:00:28. > :00:32.famed for its herd of more than 800 fallow dear.
:00:33. > :00:35.It's a diverse landscape of barren, open heathland
:00:36. > :00:42.Surrounded by the industrial towns of the Midlands,
:00:43. > :00:45.the Chase is a little, green gem, nestled in the middle.
:00:46. > :00:48.Millions of people come here to explore the area every year.
:00:49. > :00:50.Some come on foot, some come on horseback
:00:51. > :00:56.and 24% of the visitors come here on their bikes.
:00:57. > :00:58.The agricultural land in Staffordshire is good,
:00:59. > :01:03.fertile grassland, perfect for cattle and dairy farming.
:01:04. > :01:06.It's 100 years since the country council bought up
:01:07. > :01:10.thousands of acres in an attempt to secure food
:01:11. > :01:15.And I'm going to be celebrating that centenary with a couple
:01:16. > :01:19.of first-time dairy farmers, keen to make a go of living off the land,
:01:20. > :01:27.Tom's in East Anglia, exploring the power of citizen science.
:01:28. > :01:30.They say a job shared is a job halved,
:01:31. > :01:34.but what if you're being helped by hundreds or thousands of people?
:01:35. > :01:38.Well, today we're looking for invasive Spanish slugs.
:01:39. > :01:41.But this kind of citizen science is being used to tackle everything
:01:42. > :01:46.from ash dieback, to bird numbers, to invasive ladybirds.
:01:47. > :01:50.But does it really work? And is the science robust?
:01:51. > :01:54.Meanwhile, Adam's away from the Cotswolds,
:01:55. > :01:59.finding out about farming on the other side of the Irish Sea.
:02:00. > :02:03.This year, Ireland suffered the worst ever fodder crisis in living memory.
:02:04. > :02:06.There was a lack of this stuff - grass.
:02:07. > :02:09.It was so bad that cattle starved and even died.
:02:10. > :02:14.But now, one man up here in the Irish mountains can grow this,
:02:15. > :02:18.fresh, green fodder, every day of the year, whatever the weather.
:02:19. > :02:35.And as you can see, the cattle absolutely love it.
:02:36. > :02:39.At just 26 square miles, Cannock Chase in Staffordshire is
:02:40. > :02:43.the smallest mainland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
:02:44. > :02:50.It may be small, but more than half of it is open access land,
:02:51. > :02:53.which means it's quite easy to find your own bit of breathing space.
:02:54. > :02:56.It also means it's very easy to forget that Stafford,
:02:57. > :03:03.Stoke on Trent and Birmingham are just a stone's throw away.
:03:04. > :03:05.Considered to be a national treasure,
:03:06. > :03:09.it's the locals to the Chase that feel a duty to protect it.
:03:10. > :03:13.Photographer Steve Welch set up a community project to document
:03:14. > :03:19.So, where are we? What section of the Chase are we at?
:03:20. > :03:21.We're on the Sherbrook Valley at the moment.
:03:22. > :03:23.And is this one of the best views of the Chase?
:03:24. > :03:28.I mean, to the right, we can see to Leicestershire and Castle Donington.
:03:29. > :03:32.We've got Derbyshire, Dovedale, Staffordshire, across to
:03:33. > :03:38.We've got the whole range of the four counties in the distance there.
:03:39. > :03:41.Steve's enlisted volunteer snappers to head out twice
:03:42. > :03:46.a year in spring and autumn to take photographs at 56 fixed points
:03:47. > :03:52.It takes people to places they wouldn't normally go to on the Chase,
:03:53. > :03:54.but also we do little photography workshops for them
:03:55. > :03:57.to just hone their skills a little bit
:03:58. > :04:00.and take better pictures. And they get a free lunch as well.
:04:01. > :04:05.Free sarnie and a photography lesson. Absolutely, yeah.
:04:06. > :04:07.Right. Let's get taking some photographs then.
:04:08. > :04:12.Well, we're doing this panorama here, five or six pictures which were
:04:13. > :04:14.stitched together to make a 180 degree panorama,
:04:15. > :04:17.and that's what we're going to do today.
:04:18. > :04:21.'The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty team use the volunteers'
:04:22. > :04:25.'photographs to decide how best to care for the changing landscapes.'
:04:26. > :04:35.For many people, Cannock Chase is like their back garden,
:04:36. > :04:40.So, it's no surprise this rural gem is popular,
:04:41. > :04:43.attracting five times more visitors per square mile than
:04:44. > :04:51.That's a lot of people, and protected habitat like this lowland
:04:52. > :04:58.so how do you keep everyone happy and manage the landscape?
:04:59. > :05:01.The answer has been to empower the people who love using
:05:02. > :05:03.the Chase to look after it themselves,
:05:04. > :05:09.So, Christine, you offer free dog training lessons,
:05:10. > :05:13.It's definitely owner training lessons.
:05:14. > :05:16.You should always teach the owner to teach the dog.
:05:17. > :05:19.But there's quite a lot to be aware of in this area, isn't there?
:05:20. > :05:23.you've got the deer rutting, you've got birds nesting in the spring,
:05:24. > :05:27.There's so much going on over here that your dogs need to be
:05:28. > :05:31.And also you've got so many different varieties of people.
:05:32. > :05:33.You have to be very aware of the cyclists especially,
:05:34. > :05:35.cos you don't always hear them coming,
:05:36. > :05:37.so your dogs really do need to be under control.
:05:38. > :05:40.And then if the dogs and the owners behave themselves
:05:41. > :05:42.they get a little certificate, is that right?
:05:43. > :05:45.You wouldn't work for nothing. No, I would not.
:05:46. > :05:48.You wouldn't expect the handlers and dogs to work for nothing either,
:05:49. > :05:51.whether it's titbits for the dogs or certificates for the handler,
:05:52. > :05:55.Perfect. I might stick around long enough to see if I can get one.
:05:56. > :05:59.The dog training is a paw in the right direction to protect
:06:00. > :06:04.And another team of enthusiastic volunteers are doing their bit
:06:05. > :06:12.The Chase Trails were created by mountain bikers who wanted
:06:13. > :06:14.a bit more of a challenge, and now there are 14 miles of runs
:06:15. > :06:16.that twist and turn through the forest.
:06:17. > :06:18.So, what are you doing? Well, basically,
:06:19. > :06:21.we're doing a bit of maintenance repair work on this section.
:06:22. > :06:25.Yeah. It's one of the sections that gets a lot of use.
:06:26. > :06:27.We're looking at well over 100,000 riders a year.
:06:28. > :06:31.And it's obviously quite important to keep the mountain bikers away
:06:32. > :06:34.from the dog walkers, away from the ordinary walker,
:06:35. > :06:36.away from the horse riders. Indeed, yes.
:06:37. > :06:40.We've built trails that are well away from the Heritage Trail, for example,
:06:41. > :06:43.and that keeps mountain bikers away from the rest of the public.
:06:44. > :06:46.You've got your own little patch. Indeed, we have.
:06:47. > :06:50.Excellent. Well, I suppose I better really try out a trail. Indeed, yes.
:06:51. > :06:53.Enjoy. Keep up the hard work. Thank you.
:06:54. > :06:57.I'm not going to tackle the Chase Trails on my own.
:06:58. > :07:00.Mountain biking instructor Veronica Swinerton is keen to get
:07:01. > :07:05.and offers bike rides just for women.
:07:06. > :07:14.and I think it's really lovely to encourage ladies and help them
:07:15. > :07:17.get confident, help them feel like they've achieved something,
:07:18. > :07:27.The important question is, how do I stop?
:07:28. > :07:32.Always use your left brake, which is your back brake.
:07:33. > :07:45.You're supposed to be encouraging me, not scaring me.
:07:46. > :07:54.Well, this is a little bit tricky here, Julia,
:07:55. > :07:57.and it's called The Stegosaurus. It sounds dangerous.
:07:58. > :08:03.So perhaps, next time, with a bit more practice,
:08:04. > :08:06.you could come down here. You're the professional. I'm the amateur.
:08:07. > :08:08.Actually, I'm quite scared as well, so there we go.
:08:09. > :08:18.I'll be watching you in awe, Veronica.
:08:19. > :08:29.I can see why you didn't want me to do it.
:08:30. > :08:34.And you've certainly got experience, grandmother of seven.
:08:35. > :08:37.Seven. Eighth on the way. Eighth on the way. Amazing. Super Gran!
:08:38. > :08:44.Right. Time for a cup of tea. I think it is.
:08:45. > :08:47.The work of the volunteers here at Cannock Chase really
:08:48. > :08:50.demonstrates the value of people power in the countryside.
:08:51. > :08:53.there's a whole new range of opportunities out
:08:54. > :09:01.there for those that want to do their bit for the natural world.
:09:02. > :09:08.I'm delving around in a garden in Norfolk,
:09:09. > :09:13.joining the search for alien invaders.
:09:14. > :09:18.If we find any suspects, we'll shoot them...
:09:19. > :09:27.This slightly slimy activity is actually a slug hunt
:09:28. > :09:30.and these are my able research assistants.
:09:31. > :09:33.How are we getting on in there? Are you finding anything?
:09:34. > :09:37.Someone want to take a snap of it? Yeah, sure.
:09:38. > :09:41.'Annie, Lily-Anne and Rhiannon are looking for Spanish slugs,
:09:42. > :09:44.'an invasive species in danger of taking over
:09:45. > :09:52.That is not a slug. That's a...woodlouse. Yeah.
:09:53. > :09:56.Oh, no, you're right. It's a woodlouse, yeah.
:09:57. > :09:58.'By joining hundreds of other slug spotters,
:09:59. > :10:01.'the girls are getting involved in crowd sourcing,
:10:02. > :10:05.'a way of using people power to gather information,
:10:06. > :10:10.'making them part of a growing number of so-called citizen scientists.'
:10:11. > :10:13.There's plenty more good slug habitat over there,
:10:14. > :10:15.so you can go and rummage around over there. OK.
:10:16. > :10:18.I'm going to sit down and add this one to the collection.
:10:19. > :10:22.Well, this is more than a good bit of nature investigation.
:10:23. > :10:24.There's some real science going on here.
:10:25. > :10:27.These are the slugs we found in this garden...
:10:28. > :10:31.and these are the invaders that people are worried about.
:10:32. > :10:36.The real thing about the Spanish slugs is they tend to occur in really
:10:37. > :10:39.abundant quantities, and that's what you need to be careful of.
:10:40. > :10:44.you can take pictures and send them off to a website.
:10:45. > :10:47.'Using hundreds, even thousands, of enthusiastic volunteers
:10:48. > :10:50.'means you can collect far more data than a small
:10:51. > :10:56.'It's become an important research tool and is being used more and more
:10:57. > :11:02.And this is where the girls should come to report their discoveries,
:11:03. > :11:06.where you get advice on whether ones you've found
:11:07. > :11:12.And it's by no means the only citizen science project on the web.
:11:13. > :11:17.Here I've got iSeahorse, which helps to save those strange creatures.
:11:18. > :11:20.And, in many ways, it's not a new idea.
:11:21. > :11:24.When Charles Darwin was putting together his theories 150 years ago,
:11:25. > :11:33.of the species by means of natural selection.
:11:34. > :11:37.Social media and smartphone apps mean citizen science is easier
:11:38. > :11:41.than ever, and it's becoming a must have for many research projects,
:11:42. > :11:47.Wild birds have also been the subject of a citizen science
:11:48. > :11:51.project long before that term was ever invented.
:11:52. > :11:56.The Garden Birdwatch Survey, run by the British Trust for Ornithology,
:11:57. > :12:00.has contributed to a wide range of scientific discoveries thanks
:12:01. > :12:03.to amateur members submitting weekly reports on the birds
:12:04. > :12:09.How useful do you think that Garden Bird Watch has been?
:12:10. > :12:12.Well, it's been a great project. It's been running since 1995.
:12:13. > :12:17.We have 14,500 volunteers who give us the data,
:12:18. > :12:20.and the projects it's been used for are great.
:12:21. > :12:24.People like the Zoological Society of London have used the data.
:12:25. > :12:28.We've seen massive declines through it, like the house sparrow decline.
:12:29. > :12:31.about being involved in a project like this?
:12:32. > :12:34.I love it. I think it's a great way to get people involved in science,
:12:35. > :12:37.and it's a great way for us to get data that we wouldn't
:12:38. > :12:40.necessarily be able to get a hold of otherwise.
:12:41. > :12:43.But citizen science doesn't just help us
:12:44. > :12:48.judge the scale of a problem, it can also be part of the solution.
:12:49. > :12:53.One novel approach is to combine citizen science with online gaming,
:12:54. > :12:57.and I'm in a cafe to meet one of the pioneers.
:12:58. > :13:00.Scientists at the Sainsbury Laboratory are investigating
:13:01. > :13:03.the devastating problem of ash dieback disease,
:13:04. > :13:09.They've developed this, Fraxinus, an online puzzle where you have
:13:10. > :13:12.to rearrange and match patterns of coloured leaves.
:13:13. > :13:15.Is the human eye really good at this stuff? Yeah, it is.
:13:16. > :13:18.It's actually much better at trying to identify very complex
:13:19. > :13:22.patterns and data than any computer that you can programme. Wow.
:13:23. > :13:25.It's nice to hear we've still got a strength over the machines there.
:13:26. > :13:31.The clever thing is that the leaves represent real DNA
:13:32. > :13:35.samples from the fungus, so by playing the game you can help
:13:36. > :13:39.the scientists discover the genetic make-up of the disease
:13:40. > :13:42.and trees which could be resistant to it.
:13:43. > :13:44.How important is this in terms of fighting
:13:45. > :13:51.By trying to identify and confirm some of the natural variation,
:13:52. > :13:53.we can really start to answer some of the fundamental
:13:54. > :13:57.questions of this project, such as how variable is the fungus
:13:58. > :13:58.out there in the natural environment?
:13:59. > :14:02.so you might have a clue of how to fight back? Yeah.
:14:03. > :14:04.So, then it gives you much more information
:14:05. > :14:08.to try and replant partially resistant trees.
:14:09. > :14:11.You know exactly what you're facing out there in the wild.
:14:12. > :14:13.Well, my score's going up. You're doing really well.
:14:14. > :14:19.I might singlehandedly have saved the British ash tree here.
:14:20. > :14:22.I don't think so. Maybe I'm part of a team.
:14:23. > :14:27.'So, turning members of the public into DIY scientists has huge
:14:28. > :14:30.'potential, not just to gather information,
:14:31. > :14:35.The question is, is it right that we're trusting some of the job of
:14:36. > :14:41.solving critical scientific questions to online gamers and amateur sleuths?
:14:42. > :14:50.Well, that's what I'll be investigating later in the programme.
:14:51. > :14:54.Cannock Chase in Staffordshire is a well-loved blend of protected
:14:55. > :14:58.landscapes, but surrounding the Chase and throughout the county,
:14:59. > :15:06.Farming is in my blood, with both sheep and dairy farms in the family,
:15:07. > :15:08.but how do you get into the farming business
:15:09. > :15:10.if you're not due to inherit land or you don't
:15:11. > :15:16.Well, tenant farms can be the answer.
:15:17. > :15:19.But the landlords in question can often come as a surprise.
:15:20. > :15:22.More than 60 county councils and authorities across England
:15:23. > :15:30.which are rented out to new or established farmers.
:15:31. > :15:33.Here in Staffordshire, county farms are celebrating their centenary,
:15:34. > :15:37.so what better way to mark the occasion than with a fair few
:15:38. > :15:46.There's 102 council farms across the county.
:15:47. > :15:49.Come on. SHE WHISTLES
:15:50. > :15:52.This one was taken over a year ago by young dairy farmer
:15:53. > :15:58.Giles Bristol and his girlfriend, Emily Wilson.
:15:59. > :16:00.Did you grow up on a farm yourself, then?
:16:01. > :16:06.I had three uncles in dairy farming and...
:16:07. > :16:09.spent all my holidays there working and loved it.
:16:10. > :16:12.I knew from a very young age that this is what I wanted to do.
:16:13. > :16:15.If the belief's there then hopefully you can make it happen.
:16:16. > :16:18.Exactly. My brother-in-law runs a dairy farm
:16:19. > :16:20.and there's nobody that works harder than he does.
:16:21. > :16:23.I mean, you haven't made life easy for yourself,
:16:24. > :16:25.choosing this line of work, have you?
:16:26. > :16:27.No. That's right, it is 365 days a year.
:16:28. > :16:33.The policy of renting out council-owned farm estates
:16:34. > :16:36.dates back to the early 20th century,
:16:37. > :16:40.created to tackle the decline in agricultural employment.
:16:41. > :16:43.It also provided opportunities for ex-servicemen
:16:44. > :16:48.But more recently, in many parts of the country,
:16:49. > :16:50.councils have been selling off their farms.
:16:51. > :16:55.Staffordshire County Council has cut the number of farms it owns,
:16:56. > :17:01.and there are always new tenants waiting for their chance.
:17:02. > :17:06.when your whole life turned around and you ended up as a farmer?
:17:07. > :17:10.Erm, we met through previous work and...
:17:11. > :17:14.because not coming from a farming background,
:17:15. > :17:16.that I'd have the opportunity to farm in my own right.
:17:17. > :17:19.Is it everything that you hoped it would have been?
:17:20. > :17:21.Yes, it is. It definitely is challenging.
:17:22. > :17:26.It has its ups and its downs, but working together as a couple,
:17:27. > :17:29.it's... You pull each other through and you do see the rewards,
:17:30. > :17:33.and it's nice seeing the milk in the tank every day.
:17:34. > :17:37.At the moment, it's mainly a one-man show,
:17:38. > :17:44.I start a job as a research analyst on Monday.
:17:45. > :17:48.Yeah, that's it. And I want to fulfil my career aspirations.
:17:49. > :17:51.'The couple have nine more years on their lease to make
:17:52. > :17:54.'a go of their dairy business on this starter unit.
:17:55. > :17:57.'leader of the county council, and farmer himself, Phillip Atkins,
:17:58. > :18:00.'is glad to see new people coming into the industry.'
:18:01. > :18:04.So, Phillip, you are very supportive of the likes of Giles
:18:05. > :18:06.and Emily getting involved in this kind of farming.
:18:07. > :18:09.Well, they're the future of farming. That's the way it's got to be.
:18:10. > :18:14.How involved does the council get in what goes on on the farms?
:18:15. > :18:16.Cos it's kind of a partnership, is it?
:18:17. > :18:20.Oh, it is. And it's very key... It's a hard-nosed business as well
:18:21. > :18:23.because the farmers who come to us have to pay a rent,
:18:24. > :18:25.commercial rent. The council makes a profit,
:18:26. > :18:28.which then goes back into frontline services.
:18:29. > :18:31.What are you looking for with the likes of Giles and Emily?
:18:32. > :18:33.Cos there's quite a few, aren't there? Yeah.
:18:34. > :18:36.There's a couple of farms up next week where people are going
:18:37. > :18:39.to be interviewed and they need a business plan, show their
:18:40. > :18:43.enthusiasm for it, and innovative ideas that they've got as well.
:18:44. > :18:46.Well, you are beautiful and you're obviously very happy here...
:18:47. > :18:56.With the cost of buying rural land so high, giving opportunities
:18:57. > :18:59.to young people eager to start up on their own means the average
:19:00. > :19:05.age of a new county farm tenant in Staffordshire is just 32.
:19:06. > :19:09.What would you say to anybody that's about to receive the news
:19:10. > :19:11.that their application has been successful?
:19:12. > :19:16.What would you say to them about the first year?
:19:17. > :19:20.It will be challenging, but I'm sure that anyone expects that.
:19:21. > :19:24.I know you've had problems with TB. I mean, how bad has it been?
:19:25. > :19:28.We've certainly been hammered hard with weather,
:19:29. > :19:31.which hasn't helped us. The TB's been a big impact.
:19:32. > :19:36.We've got sort of 60 cows and we lost 12 of them through TB,
:19:37. > :19:40.so it's a large percentage, which really affects our income.
:19:41. > :19:43.What advice would you give this pair, Phillip?
:19:44. > :19:47.One piece of advice would be never give up. Always keep at it.
:19:48. > :19:51.There's a great community spirit he just described in farming,
:19:52. > :19:54.and particularly in Staffordshire, but just never give up.
:19:55. > :19:59.I've had hard times, but you do survive, and it's well worth it.
:20:00. > :20:02.Within ten years, Giles and Emily will have to move on to
:20:03. > :20:04.a bigger place where they can expand their business,
:20:05. > :20:06.letting the next generation of farmers
:20:07. > :20:10.have their chance on this starter farm.
:20:11. > :20:13.Well, later in the programme, I'm going
:20:14. > :20:16.to be meeting the farmer who moved out of this place,
:20:17. > :20:24.doubled the size of his acreage and drew up a whole new plan.
:20:25. > :20:27.Cannock Chase is so tranquil and peaceful,
:20:28. > :20:30.it's hard to think it was once home to 40,000 soldiers
:20:31. > :20:34.and played a key role in the First World War.
:20:35. > :20:37.The clues to this history are mostly hidden.
:20:38. > :20:43.Jules Hudson has been to uncover them.
:20:44. > :20:46.In a quiet corner of the country park,
:20:47. > :20:50.archaeologists and volunteers have been careful excavating roads,
:20:51. > :20:55.trenches and houses, a landscape in miniature.
:20:56. > :20:59.What they've uncovered is absolutely extraordinary.
:21:00. > :21:03.This is a scale model of the Belgian town of Messines.
:21:04. > :21:06.Now, in 1917, this was the scene of one of the most important
:21:07. > :21:09.Allied strategic victories during the First World War,
:21:10. > :21:15.and this model tells the story of that victory.
:21:16. > :21:19.Messines had been a key German position on the Western Front,
:21:20. > :21:27.The model replicates the hillside exactly, showing main roads,
:21:28. > :21:30.zigzag trenches and bombed out buildings.
:21:31. > :21:34.It was built by the New Zealand Rifle Brigade in 1918,
:21:35. > :21:36.a year after they were part of the Allied attack
:21:37. > :21:39.which finally managed to take the town.
:21:40. > :21:43.Archaeologist Martin Brown is in charge of the work here.
:21:44. > :21:47.He's also excavated the equivalent real trenches in Belgium.
:21:48. > :21:50.How does this scale model compare with what you understand
:21:51. > :21:56.It's absolutely spot-on, to the point that I realised
:21:57. > :21:58.when we were doing the excavation that I was excavating
:21:59. > :22:04.This looks as if it's just sort of been kicked around and ruined,
:22:05. > :22:07.as if it should have been a model village with everything up here,
:22:08. > :22:12.but of course this is, presumably, exactly how it was at the time.
:22:13. > :22:16.This is as it was, cos initially, when we saw some little bits,
:22:17. > :22:18.we thought, "Oh, it's been vandalised."
:22:19. > :22:21.Because as you open it up, you realise, "No, this is deliberate."
:22:22. > :22:23.So, you've got some buildings that would have had
:22:24. > :22:29.some where you've got surviving up to first floor level,
:22:30. > :22:33.And this is depicting a town that has been shelled out.
:22:34. > :22:38.with trenches right in amongst the ruins of the town.
:22:39. > :22:40.This is fantastic. This is real close-in defence,
:22:41. > :22:44.You see all these little trenches running back here? Yeah.
:22:45. > :22:49.and those are the entrances to the cellars that the Germans have
:22:50. > :22:53.strengthened out to make into bunkers and dugouts.
:22:54. > :22:56.This model both commemorated the Allied victory
:22:57. > :22:59.and was used to train men for future trench warfare.
:23:00. > :23:02.Other similar models of Messines, like this one in Belgium,
:23:03. > :23:08.Success at Messines in 1917 was possible
:23:09. > :23:12.because, as Allied forces on the ground prepared for the big push,
:23:13. > :23:18.others were secretly digging 8km of tunnels under the German defences
:23:19. > :23:24.On the morning of the 7th of June, the whole lot went up,
:23:25. > :23:30.it's estimated that some 10,000 German troops literally ceased
:23:31. > :23:34.to exist, vaporised by the force of the explosions.
:23:35. > :23:38.Explosions that were heard, it is said, in London.
:23:39. > :23:48.This film from the time shows just one of the huge craters.
:23:49. > :23:52.So, what's the model doing here on Cannock Chase?
:23:53. > :23:58.this hillside was home to two complete towns,
:23:59. > :24:01.each housing 20,000 soldiers preparing to
:24:02. > :24:08.This bracken is hiding practice trenches.
:24:09. > :24:15.concrete bases for the hundreds of wooden huts long since demolished.
:24:16. > :24:19.This one has recently been restored and returned to the site.
:24:20. > :24:23.In total, half a million troops trained here.
:24:24. > :24:26.Typical of them was Private Erskine Williams,
:24:27. > :24:31.who left a remarkable legacy which his daughter still treasures.
:24:32. > :24:35.he was called upon to be a stretcher bearer,
:24:36. > :24:38.and sometimes he actually had to bury the dead.
:24:39. > :24:42.Did he talk about his time on the Western Front? Not at all.
:24:43. > :24:45.In fact, I didn't even know where he'd been during the war
:24:46. > :24:47.until after he died, when I found his diaries.
:24:48. > :24:50.Now you've brought along this selection of material
:24:51. > :24:53.from his diaries, and it starts rather neatly with a photograph.
:24:54. > :24:57.I believe that's him on the right-hand side. That's right.
:24:58. > :24:59.Standing outside one of the huts here on Cannock Chase.
:25:00. > :25:04.The very same sort of hut, yes. That we're sitting in now. Yes.
:25:05. > :25:07.But what I love about this collection is that he sought to illustrate
:25:08. > :25:14.and he produced this series of beautifully original postcards.
:25:15. > :25:17.This is fabulous. Here he is training and he annotates them.
:25:18. > :25:21."Jumping into trench. Part of the last day at the range.
:25:22. > :25:23."It's a series of advances from 600 yard.
:25:24. > :25:27."Keep advancing then lying flat to fire, up again, forward,
:25:28. > :25:31."get in the trench, fire over the parapet, on again etc."
:25:32. > :25:37.And I can't imagine him actually doing any of these things.
:25:38. > :25:42.Are there any of these pictures which are now family favourites?
:25:43. > :25:44.Well, the one I like is peeling taters.
:25:45. > :25:48.I don't know whether you've come across that. Peeling potatoes.
:25:49. > :25:50.Oh, here we are, "Peeling taters." That's it, yes.
:25:51. > :25:56."This takes place before breakfast. I generally do some."
:25:57. > :25:59.Erskine didn't see action at Messines,
:26:00. > :26:04.but he did go there after the battle to help bury the dead.
:26:05. > :26:08.Take a last look at this, because almost 100 years after it was
:26:09. > :26:12.built, the Messines model is being re-covered.
:26:13. > :26:15.Where do you want this lot? Anywhere here. Anywhere there.
:26:16. > :26:19.Now, the map of Messines is changing before our eyes.
:26:20. > :26:24.What we're doing now is laying a membrane down to protect
:26:25. > :26:26.it from root growth, a layer of sand,
:26:27. > :26:30.then there'll be a rabbit-proof membrane, another layer of sand,
:26:31. > :26:32.and then we'll backfill it with the soil
:26:33. > :26:40.it seems like a bit of a shame. Is there no way of preserving it?
:26:41. > :26:45.we've actually had a 3D laser scan of the whole site,
:26:46. > :26:48.so we'll be able to build a 3D model to enable visitors,
:26:49. > :26:51.when they come up to the Chase, to see what it was like.
:26:52. > :26:55.But unfortunately, because it's so precious but so fragile,
:26:56. > :26:58.it's just, we can't leave it exposed to the elements.
:26:59. > :27:00.Well, let's hope that in another 100 years,
:27:01. > :27:03.when the bicentenary comes along, another generation might be
:27:04. > :27:11.able to uncover a little tiny bit of it and see what we've seen.
:27:12. > :27:15.Now, to many people, the First World War may seem very distant,
:27:16. > :27:21.but the model map here on Cannock Chase serves as an important
:27:22. > :27:24.memorial for those from all sides who fought at Messines
:27:25. > :27:28.nearly 100 years ago, all those miles away in Belgium.
:27:29. > :27:33.In just a few days' time, the model itself will be covered once again,
:27:34. > :27:44.Earlier, we heard how many of us are becoming DIY researchers,
:27:45. > :27:48.gathering information from slug numbers to bird movements,
:27:49. > :27:51.which can contribute to important national surveys.
:27:52. > :28:01.It's called citizen science, but does it work? Here's Tom.
:28:02. > :28:10.an area hard hit by the fungus that's causing ash dieback.
:28:11. > :28:13.We know that the fungus and the disease is present in this wood.
:28:14. > :28:16.We're coming to a bit of a stand of ash here.
:28:17. > :28:22.who's coordinating a project called AshTag.
:28:23. > :28:25.They're asking members of the public to identify diseased or
:28:26. > :28:41.spreading and even identify trees which have resistance to the fungus.
:28:42. > :28:44.Members of the public can then mark their chosen tree with
:28:45. > :28:49.then enter the details on the AshTag smartphone app,
:28:50. > :28:55.Roughly how many people have been engaged in this?
:28:56. > :28:59.We've had really good feedback from the app since we launched last year.
:29:00. > :29:02.We've had well over 1,000 photos submitted and we've had 70
:29:03. > :29:06.cases confirmed by the experts as likely cases of ash dieback.
:29:07. > :29:09.Do you think this can really yield important research?
:29:10. > :29:12.The AshTag project has been a great way of collecting a huge
:29:13. > :29:15.amount of data that wouldn't have been collected otherwise.
:29:16. > :29:18.People all over the country have been able to submit this data,
:29:19. > :29:26.The scale of data that we're collecting is potentially huge.
:29:27. > :29:31.'But when you're relying on untrained amateurs to collect data, there's
:29:32. > :29:36.'always going to be a question over the reliability of the information.
:29:37. > :29:44.'at least some of the sightings have been verified by professionals.
:29:45. > :29:51.I'm trying the simplest of data gather exercises, bird watching,
:29:52. > :30:04.I think those coming in were a mixture of greylag and Canada geese,
:30:05. > :30:07.so these days, I can enter it onto my computer
:30:08. > :30:11.and it knows exactly where I am and that data can be uploaded.
:30:12. > :30:18.But I'm not an expert so how reliable is actually what I'm putting in here?
:30:19. > :30:21.The data from this app is used to track bird numbers
:30:22. > :30:26.I'm joining Nick Moran from the British Trust for Ornithology,
:30:27. > :30:32.to find out how they stop bad information ruining their results.
:30:33. > :30:34.Yeah, the water rail's just re-appeared
:30:35. > :30:38.So, that's it doing a bit of swimming and wading
:30:39. > :30:40.and scurrying back there in the reeds, is it?
:30:41. > :30:42.Yeah, the water rail, they're really nice.
:30:43. > :30:47.So, I don't put that in here, would I? That's right. New species, right.
:30:48. > :30:50.So, you can add your water rail. So that just goes in there, does it?
:30:51. > :30:57.is that I struggle to tell the difference between that and a moorhen
:30:58. > :31:01.so if amateurs like me are doing it, how do we know that the data's good?
:31:02. > :31:04.For the more interesting species or the more unusual species,
:31:05. > :31:07.we've got validation thresholds that will actually flag it up to you when
:31:08. > :31:11.you go to upload that and say you've seen something a bit more unusual.
:31:12. > :31:15.And then at the point of the local recorders using the records,
:31:16. > :31:20.and make sure there aren't any mistakes slipping into the database.
:31:21. > :31:23.have on the information that's being entered?
:31:24. > :31:26.The only caveat that we really say is that you need to be
:31:27. > :31:29.confident of the ID, so if you're not sure what it is, the best
:31:30. > :31:31.thing to do is to leave it unrecorded.
:31:32. > :31:35.and hearing things that I'm not even noticing.
:31:36. > :31:38.Are you happy that experts in the field are being
:31:39. > :31:44.We recognise there's hundreds of thousands of people out there
:31:45. > :31:48.who can identify at least a range of the common species,
:31:49. > :31:56.those records can count for science and conservation too.
:31:57. > :31:59.So, to avoid the danger of garbage in, garbage out,
:32:00. > :32:02.you've got to have some expert quality control
:32:03. > :32:08.and it's also about how you set up the study in the first place.
:32:09. > :32:11.This laboratory in Oxfordshire is home to world-leading
:32:12. > :32:15.experiments into everything from plant disease to global warming.
:32:16. > :32:18.It's the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
:32:19. > :32:22.and it supports more than 70 citizen science projects which gather
:32:23. > :32:25.wildlife observations from volunteers.
:32:26. > :32:31.In her spare time, she is a volunteer citizen scientist herself,
:32:32. > :32:38.What have you learned are some of the pitfalls of citizen science?
:32:39. > :32:41.I think sometimes projects are a little bit too complicated.
:32:42. > :32:44.Citizen science is about public engagement and gathering data
:32:45. > :32:49.to make sure that the data that people are providing is
:32:50. > :32:52.something you can really make use of because people are going to spend
:32:53. > :32:56.time and energy, their own time, gathering this data for you
:32:57. > :32:58.and then it's really important that you make the most of that data.
:32:59. > :33:02.Do you sometimes see citizen science experiments that you frankly
:33:03. > :33:06.Well, I think sometimes a project may be more about public
:33:07. > :33:08.engagement than it is about citizen science.
:33:09. > :33:11.Sometimes, the actual gathering of data might not be part of what
:33:12. > :33:16.and then it's just really important to be honest about that, that this
:33:17. > :33:20.is an engagement exercise, not a scientific data-gathering exercise.
:33:21. > :33:24.Gathering data using total amateurs isn't exactly new,
:33:25. > :33:31.the chance to take part in real research projects.
:33:32. > :33:35.There's no doubt that one of the advantages of citizen science
:33:36. > :33:38.is it breaks down the ivory tower of research
:33:39. > :33:43.and allows organisations to show their warm and friendly public face.
:33:44. > :33:46.And whilst there are risks with getting carried away with
:33:47. > :33:49.too much amateur involvement, if it's done properly,
:33:50. > :34:00.it really can aid our understanding of the natural world.
:34:01. > :34:05.The Southwest of Ireland, where the scenery takes your breath away.
:34:06. > :34:22.The sight of cattle feasting on lush, green pastures is a welcome one,
:34:23. > :34:26.because back in the spring, it was a very different scene.
:34:27. > :34:29.This year, Ireland suffered its worst ever fodder crisis.
:34:30. > :34:31.Poor weather conditions meant the grass didn't grow
:34:32. > :34:47.Steve Collins is originally from Essex but moved to this
:34:48. > :34:51.farm near Bantry in County Cork to rear a herd of 50 Dexters.
:34:52. > :34:54.They're the smallest breed of cattle in the British Isles
:34:55. > :34:58.and can thrive on poor-quality mountain grass.
:34:59. > :35:02.Goodness me, pretty remote spot, isn't it?
:35:03. > :35:05.Yeah, it's way out there. Wonderful.
:35:06. > :35:10.They've got a good shine on them, they're in good condition.
:35:11. > :35:15.But you had a horrible spring over here, I understand.
:35:16. > :35:20.Yeah, the local farmers, they had to buy in lots of fodder,
:35:21. > :35:24.you know, silage, cut grass, hay, straw and some of them
:35:25. > :35:26.had to buy it in from France or Spain, I think.
:35:27. > :35:28.I don't know if anyone actually lost animals
:35:29. > :35:31.but they certainly bankrupted themselves and across Ireland,
:35:32. > :35:35.cattle died and some farmers committed suicide because of stress.
:35:36. > :35:38.Not being able to feed your herd, there's nothing worse,
:35:39. > :35:42.Dexter is a traditional Irish mountain breed.
:35:43. > :35:48.They were bred for this environment, so they're quite a small cow
:35:49. > :35:51.and they're quite light, so they don't really smash up the mountain.
:35:52. > :35:57.just fall in the bog, they wouldn't be able to move,
:35:58. > :36:00.whereas the Dexters, they're quite light on their feet
:36:01. > :36:03.and they adapt, they've got a very thrifty appetite.
:36:04. > :36:06.So, it seems a little bit ironic that down in the valleys, where the
:36:07. > :36:09.pastures are lush and green and the cattle are big breeds
:36:10. > :36:15.suffered in this fodder crisis in the spring, but you were OK up here.
:36:16. > :36:19.Yeah, I think that's an interesting point because
:36:20. > :36:23.what we're trying to do here is develop farming for the future.
:36:24. > :36:26.Farmers down in the valley who are used to huge amounts of inputs
:36:27. > :36:30.and bring in lots of silage or having
:36:31. > :36:32.lots of fertiliser on their silage landing,
:36:33. > :36:35.cutting large amounts of silage to keep their big, industrial
:36:36. > :36:39.cattle alive during the winter, once the weather messed them up
:36:40. > :36:43.and they couldn't get that grass, they were in real trouble.
:36:44. > :36:48.Yeah, absolutely, let's go down and have a look.
:36:49. > :36:53.Steve has used his Dexters to rip up the rough grass.
:36:54. > :36:56.He's then sown clover, which returns nutrients to the soil
:36:57. > :37:03.Goodness me, this is very different to what we were just stood on.
:37:04. > :37:07.Yeah, as you can see, you've got thick, thick clover. Incredible.
:37:08. > :37:09.Yeah, and it was grazed about two and a half months ago
:37:10. > :37:11.so, you know, it's growing quite fast.
:37:12. > :37:14.Still a bit of rough grass coming through, does that matter?
:37:15. > :37:18.Yeah, there's a bit. It's not ideal but the Dexters will graze that.
:37:19. > :37:20.Once their nutrition is balanced and they've got a good appetite,
:37:21. > :37:23.then the Dexters will graze that off and it's getting less
:37:24. > :37:27.so in the end, there'll just be grass and clover.
:37:28. > :37:30.And do you rely on this totally for the winter feed?
:37:31. > :37:32.No, this will take me through a certain period
:37:33. > :37:34.but then it will run out, but then I've got another
:37:35. > :37:37.system of feeding that will take me on after that.
:37:38. > :37:46.Steve's embraced a system that ensures fresh fodder every day,
:37:47. > :37:58.So, this is the fodder system. Oh, yes. There we go.
:37:59. > :38:07.so it takes barley grain like this, just dry barley,
:38:08. > :38:09.and you have all these different trays
:38:10. > :38:13.and you start at the other end and you put a jug in each tray.
:38:14. > :38:16.After six days, it appears like that.
:38:17. > :38:20.So, very, very quickly, it goes from this to this.
:38:21. > :38:23.Yeah, so that's four days' growth, five days' growth, six days' growth.
:38:24. > :38:27.And it's this that saved you through the horrible spring
:38:28. > :38:37.and so once a cow or cattle is eating the essential nutrients
:38:38. > :38:40.they need, they're healthy and they've got good appetite,
:38:41. > :38:42.and if they've got good appetite, then you can feed them loads of
:38:43. > :38:46.straw and they can get their energy and roughage from cheap straw.
:38:47. > :38:48.So, this is really the icing on the cake
:38:49. > :38:50.but it makes the whole thing work. And your Dexters love it?
:38:51. > :38:54.Oh, yeah, they love it. Once they know it's coming, they'll be around.
:38:55. > :39:03.Shall we go and feed them? Yeah, let's go.
:39:04. > :39:20.OK, I'll drive it up if you could open the gate. Yeah.
:39:21. > :39:25.Were your neighbours in this fodder crisis jealous seeing you
:39:26. > :39:27.feeding your cows like this? I think, yeah.
:39:28. > :39:28.Last year, in the height of the winter
:39:29. > :39:31.when people were having to buy silage in from Spain
:39:32. > :39:33.and they saw us just dealing with this and straw, I think,
:39:34. > :39:36.yeah, they were starting to get quite interested.
:39:37. > :39:39.And, in fact, now I've teamed up with a local farmer just over
:39:40. > :39:45.trying to actually provide a route to market for these special cows.
:39:46. > :39:49.Oh, I'd love to meet up with him. I'm sure, yeah, he's an affable guy.
:39:50. > :39:52.30 miles that way, you say? About there, yeah.
:39:53. > :40:00.I'm bound to get lost again. Great. Nice to see you.
:40:01. > :40:04.Steve's friend, Paddy Fenton, shares his passion for Dexters.
:40:05. > :40:08.This native breed not only survive on poor mountain pasture,
:40:09. > :40:13.He's working with researcher Cillian Kelly to establish
:40:14. > :40:19.the benefits of rearing Dexters in environmentally-sensitive areas.
:40:20. > :40:24.Paddy, what a wonderful bit of scenery this is. What area are we in?
:40:25. > :40:27.We're in the nature reserve on the north-western tip of the Dingle
:40:28. > :40:29.peninsula on the South coast of Ireland.
:40:30. > :40:31.We're looking straight out at America.
:40:32. > :40:36.And the cattle are being brought up the hill here, what's happening?
:40:37. > :40:38.Peter's gone down to bring up the cattle.
:40:39. > :40:41.and a special type of dog to be able to work this country.
:40:42. > :40:44.Cattle, if they're not handled properly, can go a bit feral,
:40:45. > :40:47.so I'm very lucky that Peter has the skill base that he's able to
:40:48. > :40:52.They may not be as tough as the Highlands or the Galloways,
:40:53. > :40:57.but in terms of their effect on such a sensitive environment as this,
:40:58. > :41:02.So, Cillian, that's where you come in because it's a partnership
:41:03. > :41:04.between the Dexter cattle and conservation grazing.
:41:05. > :41:07.Some of the habitat types we have up here are quite sensitive.
:41:08. > :41:10.There's a 462-hectare site that's made up of lots of different
:41:11. > :41:12.habitat types, so we've got heathland communities,
:41:13. > :41:15.grassland communities and some blanket bog, so we want to try
:41:16. > :41:18.and understand how the cattle impact on these sensitive areas.
:41:19. > :41:21.I see some of them have got collars on, what are they?
:41:22. > :41:23.That's right, they're GPS-tracking collars.
:41:24. > :41:29.and they record a position every two hours and so that allows us
:41:30. > :41:31.to get a picture of where the cattle go
:41:32. > :41:35.and how much time they spend in each habitat type, then afterwards,
:41:36. > :41:37.we can come in and survey those habitats
:41:38. > :41:39.and see what's happening to the vegetation.
:41:40. > :41:42.Now, I've been told that Dexter beef is delicious.
:41:43. > :41:45.Dexter beef is stunning. Beautiful, wild flavour.
:41:46. > :41:48.I need to go and taste some. You're welcome to come down to us now.
:41:49. > :41:51.Have you got some on the go? We have some on the menu for this evening.
:41:52. > :42:01.And as the sun sets in Dingle Town, what better way to end the day
:42:02. > :42:07.than to sample one of Paddy and Steve's Dexter beef burgers?
:42:08. > :42:11.So what makes this Dexter beef so special?
:42:12. > :42:14.The fact that it's so well flavoured and, in eating it,
:42:15. > :42:18.we're helping the propagation of a wonderful Irish breed of cattle.
:42:19. > :42:21.And looking after that amazing environment too. Indeed.
:42:22. > :42:31.It's as good as you said it was going to be.
:42:32. > :42:36.Absolutely delicious. Wonderful. Well, it's been great to meet you.
:42:37. > :42:38.All the best and good luck with the project. Cheers.
:42:39. > :42:41.Thank you very much, lovely to meet you. Happy days, happy tummy.
:42:42. > :42:48.Next week, I'm visiting a lucky young woman who's won the right to
:42:49. > :42:55.manage a ?1 million farm nestled in the heart of Snowdonia.
:42:56. > :42:59.We're back across the Irish Sea in the predominately agricultural
:43:00. > :43:08.young tenant farmers running their first business, a dairy farm,
:43:09. > :43:12.through a start-up opportunity from the local council.
:43:13. > :43:14.And there's good motivation to succeed,
:43:15. > :43:17.because on county farms, you get a ten-year lease to establish your
:43:18. > :43:23.starter farm before you progress onto a bigger project like this one.
:43:24. > :43:27.Before Giles, Gareth Acreman ran the dairy farm but now,
:43:28. > :43:32.at 112 acres, Gareth's new farm about 10 miles away is nearly
:43:33. > :43:39.So you've got some lovely beef stock here, Gareth, and this is a
:43:40. > :43:43.very different plan to the one that you had on your first county farm.
:43:44. > :43:46.We switched over from dairy farming to beef. Why?
:43:47. > :43:50.I've always been a dairy farmer and then keeping beef cattle
:43:51. > :43:54.alongside, I could see where my passion was.
:43:55. > :43:57.We were just waiting for the opportunity to push that
:43:58. > :44:00.business further and that's when the county farm came up.
:44:01. > :44:03.And it obviously works well with the lifestyle,
:44:04. > :44:05.the whole kind of county farm structure,
:44:06. > :44:07.because here you are now with your second.
:44:08. > :44:13.I've lived in the area all my life, farmer's son, tenant farmer,
:44:14. > :44:17.so I knew, at some point, I would want to work for myself
:44:18. > :44:22.and the only opportunity you can get into the industry is a rented farm.
:44:23. > :44:25.Yeah. Now, we've been here for over 12 months,
:44:26. > :44:28.it's as if you've been here for ten years.
:44:29. > :44:31.Yeah. It is, we just fit in really well.
:44:32. > :44:34.Gareth's not alone in his challenge to establish this as a new
:44:35. > :44:40.His partner Lucy and two-year-old son Rhys also live on the farm.
:44:41. > :44:43.I mean, obviously, a great life for him, he must love it here.
:44:44. > :44:48.He would much rather be outside, he's definitely taken after his dad.
:44:49. > :44:50.Yeah. He's definitely the next generation.
:44:51. > :44:52.And, so you get ten years with your starter farm,
:44:53. > :44:57.how long do you get with this? Or do you not know that? Another 16.
:44:58. > :45:01.Another 16? Great. It is going to be our home for a while, hopefully.
:45:02. > :45:04.And where do you see it all kind of progressing?
:45:05. > :45:06.Just more of the same, or expanding, or...?
:45:07. > :45:09.Yeah, just getting bigger and more beef cattle,
:45:10. > :45:12.and it would be nice to be able to convert the buildings
:45:13. > :45:16.down at the house into some sort of small business there as well.
:45:17. > :45:21.there'll be more muscle, to get stuck in! Definitely!
:45:22. > :45:24.I know, for one, that farms are family business,
:45:25. > :45:28.and it's great to see that Rhys is keen to help out.
:45:29. > :45:36.Yeah, you WERE the same, because that's not the first time
:45:37. > :45:38.that you've answered that question, is it?
:45:39. > :45:42.Because this is you, 20 years ago on Countryfile!
:45:43. > :45:45.'So, what is it with boys and tractors?'
:45:46. > :45:48.Erm, I'm just fascinated by them, really.
:45:49. > :45:50.THEY LAUGH 'You found it!'
:45:51. > :45:52.'I really like helping out on the farm.'
:45:53. > :45:55.It's a good help for my parents, really.
:45:56. > :46:06.Gareth was obviously born for farm life,
:46:07. > :46:11.and he's learned a thing or two along the way.
:46:12. > :46:18.Is that all of them? Hang on, there's one left.
:46:19. > :46:26.They're now eating your front lawn.
:46:27. > :46:36.100 years on from Staffordshire launching their tenant farms,
:46:37. > :46:40.Gareth, Lucy and little Rhys are proof that county farms
:46:41. > :46:44.are needed across the country, giving people the opportunity
:46:45. > :46:53.to make their own way in the farming world.
:46:54. > :46:55.Now, every farmer needs to plan for the year ahead,
:46:56. > :47:00.than with the Countryfile Calendar for 2014?
:47:01. > :47:04.It is packed full of the very best photos from this year's competition,
:47:05. > :47:09.and here is how you can get your hands on one.
:47:10. > :47:12.The calendar costs ?9, including UK delivery.
:47:13. > :47:18.via our website at bbc.co.uk/countryfile,
:47:19. > :47:42.To order by post, send your name, address and cheque to:
:47:43. > :47:47.Please make cheques payable to BBC Countryfile Calendar.
:47:48. > :47:51.A minimum of ?4 from every sale will go to Children In Need.
:47:52. > :47:54.on getting out and about in the countryside in the week ahead,
:47:55. > :47:57.then you will need to know what the weather has in store.
:47:58. > :48:11.So here's the Countryfile forecast for the week ahead.
:48:12. > :48:18.Good evening. The weather is looking pretty mixed for the week ahead. We
:48:19. > :48:21.certainly have a mixed weekend of whether my finishing on a sunny
:48:22. > :48:26.note, but the cloud is gathering in the Atlantic, so all change
:48:27. > :48:34.tonight. -- mixed weekend of weather finishing. As the night goes on,
:48:35. > :48:39.those temperatures will then climb. It will be warmer with more cloud
:48:40. > :48:43.arriving with outbreaks of rain, so by dawn, temperatures in the West in
:48:44. > :48:48.double figures. A grey start tomorrow morning with that rain. The
:48:49. > :48:52.southerly breeze picking up as we go through the morning. The rain
:48:53. > :48:56.turning patchy and lighter as it moves South and East, and the cloud
:48:57. > :49:01.breaking up behind that across Scotland and Northern Ireland, so
:49:02. > :49:05.some brighter spells at 3pm. Still pretty breezy with strong winds
:49:06. > :49:11.blowing in some blustery showers but the cloud holds on further south
:49:12. > :49:17.across parts of England and Wales. Patchy rain. Temperatures up on
:49:18. > :49:23.today's values with 13, 14 degrees, and more rain clinging to the coast
:49:24. > :49:26.of Kent and Sussex and into Essex. Southern areas of Great Britain sea
:49:27. > :49:31.areas of rain moving across on Monday night and into Tuesday.
:49:32. > :49:36.Clearer skies further north, so probably the lowest temperatures
:49:37. > :49:42.here in towns and cities. Further South, a touch higher. The rain will
:49:43. > :49:47.clearer way at first on Tuesday with things turning drier and brighter.
:49:48. > :49:53.But staying more unsettled further north, with strong winds lowering in
:49:54. > :49:58.some frequent and heavy showers, which will continue to be wintry
:49:59. > :50:05.across higher ground. More sunshine further south with temperatures at
:50:06. > :50:10.around average. High pressure on choose day night is trying to build
:50:11. > :50:16.in, with some clearer skies. -- Tuesday night. You can still see
:50:17. > :50:20.some tightly packed isobars so Wednesday will be another windy
:50:21. > :50:27.day. The wind particularly picking up in the North. The rain then turns
:50:28. > :50:31.heavier and moves south. But ahead of that, many areas should be dry
:50:32. > :50:36.with some bright spells again and highs of 11 or 12 degrees. For the
:50:37. > :50:40.end of the week, we will stick with spells of very strong winds. Many
:50:41. > :50:45.showers will be across northern areas. Further south, a bit drier
:50:46. > :50:49.and brighter with high pressure not to far away. A weather front
:50:50. > :50:53.clearing through at first on Thursday, so potentially some rain
:50:54. > :50:57.to clear away from the south-east. Some of the strongest winds on
:50:58. > :51:02.Thursday assisting down the North Sea coastal areas. A scattering of
:51:03. > :51:07.showers in the North but for many, Thursday should be dry with some
:51:08. > :51:12.sunshine. With the breeze, temperatures cooler than this would
:51:13. > :51:17.suggest. Towards the end of the week, the high pressure on Friday
:51:18. > :51:21.looks like it should build in. Some weather fronts still not too far
:51:22. > :51:24.away sitting to the North, but you can still see those very tightly
:51:25. > :51:30.packed isobars to the north-west giving strong winds at times.
:51:31. > :51:32.Further south, dry with some sunshine. If you have some Children
:51:33. > :51:46.in Need events on Friday, the the wild and windswept
:51:47. > :51:51.countryside of Cannock Chase. While Matt's been celebrating
:51:52. > :51:55.the centenary of the county farms, I've come to the outer fringes,
:51:56. > :51:57.to Shugborough, the ancestral home of the late
:51:58. > :52:01.5th Earl of Lichfield - better known as the world-renowned
:52:02. > :52:08.photographer, Patrick Lichfield. It was here that Patrick first used
:52:09. > :52:11.a camera, at the age of seven, taking pictures of his beloved home,
:52:12. > :52:15.his family and their pets. Then he moved on
:52:16. > :52:17.to the world of glitterati, photographing celebrities
:52:18. > :52:25.and the aristocracy. The stunning Georgian mansion
:52:26. > :52:29.was made possible by Patrick's As a naval officer in the
:52:30. > :52:35.mid-18th century, he captured a Spanish galleon and made off
:52:36. > :52:38.with its treasure, and he used the money to develop
:52:39. > :52:46.the house and buy more land. With its beautiful river gardens
:52:47. > :52:53.and its lavish interiors, this was certainly gracious living,
:52:54. > :52:56.Georgian style. But believe it or not,
:52:57. > :53:00.this magnificent estate is one of the largest council
:53:01. > :53:03.houses in the country. When Patrick's grandfather,
:53:04. > :53:06.the 4th Earl, died in 1966, the whole estate passed
:53:07. > :53:09.to the National Trust, They, in turn, leased it to
:53:10. > :53:16.Staffordshire County Council. running a house on this scale
:53:17. > :53:23.is a huge responsibility. So, Corinne, how does
:53:24. > :53:26.a cash-strapped council possibly manage to maintain
:53:27. > :53:29.such a magnificent property? Every year, we know
:53:30. > :53:34.that to maintain Shugborough and all our collections
:53:35. > :53:36.and our landscapes, and it's a challenge to start
:53:37. > :53:43.making money to offset that cost. So, where do you begin with
:53:44. > :53:46.such an enormous task? Well, I think
:53:47. > :53:49.we're very innovative here. We have weddings, corporate events,
:53:50. > :53:54.day visitors, educational groups. We have around 20,000 schoolchildren
:53:55. > :53:58.that come on visits every year, which really helps towards
:53:59. > :54:02.the costs. today, Shugborough
:54:03. > :54:07.is the most complete working historic
:54:08. > :54:09.estate in the country. There's a working Georgian farm,
:54:10. > :54:13.where rare breeds are reared. A water mill, producing
:54:14. > :54:17.fine wholegrain flour. And even the blacksmith's
:54:18. > :54:20.forge is back in use. Slowly, the council is taking on
:54:21. > :54:25.even bigger restoration projects. It was actually abandoned in 1959,
:54:26. > :54:32.and up until eight years ago, But now, as you can see,
:54:33. > :54:38.it's very much back in service. Today's green-fingered gardener
:54:39. > :54:41.is Derek Higgert, who's lovingly tended the beds
:54:42. > :54:47.here for the last six years. This was no ordinary garden
:54:48. > :54:50.in its heyday, was it? No, it was one of the best learning
:54:51. > :54:56.horticultural societies in England. Young lads, garden boys,
:54:57. > :55:00.used to come here to work for free. You know, to learn all the skills
:55:01. > :55:06.of growing unusual fruits and veg. Behind you, here,
:55:07. > :55:09.we have a vine house So there would have been glasshouses
:55:10. > :55:14.attached to these walls? Yes, there would, yeah. And heated
:55:15. > :55:17.from behind in the bothies. They used to have fires lit
:55:18. > :55:20.on the other side, so the lads would be keeping themselves warm
:55:21. > :55:23.as well as heating the walls. And then, underneath
:55:24. > :55:26.the head gardener's house, they had a boiler room
:55:27. > :55:30.where they used to generate steam because they need
:55:31. > :55:34.that heat and warmth. They were very unusual fruits
:55:35. > :55:37.to be growing in this country. Yeah, if you had
:55:38. > :55:40.a pineapple on your table, you were one of the richest
:55:41. > :55:42.people in England. It was a great symbol of wealth,
:55:43. > :55:44.wasn't it? Yeah. You're only scratching the surface
:55:45. > :55:46.here, aren't you? Our ambition is to turn it
:55:47. > :55:50.back into its heyday, 200 years ago,
:55:51. > :55:53.and get it running back as it was. How much do you think
:55:54. > :55:56.it's going to cost? Millions. How are you going to raise the money?
:55:57. > :56:00.We've tried a little bit this year. We've been growing our own
:56:01. > :56:04.vegetables and selling flowers and things like that
:56:05. > :56:06.from the garden. Just over ?1,000. You definitely need to
:56:07. > :56:15.grow some more pumpkins, Derek! At Shugborough,
:56:16. > :56:18.it's a constant battle to preserve the past
:56:19. > :56:21.and protect the future. These are the old servants' quarters,
:56:22. > :56:25.and this handsome clock, dating back 250 years,
:56:26. > :56:30.is their crowning glory. As with anything old,
:56:31. > :56:33.it's getting a little creaky It's normally caretaker Chris Child's
:56:34. > :56:42.job to maintain the clock. But today, I'm in charge
:56:43. > :56:48.of the wind-up operation. Chris, how do I know what
:56:49. > :56:51.time it is? What it's set to now? that I've had for 15 years of it,
:56:52. > :56:55.you'd have had a look at the fingers on the clock
:56:56. > :56:57.outside before you came up. You see, I did look,
:56:58. > :57:00.I looked up at the clock, So, I'm going to need
:57:01. > :57:04.a bit of help, then. Er, Bradders calling Baker Boy,
:57:05. > :57:10.are you there, Baker Boy? Yeah, I'm here, I'm stood under
:57:11. > :57:15.a clock with a walkie-talkie. Can you tell me, please,
:57:16. > :57:20.what time is on the clock right now? At the moment, it says 25 to 4.
:57:21. > :57:25.So, obviously, it's the wrong time. 'It is, clever clogs!
:57:26. > :57:29.That's why we're here!' OK, I'm going to start
:57:30. > :57:31.moving the hands around. Tell me when
:57:32. > :57:36.I hit the markers, please. You're going the wrong way.
:57:37. > :57:44.Story of my life! That's a good pace.
:57:45. > :57:46.That's quarter past. Stop! Ooh, a bit too far!
:57:47. > :57:50.Back a bit. What do you think of
:57:51. > :58:08.my clock chiming skills? I thought they were very impressive,
:58:09. > :58:11.very impressive. Thank you. Quite low ceilings up there. Yeah?
:58:12. > :58:14.But lovely. Lovely noise, isn't it? Yeah, it is. Are you winding me up?
:58:15. > :58:17.SHE GROANS Anyway, according to this, it's time
:58:18. > :58:20.to say goodbye, so come on. It certainly is. Next week,
:58:21. > :58:22.we're going to be in Suffolk. We're celebrating the centenary
:58:23. > :58:25.of the birth of Benjamin Britten, Yes, and I'll be with some of the
:58:26. > :58:29.county's best loved but rarest farm animals, the magnificent
:58:30. > :58:32.Suffolk Punch heavy horse. Hope you can join us then. Time to
:58:33. > :58:37.go. Time to go. It's time to go!