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.
0:00:12 > 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.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37All week, we're travelling the length and breadth of the UK...
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Optimistic about the state of our forests?
0:00:40 > 0:00:44The big threat these days is disease from different parts of the world.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49..bringing the very best seasonal stories that matter to you.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52When we have a particular disease or condition,
0:00:52 > 0:00:56that changes our odour and the dog can identify the disease by
0:00:56 > 0:00:57this change.
0:00:58 > 0:01:01A warm welcome to Countryfile Winter Diaries.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13And here's what we've got for you on today's programme.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15In a Countryfile Winter Diaries exclusive,
0:01:15 > 0:01:18I discover how Olympic sailing legend Sir Ben Ainslie
0:01:18 > 0:01:20is fighting to clean up our seas.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23It's really disheartening to be out there in a beautiful
0:01:23 > 0:01:26ocean, middle of nowhere, and you're coming across
0:01:26 > 0:01:28this wasteland of plastic.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31And how a simple bin is revolutionising the battle.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33That's incredible, to think that's just a few hours.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37I'll be revealing how wearing wellies
0:01:37 > 0:01:39could be affecting your feet.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43And Keeley finds out why surfing is good for body and soul.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46- So, are you going to look after me out there?- That's right!
0:01:46 > 0:01:47Yippee!
0:01:52 > 0:01:54We're spending all week here on Anglesey,
0:01:54 > 0:01:56the largest island in Wales,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59and it's as beautiful at this time of year as it is at any other,
0:01:59 > 0:02:04not least up here on Parys Mountain, with its astonishing palette of
0:02:04 > 0:02:07colours. It's also a brilliant place for a winter's walk.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11But, what's the first thing you reach for when you're heading outdoors?
0:02:11 > 0:02:13Well, if you're anything like me, it's your wellies.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Mine are always at the ready by the back door
0:02:16 > 0:02:19and I suspect most of yours are, too.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25From walking the dog to doing the garden, sploshing around in puddles,
0:02:25 > 0:02:28or as the height of fashion at festivals,
0:02:28 > 0:02:30wellies are our go-to footwear,
0:02:30 > 0:02:33but are we wearing the right ones and could they be doing us more harm
0:02:33 > 0:02:36than good? Well, Margherita has been stepping out
0:02:36 > 0:02:39in the Peak District to see what we can all learn
0:02:39 > 0:02:43from a group of footsore boot wearers who practically live
0:02:43 > 0:02:45in their wellies - farmers.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54The beautiful Derbyshire Dales are home to the town of Bakewell.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58Every week there's a livestock market
0:02:58 > 0:03:00where farmers come to sell their animals.
0:03:01 > 0:03:03But, as well as trading cattle,
0:03:03 > 0:03:06some have a more pressing reason for their trip.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11Farmers can spend up to nine hours a day in their wellies.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15So it's not surprising that there's one health condition that's really
0:03:15 > 0:03:16putting the boot in.
0:03:18 > 0:03:23To that end, the NHS have had the bright idea of setting up a clinic
0:03:23 > 0:03:25just outside the auction room.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27It's a walk-in centre for farmers,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30and podiatrist Sally Clark is expecting a busy day.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34Hi, Sally, can I come in?
0:03:34 > 0:03:36- Morning.- Good to see you.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38- Hello.- So, farmers' feet.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40Tell me, what is the state of farmers' feet?
0:03:40 > 0:03:42Oh, my goodness. We treat a whole range of conditions.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45Farmers damage their feet when they're working.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49Very often been trodden on at different times and they've got
0:03:49 > 0:03:51joint problems and tendon and ligament problems
0:03:51 > 0:03:54from the footwear that they've been wearing in their work.
0:03:56 > 0:04:01Farmers are on their feet for long hours each day, and for many years.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03With such demanding working conditions,
0:04:03 > 0:04:06having the right footwear is essential.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Wellies seem to be one of the tools of the trade when it comes to being
0:04:09 > 0:04:11a farmer but I understand that podiatrists
0:04:11 > 0:04:12are not too keen on them.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15The problems with having a Wellington on
0:04:15 > 0:04:17are that it's a waterproof boot.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20And because of that, it keeps the moisture in as well as keeping
0:04:20 > 0:04:25the moisture out. So they tend to be prone to athlete's foot and fungal
0:04:25 > 0:04:26infections of the skin.
0:04:26 > 0:04:30We would much prefer them to wear a really well-fitting leather boot
0:04:30 > 0:04:34with a bit of support in it than wearing a Wellington.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36So, if you don't have the support in a welly,
0:04:36 > 0:04:38what problems would that give you, as well?
0:04:38 > 0:04:40Well, it can cause structural changes in the foot.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42Where the ligaments don't hold the foot in a good position,
0:04:42 > 0:04:45you can develop corns and calluses as well as
0:04:45 > 0:04:48muscular strains and injuries.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52And do you think they would get their feet checked out if you
0:04:52 > 0:04:55- weren't here?- Well, that was the initial concern, really,
0:04:55 > 0:04:58that they weren't accessing health care as they should.
0:04:58 > 0:05:01They were too busy. And so we brought the clinic out here into
0:05:01 > 0:05:04- the farmers' market.- And the auction is so noisy.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06- In the auction.- But this is just the start of the day.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09This isn't even noisy yet. No, it will get worse!
0:05:12 > 0:05:16Within seconds of opening, the clinic has a customer.
0:05:17 > 0:05:19Morning! Come on in.
0:05:19 > 0:05:2374-year-old Doug Heathgood is one of Sally's regulars.
0:05:23 > 0:05:24Come and have a seat.
0:05:26 > 0:05:29He's a local beef farmer who's been coming to the clinic for respite
0:05:29 > 0:05:30from a painful corn.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34Today he's suffering from a tender toenail.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38There's also some fungal damage on your nails.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41And that's part of what the white discolouration is on those nails.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45It's something that often happens in welly wearers.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48Next, Sally tackles Doug's ongoing corn.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52They don't have to be very big to cause quite a lot of discomfort.
0:05:52 > 0:05:56It doesn't actually have a nerve in it so it can be quite painless,
0:05:56 > 0:05:57really, to have that treated.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00That now feels soft instead of feeling very hard.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02You're going to leave with some very handsome feet, I think.
0:06:02 > 0:06:03I hope so!
0:06:06 > 0:06:08Next up, it's Andrew Edge.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10Do you want to have a seat and we'll have a look at what the problems are
0:06:10 > 0:06:12- today?- Take me wellies off?
0:06:12 > 0:06:13Yep.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17There's a bit of a surprise when he removes his socks.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20So, they are quite interesting feet, aren't they?
0:06:21 > 0:06:22A few problems going on there!
0:06:22 > 0:06:25All those toes are certainly not in line, are they?
0:06:25 > 0:06:28- No.- No.- Andrew has something called hammer toe.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32It doesn't straighten fully and it's taking the pressure on the top of
0:06:32 > 0:06:34- your toe, there. - It may be inherited,
0:06:34 > 0:06:38but ill-fitting shoes that push the toes out of balance don't help.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43Thankfully, Sally's got a neat way of easing the discomfort.
0:06:43 > 0:06:44I've made it over two toes,
0:06:44 > 0:06:47because it'll keep the pressure off that toe better if it just spreads
0:06:47 > 0:06:50the pressure over the other side, as well.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52They look like they've seen some hard work.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54That's nothing to be ashamed of, though.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56It isn't anything to be ashamed of at all, no.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58It's not only feet that get checked.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00Farmers can have their blood pressure taken,
0:07:00 > 0:07:02as well as their sugar levels.
0:07:02 > 0:07:06And then there's Fiona the physio to help people like Dawn here who
0:07:06 > 0:07:09suffers from arthritis in her knees.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12That's going to try and take some of the shock off there.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14- And has she given you some good advice?- Very good advice.
0:07:14 > 0:07:16She showed me some exercises to do.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20And she's also given me some support for my Wellingtons to ease the pain.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22This is a valuable service.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26To me, it's assisting a lot of people who would not
0:07:26 > 0:07:29get the treatment they get here.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Of course, wellies aren't the exclusive preserve of farmers.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40Named after the Duke of Wellington in the early 1800s,
0:07:40 > 0:07:43who had the standard issue hessian boot modified,
0:07:43 > 0:07:46creating a shorter version from calfskin leather.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Then came rubber boots, which, in the First World War,
0:07:50 > 0:07:53were supposed to beat trench foot.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58Filtering from the military to the rural and horticultural,
0:07:58 > 0:08:01the welly boot has even become a fashion statement at festivals.
0:08:03 > 0:08:06And whether they cost a fiver or £500,
0:08:06 > 0:08:10if you don't take care about the type of welly you buy,
0:08:10 > 0:08:12you could be walking into trouble.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15So, what should you look out for?
0:08:15 > 0:08:18First off, don't buy a pair of wellies that are too tall.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21Some of these Wellingtons are shaped at the top like that so, obviously,
0:08:21 > 0:08:24that will cause less friction at the back of the knee.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26And what about the sole of the Wellingtons?
0:08:26 > 0:08:29If we look at the probably more traditional Wellington,
0:08:29 > 0:08:33which would be this one, it does have a very flexible sole and that
0:08:33 > 0:08:37doesn't help to give your foot a lot of control.
0:08:37 > 0:08:39I wouldn't recommend that for wearing
0:08:39 > 0:08:40for really long periods of time.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43As well as checking the height and sole,
0:08:43 > 0:08:47here are a few more tips for all of us welly wearers.
0:08:47 > 0:08:51A heavy-duty sole is more suitable for long periods of wear.
0:08:51 > 0:08:56Consider reinforced toe caps if working with livestock or machinery.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00The heel must match the full width of the sole for better stability.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04Kids' wellies should be well fitted and worn for short periods of time.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09If I'm looking to make an investment in a Wellington,
0:09:09 > 0:09:11which ones should I keep my eye out for?
0:09:11 > 0:09:15- What do you like?- I quite like this style of boot that has the elastane
0:09:15 > 0:09:18top, so there's a bit of stretch in the top.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21As a full made-up boot, that might be really quite comfortable.
0:09:21 > 0:09:22But I also like this welly,
0:09:22 > 0:09:27which is perhaps a little bit more heavy-duty
0:09:27 > 0:09:29and has the toe cap in it.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31Thank you for that. Some great advice.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33Top tips for your next pair of wellies,
0:09:33 > 0:09:36get the right wellies for the job and your feet will thank you for it.
0:09:38 > 0:09:42Well, thanks, Margherita, I will certainly bear that in mind.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Now, of course, one of the great joys of coming to Anglesey is its
0:09:46 > 0:09:49coastline. 125 miles hugs the island,
0:09:49 > 0:09:53much of it designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:09:53 > 0:09:57And this beach is a great example of one which is thankfully free of
0:09:57 > 0:10:00plastic. But, sadly, around the UK, of course,
0:10:00 > 0:10:02that isn't always the case.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05But I've been off to meet an Olympic champion who might just have the
0:10:05 > 0:10:08answer to try to save our seas and ocean life
0:10:08 > 0:10:10from the horrors of plastic.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Sir Ben Ainslie is a sporting legend.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20The most successful sailor in Olympic history.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Winner of four gold medals, including his last,
0:10:23 > 0:10:27here in British waters at the London Olympics in 2012.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Now, he's long been a hero of mine, and not just because, like me,
0:10:33 > 0:10:36he's a sailor, although clearly a much better one,
0:10:36 > 0:10:40but because he is also taking on the Herculean challenge of tackling this
0:10:40 > 0:10:42stuff, plastic,
0:10:42 > 0:10:45and the estimated eight million tonnes of it that we're lobbing into
0:10:45 > 0:10:46our oceans every year.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51From water bottles to the microbeads in face creams,
0:10:51 > 0:10:54and from plastic straws to fishing tackle,
0:10:54 > 0:10:57we're choking up our seas and its marine creatures.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01For Sir Ben, the ocean is his life,
0:11:01 > 0:11:05and he's leading a clean-up like you've never seen before.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09His plans start here in the waters of the Camber Docks in Portsmouth,
0:11:09 > 0:11:11where I've come to meet him.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14Well, Ben, it really is an absolute pleasure to meet you and, of course,
0:11:14 > 0:11:18famously, you know, sailing is a sport that you now champion so well.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22But throughout your career you've noticed a growing amount of plastics
0:11:22 > 0:11:24in our oceans, which must be sort of heartbreaking, really.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26Well, absolutely. Sadly,
0:11:26 > 0:11:28over the last 30 years I've been out on the water, yeah,
0:11:28 > 0:11:32I've noticed a lot more plastics in the oceans and,
0:11:32 > 0:11:34certainly in other parts of the world, particularly in Asia,
0:11:34 > 0:11:37it's much more prevalent and a much bigger issue.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39It's thought that, by 2050,
0:11:39 > 0:11:41there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44That's a very scary statistic, isn't it?
0:11:44 > 0:11:45Plastic, initially,
0:11:45 > 0:11:49I think was a fantastic material for everyday use and now we've realised,
0:11:49 > 0:11:53a little bit too late, probably, that
0:11:53 > 0:11:55the fact that it goes into the oceans,
0:11:55 > 0:11:57it's out there for hundreds of years and
0:11:57 > 0:11:59we can't get rid of it.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03Ben is particularly concerned by the plastic that's
0:12:03 > 0:12:07gathering in vast amounts at what are known as gyres,
0:12:07 > 0:12:10places where circulating ocean currents come together.
0:12:10 > 0:12:15The debris can cover hundreds of square miles of the ocean surface.
0:12:15 > 0:12:17You know, it's a disheartening view,
0:12:17 > 0:12:19to be out there in a beautiful ocean,
0:12:19 > 0:12:21in the middle of nowhere, and you just come across
0:12:21 > 0:12:23this wasteland of plastic.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Now, I gather you've come up with a fairly novel way
0:12:25 > 0:12:27of recycling plastics here.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29We've got a Seabin here in the Camber,
0:12:29 > 0:12:31which is one of the first Seabins in the UK.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33That's collecting a lot of plastic,
0:12:33 > 0:12:35up to half a tonne of plastic in a year just in this local area.
0:12:35 > 0:12:38Has it surprised you how productive it's been?
0:12:38 > 0:12:42Yeah, it has. I think also for the local community as well to see that
0:12:42 > 0:12:45and to understand, well, look, even in our own area we like to think
0:12:45 > 0:12:48that we are really clean, but actually, the waters that we have
0:12:48 > 0:12:50here, we've still got quite a lot of plastics that we're picking up.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52So that's great on a local level.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54The big issue is out there in the oceans and
0:12:54 > 0:12:56that's a great piece of work,
0:12:56 > 0:12:59but hopefully mankind is smart enough to work that out
0:12:59 > 0:13:00and really make a difference.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04The Seabin was recently invented by two surfers in Australia,
0:13:04 > 0:13:07and Ben's can be found just beside the training pontoon.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11It may not look much, but Amy Munro,
0:13:11 > 0:13:13his team's sustainability manager,
0:13:13 > 0:13:17says this little device can have a mighty impact.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20This is our Seabin. It's been operating for the last three weeks.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24- How does it work?- So, it's on a pump system, just below the surface,
0:13:24 > 0:13:25pulls the water,
0:13:25 > 0:13:29filters it using this kind of fine mesh that captures micro plastics as
0:13:29 > 0:13:32well as the larger pieces of debris, as well.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35If I'm honest, I was imagining something a little bit bigger.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38It's not huge, but actually it's perfect for it to be managed by one
0:13:38 > 0:13:40person. It's not too heavy to deal with.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44So, how many times a day or a week are you having to empty it?
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Lots. At the moment, kind of three or four times a day.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48Well, it looks like it's ready to go now.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Shall we get it out and see what you've hauled in the last few hours?
0:13:52 > 0:13:56The Seabin can collect half a tonne of waste a year.
0:13:56 > 0:14:01That's equal to 10,000 plastic bottles or 83,000 plastic bags.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04Even a couple of hours is enough to show the scale of the problem.
0:14:05 > 0:14:08That's incredible, to think that's just a few hours.
0:14:08 > 0:14:09Yeah, it's really not long.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11- Shall we have a look? - Yeah, let's have a look.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13- OK.- So, here,
0:14:13 > 0:14:15you can see a lot of these tiny polystyrene balls
0:14:15 > 0:14:18- that are attached to the seaweed. - Gosh, that's amazing.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22Isn't that shocking, actually,
0:14:22 > 0:14:26the amount of polystyrene in just a tiny bag like that that's actually
0:14:26 > 0:14:28fully attached?
0:14:28 > 0:14:31So that's really hard, then, because we can't chuck that back in,
0:14:31 > 0:14:33because it's so contaminated with these tiny polystyrene beads that
0:14:33 > 0:14:36break up so quickly and so easily.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Amy thinks they may be able to recycle it, though.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41After washing and drying it off,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45the seaweed can be used as fertiliser on local allotments.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49It doesn't take long to discover that a lot of this plastic comes
0:14:49 > 0:14:53from very close to home. Our shopping baskets.
0:14:53 > 0:14:54Hang on a minute.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57Come on, that's not been in there that long, surely!
0:14:57 > 0:15:01- A bit of broccoli!- We had a chicken breast wrapped in plastic yesterday
0:15:01 > 0:15:03and last week we had a bag of potatoes
0:15:03 > 0:15:05so we nearly got a full Sunday lunch!
0:15:05 > 0:15:07Just need some Yorkshire puds to go with it!
0:15:07 > 0:15:12Were you expecting this sort of haul on an hourly basis?
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Not hourly, no. We thought we would collect this maybe once a day.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18So we've actually had to put a timer on the bin so that it clocks off
0:15:18 > 0:15:21after an hour, because we know it's going to be full in that time.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23- To stop it pumping, to stop it drawing more in.- Yes.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25And what about fish? Do they get caught up with this as well?
0:15:25 > 0:15:27Usually, they stay away.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30We had one fish in, but he just stayed inside in the water and we
0:15:30 > 0:15:32just chucked him back out again and he was pretty happy.
0:15:32 > 0:15:33- Swam away.- I mean,
0:15:33 > 0:15:37your Seabin has highlighted what's going on in just this tiny corner of
0:15:37 > 0:15:41Portsmouth Harbour. I can see that having applications in marinas and
0:15:41 > 0:15:44harbours right up and down the coastline.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Yeah, I agree and I think the really cool thing about it is how
0:15:47 > 0:15:50it's managed to capture people's imaginations and we've had
0:15:50 > 0:15:53lots of school groups down and doing ocean plastics lessons with us.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56This is great for highlighting what ends up in the ocean,
0:15:56 > 0:16:00these tiny bits of polystyrene, the packaging, the single-use plastic,
0:16:00 > 0:16:03but actually it's about trying to stop it getting there
0:16:03 > 0:16:04in the first place.
0:16:04 > 0:16:0880% of the debris in our oceans blows off places like badly managed
0:16:08 > 0:16:12landfill sites or is just wantonly dropped in the water.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16It all adds up to over five million tonnes of plastic a year.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18There are so many easy ways,
0:16:18 > 0:16:20easy things that we can do in our everyday life,
0:16:20 > 0:16:24from switching to a refillable water bottle to a reusable coffee cup,
0:16:24 > 0:16:28to looking at what kind of cosmetics and checking that none of them have
0:16:28 > 0:16:30these tiny microbeads in them,
0:16:30 > 0:16:33and switching to cotton buds and floss that are plastic-free.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39It seems we can all do something to reduce the amount of plastic waste.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42Ben wants to have the most sustainable sports team
0:16:42 > 0:16:44in the world.
0:16:44 > 0:16:45In their education centre,
0:16:45 > 0:16:49Amy shows me some of the surprising uses they've found for all that
0:16:49 > 0:16:51plastic bobbing around in the ocean.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54I wasn't expecting to see anything quite as snazzy
0:16:54 > 0:16:55as a pair of trainers, Amy.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59And the coolest thing about these is actually that they're made
0:16:59 > 0:17:03from recycled marine plastics, ocean plastics, such as fishing nets,
0:17:03 > 0:17:05ghost nets, that were pulled out of the ocean.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09So they are made from 100% recycled marine plastic.
0:17:09 > 0:17:11When you think what we were looking at down on the jetty,
0:17:11 > 0:17:14it's hard to imagine you could get something like that out of that
0:17:14 > 0:17:17filthy bucket of bits and pieces, but it is possible.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19We have the technology.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23- Yeah, absolutely.- But this jacket looks particularly useful.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26Is that seriously made from recycled plastic? I mean, how?
0:17:26 > 0:17:31Yeah. Even down to the insulation in the middle is also made from
0:17:31 > 0:17:32recycled plastics.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34For Ben's team,
0:17:34 > 0:17:37it's quite clear that at the heart of everything they do,
0:17:37 > 0:17:39protecting our marine life is paramount.
0:17:40 > 0:17:44To think that all the materials in this jacket could once have been out
0:17:44 > 0:17:46there floating around in the ocean,
0:17:46 > 0:17:50causing harm not just to our sea life but also making a real mess and
0:17:50 > 0:17:52clogging up our beaches.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55Now, thankfully, they've all been repurposed,
0:17:55 > 0:17:57given a new lease of life.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59And, trust me, on a day like today, it's just as well!
0:18:03 > 0:18:07If we all do something now, maybe there is hope for the future.
0:18:07 > 0:18:10Thankfully, the Government have just pledged to take on plastics,
0:18:10 > 0:18:13but there's so much we can all do as individuals.
0:18:13 > 0:18:17As Amy says, we can change our shopping habits and maybe look out
0:18:17 > 0:18:20for local initiatives like beach cleans.
0:18:20 > 0:18:21They're great fun for all the family,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24so check out what's on in your local area.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Now, there are some fabulous beach walks here on Anglesey,
0:18:32 > 0:18:35whatever the weather is doing, and of course some great opportunities
0:18:35 > 0:18:38to get out during the winter, right across the UK.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42But here's our guide to some top winter activities that you, too,
0:18:42 > 0:18:43can enjoy.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48Up in Aviemore in the Cairngorms,
0:18:48 > 0:18:50you can be an adrenaline junkie like Matt...
0:18:50 > 0:18:52We're off, we're off!
0:18:52 > 0:18:54Wa-hey! I pulled a wheelie!
0:18:54 > 0:18:56..and try your hand at dog sledding.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58He couldn't get enough of it.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00I tell you what, they don't hang around.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04Huskies are built to survive Siberian winters.
0:19:04 > 0:19:09They have phenomenal endurance and can run at a top speed of 28mph.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Oh, they're kicking up some snow!
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Come on, girls, get up!
0:19:13 > 0:19:15- Oi!- Just as well Matt managed to stay on.
0:19:15 > 0:19:18And I hope you do, too, if you give it a go.
0:19:20 > 0:19:24Winter outdoor swimming is enjoying a boom all over the UK,
0:19:24 > 0:19:27at places like Clevedon on the south-west coast.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31The locals here have been taking chilly dips in the sea since 1928.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36It's said to work wonders as a stress buster
0:19:36 > 0:19:38and for your circulation.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41But don't try it if you suffer from heart problems or asthma,
0:19:41 > 0:19:43and don't swim alone.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48Sean discovered that, for dedicated winter rock anglers,
0:19:48 > 0:19:52coastal areas like North Yorkshire promise rich pickings.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54There could be a sniff of a cod as the fish
0:19:54 > 0:19:56come closer to shore to feed.
0:19:57 > 0:19:59In the rocks, you've got crabs and shrimps.
0:19:59 > 0:20:02It's like a big banquet for fish, really.
0:20:02 > 0:20:04But it's not for the faint-hearted,
0:20:04 > 0:20:06and you need to know the tides and shoreline
0:20:06 > 0:20:07like the back of your hand.
0:20:11 > 0:20:15Cannock Chase in Staffordshire is the perfect spot for winter
0:20:15 > 0:20:18mountain biking. Let loose the daredevil in you with trails
0:20:18 > 0:20:20that can test the most seasoned rider.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24But if black runs aren't for you,
0:20:24 > 0:20:26there are gentler trails for beginners.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28And at Derwent in the Peak District,
0:20:28 > 0:20:30if you can take your eyes off the tracks,
0:20:30 > 0:20:32there are some breathtaking views.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Now, if you're a busy farmer you're sure to be out and about,
0:20:40 > 0:20:41whatever the weather.
0:20:41 > 0:20:44Adam's been to Northumberland to meet a shepherd who
0:20:44 > 0:20:46is on the go 24-7.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48But it's not just her.
0:20:48 > 0:20:50Her dogs get a pretty good work-out, too.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59Ashley Stamper is a 24-year-old hill shepherd working
0:20:59 > 0:21:01across 9,000 acres in Northumberland.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07She spends most of her time working up on the fell in the harshest of
0:21:07 > 0:21:10conditions. But today she's brought the ewe lambs down
0:21:10 > 0:21:12to the grassland at Belsay Hall.
0:21:15 > 0:21:16- Hi, Ashley.- Hello.
0:21:16 > 0:21:17- Lovely to see you.- How you doing?
0:21:17 > 0:21:19What a beautiful place to work.
0:21:19 > 0:21:20Yeah. It's lovely.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24It's nice to be able to split my time between coming to the grass
0:21:24 > 0:21:26parks or working up on the hills, as well.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28These sheep look beautiful.
0:21:28 > 0:21:29- Scottish Blackface.- Yeah.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32North of England type, with a bit of Scotch in them.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35With us, down in the south, our farming is very different,
0:21:35 > 0:21:37quite easy, in comparison to the hills.
0:21:37 > 0:21:38How tough do you find it?
0:21:38 > 0:21:40It changes all the time.
0:21:40 > 0:21:41You think you've learnt the hill,
0:21:41 > 0:21:45then you go up one morning and the fog is right in front of your face
0:21:45 > 0:21:47and, all of a sudden you have no idea where you are.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50I get a lot more out of it than working down here.
0:21:50 > 0:21:51It's a lot more challenging.
0:21:52 > 0:21:54So, tell me about these blue marks.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57Because we don't have fences, we need to teach the sheep where to
0:21:57 > 0:21:59stay, and that's an expression called hefting.
0:21:59 > 0:22:05Hefting is where the sheep learn to stay on a certain part of the hill,
0:22:05 > 0:22:09so we would call one part of the hill a hirsel, and within the
0:22:09 > 0:22:12hirsel we have different cuts of sheep.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16The cut is like a family and they learn to stay on that part of the hill.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18There's usually two or more marks.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21One mark tells you which hirsel or hill they're on and the other mark
0:22:21 > 0:22:24tells you which cut they're from on that hirsel.
0:22:24 > 0:22:26I know about hefting,
0:22:26 > 0:22:27where the sheep learn to live on the hill,
0:22:27 > 0:22:30where to find the water and the shade and the grass,
0:22:30 > 0:22:33but I've never heard of hirsels or cuts of sheep,
0:22:33 > 0:22:36- I have to say.- OK, so they are traditional names.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39And there's a lot more, and I'm still learning them all!
0:22:39 > 0:22:40Ha-ha!
0:22:42 > 0:22:44Jim, lie down. Lie down.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47You lie down, there. And you,
0:22:47 > 0:22:49stop going off the bike when you're not called.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53- Mm-hm...- After Ashley has seen to her cheeky pup Mo...
0:22:53 > 0:22:55Sit down there and you stay there.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58..it's time to load the lambs that she's been bringing in today.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02They're off to a nearby livestock market.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06They're counting the lambs onto the lorry and they've got to get the
0:23:06 > 0:23:09correct number so they know how many have gone to market,
0:23:09 > 0:23:12and Ashley's all across it, she knows exactly what she's doing,
0:23:12 > 0:23:15staying quite calm, lovely nature,
0:23:15 > 0:23:17and that's the way you've got to be with animals.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20Frankie Walton has been shepherding for nearly 50 years.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25He's acting as a mentor to Ashley.
0:23:25 > 0:23:26What a great team.
0:23:26 > 0:23:28Ah! Could you be here every week, please?!
0:23:28 > 0:23:30Great team!
0:23:31 > 0:23:33And you get to go to the market as well?
0:23:33 > 0:23:36- You'll be putting these in.- Yeah, I work at the market sometimes.
0:23:36 > 0:23:37- Nonstop.- Nonstop.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40Fish and chips on a Friday at the market...
0:23:40 > 0:23:42- Ha-ha!- Yeah, what a treat!
0:23:50 > 0:23:52Ashley got her break into farming through the Prince's Countryside
0:23:52 > 0:23:56Fund, a scheme designed to help UK agriculture.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58But she's not from farming stock.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02So, tell me about your family background.
0:24:02 > 0:24:04Well, my family had absolutely
0:24:04 > 0:24:09nothing to do with shepherding or farming at all, really.
0:24:10 > 0:24:12Both my mum and dad are some way related
0:24:12 > 0:24:14to being in the beauty industry.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18Hence, I started as a beauty therapist and became qualified.
0:24:18 > 0:24:22I started running a beauty salon in East Lothian.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24It was just indoors, and wasn't for me.
0:24:24 > 0:24:25And I'll never go back.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28I enjoy being outside.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30And now you are at university, too.
0:24:30 > 0:24:31I'm studying agriculture.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34The honours project is in sheepdogs,
0:24:34 > 0:24:38because there's not really much data out there that shows how much work
0:24:38 > 0:24:41these dogs are doing, so I'm going to look at energy consumption.
0:24:41 > 0:24:43Fascinating. Because they are on the go all the time.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45- They travel some miles. - Yeah, they do.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47I mean, this little pup's only five months, aren't you, Mo?
0:24:47 > 0:24:49And she's had a big day today
0:24:49 > 0:24:52and it would just be interesting to see how
0:24:52 > 0:24:55much energy she uses compared to a pup that isn't
0:24:55 > 0:24:58going to be a sheepdog, and the same for the older guys.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01And it's not just that they're a working tool.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03It's the companionship, too, isn't it?
0:25:03 > 0:25:07Absolutely. When you're out on the hills by yourself and the mist's in
0:25:07 > 0:25:10and it's just you and your dog, it is special.
0:25:10 > 0:25:12I enjoy the dogs. I'm with them all the time.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17Shepherding and dogs are part of the fabric of this landscape.
0:25:18 > 0:25:21It's an old tradition in the north country that on Sundays and
0:25:21 > 0:25:24especially Christmas Day, shepherds would take their dogs
0:25:24 > 0:25:26to the church services with them.
0:25:27 > 0:25:31Bolam Church is just a stone's throw from Belsay.
0:25:31 > 0:25:36Lay Minister Pam Walker is going to tell me all about those old traditions.
0:25:36 > 0:25:37What a lovely little church.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39It's amazing, isn't it? We are so lucky.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42Tell me the story about shepherds bringing their dogs into the church.
0:25:42 > 0:25:46Well, there's certainly a tradition of that happening in the Borders.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49The dogs are part of the family as well as their working companions,
0:25:49 > 0:25:51so they would bring them into church with them.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Must've been a bit strange for the person carrying out the service to
0:25:54 > 0:25:55have lots of dogs milling around.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59There are stories of travelling priests, certainly in the Borders,
0:25:59 > 0:26:02who would arrive at a church and be really,
0:26:02 > 0:26:05really puzzled why his congregation wasn't standing up at the appropriate places.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07And that's because, if they did,
0:26:07 > 0:26:10the dogs would all stand up and think, "Oh! It's time to go home,"
0:26:10 > 0:26:11and that was what would happen.
0:26:11 > 0:26:16And it was easier, and kept probably a more holy atmosphere if everybody
0:26:16 > 0:26:19- remained seated.- It's really lovely to see how quickly they've settled
0:26:19 > 0:26:22down. Although they are working dogs charging around in the fields,
0:26:22 > 0:26:24they seem to come into church and just relax.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26Because it's a place of peace, I think. Yes.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32And what better way to finish the day than back out in the fields
0:26:32 > 0:26:35with Ashley the shepherd, watching her flock?
0:26:43 > 0:26:45Well, I have to confess I think I've fallen in love
0:26:45 > 0:26:49a little bit with that adorable puppy, Mo.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53And of course Northumberland is one of the UK's most unspoiled regions.
0:26:53 > 0:26:58It has a very similar feel to where I am now at Aberffraw Bay.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02Just across the dunes behind me is a surfer's paradise, although some
0:27:02 > 0:27:05fairly tricky rips mean it probably isn't the place to test your surfing
0:27:05 > 0:27:07skills for the first time,
0:27:07 > 0:27:11but there are some wonderful surfing hot spots dotted around the UK's
0:27:11 > 0:27:12glorious coastline.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15But it's not just a good physical work-out.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18Evidence now suggests that it could be as good for your soul
0:27:18 > 0:27:19as it is for your body.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22So Keeley's donning her wet suit to find out more.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Portrush, at the very top of Northern Ireland.
0:27:30 > 0:27:35A walk along the beach here is guaranteed to blow away the cobwebs.
0:27:35 > 0:27:39But it's a far hardier soul who would brave these icy waters.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44Today I'm meeting a group of surfers who have taken to the waves a little
0:27:44 > 0:27:46later in life, but it's helping them get over
0:27:46 > 0:27:49a lifetime of troubled waters.
0:27:51 > 0:27:55This plucky bunch of silver surfers are all in their 60s and 70s.
0:27:55 > 0:27:59Rather appropriately, they call themselves the Bravehearts.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02It looks wild out there. What are you thinking?!
0:28:02 > 0:28:04Everybody says that to us.
0:28:04 > 0:28:09When we come out here, we don't just come out to look at the scenery.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12- We want in it!- I understand surfing, but surfing in the winter,
0:28:12 > 0:28:14in this cold?
0:28:14 > 0:28:17At the end of the day, it won't be long before we're in the ground.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20So we like going into the water before we go into the ground.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22- It makes you feel alive? - Yes, it does indeed.
0:28:24 > 0:28:29They met through the Heart Project, a community venture in West Belfast
0:28:29 > 0:28:33that provides health services and activities for the over-50s.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36We got into this because we all like to do things.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38Leisure centre things, and the swimmers.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40And exercising.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42We like the exercise.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45So, when you are sitting at home, looking at four walls, so,
0:28:45 > 0:28:47this keeps us alive.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50- And it keeps us together.- And how does it feel when you get out there?
0:28:50 > 0:28:52How does it feel the first time you get in?
0:28:52 > 0:28:55Nervous. A bit apprehensive.
0:28:55 > 0:28:58Then you get a bit of confidence and away you go and it's like,
0:28:58 > 0:29:01- "This is fun".- So, are you going to look after me out there?
0:29:01 > 0:29:03- We'll look after you!- I'll go and get kitted up.
0:29:03 > 0:29:05- Come on.- Yee-hoo!
0:29:08 > 0:29:12The Bravehearts' teacher is Hanno.
0:29:12 > 0:29:13Originally from Germany,
0:29:13 > 0:29:17Hanno came to Northern Ireland to study seven years ago,
0:29:17 > 0:29:21and stayed for the surf and spectacular coastline.
0:29:21 > 0:29:24To get the circulation going, he starts us off with a basic warm-up.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27Swing your arms forward a little.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31But then the weather takes a turn for the worse.
0:29:35 > 0:29:38Even for this lot, who can put up with most things,
0:29:38 > 0:29:39hailstones are beyond the pale.
0:29:42 > 0:29:43As we head back for cover,
0:29:43 > 0:29:47it's a good opportunity for me to dig a little deeper into why this
0:29:47 > 0:29:50activity is so important to these men.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55Their home, West Belfast, was, for years,
0:29:55 > 0:29:58one of the most deprived areas in Northern Ireland.
0:29:59 > 0:30:03As Loyalists lived side-by-side with Republicans,
0:30:03 > 0:30:07the area was a powder keg for 30 years of the Troubles.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11People were restricted in what they could do, where they could go.
0:30:11 > 0:30:14They certainly wouldn't have been able to get out to Portrush.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17Although the Troubles are over,
0:30:17 > 0:30:21a legacy still lingers in the minds of Huey and his fellow surfers.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25There was people getting murdered every day and it was classed as
0:30:25 > 0:30:27a ghetto.
0:30:27 > 0:30:30And at the beginning of the early Troubles,
0:30:30 > 0:30:34everybody in the area sealed us off with barricades,
0:30:34 > 0:30:37more or less protecting for themselves
0:30:37 > 0:30:39against outside forces.
0:30:39 > 0:30:41It was bad at the time.
0:30:41 > 0:30:43But thankfully, it's cleared up a wee bit.
0:30:43 > 0:30:48You can get out and the Belfast city centre is coming alive again.
0:30:48 > 0:30:53It's thanks to surfing that Huey is regaining his sense of wellbeing.
0:30:53 > 0:30:58It sort of gives you an uplift, and me and the people I am with,
0:30:58 > 0:31:03we find sometimes forgetting things, and to me,
0:31:03 > 0:31:08it sort of helps you against maybe dementia and things like that.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11Keeps your brain active and your body active.
0:31:11 > 0:31:13Feels as if you're alive.
0:31:13 > 0:31:17There is a whole different world out there and go out and enjoy it.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22And the team is not alone in finding peace out on these choppy waters.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26Surfing as therapy is gaining in popularity.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29Therapy centres have popped up across the world,
0:31:29 > 0:31:32helping people with everything from depression,
0:31:32 > 0:31:36low self-esteem and post-traumatic stress disorder,
0:31:36 > 0:31:39to the psychological effects of physical disability.
0:31:39 > 0:31:44The team's instructor, Hanno, thinks it is all to do with the calming
0:31:44 > 0:31:45effect of the waves.
0:31:45 > 0:31:49And you've seen first-hand how surfing in the winter is
0:31:49 > 0:31:50- helping people.- Yes.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53For example, in the NHS, they did a trial a couple of years ago.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55They had soldiers, I think,
0:31:55 > 0:32:00with post-traumatic stress disorder and they found out that those
0:32:00 > 0:32:04soldiers, they could lower or take off the medications and they slept
0:32:04 > 0:32:06much better. So from a physical aspect,
0:32:06 > 0:32:08they were much more exhausted,
0:32:08 > 0:32:12but also from a mental aspect, they were just much more relaxed.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14And what about these chaps?
0:32:14 > 0:32:16So, yeah, they are absolutely bonkers.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19They are probably having a great effect on us, to be honest.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21We laugh so much with them, so, yeah, it's brilliant,
0:32:21 > 0:32:22absolutely brilliant.
0:32:24 > 0:32:29As for me, back out on the water, I finally get what it's all about.
0:32:31 > 0:32:32Well, almost.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39But it is clear for these five Belfast Bravehearts - surfing,
0:32:39 > 0:32:41come rain or shine,
0:32:41 > 0:32:43holds the key to putting the past behind them
0:32:43 > 0:32:46and moving on to a brighter future.
0:32:48 > 0:32:50I will be honest with you, I was not looking forward to that.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52But it was so much fun.
0:32:52 > 0:32:54The power of the elements and doing it with those guys,
0:32:54 > 0:32:57we just laughed from the minute we got in.
0:32:57 > 0:33:00So I can see how this would be the perfect remedy to clear the mind.
0:33:00 > 0:33:02And perhaps I won't take it up as a regular sport,
0:33:02 > 0:33:05but I might just go out and get one more wave.
0:33:11 > 0:33:13Well, I don't know if I'm as brave as those guys,
0:33:13 > 0:33:17but clearly surfing is having an extraordinary effect.
0:33:24 > 0:33:28It is a, frankly, surreal landscape here on Parys Mountain,
0:33:28 > 0:33:32peppered with relics of a bygone age when Anglesey dominated
0:33:32 > 0:33:33the world copper market.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38Copper mining started here back in the Bronze Age
0:33:38 > 0:33:39and ended in the 1790s
0:33:39 > 0:33:43when miners pitted their wits against nature with nothing more than picks,
0:33:43 > 0:33:45shovels and gunpowder.
0:33:45 > 0:33:50But it's not just mankind that has left its mark on the landscape.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52Of course, animals can too,
0:33:52 > 0:33:55but when they encroach indoors during the winter, well,
0:33:55 > 0:33:57perhaps we are not quite so enchanted.
0:33:57 > 0:34:01There is one creature in particular that's not welcome,
0:34:01 > 0:34:03a creature that can take up residence in our homes
0:34:03 > 0:34:07and end up trashing our houses, raiding our larders
0:34:07 > 0:34:10and posing a serious threat to our health.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12I'm talking about rats.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18It's the one animal even Sir David Attenborough isn't too keen on and
0:34:18 > 0:34:22the population runs into the tens of millions.
0:34:22 > 0:34:24Paul is none too happy to discover
0:34:24 > 0:34:26they have moved into his smallholding in Wiltshire.
0:34:26 > 0:34:31And like so many of us, these critters give him the jitters.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35Rats, I absolutely loathe them.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38They are sniffing around my henhouse, also around the duck shed,
0:34:38 > 0:34:42and try as I may, I just cannot get rid of them.
0:34:42 > 0:34:43COCK CROWS
0:34:43 > 0:34:44Yeah, he knows that!
0:34:46 > 0:34:49And like my cockerel, I am not alone.
0:34:49 > 0:34:53Every day in the UK, there are more than 1,000 calls to pest controllers.
0:34:53 > 0:34:55With the arrival of winter, rats
0:34:55 > 0:34:58can't resist the warmth of the indoors,
0:34:58 > 0:35:01and once they are residents, you're in trouble.
0:35:02 > 0:35:06From gnawing away at the wiring in our homes to spreading serious
0:35:06 > 0:35:09disease, rats pose a real threat.
0:35:09 > 0:35:11And now there is a new breed of rat in town.
0:35:11 > 0:35:13Yeah, the super rat.
0:35:13 > 0:35:17It's stronger and meaner than ever before because it is resistant to
0:35:17 > 0:35:20pesticide. So, how can we best rodent-proof our homes
0:35:20 > 0:35:25without causing unnecessary harm to rats and other wildlife?
0:35:25 > 0:35:28Where better to find out than this old barn?
0:35:28 > 0:35:33A secret training centre tucked away in the south of England where pest
0:35:33 > 0:35:36controllers come to learn how to take on their greatest foe...
0:35:38 > 0:35:39..the rat!
0:35:40 > 0:35:43Just look at that- there's 300 brown rats in there,
0:35:43 > 0:35:47all running rampant, and apparently I've got to get in there with them,
0:35:47 > 0:35:49and I am petrified of rats.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52And where I am standing right now, it absolutely stinks.
0:35:52 > 0:35:54I'm starting to choke.
0:35:54 > 0:35:55Oh, well, here goes.
0:35:58 > 0:36:02Everything here is designed to show trainee pest controllers exactly how
0:36:02 > 0:36:05and where rats hole up and move.
0:36:07 > 0:36:12Gary O'Connor is a top rat-catcher who tackles rodents every day.
0:36:12 > 0:36:14There's 300 rats in here.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17Why is it necessary to have so many?
0:36:17 > 0:36:19Well, if it is for training purposes, you know,
0:36:19 > 0:36:23can you imagine coming into the pest industry, never seeing a rat,
0:36:23 > 0:36:26never smelling a rat, this is an ideal situation.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28You have been in pest control for ten years.
0:36:28 > 0:36:30What is it about it you love?
0:36:30 > 0:36:32I have a lot of respect for these rodents, I really do.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35They are so clever.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38This smell, though, this smell, it is so acidy.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40Is it urine?
0:36:40 > 0:36:42- It is urine, yes.- It stinks.
0:36:42 > 0:36:44I know it sounds strange, but as we go into people's houses,
0:36:44 > 0:36:46the first thing you are looking for...
0:36:46 > 0:36:48- Is it this?- Yes, it is exactly.
0:36:48 > 0:36:50I'm not even looking for it - I'm smelling it.
0:36:50 > 0:36:51I can smell it. And usually,
0:36:51 > 0:36:53once you have been in the industry long enough,
0:36:53 > 0:36:57you can tell the difference between rat urine and even mouse urine.
0:36:57 > 0:36:59Handy as that might be,
0:36:59 > 0:37:02I think that's a skill I'd rather not learn today.
0:37:02 > 0:37:04Rats don't have weak bladders,
0:37:04 > 0:37:07but use their urine to scent mark their territory.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10There is a serious threat with the urine, isn't there?
0:37:10 > 0:37:13Absolutely. You can get salmonella, E Coli,
0:37:13 > 0:37:16there are plenty of diseases out there that rats carry.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20Other diseases can be caught eating or drinking food and water
0:37:20 > 0:37:23contaminated by rat urine or faeces.
0:37:23 > 0:37:25I can see them, they are hiding from us,
0:37:25 > 0:37:27there's eyes everywhere looking at us.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30So shall we try and lift something like that,
0:37:30 > 0:37:32will there be a big nest under there?
0:37:32 > 0:37:34There should be some that we can see.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38Cor blimey, look at that!
0:37:38 > 0:37:39Look at them go!
0:37:42 > 0:37:43That was a lot of rats.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45That's frightening. That freaks me out.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48Six months ago, this was a fully furnished sofa.
0:37:48 > 0:37:49- There's nothing left.- No,
0:37:49 > 0:37:52you can see the gnaw marks and how they've chewed it.
0:37:52 > 0:37:53And they can gnaw through wires?
0:37:53 > 0:37:56They can cause fires by chewing through wires, cabling.
0:37:56 > 0:37:57The damage they can cause, you know,
0:37:57 > 0:38:00I have seen holes where they have chewed through concrete.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02You would be surprised what they won't chew.
0:38:04 > 0:38:08Telltale signs of rat infestation include...
0:38:08 > 0:38:11Droppings shaped like mini torpedoes.
0:38:11 > 0:38:13Rub marks where grease and dirt on rats
0:38:13 > 0:38:17leaves smudges on skirting boards and surfaces.
0:38:17 > 0:38:19Scratching noises,
0:38:19 > 0:38:22as these mainly nocturnal animals scuttle about at night.
0:38:22 > 0:38:27And rat holes, as they like to excavate extensive burrows.
0:38:27 > 0:38:31But there are some classic mistakes we all make which are like a
0:38:31 > 0:38:33"make yourself at home" invitation to rats.
0:38:33 > 0:38:36Some students may know this scene very well.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38If you just look around the kitchen itself,
0:38:38 > 0:38:41what do you see that stands out more than anything else?
0:38:41 > 0:38:46- Food left out.- Now, this itself will attract all kinds of rodents.
0:38:46 > 0:38:48It will get up onto the work surfaces,
0:38:48 > 0:38:51defecate everywhere and eat the food.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54We can see some droppings in that saucer at the back there.
0:38:54 > 0:38:55So it's about hygiene, really.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57- Hygiene is key.- Get on top of your hygiene.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01- Hygiene is key.- We all know rats will leave a sinking ship,
0:39:01 > 0:39:04but how do you get rid of an infestation?
0:39:04 > 0:39:07In the old days, you called in the rat-catcher
0:39:07 > 0:39:09and his fearsome colleague,
0:39:09 > 0:39:11a specially bred terrier called a ratter.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14Nowadays, there's poison, or contraptions like this.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18The break back snap trap.
0:39:18 > 0:39:21See, I'm not a big fan of those because I do not want to find a dead
0:39:21 > 0:39:22mouse or a dead rat.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25They are the most humane method.
0:39:25 > 0:39:26It's instant.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29The pressure on that itself is phenomenal.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32And of course, there are rat baits on the market which most people do
0:39:32 > 0:39:35- go for.- Yeah. This box here, Paul,
0:39:35 > 0:39:38is a safe and secure location for poison.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40This is what you would use, OK?
0:39:40 > 0:39:42If you were going to bait. Especially internally.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44The rat goes through into this section here,
0:39:44 > 0:39:47there will be a little bait station area here.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51- See that down there, Paul?- Yeah, that is a saucerful of rat bait.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53Sometimes when I go round to clients' houses when they self treat,
0:39:53 > 0:39:56they will do this. You have got the scenario with the dog in the basket
0:39:56 > 0:39:58and the children are running everywhere.
0:39:58 > 0:40:00You are just asking for trouble.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03You do not do that under no circumstance.
0:40:03 > 0:40:04That is definitely a no-no.
0:40:05 > 0:40:09But there's one of very big problem for all of us.
0:40:09 > 0:40:10The rats are fighting back.
0:40:11 > 0:40:16Some rats are proving remarkably resistant to rodenticides.
0:40:16 > 0:40:20So much so that the UK has witnessed the dawn of the super rat.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25And here at the University of Reading,
0:40:25 > 0:40:27Dr Colin Prescott has been tracking down
0:40:27 > 0:40:30this terrifying new breed of rogue rodent.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34And he is literally chasing their tails.
0:40:36 > 0:40:37So, what is going on here?
0:40:37 > 0:40:40- What are you doing here?- Well, here, we're taking some tissue samples.
0:40:40 > 0:40:44Initially, we're extracting the DNA from the tail samples,
0:40:44 > 0:40:49and then we look for those particular mutations in the DNA.
0:40:49 > 0:40:53If they get a resistance gene from both their mother and their father,
0:40:53 > 0:40:54they are much, much more resistant.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57That's sounding frightening, absolutely frightening.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01Scarier still, rats are super breeders.
0:41:01 > 0:41:03Sexually mature in five weeks,
0:41:03 > 0:41:07females can give birth to a litter of up to 12
0:41:07 > 0:41:09at least five times a year.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11So when the offspring also get breeding,
0:41:11 > 0:41:16you can end up with a population of around 2,000.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19So, are your homes in danger of the super rats?
0:41:19 > 0:41:23Dr Prescott's investigations suggest that they've taken a fancy
0:41:23 > 0:41:28to the south of England, so it looks like I've got a big problem.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31That's where I live, just around Devizes,
0:41:31 > 0:41:33so my rats are super resistant.
0:41:33 > 0:41:37So I am wasting my time going down the hardware store or to my local
0:41:37 > 0:41:39farm shop and buying just sort of rat poison off the shelf.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41That bait is absolutely useless.
0:41:41 > 0:41:43It's just food to them. It's not going to kill them.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45For these animals, yes.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48There are three powerful rodenticides on the market,
0:41:48 > 0:41:50but you won't get them over the counter.
0:41:50 > 0:41:54Only farmers, gamekeepers and pest controllers can use them.
0:41:56 > 0:41:57But I'm worried.
0:41:57 > 0:42:01Apart from my ducks and chickens, I've got owls on my land,
0:42:01 > 0:42:03and they can be poisoned by swooping on rats
0:42:03 > 0:42:05who've munched the rodenticide.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09So, what am I going to do?
0:42:09 > 0:42:12Well, in the end, we took expert advice and after a site visit,
0:42:12 > 0:42:15they laid some bait traps underneath the duck shed,
0:42:15 > 0:42:18the henhouse and the duck pond.
0:42:18 > 0:42:21Well out of the way of our birds and other wildlife,
0:42:21 > 0:42:25and we have noticed they are not scurrying around any more.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28We think the rats have taken the bait, we're getting on top of it.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30But in the meantime, we're keeping vigilant.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32COCK CROWS
0:42:32 > 0:42:34Yeah, and he is on lookout!
0:42:41 > 0:42:44Well, Paul's cockerel seems in fine fettle,
0:42:44 > 0:42:46so thank goodness he did the sensible thing
0:42:46 > 0:42:47and got the experts in.
0:42:47 > 0:42:51But be sure you keep an eye out for those rat invaders.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53In the meantime, join us again tomorrow
0:42:53 > 0:42:56for more Winter Diary entries, when...
0:42:56 > 0:42:59..Keeley investigates how we're battling extreme winter weather
0:42:59 > 0:43:02- on the rail tracks... - We've had landslides.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04A railway moved 40 metres towards the sea.
0:43:04 > 0:43:06It's a real challenge to look after.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10..I meet a tiny horse that is making a big difference...
0:43:10 > 0:43:12He is miniature, isn't he?
0:43:15 > 0:43:19..and Paul discovers how to grow winter veg in the smallest spaces.
0:43:20 > 0:43:22There's a garden in a carton there.
0:43:23 > 0:43:25So, until then, goodbye.