0:00:24 > 0:00:28A rich, rural landscape nestling between two rivers.
0:00:28 > 0:00:32Fertile fields that have been farmed for generations.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36We're on the Monmouthshire side of the Wye Valley.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39Tonight's show is country life at its best.
0:00:39 > 0:00:40I'll be down on the farm finding out
0:00:40 > 0:00:44just how you turn working animals like these into prize-winners.
0:00:45 > 0:00:50I'll be in the thick of it as the rosettes are handed out at the Monmouthshire Show.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53It all started back in 1790 with a ploughing competition here
0:00:53 > 0:00:56and now this is Wales' largest one-day agricultural show,
0:00:56 > 0:00:59and the best place to see pedigree livestock.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01But that's not all that happens here,
0:01:01 > 0:01:03because later on I'm going to be giving this a go.
0:01:06 > 0:01:07And I'll be at a mansion in Berkshire
0:01:07 > 0:01:10for the biggest event in the Countryfile year.
0:01:10 > 0:01:14The judging of our annual photographic competition.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16The theme this year is Best In Show
0:01:16 > 0:01:19and with a staggering 55,000 entries,
0:01:19 > 0:01:22there's certainly going to be plenty to choose from.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25There are 12 different classes and the very best pictures
0:01:25 > 0:01:29will adorn the nation's walls in the Countryfile Calendar for 2012.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31And later on, I'll be telling you
0:01:31 > 0:01:34how you can vote for your particular favourite picture.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36And, with a badger cull looming,
0:01:36 > 0:01:40in an effort to control the spreading of bovine TB,
0:01:40 > 0:01:43Adam's on a mission to find out about the animals that share his farm.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47I've set a night vision camera going here
0:01:47 > 0:01:49to try and get some shots of badgers.
0:01:49 > 0:01:50Hopefully...
0:01:50 > 0:01:53if it was in the right spot,
0:01:53 > 0:01:55we might have some badgers.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58Oh. Oh, dear.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00It's mainly sheep!
0:02:12 > 0:02:15'The Wye Valley runs along the English-Welsh border.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18'It's a place of outstanding beauty.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21'For one day every year, crowds come from far and near
0:02:21 > 0:02:26'to a 100-acre site here for a very special event,
0:02:26 > 0:02:28'the Monmouthshire Show.'
0:02:30 > 0:02:34'For those taking part, it's not only a big day, it's a long one!'
0:02:36 > 0:02:40It's early, very, very early which isn't unusual on a farm,
0:02:40 > 0:02:42but today is a little bit special
0:02:42 > 0:02:46here on Bowley Farm on the outskirts of Hereford.
0:02:49 > 0:02:54'Led by Dad Terry, the Joneses run a breeding herd of 16 beef cattle
0:02:54 > 0:02:58'and their family has been farming here for over three decades.'
0:02:58 > 0:03:01- Come on, then.- It's too early for her. "What the hell are you doing?"
0:03:01 > 0:03:02Come on, Ebony.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05'Today's one of the biggest days of the year for the family.
0:03:05 > 0:03:10'Three of their Limousin cattle will be competing at the Monmouthshire Show.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14'Limousins were introduced to the UK from France 40 years ago
0:03:14 > 0:03:18'and have become the farmers' favourite with good reason.'
0:03:18 > 0:03:21She's got all the strength up here, hasn't she?
0:03:21 > 0:03:25She is a big, strong thing, but then quite lean. She's not fat.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28She's not fat. She hasn't got a lot of belly on her. There's no waste.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32And you've got lovely eyelashes, too.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36'Ebony, Fraggle and Butterfly are prize-winning specimens,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39'boasting a bucket-load of rosettes between them.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43'But they'll need to look their best if they want to add to that collection today.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46'So the first order of business for these girls
0:03:46 > 0:03:48'is a nice, refreshing shower.'
0:03:48 > 0:03:51You've got to be careful because if you get in close,
0:03:51 > 0:03:53it sprays back in your face.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04Ooh, that's a big, mucky bottom!
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Right, I think that's her done.
0:04:12 > 0:04:13Come on.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22'With all three cows washed and on the wagon,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25'that's it for the first stage of show prep.'
0:04:25 > 0:04:29That's that for now, but I'm told that once we get to the show,
0:04:29 > 0:04:31that's when the real hard work starts.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37'It's a 20-mile journey across the border into Wales,
0:04:37 > 0:04:41'where the showground is already bursting with life.
0:04:41 > 0:04:44'The competition's fierce, so we're going to have our work cut out,
0:04:44 > 0:04:48'but Fraggle, Butterfly and Ebony aren't exactly helping us!'
0:04:48 > 0:04:51I washed all of that!
0:04:53 > 0:04:57'Looks like it's back to square one for Catherine and me.'
0:04:59 > 0:05:03- Are you the chief groomer? - Erm, yes, You could say that.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05I am the chief groomer, yes.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09When they get prepped for the show ring, they'll have the hairspray
0:05:09 > 0:05:12- and everything, and gel.- Hairspray?
0:05:12 > 0:05:16- Their vanity case is quite big, as you can see!- Catherine's not joking.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18I haven't seen a make-up case this big
0:05:18 > 0:05:20since my last shoot with Matt!
0:05:20 > 0:05:23And they're all at it!
0:05:25 > 0:05:29How large and luxurious a cow's coat looks can swing a competition.
0:05:29 > 0:05:32And with some impressive bovine bouffants appearing all around us,
0:05:32 > 0:05:36it's time for me to learn the tricks of the trade.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38- Right, hairspray time. - Hairspray time.
0:05:39 > 0:05:44This is where the pattern work starts. What we do is zigzag.
0:05:44 > 0:05:49- Then it just stands up. Simple as that.- Yeah? Shall I have a go?- Yeah.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52- Have a go. - I like to be creative.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54It just adds to the fullness.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57The presentation of the beast. We'll back-comb the tail as well.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01It's half past nine now. We met at five.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05- You're going to keep going at this for another hour or so?- Yes.
0:06:05 > 0:06:11- It's got to be about more than just making pretty patterns?- Definitely.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15We like to keep the heifers for breeding and we sell the bulls
0:06:15 > 0:06:17in the spring and autumn.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20We like to think it does add to the value at the end.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22If they've got a red rosette
0:06:22 > 0:06:26or a championship behind their name it does help to the value, really.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29The other benefit to coming to the show -
0:06:29 > 0:06:32- farming can be quite a lonely business.- Yes.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34You come to the show, you see everybody.
0:06:34 > 0:06:35It's quite a good social event.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38We've met so many people over the years.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41All of us children, we've been able to show cattle since,
0:06:41 > 0:06:44as soon as we were old enough to get on the end of a halter.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47Able to walk even, we were there, calf-handling.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50We've literally grown up through it.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52I'm worried I'm going to do it wrong.
0:06:52 > 0:06:54Dad will soon tell you.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57I'll let you do it and I'll check out the opposition.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00- Fantastic.- Good girl.- Thank you.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12Massive, massive bull. Look at him.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18So this is, this is erm...?
0:07:18 > 0:07:21It's a giant hairdryer, in effect.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24- Does he like it?- He loves it.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28- He has one of these every time he's washed.- And what's he called?
0:07:28 > 0:07:32- He's called Adam.- Adam? Big Adam.- Big Adam.
0:07:32 > 0:07:37A full-bodied redhead called Adam? Reminds me of someone else I know.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39There's a bit of hairspray on on the tail here,
0:07:39 > 0:07:44it looks like candyfloss. Look at this. That's fantastic.
0:07:44 > 0:07:46So, that's the competition.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49A lot of hard work has gone into making sure
0:07:49 > 0:07:50they look their best.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53I still fancy Ebony's chances, though, don't you?
0:07:57 > 0:07:59Essentially, it doesn't really matter what I think.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02It does matter what this man thinks.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05This says Eric Gethin, who's going to be in charge of judging Limousins.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08We are looking here at a commercial cow
0:08:08 > 0:08:11who's a bit of Belgian Blue, a bit of Lim.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13So, what are you going to be looking for?
0:08:13 > 0:08:17I'll be looking for a very feminine female.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21I like my cows tall, long and clean.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24Not too big at back ends.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28And when you see a really good specimen walk into the ring,
0:08:28 > 0:08:30do they have a bit of X-factor about them?
0:08:30 > 0:08:33Oh, yeah, a lot of X-factor about them, really.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Give a bit of a show?
0:08:35 > 0:08:37They're showing off a little bit, especially the females.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41With the competition fast approaching,
0:08:41 > 0:08:45I know which three show-offs I'm going to be rooting for.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48The Joneses are getting ready to take three heifers into the ring.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51They've got their work cut out. So have the judges.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53The programme theme today is Best In Show.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55It's also been the theme
0:08:55 > 0:08:58for this year's Countryfile photographic competition.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01All the entries are now in and it's time to begin the hunt
0:09:01 > 0:09:02for this year's finalists.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07As always, the response was overwhelming.
0:09:07 > 0:09:12This year you sent in a staggering total of 55,000 photos.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15To make sure that every single one was examined,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18we sought the help of eight of our previous finalists.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22They whittled them down to a short list of just 3,600.
0:09:22 > 0:09:27More than anyone else, they know what it means to win.
0:09:27 > 0:09:31I'm Pen Rashbass, I won last year's photo competition with Going Home.
0:09:31 > 0:09:33Winning was really unexpected.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37I just put in my picture just on the off-chance and when it did win,
0:09:37 > 0:09:39I was really amazed.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41Being in people's houses for a whole month,
0:09:41 > 0:09:44your picture on the wall, is really, really flattering.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53With 12 classes to get through, we've paired everyone up
0:09:53 > 0:09:56and they'll go through three categories each.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Wow, there's an awful lot here, I feel quite overwhelmed.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02Yeah, having Landscapes, Birds and Farm Life,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05I think we've got the biggest category of the lot.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07So, we've got the Country People,
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Water Worlds and Working Animals.
0:10:10 > 0:10:12We've got quite a lot of sloping water.
0:10:15 > 0:10:19- We're doing Wildlife, Leisure and Pleasure.- In All Weathers.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22And In All Weather, as well.
0:10:22 > 0:10:24A lot of people's shots are wonderful.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28But they have suffered because of focus problems and things like that.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31We've been looking at Plant Life,
0:10:31 > 0:10:35The Lighter Side of Country Life and Insects and Spiders.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38There's some amazing shots and I'm impressed at the quantity
0:10:38 > 0:10:42and the quality of the entries.
0:10:49 > 0:10:54What we do have here is a superb shot of a hedgehog that's taken
0:10:54 > 0:10:59by a little nine-year-old girl and it's an absolutely beautiful shot.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02- The camera is wonderful catching the spikes.- I like that.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11Oh, look at that, Tony, excellent.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15- What's the magnification on that one?- Everything's in detail.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18- It's very different, isn't it? - Really close up on that one.
0:11:18 > 0:11:19- Are you short-listing that?- Yes.
0:11:22 > 0:11:25- Macro lens with a cricket. - Yes. All right.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35I mean, really, there's four simple rules to a very good photo.
0:11:35 > 0:11:36The focus, composition,
0:11:36 > 0:11:40the exposure and just having something for a "wow" factor.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43- That's it finished. - Sorted?
0:11:43 > 0:11:47I don't think we have! Have you seen that lot behind?
0:11:47 > 0:11:49It really is a tough task.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53Out of the 55,000, fewer than one in ten will make it through
0:11:53 > 0:11:56and the pressure is starting to show.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58Cheryl's getting a little hysterical.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00Richard's feeling the heat. And Rosie, well,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03she's just limbering up.
0:12:09 > 0:12:12We are nearly at the end of the Landscape category now.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14There's been some nice pictures, hasn't there?
0:12:14 > 0:12:17There's been some great ones. Ones that I wish I'd taken.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21I wish I'd been there at the time. There's some fabulous pictures.
0:12:21 > 0:12:24Any image that's quite soft isn't going to get chosen,
0:12:24 > 0:12:26whereas one that's sharp is going to get chosen.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29For example, on these two images here, it's of a kingfisher,
0:12:29 > 0:12:32which is a lovely bird. One of the images, unfortunately, is soft,
0:12:32 > 0:12:34the colours aren't very vibrant,
0:12:34 > 0:12:37whereas the other image is very sharp, it's got some action,
0:12:37 > 0:12:40the colours are amazing. There's a fish in the beak.
0:12:40 > 0:12:42It will be the sharper image with the better colours
0:12:42 > 0:12:44that will go into the "yes" pile.
0:12:48 > 0:12:53I think this year's calendar is going to be really, really something.
0:12:53 > 0:12:55I've been going through the Plant Life
0:12:55 > 0:12:58and some of the Insect pictures, the quality is so good.
0:13:04 > 0:13:09After heroic levels of hard work and concentration,
0:13:09 > 0:13:12they've finally selected the photos that have made the short list.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16Somewhere within these sealed boxes are the 12 photos
0:13:16 > 0:13:18that will go on to win a coveted place
0:13:18 > 0:13:20in the Countryfile Calendar for 2012.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25And this is where we're going to make the final selection.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27A beautiful, historic country house.
0:13:27 > 0:13:29Dorney Court, not far from Windsor Castle.
0:13:29 > 0:13:32This place has been here for nearly 600 years.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36A picture-perfect setting for looking at some great pictures.
0:13:36 > 0:13:41Later in the programme, I'll be joined by regular judge Chris Packham
0:13:41 > 0:13:44and a new face to the panel, Janet Street-Porter,
0:13:44 > 0:13:48as we get down to the serious business of choosing the 12 finalists.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54Now, the Government's decision to back a cull on badgers
0:13:54 > 0:13:59to stem the spread of bovine TB in cattle has divided public opinion.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01Many farmers blame badgers for infecting their cows,
0:14:01 > 0:14:04others say that it's down to cattle movements.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08But how much do we really know about this much-loved creature?
0:14:09 > 0:14:13Adam's off to see what he can learn.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21My farm is packed with Wildlife and I love to see it,
0:14:21 > 0:14:24but there's one animal that lives here that's causing real concern.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27And because they spend the majority of the daylight hours underground,
0:14:27 > 0:14:29many of us don't know much about them,
0:14:29 > 0:14:30let alone get to see them.
0:14:35 > 0:14:39Whatever you make of the link between badgers and bovine TB, the fact is,
0:14:39 > 0:14:43British badgers are not the rare or endangered species they once were.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47I need to know more about this nocturnal creature.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49I love to see badgers as much as anybody.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52But for farmers like me, who have seen TB claim the lives
0:14:52 > 0:14:57of so many of our cattle, we are in a real dilemma.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59This is open grazing pasture
0:14:59 > 0:15:02and it's almost impossible to keep badgers and cattle apart.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04That's one of the setts just down there.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Badgers have been given increasing levels of legal protection
0:15:09 > 0:15:14over the last 30 years and as a result, their numbers have grown.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16But there aren't any exact figures for how many
0:15:16 > 0:15:18roam our countryside today.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22There hasn't been a national survey for more than a decade.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26We've had badgers on this farm ever since I was a boy,
0:15:26 > 0:15:30but bovine TB has only really become an issue since 2002.
0:15:30 > 0:15:34And since that time, we've lost 64 cattle to the disease.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36Go on, lovelies!
0:15:36 > 0:15:38Go on, then!
0:15:40 > 0:15:44Farmers are advised to keep badgers and cattle separate
0:15:44 > 0:15:47wherever they can and, particularly in the winter,
0:15:47 > 0:15:50what we need to do is lock up our feed stores,
0:15:50 > 0:15:52put electric fences around the cattle yards,
0:15:52 > 0:15:54keep troughs out of badgers' reach.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57And in the summer, what I do is put my minerals
0:15:57 > 0:16:01in these holders so that it doesn't get covered in badger slobber
0:16:01 > 0:16:03before the cows lick it.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07But how can I be sure these measures work when I know
0:16:07 > 0:16:09so little about the way badgers behave?
0:16:10 > 0:16:14I've set a night-vision camera going here to try
0:16:14 > 0:16:17and get some shots of badgers.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Hopefully, if it was in the right spot,
0:16:20 > 0:16:21we'll have some badgers.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24Oh! HE LAUGHS
0:16:24 > 0:16:27Oh, dear, it's mainly sheep!
0:16:27 > 0:16:31I think they probably quite like coming and lying on this sandy bit.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35Oh! There's a couple of seconds of badgers there.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39I'll leave it for another night, see if I can get some more.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44There's a place near here at Woodchester Park,
0:16:44 > 0:16:48where they've got far more experience than I have at spotting badgers.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51That's where a lot of the government research on badgers is carried out.
0:16:54 > 0:16:59They've been studying them in Gloucestershire since the '70s.
0:16:59 > 0:17:04The overriding purpose was to gather information on their role in the transmission of bovine TB.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07The study also revealed a lot about how badgers live.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10I'm meeting Professor Robbie McDonald
0:17:10 > 0:17:12from the Food and Environment Research Agency.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16- Robbie.- Morning, Adam. - Good to see you again.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19- Nice to see you again.- In the woods. - Welcome to Woodchester Park.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22I've got a few setts on my farm. A similar situation to this,
0:17:22 > 0:17:23and some of them out in fields.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25Are they quite particular about where they live?
0:17:25 > 0:17:29Anywhere that's got a bit of shelter and ideally on a slope
0:17:29 > 0:17:32so that they can dig into it, that provides the ideal habitat.
0:17:32 > 0:17:36Are badgers indigenous to the UK? Have they always lived here?
0:17:36 > 0:17:38Oh yes, this is a native species,
0:17:38 > 0:17:41it's one that's been around here since the end of the last Ice Age.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44It's very much part of our native fauna.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46There seems to be a bit of a feeling out there
0:17:46 > 0:17:49that the badger population is growing.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Are there lots of them or not?
0:17:51 > 0:17:54There's historically almost certainly been
0:17:54 > 0:17:55an increase in badger numbers.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58Across the country, we are probably looking at about 300,000 animals,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01something like that.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03And what about their social structure?
0:18:03 > 0:18:04How do you know how far they travel?
0:18:04 > 0:18:09Yes. Sociality is a really important part of badger life.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11We've got some low-tech
0:18:11 > 0:18:14and hi-tech ways of studying badger society here. I can show you.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18You've got here a bucket of these plastic chips,
0:18:18 > 0:18:22some golden syrup - other brands are available!
0:18:22 > 0:18:24ADAM LAUGHS
0:18:24 > 0:18:29And we have peanuts here, which is what the badgers like to eat.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32So we can mix up the peanuts and the syrup with these chips.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35And when the badgers eat that mixture,
0:18:35 > 0:18:39they won't be able to digest these, so these come out in the faeces.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43So we feed a different colour chip at each of the main setts
0:18:43 > 0:18:46and then we can go out and survey where these chips turn up
0:18:46 > 0:18:50and that allows us to map the territories of the animals.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54We've been doing that here for about 30 years
0:18:54 > 0:18:59and the remarkable thing is how stable the social group territories are.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01These animals tend to stay put.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05'The more hi-tech side of Robbie's research has proven
0:19:05 > 0:19:09'how determined these creatures can be to get at food.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13'Infrared cameras have caught footage of badgers in farm buildings.'
0:19:13 > 0:19:18This shows some badgers actually on a pile of cattle feed.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22When I imagine the secret life of a badger to be a nervous animal
0:19:22 > 0:19:23that scoots around at night,
0:19:23 > 0:19:26they're in there, rolling around, happy as Larry.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28And I suppose, you can't blame them.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Where there's food, that's what they're after,
0:19:30 > 0:19:32they're going to go in there, aren't they?
0:19:32 > 0:19:33It's an easy meal.
0:19:36 > 0:19:39It's been really interesting to learn more about the ecology
0:19:39 > 0:19:41of the badger from Robbie, who's a scientist.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43But when it comes to the human emotions,
0:19:43 > 0:19:45it's a totally different story.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48And so to understand the passion that some people have for badgers,
0:19:48 > 0:19:52I'm off to meet a man who dedicates a huge amount of time to them.
0:19:56 > 0:19:57Retired policeman Tony Dean
0:19:57 > 0:20:00has been watching the same badger sett for 28 years.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03Tony?
0:20:03 > 0:20:06- Hello, Adam.- Hi, how are you? - Welcome to Slad Valley.
0:20:06 > 0:20:10- I'm looking forward to seeing these badgers.- You're hoping. Same as me.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17What's the chances of them coming out tonight, Tony?
0:20:17 > 0:20:19I'm a little bit doubtful with this very strong wind.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23We might have to wait a little while, but hopefully...
0:20:24 > 0:20:26What have you got in the bag? Food for them?
0:20:26 > 0:20:31- Yes, peanuts, sultanas, bread and peanut butter.- The lucky things.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35Isn't there plenty of grub for them?
0:20:35 > 0:20:37No, it's such a dry spring and summer
0:20:37 > 0:20:40that the food chain has gone completely.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43- Really?- Their main food, people don't realise, is earthworms.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47Every badger needs 200 to 300 worms a night. Desperate times at the moment,
0:20:47 > 0:20:50and they are scraping cowpats to pieces
0:20:50 > 0:20:52looking for worms and beetles.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00With fading light, we walk up the bank for a better view
0:21:00 > 0:21:01of the badger sett.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05Tony throws out some titbits, and all we can do is be patient,
0:21:05 > 0:21:08but we don't have to wait for long.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17(That's one poking its head out down there now. It's amazing.)
0:21:20 > 0:21:23(What do you find the most fascinating thing
0:21:23 > 0:21:24(about watching badgers?)
0:21:24 > 0:21:27Because I can get so close to them.
0:21:27 > 0:21:28When I am here on my own,
0:21:28 > 0:21:30I can sit on this bank
0:21:30 > 0:21:34and those badgers will come, even the adults some nights,
0:21:34 > 0:21:36will come within six foot of me.
0:21:36 > 0:21:38As long as I'm quiet and make no sudden movements,
0:21:38 > 0:21:41they'll even sometimes take the food out of my fingers.
0:21:49 > 0:21:53For me, there's a real conflict in my heart.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57I love wildlife, and it's a real treat to come here and see badgers.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03But, I'm a livestock man, too, and I love to see healthy animals.
0:22:05 > 0:22:10Bovine TB is a terrible disease, and wherever it comes from,
0:22:10 > 0:22:16whether it lies in wildlife or in farm animals, between us,
0:22:16 > 0:22:18we've got to get on top of it.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20Very difficult times.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28- Good night, then. - Thank you very much.- My pleasure.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Today, we are in the green pastures of the Wye Valley
0:22:36 > 0:22:38at the Monmouthshire Show.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41It's one of the biggest events in the Welsh farming calendar
0:22:41 > 0:22:44and I'm going behind the scenes to meet the country people
0:22:44 > 0:22:46at the heart of rural life.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48Around here, it's all about livestock,
0:22:48 > 0:22:51and taking a prize at the county show can make all the difference
0:22:51 > 0:22:53when it comes to selling your animals.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56But what makes a champion handler?
0:22:56 > 0:22:57Well, I'm about to find out.
0:23:00 > 0:23:02Megan Watkins may be just 11,
0:23:02 > 0:23:05but she's a veteran when it comes to showing sheep,
0:23:05 > 0:23:08and she's going to tell me what it takes to be a prize-winner.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12Right, Meg. Who've we got in here, then?
0:23:12 > 0:23:15This is the show bunch, so we've Magey in here,
0:23:15 > 0:23:18and some of the other show sheep as well.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20I see, these are Texels, aren't they?
0:23:20 > 0:23:22So we're looking for Magey, or Magic.
0:23:22 > 0:23:27- Where is she?- She's that one. - Shall we get in there and grab her?
0:23:35 > 0:23:38Perfect. She's very well-behaved.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40Right, so let's have a lovely introduction to Magic.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44- Tell us all about her. How old is she?- She's a five-year-old ewe.
0:23:44 > 0:23:46So what sort of things do you do to her?
0:23:46 > 0:23:49Obviously, preparing her for the show.
0:23:49 > 0:23:52Basically, you have to wash her face and legs
0:23:52 > 0:23:53to make them really stand out.
0:23:53 > 0:23:59OK. Right, so we've got brushes, sponges, soap.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02Hello? Do you want a little brush as well? Who's this?
0:24:02 > 0:24:04This is Lucky, he is one of our breeding tups.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06- He's huge, isn't he?- Yeah.
0:24:07 > 0:24:12And all we do is we just wipe the face just to start off with.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14And just get it a bit wet.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16She's very tolerant.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18She's done this many a time.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23Magic! With a bit of a soap and a scrub,
0:24:23 > 0:24:26she looks three years younger and sparkling.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28There we are, behind the ears.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32So you've got all of these sheep on the farm then, Meg.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34How do you decide what makes a really good show sheep?
0:24:34 > 0:24:39They've got to stand out, so if they are a ewe, especially,
0:24:39 > 0:24:42they've got to have a nice, pretty head.
0:24:42 > 0:24:44I've been doing it with Magey for ages now,
0:24:44 > 0:24:48and I find I know how she's going to stand when she stops and everything.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50And then that she's, like, a lot better,
0:24:50 > 0:24:53and you have to have sheep that's good at walking,
0:24:53 > 0:24:55and that isn't Magey's strongest point.
0:24:55 > 0:24:57How do you feel just before you go into the ring?
0:24:57 > 0:25:00I find it nervous before I go into the ring,
0:25:00 > 0:25:03but then it's just really exciting.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05Well, you're obviously a very good young handler
0:25:05 > 0:25:08and you have a wonderful relationship with all the sheep
0:25:08 > 0:25:10- and they all just want to be with you. - THEY LAUGH
0:25:10 > 0:25:14Later on, we'll be finding out how Megan got on with Magic
0:25:14 > 0:25:16at the Monmouthshire Show.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19Come on, come on! Move along at the front!
0:25:23 > 0:25:28Now, John, Chris, and our new judge, Janet Street-Porter
0:25:28 > 0:25:30have their work cut out choosing the 12 finalists
0:25:30 > 0:25:33for the Countryfile photographic competition
0:25:33 > 0:25:34with its theme, Best In Show.
0:25:34 > 0:25:38And here is John with a reminder of how it all started back in May.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44Chris Packham launched the competition at the Shropshire Show
0:25:44 > 0:25:48and inspired some young farmers to capture the spirit of our theme,
0:25:48 > 0:25:49Best In Show.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53After that, the entries started to flood in.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56We had a fantastic response in all 12 classes.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59You sent in a staggering 55,000 photographs -
0:25:59 > 0:26:02so many, that we asked some of our previous finalists
0:26:02 > 0:26:04to narrow them down to a short list.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11Well, now we're down to just 3,600 entries,
0:26:11 > 0:26:15and we brought them all here to historic Dorney Court near Windsor,
0:26:15 > 0:26:19which has been the home of the Palmer family for more than 400 years,
0:26:19 > 0:26:23and they very kindly allowed us to use the Great Hall for the judging.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27And joining me on the panel to pick the 12 photos that will grace
0:26:27 > 0:26:30the Countryfile Calendar for next year is Chris Packham,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33wildlife expert and old friend of the competition,
0:26:33 > 0:26:36and a new face this year, Janet Street-Porter.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39Well, I'm thrilled that I've been asked to be a judge,
0:26:39 > 0:26:45because I spend a huge amount of my time living in the countryside.
0:26:45 > 0:26:47I've got a house up in Yorkshire, I walk everywhere,
0:26:47 > 0:26:50and I always take a camera and take photos.
0:26:50 > 0:26:54I've been married to a photographer and I lived with a photographer,
0:26:54 > 0:26:56so I've been photographed millions of times.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59I love photography.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07Well, this is some room, isn't it!
0:27:07 > 0:27:10A lot of ancestors are going to be looking at us
0:27:10 > 0:27:12as we make our judgments.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16- Welcome, Janet, and welcome again, Chris.- Thank you.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18What sort of things are you going to be looking for?
0:27:18 > 0:27:19I'm looking for pictures
0:27:19 > 0:27:21that I could look at for a whole month,
0:27:21 > 0:27:24which means I'm going to be pretty picky.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28It's hard to look at the same image without just taking it for granted.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31- Yes. Chris? - The usual criteria for me.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33I want someone who has been thinking about their photography,
0:27:33 > 0:27:35exercising their imagination
0:27:35 > 0:27:37and putting artistic content into it.
0:27:37 > 0:27:38I think the other criterion is,
0:27:38 > 0:27:40it's a picture you wish you'd taken yourself.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44There's always that thing about great photography where you think,
0:27:44 > 0:27:45"Why didn't I think of that?"
0:27:45 > 0:27:48Well, shall we get on with it? We've got a lot to do.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51First up, Janet is looking at the Landscapes class.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54Chris has got Birds and I've got In All Weathers.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57This just about sums up In All Weathers.
0:27:57 > 0:28:02- This is the British summer this year. - Yeah. That's been my summer.
0:28:02 > 0:28:06I love pictures of trees when they look really magical
0:28:06 > 0:28:08and mysterious, and this one really does.
0:28:10 > 0:28:15I've found some photographs of my favourite birds here. Bearded tit.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18What an absolutely stunning creature that is.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20Woodcock on a wall.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23Oh, I'll think twice about eating another woodcock.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25Woodcock are one of the finest creatures,
0:28:25 > 0:28:27eating a woodcock... Oh, no!
0:28:27 > 0:28:31- They are a game bird. - I know they're a game bird, but...
0:28:31 > 0:28:32Well, they're a game bird.
0:28:32 > 0:28:37- Look, look.- I know, now I've seen it, I won't eat any more woodcock.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39Excellent, I'm taking you up on that.
0:28:39 > 0:28:41No more woodcock consumed by Janet.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43- Do they taste nice?- Yeah.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46- Don't...don't... draw the process out. - JOHN AND JANET LAUGH
0:28:52 > 0:28:55You know, amongst all these dozens of photographs,
0:28:55 > 0:29:00there are two virtually identical pictures.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04I tell you what, for what it's worth, I'm going for Charles.
0:29:04 > 0:29:09- It's really hard, what d'you think? - Well, I prefer this one, I think.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12Oh, no! Now there's one for each!
0:29:12 > 0:29:16You've got the deciding vote between Charles and Ralph.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18- It's your category.- Go on.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22God, they both come from Yorkshire. I don't want to offend them.
0:29:22 > 0:29:24- I'm going to choose that one. - You're going for Ralph!
0:29:25 > 0:29:28- Ha-ha!- It is really tough.- Oh, dear.
0:29:28 > 0:29:30'Sorry, Charles. There wasn't much in it.'
0:29:33 > 0:29:36The next three classes, Plant Life,
0:29:36 > 0:29:39Lighter Side Of Country Life and Farm Life.
0:29:39 > 0:29:43Just a buttercup, growing on how many people's lawns?
0:29:44 > 0:29:47And the striking colour. I really like that.
0:29:47 > 0:29:51- I like the composition of this one. - Yes, that's very good.
0:29:51 > 0:29:52Yes, I like that.
0:29:52 > 0:29:57Scarecrows. I've got a scarecrow for every occasion.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05'We're halfway through, so next are Leisure and Pleasure,
0:30:05 > 0:30:08'wildlife and working animals.'
0:30:08 > 0:30:12Tell you what's not in my category, Leisure and Pleasure,
0:30:12 > 0:30:16is any photographs of allotments or vegetables.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20Now, I am so obsessed with growing vegetables that every time
0:30:20 > 0:30:23I grow a vegetable in my garden in Yorkshire,
0:30:23 > 0:30:26which is interesting, I take a photo of it.
0:30:28 > 0:30:32- I took a picture of my first peas? - This year?- Yes.- Did you?
0:30:32 > 0:30:35There was enough for half a plateful.
0:30:38 > 0:30:40I think I know that hole.
0:30:40 > 0:30:44I've seen water voles photographed outside that hole so many times.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46This is Brian, and there's Sheila.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49It's almost like I know these animals personally.
0:30:49 > 0:30:53Novelty is essential, I think, when it comes to photography.
0:30:58 > 0:31:02'Final classes are insects and spiders,
0:31:02 > 0:31:04'Water Worlds and Country People.'
0:31:04 > 0:31:07What about this as an animal? Now, look, Janet, come on.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11- The tussock moth caterpillar. - My house is a war-zone.
0:31:11 > 0:31:17I'm fighting rabbits, moles, mice, caterpillars,
0:31:17 > 0:31:18cabbage white butterflies.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21Why can't you live in harmony with these creatures?
0:31:21 > 0:31:23Because they're killing my vegetables.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27If I listen to another programme telling me to love my slugs,
0:31:27 > 0:31:29I think I'll puke.
0:31:29 > 0:31:32'So be warned, insects and wildlife out there,
0:31:32 > 0:31:34'it's probably best to avoid Janet's garden.'
0:31:42 > 0:31:44Well, we're making pretty good progress,
0:31:44 > 0:31:48but we still have hundreds more to look through before we pick our final 12.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50'So join us later when we select one photograph
0:31:50 > 0:31:56'from each of the classes to make up the Countryfile calendar for 2012,
0:31:56 > 0:31:59'and you'll also get the chance to vote for the overall winner,
0:31:59 > 0:32:00'the Best In Show.'
0:32:06 > 0:32:07There's some fantastic photos there,
0:32:07 > 0:32:11and I'm sure you've already picked out some that are your favourites.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14But while the judging continues, I'm back at the Monmouthshire Show,
0:32:14 > 0:32:16surrounded by top-notch specimens,
0:32:16 > 0:32:19real show-stoppers of a different kind.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24The event's one of the highlights of the rural calendar,
0:32:24 > 0:32:27with over 2,000 animals on show and competitors
0:32:27 > 0:32:30travelling from as far afield as Scotland, Ireland and Cornwall.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33But perhaps no-one shows more dedication
0:32:33 > 0:32:35than the owners of these guys.
0:32:36 > 0:32:3924 hours ago, before the show officially opened
0:32:39 > 0:32:44and the other animals poured in, it was the goats who got here early to take part
0:32:44 > 0:32:46in a milking competition.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49And I got a crash-course from veteran handler John Powell.
0:32:50 > 0:32:52You catch hold of the teats,
0:32:52 > 0:32:57you close your finger and thumb on the top and squeeze.
0:32:57 > 0:33:01Hold that together, and then with your fingers, press.
0:33:02 > 0:33:04MILK SQUIRTS AND SPLASHES
0:33:05 > 0:33:09- It sounds like a symphony. - Do you feel confident, Clare?
0:33:09 > 0:33:10No, not at all.
0:33:10 > 0:33:11Well done.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15Terrific. Yes.
0:33:15 > 0:33:19Oh, Tulip, I'm so sorry, you poor thing.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22There's a definite knack to this.
0:33:22 > 0:33:26Oh, no! And I'm not sure I've got it yet.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32John, how much should I be getting out here?
0:33:32 > 0:33:34You should be getting about half a gallon.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37- I'm not sure that's half a gallon. - No, that's two cups of tea.
0:33:40 > 0:33:44Now, when I said these guys took dedication to a whole new level,
0:33:44 > 0:33:45I wasn't kidding.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49Because with night drawing in and an early start of competition in the morning,
0:33:49 > 0:33:52most people stay here on site,
0:33:52 > 0:33:55even bedding down for the night alongside their farmyard friends.
0:34:04 > 0:34:08No thanks to my efforts, Tulip triumphed, winning first prize
0:34:08 > 0:34:11for giving most milk, and she wasn't the only one taking home a rosette.
0:34:11 > 0:34:16Megan, the young handler Matt met, earned a second place.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18And after all my hard work with the Jones family,
0:34:18 > 0:34:22Ebony the cow also came in second.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25I'm a bit disappointed, because I thought she'd won.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28There was even better news to come as Butterfly won her class,
0:34:28 > 0:34:31bur Fraggle had a mountain to climb
0:34:31 > 0:34:34when she found herself in the Best of Breed final
0:34:34 > 0:34:36up against Adam the bull.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38Poor little Fraggle.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41Oh, she's won! Good girl!
0:34:43 > 0:34:47You knocked out the big boy! Well done, Fraggle!
0:34:54 > 0:34:57So young Fraggle here has won best young heifer,
0:34:57 > 0:35:00Best Female and best overall winner.
0:35:00 > 0:35:04It's been a good day, and there's lots more competition still to come.
0:35:05 > 0:35:06In a few moments on Countryfile,
0:35:06 > 0:35:10Clare's the hot favourite in a scurry-driving challenge.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13She's up against James, and the underdog isn't sounding confident.
0:35:13 > 0:35:18I've got no chance. The equine expert that is Clare Balding.
0:35:18 > 0:35:22The judging of the Countryfile photographic competition
0:35:22 > 0:35:24is reaching its climax.
0:35:24 > 0:35:26But is your entry among the finalists?
0:35:26 > 0:35:29- I think I might go for that one. - I'm going for that one.
0:35:29 > 0:35:30Well, it's two-to-one.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33And will the weather be picture-perfect?
0:35:33 > 0:35:36Find out with the Countryfile forecast for the week ahead.
0:35:57 > 0:36:01If ever there was a place of beauty that takes your breath away,
0:36:01 > 0:36:03then this would be it.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08But it hasn't always been like this.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13Mark O'Brien and his partner Liz Vice have just landed
0:36:13 > 0:36:16first prize in a competition to find the Wye Valley's most beautiful
0:36:16 > 0:36:18and environmentally friendly farm.
0:36:18 > 0:36:20They were honoured at the Monmouthshire Show
0:36:20 > 0:36:26for their work in transforming their land from a run-down overgrown wilderness to a prize-winner.
0:36:26 > 0:36:30The couple put wildlife at the heart of everything they do here.
0:36:30 > 0:36:34It's an outstanding place, this. It feels beautiful to be here.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36But how did it all start for you?
0:36:36 > 0:36:40I was always interested in wildlife when I was a kid, you know.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44I didn't have toys. I loved birds and fossils and things.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47And I just wanted, really, to look after a bit of land,
0:36:47 > 0:36:49and that's how it's all started, really.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51We've ended up with all this.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54And how about the girls you've got here, the longhorn cattle,
0:36:54 > 0:36:56because there'll all part of the management?
0:36:56 > 0:36:59Yes, they're vital for the grassland management, really,
0:36:59 > 0:37:03because it has had some damage done to it by modern farming,
0:37:03 > 0:37:05so I'm just trying to restore the grass
0:37:05 > 0:37:08and not put any muck or fertiliser on.
0:37:08 > 0:37:10And it's all organic now?
0:37:10 > 0:37:14It's all organic. It produces a great quality food product.
0:37:14 > 0:37:18- Now, he is an absolute beauty. - Yes, he is a blackfoot bull.
0:37:18 > 0:37:20I presume he's got a name as well?
0:37:20 > 0:37:26His name's Blackbrook Stig, like Stig off Top Gear.
0:37:26 > 0:37:30Yeah. He used to run around quite fast, I think, when he was younger.
0:37:31 > 0:37:36The meat from these longhorns brings in essential revenue to Mark and Liz,
0:37:36 > 0:37:40but there's another little business that's grown out of all the work here - charcoal making.
0:37:40 > 0:37:44Liz is bagging up the last of their new batch.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48- So this is your charcoal factory, then?- That's right.- Lovely.
0:37:48 > 0:37:50Are you going to hop in there, Matt?
0:37:50 > 0:37:53- Do you want me to? - And shovel a bit out.
0:37:53 > 0:37:55OK, if you need me to. No problem.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58Here's a dust mask, you'll need that.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01OK, and I'm just shovelling up on to the top of here?
0:38:01 > 0:38:03Yes, this is the riddle,
0:38:03 > 0:38:07and what Liz is going to do is riddle out the dust.
0:38:07 > 0:38:11The finer particles will fall through as I riddle it,
0:38:11 > 0:38:15leaving the larger lumps ready for bagging.
0:38:15 > 0:38:19Most of the charcoal that's in the shops that people buy,
0:38:19 > 0:38:21it comes from mangrove swamps and rainforest regions,
0:38:21 > 0:38:24and these areas are cleared forever and destroyed.
0:38:24 > 0:38:29Our charcoal is sustainable because our woodlands are coppice woodlands,
0:38:29 > 0:38:32and when you cut the trees, they re--sprout again. They don't die.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35You go back 20 years later, cut the same trees,
0:38:35 > 0:38:38and you get more wood for charcoal again. It's much more sustainable.
0:38:40 > 0:38:42When Mark and Liz won their award,
0:38:42 > 0:38:46the first person to congratulate them was their great friend, Humphrey Smith.
0:38:46 > 0:38:51Impressed by their love for nature, he dug deep into his own pockets to start them off on their journey.
0:38:51 > 0:38:56I knew Humphrey Smith, because he was chairman of the Wildlife Trust.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00He phoned me up and said "I've got £50,000,
0:39:00 > 0:39:03"and I'm going to get you a woodland so you and Liz can manage it."
0:39:03 > 0:39:06- What? Hang on! - That's what we thought!
0:39:06 > 0:39:09He phoned you up and said, "I'll give you £50,000?"
0:39:09 > 0:39:13He said it can be anywhere you want, anywhere in the world, wherever you want.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16- Unbelievable. - It was like winning the lottery.
0:39:16 > 0:39:18Humphrey was the start of everything, really.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24The couple then sold their house,
0:39:24 > 0:39:26enabling them to buy all the livestock.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33They regularly open their gates to school kids,
0:39:33 > 0:39:36but my visit here's almost over.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39Before I go, I want to take in some of the views
0:39:39 > 0:39:43that have helped the farm win this prestigious award for its natural beauty.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46We want to preserve it for future generations.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50We're just caretakers here, who are only here for a short time.
0:39:50 > 0:39:55Kids today are not connecting with a lot of countryside issues
0:39:55 > 0:39:58and where food's from, so we think that's very important,
0:39:58 > 0:40:02because in the future they'll be the people looking after the environment,
0:40:02 > 0:40:05so we need to teach them now, before it's too late.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13The moment when we'll be revealing our final 12
0:40:13 > 0:40:17in the Countryfile photographic competition is almost upon us.
0:40:17 > 0:40:22The judges' favourite photo in each category will make up the Countryfile calendar for 2012,
0:40:22 > 0:40:24but will you agree with their choices?
0:40:24 > 0:40:26Let's see how they're getting on.
0:40:30 > 0:40:34Well, out of the 55,000 photographs sent in,
0:40:34 > 0:40:38we're now down to the final 20 in each of the 12 categories,
0:40:38 > 0:40:40and now it's crunch time.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42Which ones stay and which ones go?
0:40:42 > 0:40:46'We have the almost impossible task of getting them down
0:40:46 > 0:40:49'to just a handful of favourites in each class,
0:40:49 > 0:40:53'and then deciding on the photo we like the very best.'
0:40:53 > 0:40:55SHE SIGHS
0:40:55 > 0:40:57It's not easy!
0:41:02 > 0:41:06'I've been looking at the classes In All Weathers,
0:41:06 > 0:41:08'Country People...
0:41:10 > 0:41:12'..Working Animals...
0:41:14 > 0:41:15'and Farm Life.'
0:41:17 > 0:41:19Certainly an awful lot of lambs and sheep,
0:41:19 > 0:41:23and that was probably the most appealing of all the lambs.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27This is a sort of classic farming picture.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31This is how shepherds, farmers and their dogs get about these days.
0:41:31 > 0:41:36A classic pastoral scene here, and this one, which is my favourite -
0:41:36 > 0:41:39a tractor going underneath this treescape. Most unusual.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43For me, it's a one-tractor race. I love the tangle of trees and the fact that this
0:41:43 > 0:41:46red machine, something man-made,
0:41:46 > 0:41:49is emerging from this natural tangle.
0:41:54 > 0:41:58'Next up, Chris has been deliberating over his favourite class,
0:41:58 > 0:41:59'Insects And Spiders.
0:42:02 > 0:42:06'He was equally passionate about his Wildlife shortlist.'
0:42:06 > 0:42:09The pin-sharpness. Oh, the vibrancy!
0:42:09 > 0:42:11Ooh! Ooh! Ooh!
0:42:11 > 0:42:14You might have just convinced us, Chris.
0:42:14 > 0:42:16'But, with Birds, it was more difficult,
0:42:16 > 0:42:18'and he didn't have all his own way.'
0:42:18 > 0:42:20I might go for that one.
0:42:20 > 0:42:21I'm going for that one.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23Ah. It's two-to-one.
0:42:23 > 0:42:24THEY LAUGH
0:42:24 > 0:42:28'So, that just left his final class, Plant Life.'
0:42:28 > 0:42:31I like the richness of this one. For me that's the most painterly
0:42:31 > 0:42:32and artistic of them.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34Poppies are on two of them,
0:42:34 > 0:42:38and I like the contrast between the sharp, spiky teasels here
0:42:38 > 0:42:41and this out-of-focus tableau of poppies behind.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44This one, just one of those photographs.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47I just want to be there. The richness of life.
0:42:47 > 0:42:49And then this one, again, pretty arty -
0:42:49 > 0:42:54the hyper-reality of a tiny little seed that's come from a dandelion.
0:42:54 > 0:42:57Personally, I'm leaning to this one,
0:42:57 > 0:43:00because to me, this says richness of life and colour.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02I completely agree with you!
0:43:02 > 0:43:06- Wow!- That's a bit of a world first, isn't it?
0:43:08 > 0:43:12'Janet's classes included The Lighter Side Of Country Life,
0:43:12 > 0:43:16- 'Water Worlds and Leisure And Pleasure.'- It's really tough,
0:43:16 > 0:43:19because I think if I had to choose two, I'd choose these two.
0:43:19 > 0:43:23And I like those because our overall theme this year is Best In Show.
0:43:23 > 0:43:27Exactly, and that fits in very neatly.
0:43:27 > 0:43:30'But when she judged the Landscapes class, it was simply a matter
0:43:30 > 0:43:33- 'of what you might call- stile.'
0:43:33 > 0:43:35I'd have to choose this, as a rambler.
0:43:35 > 0:43:38I'm always very pleased to see a stile,
0:43:38 > 0:43:40otherwise I've got to leg it over the top.
0:43:40 > 0:43:44And also, I'm very keen on black-and-white photography,
0:43:44 > 0:43:47and I'd worry if the calendar was all colour pictures.
0:43:47 > 0:43:49I think that's a strong picture.
0:43:49 > 0:43:52And you wonder where it's going to take you, don't you, the stile?
0:43:52 > 0:43:56A bog - that's what usually happens!
0:43:56 > 0:44:00This is, in terms of the composition, almost perfect.
0:44:00 > 0:44:04Look, it starts in the middle, you come down here, you go here, and you go up here.
0:44:04 > 0:44:05It's a lovely shape.
0:44:05 > 0:44:07If you two are going for that, I'll join in,
0:44:07 > 0:44:10because I think that is pretty stunning as well.
0:44:12 > 0:44:15'All in all, an incredibly difficult challenge for us,
0:44:15 > 0:44:19'and we've been hugely impressed by the quantity and quality of your photos.
0:44:19 > 0:44:25'After a whole day of judging, with plenty of lively debate and some very hard decisions,
0:44:25 > 0:44:28'we finally agreed on the 12 fabulous photos
0:44:28 > 0:44:32'that will make up the Countryfile calendar 2012.
0:44:32 > 0:44:34'And here they are.'
0:44:50 > 0:44:53It's going to be a real cracker.
0:44:53 > 0:44:57Thank you, Janet. Thank you, Chris, for your comments and help in picking these wonderful pictures.
0:44:57 > 0:45:01And now it's up to you, because we want you to pick the overall winner.
0:45:01 > 0:45:04The photographer with the most number of votes
0:45:04 > 0:45:10gets to choose from a selection of the latest photographic equipment worth £1,000.
0:45:12 > 0:45:17We've given each of our finalists a number, and we'd like you to vote for your favourite.
0:45:17 > 0:45:21Calls cost 10p from a BT landline, other operators may vary,
0:45:21 > 0:45:25and calls from mobiles will be considerably higher.
0:45:25 > 0:45:29But don't phone yet, because your votes won't be registered and you might be charged.
0:45:29 > 0:45:32I'll tell you when you can start to make your choice,
0:45:32 > 0:45:35but here is a reminder of the final 12.
0:46:49 > 0:46:50You can start voting now,
0:46:50 > 0:46:53and the lines will stay open until midnight next Sunday -
0:46:53 > 0:46:54that's September 18.
0:46:54 > 0:46:57But if you vote after the lines close,
0:46:57 > 0:47:00you may still be charged and your vote won't be counted.
0:47:00 > 0:47:03You'll find all the details of the phone vote on our website,
0:47:03 > 0:47:06along with information about the BBC's code of conduct
0:47:06 > 0:47:08for competitions and voting.
0:47:12 > 0:47:15There'll be another chance to see our finalists
0:47:15 > 0:47:18at the end of the programme, and we'll reveal who won your vote,
0:47:18 > 0:47:23and the photograph chosen as the judges' favourite, on 9th October.
0:47:24 > 0:47:27Thanks to everybody who's entered this year's competition.
0:47:27 > 0:47:29We really have had some super shots sent in.
0:47:29 > 0:47:33In a moment, we'll return to the prize-winners at the Monmouthshire Show,
0:47:33 > 0:47:36and Clare and James will be having a go at scurry racing.
0:47:36 > 0:47:40Before that, here's the Countryfile weather forecast for the week ahead.
0:49:49 > 0:49:57.
0:50:10 > 0:50:13Today, we're exploring the Monmouthshire side of the Wye Valley,
0:50:13 > 0:50:17countryside blessed with outstanding natural beauty, and also,
0:50:17 > 0:50:19one of the biggest agricultural shows in Wales.
0:50:19 > 0:50:25I'll be meeting up with James later. But, first, he has a bit of a challenge to take on.
0:50:25 > 0:50:29There are some things in life I'm really comfortable with,
0:50:29 > 0:50:31walking in a wood or foraging in a hedgerow.
0:50:31 > 0:50:35But there's one thing I have no experience with.
0:50:38 > 0:50:42Horses. Not just the one. Two of them.
0:50:42 > 0:50:44Oh, and there's this chariot thing attached to the back.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47And they want me to ride it.
0:50:47 > 0:50:48The things they get me doing!
0:50:51 > 0:50:55This is scurry driving.
0:50:55 > 0:50:59'It looks pretty dangerous. Excellent(!)
0:50:59 > 0:51:04'To put me at my ease, I'm counting on champion scurry driver, Lucy Scott.'
0:51:04 > 0:51:06Tell me about scurry racing,
0:51:06 > 0:51:08because I've never even heard of it before.
0:51:08 > 0:51:13We have two ponies and a cart. It has four wheels on it.
0:51:13 > 0:51:15They're very basic carts.
0:51:15 > 0:51:18We don't have brakes, we don't have nice suspension,
0:51:18 > 0:51:20so it's going to be a bumpy ride for you.
0:51:20 > 0:51:22It sounds hardcore.
0:51:22 > 0:51:28And we have a course of cones, normally about 12 cones, and we have balls on top.
0:51:28 > 0:51:32so, the fastest through the course of cones without knocking the balls off wins.
0:51:32 > 0:51:37- It's very fast and furious.- Is it dangerous?- Yes, it can be dangerous.
0:51:37 > 0:51:40We're going at high speeds, turning sharp corners,
0:51:40 > 0:51:45so we do rely on the groom behind to hold the wheels on the floor.
0:51:45 > 0:51:49If you're going left, they have to get right over the wheels on to the left...
0:51:49 > 0:51:51- To stop you tipping over? - To stop us tipping over.
0:51:51 > 0:51:57- Is that the bit I'm doing?- Yes. - I'm a glorified weight?- You are. - Fantastic! I can do that, I'm sure.
0:51:59 > 0:52:01Let's hope I can, anyway! Here goes.
0:52:07 > 0:52:11- Right. Tally-ho!- OK. Hold onto the front. Walk on!
0:52:16 > 0:52:17OK, right!
0:52:20 > 0:52:23And then over to the left.
0:52:23 > 0:52:27- Are you happy with that? - It's a bit like sailing.
0:52:27 > 0:52:29But with horses and no water!
0:52:31 > 0:52:33Left, left! Left, left, left.
0:52:33 > 0:52:36My bum is not entirely on the seat. Is that all right?
0:52:36 > 0:52:40As long as you have one cheek on the seat you're fine. Over to the right.
0:52:41 > 0:52:44Now left! Now right!
0:52:45 > 0:52:49'This is a lot more tiring than I thought.'
0:52:49 > 0:52:52That's it. You've got the hang of it!
0:52:56 > 0:53:00Well, James, I think you're ready.
0:53:00 > 0:53:04- OK. Ready for what?- You'll soon find out when we get there.
0:53:04 > 0:53:09'What James isn't prepared for is that he's going to be competing against me.
0:53:09 > 0:53:10- Good luck!- Thank you.
0:53:12 > 0:53:15'And when it comes to racing, we've got previous.
0:53:15 > 0:53:19'A few weeks back, with a bit more horsepower, he beat me hands down...'
0:53:19 > 0:53:22That wasn't you! That wasn't you!
0:53:22 > 0:53:25'But not necessarily playing fair and square.'
0:53:25 > 0:53:29- Oh! So, we meet again!- Hello, James.
0:53:29 > 0:53:33I decided that, because the last time we did a challenge you cheated,
0:53:33 > 0:53:38by getting somebody else to drive, not telling me you couldn't drive, I thought we'd have a rematch.
0:53:38 > 0:53:43Aren't you an adept equestrian horse expert?
0:53:43 > 0:53:45I am, but I don't really do this very often.
0:53:45 > 0:53:49- I will be happy if you want to have a head start.- No, no, no.
0:53:49 > 0:53:52- You know me and fair play. I'm good to go.- You and fair play!
0:53:52 > 0:53:55Right, let's get into the arena and do it!
0:53:55 > 0:54:00'So, here we go. The inaugural Countryfile scurry race.
0:54:00 > 0:54:06'A champion jockey versus a botanist with no propensity for horsemanship.
0:54:06 > 0:54:07'Should be a belter!'
0:54:07 > 0:54:12'I'm first up with driver Philippa and horses Wallace and Gromit.'
0:54:15 > 0:54:16They're really good.
0:54:22 > 0:54:23I've got no chance.
0:54:23 > 0:54:26The equine expert that is Clare Balding.
0:54:31 > 0:54:34I need to know what that woman's time is.
0:54:34 > 0:54:37- ANNOUNCER:- 57.01, ladies and gentlemen.
0:54:37 > 0:54:4057.01 is the time to beat.
0:54:40 > 0:54:42'I've certainly got my work cut out here.
0:54:44 > 0:54:46'Next up, little old me.'
0:54:48 > 0:54:50Have they started?
0:54:50 > 0:54:51Jeez, they're flying.
0:54:55 > 0:54:58He's doing great, he's doing great through the slalom,
0:54:58 > 0:55:00really shifting his weight properly.
0:55:00 > 0:55:02Right, right, right, go, go, go, go!
0:55:02 > 0:55:04Over to the left!
0:55:04 > 0:55:06Now we've got a gallop.
0:55:06 > 0:55:08How's the time? 44...
0:55:08 > 0:55:09They might beat us.
0:55:12 > 0:55:15- ANNOUNCER:- And it's pretty fast, 56.265.
0:55:15 > 0:55:17He's got me again. He has, too.
0:55:20 > 0:55:21Hello, Clare.
0:55:21 > 0:55:23Well done. I'm quite impressed with that.
0:55:23 > 0:55:26That was very, very good. Did you enjoy it?
0:55:26 > 0:55:28It was fantastic, and don't feel too bad,
0:55:28 > 0:55:31because it's the only trace of masculinity I've got left -
0:55:31 > 0:55:34if I was to lose to a girl on a My Little Pony pink chariot
0:55:34 > 0:55:36it would be the end of the world.
0:55:36 > 0:55:40Well, you can take this very macho Scurry Driving Association shield of honour.
0:55:40 > 0:55:43I'm thrilled for James, absolutely thrilled for him.
0:55:43 > 0:55:46Congratulations, and talking of winners, before we say goodbye,
0:55:46 > 0:55:49here is a final reminder of how to vote for your favourite
0:55:49 > 0:55:52in the Countryfile Photographic Competition.
0:57:06 > 0:57:08Lines close next Sunday evening,
0:57:08 > 0:57:11and all the details are on our website.
0:57:11 > 0:57:14Well, that's it from us this week at the Monmouthshire Show,
0:57:14 > 0:57:19but next week we'll be joining a team from the RNLI International Flood Rescue.
0:57:19 > 0:57:20Exciting stuff. Join us then.
0:57:28 > 0:57:31Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:57:31 > 0:57:34E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk