0:00:02 > 0:00:03Long, sunny days,
0:00:03 > 0:00:07when our countryside is bursting with colour and life.
0:00:09 > 0:00:14It's the season that brings out the child in us all.
0:00:14 > 0:00:15Summer is here.
0:00:19 > 0:00:24It's the perfect time to enjoy the beauty of our great British landscape.
0:00:27 > 0:00:28And our amazing wildlife.
0:00:30 > 0:00:31OWL CHIRPS
0:00:32 > 0:00:34Some of us are still hard at work.
0:00:34 > 0:00:35Urgh!
0:00:38 > 0:00:40But whatever you're doing, and whatever the weather,
0:00:40 > 0:00:42our island is at its very best.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49All week, we're travelling the length and breadth of the UK...
0:00:50 > 0:00:55..bringing the very best seasonal stories that matter to you.
0:00:56 > 0:00:58Nobody asks the question -
0:00:58 > 0:01:00have we got enough water in the locality
0:01:00 > 0:01:03to ensure that taps will be running in those new houses?
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Nationwide, we've got our rivers at a real crisis.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14The very warmest of welcomes to Countryfile Summer Diaries.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24And here's what's coming up on the programme today.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28Jules tries out the very latest in comfortable camping...
0:01:28 > 0:01:31- Wow. Ha-ha!- And there you have your beds all laid out for you, ready.
0:01:31 > 0:01:35Hey, Teddy's quite excited about this, I think.
0:01:35 > 0:01:40..while Paul will be showing you how to grow your own fruit and veg, even in the smallest of spaces.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43That's a lemon verbena. I can make you a tea after.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46- If you want. - Oh, that is just divine.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51And I'll be finding out how wildlife crime is having a devastating effect
0:01:51 > 0:01:53on our fledgling birds of prey.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55You're all right, little fella.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02All this week we are enjoying summer
0:02:02 > 0:02:07at one of Britain's top tourist destinations.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09We're on the Isle of Wight.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13Stretching 23 miles from east to west,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16it's the largest island off the coast of England
0:02:16 > 0:02:20and with its long, sandy beaches and stunning clifftop walks,
0:02:20 > 0:02:25it draws 2.4 million of us here every year.
0:02:26 > 0:02:30But it was the Victorians who really put the island on the map
0:02:30 > 0:02:35and it's easy to see why, looking at the historic charm of Ventnor.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39This picturesque seaside resort,
0:02:39 > 0:02:42nestled in the sanctuary of the cliffs,
0:02:42 > 0:02:48enjoys a special, rather benign microclimate.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50With more sunny days than anywhere else on the island,
0:02:50 > 0:02:53from the mid-19th century onwards
0:02:53 > 0:02:56people flocked here for its health benefits.
0:02:59 > 0:03:04Today the Isle of Wight is helping to break new ground into hay fever and its causes.
0:03:04 > 0:03:09And we sent Margherita to find out why the summer blight is on the rise.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25Surely not much can beat exploring our great British countryside
0:03:25 > 0:03:30on a long, hot summer day, or being able to escape that heat
0:03:30 > 0:03:34through the cooling, dappled light of a wonderful wood.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37This is just a dream come true.
0:03:38 > 0:03:39Isn't it?
0:03:39 > 0:03:40RECORD SCRATCH
0:03:40 > 0:03:41SPOOKY MUSIC
0:03:43 > 0:03:47It's also a scene that strikes fear into many across the country.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Summer is the height of the hay fever season
0:03:50 > 0:03:55when trees, grasses and weeds release their pollen,
0:03:55 > 0:03:59waging war on innocent allergy sufferers.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03It's hard to believe that such microscopically small grains,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06that sow the seeds of life in our plant kingdom,
0:04:06 > 0:04:10can cause such trouble for millions of us.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13And with more of us than ever on the receiving end
0:04:13 > 0:04:16of this pollen pounding, I'm here on the Isle of Wight
0:04:16 > 0:04:19to meet Professor Hasan Arshad,
0:04:19 > 0:04:24who's been looking into the root causes of our growing hay fever epidemic.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28Hasan, this is such a beautiful view and a beautiful walk for most of us,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31but if you've got hay fever, this is a real battlefield.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34So, what is hay fever? How do we know when we have it?
0:04:34 > 0:04:37So the hay fever is when a person is allergic to pollen.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41You inhale the pollen, it gets into the nose and eyes
0:04:41 > 0:04:44and the immune system, by fighting it,
0:04:44 > 0:04:47produces hormones which are called histamine.
0:04:47 > 0:04:53They start to have itchy eyes, a streamy nose, and sneezing.
0:04:53 > 0:04:58This can be quite troublesome for those unfortunate people who have hay fever.
0:04:58 > 0:05:03Keen to find a solution, 26 years ago, Professor Arshad started
0:05:03 > 0:05:08a study group of 1,536 newborn babies, and set about giving them
0:05:08 > 0:05:12allergy assessments every few years.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15And what is the benefit of studying such a large group for such a long
0:05:15 > 0:05:21- amount of time?- We can see when the seeds of allergies are sown,
0:05:21 > 0:05:23which is usually in early childhood,
0:05:23 > 0:05:27then we can assess how they change over time.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29And what can we do to prevent
0:05:29 > 0:05:33this really rising prevalence of allergies
0:05:33 > 0:05:37that have become in epidemic proportions.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43Those babies and now adults, and Professor Arshad has just been
0:05:43 > 0:05:46giving them their latest assessments.
0:05:46 > 0:05:52Put your mouth around this tube and blow into the machine.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55As well as performing a lung function test,
0:05:55 > 0:05:58they have their height and weight measured, and are given
0:05:58 > 0:06:02a skin-prick test to tease their immune system into making a reaction.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06And what have you discovered during the course of this very unique study?
0:06:06 > 0:06:10We have seen how the allergy changes over a life course.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14There were only 3% of children who were diagnosed with having symptoms
0:06:14 > 0:06:17of hay fever in early childhood.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20By the age of ten years it was 20%.
0:06:20 > 0:06:26By 18, 40% of teenagers suffered from hay fever.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31And the most recent assessment of 26 years indicate that 46%
0:06:31 > 0:06:36of the young adults have at least some hay fever symptoms.
0:06:36 > 0:06:37That's incredible.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40So almost half of your study group now have signs of hay fever.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44Are we changing, or is it our environment that's changing?
0:06:44 > 0:06:46That's a very interesting question.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49We looked at our pollen data, and you know what we discovered?
0:06:49 > 0:06:51That pollen count has been rising
0:06:51 > 0:06:53and the number of days when the pollen count
0:06:53 > 0:06:55exceeds a certain number,
0:06:55 > 0:06:59which really causes trouble to the hay fever patient,
0:06:59 > 0:07:00has also increased.
0:07:00 > 0:07:02Later I'll be finding out what lies behind
0:07:02 > 0:07:06these increasingly high pollen levels, and if you're a sufferer,
0:07:06 > 0:07:11what practical things you can do to help alleviate your symptoms.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15There's only a handful of really allergenic plants,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18but we seem to be moving towards planting these.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20And we're making a big problem for ourselves.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27The Isle of Wight is a great place to be outdoors, and summer,
0:07:27 > 0:07:30with its long, lazy days,
0:07:30 > 0:07:32is certainly the perfect time to get back to basics
0:07:32 > 0:07:34and enjoy nature at its best.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Lots of us Brits love to go camping,
0:07:40 > 0:07:44and we're finding more and more unusual ways of doing it.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46In recent years, at least 40% of us
0:07:46 > 0:07:49have spent a summer night under canvas,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52but it's not without its drawbacks.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56And if you don't fancy your chances against the fickle British weather,
0:07:56 > 0:07:59well, Jules has the perfect solution.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05Now, unlike glamping, where you might find yourself
0:08:05 > 0:08:08bedding down for the night in a yurt or a tipi, well, tonight,
0:08:08 > 0:08:13Teddy and I have found something altogether a little more special.
0:08:13 > 0:08:14CHORAL MUSIC
0:08:14 > 0:08:16Come on, lad.
0:08:16 > 0:08:17'It's champing, the latest trend in
0:08:17 > 0:08:20'the ever-expanding outdoor accommodation sector.
0:08:20 > 0:08:22'It's basically camping in a church.'
0:08:24 > 0:08:27All Saints, in the village of Old Winkle in Northamptonshire,
0:08:27 > 0:08:32is one of the first to offer it.
0:08:32 > 0:08:34- Peter.- Hi, Jules.- Nice to see you. - Nice to see you, too.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36The man we've been looking for.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38It's the grand idea of Peter Ayres,
0:08:38 > 0:08:43who's come to show me my unusual accommodation.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45Now, the Churches Conservation Trust
0:08:45 > 0:08:47has championed this idea of champing.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49How did it all come about?
0:08:49 > 0:08:52Well, it came from a charity. I work for the Churches Conservation Trust.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54We look after 350 historic churches across England
0:08:54 > 0:08:57that aren't used for regular worship any more.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59They remain consecrated, and we open them to the public.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03And we've got to find a way to get people interested in these buildings.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05We need people who are looking out for them and really love them.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08And when people love them, they find a way to look after them.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11So what do you get when you check in?
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Well, come with me and I'll show you.
0:09:13 > 0:09:14Come on, Teddy.
0:09:15 > 0:09:16Come in.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20Wow. Ha-ha!
0:09:20 > 0:09:22That is wonderful without the pews, isn't it?
0:09:22 > 0:09:25Yeah, it's amazing. You get a real appreciation of the space.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28- Look at that. - And the architecture, yeah.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30And there you have your bed - all laid out for you, ready.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32Hey, Teddy is quite excited about this, I think.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35And you know what I love about the fabric of this one?
0:09:35 > 0:09:38You can really see, architecturally, how they were put together,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41because so much of the plaster has come off and you can see the stonework
0:09:41 > 0:09:42and the way the roof structure works.
0:09:42 > 0:09:46It's lovely on a day like today, with the light flooding through,
0:09:46 > 0:09:48waking up to this. I mean, I actually can't wait.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51But I'm also really intrigued to see what it's like at night.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53So this is the point where a lot of people go,
0:09:53 > 0:09:54"Oh, it must be really spooky!"
0:09:54 > 0:09:56But actually, it feels quite cosy.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02The Trust is currently offering 12 churches that people can stay in,
0:10:02 > 0:10:04and they're attracting adventurous travellers
0:10:04 > 0:10:06from all over the UK and abroad.
0:10:06 > 0:10:09At a price from £39 per adult,
0:10:09 > 0:10:13this year there are already over 1,300 bookings for the summer.
0:10:15 > 0:10:16I like a country hotel.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19They are replete with some fantastic facilities.
0:10:19 > 0:10:21But what do you do for washing and that sort of thing?
0:10:21 > 0:10:24Facilities aren't quite up to country house hotel standards,
0:10:24 > 0:10:28but we've found a way to deliver a very comfortable stay for you
0:10:28 > 0:10:31with the necessary ablutions that you require.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35You've got a means to boil your kettle, hot water, a little stove.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39And then we've got these fantastic Swedish composting loos.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41And although there's no functioning kitchen,
0:10:41 > 0:10:43that doesn't mean breakfast is off the menu.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45COW LOWS
0:10:45 > 0:10:48As a result of the church's new role,
0:10:48 > 0:10:51a local farmer has been quick to spot a business opportunity.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56Tim Hankin's family have been farming here for three generations.
0:10:57 > 0:11:01As well as growing crops, he also keeps a herd of Hereford cattle
0:11:01 > 0:11:05and has branched out into the B&B business.
0:11:05 > 0:11:06Hello, Tim.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09- Hello, Jules.- Very nice to meet you, mate. How are you?- Fine, thank you.
0:11:09 > 0:11:10These all look very happy and healthy.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13Yes, these were our last lot of heifers and cows to calf.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17Now, Tim, diversification is the foundation of many modern farms.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21What persuaded you to get involved with helping out the church?
0:11:21 > 0:11:23We thought, "Why not? We can add another string to our bow,
0:11:23 > 0:11:26"we can provide breakfast to the people down the church.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28"We'll jump in and give them a hand."
0:11:28 > 0:11:31So, have you ever stayed in the church yourself?
0:11:31 > 0:11:32Not yet, no.
0:11:32 > 0:11:33I am going to sometime,
0:11:33 > 0:11:36it's just getting all the rest of the family to agree to come with me.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40- But at least you know where breakfast is going to come from. - Oh, definitely, yes, yes!
0:11:40 > 0:11:43- So you've got the cattle, you've got your arable.- Yes.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45- You've got your B&Bs, your holiday lets.- Yeah.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48But something else is on the go, which I'm particularly intrigued about.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50- Yep.- Come and have a look?
0:11:50 > 0:11:51- Come on, then.- Come on, then.- Yeah.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58Diversification has become an important part of the rural economy,
0:11:58 > 0:12:01with farms generating up to a third of their income
0:12:01 > 0:12:02from alternative sources.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06And here is a bit of a clue to one of Tim's more unusual crops.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Well, Tim, this is a beautiful spot by the water here
0:12:10 > 0:12:12with these wonderful willow trees.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15What are you doing on this part of the farm?
0:12:15 > 0:12:19Well, we are using the river down here to grow cricket bat willows.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22It's a really interesting area of diversification.
0:12:22 > 0:12:25I mean, willow famously will take just from a twig, won't it?
0:12:25 > 0:12:27It will. If you get it the right way up.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30That's the secret to it, you've got to plant it the right way up.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33We've found that they grow better on the river banks with flowing water into their roots.
0:12:33 > 0:12:37So, there is a chance, then, that that tree right there
0:12:37 > 0:12:42could, one day, be carried out onto the square at Lord's or the Oval.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44It could well be and I would never know
0:12:44 > 0:12:47because I never know who they sell the bats to.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Tim's willows are harvested every five years,
0:12:49 > 0:12:52making up to 4,000 cricket bats for the world market.
0:12:52 > 0:12:53Oh, yes!
0:12:53 > 0:12:54LAUGHTER
0:12:56 > 0:13:01It is a chaotic game of cricket, but I suspect the best of the day is yet
0:13:01 > 0:13:04to happen, because Teddy and I have got our night at the church to come.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Haven't we, mate? Come on.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15With all that fresh air and exercise, we should sleep soundly.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20Well, I have to confess that when I knew that Teddy and I
0:13:20 > 0:13:22were going to be spending the night in a church,
0:13:22 > 0:13:26I honestly didn't think it would be this comfortable.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30But look, I've got a glass of wine, I've got my book, I've got my dog,
0:13:30 > 0:13:32and I've got this entire church to myself.
0:13:33 > 0:13:36Well, I hope.
0:13:36 > 0:13:37Unless the ghosties come...
0:13:49 > 0:13:51Well, as you can see,
0:13:51 > 0:13:55we have survived our night sleeping in the church.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58I have to say, it was very comfortable.
0:13:58 > 0:14:00We were not disturbed...
0:14:00 > 0:14:04and waking up when the light was streaming through the windows,
0:14:04 > 0:14:07really quite magical. Although I was rather glad...
0:14:08 > 0:14:10..to get back to sleep again and have a bit of a lie-in.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12But it's still only...
0:14:16 > 0:14:176:55.
0:14:17 > 0:14:18KNOCK AT DOOR
0:14:18 > 0:14:19You'd better get up.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24- Good morning! - Hello, Tim, how are you?
0:14:24 > 0:14:26Tim's brought a delicious breakfast -
0:14:26 > 0:14:27just what a hungry camper needs.
0:14:27 > 0:14:30Mmm! Yes, is that bacon and eggs?
0:14:30 > 0:14:32Bacon, eggs, sausages.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34- Ah, fantastic.- Bread roll. - Look at this!
0:14:34 > 0:14:36Thank you very much indeed.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38You're welcome. Enjoy it all.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Well, this breakfast is the perfect end to my stay here
0:14:40 > 0:14:42in this beautiful church.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44And when you think about it, the church's role has always been
0:14:44 > 0:14:47about providing shelter and sanctuary,
0:14:47 > 0:14:50and that, of course, is exactly what this new initiative
0:14:50 > 0:14:52is trying to champion, with champing.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55There is no doubt that whatever your age, whatever your belief,
0:14:55 > 0:14:59you've now got a chance to come here and experience these buildings
0:14:59 > 0:15:01on your own terms, in your own way.
0:15:01 > 0:15:03I think it's a brilliant idea.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05And as for the breakfast, well...
0:15:05 > 0:15:06Mm!
0:15:07 > 0:15:08You can't beat it.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10Good boy.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15Looks like Jules has been converted.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19It's certainly a novel way to keep our rural churches alive.
0:15:22 > 0:15:27And protecting our countryside has also never been more important.
0:15:27 > 0:15:31But across the land, many wild spaces are under pressure.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36Wildlife crime is an ongoing problem, and some of the species
0:15:36 > 0:15:40being targeted are our beautiful birds of prey.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43Keeley's in Scotland to investigate.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53With its remote, wild hills and glens,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56Scotland is one of the best habitats for our birds of prey,
0:15:56 > 0:15:59with everything from golden eagles,
0:15:59 > 0:16:00hen harriers
0:16:00 > 0:16:01to northern goshawks.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07But they've long been a target for unscrupulous criminals.
0:16:12 > 0:16:13It's illegal to kill birds of prey.
0:16:13 > 0:16:18It can carry a prison sentence of up to a year and a £10,000 fine.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20But despite this, a new report has found that
0:16:20 > 0:16:23a third of fledglings from some species
0:16:23 > 0:16:25are still being killed deliberately.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30I've come to meet Ian Thomson,
0:16:30 > 0:16:33head of RSPB Scotland's investigation team.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39- Hi, Ian, how are you doing? Good to see you.- Nice to see you, too.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41Now, these are very worrying statistics, aren't they?
0:16:41 > 0:16:45Absolutely. For a third of satellite-tagged golden eagles to
0:16:45 > 0:16:47either be found deliberately killed
0:16:47 > 0:16:51or to disappear in circumstances that suggest they've been killed
0:16:51 > 0:16:53is really very, very concerning.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56- It's not just golden eagles. - No, it's not just golden eagles.
0:16:56 > 0:16:58It's red kites, it's goshawks.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02The toll being taken on our birds of prey by these criminals is phenomenal.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05And they couldn't have just been shot down by accident?
0:17:05 > 0:17:08A golden eagle is a bird with a six-foot wingspan.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11It's very difficult to mistake it for something else.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14If people are accidentally shooting birds like that,
0:17:14 > 0:17:17they're not fit to have a firearm.
0:17:17 > 0:17:18EAGLE CALLS
0:17:18 > 0:17:22All signs suggest the birds are being deliberately targeted,
0:17:22 > 0:17:25but why would anyone harm these majestic creatures,
0:17:25 > 0:17:26particularly the fledglings?
0:17:28 > 0:17:30To help protect these young birds,
0:17:30 > 0:17:33conservationists have been monitoring some of their nests.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36I've been given the chance to get up close and personal
0:17:36 > 0:17:40with fledgling chicks of one of Scotland's rarest birds of prey,
0:17:40 > 0:17:42the northern goshawk.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45Unsurprisingly, they're not the easiest birds to track down.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52A century ago the goshawk was hunted to extinction in Scotland,
0:17:52 > 0:17:55but thanks to conservation efforts since the '60s,
0:17:55 > 0:17:56they've made a bit of a comeback.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03But in more recent times, their numbers have remained stagnant.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09David Anderson from Forest Enterprise Scotland
0:18:09 > 0:18:12has been looking into why this is happening.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15Hi, David, how are you doing?
0:18:15 > 0:18:18- Hi, Keeley, fine.- Now, I'm a bit surprised that we came here because
0:18:18 > 0:18:20I associate birds of prey with vast open spaces
0:18:20 > 0:18:22and you can see them from far up.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24So when you said to meet here, I was a bit confused.
0:18:24 > 0:18:25The bird we've come to see is the goshawk.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27It's got a four-foot wingspan,
0:18:27 > 0:18:29but it can manoeuvre perfectly through here.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32They've got this great big tail that acts as a rudder,
0:18:32 > 0:18:35and they hunt through the bottom of here and go shooting up,
0:18:35 > 0:18:36straight up to the nests.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40To observe these birds' early development,
0:18:40 > 0:18:43David has set up cameras on nests,
0:18:43 > 0:18:45one with a couple of two-week old chicks.
0:18:45 > 0:18:49This is incredible to see this so close up.
0:18:49 > 0:18:50So this is mum on the nest, then.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54She is using her body to either shield them from the sun
0:18:54 > 0:18:55or shield them from the rain.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58And how much would they eat? How often are they fed?
0:18:58 > 0:19:01When they're small, they are eating the size of a pigeon a day.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03And then, as they get older,
0:19:03 > 0:19:06you are looking at two to three pigeon-sized prey items per day.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10So the adults have got a really busy job feeding these little chicks up, haven't they?
0:19:10 > 0:19:13The male's got a massive job because he's not only feeding them,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16he's feeding the female as well, and himself.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18What happens after they've left the nest?
0:19:18 > 0:19:21She'll feed them around the territory.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24They just start to range, and they get further and further,
0:19:24 > 0:19:27and then they just go - they're not coming back to the nest.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30So even once they've flown the nest, they're still returning home?
0:19:30 > 0:19:31A bit like teenagers, really.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33They're very, very needy.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37It's what they do when they finally move off
0:19:37 > 0:19:40that David is keen to discover, so he's been fitting satellite tags
0:19:40 > 0:19:44to the chicks when they're just a few weeks off fledgling.
0:19:44 > 0:19:45One in the bag?
0:19:45 > 0:19:48- One in the bag.- One in the bag.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Today I'm helping him with a couple of four-week-old chicks.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53So what we'll do is, we'll take this one straight out,
0:19:53 > 0:19:55and then the bag will go straight back up
0:19:55 > 0:19:57so that the second one is in the bag.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59Look at this guy.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02If you put your hands like that, yep, exactly like that.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05This bird is just at the right stage for a satellite tag.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07They can be a wee bit bigger.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09So it's about 27, 28 days old.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11You're all right, little fella.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16With the arrival of the second chick,
0:20:16 > 0:20:17it's time to get down to work.
0:20:19 > 0:20:20Oh, this one looks a lot more alert.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24He looks a couple of days older, yes.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Fitting the tags doesn't hurt the birds, but to keep them calm,
0:20:27 > 0:20:29David uses a special falconry hood.
0:20:31 > 0:20:34So the tag is going to sit around here.
0:20:34 > 0:20:36And it does look long on the bird,
0:20:36 > 0:20:39but it's away from the wings and it sits on the back
0:20:39 > 0:20:41and it should sit down the spine.
0:20:41 > 0:20:45There's a lot of technology wrapped into this tag.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47And it will tell us what elevation it's at,
0:20:47 > 0:20:49it will tell us what body temperature it's got,
0:20:49 > 0:20:53it will tell us if it's stationary or active.
0:20:53 > 0:20:55But once these birds are back up there,
0:20:55 > 0:20:59I don't expect to be climbing that tree again or seeing these birds.
0:20:59 > 0:21:01I just expect to get data.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Right, right, there you go.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08This is the second year David's team has been tagging goshawk chicks,
0:21:08 > 0:21:09and last year's result shows
0:21:09 > 0:21:13something very unusual is happening about a month after fledging.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16When these birds fledge from the site,
0:21:16 > 0:21:18they're in really good condition,
0:21:18 > 0:21:20they're going out into a big environment.
0:21:20 > 0:21:21It should have a lot of food there.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23There's everything there for them,
0:21:23 > 0:21:25there's young crows, there's young pigeons.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Survival rate is estimated to be around 80%.
0:21:28 > 0:21:31We're talking about a bird that should be doing really well.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35But unfortunately, it's the exact same time as people are putting
0:21:35 > 0:21:37pheasants into pheasant release pens.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39And young goshawks are attracted to them. Like many raptors,
0:21:39 > 0:21:41they are attracted to these areas
0:21:41 > 0:21:43because they are plentiful in food.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46Those are the areas where those tags stop working.
0:21:46 > 0:21:47Why do you think that is?
0:21:47 > 0:21:48They are being culled,
0:21:48 > 0:21:50about a month after fledging.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54Because...the conflict between game management
0:21:54 > 0:21:58and raptor populations trying to expand.
0:22:00 > 0:22:02There's long been a controversy in the relationship
0:22:02 > 0:22:06between some gamekeepers and our birds of prey.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09They argue there's a need to protect game birds
0:22:09 > 0:22:11from being preyed upon.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14But the British Association of Shooting and Conservation
0:22:14 > 0:22:18have told us any deliberate targeting of birds of prey
0:22:18 > 0:22:20is something they strongly condemn
0:22:20 > 0:22:23and down to the actions of a few individuals.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27They emphasise that, in managing the moors,
0:22:27 > 0:22:29gamekeepers create important habitats
0:22:29 > 0:22:32for many other rare and endangered birds.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39It really has been amazing to see such rare birds close up,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42and they're still so vulnerable over the next few weeks.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44So, fingers crossed,
0:22:44 > 0:22:46our little chicks won't have too much of a bumpy ride
0:22:46 > 0:22:48into the adult world.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59At this time of year, Britain is brimming with birdlife.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02If you're here on the Isle of Wight, you might be lucky to spot
0:23:02 > 0:23:06a Dartford warbler or an increasingly rare turtledove.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10And here are some of our other favourite places to spot our
0:23:10 > 0:23:13feathered friends both inland and on the coast this summer.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20On the east coast of Yorkshire, the towering cliffs at Bentham
0:23:20 > 0:23:24are home to the largest mainland sea bird colony in the UK.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28Our biggest sea bird, the gannet, is the star of the show.
0:23:30 > 0:23:3412,500 nesting pairs crammed into every nook and cranny.
0:23:35 > 0:23:40These beautiful birds dive into the sea at speeds of up to 60mph.
0:23:44 > 0:23:45An impressive sight.
0:23:47 > 0:23:48This is awesome.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55If you've got your sea legs, why not take a short boat ride to
0:23:55 > 0:23:59the spectacular Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast?
0:23:59 > 0:24:01This is a twitcher's paradise.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Here, you can get up close to its most popular resident...
0:24:08 > 0:24:09..the puffin.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16Now to Scotland and Lanarkshire's Clyde Valley...
0:24:18 > 0:24:22..home to an unassuming but rather special bird -
0:24:22 > 0:24:24the dipper.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27It's unique in the songbird family,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30able to wade, swim and dive in running water.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35Another river favourite is the elusive kingfisher.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39While they're pretty widespread across the UK,
0:24:39 > 0:24:41you need a lot of patience to spot one.
0:24:41 > 0:24:45We were rewarded with this shot at Worth Marshes in East Kent.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01Among other things, the Isle of Wight is renowned for this place,
0:25:01 > 0:25:03the Ventnor Botanic Garden,
0:25:03 > 0:25:06otherwise known as the hottest garden in Britain.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08Because of its sheltered position,
0:25:08 > 0:25:11the temperature here in summertime
0:25:11 > 0:25:14is five degrees higher than on the mainland.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20It's an altogether more Mediterranean climate,
0:25:20 > 0:25:22so the garden has a fantastic collection
0:25:22 > 0:25:27of subtropical trees and plants, more than 30,000 of them altogether.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30There are apricots here, and cherries.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32But there's one fruit above all others
0:25:32 > 0:25:35which is drooled over at this time of year,
0:25:35 > 0:25:38and Matt is the lucky one to be finding out more.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Summertime in the British countryside.
0:25:46 > 0:25:51Long, lazy days, dappled sunlight and lush green hills.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01I'm in Kent near Maidstone, the Garden of England,
0:26:01 > 0:26:03where sunny, south-facing slopes
0:26:03 > 0:26:06provide the perfect place for growing soft fruits.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10And during the British summer
0:26:10 > 0:26:14there is one fruit that matters more than most -
0:26:14 > 0:26:16the strawberry.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20Strawberries are a quintessential part of
0:26:20 > 0:26:23our most famous tennis tournament - Wimbledon.
0:26:24 > 0:26:2823 tonnes of strawberries were consumed at Wimbledon last year.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31That's around 2 million individual berries.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38Hugh Lowe Farms near Maidstone is a family-run business.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41They've been the sole suppliers of strawberries to Wimbledon
0:26:41 > 0:26:43for more than 25 years.
0:26:45 > 0:26:49Marion Regan is the managing director.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52Well, Marion, just walking up here, I mean, it's mesmerising,
0:26:52 > 0:26:54the amount of strawberry plants you've got in here.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56What does the strawberry mean to you, Marion?
0:26:56 > 0:26:58Well, it's a way of life for me.
0:26:58 > 0:27:01I couldn't imagine life without strawberries, I suppose.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04I grew up on this farm and we've always grown strawberries,
0:27:04 > 0:27:07we've always shared our summers with a large number of super people
0:27:07 > 0:27:09who come to help us pick the crops.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11I couldn't imagine anything different, really.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14And lots of people enjoying your strawberries at Wimbledon, as well.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16- Yes. - So, as far as they are concerned,
0:27:16 > 0:27:18when will those strawberries have started their life?
0:27:18 > 0:27:21We now find we get the best quality from a young plant,
0:27:21 > 0:27:23so we plant them early in the year,
0:27:23 > 0:27:25sometimes in January or February,
0:27:25 > 0:27:28to time them to crop for the Wimbledon period.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35And like the game of tennis,
0:27:35 > 0:27:39the art of producing strawberries has been refined over the years.
0:27:39 > 0:27:41Improved varieties and cultivation techniques
0:27:41 > 0:27:44means growers are now playing at the highest level.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49I think most people would think of strawberries being grown
0:27:49 > 0:27:52in the traditional way on the ground, surrounded by straw.
0:27:52 > 0:27:57We're growing them nowadays in the gutters and in pots
0:27:57 > 0:27:59so that the plants are actually at shoulder height,
0:27:59 > 0:28:01which makes it much easier for people to pick.
0:28:01 > 0:28:04And it is a better growing environment for the plant,
0:28:04 > 0:28:07it's very good for the bees and other pollinators.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10We've changed in a lot of ways.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14Now we actually pick strawberries from May all the way until October.
0:28:14 > 0:28:15Two things have happened.
0:28:15 > 0:28:20One is we've got varieties now which flower and fruit at the same time,
0:28:20 > 0:28:23so they keep going all the way through the summer.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26And the other thing is we use polytunnels,
0:28:26 > 0:28:29which advance the season at the beginning and at the end,
0:28:29 > 0:28:32keep the rain off and allow us to have a lovely, long season.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40These days, the game of growing strawberries is more demanding.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43After Wimbledon, the farm continues to supply other markets,
0:28:43 > 0:28:48so harvesting doesn't stop until the end of the season in October.
0:28:48 > 0:28:49It's a very intense business.
0:28:54 > 0:28:57And with everything that you're doing here, Marion,
0:28:57 > 0:29:00what are you actually aiming to do as far as the plant is concerned,
0:29:00 > 0:29:01to get the best crop?
0:29:01 > 0:29:06This plant has got to keep throwing out flowers and fruit all the way
0:29:06 > 0:29:11from now until October, so we want to see a very healthy plant,
0:29:11 > 0:29:15no pests and diseases, and we want to give it everything it needs
0:29:15 > 0:29:18to put its energy into growing fruit.
0:29:18 > 0:29:23So we give it its own irrigation, little system here.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25And it gets a feed programme.
0:29:25 > 0:29:30Depending on what stage the plant is at, the feed programme changes.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34So, really, I'm very pleased with the way these plants look at this stage.
0:29:34 > 0:29:36And do you prune them in any way?
0:29:36 > 0:29:38We take off the runners because otherwise
0:29:38 > 0:29:40all of the energy of the plant
0:29:40 > 0:29:42goes into growing leaves and runners
0:29:42 > 0:29:45and not enough energy going into the fruit.
0:29:45 > 0:29:49Yes, beautiful, glorious, red, shiny fruit
0:29:49 > 0:29:53that just looks so appealing to the eye, and my taste buds are tingling.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56Do you have to eat a lot? In all seriousness,
0:29:56 > 0:29:58do you have to spend quite a lot of time eating these?
0:29:58 > 0:29:59I love eating strawberries.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02We're regularly testing them, for sure.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04- Absolutely beautiful. - Straight off the plant.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06Exactly, straight off the plant. Oh! Can't beat it.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12And while you tuck into your strawberries,
0:30:12 > 0:30:16spare a thought for those poor souls who are allergic to them.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22We're becoming a nation of allergy sufferers.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25Almost 20 million people in Britain get hay fever
0:30:25 > 0:30:28and sneeze their way through the summer.
0:30:28 > 0:30:32Margherita's investigating why it's on the rise and, crucially,
0:30:32 > 0:30:35what you could do to help blow out the problem.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43Earlier, I learned that a 26-year study on the Isle of Wight has
0:30:43 > 0:30:47discovered more of us are developing hay fever as we get older.
0:30:47 > 0:30:5346% of the young adults have at least some hay fever symptoms.
0:30:53 > 0:30:58And interestingly, the reason may lie in our lifestyles.
0:30:59 > 0:31:03Although you might think that our open countryside and woodland is the
0:31:03 > 0:31:07place that those pesky little pollen particles create the most chaos,
0:31:07 > 0:31:09you might need to think again.
0:31:09 > 0:31:10CAR HORN HONKS
0:31:10 > 0:31:14As it turns out, Allergy UK has discovered
0:31:14 > 0:31:18it's our towns and cities that are the real hay fever hot spots.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22One of their advisers, Amena Warner,
0:31:22 > 0:31:24an allergy and immunology specialist,
0:31:24 > 0:31:27thinks they've uncovered why.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31Well, it's the architecture within the city -
0:31:31 > 0:31:35it doesn't allow for the wind dispersal of pollens.
0:31:35 > 0:31:37And also, topped with the fact that
0:31:37 > 0:31:41out of the 2,500 different species of plants,
0:31:41 > 0:31:43we are choosing allergenic species
0:31:43 > 0:31:47that can cause hay fever and asthma in susceptible people.
0:31:49 > 0:31:54Not all plants cause the sniffs and sneezes we associate with hay fever.
0:31:54 > 0:31:59So Allergy UK has been working closely with Exeter University,
0:31:59 > 0:32:04to identify the worst offenders and to map their location.
0:32:04 > 0:32:06Most people think it's grass pollen.
0:32:06 > 0:32:08A lot of people are allergic to grass pollen,
0:32:08 > 0:32:12but there are other pollens that people need to consider as well that
0:32:12 > 0:32:14might be causing their hay fever.
0:32:14 > 0:32:18So things like mugwort, nettle, dandelion...
0:32:18 > 0:32:21They are all weeds that can cause hay fever symptoms.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24All these weeds are commonly found in our cities.
0:32:24 > 0:32:28But it's not just weeds causing the problem.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32It seems we're planting the wrong trees.
0:32:32 > 0:32:36One of the very big offenders is birch tree.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38It has become a tree of choice,
0:32:38 > 0:32:42and people are planting it because they like the look of it.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44Now, when you get a species of trees
0:32:44 > 0:32:47that are planted very close to each other
0:32:47 > 0:32:50and close to human inhabitants,
0:32:50 > 0:32:54then you have got a problem with people being sensitised to it.
0:32:54 > 0:32:58So the choice of tree is really important.
0:33:00 > 0:33:05An index of allergenic plant species puts the birch tree near the top,
0:33:05 > 0:33:07with a score of nine out of ten.
0:33:08 > 0:33:12There's only a handful of really allergenic plants
0:33:12 > 0:33:15but we seem to be moving towards planting these,
0:33:15 > 0:33:17and we're making a big problem for ourselves.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20But it's not just the concentration of pollen
0:33:20 > 0:33:23that's making the problem worse in our cities.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25Another culprit is pollution.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29We know from research that diesel fumes, in particular,
0:33:29 > 0:33:34can coat the pollen particles, and you've got the allergenic effect
0:33:34 > 0:33:39of the pollen particle on top of the irritant effect of the diesel fume.
0:33:39 > 0:33:43For those that suffer with hay fever, what can we do?
0:33:43 > 0:33:45There's plenty that we can actually do.
0:33:45 > 0:33:48Your pharmacist has an array of different things that
0:33:48 > 0:33:51you can get just over the chemist's counter to actually help.
0:33:51 > 0:33:53So things like nasal saline douching,
0:33:53 > 0:33:58that's a saline rinse that will wash out the pollen from your nose.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00There are things like allergen barrier balms
0:34:00 > 0:34:03that you just put around the nostril, and that
0:34:03 > 0:34:08makes pollen stick to it instead of being breathed up into the nose.
0:34:08 > 0:34:10Don't suffer in silence.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16So if you're one of the millions for whom the great outdoors
0:34:16 > 0:34:18is a no-go area in the summer,
0:34:18 > 0:34:20there are a number of practical things you can do
0:34:20 > 0:34:23to help make the season a bit more enjoyable.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27Although it's advisable to cut the grass regularly to stop it flowering
0:34:27 > 0:34:28and producing pollen,
0:34:28 > 0:34:31make sure you're not the one cutting the grass.
0:34:31 > 0:34:34And when you're out and about, take a sun hat with you
0:34:34 > 0:34:36and wraparound sunglasses, too.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39And if you're lucky enough that someone brings you flowers,
0:34:39 > 0:34:43perhaps on this occasion you might want to pass them on to someone
0:34:43 > 0:34:45who'd appreciate them a little bit more.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48The only thing that can kill off pollen is water.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50So after time outside,
0:34:50 > 0:34:52pop your clothes in the washing machine
0:34:52 > 0:34:55and take a quick shower, to wash away those allergens.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00And when the pollen count is particularly high,
0:35:00 > 0:35:03make sure you shake your washing before you bring it inside
0:35:03 > 0:35:06because the pollen can end up sticking to the material.
0:35:06 > 0:35:10Keeping doors and windows closed as much as possible will also help to
0:35:10 > 0:35:13keep the pollen levels low inside your home.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16And as pollen counts are generally higher
0:35:16 > 0:35:19in the early morning and late evening, a great excuse to head home
0:35:19 > 0:35:22and catch up on some beauty sleep.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26If you suffer from hay fever,
0:35:26 > 0:35:29you could also try creating a sneeze-free garden
0:35:29 > 0:35:31by planting low-allergy plants.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35But some people don't have a garden at all.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38In fact, about a third of all properties on sale in the UK
0:35:38 > 0:35:40at the moment are without them.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44But not having an outside space doesn't stop some people
0:35:44 > 0:35:48from growing their own veggies, as Paul is about to discover.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54I've left the good life behind today,
0:35:54 > 0:35:58to uncover the secrets of growing veg no matter where you live
0:35:58 > 0:36:01from a man who's determined not to let the lack of space
0:36:01 > 0:36:04put the dampeners on his growing ambitions.
0:36:05 > 0:36:10Mark Ridsdill Smith is a champion of the Vertical Veg movement,
0:36:10 > 0:36:14and an expert on turning urban spaces into bountiful gardens.
0:36:15 > 0:36:19Here we are in suburbia, just outside the city centre.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22Not many city dwellers have a lot of space to grow things in.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25This is the average size, sort of yard and plot you get
0:36:25 > 0:36:28for a terrace. But it's a starting point.
0:36:28 > 0:36:29Absolutely, it is, yeah,
0:36:29 > 0:36:32and we can grow a lot of stuff in a space like this.
0:36:32 > 0:36:34I used to have this balcony in London,
0:36:34 > 0:36:36and I really wanted to grow my own food.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38So I put my name down for an allotment...
0:36:38 > 0:36:40That was years away, probably, wasn't it?
0:36:40 > 0:36:42Well, I was on the waiting list for five years
0:36:42 > 0:36:44and I thought I would find out how long it was going to be,
0:36:44 > 0:36:46and it was going to be another 30 years.
0:36:46 > 0:36:50- Oh, gosh!- So I was going to be 70 by the time I got my allotment.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53So I thought, "Well, I'll just try growing on this balcony,
0:36:53 > 0:36:54"and see what's possible."
0:36:54 > 0:36:56So what did you start with?
0:36:56 > 0:36:59Well, I just started with a few pots of rocket.
0:36:59 > 0:37:02I didn't really know what I was doing, so quite a few of them died.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04Then I put a little bit more effort into it,
0:37:04 > 0:37:08and I just started growing, trying lots of different things
0:37:08 > 0:37:11and finding out what worked and what didn't.
0:37:14 > 0:37:16I measured it one year, I grew £900 worth of food
0:37:16 > 0:37:19on this balcony along my windowsill.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21And that is a smaller space than this space.
0:37:21 > 0:37:22It is a much smaller space than this space.
0:37:22 > 0:37:26And, yeah, we were eating fresh herbs and salads nearly every day.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28I can't believe there's £900 worth of veg...
0:37:28 > 0:37:30- Yeah.- ..that you can grow in that space.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33It's amazing. Honestly, I didn't believe that it was possible.
0:37:34 > 0:37:38After a year or two of doing this, we started calling it "the garden".
0:37:38 > 0:37:40We started to say we were going out into the garden.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43Even though it was really small, but it felt like a garden
0:37:43 > 0:37:45and it actually changes the way you see the city.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49As soon as I started growing, I started talking and chatting to
0:37:49 > 0:37:52people and it made me feel part of a community.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55Mark started a blog to share his experience and tips
0:37:55 > 0:37:58about growing veg in containers.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01It soon caught the attention of gardening enthusiasts
0:38:01 > 0:38:04all over the world - including Therese, who lives in
0:38:04 > 0:38:09rented accommodation in Bristol with a small courtyard round the back.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12I really wanted a garden here,
0:38:12 > 0:38:16and I had a courtyard with slabs and gravel.
0:38:16 > 0:38:18Yeah. There's no soil, no beds.
0:38:18 > 0:38:22Yeah. So I had nothing else to do but to grow in containers.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24Well, looking around me,
0:38:24 > 0:38:27I would say, what, 90% of what you grow, you eat?
0:38:27 > 0:38:31Yes. They are all edible, and they are beautiful at the same time.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34So you have a nice garden, and you have good food.
0:38:34 > 0:38:37Good food and plenty of it!
0:38:37 > 0:38:40Having started with a few pots of herbs five years ago,
0:38:40 > 0:38:45Therese's outside space is now heaving with natural goodness,
0:38:45 > 0:38:49from mint to tomatoes, and from apples...
0:38:49 > 0:38:50to artichokes.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52The list is endless.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54That is lemon verbena.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57It makes... I can make you tea, after.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59- Oh!- If you want.
0:38:59 > 0:39:01- That is just divine!- Yes.
0:39:01 > 0:39:03The brilliant thing about that, is you imagine a plant like
0:39:03 > 0:39:05in just a flat...
0:39:05 > 0:39:08- Exactly.- ..you've got a supply of fresh herbal tea.- Yes.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10Well, what does it taste like, the leaf by itself? Is it edible?
0:39:10 > 0:39:14You put it in water and that infuses the flavour into the liquid.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16- Oh, it's beautiful!- Yeah.
0:39:16 > 0:39:21'There's no need for supermarket bags of salad in this household.'
0:39:21 > 0:39:22What's that?
0:39:22 > 0:39:24That's basil.
0:39:24 > 0:39:26That looks really small for basil, doesn't it?
0:39:26 > 0:39:29Yes. But taste it, it is really, really nice,
0:39:29 > 0:39:32and we can cut some for the...for a salad.
0:39:32 > 0:39:33It's like cress.
0:39:33 > 0:39:34That's beautiful!
0:39:34 > 0:39:35It is beautiful...
0:39:35 > 0:39:37That's a strong basil.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41What's this?
0:39:41 > 0:39:42These are radish.
0:39:42 > 0:39:46So you get the beautiful red stalk of the radish, which looks wonderful
0:39:46 > 0:39:49in a salad, and then you get the radish flavour
0:39:49 > 0:39:51and slight crunch and bite. A beautiful addition.
0:39:51 > 0:39:52It's really nice.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54Yeah.
0:39:54 > 0:39:56With the shoot, you've got the crunch as well.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59- Yeah. And the next one is broccoli. - All these are exactly the same.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02These will grow into normal radishes, this will grow into big broccoli.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04But you're just eating them exceptionally early.
0:40:04 > 0:40:09Just in a small space, this is a very convenient way of growing.
0:40:09 > 0:40:14- What are these?- Musk mallow. The flowers are edible.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17- Beautiful, aren't they? - Beautiful.
0:40:17 > 0:40:18Oh, this is brilliant.
0:40:19 > 0:40:21Oh, it's so nice.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25This is sort of Michelin chef territory, isn't it, salad-wise?
0:40:25 > 0:40:31Yeah. And just goes to show, you can grow great, fresh veg anywhere,
0:40:31 > 0:40:35with limited space. That is delicious, and can I finish the rest?
0:40:35 > 0:40:36LAUGHTER
0:40:36 > 0:40:38Finish it! Yes!
0:40:38 > 0:40:42'So, if you feel inspired to have a go at growing your own veg,
0:40:42 > 0:40:46'a simple way to start is with supermarket herbs like mint,
0:40:46 > 0:40:47'parsley or basil.'
0:40:47 > 0:40:50If you're going to spend money on one thing, this is the thing.
0:40:50 > 0:40:54It makes a really big difference to use good-quality compost.
0:40:54 > 0:40:58OK, so, as you can see there's, like, lots and lots of basil plants.
0:40:58 > 0:41:00If we take this out...
0:41:01 > 0:41:04..and if we split up the basil plants
0:41:04 > 0:41:06and put them into a bigger pot,
0:41:06 > 0:41:09they'll grow for many weeks longer.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12- OK.- I'm teasing the basil plants apart...
0:41:13 > 0:41:15Make a hole in the compost,
0:41:15 > 0:41:17and you want to firm it in and we can put
0:41:17 > 0:41:21sort of two or three clumps like that in here,
0:41:21 > 0:41:23then give it a really good water.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26Giving them a drink of water is a bit like giving them a cup of tea
0:41:26 > 0:41:27when they're moving house.
0:41:27 > 0:41:29HE CHUCKLES
0:41:29 > 0:41:32Parsley also likes to be split up before planting.
0:41:34 > 0:41:36The mint is a bit different
0:41:36 > 0:41:39in that it tends to be just, like, one plant...
0:41:39 > 0:41:42So I'm just going to put it all in in one go.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45'With a little bit of care, this herb will keep on growing.'
0:41:45 > 0:41:50I've got some ten years old, that I've just repotted every year -
0:41:50 > 0:41:52and you've got mint for life.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55There you are, look.
0:41:55 > 0:41:57Supermarket herbs that will rejuvenate
0:41:57 > 0:41:59as long as you look after them.
0:41:59 > 0:42:02The secret, really, is a few minutes a day,
0:42:02 > 0:42:05just to check whether or not your plants need watering,
0:42:05 > 0:42:07and to water them if they do.
0:42:11 > 0:42:15It's been really satisfying seeing how a bit of uncompromising concrete
0:42:15 > 0:42:18can be turned into a brilliant green space
0:42:18 > 0:42:20that can produce food all year round.
0:42:20 > 0:42:24You can connect with the seasons and with the local community.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27Now, there's got to be something very satisfying in that.
0:42:30 > 0:42:34And that's all for today, but here are just some of the entries
0:42:34 > 0:42:35in our summer diary tomorrow.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37Keeley's taking the plunge...
0:42:39 > 0:42:40SHE SHRIEKS
0:42:40 > 0:42:43It is really, really cold in here.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46..all to help save lives around our coast.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51Paul finds out how we can care for our elusive nocturnal neighbours.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53They don't have a very strong grip,
0:42:53 > 0:42:56so you can just rest it in your palm. He'll be fine.
0:42:56 > 0:42:57Oh, wow. He's so warm!
0:42:59 > 0:43:02And I'll be finding out how some furry friends
0:43:02 > 0:43:04could help reduce flood risk here in the UK.
0:43:08 > 0:43:10So, until then, goodbye.