0:00:02 > 0:00:06This is the toughest time of year,
0:00:06 > 0:00:09but it can also be the most spectacular season
0:00:09 > 0:00:11in the entire calendar.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14Winter is upon us.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19It's a time when days are short and temperatures can plunge.
0:00:21 > 0:00:22But there are still plenty of ways
0:00:22 > 0:00:25growers can make the most of the season.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29It's the time when the British weather throws
0:00:29 > 0:00:31everything it's got at us.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34And while some animals are hibernating,
0:00:34 > 0:00:37others are bringing new life into the world.
0:00:40 > 0:00:44All this week, we're travelling the length and breadth of the UK...
0:00:44 > 0:00:45There you go.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47I really thought that we would struggle to capture this
0:00:47 > 0:00:49and they'd be off... Freedom!
0:00:49 > 0:00:53..bringing the very best seasonal stories that matter to you.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Look at what's happened to the ground underneath my feet.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59That can't be good for business.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04JOHN EXHALES The very warmest of welcomes.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07This is Countryfile Winter Diaries.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12OWL SCREECHES
0:01:14 > 0:01:17Coming up for you on today's programme...
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Paul discovers some tips on how you could reinvent
0:01:20 > 0:01:21your garden this winter.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23There's plenty of people who've got ponds -
0:01:23 > 0:01:26what should they be doing at this time of the year?
0:01:26 > 0:01:29I'll be checking progress on an ambitious project
0:01:29 > 0:01:31we last visited several years ago.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34Since you guys were here, we've planted 2 million trees.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37We're ten years in, but it's a 200-year project.
0:01:37 > 0:01:38It's going well so far.
0:01:40 > 0:01:42And I'll be sampling salad that can be grown
0:01:42 > 0:01:45with a little help from your pet fish.
0:01:48 > 0:01:50All this week, we've been enjoying the rugged beauty
0:01:50 > 0:01:53of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park.
0:01:53 > 0:01:574 million visitors come here every year to enjoy
0:01:57 > 0:02:00its lochs, and forests, and peaks.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03It's also a magnet for dog-owners.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05There are 8 1/2 million dogs in Britain,
0:02:05 > 0:02:07which shows just how much we love them,
0:02:07 > 0:02:11but the question is, do we love them too much?
0:02:11 > 0:02:14Many of the nation's dogs are overweight,
0:02:14 > 0:02:17and that includes Teddy, Jules Hudson's canine pal.
0:02:22 > 0:02:27My canine sidekick is spoiled,
0:02:27 > 0:02:33and he's not alone - we spent an incredible £923 million
0:02:33 > 0:02:34on dog food every year.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39But, of course, dogs need exercise,
0:02:39 > 0:02:41and my Labrador, Teddy, here,
0:02:41 > 0:02:42is no exception.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45At just over two years old, he's a big kid.
0:02:45 > 0:02:46He's a bit like Tigger.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49Everything, in Teddy's world, is exciting,
0:02:49 > 0:02:52and it tends to unfold at about 100mph,
0:02:52 > 0:02:56and, as for the rain and the cold, well, as you can see,
0:02:56 > 0:02:58he doesn't seem to mind it at all.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02But, of course, the winter can be a problematic time for some dogs,
0:03:02 > 0:03:05so, if you want to save yourself an expensive trip to the vet,
0:03:05 > 0:03:08well, there are a few things that you should be aware of.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14'Ian Fleming is a vet working for the PDSA,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17'one of the UK's leading veterinary charities.
0:03:17 > 0:03:22'He's based in Birmingham and is an expert in dog health.'
0:03:22 > 0:03:24So, can you give us your top tips, Ian,
0:03:24 > 0:03:26for helping us look after our dogs during the winter?
0:03:26 > 0:03:28OK. It's important after they've been out for a walk
0:03:28 > 0:03:30in the wintertime to get them home, dry them up properly,
0:03:30 > 0:03:32and check their feet to make sure
0:03:32 > 0:03:33there are no foreign bodies in there.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35If there is any great or gravel that's got stuck in between
0:03:35 > 0:03:37the paws in the wet and the mud,
0:03:37 > 0:03:39get that washed out before it causes a serious problem.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41Going out on dark nights or dark mornings,
0:03:41 > 0:03:43it's important to maybe use something
0:03:43 > 0:03:44like a high-visibility jacket,
0:03:44 > 0:03:47or even some of these LED collars that you can get these days,
0:03:47 > 0:03:48which have flashing safety lights,
0:03:48 > 0:03:50and that can make a dog a lot more visible.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53Now, Ian, tell me, one thing has always fascinated me about dogs,
0:03:53 > 0:03:54and Teddy in particular -
0:03:54 > 0:03:58how is it that these feet can cope with freezing temperatures
0:03:58 > 0:04:01which would tear our skin apart?
0:04:01 > 0:04:03If we have a quick look at Teddy's paw...
0:04:03 > 0:04:05- Show us your foot, Teddy. - There we go.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08- Oh, good boy.- You can actually see the skin here is quite thickened
0:04:08 > 0:04:11and quite tough, so it acts as a natural insulation there,
0:04:11 > 0:04:14to help stop getting the cold into the deeper layers of his paw.
0:04:14 > 0:04:15But, on very, very cold days,
0:04:15 > 0:04:18- they can actually be subject to frostbite.- Good boy.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20So, although they're much, much tougher than you or me,
0:04:20 > 0:04:21they're not indestructible.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Well, there you are, Teddy. I know you love the snow,
0:04:23 > 0:04:27but we might just have to moderate how much time you spend in it
0:04:27 > 0:04:29as and when it comes.
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Now, during the winter, of course, we all like to cosy up at home.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35Is there a danger that we don't give our dogs enough exercise?
0:04:35 > 0:04:37Dogs like a regular walk -
0:04:37 > 0:04:41about 16% of our dogs don't get walked even once a day,
0:04:41 > 0:04:43and that's not acceptable.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48'Yes, it's a shocking statistic that 250,000 of our dogs
0:04:48 > 0:04:51'never get the exercise they so badly need,
0:04:51 > 0:04:56'and a further 6 million get out for less than an hour every day,
0:04:56 > 0:04:58'but, despite there being a distinct wintry chill
0:04:58 > 0:04:59'in the air this morning,
0:04:59 > 0:05:02'it's best paw forward for a group of local dog-owners
0:05:02 > 0:05:04'and their pets.'
0:05:04 > 0:05:07- Hello, everybody. How are you? - Hello.- Fantastic!
0:05:07 > 0:05:10This is a very jolly gathering, isn't it?
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Well, it's great to see all of us doing our bit to give our dogs
0:05:12 > 0:05:14the exercise they need,
0:05:14 > 0:05:16but I dare say we've all been spoiling them with
0:05:16 > 0:05:19- a few treats on the walk. Yes? - THEY LAUGH
0:05:19 > 0:05:21Well, the thing about this time of year,
0:05:21 > 0:05:23it's a really good opportunity, I think,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26when the days are a bit shorter, and we've got a bit more spare time,
0:05:26 > 0:05:28to give them a little bit of an MOT.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30Who fancies a trip to the vet?
0:05:30 > 0:05:32A nice trip to the vet!
0:05:32 > 0:05:35- Come on.- I certainly do. Come on, then, Daisy.- Come on, now.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40Many animals put on weight for winter, and dogs are no exception -
0:05:40 > 0:05:44a spare tyre or two acts as insulation -
0:05:44 > 0:05:46but, as is the case for humans,
0:05:46 > 0:05:49canine obesity is becoming a serious problem.
0:05:49 > 0:05:53We're taking our pets for a medical checkup and weigh-in,
0:05:53 > 0:05:55with vet Namnish Heran,
0:05:55 > 0:05:57to find out the perfect weight for each pooch.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01Teddy is first in the queue.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03Mr Hudson with Teddy, please.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05- Hi. How are you? - Hello. I'm fine, thank you.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07So, if you pop him on the scale straight away,
0:06:07 > 0:06:09- so we have his current weight. - Sure. Come on, Teddy.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12- Just...- There we go. As you can see, he's full of beans this morning.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14How is he? Good boy, sit down. There we go.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16Oh, you are an angel.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19'Some dogs are more prone to obesity,
0:06:19 > 0:06:22'including pugs, dachshunds and cocker spaniels -
0:06:22 > 0:06:26'unfortunately for Teddy, Labradors also come high up on the list,
0:06:26 > 0:06:28'so I'm feeling nervous.'
0:06:28 > 0:06:29He's 39.2 kilos.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33Teddy... That's heavier than I would like him to be.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35- I think, yes.- It's certainly heavier than he has been,
0:06:35 > 0:06:37- certainly before Christmas. - I do agree with you there.
0:06:37 > 0:06:38He is a bit heavier than
0:06:38 > 0:06:40- what he should be, OK?- Oh. - JULES LAUGHS
0:06:40 > 0:06:42Shall we give them a quick examination?
0:06:42 > 0:06:44That would be fantastic if you would, yes.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47So, a general way of looking at them is you just rub your hands
0:06:47 > 0:06:49around the chest there, OK?
0:06:49 > 0:06:52And when you are running your arms, just gently, there,
0:06:52 > 0:06:54you should be able to feel the ribs, OK?
0:06:54 > 0:06:58And you should be able to feel the hips there, as well.
0:06:58 > 0:06:59What do you feed him?
0:06:59 > 0:07:01- He gets a dry mix...- OK.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03- ..a cold-pressed mix...- All right.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06..and then he gets a little quarter of a little tray of meat
0:07:06 > 0:07:07to go with it to make it a bit exciting.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10- How many times are you feeding him? - Twice a day.
0:07:10 > 0:07:11That is a lot.
0:07:11 > 0:07:12He gets breakfast and dinner.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14- He shouldn't have to.- Really?
0:07:14 > 0:07:17OK, at this point, if you can just, just take it less there,
0:07:17 > 0:07:19- just about probably a quarter of it away...- Yeah.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22..cos the concern is that once it piles up,
0:07:22 > 0:07:25it's very difficult to get it down afterwards.
0:07:25 > 0:07:29'We pet-owners have also got to kick the habit of giving our canine chums
0:07:29 > 0:07:31'too many doggie treats -
0:07:31 > 0:07:34'some of them contain as many calories as a chocolate bar,
0:07:34 > 0:07:38'so it's not hard to see how our beloved mutts pile on the pounds.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42'Let's see how Teddy's new friends measure up.'
0:07:44 > 0:07:46How much did you say she was?
0:07:46 > 0:07:477.278.
0:07:47 > 0:07:49Eight kilos.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52So, we need to lose a minimum of about two kilos.
0:07:52 > 0:07:53OK.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56Good girl.
0:07:56 > 0:07:57On the scales.
0:07:57 > 0:07:5930.5 kilos.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02- If you can get down to probably 28...- OK.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04..I would be more happy with that.
0:08:07 > 0:08:08Four-ish? Three, four?
0:08:08 > 0:08:12- Four kilos. Oh, perfect weight, there.- Four kilos!- Yeah.
0:08:14 > 0:08:15This way. Come on.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17There we go. There we go. Good girl.
0:08:17 > 0:08:1976 kilos, there.
0:08:19 > 0:08:20She is overweight.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26'Incredibly, just one of the dogs weighed here today
0:08:26 > 0:08:27'is a healthy weight,
0:08:27 > 0:08:32'and that's just the tip of a very large obesity iceberg.'
0:08:32 > 0:08:34I mean, it is quite a common problem, I'm afraid.
0:08:34 > 0:08:35People don't realise it.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37One in three dogs are overweight.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41'Nationally, that's nearly 3 million dogs.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43'It's actually very, very serious -
0:08:43 > 0:08:46'all that chubbiness comes at a price.'
0:08:46 > 0:08:47What you have to understand -
0:08:47 > 0:08:49what any kind of obesity brings with it
0:08:49 > 0:08:53is diabetes, heart disease, joint problems,
0:08:53 > 0:08:58breathing problems, problem of overheating, exercise intolerance...
0:08:58 > 0:09:02'And none of us wants that for our beloved family pets.'
0:09:02 > 0:09:03Good boy, Teddy.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05So, there you have it.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08That mantra that we've all learnt in recent years
0:09:08 > 0:09:10about eating less and moving more,
0:09:10 > 0:09:15perhaps it does apply as much to our dogs as it does to us -
0:09:15 > 0:09:18and so, next time those big brown eyes look up at you,
0:09:18 > 0:09:20demanding that one extra treat,
0:09:20 > 0:09:22well, now you know what to say.
0:09:22 > 0:09:24I'm afraid the answer is going to be no.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Come on, Teddy, let's work of some of that fat.
0:09:27 > 0:09:28Good boy.
0:09:28 > 0:09:31And I'm sure there's plenty of us who could do with
0:09:31 > 0:09:32going on a diet this winter.
0:09:34 > 0:09:39We Brits have a growing appetite for salad all the year round,
0:09:39 > 0:09:40and for other unseasonal crops,
0:09:40 > 0:09:45and that's led to a revolutionary system of food production.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47Not only is it energy-efficient,
0:09:47 > 0:09:50it's also something that you could try at home.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Margherita is taking the taste test.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59We don't normally associate our cities with growing food,
0:09:59 > 0:10:02but this unassuming industrial unit in London's East End
0:10:02 > 0:10:06could house the answer to our current lettuce shortage.
0:10:06 > 0:10:11They produce 20,000 kilos of salad here all year round,
0:10:11 > 0:10:15and they're doing it with the help of something rather surprising -
0:10:15 > 0:10:16fish.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20'It's the brainchild of biologist turned urban farmer Tom Webster,
0:10:20 > 0:10:23'who's agreed to show me around.'
0:10:23 > 0:10:24And what do I need this for,
0:10:24 > 0:10:25- on the farm?- Erm...
0:10:25 > 0:10:28So, this just reduces any contamination risks of you
0:10:28 > 0:10:30bringing anything in from the outdoors.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33- It's a germ-free environment. - Germ-free environment, exactly.
0:10:33 > 0:10:37- Shall we go through to the fish farm?- Great. Here we go.
0:10:37 > 0:10:38'For the last four years,
0:10:38 > 0:10:43'Tom's been using a pioneering process called aquaponics.'
0:10:44 > 0:10:46Tom, what is aquaponics?
0:10:46 > 0:10:49It is the combination of two well-established farming practices.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52The first is fish farming, or aquaculture,
0:10:52 > 0:10:54and the second is hydroponics.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57'Hydroponics is a method where plants are grown in water
0:10:57 > 0:10:59'rather than soil.'
0:10:59 > 0:11:02What we do is we take the waste water from a fish farm,
0:11:02 > 0:11:04and we use that as a fertiliser in a hydroponics system
0:11:04 > 0:11:07where we grow salads and leafy herbs.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11And what is it about the fish waste that is so good for growing plants?
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Fish waste is extremely high in nitrogen, and it contains
0:11:14 > 0:11:16a lot of the essential nutrients a plant needs for its growth,
0:11:16 > 0:11:18and because it's already dissolved in the water,
0:11:18 > 0:11:22it means that we can easily use it as a fertiliser for the plants.
0:11:22 > 0:11:23So it's...
0:11:23 > 0:11:26It's the fish poo in the water that you're using to grow the plants.
0:11:26 > 0:11:27Exactly.
0:11:27 > 0:11:31'The waste water is then filtered to take out any contaminants
0:11:31 > 0:11:33'before being fed to the plants.'
0:11:33 > 0:11:36The great thing about this is that it's really replicating what
0:11:36 > 0:11:38happens in nature, so what may seem like quite an artificial system
0:11:38 > 0:11:41is really based on a very natural process.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43And aquaponics, is it relatively new?
0:11:43 > 0:11:46As we're looking at it here, it's fairly new.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49We're one of a few companies doing it on this sort of scale,
0:11:49 > 0:11:51and we really think it's got a large part to play
0:11:51 > 0:11:54in the future of food production.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58'Now the fish have done their bit, I'm keen to see what happens next.
0:11:58 > 0:11:59'When I heard I was spending the day at a farm,
0:11:59 > 0:12:02'I didn't think it would look like something out of
0:12:02 > 0:12:04'a science-fiction film.'
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Wow. Oh, my goodness.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09- Welcome to the farm. - MARGHERITA LAUGHS
0:12:09 > 0:12:11'Unlike a conventional farm,
0:12:11 > 0:12:14'here they have to provide everything their crops need.'
0:12:14 > 0:12:18So, we maintain it at a steady temperature throughout the day.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21We reduce that at night so the plants get their day and night.
0:12:21 > 0:12:23And you've used every last inch of this space.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26Cities aren't cheap, so we really have to make the most
0:12:26 > 0:12:28out of every square foot of the building.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31And, Tom, what are you actually growing in here?
0:12:31 > 0:12:32We grow a variety of leafy salads.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35These are pea shoots - the young leaves of a pea plant -
0:12:35 > 0:12:37it's one of our salad varieties,
0:12:37 > 0:12:41and we grow them in around two weeks from seed to harvest.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43And the great thing about this sort of environment is that
0:12:43 > 0:12:45that's two weeks, in the middle of December,
0:12:45 > 0:12:46but it's also two weeks in the middle of August,
0:12:46 > 0:12:47so it's always the same.
0:12:47 > 0:12:52So, these plants don't see sunlight or get any rain. It's...
0:12:52 > 0:12:55They're all grown indoors under artificial conditions.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58Correct. Our plants are grown in a very stable environment.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01They are put through very little stress.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03'There's one thing I haven't seen yet.'
0:13:03 > 0:13:05- The fish poo that we saw earlier... - Yeah?
0:13:05 > 0:13:07..how does that get into here? What happens?
0:13:07 > 0:13:09All right, let me show you.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11The waste is all fed to the root of the plants.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13So, if you look here,
0:13:13 > 0:13:16these plants are grown on a recycled carpet fabric.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18- This is old carpet? - This is old carpet.
0:13:18 > 0:13:20Why have you got...? You use carpet?
0:13:20 > 0:13:22Carpet is, you know, it's a recycled material.
0:13:22 > 0:13:27It provides everything the plant needs for its early stage of growth.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29So, here you can see the water comes up...
0:13:29 > 0:13:34- So, the seeds are soaking in this nutrient-rich water.- Exactly.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36'But, ultimately, when it comes to food,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39'the proof of the pudding - or rather the freshly-washed salad -
0:13:39 > 0:13:40'is in the eating,
0:13:40 > 0:13:42'so, what does it actually taste like?'
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Middle of winter, still snowing outside. What have we grown?
0:13:47 > 0:13:50First of all, we've got the pea shoots, then the sunflower shoots.
0:13:50 > 0:13:51There you go.
0:13:51 > 0:13:52OK...
0:13:52 > 0:13:54I don't think I've tried these before.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56It's literally like... The sunflower is the same plant.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Oh, there's a nutty kind of flavour to that.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01- It's delicious, isn't it? - Mmm. I like that one.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04'And not the slightest tang of fish poo.'
0:14:04 > 0:14:07- And then more familiar will probably be the watercress.- OK.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10- So, all grown aquaponically? - All of it.
0:14:10 > 0:14:11I'll just take a little...
0:14:16 > 0:14:18Oh, it's got a real kick to it.
0:14:18 > 0:14:19- Yeah, very peppery.- Real pepper...
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Well, now I've, sort of, had my hands in all these,
0:14:21 > 0:14:23I was just thinking maybe I could...
0:14:23 > 0:14:25It would be silly to throw them away, wouldn't it?
0:14:25 > 0:14:27You know, no-one else would want them now, would they?
0:14:27 > 0:14:28No. There you go.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32'Aquaponics is set to become big business in the UK,
0:14:32 > 0:14:36'and, amazingly, with the right kit, it's something you can do at home.
0:14:38 > 0:14:43'Specialist Vlad Petric has agreed to show me the ins and outs.'
0:14:43 > 0:14:45And what kind of fish have you got in this system?
0:14:45 > 0:14:47Tilapia, which is a warm-water fish,
0:14:47 > 0:14:49so it has to be kept at really high temperatures.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51It's more for indoor use.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53People generally start off with aquaculture,
0:14:53 > 0:14:56so, guys, they have an aquarium at home and have an interest in fish in
0:14:56 > 0:15:01general, and they want to step it up and have their herb garden as well.
0:15:01 > 0:15:06A system like this would cost around £600, but they do come smaller.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08Now, this looks simple enough.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10How much work I going to have to put in?
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Once it's up and running, you'll have to spend, maybe,
0:15:12 > 0:15:14five minutes to ten minutes a day,
0:15:14 > 0:15:17and do weekly maintenance that might take half an hour,
0:15:17 > 0:15:18and that's pretty much it.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20It's pretty simple and it's really enjoyable.
0:15:20 > 0:15:21You can also get the kids involved.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24You can start off as a complete beginner and do the basics,
0:15:24 > 0:15:27but then you can learn more, so it's a science as well as a hobby.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29So, is it that...that simple?
0:15:29 > 0:15:31- Fish food, regular cleaning...- Yeah.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35- ..and I've got herbs, salad... - To feed your whole family with.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37- ..year-round.- Yeah.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40It's amazing to think that putting your pet goldfish to work at home
0:15:40 > 0:15:42could help provide greens for your table.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46Good news, there, for lettuce-lovers.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49Now, from state-of-the-art to more traditional methods
0:15:49 > 0:15:52in the snowcapped Yorkshire Dales... COWS MOO
0:15:52 > 0:15:55..and a reminder that, although spring is around the corner,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58winter still has a sting in its tail.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00Adam braved the elements to find out how farming
0:16:00 > 0:16:04has influenced this breathtaking landscape.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07Every time I come here, I'm amazed at how different it is
0:16:07 > 0:16:09- from back home in the Cotswolds. - SHEEP BLEAT
0:16:09 > 0:16:12This scenery is classic Yorkshire Dales,
0:16:12 > 0:16:16and with the snow on the ground, it looks absolutely stunning.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18And dotted around down in the valley and up on the hills,
0:16:18 > 0:16:20you can see the odd sheep and cow,
0:16:20 > 0:16:23but they look very small in this huge landscape,
0:16:23 > 0:16:26and quite insignificant, but, actually, they've played
0:16:26 > 0:16:30a major role in shaping this land for thousands of years.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35Nothing is as natural as it appears.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38Farmers down the millennia have worked and made this land
0:16:38 > 0:16:40what it is today.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45Those early farmers must have found it pretty tough going up here.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48The landscape is hard and unforgiving,
0:16:48 > 0:16:51and the weather, at times, can be harsh and unpredictable,
0:16:51 > 0:16:53so shelter was essential.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57Just imagine what it must have been like for those prehistoric farmers
0:16:57 > 0:16:59when they came across this place.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Malham Cove -
0:17:06 > 0:17:08this natural limestone amphitheatre
0:17:08 > 0:17:10offered protection from the elements,
0:17:10 > 0:17:14somewhere to shelter from the ice and the snow.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17The survival of those early farmers would have depended on it.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23It's been described as one of the natural wonders of Britain.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29So, those early farmers had shelter.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33Apparently, evidence they were here is in the landscape all around us.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37To find out more, I'm meeting Miles Johnson -
0:17:37 > 0:17:42he's the archaeological adviser for the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45But how do we get a look at this evidence?
0:17:46 > 0:17:47We fly over it.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51DRONE BUZZES
0:17:51 > 0:17:55Our eye in the sky shows us more than just prehistoric remains -
0:17:55 > 0:17:58there are clear signs of medieval farming below.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01What can you see here, then, of some significance, Miles?
0:18:01 > 0:18:02If you look across,
0:18:02 > 0:18:05you can see that there's long lines running through the shot.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07- Yeah, those stripes.- That's right.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10Those are what we call cultivation terraces or lynchets.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14They are basically the remnants of the medieval farming landscape,
0:18:14 > 0:18:18and each of those terraces will represent a farmer's strip,
0:18:18 > 0:18:22and on that strip the farmer will have planted oats, or turnips,
0:18:22 > 0:18:24or swedes, or something like that.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27And now, you know, we just use it for grazing, don't we, up here?
0:18:27 > 0:18:30Exactly, and that's part of the beauty of it,
0:18:30 > 0:18:33in that, you know, the more recent pastoral management
0:18:33 > 0:18:36has preserved this wonderful older landscape.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44So, these acres have been farmed for millennia,
0:18:44 > 0:18:46and they're still being farmed.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49I'm joining my old mate Neil Heseltine.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51- COWS MOO - Neil farms a herd of native
0:18:51 > 0:18:54Belted Galloways, hardy cattle suited to this land.
0:18:57 > 0:18:58- Hi, Neil. - Hi, Adam. How are you doing?
0:18:58 > 0:19:00All right. I was told you were out with your cattle,
0:19:00 > 0:19:02- but it's quite a walk, isn't it? - It is.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04- You managed it all right, though. - I did, yeah.- Good.
0:19:04 > 0:19:06And the cattle seem to thrive up here.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08Yeah, we're really pleased with them, actually.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10You know, they obviously live up here all winter,
0:19:10 > 0:19:13and they're looking in good fettle at the moment.
0:19:13 > 0:19:15So, it's about grazing to suit the environment,
0:19:15 > 0:19:17- as well as looking after the cattle? - Yeah, it is.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20It's about getting this grass down so that the flowers are
0:19:20 > 0:19:22allowed to flower in spring and come through,
0:19:22 > 0:19:25and so the sward isn't dominated by grasses.
0:19:25 > 0:19:26We've got to move these to another field to,
0:19:26 > 0:19:28sort of, do the same thing there,
0:19:28 > 0:19:30so, if you want to give us a hand, that'd be great.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32You always get me working up here when I come and see you.
0:19:32 > 0:19:34Yeah, well, I know you do very little at home,
0:19:34 > 0:19:35so we'll put you to some work.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37Yeah, all right.
0:19:44 > 0:19:46Come on, girls.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48They're going along very nicely, aren't they?
0:19:48 > 0:19:50Yeah, well, they've been along the route a few times now,
0:19:50 > 0:19:52so they, kind of, know their way,
0:19:52 > 0:19:54and with a bike and trailer in front of them with a load of silage,
0:19:54 > 0:19:56they just follow their noses.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01These dry-stone walls are amazing -
0:20:01 > 0:20:03quite different to what we have in the Cotswolds.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06Yeah, I mean, obviously there's a plentiful supply of stone around,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09so they could make them as high as they wanted, really,
0:20:09 > 0:20:12and I think these roads would originally be, sort of,
0:20:12 > 0:20:14- built and enclosed for moving stock along, primarily...- Yeah.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16..and it's only probably in recent times that
0:20:16 > 0:20:19- they've become actual roads for cars.- Yeah.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21We've got to get them round this car. Is that a problem?
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Well, not really, as long as they get sided up, as we call it,
0:20:24 > 0:20:26as long as they get well in the side,
0:20:26 > 0:20:29and the cattle will get past OK as long as he turns his engine off,
0:20:29 > 0:20:30but, erm...
0:20:30 > 0:20:32They sometimes get a bit funny with us,
0:20:32 > 0:20:35but it's the cars that are impostors on the road, not the cows.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42COW MOOS
0:20:42 > 0:20:44So, are your cattle fed purely on grass,
0:20:44 > 0:20:47or do you feed grain and concentrate pellets to them?
0:20:47 > 0:20:50No, we... We've had them for about 12 years now,
0:20:50 > 0:20:52and we've never fed them any grain whatsoever.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55And is there a premium for that kind of meat?
0:20:55 > 0:20:57Well, yeah. We've actually...
0:20:57 > 0:20:58We've become approved suppliers of
0:20:58 > 0:21:00the Pasture-Fed Livestock Association,
0:21:00 > 0:21:03which deal entirely with mainly beef and lamb,
0:21:03 > 0:21:06which is all produced without any use of grain whatsoever.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09It's incredible, isn't it, when you think of the archaeology
0:21:09 > 0:21:11and some of the people have been here for thousands of years,
0:21:11 > 0:21:13producing meat that you're now doing today?
0:21:15 > 0:21:19'And just like those old farmers, we have to be ready for anything...'
0:21:19 > 0:21:21WIND BLOWS
0:21:21 > 0:21:23COWS MOO
0:21:23 > 0:21:26'..because nature has a tendency to bite back.
0:21:29 > 0:21:31'The blizzard comes out of nowhere.
0:21:33 > 0:21:38'The Belted Galloways just plough on, seemingly oblivious.
0:21:38 > 0:21:40'For Neil and I, it's not quite so easy,
0:21:40 > 0:21:42'and we soon fall behind the herd...
0:21:44 > 0:21:46'..but there's more trouble ahead.'
0:21:46 > 0:21:48SO, it looks like the last bit of the journey's going to
0:21:48 > 0:21:50be the hardest bit, Adam.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52How are we going to get this open?
0:21:52 > 0:21:54I think all we can do is dig it out, I think.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56- So, if you...- Is this is the field where they're going?
0:21:56 > 0:21:58Yeah, this is where we're going to finish up,
0:21:58 > 0:22:00so if you could just start digging that out, Adam...
0:22:00 > 0:22:02- ADAM LAUGHS - Yeah. Righto.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Give me the sunny Cotswolds any day.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08ADAM LAUGHS
0:22:08 > 0:22:10Keep going that way with it.
0:22:14 > 0:22:15I told you to bring a shovel.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17THEY LAUGH
0:22:21 > 0:22:23'With the gate finally open,
0:22:23 > 0:22:26we tempt the cattle through with some tasty silage.'
0:22:26 > 0:22:27Go on, girls!
0:22:27 > 0:22:30'When the snow melts, they'll get to work grazing,
0:22:30 > 0:22:32'keeping the grass short,
0:22:32 > 0:22:35'allowing wild flowers to burst through later in the spring.'
0:22:36 > 0:22:38So, this is their nice new home.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40Yeah, they'll be glad we brought them, won't they?
0:22:40 > 0:22:41It's horrible!
0:22:41 > 0:22:44And they're stood here as steady as rocks, whereas I'm freezing.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46Yeah, yeah, it comes back to that hardiness
0:22:46 > 0:22:47we were talking about before,
0:22:47 > 0:22:49and, you know, they're bred to do this...
0:22:49 > 0:22:52- Yeah.- ..so, hopefully, like I say, in the next couple of days
0:22:52 > 0:22:55we'll keep an eye on them, but they should be fine.
0:22:55 > 0:22:59'From earliest times, farmers have worked this countryside,
0:22:59 > 0:23:02'battling the elements, eking out a living,
0:23:02 > 0:23:06'but they've left their mark and continue to shape this land.'
0:23:13 > 0:23:17There's a sort of serenity to this winter landscape,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20but being outdoors can be inspirational
0:23:20 > 0:23:21even on a smaller scale.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23Gardens, for instance,
0:23:23 > 0:23:26can be at their colourful best in spring and summer,
0:23:26 > 0:23:30but even at this time of year they can offer some surprising riches,
0:23:30 > 0:23:33and Paul has been to a grand garden in Wiltshire
0:23:33 > 0:23:35to get some seasonal tips for all of us.
0:23:44 > 0:23:48It's nippy this morning, but wintertime really provides us
0:23:48 > 0:23:50with the opportunity to look at
0:23:50 > 0:23:53the areas of the garden that need working on,
0:23:53 > 0:23:55when it's bare-bones or exposed.
0:23:55 > 0:24:00Most of us want a garden that's pleasurable to look at and be in.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03In this area of the garden, on our front lawn,
0:24:03 > 0:24:05I'm really happy with it,
0:24:05 > 0:24:08because it gives us lovely splashes of greens and greys and silvers.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10It looks good all year round,
0:24:10 > 0:24:13but, when I turn here to this bank,
0:24:13 > 0:24:15I just don't know what to do with it.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19It looks a complete mess, so now I want to turn it into meadow grass,
0:24:19 > 0:24:23maybe wild flowers, or turn it into a border to add a splash of colour.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25I think it needs a splash of colour.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27So, that's my challenge, and I need some advice,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30because I haven't got a clue what to do or what to plant up.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34So, for winter planting tips,
0:24:34 > 0:24:37I'm going somewhere the kids and I love visiting.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43The Courts Garden is an attractive, seven-acre, formal garden,
0:24:43 > 0:24:47and it's something of a local gem, even in the heart of winter.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52The house dates back to the 18th century,
0:24:52 > 0:24:56but the grounds are heavily inspired by the Arts and Crafts style
0:24:56 > 0:24:59of English country garden from the early 20th century.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05It's a big job keeping the gardens looking their best all year round.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09For the last six years, Neil Carter has been part of the team
0:25:09 > 0:25:11bringing their skills to the job.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16I love these gardens, and we come here as a family quite a lot,
0:25:16 > 0:25:17all year round.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19Talk me through the layout and the design.
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Well, the garden itself is laid out in a series of rooms -
0:25:22 > 0:25:25both formally, with the use of hedges of varying heights,
0:25:25 > 0:25:28and informally, with the use of borders -
0:25:28 > 0:25:31and that means you can turn a corner
0:25:31 > 0:25:32and there's something new on every corner.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34Cos, I mean, it's quite exciting -
0:25:34 > 0:25:36you don't know what's going to happen next.
0:25:36 > 0:25:38And it's a garden designed by the owners,
0:25:38 > 0:25:40who really weren't horticulturalists.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43- Mm-hmm. - It's just the personal touch.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46And it's a privilege to work in a garden like this.
0:25:46 > 0:25:50This is just so beautiful, it really is.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53My garden pond's gone a bit wild. I'm a bit embarrassed by it.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55But plenty of people have got ponds -
0:25:55 > 0:25:57what should they be doing at this time of the year?
0:25:57 > 0:25:59At this time of the year, it's a good idea to get in there
0:25:59 > 0:26:00and clean it out.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02- Not too much. Leave some stuff in... - OK, OK.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04- ..cos all the wildlife is... - Elsewhere at the moment.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07- ..elsewhere. Yeah. - So it's a safe time to do it.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09So, what have you got planted up around it?
0:26:09 > 0:26:12Along both sides, we've got Iris sibirica, which is...
0:26:12 > 0:26:14Yeah, and irises like water, don't they?
0:26:14 > 0:26:15Irises do like water, yes.
0:26:15 > 0:26:19- They're very nice blue flowers in June.- Mm-hmm.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22And then, following those, there's Angels' Fishing Rods,
0:26:22 > 0:26:26- which have lovely, long, arching stems.- Oh, I know...
0:26:26 > 0:26:28Not a lot of colour this time of the year,
0:26:28 > 0:26:30but, boy, does that look good, that vista,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33when you look down there and you see the reflections,
0:26:33 > 0:26:35and it's just so calming, isn't it?
0:26:35 > 0:26:38It is, and you can plant around the pond for winter...
0:26:38 > 0:26:41- with winter interest that reflects within the pond.- Such as?
0:26:41 > 0:26:43- Dogwoods are a good...a good idea. - DOG BARKS
0:26:43 > 0:26:44Is that a shrub?
0:26:44 > 0:26:48- It's a shrub with colourful stems. - OK.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51'Great. Neil's green-fingered tips are just what I'm after,
0:26:51 > 0:26:54'but what can he suggest for a border?'
0:26:54 > 0:26:56Well, if you've got a bank, and you want, really,
0:26:56 > 0:26:59year-round interest, I would probably recommend periwinkles.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01- And what colour's that? - Blue.
0:27:01 > 0:27:02Blue. Brilliant.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04A solid blue like that, it'd be a streak of that -
0:27:04 > 0:27:06I think that'd look quite dynamic.
0:27:06 > 0:27:07When should I plant that up?
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Well, any time of year.
0:27:09 > 0:27:11The most economical way of planting a large bank like that
0:27:11 > 0:27:13- would be to buy plug plants. - OK.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15- You can get 200-300 plug plants... - Right.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18..and I would recommend planting them through a membrane.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20So, I have to scalp it and get rid of the grass.
0:27:20 > 0:27:21You will have to get rid of the grass. Yeah.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24OK, and what about maintenance? It's a hard area to get at.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26It doesn't need any maintenance. You...
0:27:26 > 0:27:29All the maintenance that'll be needed is keeping it on the banks,
0:27:29 > 0:27:31- so you'll probably have to move past it or clip...- Yeah.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33- ..clip the bottom of it. - Which we do anyway.- Yeah.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35I think it sounds brilliant. You've sold me on that idea.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37I can't wait to get started.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41Winter is the time when gardeners get ahead
0:27:41 > 0:27:43and prepare for the coming spring.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46Here at Courts Garden, they're getting things in order for
0:27:46 > 0:27:50when they open to the public later this month.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Neil's keen that we tackle the herbaceous borders
0:27:52 > 0:27:56and, over in this bed, there's a lot of plants that need dividing up.
0:27:58 > 0:27:59So, you're getting tight in?
0:27:59 > 0:28:01You are. You get right under it.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05The ground's really hard, isn't it, at this time of the year?
0:28:05 > 0:28:09Are you not frightened to, sort of, chop right in, right on it?
0:28:09 > 0:28:10Not really, no.
0:28:10 > 0:28:12- Do you want a hand on this side? - Yeah, go on.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16- You use two forks, then, to split it apart.- OK, I reckon we can do that.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19Yeah, and back-to-back.
0:28:19 > 0:28:20- Pop it in...- Yeah.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25..and prise them apart.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28- They are tough, but they split quite easy.- They are tough.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30As long as you've got the crown.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33So, we've managed to get four out of that one.
0:28:33 > 0:28:34- We have, yeah.- Yeah.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37If we were going to divide them further for planting into a pot,
0:28:37 > 0:28:40you could take that further or you could keep going.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42Gosh. Five out of one.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45- Shall we put them in a bucket and do some more?- Yeah.
0:28:48 > 0:28:51I love the sound of that crunch. It's rather satisfying.
0:28:51 > 0:28:55Gosh, it keeps you warm as well, at this time of the year.
0:28:55 > 0:28:56Ah...
0:28:57 > 0:29:00'Winter's not just about digging stuff up -
0:29:00 > 0:29:02'there's pruning to be done as well.
0:29:02 > 0:29:06'Neil has got some tips to ensure these roses look their best
0:29:06 > 0:29:08'later in the year.'
0:29:08 > 0:29:11A good, hard cut back. Don't be scared of it.
0:29:11 > 0:29:14No, don't be scared of it, and you prune them down to the first bud.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16- No more than an inch. - Yeah, OK. Yeah.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18And you just keep going.
0:29:18 > 0:29:21'Once they're pruned, you can leave the stems as they are.
0:29:21 > 0:29:25'On the other hand, you can try Neil's nifty little trick
0:29:25 > 0:29:27'with hazel poles and a ball of twine.'
0:29:27 > 0:29:30So, how will you start with this? What are you looking at?
0:29:30 > 0:29:34Well, you need to take the hazel, and you see, carefully, then?
0:29:34 > 0:29:37- OK. OK. Over your knee.- Cos there's nothing more frustrating than
0:29:37 > 0:29:39- getting to the end and it snaps. - And it snaps!
0:29:39 > 0:29:43So, yes, you've got to gently get it to bend.
0:29:43 > 0:29:47- OK, gently, and it becomes quite pliable.- Gently.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49'The poles are pushed down into the soil,
0:29:49 > 0:29:52'just a couple of inches at each end, to form an arch.'
0:29:52 > 0:29:54That's perfect. Nice and supple.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56- It is, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58'Once you're happy with your arches,
0:29:58 > 0:30:01'the pruned rose stems are tied in with twine.'
0:30:02 > 0:30:06It looks neat and tidy, and that's very quick as well,
0:30:06 > 0:30:09but I like the fact that you've created shapes that you
0:30:09 > 0:30:12wouldn't expect to see, and I'm going to give that a go.
0:30:12 > 0:30:16'These hazel supports will train the roses and, come summer,
0:30:16 > 0:30:19'they'll blossom into arches of colour.'
0:30:19 > 0:30:21Come back and see this in June, when it's in full bloom,
0:30:21 > 0:30:24- for the final effect. - Yeah. Yeah, I'll do that.
0:30:28 > 0:30:29If you want to do up your garden,
0:30:29 > 0:30:33I can definitely recommend visiting a place you love.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36You'll be amazed at what you see that can inspire you,
0:30:36 > 0:30:39even at this time of the year, in the heart of winter.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54As we come to the end of this year's Countryfile Winter Diaries,
0:30:54 > 0:30:58let's get a progress report on a remarkably bold project
0:30:58 > 0:31:00which is taking place right here,
0:31:00 > 0:31:03in the heart of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park,
0:31:03 > 0:31:05which has been our base for all this week.
0:31:08 > 0:31:12An enormous forest for the future is springing up all around me,
0:31:12 > 0:31:17thanks to the Forestry Commission, the RSPB, and the Woodland Trust.
0:31:17 > 0:31:228 million trees will eventually cover an area as large as Glasgow,
0:31:22 > 0:31:23but don't hold your breath -
0:31:23 > 0:31:27the estimated completion date is 2207.
0:31:27 > 0:31:29Countryfile was here eight years ago,
0:31:29 > 0:31:32shortly after the project was launched.
0:31:33 > 0:31:37Deforestation and overgrazing had destroyed many habitats
0:31:37 > 0:31:40vital to the survival of native species,
0:31:40 > 0:31:44but, by connecting adjacent areas of woodland, it was hoped that
0:31:44 > 0:31:48these habitats would be restored and wildlife would return.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51No easy task, as Katie Knapman discovered at the time,
0:31:51 > 0:31:55when she helped John Mulgrew of the Forestry Commission.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57And how many are you hoping to plant?
0:31:57 > 0:32:00Erm, this year, about 250,000 trees.
0:32:00 > 0:32:01Oh, so we've got quite a way to go.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03- We have a long way to go, yeah. - OK.
0:32:14 > 0:32:16'Now, in the depths of winter,
0:32:16 > 0:32:19'and almost a decade since we visited,
0:32:19 > 0:32:21'I can see lots and lots of saplings.'
0:32:22 > 0:32:24What a view, isn't it, eh?
0:32:24 > 0:32:27It's absolutely beautiful.
0:32:27 > 0:32:30'Project manager for the Great Trossachs Forest is Sue Morris,
0:32:30 > 0:32:33'and she's giving me an update.'
0:32:33 > 0:32:36And what a huge challenge everybody's taken on -
0:32:36 > 0:32:40I mean, 8 million trees in a forest the size of Glasgow.
0:32:40 > 0:32:41How's it going now?
0:32:41 > 0:32:45So, since you guys were here, we've planted 2 million trees.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48We've got areas that are naturally regenerating.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51We're working hard to tackle invasive species,
0:32:51 > 0:32:53and encouraging biodiversity,
0:32:53 > 0:32:56so we're ten years in, but it's a 200-year project, so...
0:32:56 > 0:32:57Going well so far, then?
0:32:57 > 0:33:00We've got a long way to go, but it's going well so far.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02- And here's just one of those trees. - Yeah.
0:33:02 > 0:33:03It's a birch, isn't it?
0:33:03 > 0:33:04It is a birch, yes.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07And as well as birch, what other trees are you planting?
0:33:07 > 0:33:12So, we're planting Scots pine, hawthorn, juniper,
0:33:12 > 0:33:15a lot of oak, ash, alder,
0:33:15 > 0:33:18a variety of species depending on what the soil
0:33:18 > 0:33:19- and what the aspect looks like. - A lot of...
0:33:19 > 0:33:22- A lot of traditional trees. - All native trees.
0:33:22 > 0:33:26'But recreating the ancient woodlands that once stood here is
0:33:26 > 0:33:30'not simply a matter of planting row upon row of saplings.'
0:33:30 > 0:33:31- When the project is finished... - Yeah.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33..it's not going to be all trees, though?
0:33:33 > 0:33:36It's not going to be, you know, the traditional forestry thing.
0:33:36 > 0:33:37It's going to be like this -
0:33:37 > 0:33:40this open mosaic of woodland and open habitats.
0:33:40 > 0:33:42But what about conifers?
0:33:42 > 0:33:44Because when people think of Scotland,
0:33:44 > 0:33:47they think of regimented rows of conifer trees.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49No, we're not planting conifers.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52We do have some remnants left, as you can see across the lochside,
0:33:52 > 0:33:55but they ultimately will come out. They will be felled.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57Red squirrels love conifers, don't they? What about them?
0:33:57 > 0:34:00- They do, and...- And you've got lots of red squirrels.- We do.
0:34:00 > 0:34:03We have... We have a very... We have a stronghold for red squirrels,
0:34:03 > 0:34:06so whilst creatures like that need their food,
0:34:06 > 0:34:10and whilst the young trees can't provide those seeds at the moment,
0:34:10 > 0:34:14we're retaining some conifers to enable the food source
0:34:14 > 0:34:17and the wider population to thrive.
0:34:17 > 0:34:21'Increased biodiversity is the overarching goal of the project,
0:34:21 > 0:34:25'and an unlikely creature has been lending a helping hoof.'
0:34:25 > 0:34:26We have Highland cattle.
0:34:26 > 0:34:30We have Luing cattle over on another part of the Great Trossachs Forest.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33They are used for different purposes. They break up the ground.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36They help push tree seeds into the ground,
0:34:36 > 0:34:38to encourage natural regeneration.
0:34:38 > 0:34:40They break up the bracken,
0:34:40 > 0:34:42which, then, the frost gets in and helps to kill the bracken,
0:34:42 > 0:34:45and then we also have this really important habitat,
0:34:45 > 0:34:50called wood pasture, which requires an element of grazing to create this
0:34:50 > 0:34:54habitat, so the cattle are key to us to deliver that habitat as well.
0:34:54 > 0:34:56'Well, it's still early days,
0:34:56 > 0:34:59'but there seems to be encouraging signs of life.'
0:34:59 > 0:35:00We monitor certain species,
0:35:00 > 0:35:03and there are certain species that we expected to come back.
0:35:03 > 0:35:04Black grouse is one of them.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07We've had a huge increase in the black grouse population,
0:35:07 > 0:35:09which, as a nationally declining population,
0:35:09 > 0:35:11- we were really pleased with.- Yeah.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15It's since stabilised because the black grouse need a woodland edge.
0:35:15 > 0:35:16They need moorland.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19They're very fussy, but they're beautiful creatures.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23'The mating ritual of the black grouse is something to behold.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25'The males perform an elaborate dance
0:35:25 > 0:35:28'on what's known as a lekking site.'
0:35:28 > 0:35:31These leks are popping up in new locations -
0:35:31 > 0:35:35as our woodland expands and the woodland edge moves, so do the leks,
0:35:35 > 0:35:38having these open glades, encouraging wild flowers
0:35:38 > 0:35:41and the understorey of woodlands to come back.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45So, only 6 million trees left to plant.
0:35:45 > 0:35:47Well, we've got quite a lot of them in.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51I think the regeneration will do most of that for us, so we...
0:35:51 > 0:35:53We've done the bulk of the planting now.
0:35:53 > 0:35:58I think now we need to wait and see what happens, so it's exciting.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01It is, and I think everybody in the world of conservationists
0:36:01 > 0:36:03is watching this with bated breath.
0:36:03 > 0:36:05Everybody wants to succeed, don't they?
0:36:05 > 0:36:08Absolutely, and it will - I'll make sure of it.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17The National Park is home to a wonderful array of wildlife,
0:36:17 > 0:36:21everything from deer and osprey to seals and porpoises,
0:36:21 > 0:36:25but there's one creature that Ellie always wanted to see in the wild,
0:36:25 > 0:36:27and she went further north,
0:36:27 > 0:36:29to the Uist Islands in the Outer Hebrides,
0:36:29 > 0:36:34to see how their community of otters are coping with the harsh winters.
0:36:43 > 0:36:47The islands here take on a different character in the winter.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49The last of the holiday-makers have gone
0:36:49 > 0:36:51and the wildlife reclaims the land.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59This footage was taken by our crew before I arrived,
0:36:59 > 0:37:01but they only managed to get a glimpse.
0:37:01 > 0:37:06Typical - I'm never in the right place at the right time.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08'So, I'm not taking any chances.
0:37:08 > 0:37:10'I'm joining Steve Duffield -
0:37:10 > 0:37:12'he's the Hebrides' top otter-spotter
0:37:12 > 0:37:15'and he knows the best places to look.'
0:37:15 > 0:37:17THEY LAUGH
0:37:17 > 0:37:20So, Steve, what are our chances of actually seeing otters today?
0:37:20 > 0:37:21Well, they're not bad.
0:37:21 > 0:37:25There's probably something like about 75%, 80% chance
0:37:25 > 0:37:27- of actually seeing one. - Mmm. I like those odds.
0:37:27 > 0:37:28A lot of it's to do with the timing.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30If you're there at the right time of day, with the tides
0:37:30 > 0:37:33either rising or falling, you've got a better chance than,
0:37:33 > 0:37:35say, if you were there at low tide, or at high tide.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37This is pretty much the bleak midwinter -
0:37:37 > 0:37:39how come this season is good for them?
0:37:39 > 0:37:41The weather's much harsher at this time of year.
0:37:41 > 0:37:43It's cold, and so they actually have to feed more,
0:37:43 > 0:37:45so they're actually active for much longer periods.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48- So, it gives us a better chance of seeing them, then?- Yeah, absolutely.
0:37:48 > 0:37:49- Yeah.- Hmm, let's hope so.
0:37:54 > 0:37:57'We need to track down these elusive creatures,
0:37:57 > 0:37:59'so Steve and I are looking for telltale signs -
0:37:59 > 0:38:02'their poo, or spraints as they're called.
0:38:02 > 0:38:04'Mmm, nice(!)'
0:38:05 > 0:38:07So this is a great patch here.
0:38:07 > 0:38:09You can see that there's loads of signs around here that
0:38:09 > 0:38:11- otters have been using it. - Oh, yeah.
0:38:11 > 0:38:14You see that it's all flattened but lots of spraints as well.
0:38:14 > 0:38:15See that?
0:38:15 > 0:38:17That's incredibly fresh there.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20Oh! So fresh it's a bit too wet to pick up.
0:38:20 > 0:38:22- Still wet, yeah.- How delicious.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25- There are spraints all over this. - There are, yeah.
0:38:25 > 0:38:28If you actually smell that, it's not that...
0:38:28 > 0:38:29It's not a bad smell!
0:38:29 > 0:38:30No, it's not horrendous.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33But once you know what it is, it puts you off.
0:38:33 > 0:38:34THEY LAUGH
0:38:34 > 0:38:36Sort of mushroomy, would that be right?
0:38:36 > 0:38:38Actually, I've never thought of it like that but, yeah,
0:38:38 > 0:38:42I would say that, yeah. It's sort of a slightly fishy, musky smell.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45Not something you'd obviously make a perfume out of.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48- You wouldn't hurry to do that. - But it's not unpleasant.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51Well, you know, they could be watching us right now.
0:38:51 > 0:38:52From a distance!
0:38:52 > 0:38:55Yeah, watching us poke around in their poo.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57Yeah! "Weirdos."
0:38:57 > 0:38:59It's very green here, you see,
0:38:59 > 0:39:02compared with all the area around it and it's almost definitely
0:39:02 > 0:39:05because the otters have used this area for a long time
0:39:05 > 0:39:09and they've been sprainting here, so they've actually enriched the area.
0:39:09 > 0:39:12This is why it looks so bright green compared to the rest of the place.
0:39:12 > 0:39:14- It's been fertilising it. - It has, absolutely, yeah.
0:39:14 > 0:39:17It's a good location but there's an even better one just over here.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19Oh, great. We'll take a look.
0:39:23 > 0:39:27So there's solid evidence that they've been here recently.
0:39:27 > 0:39:29Now all I need is an eagle eye to see one.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32- Is this a good spot? - This is an excellent spot, yeah.
0:39:32 > 0:39:36We've actually been seeing otters here throughout the summer.
0:39:36 > 0:39:37There's actually been a family,
0:39:37 > 0:39:40two youngsters and a female, using this area.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42It's a cracking place for them
0:39:42 > 0:39:46and a good place to stay for a while and scour the area.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49You've got a good vista all the way around across...
0:39:49 > 0:39:53Yeah, that's right and they do use all of this area as well.
0:39:53 > 0:39:54- OK, a big range.- Yeah.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04They could turn up virtually anywhere in this bay.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06So far all I can see is the odd heron.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15- A bit of a waiting game, isn't it, Steve?- It is, yeah.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19It's a long time coming, but right on cue...
0:40:19 > 0:40:21There's one, just up, just over there.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23You see, if you look up the left-hand side of the island
0:40:23 > 0:40:26then towards the seaweed, there's one just...
0:40:26 > 0:40:28Oh, yes!
0:40:28 > 0:40:30Fantastic.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32I've never seen an otter in broad daylight before.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34This is amazing.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38Yeah, there it is, right-hand side, coming down this side of the island.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40Oh, yes.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44You can see it roll. If you have a look in the telescope, Ellie,
0:40:44 > 0:40:48- it was just rolling in the seaweed there.- Part of its grooming process?
0:40:48 > 0:40:50Yeah. It's really important
0:40:50 > 0:40:54that they maintain the quality of their fur
0:40:54 > 0:40:57and they're actually a freshwater creature
0:40:57 > 0:41:00but it's using the marine environment to its advantage
0:41:00 > 0:41:02because there's more food in here
0:41:02 > 0:41:05but they do have to sort of maintain their coat,
0:41:05 > 0:41:07so they can't let it get matted up with salt water.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11- They'll have to return to freshwater to actually wash...- To clean off?
0:41:11 > 0:41:13- To clean off, yeah.- Oh, right.
0:41:13 > 0:41:16- Hello, heading off. - It's going up the rock, yeah.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18The tail's amazing, isn't it?
0:41:18 > 0:41:20You see that, the way it's stiffened its tail there?
0:41:20 > 0:41:23- Yeah.- That's sprainting at that moment.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25You see, it's just got a very stiff tail
0:41:25 > 0:41:28so it's leaving a scent marking there for the other otters.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32I honestly didn't think we were going to see one today.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34That was quite a waiting game.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37I know. It often is that way
0:41:37 > 0:41:42and you often have a feeling that there's nothing here at all.
0:41:42 > 0:41:44It just takes time, really,
0:41:44 > 0:41:47but if you're patient, you will eventually see them.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50And for the next hour,
0:41:50 > 0:41:54these amazing creatures frolicked in the sea right in front of me.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56It felt like my own personal show.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59- All the water coming out of their fur.- It's got a fish!
0:42:09 > 0:42:13The Uists are about the best place in the UK to go otter spotting
0:42:13 > 0:42:15and thanks to Steve, I've realised
0:42:15 > 0:42:17one of my lifelong ambitions, to see them.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33One just popped up, it's got another fish.
0:42:35 > 0:42:36Successful day today.
0:42:40 > 0:42:41Oh, that's amazing.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53And that's all we've got time for from our Winter Diaries.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56It's been a real pleasure to celebrate the season here
0:42:56 > 0:43:00in the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park,
0:43:00 > 0:43:03but we'll be back soon with Countryfile: Spring Diaries
0:43:03 > 0:43:07and we hope that you will be watching. Until then, goodbye.