0:00:02 > 0:00:05The days may be some of the shortest in the year,
0:00:05 > 0:00:07and the hours are the darkest,
0:00:07 > 0:00:09but winter casts its own special spell.
0:00:11 > 0:00:16A time to embrace the magic of our wonderful British landscape...
0:00:18 > 0:00:20..be captivated by our wildlife...
0:00:22 > 0:00:24..and enjoy the bracing great outdoors.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32The season may be beautiful, but winter's not without its problems.
0:00:33 > 0:00:37All week we're travelling the length and breadth of the UK...
0:00:37 > 0:00:39Is island life hard?
0:00:39 > 0:00:42It's hard, yeah, yeah, but I wouldn't change it for the world.
0:00:42 > 0:00:46..bringing the very best seasonal stories that matter to you.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49Some people would say, why don't you put the heating on at home?
0:00:49 > 0:00:50Cos we can't afford it.
0:00:50 > 0:00:52The cost is astronomical.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57A warm welcome to Countryfile Winter Diaries.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09And here's what we've got for you on today's programme.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15Top of everyone's Christmas wish list - a puppy.
0:01:15 > 0:01:19But Keeley's finding out why it can be a dirty business.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22You must be absolutely sickened by some of the things that you get to see.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25We've seen dogs ankle-deep in their own faeces.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27You don't forget the smell in a hurry.
0:01:27 > 0:01:32And she discovers how you can avoid being duped by the puppy smugglers.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35Steve welcomes a newcomer to our skies which could revolutionise
0:01:35 > 0:01:37flight safety for us all.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40You really can see that falcon-shaped silhouette now,
0:01:40 > 0:01:42can't you, now it's up in the air?
0:01:43 > 0:01:47And I'll be finding out how we can help our British garden wildlife
0:01:47 > 0:01:48combat a tough winter.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01We're spending all week here on Anglesey,
0:02:01 > 0:02:03the biggest island in Wales,
0:02:03 > 0:02:05and one of the most stunning in Britain.
0:02:06 > 0:02:11Spread across 276 square miles, and with majestic Snowdonia
0:02:11 > 0:02:13as a spectacular backdrop,
0:02:13 > 0:02:16it's a winter wonderland from hilltop to coast.
0:02:16 > 0:02:20No wonder almost two million of us visit it every year.
0:02:21 > 0:02:26Its surrounding waters are a haven for wildlife, including dolphins.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31And, after an absence of 20 years, otters are back on the island.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35And Anglesey boasts rich farmland.
0:02:35 > 0:02:40In the Middle Ages, it was known as Mam Cymru - mother of Wales -
0:02:40 > 0:02:43as its fertile fields were the breadbasket for the northern part
0:02:43 > 0:02:44of the country.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48It's long been the gateway to the Irish Sea,
0:02:48 > 0:02:51and that's where we look to our first story.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55We Brits are famously a nation of dog lovers,
0:02:55 > 0:02:59with a puppy at the top of many a Christmas wish list.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01But our demand is driving a massive trade,
0:03:01 > 0:03:04a trade which is both cruel and illegal.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07Trafficked puppies are often so ill and weak,
0:03:07 > 0:03:09they're virtually living under a death sentence.
0:03:09 > 0:03:12Keeley has been in Northern Ireland,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14meeting animal welfare investigators
0:03:14 > 0:03:17determined to put a stop to the puppy smugglers.
0:03:22 > 0:03:23Good boy.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26Today, almost a quarter of homes have a dog.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30That's about eight and a half million of our canine friends
0:03:30 > 0:03:31across the UK.
0:03:31 > 0:03:34And the love and loyalty they give us is priceless.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38But there's big money to be made from the growing demand
0:03:38 > 0:03:40for the most sought-after breeds.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43And unfortunately more and more criminals are cashing in,
0:03:43 > 0:03:47breeding puppies in huge numbers, keeping them in terrible conditions,
0:03:47 > 0:03:49and without the vital health checks.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52Well, I've come to Northern Ireland, which is one of the main routes for
0:03:52 > 0:03:55smuggling dogs from outside the UK on to the mainland.
0:03:55 > 0:03:56Come on.
0:03:58 > 0:04:00Because of its soft border with the Republic,
0:04:00 > 0:04:03Northern Ireland has become the perfect rat run
0:04:03 > 0:04:06through which these poor puppies are trafficked.
0:04:08 > 0:04:13As pets, dogs bring many of us huge joy and happiness.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16With them, we have some of our best friendships, and it's often said
0:04:16 > 0:04:19they're the glue that bind families together.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23But do you ever think about where people buy their puppies?
0:04:23 > 0:04:28From trendy pugs and French Bulldogs to Game Of Thrones-style huskies,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31our increasing demand for fashionable breeds
0:04:31 > 0:04:34is driving a cruel and illegal trade.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38Worth up to £300 million in the UK alone,
0:04:38 > 0:04:43it's almost as profitable as smuggling arms and drugs.
0:04:43 > 0:04:44Things are now so bad
0:04:44 > 0:04:48that animal welfare charities and other agencies are
0:04:48 > 0:04:50cracking down with undercover operations
0:04:50 > 0:04:53and raids on suspected puppy farms.
0:04:53 > 0:04:57This animal welfare investigator, who must remain anonymous,
0:04:57 > 0:05:01is one of many trying to break this shameful smuggling network.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04You must be absolutely sickened by some of the things
0:05:04 > 0:05:06- that you get to see on a regular basis.- We are,
0:05:06 > 0:05:09because the pups' health is a very important factor in this.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12These pups have been bred, a lot of them, in horrendous conditions.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14The animals' welfare doesn't come into it.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17It's minimum input for maximum output.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19- I mean, what you see here... - Oh, my goodness.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22..are some of the most horrendous conditions that we've come across.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26We've seen dogs ankle-deep in their own faeces.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29And then this picture, you can see that a carcass of an animal has been
0:05:29 > 0:05:31thrown into the pen for them all to feast off.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33Ugh, it makes me feel cold inside.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36It makes me feel sick. These are future family pets.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39I mean, people would have no idea this is how their family pet
0:05:39 > 0:05:41- would start out their life.- No.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43Oh, goodness.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45I mean, it doesn't get much worse than that.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47A dead rat in a food bowl.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50I mean, these conditions are just squalid, aren't they?
0:05:50 > 0:05:52- They are.- Oh! Look at them, as well.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54You don't forget the smell in a hurry.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58It's thought a staggering 88% of puppies in the UK
0:05:58 > 0:06:00are born to unlicensed breeders.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04And quick as we are to snap them up, especially at Christmas,
0:06:04 > 0:06:07sadly, we are just as quick to get bored with them.
0:06:07 > 0:06:12According to the RSPCA, one dog was abandoned every hour in England and
0:06:12 > 0:06:15Wales over last year's festivities.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18One of these particular dogs was eventually rescued.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22Its coat was completely stained with urine.
0:06:22 > 0:06:23And it took nearly two years
0:06:23 > 0:06:27for the yellow staining to come out of the dog's skin and coat.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30And how do dogs go on to be, kind of, healthy animals
0:06:30 > 0:06:33after starting their life in such an awful way?
0:06:33 > 0:06:35Unfortunately a lot of them don't.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39Once these people receive their puppies, it's been washed and given
0:06:39 > 0:06:42the makeover it needs to make it look attractive to the buyer.
0:06:42 > 0:06:44These are hardened criminals, aren't they?
0:06:44 > 0:06:48Yes, they are. A lot of people have moved away from things
0:06:48 > 0:06:50like the drugs trade.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52It's a lot safer to get caught with a load of pups in the boot of
0:06:52 > 0:06:54your car than a load of cocaine.
0:06:54 > 0:06:58But some of the profits are equally as attractive.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02If this is up there with the smuggling of arms and drugs,
0:07:02 > 0:07:05should similar sentences, similar penalties, be handed out?
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Yeah. I mean, we've got some of the best animal welfare legislation
0:07:08 > 0:07:10there is, in this country,
0:07:10 > 0:07:13but I think we just need to see a precedent being set,
0:07:13 > 0:07:15and somebody being sent to prison.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17We want to see the end of battery farming of dogs,
0:07:17 > 0:07:19for want of a better word.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23At the moment, these battery farmers
0:07:23 > 0:07:26can expect a maximum of six months in jail,
0:07:26 > 0:07:28a fine and a ban on owning animals.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32Not nearly enough, say campaigners, for a trade thought to be
0:07:32 > 0:07:35the third-most profitable organised crime in Europe,
0:07:35 > 0:07:37after drugs and guns.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Big bucks worth big risks.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43I mean, these are notoriously difficult people to follow.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45They change their patterns every day.
0:07:45 > 0:07:46They use different vehicles.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49They change their telephone numbers daily.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52So what do you think is fuelling this trade?
0:07:52 > 0:07:56I think, if we look at the online sale of pets,
0:07:56 > 0:07:58that has really boosted this industry.
0:07:59 > 0:08:01So what can we do to help investigators
0:08:01 > 0:08:03stop this harrowing trade?
0:08:03 > 0:08:05Later I'll be hearing from a vet
0:08:05 > 0:08:08about how to be sure we're buying from the right breeder.
0:08:08 > 0:08:10Reputable breeders will want to talk to you,
0:08:10 > 0:08:13they'll want to know what your purpose is with the pup.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16Come and have a chat with us and we can then lead them down the road of
0:08:16 > 0:08:18looking for the signs of health.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21I'll also be meeting a dog owner who was caught out.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24He was up all night coughing.
0:08:24 > 0:08:29Not really sleeping. There was blood every time he went to the toilet.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31And I sat and I cried and I cried.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35I've brought a dog home and he is so ill, he could potentially die.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42It's a shocking trade, and we will be back with Keeley soon
0:08:42 > 0:08:44to find out how we can all fight back.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Anglesey has a proud aviation history.
0:08:52 > 0:08:57100 years ago, the RAF had an airship station here, RAF Mona.
0:08:57 > 0:08:59And during the First World War,
0:08:59 > 0:09:02its giants of the sky were used to escort ships
0:09:02 > 0:09:06and patrol for enemy submarines in the middle of the Irish Sea.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12We've come a long way since then, and today the island is home to
0:09:12 > 0:09:15RAF pilots training to be top guns in something a little faster.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20But for most of us, flying in the winter only happens if we're lucky
0:09:20 > 0:09:23enough to be jetting off to the sunshine.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27Every day there are 7,500 planes in the skies above Britain,
0:09:27 > 0:09:31but if there's one thing aircraft don't like, it's birds.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35During the cold weather, some, like crows and starlings,
0:09:35 > 0:09:37gather in flocks.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40And it's not good news if they're near an airfield.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43At worst, they can take a plane down.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47And at best, well, they can cause of millions of pounds' worth of damage.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49But now, there's a newcomer in the skies
0:09:49 > 0:09:52that could get rid of the threat in one fell swoop.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56In a Countryfile Winter Diaries exclusive, Steve investigates.
0:10:05 > 0:10:09I'm at Southampton International Airport with Dan Townsend.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11He's the man tasked with making sure
0:10:11 > 0:10:13that these airfields stay bird-free
0:10:13 > 0:10:17so that two million passengers can safely take off and land.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21With around 117 flights in and out a day,
0:10:21 > 0:10:24you would think that, for birds, this place would be
0:10:24 > 0:10:26a hostile environment. But for some reason,
0:10:26 > 0:10:30birds like gulls, crows and pigeons seem to come here in flocks.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33I've seen some of the different species that you've got here -
0:10:33 > 0:10:36what do you do to stop them coming in in the first place?
0:10:36 > 0:10:38We spend a lot of time, a lot of money and a lot of expertise,
0:10:38 > 0:10:40a lot of science, to be honest,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43making sure that everything you see here prevents the birds from wanting
0:10:43 > 0:10:45- to be here in the first place. - Why have you got to get rid of the birds?
0:10:45 > 0:10:49There've been some high-profile cases like the Hudson River in America,
0:10:49 > 0:10:52where birds and planes do come together and the obvious consequences.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55We try and do everything we can to avoid anything like that ever happening.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57It's relentless, isn't it? This isn't something you do twice a day.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59All the time we're open, we have a bird patrol.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02A vehicle like this, armed with all the gadgets and bells and
0:11:02 > 0:11:05whistles we have, is out patrolling the airfield all the time,
0:11:05 > 0:11:08making sure that we use all of our means to scare the birds off.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Traditionally, airports have several methods of bird control
0:11:11 > 0:11:15at their disposal. So, what's this down here, for example?
0:11:15 > 0:11:17This is called our digi-scare.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20It's going to make a loud noise. It won't scare you, hopefully,
0:11:20 > 0:11:22- but it will scare the birds. - It might do.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24It's going to be for a gull. SQUAWKING
0:11:24 > 0:11:27That's a distress call for a seagull. So we put that out and that will...
0:11:27 > 0:11:29The birds will hear it and go in the opposite direction.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31I'll do another one. Black-headed gulls, for example.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33I'll do that for you now. DIFFERENT SQUAWK
0:11:33 > 0:11:36You can change it to different species. Different noises depending on the bird.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38It works really, really well.
0:11:38 > 0:11:40As well as a range of distress calls,
0:11:40 > 0:11:43Dan's got a whole arsenal of deterrents.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47Hand-held lasers and a flare gun that I'm keen to see in action.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54And that's it. There we go. And the birds going in the opposite direction, so, pretty easy.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56- Simple but effective. - Yeah.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01But there's a newcomer on the scene
0:12:01 > 0:12:04and it might just solve Dan's avian problems once and for all.
0:12:05 > 0:12:07It looks like a falcon
0:12:07 > 0:12:09and it flies like a falcon...
0:12:10 > 0:12:11..but what actually is it?
0:12:13 > 0:12:15Designed to rid airports, croplands
0:12:15 > 0:12:17and waste dumps of those pesky birds,
0:12:17 > 0:12:19this is Robird.
0:12:19 > 0:12:25Its Dutch inventor, Nico Nijenhuis, is going to introduce us.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27- Nico.- Here we are, Steve. - Nice to see you.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29So, wow, this is Robird, is it?
0:12:29 > 0:12:31- This is it.- It looks so real.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34Yeah, it does. It looks really like a real falcon.
0:12:34 > 0:12:35It's about the same size.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37It's about the same weight, as well.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39It weighs 750g,
0:12:39 > 0:12:41so we do everything to make it as realistic as we can.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43Why did you choose a falcon, Nico?
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Because falcons can be found anywhere on the planet
0:12:46 > 0:12:48except for the Arctic regions.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51So we can use one design anywhere we have to operate.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57Robird is a remotely controlled robot that has been cleverly designed
0:12:57 > 0:12:59to mimic the flight patterns of a falcon.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01In this case, a peregrine falcon.
0:13:04 > 0:13:06Peregrines are one of our most common falcons.
0:13:06 > 0:13:08They thrive in wide-open spaces
0:13:08 > 0:13:11and are just as much at home in cities
0:13:11 > 0:13:13as they are on cliffs and coastlines.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18Diving after prey at speeds of up to 200mph,
0:13:18 > 0:13:22they're the fastest flying birds in the world
0:13:22 > 0:13:26and one of the few that has the manoeuvrability to outpace and catch a pigeon in mid-air.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29And does it work?
0:13:29 > 0:13:32I mean, today I've seen crows and gulls and pigeons.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35- Will it scare them all off? - It works fantastically well.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39It's the combination of silhouette and movement that triggers the instinct
0:13:39 > 0:13:43of other birds to think that it's real and so they start responding as if
0:13:43 > 0:13:46it's real. And that means that in projects that we do,
0:13:46 > 0:13:50we typically have a 90% reduction in bird populations.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53And once they go, do they come back?
0:13:53 > 0:13:56What you're doing biologically is you're increasing the predation pressure
0:13:56 > 0:14:00in the area. So you're showing predatorial activity,
0:14:00 > 0:14:03it's actively on the hunt. And birds don't want to be
0:14:03 > 0:14:05in an area where there's a chance of them getting
0:14:05 > 0:14:07killed by their natural enemy.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09But why do you need it?
0:14:09 > 0:14:11You've already got the sirens and the sounds.
0:14:11 > 0:14:12You've got the lasers.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16You've got big silver birds, the planes coming in every two minutes,
0:14:16 > 0:14:17surely they scare them off?
0:14:17 > 0:14:20All of that stuff is what we call short-term means.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22So they startle the birds,
0:14:22 > 0:14:26they may scare the birds a little bit because the birds find that
0:14:26 > 0:14:29annoying. They habituate to a lot of things very quickly
0:14:29 > 0:14:32if it doesn't trigger their instinct towards a predator.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35This is the stuff that, evolutionary, they are scared of.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39If it looks like a predator, if it moves like a predator,
0:14:39 > 0:14:41it IS a predator, and they need to get out of the way
0:14:41 > 0:14:43because they don't want to get killed.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46So, since 2011, now, if you don't mind me saying,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49you could have hatched a chick, reared it,
0:14:49 > 0:14:52taught it to fly around the airports, scaring off pigeons -
0:14:52 > 0:14:54wouldn't that have just been easier?
0:14:54 > 0:14:56You could have, you could have indeed, indeed.
0:14:56 > 0:14:59But working with live animals is very difficult.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02And especially because once they're in the air, once you let them hunt,
0:15:02 > 0:15:03there is no control any more.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06So you might want to chase a bird over here
0:15:06 > 0:15:09but if it sees the prey over there that it likes better, it's off.
0:15:09 > 0:15:14And in some cases, that means that you're causing danger to the airport
0:15:14 > 0:15:17because you're adding a flying animal in that you can't control.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20So, you're thinking for it, you are the bird-brain?
0:15:20 > 0:15:22We are the bird-brain.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26We're flying it. The regulations still oblige us to actually do that.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28But in the long term,
0:15:28 > 0:15:31and I'm talking about a period of between five and ten years,
0:15:31 > 0:15:33you can imagine that everything will become autonomous.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36The bird itself will get its own little brain.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40So we're taking the human out of the loop and really turning this, well,
0:15:40 > 0:15:44into a falcon. Well, let's get some clearance and let's get flying.
0:15:44 > 0:15:45Come on, then. The dream team.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48There you go, guys.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52Just like a real aircraft, Robird has to ask permission for take-off.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56Robird 1, holding BRP 2-0. request to enter the runway, please.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00After pre-flight checks, it's doors to automatic.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05And despite all its hi-tech software, the launch is, well,
0:16:05 > 0:16:07really rather simple.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12Look at that.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Within minutes, this phoney falcon is seeing off some gulls.
0:16:23 > 0:16:26You really can see that falcon-shaped silhouette now,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29can't you, now it's up in the air? And look at it fly into the wind,
0:16:29 > 0:16:32- it's almost like a kestrel. - Yeah, yeah.
0:16:32 > 0:16:33Robird is essentially a drone.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36And flying a drone anywhere near an airport is illegal.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41So, it's taken the team months of planning with Southampton
0:16:41 > 0:16:45to develop special rules that allow Robird to operate safely
0:16:45 > 0:16:47on a commercial airfield.
0:16:47 > 0:16:51It's a radical exercise that's the first of its kind in Europe.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55I came down a little bit sceptical, but look at it.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58It does work like a bird of prey should.
0:16:58 > 0:16:59Look, there's no birds.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02There's no birds. I'm happy we convinced you.
0:17:11 > 0:17:16Anglesey is one of a handful of bastions dedicated to safeguarding
0:17:16 > 0:17:18one of our best-loved creatures -
0:17:18 > 0:17:19the red squirrel.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23Back in the 1970s, numbers were threatened by their archenemy,
0:17:23 > 0:17:24the grey squirrel.
0:17:24 > 0:17:27It's thought some may have hopped across one of the two bridges
0:17:27 > 0:17:29over the Menai Strait.
0:17:29 > 0:17:34Some think they might even have swum the three-quarters of a mile from the mainland.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39Now, back then, there were fewer than 40 adults,
0:17:39 > 0:17:41but thanks to control measures on squirrels,
0:17:41 > 0:17:44nesting boxes and even crossing points,
0:17:44 > 0:17:47it's thought the population across the island is now around 700.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51And here at the Dingle Nature Reserve is a great place
0:17:51 > 0:17:53to try and spot them.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57They are beautiful, if somewhat elusive creatures.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00But they do make a mark on Anglesey.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03There's one there, look. Look at that, wagging his tail.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07Two of them. That is an absolute joy.
0:18:07 > 0:18:08But sadly, there are now fears
0:18:08 > 0:18:11that a deadly virus could be attacking them,
0:18:11 > 0:18:13so there is a battle on to keep them healthy.
0:18:15 > 0:18:17Squirrels aren't the only ones that need our help.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20For some of our favourite garden wildlife,
0:18:20 > 0:18:22plummeting winter temperatures can be lethal.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24But Paul's on the case,
0:18:24 > 0:18:25finding out what we can all do
0:18:25 > 0:18:28to help keep our birds and animals alive.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32The chirpy little robin is one of our favourite
0:18:32 > 0:18:34feathered winter garden visitors.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37No heavier than a couple of AA batteries.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41On cold nights, he can lose up to 10% of his body weight.
0:18:43 > 0:18:48Robins were just some of the victims of the infamous big freeze of 1962.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51That winter, temperatures plummeted to below minus-20
0:18:51 > 0:18:56and claimed the lives of more than half of our British birds.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00Today it's nowhere near as cold, but wildlife still has a tough battle
0:19:00 > 0:19:03to survive during the colder months of the year.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06I'm here to meet wildlife saviour Kate MacRae,
0:19:06 > 0:19:09who's going to show us how we can turn our gardens
0:19:09 > 0:19:11into a winter sanctuary.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17Kate's garden in the West Midlands is the epitome of a winter wildlife
0:19:17 > 0:19:21refuge, brimming with ingenious shelters and sanctuaries.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23All under 24-hour surveillance.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27Today, she's busy in her kitchen,
0:19:27 > 0:19:30preparing tasty rations for her winter visitors.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33- Hi, Kate.- Hi, nice to meet you. - I see you're busy at it.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36- I am indeed, yes. - So what's in there?
0:19:36 > 0:19:40OK, so we're making some high-energy fat balls today.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44Once we get to the winter months, all the natural foods are really
0:19:44 > 0:19:47diminished, so the birds are needing to keep their energy levels up,
0:19:47 > 0:19:49particularly when it gets really cold.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51So things like this become essential.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54And it's using lots of things that you may have around the house
0:19:54 > 0:19:57- or in the kitchen.- OK, scraps. - Yes, exactly, like, you know,
0:19:57 > 0:20:00you may have some fruit in your fruit bowl that's gone a bit weird.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03- Wrinkly, yeah, a bit bruised. - You may think it isn't
0:20:03 > 0:20:05what you want to eat, but perfect for the birds.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08We've all got to the bottom of the cereal packets, you know.
0:20:08 > 0:20:10- A few crumbs.- It's got a bit stale.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12There are some old oats I've got here,
0:20:12 > 0:20:15so I actually soak them first of all so...
0:20:15 > 0:20:19- Oh, I see, it's like porridge.- Yeah, so it's like porridge we can mix in.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21- And...- That looks like traditional birdseed.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24Exactly, I've added some traditional birdseed.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27So the kind of things you might have in your kitchen that possibly
0:20:27 > 0:20:29you're going to throw out.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32Using softened lard to bind all these ingredients together,
0:20:32 > 0:20:38the mixture is then patted into balls to be placed in bird feeders.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40And I often use something as simple as this.
0:20:40 > 0:20:44- A whisk.- Yeah, you can buy them really cheaply in bargain stores
0:20:44 > 0:20:46and then you can just fit the fat ball in there
0:20:46 > 0:20:49- and then just hang it up. - That's a really good idea.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52- Simple.- That is brilliant and that's probably cheaper than a bird feeder
0:20:52 > 0:20:55- from a garden centre. - Oh, most definitely,
0:20:55 > 0:20:56and a great activity to do with the kids.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59Once done, a short stint in the fridge,
0:20:59 > 0:21:00and it's time to grab our coats.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05Kate is confident these fat balls will go down a treat
0:21:05 > 0:21:08with blue tits and blackcaps.
0:21:08 > 0:21:11OK, so I've already got a whisk down here.
0:21:11 > 0:21:14- I've got mine.- So we're going to go and hang these fat balls we've made,
0:21:14 > 0:21:19so you can just stretch the little bits apart, squeeze it in.
0:21:19 > 0:21:21So do you want to put one into your whisk?
0:21:22 > 0:21:24- Isn't that clever?- Nice and simple.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26Yeah, look at that, hey presto.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30What makes a good bird feeder, apart from a whisk?
0:21:30 > 0:21:33I always think of a bird-feeding station a bit like a restaurant.
0:21:33 > 0:21:36If you were opening a restaurant and you just fed one food,
0:21:36 > 0:21:38you'd only attract one kind of visitor.
0:21:38 > 0:21:41- That's true, yeah.- But if you have lots of different kinds of feeders,
0:21:41 > 0:21:44feeding lots of different kinds of food,
0:21:44 > 0:21:46you're likely to attract more and more visitors,
0:21:46 > 0:21:50so maybe one that feeds seed, maybe one that feeds peanuts,
0:21:50 > 0:21:52and one that feeds a fatball-based product.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55That is a brilliant use of a whisk.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58- Ten out of ten for that.- Thank you. - Any other clever ideas?- Well,
0:21:58 > 0:22:01to tell you the truth, I'm always on the lookout for things that I
0:22:01 > 0:22:04can use to make a different feeder, and I found two others.
0:22:04 > 0:22:09One is a ladle, and one is little sieve. They make perfect feeders.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12- Brilliant.- And the little sieves are even better,
0:22:12 > 0:22:15because of course the water can drain out from underneath those.
0:22:15 > 0:22:18And do certain types of food, different ingredients,
0:22:18 > 0:22:20attract different species?
0:22:20 > 0:22:22Sunflower hearts are the gourmet food.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24Everything loves those.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28The husk is already taken off, there are an easy, quick meal,
0:22:28 > 0:22:32and then certain seeds like the nyjer seed, which is from the thistle,
0:22:32 > 0:22:34very tiny seed, the goldfinches love that.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Don't forget, in the winter they are geared up to looking for food.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39If they come in and find that,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42what they do is then they are likely to tell their mates and you may have
0:22:42 > 0:22:45one goldfinch, and the next day you will have three, then you have five,
0:22:45 > 0:22:47- then you'll have ten if you're lucky.- Yeah.
0:22:49 > 0:22:54And one bird feeder in Kate's garden is more hi-tech than all the rest.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57It's like something out of Grand Designs.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00A very big landing platform, which is ideal.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03It's got a roof. It keeps the food dry.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05But look at this, it's dog-proof,
0:23:05 > 0:23:08cat-proof, rat-proof, squirrel-proof.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12Nothing can get up there with this hard piece of plastic.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14You just cannot get over that.
0:23:14 > 0:23:17Back in the autumn, I adopted some hedgehogs,
0:23:17 > 0:23:20which are now deep in hibernation, and, like me,
0:23:20 > 0:23:22Kate has put down a nest box
0:23:22 > 0:23:25in a quiet corner of her garden to help these
0:23:25 > 0:23:28gentle little creatures at this vulnerable time of the year.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32Water is incredibly important for winter garden visitors
0:23:32 > 0:23:36and today she is creating the perfect watering hole.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38All you need is an old tyre.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41So the first thing we need to do is decide location.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43- Yeah.- So I don't want it right in the middle,
0:23:43 > 0:23:45because they won't feel safe,
0:23:45 > 0:23:48so quite close to some kind of vegetation.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52- Yeah, a hedgerow.- They can hide. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, like a corridor for them.
0:23:52 > 0:23:53Make sure the tyre is level..
0:23:55 > 0:23:58..before filling it with soil to the required depth.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00Think about what you want yours for.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03Is it a bit deeper for maybe frogs to move in,
0:24:03 > 0:24:05because they will move into this smaller space.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08I'm wanting it for drinking and bathing,
0:24:08 > 0:24:10so I'm going to make it quite a gradual slope, like that.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13- Yeah.- OK, that looks perfect.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15Next, place a tarpaulin on top.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18We make sure there's enough of an overlap,
0:24:18 > 0:24:21even when that's going to be full of water.
0:24:21 > 0:24:23Trim it to the desired size.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26And now, do you want me to put more earth around here?
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Yeah, so what we're going to do is now build up a nice slope.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32- OK.- Not only good for wildlife to get in and out then,
0:24:32 > 0:24:35but also we can plant that then, to make it look really natural.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38Brilliant, good idea, that's a really good idea.
0:24:38 > 0:24:43Once the bank is established, it's finally time to add the water.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45- It's a bit like a volcano, isn't it? - It is, yeah.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49- Now that is about full. - Indeed.- That's brilliant.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51Do you know what? My kids would love to do this.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53I'm sure any kid would love to play with water and mud.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55Yeah, exactly.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57You're creating not a volcano,
0:24:57 > 0:25:00but really something that the wildlife will enjoy.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04Of course, make sure you put it somewhere
0:25:04 > 0:25:06where the kids can't fall in.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09Kate had her idea for a waterhole two years ago,
0:25:09 > 0:25:13and that one now fits in perfectly in its natural landscape.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17- So you can see, a few ferns and ivy. - Yeah, as nature intended it.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Rotten logs. And you'd never know there was a tyre in there.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23No, and of course you've got some tips about the freezing weather.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Indeed. So you can either just put a little something that floats,
0:25:26 > 0:25:29- like a little ping pong ball.- Table tennis ball.- Anything like that,
0:25:29 > 0:25:32that just moves around and keeps the water open.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35But to tell you the truth, it's so small, you can usually just get your
0:25:35 > 0:25:37finger under the ice, pull it out and top it up.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39- I'm going to copy that.- Excellent.
0:25:41 > 0:25:44In fact, all of Kate's ideas are really easy to achieve
0:25:44 > 0:25:48and I can't wait to get back to my garden to put them into practice.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52So there you are, a few simple tricks to keep the wildlife happy
0:25:52 > 0:25:54in your garden this winter.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04Well, some terrific ideas there
0:26:04 > 0:26:07to give nature a helping hand in your back garden.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11But of course there are some animals that are perfectly designed
0:26:11 > 0:26:14to survive the winter cold, especially in Scotland.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18So here's our guide to the UK's top five winter toughies.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24700 or so miles north of Anglesey,
0:26:24 > 0:26:28you'll find the toughest of ponies in the Shetland Isles.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31One of the earliest domesticated breeds,
0:26:31 > 0:26:34the Shetland pony stands just over three feet high.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39Small, yet robust.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42Its winter survival secret is all down to a double coat
0:26:42 > 0:26:44which has guard hairs to shed rain and snow.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50One of the best places to visit at this time of year is Britain's
0:26:50 > 0:26:52biggest national park, the Cairngorms.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56These mountains are home to some plucky Arctic specialists...
0:26:58 > 0:27:01..like our only free-grazing reindeer.
0:27:01 > 0:27:04They can withstand temperatures close to minus-20,
0:27:04 > 0:27:06thanks to extra insulating fur
0:27:06 > 0:27:09from the tips of their noses to the bottom of their feet...
0:27:11 > 0:27:14..while their hooves double up as shovels to shift the snow
0:27:14 > 0:27:15and get to the food beneath.
0:27:20 > 0:27:25The ptarmigan shares these mountains and some similar survival tactics.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29The only British bird to turn white in winter,
0:27:29 > 0:27:32its head-to-toe dense plumage provides the perfect insulation.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36As well as the Scottish Highlands,
0:27:36 > 0:27:39head to the Peak District to find the mountain hare
0:27:39 > 0:27:41that also goes white in winter.
0:27:42 > 0:27:46Ideal camouflage, it's also thought the lack of melanin,
0:27:46 > 0:27:49which is responsible for coloured hair, means more air spaces,
0:27:49 > 0:27:51which trap heat.
0:27:51 > 0:27:56And last but by no means least, the grey seal,
0:27:56 > 0:27:58found all around our British coastline.
0:28:01 > 0:28:05Born in winter, these guys are braced for the worst.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08A lavish layer of blubber that can be inches thick
0:28:08 > 0:28:11acts as a vital central heating system.
0:28:12 > 0:28:14It's the ideal insulation
0:28:14 > 0:28:17and my excuse for any winter overindulgence.
0:28:21 > 0:28:23Well, if you think those animals are tough,
0:28:23 > 0:28:26spare a thought for our crops.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29And perhaps chief among our vegetable winter hit parade
0:28:29 > 0:28:31is this, the leek.
0:28:31 > 0:28:35I love them because you can harvest them for seven months
0:28:35 > 0:28:37from the early autumn and they're really good at withstanding
0:28:37 > 0:28:39even the harshest of winters.
0:28:39 > 0:28:42No surprise that they're really popular amongst allotment holders
0:28:42 > 0:28:44here on Anglesey. And, of course,
0:28:44 > 0:28:47well, they're the national emblem of Wales.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51But the humble carrot actually is pretty hardy, too.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53Although, as Matt discovered in Suffolk,
0:28:53 > 0:28:55sometimes they can need a helping hand.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02Across Britain, our hardiest vegetables
0:29:02 > 0:29:04stubbornly stand their ground
0:29:04 > 0:29:07against the worst that our winter weather can throw at them.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15Thick-skinned celeriacs.
0:29:16 > 0:29:17Bulletproof brussels.
0:29:19 > 0:29:20Cast-iron caulis.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27These tough nuts of the vegetable world know how to look after themselves.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30And they keep Britain's larder well stocked until spring.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35Perfect for coping with the cold
0:29:35 > 0:29:39are the root vegetables like carrots...
0:29:39 > 0:29:40..and swede.
0:29:42 > 0:29:46Underground, the heat of the sun lingers longer than on top,
0:29:46 > 0:29:48while the soil provides protection against frost.
0:29:49 > 0:29:54On the Suffolk coast, Ian Hall grows both carrots and parsnips.
0:29:54 > 0:29:58Well, this variety is Eskimo and we grow them...
0:29:58 > 0:30:01- That's massive, isn't it? - Just really this time of year.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04Right, OK. And as the name suggests, then, it's good for the winter,
0:30:04 > 0:30:07- Eskimo.- Yeah, it's got a little bit more frost tolerance
0:30:07 > 0:30:11- than traditional varieties. - How cold can they go?
0:30:11 > 0:30:13Up to about minus-7.
0:30:13 > 0:30:17- OK.- If you get any colder than that for any prolonged period, you'll get
0:30:17 > 0:30:21- splits down the carrot.- So these Sunday roast staples can withstand
0:30:21 > 0:30:24sub-zero temperatures, but the carrot needs
0:30:24 > 0:30:27a little more mollycoddling when winter really bites.
0:30:27 > 0:30:33So Ian snuggles them up under a duvet of straw and plastic.
0:30:33 > 0:30:34If you look under there...
0:30:34 > 0:30:37- Yeah.- You'll see, these have been strawed about three weeks.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39And once we get to midwinter,
0:30:39 > 0:30:42you can experience temperatures of minus-10, minus-15.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45So the straw will keep that frost out.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47I see, yep. You're not stingy, are you,
0:30:47 > 0:30:49- with the amount of straw you put on? - No.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52We put about 20 tonne an acre of straw on.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55- Wow.- Which, you know, can...
0:30:55 > 0:30:57will keep out up to a minus-20 frost.
0:30:57 > 0:30:59Looks quite cosy under there, doesn't it?
0:31:00 > 0:31:03Just get under there, hunker down under the straw.
0:31:04 > 0:31:05There were a few spare, though.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08So, time for a seasonal musical interlude.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10RECORDERLIKE WHISTLING
0:31:13 > 0:31:15On carrots, Tim Cranmore!
0:31:21 > 0:31:22And Clare Graham.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29Soloing on the butternut squash, it's Zebedee Tonkin.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37THEY PLAY COUNTRYFILE THEME
0:31:37 > 0:31:40These professional musicians have taken the idea of five a day
0:31:40 > 0:31:45to a whole new level. They've formed the London Vegetable Orchestra.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48I'm going to be making up the quartet with my Eskimo carrot.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53How tremendous. The Countryfile theme tune.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55How wonderful to see you all.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58Now, I have to ask the obvious question - why?
0:31:58 > 0:32:02Why, how and when did this all start, Zeb?
0:32:02 > 0:32:05I think why... The question's really why not?!
0:32:05 > 0:32:08You know, kids are told not to play with their food,
0:32:08 > 0:32:10so we're trying to change things up a little bit.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13I think playing with your food can mean more than just throwing it
0:32:13 > 0:32:15around. So we decided to make some instruments out of it.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18Yours is half carrot, half butternut squash.
0:32:18 > 0:32:19Exactly, yeah, it's a mix and match.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22So we've got a mouthpiece which is pretty much the same as a brass
0:32:22 > 0:32:24instrument mouthpiece.
0:32:24 > 0:32:27And we stick that on the end of this, which acts in the same way
0:32:27 > 0:32:30as a trumpet would to a mouthpiece, amplifies the sound.
0:32:31 > 0:32:32Brilliant.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38Tim Cranmore's a professional recorder maker.
0:32:38 > 0:32:40He's going to help me fashion my carrot
0:32:40 > 0:32:42to join this vegetable medley.
0:32:43 > 0:32:46The exact recipe for a carrot recorder
0:32:46 > 0:32:49is a closely guarded secret that I've promised to keep a lid on.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53So, we've got the body of the carrot.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55We've got the bore, which is the hole down the middle.
0:32:55 > 0:32:56And we've got the window bit.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00Everyone's hungry to hear the vegetable entertainment
0:33:00 > 0:33:03with their newest member on recorder.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07Can I introduce you all to this afternoon's entertainment?
0:33:07 > 0:33:10This is the London Vegetable Orchestra.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13Tonight, there's going to be one extra vegetable.
0:33:13 > 0:33:19That's me. And this is our rendition of Build Me Up Butternut.
0:33:20 > 0:33:22Are we ready? Ready, everyone.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27Sorry. Ready. I'm ready now.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31Stop laughing.
0:33:33 > 0:33:36THEY PLAY BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP
0:34:08 > 0:34:11Look at that! Thank you ever so much for that heartfelt applause.
0:34:11 > 0:34:14It's been wonderful. Music has never tasted so good.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25Now, earlier, Keeley was in Northern Ireland
0:34:25 > 0:34:27revealing the horrors of puppy farming.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30Northern Ireland has a real battle on its hands because of its
0:34:30 > 0:34:33porous border with the neighbouring Republic,
0:34:33 > 0:34:36dubbed the puppy farming capital of Europe.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38Ports like Belfast have become a real rat run
0:34:38 > 0:34:41through which many of these poor dogs are trafficked
0:34:41 > 0:34:43on their way to the rest of Britain.
0:34:43 > 0:34:45But of course, we all love dogs,
0:34:45 > 0:34:48so how can we be sure that we don't fall victim to the criminals
0:34:48 > 0:34:51and end up lining their pockets? Well, Keeley has been finding out.
0:35:01 > 0:35:06Over 1.5 million people pass through Belfast Ferry Port every year,
0:35:06 > 0:35:11and with 1,200 passengers and 650 vehicles on every ferry,
0:35:11 > 0:35:14searching for hidden dogs is a real challenge.
0:35:16 > 0:35:20As many as 40,000 puppies are thought to be farmed and trafficked
0:35:20 > 0:35:24into the UK every year from the Republic of Ireland alone.
0:35:25 > 0:35:27They can be hidden anywhere.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30These pups, some just six weeks old,
0:35:30 > 0:35:34were tucked behind hay bales in the back of a lorry searched at Holyhead
0:35:34 > 0:35:35in Anglesey.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40They had no ventilation, no food, no water.
0:35:42 > 0:35:44Here in Belfast, DAERA,
0:35:44 > 0:35:48the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs,
0:35:48 > 0:35:51is taking a tough line, along with ferry operators.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54Are you looking for any kind of warning signs?
0:35:54 > 0:35:56Well, basically, whenever they're checked at security,
0:35:56 > 0:35:59some of the puppies are just coming in the back of a car,
0:35:59 > 0:36:01so it doesn't look as if there's anything wrong.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04And then the ones that are really trying to do things differently are
0:36:04 > 0:36:06coming in, maybe, articulated lorries,
0:36:06 > 0:36:09within, sort of, containers. So sometimes it's very difficult
0:36:09 > 0:36:11to detect that it's actually illegal.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14Your team must have seen some pretty horrid things.
0:36:14 > 0:36:16Well, we've had a situation where the customer knew
0:36:16 > 0:36:19that the authorities wanted them, and they discarded
0:36:19 > 0:36:21their little pups on the side of the road,
0:36:21 > 0:36:23that were found dead. And this was in Scotland.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25It is extremely tragic.
0:36:25 > 0:36:27You're obviously very passionate about this.
0:36:27 > 0:36:29Do you think enough is being done?
0:36:29 > 0:36:30We need legislation change.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33It's not illegal to take puppies across the water.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36The fines that are put on these people, they're not worth it.
0:36:36 > 0:36:38These people can then sell more puppies,
0:36:38 > 0:36:40cover those fines within a couple of weeks.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44It's totally ridiculous. It's not being taken seriously enough.
0:36:44 > 0:36:45Perhaps there should be prison sentences.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47It needs to be stopped.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51This year, laws are set to change,
0:36:51 > 0:36:55including jail sentences up from six months to up to five years,
0:36:55 > 0:36:59a ban on selling more than three litters of puppies a year
0:36:59 > 0:37:03and a stop to pups being sold younger than eight weeks old.
0:37:03 > 0:37:04To travel overseas,
0:37:04 > 0:37:07dogs should have passports showing they've been microchipped,
0:37:07 > 0:37:10vaccinated against rabies and treated for tapeworm.
0:37:10 > 0:37:12The smugglers don't have the pet passports.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14They're not looking after the animals.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17In fact, at times they're being treated, you know, really badly,
0:37:17 > 0:37:20in awful conditions. That's the problem, isn't it?
0:37:20 > 0:37:21Oh, very much so.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24And anybody that cares about any type of animal will really,
0:37:24 > 0:37:26really step up to this.
0:37:26 > 0:37:28And we really need the public to look, to see what they're doing,
0:37:28 > 0:37:30because they are supporting it.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33They are purchasing these puppies.
0:37:33 > 0:37:35They are lining these people's pockets with the money
0:37:35 > 0:37:38to help them to continue. So it has to stop.
0:37:38 > 0:37:42So the public need to help us, and that's where the cry is from me.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47We may be a nation of dog lovers but the truth is
0:37:47 > 0:37:50that nearly nine out of ten puppies in the UK
0:37:50 > 0:37:52come from illegal breeders.
0:37:52 > 0:37:54And many of them are bought online.
0:37:55 > 0:38:01Natalie from County Londonderry fell victim to their irresistible ads.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04She paid £260 for Bowie
0:38:04 > 0:38:07from a seller claiming to be a private owner,
0:38:07 > 0:38:11but just days after bringing her puppy home, there were problems.
0:38:11 > 0:38:15When we got him home, it was that night, we was up all night coughing.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18And then back and forth to his bed, but not really sleeping.
0:38:18 > 0:38:22There was blood every time he went to the toilet.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25And it was then we realised this is a bit more than...
0:38:25 > 0:38:28..coming home for the first time nerves.
0:38:28 > 0:38:29And what did the vet say?
0:38:29 > 0:38:31We were told there's a very, very strong chance,
0:38:31 > 0:38:34with all the symptoms added up, it would have been parvo,
0:38:34 > 0:38:37it's a disease that can kill dogs.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39But it was the kind of thing where...
0:38:39 > 0:38:41..it was more antibiotics.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44It was double-strength worming.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47You think, getting the dog is the expensive bit, but it's not.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50It's the vet bills. And we were out two vet bills in one day.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52It's not just the money, though, is it?
0:38:52 > 0:38:54No. It was literally like my worst nightmare.
0:38:54 > 0:38:56And you just feel so guilty.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00I sat and I cried and I cried and I cried
0:39:00 > 0:39:02cos I felt like the most horrible person.
0:39:02 > 0:39:06Like, I've brought a dog home and he is so ill,
0:39:06 > 0:39:07he could potentially die.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09Do you regret getting him?
0:39:09 > 0:39:11Nope. I don't regret buying him.
0:39:11 > 0:39:15I just feel guilty about the mistakes I made
0:39:15 > 0:39:17in the process of buying a dog.
0:39:17 > 0:39:22You can understand why Natalie loves Bowie, but she's paying the price.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24Apart from the vets' bills,
0:39:24 > 0:39:28there's £80 a month for specialist food for the rest of his life.
0:39:30 > 0:39:31So, how can you be sure
0:39:31 > 0:39:35you're getting the real deal and not a rogue pup?
0:39:35 > 0:39:37Here's vet Deirdre Totten.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40So what should people be looking out for in terms of how the puppy should
0:39:40 > 0:39:42look when they go to look at them?
0:39:42 > 0:39:45For the signs of health, have they got nice, clean eyes,
0:39:45 > 0:39:49and for the skin to be just like here, nice and soft and fluffy.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51Not a dull coat.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53And no signs of any skin conditions and so on.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56This adorable little puppy is NOT from a puppy farm
0:39:56 > 0:39:59and, right now, she's having a bit of a snooze.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03But when you get your puppy, be sure it's bouncy, sociable and active.
0:40:05 > 0:40:07And what kind of questions should people be asking?
0:40:07 > 0:40:10Reputable breeders will want to talk to you, they'll want to know
0:40:10 > 0:40:13what your purpose is with the pup. Why you want to buy it.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15They want to know it's going to a good home, as well.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18- Yeah.- But the key questions you should be asking are, you know,
0:40:18 > 0:40:21have they been sick lately, has there been any vomit or diarrhoea?
0:40:21 > 0:40:24Have they been to the vet for their health check?
0:40:24 > 0:40:26Have they been wormed, have they been vaccinated?
0:40:26 > 0:40:29Also, have they been microchipped, as well? They should be willing
0:40:29 > 0:40:32to let you come and see the mother and the father of the litter.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34And the puppy should still be with the litter? With Mum?
0:40:34 > 0:40:37They're normally kept with the litter up to about eight weeks.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40What we encourage people to do is, if they're wanting to get a puppy,
0:40:40 > 0:40:43come and have a chat with us and we can then lead them down the road of
0:40:43 > 0:40:47looking for the signs of health and where to get their puppies.
0:40:47 > 0:40:50It's really important to check the breeder's documents.
0:40:50 > 0:40:54Many of these unlicensed breeders cheat the paperwork,
0:40:54 > 0:40:56as our undercover investigator reveals.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59Here, we've got a vaccination record.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01A real certificate will have the vet's signature,
0:41:01 > 0:41:04and the practice stamp.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07If it were done by a proper vet, or supervised by a proper vet,
0:41:07 > 0:41:10there'd be two sets of vaccination stickers here,
0:41:10 > 0:41:13there'd be a microchip number. The dog in question,
0:41:13 > 0:41:16that this certificate belongs to, was born a female,
0:41:16 > 0:41:18but it actually says here, male.
0:41:19 > 0:41:21If you're thinking of getting a puppy,
0:41:21 > 0:41:25the Kennel Club lists reputable breeders in your area.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27And Deirdre recommends the new puppy contract
0:41:27 > 0:41:31developed by the RSPCA and Animal Welfare Foundation,
0:41:31 > 0:41:34which details how your pup has been bred and raised.
0:41:34 > 0:41:38So it's kind of like a contract that's legally binding, then.
0:41:38 > 0:41:40So anyone who's not a licensed breeder would be rumbled
0:41:40 > 0:41:42by this amount of information.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45I mean, to give these kinds of details, wouldn't they?
0:41:45 > 0:41:47Anyone that's puppy farming wouldn't be interested
0:41:47 > 0:41:49in filling this in. You'll probably scare them off.
0:41:49 > 0:41:53So, to be absolutely sure you're getting a top dog legally,
0:41:53 > 0:41:56here's a reminder of the main points.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05Check with the Kennel Club for reputable breeders in your area.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10Make sure you see your puppy's mum or dad.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13Examine your puppy's eyes, skin and coat,
0:42:13 > 0:42:15and make sure they're clear and shiny.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19We can all help put an end to the illegal puppy trade.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22If you're thinking of buying one of these,
0:42:22 > 0:42:24make sure you ask those difficult questions,
0:42:24 > 0:42:26so you don't end up buying from an unlicensed breeder.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29Because if you do, you'll be supporting the smugglers,
0:42:29 > 0:42:31and helping put puppies' lives at risk.
0:42:35 > 0:42:39Let's do everything we can to stop this terrible trade.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43But in the meantime, do join us again tomorrow
0:42:43 > 0:42:46for more Countryfile Winter Diaries, when...
0:42:46 > 0:42:48Paul goes on a mission to show us
0:42:48 > 0:42:51why our beautiful forests are in danger.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53This is what this fungus does,
0:42:53 > 0:42:55it attacks the needles, and once it's established here,
0:42:55 > 0:42:57you won't get rid of it.
0:42:58 > 0:43:02Margherita files a report on how the bitter weather can be a killer.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06How does the cold and winter affect your health?
0:43:06 > 0:43:10Last year, it was five times that I was in hospital.
0:43:10 > 0:43:13And I'll be showing you what it takes to survive winter
0:43:13 > 0:43:14on a remote island.
0:43:16 > 0:43:18So until then, goodbye.