > 0:14:05On an average day, Kenilworth Castle attracts 600 visitors.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07But this event draws at least 2,000.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13Now, I've always fancied myself as a dashing knight.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15But do I have what it takes?
0:14:15 > 0:14:19Time to get some lance training with experienced jouster Nicky Willis.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Right, let's get started.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25- Shove that right up into my armpit. - Mmm-hmm.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27Remember, you've got a horse here.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29Horse there, this side.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33And then we're going to levee down onto our opponent.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35- Don't go too low. - So, why can't I go low?
0:14:35 > 0:14:37Because you're going to hit...
0:14:37 > 0:14:40Ooh! Grip is the most important thing.
0:14:40 > 0:14:42You're heading for your opponent's shield.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46- Opponent's shield.- Yeah? And then you bring the lance up.
0:14:46 > 0:14:47Lift up. What's this hand doing?
0:14:47 > 0:14:51- I don't know.- You're cheating. - Am I cheating? I can't have two hands?- That's your rein hand.
0:14:51 > 0:14:54- I have to hold it with two hands. - But you've now not got any control of your horse.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58Of course, cos I'd be on the horse. I'm really not getting this, am I?
0:14:58 > 0:14:59That is actually quite difficult.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03- I can just feel my arms are burning. - Yeah!
0:15:03 > 0:15:06It's harder than it looks.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08Honest.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10It wasn't only the knights that had to be strong.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15So did the horses, who could hurtle towards each other...
0:15:16 > 0:15:19..with knights in full body armour on their backs.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25Historical re-enactments are just one option for a medieval ruin.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30Ludlow Castle in Shropshire can draw a 20,000-strong crowd to its
0:15:30 > 0:15:33popular annual food festival.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Not only does it increase the number of visitors,
0:15:35 > 0:15:41the £10 one-day admission price is double the normal price to see the castle.
0:15:42 > 0:15:43Up and down the country,
0:15:43 > 0:15:46we all seem to want to experience the way we were
0:15:46 > 0:15:48and our country's rich history,
0:15:48 > 0:15:52as Jenny Davey from English Heritage explains.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55And how are events taking place here making a difference?
0:15:55 > 0:16:00We saw the most visitors English Heritage have ever seen last summer.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03A lot of that was down to events like our jousts,
0:16:03 > 0:16:06where visitor numbers were up, and they make a real difference.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08They bring people into sites like this.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12They enable us to show what English history was all about
0:16:12 > 0:16:17and to deliver amazing experiences, but also, as a charity,
0:16:17 > 0:16:20it's important for us to get those people in to see what work we're
0:16:20 > 0:16:24doing, and people want to join, to be part of the story that we have,
0:16:24 > 0:16:26and keep our heritage alive.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31When it comes to our historic sites' increasing visitor numbers,
0:16:31 > 0:16:36it seems this knight's tale does have a fairy-tale ending.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39These events are fantastic
0:16:39 > 0:16:43and they've really opened my eyes up to our incredible history.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46I must admit, though, I'm absolutely exhausted
0:16:46 > 0:16:50and just about ready to head back to the future.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02History is alive and well, especially, it seems,
0:17:02 > 0:17:04here at Osborne House.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08As part of the grand terrace restoration, this centrepiece
0:17:08 > 0:17:11fountain, which was bought by Queen Victoria
0:17:11 > 0:17:17at the Great Exhibition of 1851, is now in full working order.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19But for how long will the water run?
0:17:20 > 0:17:23Following six incredibly dry months,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26water companies have warned us that 2017 could be one of the most
0:17:26 > 0:17:28parched years on record.
0:17:31 > 0:17:35So, what will this mean for the environment and your water supplies?
0:17:35 > 0:17:38Joe Crowley has been to a river in the Chiltern Hills to find out.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Earlier this year, the Environment Agency warned that four out of five
0:17:47 > 0:17:51rivers in the UK had abnormally low levels of water
0:17:51 > 0:17:53and now some have dried up completely.
0:17:57 > 0:17:58Between January and March,
0:17:58 > 0:18:03there was a 50-70% decrease in rainfall averages in England's
0:18:03 > 0:18:04south-east counties.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08Water levels in our rivers and reservoirs are dwindling.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14Some of the waterways hardest-hit are Britain's vulnerable chalk streams.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18The source of these rivers is rainfall stored in the aquifer,
0:18:18 > 0:18:20a porous level of rock in the nearby hills.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25And less rain means less stream.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29I think many people would look at this river and say, "What's the problem?
0:18:29 > 0:18:32"It seems fine. I can see plenty of water."
0:18:32 > 0:18:36But it's misleading. This river is artificially boosted by a water
0:18:36 > 0:18:40treatment plant. If it was reliant solely on natural sources,
0:18:40 > 0:18:42it would be a trickle by now.
0:18:45 > 0:18:50England has 85% of the world's 200 chalk streams,
0:18:50 > 0:18:54and this unique type of river is usually abundant in wildlife.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58But local angler David Foster, who's fished this spot all his life,
0:18:58 > 0:19:01is already noticing a difference.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03Tell me about the river, how special is it?
0:19:03 > 0:19:05Well, it is a magical place.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08For me, it is a boyhood dream.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12I've been coming here since I was eight years old, enjoying the scenery.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15But it's suffering at the moment, as you can see.
0:19:15 > 0:19:17The water levels are down,
0:19:17 > 0:19:21and now we're seeing the river probably six inches below its
0:19:21 > 0:19:24typical level for this time of year.
0:19:24 > 0:19:27David used to catch plenty of brown trout,
0:19:27 > 0:19:31but due to water pollution and now the driest winter and early spring
0:19:31 > 0:19:35in 20 years, their numbers are at serious risk.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37Not only did the level drop,
0:19:37 > 0:19:40but the water comes in from the banks either side.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43There are fewer hiding places for the fish
0:19:43 > 0:19:46and easier prey for heron, less depth,
0:19:46 > 0:19:48the heron can see right into the river
0:19:48 > 0:19:51and picks out the small fish much more easily.
0:19:51 > 0:19:56Valuable food sources die off straightaway, the plant life dies back.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58Water levels are clearly low now.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01If we have another dry winter, how concerned will you be?
0:20:01 > 0:20:06Well, I think it's very serious, potentially disastrous.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11But parched rivers not only pose a danger to wildlife.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15They also threaten livelihoods. Like John Tyler's,
0:20:15 > 0:20:17a third-generation watercress farmer.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24- John, this is amazing. I understand it's been in the family for a while, has it?- Yeah, since 1886.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28- My great-grandfather started the business up.- Where would they have got the water from?
0:20:28 > 0:20:31- From the river here?- It's come from the river, yeah.- So, it was flown from the river,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34- straight through the beds and back into the river again?- Exactly, yeah.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36Just diverting it, basically, to grow the crop.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39But what was once plentiful and free
0:20:39 > 0:20:42is now expensive and in short supply.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45Since the low levels, I've now had to pump it out of the ground.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48- So, what's that cost you? - £1,000 a quarter.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50So it's pretty expensive.
0:20:50 > 0:20:52That's a lot of watercress to shift to pay for that.
0:20:52 > 0:20:56Compared to what it used to be, it almost used to be a free source.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58How much watercress can you grow off that one pump?
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Well, only half of this ground here, really,
0:21:00 > 0:21:02so I've only got half an acre that I can irrigate.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04At the moment, can you earn a living off this?
0:21:04 > 0:21:06- Barely. Barely.- Really?- Yeah.
0:21:06 > 0:21:08That's the stage it's got to now.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14And it's not just fishermen and farmers who could be affected.
0:21:14 > 0:21:18The prospect of a drought could hit everyone.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21And we can't simply blame it on the weather either.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25The problem is us.
0:21:25 > 0:21:29At the heart of this matter are big questions over how much water we
0:21:29 > 0:21:31extract and how we use it.
0:21:34 > 0:21:3899% of the water taken out of the River Chess goes straight to
0:21:38 > 0:21:41supplying local homes. On average,
0:21:41 > 0:21:46every person in the UK consumes 150 litres of water a day.
0:21:46 > 0:21:51Over half of that total filling baths, showers and flushing toilets.
0:21:51 > 0:21:54Martin Salter, a campaigner from the Angling Trust,
0:21:54 > 0:21:58has been advising the government to improve the health of our rivers and
0:21:58 > 0:21:59our water supply.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04- Martin, how are you?- Hi there, Joe.
0:22:04 > 0:22:07Welcome to the once lovely little River Chess.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09Oh, dear. It's a bit of a sad sight, isn't it?
0:22:09 > 0:22:12Shall we have a closer look? So, it's completely dry.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16When would lovely, cool chalk stream water have last flowed through here?
0:22:16 > 0:22:18You're looking over three years ago,
0:22:18 > 0:22:23really, to what was described as the biblical floods of 2014.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26That's what it took to get this beautiful little river running.
0:22:26 > 0:22:31I mean, they've experienced in the Chess Valley a 52% increase in water
0:22:31 > 0:22:33extraction since 2001.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35There are new houses being planned all the time.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38Another 900 are due to come online.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42I'm afraid the lifeblood from this river has been sucked dry as a
0:22:42 > 0:22:45- result of over extraction.- Right there are new houses.
0:22:45 > 0:22:46They can't be that old.
0:22:46 > 0:22:49And that's it, isn't it? That's the microcosm, the growing demand,
0:22:49 > 0:22:52new houses going up, and it's rivers like this that are suffering.
0:22:52 > 0:22:56When people say we need more houses, fine.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58People then plan hospitals and roads...
0:22:58 > 0:23:01- Schools.- Schools.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Nobody asks the question, "Have we got enough water in the locality to
0:23:04 > 0:23:07"ensure the taps will be running in those new houses?"
0:23:07 > 0:23:11Nationwide, we've got our rivers at a real crisis.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14The last time they built a reservoir to store the excess water in the
0:23:14 > 0:23:18winter, to avoid denuding rivers of the water of that gives them life
0:23:18 > 0:23:21and gives them purpose, the last time we built a new reservoir in the
0:23:21 > 0:23:23south-east of England was 50 years ago.
0:23:24 > 0:23:30The UK's last major reservoir was completed in the 1990s in Derbyshire.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33The reasons why more haven't been built are complex,
0:23:33 > 0:23:37involving both financial and environmental concerns.
0:23:37 > 0:23:42However, with no new supply on tap, it's us, the consumers,
0:23:42 > 0:23:45who are being asked to use less of this precious supply.
0:23:47 > 0:23:49On an individual basis, what can we do?
0:23:49 > 0:23:50What can you and I do to help?
0:23:50 > 0:23:53We should have water metering because I think that makes a connection
0:23:53 > 0:23:57between what we do when we turn our tap, the bill we pay,
0:23:57 > 0:23:59and the impact we have on the environment.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02We don't need to use our hosepipes as often as we do.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05We can install water butts and collect rainfall off our roofs to
0:24:05 > 0:24:08water our gardens. We can contact our local water companies,
0:24:08 > 0:24:12they will provide water-saving devices for your toilet system or
0:24:12 > 0:24:14lower flows on your showers.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18There's a lot we can do as individual citizens to make every drop count.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22And small changes can make a huge difference.
0:24:22 > 0:24:26Running a tap while you brush your teeth wastes over six litres a minute.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30If the entire population of England and Wales turned the tap off,
0:24:30 > 0:24:35enough water would be saved to supply half a million homes.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39Reducing our water usage by just a few litres a day could have a
0:24:39 > 0:24:43massive impact, helping ease the stress on struggling waterways and giving local
0:24:43 > 0:24:46businesses and wildlife a chance to recover.
0:24:55 > 0:24:59In summer, the British coast is at its very best.
0:24:59 > 0:25:04But with more than 5,000 miles of mainland coastline to choose from,
0:25:04 > 0:25:06where do you start?
0:25:06 > 0:25:08Well, here at Countryfile Diaries,
0:25:08 > 0:25:12we've chosen what we think are three stunning coastal walks for you to
0:25:12 > 0:25:13tread this summer.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23There are hundreds of designated coastal paths across the UK.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26From the epic ramble to an easy amble,
0:25:26 > 0:25:28there's something for everyone.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31At 630 miles,
0:25:31 > 0:25:35the south-west coast path is England's longest waymarked footpath.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39Stretching from Minehead in Somerset to Poole in Dorset,
0:25:39 > 0:25:44it takes in some of Devon and Cornwall's most spectacular shorelines.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Take a breather in Mount's Bay.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00And wait for the tide to retreat,
0:26:00 > 0:26:04uncovering an ancient causeway leading to St Michael's Mount.
0:26:12 > 0:26:15It's the best way to approach the mount.
0:26:15 > 0:26:18Just look at it up there, looming.
0:26:18 > 0:26:19It's really quite imposing.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23The site that's held visitors in thrall for centuries.
0:26:27 > 0:26:29To the western edge of Wales now,
0:26:29 > 0:26:34and one of the jewels in Pembrokeshire's coastal crown, where a wild,
0:26:34 > 0:26:37windswept landscape meets white, sandy beaches.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40Soak up the beauty around St David's headland,
0:26:40 > 0:26:42a walk for young and old.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47If you want miles of unspoiled beaches and more castles than you
0:26:47 > 0:26:50can shake a stick at, then head anywhere between the Scottish Borders
0:26:50 > 0:26:53and Newcastle on Northumbria's coast path.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58The vast stretches of beaches here are just magnificent.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02They're wide open, they're windswept, and there is nobody here.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07The 62-mile trail is split into six manageable walks,
0:27:07 > 0:27:09each of them can be done in a day.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12A perfect day out for the entire family.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15Even the dog.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21Well, if that doesn't get you out to enjoy our coastline,
0:27:21 > 0:27:23I don't know what will.
0:27:23 > 0:27:24Now, not so long ago,
0:27:24 > 0:27:28it was unthinkable that England would be producing red wine to rival
0:27:28 > 0:27:33France. With its chalky, south-facing slopes and almost frost-free
0:27:33 > 0:27:37microclimate, the Isle of Wight has been doing just that,
0:27:37 > 0:27:41as Anita discovered when she came here at last year's harvest.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47Today, the Isle of Wight feels more like the South of France than the
0:27:47 > 0:27:48south of Britain.
0:27:50 > 0:27:55Perfect conditions, then, for growing these - black grapes.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02Black grapes take much more sunlight to grow than the white varieties.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04But at one of Britain's oldest vineyards,
0:28:04 > 0:28:08wine grower Russ Broughton has cracked it.
0:28:08 > 0:28:12So, Russ, how unusual is it to be able to grow black grapes in the UK?
0:28:12 > 0:28:15It's very unusual to grow black grapes to make red wine.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17You can grow black grapes to make roses,
0:28:17 > 0:28:21but to try and get the sugar level and the taste high enough to make a
0:28:21 > 0:28:22good quality red wine is very unusual.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25So, why are you doing it here?
0:28:25 > 0:28:27Because this is the Isle of Wight.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30And we are lucky enough to have such a great climate that we can grow a
0:28:30 > 0:28:33lot of things that perhaps even
0:28:33 > 0:28:36in Hampshire you can't, which is only just across the water.
0:28:36 > 0:28:37This is our rondo.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42- There we go.- Beautiful, I'm going to try one.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45- Oh, it's delicious.- Yeah, they are very sweet.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48It does sugar up quite early, so we tend to pick this one before we
0:28:48 > 0:28:50harvest the white grapes.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53Well, I'm going to help you harvest your grapes but I'll probably eat
0:28:53 > 0:28:54half of them whilst I'm doing it.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56I'm not going to eat your profits, though.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59- I might do.- OK.- OK, let's do it.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01- What do I do?- Here's some secateurs. - Thank you.
0:29:07 > 0:29:09This is Russ's main vineyard.
0:29:09 > 0:29:14But further down the hill, he's planted some young rondo vines in
0:29:14 > 0:29:17ground with a very special heritage.
0:29:19 > 0:29:23Now, the Romans may have had a vineyard on this very site nearly
0:29:23 > 0:29:282,000 years ago. What I'm walking on right now is said to be part of an
0:29:28 > 0:29:31ancient farm with a very important villa attached.
0:29:35 > 0:29:40Brading Roman Villa is one of the finest examples of its type in Britain.
0:29:41 > 0:29:45Discovered by accident and excavated in the 1880s,
0:29:45 > 0:29:50it became famous amongst the Victorians for the quality of its mosaics.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53Jasmine Wroath is the villa's curator.
0:29:53 > 0:29:55So, this is impressive, Jasmine.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57- It is. It is.- What is it?
0:29:57 > 0:30:01This is a fourth-century, winged corridor villa.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04Probably owners were probably quite wealthy.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07We think that from the artefacts that have been found and from the mosaics
0:30:07 > 0:30:11- we've got here.- So, why this bit of the Isle of Wight?
0:30:11 > 0:30:14- Why would they have built it here? - Well, originally, back in the Roman times,
0:30:14 > 0:30:16there was an estuary just out to the east,
0:30:16 > 0:30:20and it would have probably come up about 300 metres to the entrance of
0:30:20 > 0:30:24the villa itself, so it's likely there was a trade coming in and out
0:30:24 > 0:30:28of the court. And also we obviously have really fertile lands.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31The chalk ridge, which runs just behind us,
0:30:31 > 0:30:34led to really great lands, so you could have raised sheep on there,
0:30:34 > 0:30:36grown great crops as well.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39It still looks great 2,000 years later, doesn't it?
0:30:39 > 0:30:42- Shall we get down there and have a closer look?- Yeah, let's.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46From the fragments that remain,
0:30:46 > 0:30:49you can see how impressive the mosaics must have been.
0:30:49 > 0:30:54Twice a year, the centuries-old stones are sponged clean with water
0:30:54 > 0:30:55to remove dust.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01Jasmine, this feels like a real honour.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04- What am I cleaning?- We call this our Gallus mosaic.
0:31:04 > 0:31:09So far as we know, he is the only cockerel-headed man in Britain.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11So, yeah, he is quite...
0:31:11 > 0:31:13- Quite unique.- So, what about the rest of the mosaics?
0:31:13 > 0:31:18- Who's this?- This is Bacchus, and he is the god of wine and wine making.
0:31:18 > 0:31:19Ah. So that's very appropriate.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23- It is.- Do we think that maybe they were making their own wine here,
0:31:23 > 0:31:25if they've got Bacchus as a mosaic?
0:31:25 > 0:31:27Yes, quite possibly.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30If you've got the god of wine in one of your central pieces in one of
0:31:30 > 0:31:33your mosaics, it is possible they were growing their own grapes
0:31:33 > 0:31:35- here for winemaking.- There we go.
0:31:35 > 0:31:36I can see him now.
0:31:36 > 0:31:39Old Bacchus, our god of wine.
0:31:39 > 0:31:41I think I might start worshipping Bacchus.
0:31:45 > 0:31:50Back up the hill, the gods have clearly been smiling on all Russ' vines.
0:31:52 > 0:31:54- So this is the Bacchus grape? - This is the famous one, yes.
0:31:54 > 0:31:56Named after the god. Right, let's taste it.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58- Yes, the Roman god of wine.- Mmm!
0:31:58 > 0:32:00- Delicious.- They are, aren't they, beautiful?
0:32:00 > 0:32:04Yeah, they're a couple of weeks away from harvest but still tasting nice.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07The climate here has made it possible to grow all sorts,
0:32:07 > 0:32:12and pride of place is something you'd usually find in Asian countries...
0:32:12 > 0:32:14- This is it.- So, this is ginger.
0:32:14 > 0:32:18It is, this is ginger and it's growing right here on the Isle of Wight.
0:32:18 > 0:32:19How is it growing on the Isle of Wight?
0:32:19 > 0:32:22We planted it as rhizomes that we bought straight from the shop.
0:32:22 > 0:32:25- Wow.- Snapped them all into pieces, buried them.
0:32:25 > 0:32:28And what did people say when you said you were growing ginger here?
0:32:28 > 0:32:31"You cannot grow ginger in the UK, it's not possible."
0:32:31 > 0:32:34It would appear that they're wrong and the Isle of Wight, yet again,
0:32:34 > 0:32:37- succeeds.- Well, I'll have to see it to believe it.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39- OK, let's get you a piece out. - I'd love to see this.
0:32:41 > 0:32:45- There it is.- There it is.- Real ginger.- That's it, yeah.- That's incredible.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48Mmm! I love this stuff so much.
0:32:48 > 0:32:52- So what are you going to do with that?- Well, this is the first year of growth.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55And so this year, it's grown its roots and it's started to come out
0:32:55 > 0:32:58of the side. We're going to winter that down now.
0:32:58 > 0:32:59Next year, when it grows up,
0:32:59 > 0:33:02it will start increasing the rhizomes. Then we'll be chopping it up and
0:33:02 > 0:33:04turning it into a made ginger wine.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07Of course you are. All this talk of wine, Russ.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09- Absolutely.- I think it's time, don't you?
0:33:09 > 0:33:12- Let's go and try some.- Wine o'clock. - Just pop this one back.- All right.
0:33:13 > 0:33:16Back into the ground with the ginger for one more year.
0:33:16 > 0:33:20Meanwhile, there's a glass of rondo red with my name on it.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22- Let's try this, then. Cheers.- Yeah, cheers.
0:33:22 > 0:33:23To your good health.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27The sun, the shelter,
0:33:27 > 0:33:31the rich, fertile soils make this a very special landscape for growing -
0:33:31 > 0:33:35something known to winemakers since Roman times.
0:33:46 > 0:33:48Well, I'm on the royal beach at Osborne House,
0:33:48 > 0:33:51where Queen Victoria's children would have played,
0:33:51 > 0:33:56and this wonderful contraption is Her Majesty's bathing hut.
0:33:56 > 0:34:00It meant that the Queen could preserve her modesty while changing into a
0:34:00 > 0:34:04bathing costume, and then the hut was hauled down a ramp,
0:34:04 > 0:34:07right into the sea so she could take her dip.
0:34:07 > 0:34:11But you don't have to be royal to have a hut fit for a queen.
0:34:11 > 0:34:12Paul is in Dorset,
0:34:12 > 0:34:15discovering how you could make the most of your outdoor space.
0:34:21 > 0:34:25The last few years have seen an explosion in garden outbuildings,
0:34:25 > 0:34:28as people escape to their outdoor retreats.
0:34:28 > 0:34:32The more ambitious designs have moved away from the humble garden shed
0:34:32 > 0:34:35to eclectic summer houses, offices and follies.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38In terms of design, the sky is the limit,
0:34:38 > 0:34:41but you don't want to be tripped up when planning your outdoor retreat.
0:34:44 > 0:34:45For an architect like Sean Daly,
0:34:45 > 0:34:50designing an outdoor room is a great opportunity to be creative and
0:34:50 > 0:34:53maximise your garden's potential.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56- Hi, Sean.- Hello, Paul, nice to see you.- What a fantastic location.
0:34:56 > 0:34:58It's wonderful, isn't it?
0:34:58 > 0:35:00House prices might be going through the roof,
0:35:00 > 0:35:05but our homes are getting smaller and today's new builds have ten
0:35:05 > 0:35:06square metres' less room.
0:35:06 > 0:35:11To beat the squeeze, many people are creating new indoor spaces outside,
0:35:11 > 0:35:13in their gardens.
0:35:14 > 0:35:15This is fabulous.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18A simple palette of materials, which I think is really lovely.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21There's absolutely no maintenance here, really, is there?
0:35:21 > 0:35:23No, a nice, durable structure.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26- And the room breathes, doesn't it? It really does.- It does.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31That's the kind of thing you could have in a reasonable sized back
0:35:31 > 0:35:34- garden in suburbia.- It is, Paul.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37You can see the height of it, the width of it, nice materials,
0:35:37 > 0:35:40you can see that sat in someone's garden very comfortably.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44And something like that doesn't need full planning permission, does it?
0:35:44 > 0:35:48No, the rules these days allow for permitted development,
0:35:48 > 0:35:51which means that a building of a certain height, a certain size,
0:35:51 > 0:35:54is allowable without a planning approval.
0:35:55 > 0:35:56Generally speaking,
0:35:56 > 0:36:00if you want to build your garden room without the need for planning
0:36:00 > 0:36:03approval, stick to these rules -
0:36:03 > 0:36:06if your garden room is close to a boundary,
0:36:06 > 0:36:09it can be as high as 2.5 metres.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13But if it's further away, you can build even higher, up to 4 metres.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18But whatever the height, if you live in a conservation area,
0:36:18 > 0:36:20some restrictions can still apply,
0:36:20 > 0:36:25so do check with your local council before you plan any build.
0:36:26 > 0:36:30They're multifunctional. They can be a study, they can be an office,
0:36:30 > 0:36:32they can be a gym, they're an extension to the home.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37Although you can't live in a garden room permanently,
0:36:37 > 0:36:40you can sleep in it for up to 28 days a year,
0:36:40 > 0:36:42especially one as nice as this.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46So if you've got a big garden shed...
0:36:46 > 0:36:48- Yeah.- ..and you've got the footprint for that...
0:36:48 > 0:36:53- Yeah.- ..you could turn that into something like this.
0:36:53 > 0:36:54Most definitely, and really,
0:36:54 > 0:36:58the cost for doing that can be significantly less than building an
0:36:58 > 0:37:01- extension.- Or moving. - Or a conversion. Exactly.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05So nowadays, we want to stay put, it's making use of your space.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07If you've got a small area, this is the key.
0:37:07 > 0:37:11Ultimately, there's an opportunity to have a lot of fun and create a
0:37:11 > 0:37:15beautiful structure that makes the best of your house and your garden.
0:37:15 > 0:37:19This spot is obviously bigger than the average 14 metre square British
0:37:19 > 0:37:23garden, but that shouldn't limit your imagination.
0:37:23 > 0:37:27Besides, if you can't build it, why don't you wheel it in?
0:37:27 > 0:37:29And I'm not talking caravans!
0:37:29 > 0:37:33There's one type of garden design that's become hugely popular over
0:37:33 > 0:37:37the last few years, and that's the shepherd's hut, just like this one here.
0:37:37 > 0:37:42They make a fantastic garden office or a spare room for a visiting guest.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45Since the 16th century,
0:37:45 > 0:37:49these huts were used by shepherds during sheep raising and lambing.
0:37:49 > 0:37:53Made mobile with iron wheels, the hut was a kitchen, a dining room,
0:37:53 > 0:37:57a bedroom and a store room, all rolled into one.
0:37:58 > 0:38:03Believe it or not, this dilapidated shepherd's hut has the same potential,
0:38:03 > 0:38:06especially in the hands of Eddie Butterfield.
0:38:08 > 0:38:10- Eddie!- Nice to see you, old chap, how are you?
0:38:10 > 0:38:12I'm all right, mate. What are you doing in there?
0:38:12 > 0:38:16- Just having a little measure up, you know?- This is brilliant.
0:38:16 > 0:38:18- It is rather good, isn't it? - Absolutely fantastic.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24Both Eddie's grandfather and father were wagon builders, and now Eddie
0:38:24 > 0:38:28restores and converts these huts, whatever the weather.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31This is absolutely brilliant,
0:38:31 > 0:38:34but typically, I came out without a hat or a coat,
0:38:34 > 0:38:35so your wife's lent me this.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39- British summertime!- Yeah, how long have you been restoring shepherd's huts?- 25, 30 years now.
0:38:39 > 0:38:41- It's a long time.- It is, yeah.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44It's great fun, though, and you learn a terrific amount from these
0:38:44 > 0:38:46old ones, I'm learning all the time.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49That's a small one, or was that the original size of a shepherd's hut?
0:38:49 > 0:38:52A little bit small. Normally they were 10, 12 foot long,
0:38:52 > 0:38:55- something like that, six foot wide. - How long will that take you to do?
0:38:55 > 0:38:58- Probably six months I should think. - Six months?- Six months at least.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01If someone came across a shepherd's hut like that, in that condition,
0:39:01 > 0:39:05- what would they pay for it? - Something like that probably would demand
0:39:05 > 0:39:08£3,000 today, in that condition even.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11- OK, and fully restored? - 15.- 15.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13And that's about the ballpark figure, isn't it?
0:39:13 > 0:39:15- Roughly, yeah.- I noticed these ones on the way in,
0:39:15 > 0:39:19they're more like the ones I'm used to, they're much bigger,
0:39:19 > 0:39:21larger wheels, elevated.
0:39:21 > 0:39:23- Can we go and look at those?- Yeah, let's go and have a look.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32Oh, wow! Do you know what? It's amazing, you've done a brilliant job.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35- Thank you very much.- What's its age? - 1880, this one.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38- Late Victorian.- Yeah, it is.
0:39:38 > 0:39:42The use of shepherd's huts reached its peak in the late 19th century,
0:39:42 > 0:39:46but then dwindled with the advent of mechanised farm machinery and
0:39:46 > 0:39:50electric power. Now they're undergoing a revival,
0:39:50 > 0:39:53as garden rooms and holiday lets.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56- It's solid, isn't it? - It is.- Absolutely solid.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59- You've got a wood-burning stove going in?- Yes, that's right, yeah, yeah.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02- A double bunk up there. - That's right, yes.- New floors?
0:40:02 > 0:40:04- Yeah.- It's brilliant.
0:40:07 > 0:40:12Eddie reckons when it's finished, he could sell the hut for £16,000,
0:40:12 > 0:40:13and to get nearer the finish line,
0:40:13 > 0:40:17he's asked me to help him make an iron hook for the hut's door.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21And what makes Eddie's work so unique
0:40:21 > 0:40:27is that he still uses old techniques and antique tools to carry out the restoration.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30Wow, you've certainly got all the kit, haven't you?
0:40:30 > 0:40:33- A bit of a collection, yes.- Lots of Victorian machinery.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37- Latest cutting-edge machinery, you mean!- This is brilliant. I love the forge.
0:40:37 > 0:40:38- Thank you, yeah.- And the big old anvil.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40Yeah, that's right, essential.
0:40:44 > 0:40:45I love that smell!
0:40:45 > 0:40:47It reminds me of where I live,
0:40:47 > 0:40:49with all the old barges going up and down the canal.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51Oh, absolutely. Industrial, isn't it?
0:40:51 > 0:40:54- Industrial Revolution smell, that is, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:40:57 > 0:41:00This is how they would have done it when the hut was made.
0:41:00 > 0:41:01Exactly like this.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05That is the start of our hook.
0:41:05 > 0:41:09So your job, in a minute, start on the end...
0:41:09 > 0:41:10OK. And turn it round?
0:41:12 > 0:41:15Master at this, Paul, master.
0:41:15 > 0:41:16It's all in the timing.
0:41:16 > 0:41:20That will do. Whoa! A little bit of flattening out.
0:41:20 > 0:41:21Whoa, whoa.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23I love the ring of the smithy's hammer.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26Next job will be...
0:41:26 > 0:41:28- bringing that...- Just hooking it, closing it up.
0:41:28 > 0:41:30Not fully, just a little bit.
0:41:33 > 0:41:35That's it, go on.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37Oh, I thoroughly enjoyed that.
0:41:37 > 0:41:38First class for a first go.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41- Thank you very much.- You've done brilliantly there, well done, old boy.- Ah!
0:41:41 > 0:41:44- I'll be your apprentice any day.- Now we've got to do the other end.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46Now we've just got to do another 700!
0:41:46 > 0:41:48THEY LAUGH
0:41:48 > 0:41:52It's wonderful to see the skills of craftsman like Eddie up close.
0:41:52 > 0:41:57And if our increasing demand for more outdoor rooms is anything to go by,
0:41:57 > 0:41:59he's going to be busy for years to come.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03He's done a good job there, he's done that before!
0:42:06 > 0:42:08Today has really inspired me.
0:42:08 > 0:42:12It's amazing what you can create in your own back garden with a bit of
0:42:12 > 0:42:16imagination, and you don't always need a great deal of space to do it.
0:42:24 > 0:42:26And, I'm afraid, that's all we've got time for today,
0:42:26 > 0:42:30but here's what we've got coming up for you tomorrow -
0:42:30 > 0:42:34Margherita discovers why more of us are suffering from seasonal sneezes
0:42:34 > 0:42:36and what you can do about it.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40There's only a handful of really allergenic plants,
0:42:40 > 0:42:43but we seem to be moving towards planting these and we're making a
0:42:43 > 0:42:45big problem for ourselves.
0:42:45 > 0:42:49Jules and Teddy test out the latest trend in camping - champing.
0:42:49 > 0:42:50Wow.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53And there you have your bed, all laid out for you, ready.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56Teddy's quite excited by this, I think!
0:42:56 > 0:43:00And Keeley will be investigating why wildlife criminals are targeting the
0:43:00 > 0:43:04summer fledglings of our rarest birds of prey.
0:43:04 > 0:43:08The toll being taken on our birds of prey by these criminals is phenomenal.
0:43:08 > 0:43:10So, until then, goodbye.