:00:30. > :00:39.Where echoes of former industry can still be heard in the valleys...
:00:39. > :00:45.because the coal mines here in South Wales are long gone.
:00:45. > :00:49.that where the mines have scarred this land,
:00:49. > :00:56.And where the coalfields end, the green hills begin.
:00:56. > :01:01.a town famous for its market and its food.
:01:01. > :01:05.And their giant vegetables made of cotton.
:01:05. > :01:09.I've got to get this big boy up there.
:01:09. > :01:16.While we are exploring Wales, Tom is investigating rural crime
:01:16. > :01:26.but the so-called sport of using dogs to chase and kill hares
:01:26. > :01:29.still goes on, bringing with it trespass,
:01:29. > :01:37.So, what is being done to stop it? I'll be investigating.
:01:37. > :01:41.Helen is meeting the handlers representing Scotland
:01:41. > :01:47.No, I'm not going there just to make up the numbers.
:01:47. > :01:50.That's for sure. You're going there to win it? Yes, always.
:01:50. > :01:53.And John's in Essex to launch the Countryfile calendar.
:01:54. > :01:56.And reveal the photographer whose picture you chose
:01:56. > :02:00.I've come here today to meet the winner, but, as yet,
:02:00. > :02:20.The rich natural beauty of the valleys of South Wales,
:02:20. > :02:24.where steep green and heather-clad hills rub up against
:02:24. > :02:28.a starker landscape, one whose turbulent past
:02:28. > :02:36.The green hills around Abergavenny give way to a different
:02:36. > :02:41.landscape near the town of Blaenavon...
:02:41. > :02:46...one shaped by an industry that changed the world.
:02:46. > :02:51.I'm talking coal, but all that remains is the odd mineshaft
:02:51. > :03:02.but everything that you can see here was changed by coal.
:03:02. > :03:06.Blaenavon is a World Heritage site, because back in the 18th century,
:03:06. > :03:12.it was home to a gold rush - black gold.
:03:12. > :03:14.They mined coal in vast quantities,
:03:14. > :03:17.and it brought about a change on a scale not seen before.
:03:17. > :03:23.And these hills bore the brunt
:03:23. > :03:29.of mankind's insatiable drive for progress.
:03:29. > :03:31.There's very little of what you can see here
:03:31. > :03:34.There's a little bit of the skyline there,
:03:35. > :03:37.but coming in front of that, that has all been worked.
:03:37. > :03:40.That's all been turned over for coal and for iron ore,
:03:40. > :03:45.which really only represent about 5% of the rock sequence.
:03:45. > :03:49.really, only about 2% is workable coal seams.
:03:49. > :03:52.So there's a lot of waste for them to get through,
:03:52. > :03:56.and it's the sort of sandstones and mudstones that are associated
:03:56. > :03:58.with the coal seam that you have got to dump on the hillsides
:03:58. > :04:04.The English industrialists who came here in the late 18th century
:04:04. > :04:15.They snapped up all the mineral-rich land they could get their hands on.
:04:15. > :04:20.Those little square blocks coming off - that is a bit of coal seam.
:04:20. > :04:23.So this is one of just a thin seam, but it is one of many,
:04:23. > :04:29.No, the great thing is that you've got all the ingredients you need
:04:29. > :04:33.You have got the coal, which you use as a fuel,
:04:33. > :04:36.you've got iron ore itself... It's heavy, that, isn't it? Yes, it is.
:04:36. > :04:39.It is much heavier than you'd expect for its weight.
:04:39. > :04:41.Then you've got limestone, that you use as a flux,
:04:41. > :04:43.and that takes out the impurities from the iron ore.
:04:43. > :04:46.And you have got water here for powering your machinery too.
:04:46. > :04:50.So, all the ingredients that you need for getting the Industrial Revolution
:04:50. > :04:55.kick-started are here, on the edge of the South Wales coalfield.
:04:55. > :05:00.In 1789, the first major coal-fired furnace was built in Blaenavon.
:05:00. > :05:04.It wasn't long before the Welsh sky blazed red.
:05:04. > :05:07.Smelting went on day and night to meet the huge demand for iron
:05:07. > :05:12.from international railway construction and a war-hungry Navy.
:05:12. > :05:15.But the quality of the coal here meant it would go on
:05:15. > :05:18.to overtake iron as the focus of production.
:05:18. > :05:23.Welsh steam coal would help turn Blaenavon into a boom town.
:05:23. > :05:27.By 1921, 13,000 people were living here,
:05:27. > :05:31.all attracted by the chance of working underground.
:05:31. > :05:33.Des Harris followed in their footsteps.
:05:33. > :05:37.I was 15 years of age when I first came down the mine. Were you, really?
:05:37. > :05:39.15 years of age. What, did your father work or...?
:05:39. > :05:42.My father worked underground, my grandfather worked underground,
:05:42. > :05:47.The only work around when I left school was down the mines,
:05:47. > :05:51.and started work in the mine on Monday.
:05:51. > :05:54.Very hard, dangerous, dirty, dusty work, but it was OK.
:05:54. > :06:00.Thousands of tons of coal were extracted from Blaenavon's
:06:00. > :06:06.making South Wales one of the major coal producing regions on Earth.
:06:06. > :06:12.the men at the coalface were poorly paid.
:06:12. > :06:16.Their rewards were found in a sense of community.
:06:16. > :06:18.I used to enjoy working down the mine.
:06:18. > :06:23.You were with your friends, what have you, and then you went back up.
:06:23. > :06:29.And you just got on with the job. It was very enjoyable.
:06:29. > :06:31.It may sound mad, but if I had my chance over again,
:06:31. > :06:34.I would do it all over again. Would you, really? Oh, yes.
:06:34. > :06:38.36 years underground, and I would do it all over again.
:06:38. > :06:42.With increased competition from abroad and new fuels like oil
:06:42. > :06:46.and gas, the Welsh coal industry went into decline.
:06:46. > :06:50.By the 1980s, mines all over had closed.
:06:50. > :06:56.The village I come from, I could name everybody in that village.
:06:57. > :06:59.You are talking 1,000 people. I knew them all.
:06:59. > :07:03.Go there now, I don't even know anybody now. All gone.
:07:03. > :07:18.Blaenavon's pit closures meant the death of the town.
:07:18. > :07:23.When the work stopped, spoil heaps were just left as they were.
:07:23. > :07:45.Things went quiet, and new life began to stir in this landscape.
:07:45. > :07:46.I have actually got some specimens in a pot here. Very good.
:07:46. > :07:49.In true ecology style. Let's have a closer look, then.
:07:49. > :07:53.The mottled grasshopper. It's quite variable in its colours.
:07:53. > :07:57.Colliery spoil is black or grey. The darker ones will blend in.
:07:57. > :08:00.They have adapted well to that sort of darker environment.
:08:00. > :08:03.The difference in the colour is quite something.
:08:03. > :08:07.Look at that vivid green and then you have got that very coaly black.
:08:07. > :08:16.Absolutely. We have seen quite a few butterflies flying around.
:08:16. > :08:17.The Grayling butterfly is principally a coastal butterfly.
:08:17. > :08:22.Inland, it is found in these areas of colliery spoil,
:08:22. > :08:26.where it is dry and provides similar conditions to the sandy
:08:26. > :08:29.environments you find round the coast, such as sand dunes.
:08:29. > :08:31.Perhaps those species might not even have been here
:08:31. > :08:35.if it wasn't for the mining that took place. Absolutely.
:08:36. > :08:41.If we're after variety, bare spoil is the bees' knees
:08:41. > :08:46.in terms of habitats, and for people walking in the landscape,
:08:46. > :08:54.there's nothing better than seeing the variety of wildlife around you.
:08:54. > :08:59.The mines may have gone, but the spoil heaps remain.
:08:59. > :09:02.And this land, laid to waste by industry,
:09:02. > :09:14.Now, hare coursing has been banned in the British countryside
:09:14. > :09:29.that hasn't put a stop to this illegal sport.
:09:30. > :09:35.The East of England's expansive flatlands, home to brown hares.
:09:35. > :09:39.Something has been through here. There's just a little path.
:09:39. > :09:43.British hare numbers have fallen by 80% in the past 100 years,
:09:43. > :09:50.But in some places, they're still common, like here in Lincolnshire.
:09:50. > :09:54.Not that that makes them easy to find.
:09:54. > :10:02.There, there, there. There he goes. Wow! Great.
:10:03. > :10:09.There he goes, down the line. Fantastic.
:10:09. > :10:19.are at the centre of a major illegal blood sport
:10:19. > :10:27.The traditional pastime of hare coursing
:10:27. > :10:34.Dogs are pitted against a hare in a contest of speed and agility.
:10:34. > :10:43.but the Hunting Act of 2004 banned the sport in the UK.
:10:43. > :10:48.Today, the only way to hare course legally this with one of these.
:10:48. > :10:54.Simulated hare coursing events are run by Paddy Weaver.
:10:54. > :10:57.The same in principle as traditional coursing,
:10:57. > :11:01.but with a plastic lure on a zigzag track, mimicking the twists
:11:01. > :11:08.One dog will wear a white collar, and one dog will wear a red collar.
:11:08. > :11:18.And the one that runs the truest course wins. But I'm the judge.
:11:18. > :11:25.So I gather you used to do it when it was legal? Yes, I did, yes. Why?
:11:25. > :11:28.I were brought up with it. It was in the family.
:11:28. > :11:32.Didn't you think it was cruel in any way?
:11:32. > :11:36.No, because when the dog catches a hare, it's dead.
:11:36. > :11:38.If you go and shoot it, you might only wound it.
:11:38. > :11:46.So this is a way of keeping it all alive for you? We're trying, yes.
:11:46. > :11:49.The 2004 Hunting Act may have banned hare coursing,
:11:50. > :11:55.While some remained happy with these simulated chases,
:11:56. > :12:03.others were determined to pursue real hares, regardless of the law.
:12:03. > :12:08.some people are still illegally setting hounds against hares.
:12:08. > :12:14.In places like Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire, there are
:12:14. > :12:18.hundreds of calls a year with 30 or 40 vehicles at a time, sometimes.
:12:18. > :12:22.'Alan Roberts is with the Police National Wildlife Crime unit.
:12:22. > :12:26.'He's concerned about the type of people hare coursing attracts.'
:12:26. > :12:29.Very often, the people that are involved in coursing have got
:12:30. > :12:34.other criminal records. Sometimes quite scary people?
:12:34. > :12:38.There are plenty of reports of incidents where
:12:38. > :12:40.they have literally confronted the farmer, threatened them,
:12:41. > :12:43.beaten them, attacked their vehicles, this sort of thing.
:12:43. > :12:46.They travel all over the place to commit the crime.
:12:46. > :12:49.They travel all over the place to go coursing.
:12:49. > :12:52.This hobby that they have is like the glue
:12:52. > :12:54.that joins these people together.
:12:54. > :12:58.It seems hare coursing is bringing some serious criminals
:12:58. > :13:02.to the countryside, and woe betide anyone who gets in their way.
:13:02. > :13:06.I have been out here on some days and middle of the day, and I have
:13:06. > :13:10.seen six, seven vehicles driving across the middle of the field.
:13:10. > :13:13.'This Lincolnshire farmer says he regularly has hare coursers
:13:13. > :13:18.'on his farm, and that led to one particularly perilous confrontation.
:13:18. > :13:24.The vehicle that was on the corner here, to our right,
:13:24. > :13:29.I got out of the buggy and approached the vehicle.
:13:30. > :13:33.They started the vehicle up and just drove straight for me.
:13:33. > :13:37.They ended up hitting me hard on the side of the leg
:13:37. > :13:41.of the front of the bumper of the pick-up.
:13:41. > :13:43.And so I was left in a heap on the floor,
:13:43. > :13:46.just up the field margin here, and I had to pull my legs
:13:47. > :13:49.out the way, otherwise the rear axle of the vehicle
:13:49. > :13:53.'Despite his injury, Andy drove after the vehicle.
:13:53. > :13:55.'Then it tried to ram him off the road.'
:13:55. > :13:58.The third time, they tried to reverse and knock us into the dyke.
:13:58. > :14:00.They just then sped off into the distance.
:14:00. > :14:05.Like other farmers, Andy still suffers threats
:14:05. > :14:08.and intimidation from these criminals.
:14:08. > :14:10.It's clear that hare coursing has come a long way
:14:10. > :14:14.from its roots as a traditional countryside sport.
:14:14. > :14:18.So, gangs are going to great lengths to keep this sport alive,
:14:18. > :14:22.risking imprisonment for them and injury to others.
:14:22. > :14:31.So what's being done to tackle them? I'll be finding out later.
:14:31. > :14:37.Monmouthshire, a borderland county known as the gateway to Wales.
:14:37. > :14:46.Good, fertile land for growing and for grazing. Come by!
:14:46. > :14:50.He also founded the internationally renowned
:14:50. > :14:59.You know what you're doing. You've done that before.
:14:59. > :15:02.I think I have - a few times. How long?
:15:02. > :15:06.I think you've definitely got the measure of it now.
:15:06. > :15:11.What prompted the idea to come up with a food festival?
:15:11. > :15:16.As you say, 15 years ago was the time of BSE, followed by foot and mouth.
:15:17. > :15:23.fires at night, burning of the carcasses round here.
:15:23. > :15:28.a lot of people lost animals so it was a pretty depressing time.
:15:28. > :15:33.The idea for the food festival came from wanting to celebrate -
:15:33. > :15:36.to do something positive about farming in this area,
:15:36. > :15:38.and celebrate the good food that is produced.
:15:38. > :15:41.It's not all about the food though is it? No, it isn't.
:15:41. > :15:46.I've got something to show you. Lead the way. Yeah.
:15:46. > :15:50.Well, that, would you believe, is a sheep? I know it's a sheep.
:15:50. > :15:53.But what's it doing up there and what's it made of?
:15:53. > :15:58.Rag rug made of bits of cloth put together.
:15:58. > :16:01.The story behind that sheep... That is my sheep.
:16:01. > :16:07.there's something a bit funny with him, apart from its mournful look.
:16:07. > :16:10.Yes, a mournful face. A full-on view. One, two, three legs!
:16:10. > :16:13.Yeah, that is a bit odd. Only one back leg.
:16:13. > :16:16.Yes, what you think we call that? Peggy.
:16:16. > :16:22.So, that's based on your sheep - Tripod -
:16:22. > :16:24.and it was made for the festival? Absolutely.
:16:24. > :16:27.And this marriage between the art and the food
:16:27. > :16:29.is an important part of the festival.
:16:29. > :16:34.to look at the decorations in the Market Hall.
:16:34. > :16:40.She's quite lovely. Yeah, absolutely. Unique but lovely. Yeah.
:16:40. > :16:44.'Just down the road in the heart of Abergavenny is the old Market Hall,
:16:44. > :16:48.'normally busy with shoppers and stallholders,
:16:48. > :16:53.'but today is the day the big arts get hung.'
:16:53. > :16:57.Well, it's pretty obvious what this year's theme is -
:16:57. > :17:11.'And coming up with the new one is a big challenge for
:17:11. > :17:21.Bet? Um, the nuts there, on the table behind me.
:17:21. > :17:24.'This year's theme is Garden of Plenty -
:17:24. > :17:30.'And it's the community spirit that brings it to life.
:17:30. > :17:34.'Turn back the clock four weeks, and 60 volunteers of all ages
:17:34. > :17:48.'and abilities were beavering away to realise Bettina's vision.'
:17:48. > :17:53.Ooh, ooh, let me help. Let me help. Let me help.
:17:53. > :17:55.One of your beans is loose. Thank you
:17:55. > :17:57.Well, that's what happens when you have giant vegetables.
:17:57. > :18:02.I know. They've got a mind of their own. Look at this monster here.
:18:02. > :18:05.Bettina, that is a magnificent pumpkin. How do you start?
:18:05. > :18:10.I always think about it a year in advance.
:18:10. > :18:11.I mean, it takes about a year to think,
:18:11. > :18:17."Because everyone loved the birds and the hares last year.
:18:17. > :18:20."I think I don't know how to top that one."
:18:20. > :18:23.And you just think, "Are vegetables going to be quite as exciting?"
:18:23. > :18:27.But I think they will be. I think they will be.
:18:27. > :18:29.You've certainly got the scale. Most of the fabrics
:18:29. > :18:32.are hand-dyed. It's all sort of calico,
:18:32. > :18:35.silk, velvet that has been specially dyed or painted.
:18:35. > :18:36.It doesn't always go to plan, does it?
:18:36. > :18:40.No. We hoisted the giant turkey last year,
:18:40. > :18:46.Oh, no. And his tail feathers broke. Poor turkey. I know.
:18:46. > :18:53.'The Cinderella-style pumpkin is going to need all hands on veg
:18:53. > :18:55.'if we are going to get it to the rafters.
:18:55. > :18:57.'But first it needs a few finishing touches.'
:18:57. > :19:05.and she's going to be laughing at you letting ME do the sewing.
:19:05. > :19:11.'Luckily, once this beauty is hanging from the ceiling,
:19:11. > :19:13.'no-one will notice the dreadful Bradbury stitch.
:19:13. > :19:19.'All we've got to do is get it up there.
:19:19. > :19:25.'Cue the cherry picker. Or should that be the pumpkin picker?'
:19:25. > :19:27.All this for a pumpkin. Who'd have thought it?
:19:27. > :19:41.MUSIC: "Also Sprach Zarathustra" Richard Strauss
:19:41. > :19:58.This is Bradders and the giant pumpkin.
:19:58. > :20:04.And another hanging vegetable. Yeah. Yes. Brilliant.
:20:04. > :20:07.'So, how do you follow aerial vegetables?
:20:07. > :20:10.'With underground cheese, of course!'
:20:10. > :20:16.I'm in the changing rooms of the Big Pit - Blaenavon's last coal mine.
:20:16. > :20:19.The colliers finally hung up their boots in here
:20:19. > :20:23.it's been preserved as a World Heritage site
:20:23. > :20:27.and a museum. But something is still brought up from the bottom
:20:27. > :20:38.Sue, how and why are you maturing Cheddar at the bottom of the mine?
:20:38. > :20:43.We are maturing it, Matt, in a big stainless steel caskets...
:20:43. > :20:46.Right. ..300 feet below ground in a safety shaft.
:20:46. > :20:50.And what do you put this flavour down to?
:20:50. > :20:59.and that's all it needs to change the cheese
:20:59. > :21:02.from a very great cheese to an absolutely brilliant cheese.
:21:02. > :21:06.Had you heard that mines were a good environment?
:21:06. > :21:09.Yes, there was a lot of historic data
:21:09. > :21:13.about what miners ate in their sandwiches.
:21:13. > :21:18.That was known as miners' wedding cake.
:21:18. > :21:21.How important is it for you to be using the mine
:21:21. > :21:24.that has been the lifeblood of this community?
:21:24. > :21:28.Having the cheese bringing a new, different kind of life
:21:28. > :21:34.into the area, it's giving something for the community to be proud of.
:21:34. > :21:41.This year, Countryfile is teaming up
:21:41. > :21:44.with the institution that is One Man And His Dog.
:21:44. > :21:48.Adam was in Wales catching up with competitors here.
:21:48. > :21:53.She's in Scotland meeting a couple more hopefuls.
:21:53. > :22:12.dramatic mountains loom over barren uplands,
:22:12. > :22:18.and glorious glens carve their way through rural lowlands.
:22:18. > :22:21.who, along with the help of their trusty sheepdogs,
:22:22. > :22:25.can whip a field full of sheep into shape in no time.
:22:25. > :22:29.One of them is young, fresh-faced and keen.
:22:29. > :22:32.The other is an old hand, defending champion no less,
:22:32. > :22:40.they're hoping to bring a title back to Scotland in One Man And His Dog.
:22:40. > :22:44.First out of the pen, Rory Marshall and his working dog, Tess.
:22:44. > :22:47.This 15-year-old will be competing in the under-18s class.
:22:47. > :22:51.You could say he was destined to take up trialling.
:22:51. > :22:54.Growing up on a farm with 800 blackface sheep,
:22:54. > :23:03.was going to pick up a few nifty herding skills.
:23:04. > :23:14.'And as for five-year-old Tess, she's from champion stock.
:23:14. > :23:18.'Her grandmother, Fly, was a One Man And His Dog winner in 2004.
:23:18. > :23:23.'So, how's Rory feeling about this year's competition?'
:23:23. > :23:28.but ever since, I've gotten a lot better.
:23:28. > :23:30.What made you want to get involved in competitions?
:23:30. > :23:37.It just really interested me and it looked really fun, so...
:23:37. > :23:43.Because, I mean... Well, Tess is certainly having fun. Tess.
:23:43. > :23:48.How often do you and Tess train? Most nights when I can.
:23:48. > :23:50.Obviously I've got schoolwork to do as well.
:23:50. > :23:52.Do you work harder on your schoolwork
:23:52. > :23:56.I'd have to say harder on my training.
:23:56. > :23:58.I think people probably underestimate you, Rory,
:23:58. > :24:02.because you are a novice, but you work with hill sheep.
:24:02. > :24:09.These are very stubborn wild sheep, aren't they? Yes, very.
:24:09. > :24:13.'Rory's been trialling for less than 12 months.
:24:13. > :24:17.'His first was a small local trial at the end of last year
:24:17. > :24:20.'and now look at him go. He's really got Tess under control.'
:24:20. > :24:24.'It's great to see a youngster like Rory
:24:24. > :24:27.'keeping this traditional skill alive.
:24:27. > :24:29.'But, of course, more farmers these days
:24:29. > :24:32.'are swapping four legs for four wheels.'
:24:32. > :24:37.I thought a 15-year-old lad like Rory would prefer petrol power
:24:37. > :24:48.'I wonder if me and my machine can be any help to the light-footed Tess?'
:24:48. > :25:12.'Thank goodness for Tess. I think I'd better leave it to the expert.'
:25:12. > :25:15.I'm not sure if I helped or not there, Rory.
:25:15. > :25:20.Why do you prefer working with dogs to the quads?
:25:20. > :25:25.I find them reliable, and they're much more fun than quads -
:25:25. > :25:31.'is definitely making a promising young partnership.'
:25:32. > :25:38.'In fact, Team Scotland is shaping up to be quite the double threat.
:25:38. > :25:42.'Joining Rory is a man who really knows how to work a field -
:25:42. > :25:52.'He is the current singles champion and definitely one to watch.'
:25:52. > :25:55.'He's been trialling since he was 11 and when it comes to form,
:25:55. > :26:02.'Ian's spoilt for choice with his two champion dogs, Mo and Gus.
:26:02. > :26:04.'Not only that, he's got a shed load of youngsters
:26:04. > :26:11.Now, Ian, you have form, don't you? You are a supreme champion.
:26:11. > :26:15.Gus has performed well for you. Mo has performed well for you. Yes.
:26:15. > :26:17.Who are you going to take to this competition?
:26:17. > :26:22.Gus injured himself about six or eight weeks ago,
:26:22. > :26:27.He's almost there, but we'll see in the time of the competition.
:26:27. > :26:33.Look at them. They're both so loyal, aren't they?
:26:33. > :26:36.Undivided attention focused on you, Ian. Yeah.
:26:36. > :26:38.So, when will you decide which one is going to go?
:26:38. > :26:41.Probably the day of the competition. Really?
:26:41. > :26:43.Just see how he is, and we'll go from there.
:26:43. > :26:45.I'm kind of spoiled for choice, to be fair.
:26:45. > :26:49.That's not a bad position to be in. How many dogs have you actually got?
:26:49. > :26:52.Seven. Seven? Yeah. And at what age do you start training them?
:26:52. > :26:55.Maybe six, seven months old. Just depends.
:26:55. > :26:58.They'll start chasing sheep or looking to work at different stages.
:26:58. > :27:01.So, if you want, we can have a look at Tess.
:27:01. > :27:05.Yeah, let's get Tess out. She's just starting chasing sheep.
:27:05. > :27:12.So, what do you do then, at this early age, to kind of...
:27:12. > :27:14.Oh, she's not that keen to come out. A bit camera shy. Tess. Tess.
:27:14. > :27:19.Come on, Tessy. What are you doing with them at this stage?
:27:19. > :27:25.She just goes round the sheep, it's just what's natural at this stage.
:27:25. > :27:30.OK. And then I'm kind of assessing what I need to do.
:27:30. > :27:32.What things I need to sort and what things to leave alone.
:27:33. > :27:35.Let's take them to the farm and see them in action.
:27:35. > :27:39.No problem. This isn't about you yet. Next time. Tess. Tess.
:27:39. > :27:44.HE WHISTLES So, Gus will rest his ligaments,
:27:44. > :27:47.and I'm sure Mo, over the next half hour, will try to convince you
:27:47. > :27:49.that you should use her in the competition. Yes.
:27:49. > :27:53.Your dogs are obviously great what they do, but Border collies
:27:53. > :27:56.in general are good at rounding up cattle and sheep, aren't they?
:27:56. > :27:59.It's been bred into them over hundreds of years.
:27:59. > :28:02.I suppose they've selected the best herding dogs. Is it that simple?
:28:02. > :28:06.We had Border collies, and they were rubbish at rounding up sheep.
:28:06. > :28:08.There's a lot of training goes into it as well.
:28:08. > :28:11.It takes a lot of time to train them.
:28:11. > :28:15.But generally it's the instinct. You want to breed with the best dogs.
:28:15. > :28:17.I know we keep referring back to the competition,
:28:17. > :28:21.but competition aside, how useful are they day-to-day on the farm?
:28:21. > :28:23.You couldn't do without them on a sheep farm.
:28:23. > :28:26.I always think a good dog's worth about five men
:28:26. > :28:33.'It's easy to see why Ian's dogs are so prized.
:28:33. > :28:36.'When you've got a flock of more than 600 sheep,
:28:36. > :28:39.'you'd be in big trouble without them.'
:28:39. > :28:51.'But now it's time to see how much natural talent youngster Tess has.
:28:51. > :28:55.'Ian's leaving her lead on just in case she gets a bit too close.'
:28:55. > :29:05.Tess is having a field day here, isn't she? She is.
:29:05. > :29:08.Yeah, but when they're pups - she's only five months old -
:29:08. > :29:11.you've got to let them play. It's just like kids.
:29:11. > :29:16.all the little bits - the good bits and the bad bits.
:29:16. > :29:21.I'll start actually to put some command on her.
:29:21. > :29:25.Tess! That'll do, Tess. That'll do, Tess. Attagirl. Good girl.
:29:25. > :29:27.'Ian puts all his success down to the dogs.
:29:27. > :29:31.'But is this modest Scot holding back?'
:29:31. > :29:33.You're the one to watch in this competition.
:29:33. > :29:36.But no, we try our best and see what happens.
:29:36. > :29:41.If anybody enters any competition, you want to win it.
:29:41. > :29:45.I can't tell of this is your game face and underneath you're like,
:29:45. > :29:49.No, I'm not going there just to make up the numbers anyway,
:29:49. > :29:54.that's for sure. You're there to win it? Yeah, always.
:29:54. > :29:58.'Next time, I'll be meeting Team England,
:29:58. > :30:08.'while Adam's getting the low-down on the Irish competitors.'
:30:08. > :30:11.MATT: Now, earlier, we heard how hare coursing
:30:11. > :30:13.has changed from a countryside tradition
:30:13. > :30:19.So, what's being done to stamp it out?
:30:19. > :30:25.'The centuries-old sport of hare coursing,
:30:25. > :30:28.'where swift hounds pursue an agile hare,
:30:28. > :30:31.'was outlawed by the 2004 Hunting Act.
:30:31. > :30:35.'Since then, this sport has been pushed into the shadows.'
:30:35. > :30:42.still very much alive in Britain's countryside.
:30:42. > :30:46.Big, sometimes violent, gangs trespass on farmland,
:30:46. > :30:50.and in their wake comes a lot of other criminal activity.
:30:50. > :30:56.'Recently harvested fields, together with level landscapes,
:30:56. > :31:02.So, what are the police doing to control the sport
:31:02. > :31:07.and the criminal behaviour that comes with it?
:31:07. > :31:10.'I'm joining the Lincolnshire Wildlife Crime Team.
:31:10. > :31:13.'They're part of Operation Galileo - a collaboration between
:31:13. > :31:15.'Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk forces
:31:15. > :31:19.'to crack down on hare coursing across the counties.
:31:19. > :31:21.'Nick Willey is heading out on patrol.'
:31:21. > :31:24.So, what is it you're really looking for today, Nick?
:31:24. > :31:27.We're looking for people travelling into the county
:31:27. > :31:36.poaching activity, running dogs on land, illegally chasing hares.
:31:36. > :31:40.The team will respond to calls for service from members of the public,
:31:40. > :31:43.from landowners, farmers, gamekeepers.
:31:43. > :31:48.Is it easy to police? No, it's not easy to police at all.
:31:48. > :31:53.Prior to last season, our incidents went up to over 1,000 incidents.
:31:53. > :31:55.Really? It was quite clearly... Yeah. Wow.
:31:55. > :32:05.Quite clearly, although we try to combat it, it's very hard to police.
:32:05. > :32:08.'The sport may be rife, but the incidents are spread over
:32:08. > :32:12.'a vast area, and the officers involved in Operation Galileo
:32:12. > :32:18.'So farmers like Andy, who we met earlier,
:32:18. > :32:21.'often take their own steps to protect their land.'
:32:22. > :32:26.Because we haven't got any metal gates here,
:32:26. > :32:28.we put these big bales that weigh about half a tonne apiece
:32:28. > :32:30.across the gateway, and it stops them coming in.
:32:30. > :32:33.What you think about the law and the police today?
:32:33. > :32:35.Is there enough deterrent to put people off?
:32:35. > :32:38.It's frustrating from our point of view as a farmer,
:32:38. > :32:40.in that we have our property here that we're trying to protect,
:32:40. > :32:43.and we get these coursers coming all over the fields
:32:43. > :32:49.We'll phone the police to come and help us,
:32:49. > :32:52.and you might get a police vehicle here in 20 minutes,
:32:52. > :32:55.it might be five hours, it might be two days.
:32:55. > :32:57.And, you know, a lot of times we complain
:32:57. > :33:00.to the police about the response is not quick enough,
:33:00. > :33:02.and these guys are doing the job as well as they can,
:33:02. > :33:05.but the problem is higher up in the police that they're so undermanned.
:33:05. > :33:08.What about the law? Is that fit for purpose on this?
:33:08. > :33:12.I think in this situation, it is very difficult to prioritise
:33:12. > :33:16.where hare coursing comes in the crime league, if you like.
:33:16. > :33:19.And if there's other more serious incidents,
:33:19. > :33:24.But when it endangers public life and endangers human life -
:33:25. > :33:28.then, yes, that is a lot more serious offence.
:33:28. > :33:32.'This isn't just an issue of resourcing or priorities -
:33:32. > :33:36.'getting the evidence needed to convict someone of hare coursing
:33:36. > :33:42.'were actually prosecuted for running him over.'
:33:42. > :33:44.It sounds like a slightly odd question,
:33:44. > :33:48.do you think you would have been able to charge them
:33:48. > :33:50.for a coursing-related offence, or would it have been
:33:50. > :33:53.a lot harder to get the attention of the legal system?
:33:53. > :33:55.It would definitely have been a lot harder,
:33:55. > :34:00.'Working in some of the remotest parts of the countryside,
:34:00. > :34:05.'is a problem the police come up against time and time again.'
:34:05. > :34:10.and really gathering that evidence is very, very tricky.
:34:10. > :34:16.But that is one of the aims of Operation Galileo.
:34:16. > :34:20.'the police are doing their best to catch the coursers red-handed.
:34:20. > :34:23.'Another team has intercepted two suspicious cars
:34:23. > :34:28.'in a service station just outside the Lincolnshire border.'
:34:28. > :34:33.Tom from Countryfile here. How many dogs did they have and what kind?
:34:33. > :34:35.POLICEMAN ON RADIO: 'I think they had three
:34:35. > :34:44.'And they were both what we would refer to as lurchers.
:34:44. > :34:46.'They were just visiting friends, apparently.'
:34:46. > :34:49.And I gather one of them had an ASBO preventing them
:34:49. > :34:54.from entering Lincolnshire, and so I guess that's a pretty
:34:54. > :34:57.serious business if he does cross the border?
:34:57. > :35:01.'Yes, his ASBO prohibited him from entering Lincolnshire
:35:01. > :35:05.'with a dog, and that's valid for two years.
:35:05. > :35:10.'he's about 100 metres into Cambridgeshire...'
:35:10. > :35:15.Yeah. Smart lad! Thanks very much indeed for your help.
:35:15. > :35:17.Sorry we weren't there to see it ourselves,
:35:17. > :35:23.'when there's direct evidence of hare coursing -
:35:23. > :35:29.'But as we've heard, that evidence is difficult to gather,
:35:29. > :35:32.'so the police also do as much as they can
:35:32. > :35:37.'using everything from trespass to driving offences.'
:35:37. > :35:40.We look at every other offence that we can, whether it's people
:35:40. > :35:44.that have had tickets for no seat belt, for using a mobile phone.
:35:44. > :35:49.committing the offence of hare coursing,
:35:49. > :35:52.cos we give them a ticket and we're on their case, then so be it.
:35:52. > :35:55.'Tackling criminals for crimes they CAN prove
:35:55. > :35:58.'rather than for hare coursing is paying off.'
:35:59. > :36:01.We're just two weeks into it, but, I mean,
:36:01. > :36:05.last season's Operation Galileo was, without a doubt, a success.
:36:05. > :36:14.And we've had 186 prosecutions at court.
:36:14. > :36:16.'Using direct evidence and disruption,
:36:16. > :36:19.'the police believe they are already deterring criminals.
:36:19. > :36:22.'And working together across their boundaries,
:36:22. > :36:25.'forces are hoping to crack down the activity altogether,
:36:25. > :36:29.'rather than simply pushing it elsewhere.'
:36:29. > :36:33.Operation Galileo isn't going to end hare coursing,
:36:33. > :36:44.making it much harder to pursue such a damaging crime.
:36:44. > :36:48.'Autumn is coming, and subtle changes are taking place.
:36:48. > :36:51.'There are fading colours, different smells,
:36:51. > :36:58.'Two centuries ago, it would have been much different.
:36:58. > :37:01.'Back then, heavy industry filled the air.
:37:01. > :37:04.'There are still those if you know what to look for.'
:37:04. > :37:08.South Wales was a global superpower when it came to iron production,
:37:08. > :37:11.and to make iron, you need iron itself, lime and coal.
:37:11. > :37:14.And all those were in plentiful supply from up there in Blaenavon,
:37:14. > :37:20.But the question is, how did they get these precious resources
:37:20. > :37:22.that fuelled an Industrial Revolution
:37:22. > :37:25.and changed the world from up there...
:37:25. > :37:31.'The solution was nothing short of incredible.
:37:31. > :37:35.'A network of tram railways spun out across the landscape,
:37:35. > :37:38.'like a spider's web from the mines and forges.'
:37:38. > :37:47.The most terrific and terrifying route -
:37:47. > :37:54.'at a gradient that seems almost impossible.
:37:54. > :37:58.'It was this tram road that helped make Blaenavon the most important
:37:58. > :38:06.'through this woodland has been captured
:38:06. > :38:08.'on canvas by local artist Michael Blackmore,
:38:08. > :38:12.'who also knows a thing or two about the trams.'
:38:12. > :38:17.Fancy seeing you on a tram road like this! How are you? I'm very well.
:38:17. > :38:20.Pleased to meet you. How exactly did the trams work?
:38:20. > :38:25.Quite simply, the laden ones going down would pull the empties back up.
:38:25. > :38:29.And of course, up there, you'd have had a brakeman. What's a brakeman?
:38:29. > :38:34.He would hold the brake. He would watch the trams coming down, OK?
:38:34. > :38:38.Right, he'd watch the trams coming down, make sure they were all OK.
:38:38. > :38:40.It's difficult to imagine the scene now, isn't it?
:38:40. > :38:43.This is such a beautiful, scenic route.
:38:43. > :38:47.But back then, it would have been dirty and noisy and smelly.
:38:47. > :38:50.I don't know about smelly! It would've been dirty and noisy.
:38:50. > :38:52.Coal and lime... But I know what you're saying.
:38:53. > :38:55.It would have been a totally different environment
:38:55. > :38:58.Everything was here - the minerals were here,
:38:58. > :39:02.limestone for fluxing in the furnaces.
:39:02. > :39:06.The only thing that was opposed to them
:39:06. > :39:10.was the fact that they had to get it up.
:39:11. > :39:13.'The system was well worth the time and investment,
:39:13. > :39:18.'But the tram road was only half the story.
:39:18. > :39:21.'The network had to connect in Newport,
:39:21. > :39:23.'a gateway to a changing world.
:39:23. > :39:28.'So the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal was built.
:39:28. > :39:32.'Enterprising mine owners could now shift tons
:39:32. > :39:41.'Llanfoist Wharf is where the trams unloaded their cargo.'
:39:41. > :39:44.This is one of the oldest railway warehouses in the world,
:39:45. > :39:50.And the trams would come right here, through the pillars.
:39:50. > :39:53.And then the iron, the coal and the lime would get loaded onto boats,
:39:53. > :39:58.25 tons' worth, which would get towed to Newport docks by horse.
:39:58. > :40:04.'The wharf would have been constantly busy.
:40:04. > :40:07.'There would have been hundreds of workers unloading trams
:40:07. > :40:14.We might be right next to a canal, but look high up we are.
:40:14. > :40:17.There were these massive, massive barges,
:40:17. > :40:21.laden with precious materials, tons and tons of materials.
:40:21. > :40:28.And they had to get down from here. Cue a stroke of engineering genius.
:40:28. > :40:36.'make it easy to descend the hilly terrain.
:40:36. > :40:42.'The route is still here, but these days, it's a bit blocked.'
:40:42. > :40:46.It's a good job this lot are on the case, then.
:40:46. > :40:49.'The stretch of canal just needs a bit of TLC.
:40:49. > :40:54.'And these are just some of the 300 local volunteers lending a hand.
:40:54. > :40:57.'The Waterworks project started in January,
:40:57. > :41:01.'and since then, they've completed hundreds of metres of pointing,
:41:01. > :41:08.'to get this part of the canal looking shipshape.
:41:08. > :41:11.'Steve Price is head stonemason on-site
:41:11. > :41:15.'and he's got some special stones to lay in this lock wall.'
:41:15. > :41:20.I can see a nice little gap for these. Yes. I hope they fit.
:41:20. > :41:25.You're the head stonemason, so... it's all your responsibility. OK.
:41:25. > :41:33.Right, do you want to grab this end of the stone? Yeah.
:41:33. > :41:41.Looks like a good fit on that one. Yeah. Perfect!
:41:41. > :41:47.So apart from this magnificent bit of work here,
:41:47. > :41:51.The grand plan is to open up the bottom stretch
:41:51. > :41:58.to get it back and navigable. So we've got eight locks in total...
:41:58. > :42:02.on this bottom section. And we've got two bridges to lift.
:42:02. > :42:04.So eight locks and two bridges? Yeah. That's quite a lot.
:42:04. > :42:07.It's not much, is it(?) I don't know, it sounds like a lot to me!
:42:07. > :42:10.'Work's going to continue for the next two years
:42:10. > :42:15.'and it could keep this canal going for another 200.'
:42:15. > :42:18.The votes are in, and a winner has been chosen.
:42:19. > :42:20.Here's John with the nail-biting finale
:42:20. > :42:29.of the Countryfile Photographic Competition.
:42:29. > :42:32.'The Countryfile Photographic Competition
:42:32. > :42:34.'is one of the highlights of my year.
:42:34. > :42:38.'with had a truly inspiring selection of pictures
:42:38. > :42:44.'And today's the day we reveal the results of all your endeavours.'
:42:44. > :42:47.I've come to Langdon Hills Country Park in Essex
:42:47. > :42:55.there's a very good reason for being here.
:42:55. > :42:59.Now, as always, the calendar is the culmination of months
:42:59. > :43:10.'The 12 pictures for the calendar are chosen from the entries
:43:10. > :43:17.I keep forgetting what the theme for this is. It's Our Living Landscape.
:43:17. > :43:23.'And judging regulars Chris Packham and Jo Brand
:43:23. > :43:28.'kicked off the process with a sort of masterclass in the New Forest.'
:43:28. > :43:32.How have you got on? Well, I'm just...I'm on number 47
:43:32. > :43:37.And, as yet, I've not been wowed. How about you?
:43:37. > :43:43.Eight photographs? Yeah! You've taken eight photographs?
:43:43. > :43:46.No, actually, that's all I can find at the moment. Right.
:43:46. > :43:53.'Once Jo and Chris had provided their unique brand
:43:53. > :43:59.'of inspiration, it was down to you. And you didn't disappoint.'
:43:59. > :44:01.The challenge of taking the perfect photograph
:44:01. > :44:06.of Our Living Landscape certainly struck a chord.
:44:06. > :44:19.You sent us more than 55,000 pictures.
:44:19. > :44:22.'The entries were whittled down with the help of a talented
:44:22. > :44:28.I want to robin doing something a bit different, but...!
:44:28. > :44:39.'it was up to Chris, Jo and me to find the standout gems.'
:44:39. > :44:44.Does that qualify? The tree's living, isn't it?
:44:44. > :44:47.All the photographer needed to do here was kneel or crouch down,
:44:48. > :44:51.include the feet, lift them a little bit against the backdrop of that,
:44:51. > :44:57.'The subjects spanned from the coast to the countryside,
:44:57. > :45:00.'from flora to fauna, from sunshine to snow.
:45:00. > :45:05.'And finding just 12 for our calendar was incredibly tough.'
:45:05. > :45:08.We don't have one here which is yelling out
:45:08. > :45:10.that first flush of growth of the year.
:45:10. > :45:13.We have got flowers a-go-go, I suppose.
:45:13. > :45:16.And I love this one... I love this one. ..that you chose.
:45:17. > :45:21.'But eventually, we did find our winning dozen, and one of them,
:45:21. > :45:28.It's a fantastic photograph, isn't it? It is. It ticks every box.
:45:28. > :45:31.All the panels, all of the colour, the people silhouetted here.
:45:31. > :45:33.You've got the birds behind, it's got the sunset.
:45:33. > :45:36.And then this structure across the front of it framing at all.
:45:36. > :45:42.Yeah, it's joyful, it's very bold, and I mean,
:45:42. > :45:46.I love shots of the sea and I just think it looks wonderful.
:45:46. > :45:51.So congratulations to Tim Clifton for taking the picture
:45:51. > :45:59.Tim Clifton wins £500 worth of photographic equipment,
:45:59. > :46:07.But it was up to you at home to choose the overall winner.
:46:07. > :46:09.And you did just that, in record numbers.
:46:09. > :46:12.And I've come here today to meet the winner,
:46:12. > :46:18.but as yet, he doesn't know that he's won.
:46:18. > :46:21.'An amateur snapper with an eye for composition,
:46:21. > :46:23.'Bill Robinson spent his working life
:46:23. > :46:26.'as a car mechanic and a caretaker.
:46:26. > :46:31.'Now retired, his real passion is photography.'
:46:31. > :46:35.So is this place one of your favourite spots, Bill?
:46:35. > :46:38.Yeah, it's a favourite of mine. I come here about twice a week.
:46:38. > :46:43.And yeah, just to photograph the trees and the undergrowth.
:46:43. > :46:45.So you always bring your camera? Oh, yes.
:46:45. > :46:48.Just in case you spot something really good.
:46:48. > :46:56.And this, Bill, is your now famous dell,
:46:56. > :46:59.looking rather different, isn't it? It certainly is.
:46:59. > :47:03.Back in May, it was just a flush of bluebells. And it was glorious.
:47:03. > :47:05.But at the time, I nearly walked past.
:47:05. > :47:08.And you had second thoughts? I had second thoughts
:47:08. > :47:14.For me, it's a privilege to come here
:47:14. > :47:17.and see this wonderful woodland that gave you your inspiration.
:47:17. > :47:20.Thank you very much. But it's not the only reason why I'm here.
:47:20. > :47:24.Because Countryfile viewers really liked your photograph.
:47:24. > :47:32.Oh, right. In fact, they voted you and the dell
:47:32. > :47:37.of the Countryfile Photographic Competition.
:47:37. > :47:41.Well, I'll be blowed! So, many, many congratulations!
:47:41. > :47:45.Well done, well done. Thank you very much. How about that?
:47:45. > :47:52.Well, how many thousand was there, that entered? 55,000-plus. 55!
:47:52. > :47:54.And you're top of the heap. Well, what can I say?
:47:54. > :48:02.And hot off the presses is the Countryfile calendar for 2014,
:48:02. > :48:05.with your wonderful picture on the cover.
:48:05. > :48:09.Isn't that fantastic? Yeah. I'm overwhelmed.
:48:09. > :48:14.No, I'm really overwhelmed. I feel quite humbled, really.
:48:14. > :48:21.Never, never had anything like that before. First time ever, that is.
:48:21. > :48:26.'have pride of place on this year's calendar,
:48:26. > :48:30.'he also gets to choose £1,000 worth of photographic equipment
:48:30. > :48:35.'so he can take more fantastic photos like the dell.'
:48:35. > :48:43.Whether you sent in photos or just voted for your favourite,
:48:43. > :48:46.we'd like to say thank you to everyone who's contributed
:48:46. > :48:51.to this year's competition and to the final calendar.
:48:51. > :49:25.To order by post, send your name, address and cheque to...
:49:25. > :49:30.Please make your cheques payable to "BBC Countryfile Calendar".
:49:30. > :49:34.It costs £9, including free UK deliver.
:49:34. > :49:36.A minimum of £4 from the sale of each one
:49:36. > :49:41.will be donated to the BBC Children In Need appeal.
:49:41. > :49:44.The calendar for 2013 was a record-breaker.
:49:44. > :49:48.It raised £1.3 million for Children In Need,
:49:48. > :49:52.and let's hope this one for 2014 does even better
:49:52. > :49:57.and helps make a difference to the lives of even more children.
:49:57. > :50:02.Well, a huge congratulations to the winners
:50:02. > :50:04.and a very big thank-you to everybody who took part.
:50:05. > :50:07.Now, in a moment, I'm going to be getting up some speed
:50:07. > :50:13.what the weather has got in store for us in the week ahead
:50:13. > :50:42.Good evening. Nice conditions for many people today, but changes
:50:42. > :50:55.coming ahead. It was an unremarkable month, but we're seeing above
:50:55. > :51:00.average rainfall. You can see this mix of a high pressure in the East
:51:00. > :51:06.stand the low pressure in the West. We have still got south-westerly
:51:06. > :51:11.wind withers, which will keep it mailed over western areas. It will
:51:11. > :51:20.bring strong wind to North West Scotland. There will be some patchy
:51:20. > :51:27.missed and fog in the south-east as we start tomorrow morning. A bit of
:51:27. > :51:32.drizzle in the West, but the most significant rain in the north of
:51:32. > :51:38.Scotland. Crucially, temperatures above what they would be for this
:51:38. > :51:45.time of year, between 16 and 19 Celsius. Then choose the, some
:51:45. > :51:55.showers overnight coming in from the west once again. The worst of these
:51:55. > :52:03.probably in Wales. Ideal start to Tuesday. The cold front that is
:52:03. > :52:09.withers will bring a fresh feel, but Tuesday. The cold front that is
:52:09. > :52:14.nothing too significant. A bit of rain and mist and hillfort in the
:52:14. > :52:20.south-west. Brighter in the North and East of Great Britain.
:52:21. > :52:28.Temperatures still above-average, about 16 to 19 Celsius. But we will
:52:28. > :52:34.see more of a change on Wednesday, courtesy of this high pressure
:52:34. > :52:44.pushing from the North Atlantic. There is a cold front behind this
:52:44. > :52:49.coming in from the south-east. A big temperature drop in the second half
:52:49. > :52:50.of the week for all of us. Northerly winds will play the part across
:52:51. > :52:56.easterly areas. But still some sun winds will play the part across
:52:56. > :53:02.in the forecast, particularly for the South and East of England.
:53:02. > :53:07.Longer spells of rain across northern Scotland. There could be
:53:07. > :53:12.the odd bit of snow across higher ground. On Thursday, the wind gets
:53:12. > :53:18.stronger down the east coast and it will get considerably colder. Still
:53:18. > :53:23.pleasant enough for some sunshine and dry weather and frosted,
:53:23. > :53:26.particularly in the west of the country. Some of the wind could be
:53:26. > :53:34.deal force at times, particularly in country. Some of the wind could be
:53:34. > :53:39.the south-east of the country. The wind will stay strong into Friday.
:53:39. > :53:43.Bit of uncertainty of whether we will see more spells of rain
:53:43. > :53:48.returning to those parts. The north and west in the centre of the
:53:48. > :54:00.high-pressure, so temperatures will recover during the day on Friday.
:54:00. > :54:03.We're in the once-industrial heartlands of South Wales,
:54:03. > :54:07.a landscape shaped by coal and iron ore.
:54:07. > :54:11.The World Heritage town of Blaenavon was built on them.
:54:11. > :54:19.piles of debris left aside after the coal and iron ore was dug.
:54:19. > :54:23.The pits have gone, the spoil heaps just a reminder,
:54:23. > :54:38.but you'd be wrong for thinking that they had no purpose any more.
:54:38. > :54:44.the Camel's Back BMX track is part of a project
:54:44. > :54:48.to regenerate Blaenavon's industrial wasteland for wildlife, visitors
:54:48. > :54:57.When did you take the stabilisers off your bike? Four. Four.
:54:57. > :55:02.And what do you think of this track? It's cool.
:55:02. > :55:04.How does it feel to ride this course?
:55:04. > :55:09.It feels a bit... It feels a bit nice on the jumps.
:55:09. > :55:12.Who have you got over there from your family? Erm...
:55:12. > :55:16.my auntie, my nan and my mum, and my dad's over there. And my brother.
:55:16. > :55:19.Your dad looks like he's quite sporty. What about your mum?
:55:19. > :55:23.SHE LAUGHS No, I can't, no!
:55:23. > :55:28.The whole of this landscape is a World Heritage site,
:55:28. > :55:31.but off-road motorbiking has been a big problem.
:55:31. > :55:38.to encourage people to whizz round using nothing more than leg power.
:55:38. > :55:42.and, of course, there's a lot of erosion
:55:42. > :55:47.And this does tend to get the young people off the motorbikes
:55:47. > :55:50.onto something which will probably harm them less
:55:50. > :55:53.and giving them the same opportunities to use those skills
:55:53. > :56:05.And they're certainly making the most of it.
:56:05. > :56:09.'it's been a while since I've ridden a BMX,
:56:09. > :56:12.'so I'm having a refresher, with course designer Jason Carpenter.'
:56:12. > :56:20.Nice and steady. If you want to put your feet down, put your feet down.
:56:20. > :56:28.Now let it go a bit, let it go a bit, that's it. Whoo!
:56:28. > :56:36.Now, you're going to need a bit more speed than that.
:56:36. > :56:38.'Well, thanks to the local BMX-ers' advice,
:56:38. > :56:40.'I'm getting back into the swing of it,
:56:41. > :56:49.I tell you what, if there's one way of spinning back the years,
:56:49. > :56:57.So we've got some times for you to beat. Oh, my word.
:56:57. > :57:01.Jason, 24.2 seconds. He designed the course, I've seen him.
:57:01. > :57:03.I don't think you've got a chance. Let's not even go there.
:57:03. > :57:06.I'm thinking maybe the six- or the eight-year-old...
:57:06. > :57:32.Come on! I just hit me pedal on the ground! Come on! Come on! Come on!
:57:32. > :57:45.I can't believe I'm in anticipation with a six- and an eight-year-old.
:57:45. > :57:53.30, yeah. I'm over the moon with that! I'm happy with that.
:57:53. > :58:00.Is it really 32?! 32.6. Well done! You are a star.
:58:00. > :58:03.Listen, lads, it was down to you two that I got that time.
:58:03. > :58:05.Cheers. I think if you'd had one of those helmets... I know.
:58:05. > :58:10.That's it. Next week, John is in sumptuous Somerset
:58:10. > :58:11.looking back at some of the best bets.
:58:11. > :58:13.And he will be witnessing a natural spectacle
:58:13. > :58:18.If you want to get your hands on a calendar, check out the website.
:58:18. > :58:20.Which, of course, is sold in aid of Children In Need.
:58:20. > :58:22.Right, on your bike. Yeah, I will do.
:58:22. > :58:25.To be honest with you, it's getting dark, I better go.
:58:25. > :58:27.My mum will be worried. I bet she will! See you!