0:00:29 > 0:00:32Devon at first light - a picture of serenity.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35The calm after the hectic rush of Christmas.
0:00:36 > 0:00:40Wintry fields softly carpet the rolling landscape,
0:00:40 > 0:00:45the bare bones of trees, silhouetted against the low winter sun.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47The 12 days of Christmas are over tonight,
0:00:47 > 0:00:49but here, at Killerton House,
0:00:49 > 0:00:52the days ahead are going to be pretty busy.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58There's plenty of preparation to be done to keep the house
0:00:58 > 0:01:03and the surrounding estate ticking over as the new year unfolds.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06Today, I'll be going behind the scenes to see what
0:01:06 > 0:01:10it takes to get a country estate like this ready for all
0:01:10 > 0:01:11the visitors in the year ahead.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18And whilst they're looking forward at Killerton,
0:01:18 > 0:01:22we'll be looking back through our archives at our own
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Countryfile calendar year, revisiting seasonal scenes
0:01:25 > 0:01:28as inspired by some of our winning photographs.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34Matt blows away the cobwebs with a bracing dip.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36It's so challenging.
0:01:37 > 0:01:41It's like swimming up massive hills all the time.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48Julia goes on a wildlife hunt in the Kielder Forest.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51Oh, look, they're so fluffy!
0:01:51 > 0:01:54Hello. Oh, gosh, so gorgeous.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01And the weather causes havoc down on Adam's Farm.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04Farming in the snow like this just takes up so much time
0:02:04 > 0:02:06and is such a big effort.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08I could really do with it going away.
0:02:20 > 0:02:24Today, I'm in the grounds and surrounds of Killerton House.
0:02:24 > 0:02:27With 15 working farms, extensive gardens
0:02:27 > 0:02:31and over 60 miles of pathways, there's plenty to be done to
0:02:31 > 0:02:34'get the place shipshape for the upcoming year.'
0:02:36 > 0:02:40Lying a few miles north of Exeter, the Killerton estate takes up quite
0:02:40 > 0:02:44a chunk of mid-Devon, stretching to a whopping ten square miles.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47In fact, that's about the same size as Exeter.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53Killerton House was built in 1779 for one of Devon's
0:02:53 > 0:02:55oldest families, the Aclands.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02It was their home for over three centuries
0:03:02 > 0:03:06until Sir Richard Acland inherited it in 1939.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09He was a strong believer in common ownership
0:03:09 > 0:03:11and gave away the estate to the National Trust
0:03:11 > 0:03:15so that the general public could visit and enjoy it.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Area ranger Ed Nicholson
0:03:17 > 0:03:20is the man charged with getting the place ready for
0:03:20 > 0:03:24the forthcoming year and he's got a very long to-do list.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28What a fantastic gift this was from Sir Richard to the nation
0:03:28 > 0:03:31and, obviously, a round-the-year job keeping it looking
0:03:31 > 0:03:33- good for the public.- Yeah, it is.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36We've got a great team here that work very hard year-round and we have
0:03:36 > 0:03:39jobs that keep us busy from January right through to the end of December.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42- And everything feeds back, does it? - Yeah, that's right.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46We try and produce as much from the estate as we can to go back in.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48So, we make our own cider from the orchards,
0:03:48 > 0:03:50harvest our own venison from the forests.
0:03:50 > 0:03:53All of those sort of things just help to keep the estate the way
0:03:53 > 0:03:55- it should be.- So, what's the first job today, then?
0:03:55 > 0:03:57First job today - light the charcoal kiln.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00We're going to make some charcoal through our woodland management.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03- I'll catch up with you later, then.- No problem.- Bye.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06The gardens here were stocked with varieties
0:04:06 > 0:04:10brought back by great plant hunters in the 1800s.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13'And with 18 acres to tend, for the gardening team, there is
0:04:13 > 0:04:15'little time for idle chat.'
0:04:15 > 0:04:18- Can I stop you, Kate? You're the head gardener, aren't you?- I am.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20- A job for all seasons here. - Absolutely.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Yes, people have this weird conception that we do
0:04:23 > 0:04:26nothing in the winter except sit around and drink coffee.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29That would be nice. But, in fact, it's the busiest time of year.
0:04:29 > 0:04:30It's a really physical time of year
0:04:30 > 0:04:32when we actually get the big jobs done.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34So, what's going on at the moment?
0:04:34 > 0:04:38Here, we are clearing out an area that's been slightly neglected.
0:04:38 > 0:04:40So, a lot of brambles to come out,
0:04:40 > 0:04:42a lot of tired, older shrubs to come out.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46Then we will regenerate the area and replant.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48What else is on your to-do list today, then?
0:04:48 > 0:04:50I need to go and have a look at the Bear's Hut,
0:04:50 > 0:04:53- which needs some restoration. - The Bear's Hut?- The Bear's Hut.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56- A hut for bears? - It was, yes.- Really?
0:05:00 > 0:05:03Kate tells me that one of the house's former owners
0:05:03 > 0:05:08used to keep a pet bear cub called Tom in the Bear Hut.
0:05:08 > 0:05:09GROWLING
0:05:09 > 0:05:12A gift brought back from Canada in the 1860s.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17So, this is it. I was expecting a cage.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20It is very rustic but it was built as a rustic summerhouse
0:05:20 > 0:05:24in about 1808, when the garden was originally laid out.
0:05:24 > 0:05:27It was built as a wedding present for the lady of the house
0:05:27 > 0:05:29as a sort of tea hut.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31- What is it like inside?- Have a look.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37- This is very rustic, isn't it? - It is.
0:05:37 > 0:05:43- The floor is made of sort of cuts of timber. Very nicely designed.- It is.
0:05:43 > 0:05:45What have we got through here?
0:05:45 > 0:05:50Through here, this is the room that used to be described as quite macabre
0:05:50 > 0:05:55- and it was in decidedly bad taste. - It looks like a coconut mat to me.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58- It is deer knuckle bones.- Never!
0:05:58 > 0:06:02Deer knuckle bones cut in half, so you get two knuckles for each bone,
0:06:02 > 0:06:04and set down into this pattern.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07I have never seen anything like that before.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11And then, on the ceiling, you've got a deerskin.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15- A very elaborate home for a bear cub.- Very. Indeed.
0:06:15 > 0:06:16And being so rustic,
0:06:16 > 0:06:20you do wonder how much survived with a bear cub living in here.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24- Yes. A wonderful place. - It is. And loved by children.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27They come rushing up to try and find the bear cub up here.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30Nobody's found him yet. But you never know when he might appear.
0:06:34 > 0:06:37Well, I doubt we'll see Tom the bear today -
0:06:37 > 0:06:40he'll be hibernating away from this cold weather.
0:06:40 > 0:06:41GROWLING
0:06:41 > 0:06:43What was that?
0:06:47 > 0:06:48It may be a bit grey here
0:06:48 > 0:06:51but many of you will be starting your new year basking in the glow
0:06:51 > 0:06:55from your wall of January's image in our Countryfile calendar.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04Well, Matt blew away the cobwebs under Brighton Pier
0:07:04 > 0:07:07a few years ago when he went for a bracing dip.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15The Brighton Outdoor Swimming Club is the oldest swimming club in Britain.
0:07:15 > 0:07:19Its members swim every day, all year round, in all weathers.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24It's 7.30 in the morning and while most are struggling to get
0:07:24 > 0:07:28out of bed, this intrepid bunch are about to set off for their daily dip.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32- Well, a very good morning, team. How are we? ALL:- Good.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35I have to say, I feel completely overdressed.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37- Is this a good morning for it? - It's good. Not too rough.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Prefer it to be a bit flatter, but it's OK.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Of all the things that you could choose as a form of exercise,
0:07:43 > 0:07:46why do you want to go for, you know, the "swimming in the sea" option?
0:07:46 > 0:07:51It's free. It's just a really lovely sense of sort of being in touch
0:07:51 > 0:07:56- with nature, really.- The sea, the coldness, makes my body tingle.
0:07:56 > 0:08:01And it lasts for most of the day. It's a lovely feeling.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03Right. Time to take to the water.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09I'll tell you what, it's really, really nippy in there.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12At this time of year, the sea's at its coldest -
0:08:12 > 0:08:14only five degrees above freezing, which means
0:08:14 > 0:08:18they can only stay in there for ten minutes without risking hypothermia.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23- Good.- Yeah? Feeling OK? - Yeah, feels good now.- Invigorating?
0:08:23 > 0:08:26- Less cold now than I was before I got in.- Really?
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Yes. I'll get cold in about five minutes' time, though.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31- Well, you'd better head up there, then.- I will.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35- Was that one all right for you? - Yeah. Invigorating.
0:08:36 > 0:08:39But there's more to it than simply kick-starting your day,
0:08:39 > 0:08:41as anaesthetist Dr Mark Harper knows.
0:08:42 > 0:08:45Mark.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49- How is it this morning? Fresh? - "Fresh", I think is what you'd say.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53Give us an idea of the health benefits of the sea.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55Quite a lot, actually.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59The main one, really, is probably on the immune system.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03It has been shown that improves the function of your white blood cells.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06People who swim in the sea all year round, all through winter,
0:09:06 > 0:09:09get less chest infections than people who don't.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13It also has strong effect on the hormonal system.
0:09:13 > 0:09:17Things like more adrenaline, which is a bit like...adrenaline -
0:09:17 > 0:09:20it really gives you a buzz. This kind of buzz lasts all day.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23When I first started swimming in the sea, this is what I really noticed.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26God, I'm just buzzing all day.
0:09:27 > 0:09:30'It's sounding more and more enticing
0:09:30 > 0:09:32'but, before I take the plunge, I'm off to get inspiration
0:09:32 > 0:09:34'from Channel swimmer Fiona Southwell,
0:09:34 > 0:09:39'who became the oldest woman to swim the Channel at the age of 50.'
0:09:39 > 0:09:41I put on a stone and a half for my Channel swim.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43You know, you do need that fat.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45It took me 20 hours to swim the Channel.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48I was burning 6,000 calories an hour
0:09:48 > 0:09:51but being fed 10,000 calories an hour by my feeds
0:09:51 > 0:09:53and I still lost half a stone.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55There's a section in the middle that's particularly...
0:09:55 > 0:09:58The separation zone, yes. It's between the English and French
0:09:58 > 0:10:01shipping lanes and that's quite a difficult stretch of water.
0:10:01 > 0:10:0425mph winds and huge white-horse waves.
0:10:04 > 0:10:07But, you know, I loved that. I just rose to that.
0:10:07 > 0:10:12Because I'd trained here for years in quite rough seas,
0:10:12 > 0:10:16so it didn't vex me, whereas it did vex quite a lot of other swimmers.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18Yeah, cos there was a few out that day.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20Five other swimmers, I think, that day attempting it
0:10:20 > 0:10:23and I was the only one to get across on that day.
0:10:23 > 0:10:25For all those people that would be sat watching this,
0:10:25 > 0:10:30thinking that you are absolutely mad to go in and swim in the sea,
0:10:30 > 0:10:34- what would you say to them?- Oh, you know, it's the most uplifting,
0:10:34 > 0:10:38exhilarating experience and feeling of well-being afterwards.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42Having said that, I do fall asleep in the afternoon.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44In these temperatures.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47It is a huge shock to the system.
0:10:49 > 0:10:51I've got a little surprise organised for them
0:10:51 > 0:10:55a little bit later on but, in order to experience this
0:10:55 > 0:10:58sea swimming for myself, there's just one thing for it -
0:10:58 > 0:11:01I'm going to have to get into the water.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03Well, I'm not that stupid.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05Paul, in all seriousness, it is
0:11:05 > 0:11:08pretty dangerous getting in the water at this time of year, in the sea?
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Absolutely. There are swimmers that swim all year round without
0:11:11 > 0:11:14wet suits but they are swimming every single day of the year
0:11:14 > 0:11:16and they're gradually acclimatising their bodies.
0:11:16 > 0:11:18If you haven't done that and you're just taking a dip,
0:11:18 > 0:11:22a wet suit, two swimming hats, a pair of gloves - essential.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27I'll tell you what, there's some big'uns coming in here.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30But it's time to goggle up and get out there.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41'The cold, I was ready for. But not the rough conditions.'
0:11:44 > 0:11:48The wind kicks up an enormous amount of chop. There's one.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51It's so challenging.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56It's like swimming up massive hills all the time
0:11:56 > 0:11:59and to maintain the front crawl is difficult.
0:12:02 > 0:12:03'We're heading to a pontoon,
0:12:03 > 0:12:07'where I've got a treat in store for my fellow swimmers.'
0:12:11 > 0:12:15Oh, yes. Made it to the pontoon.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19I'll tell you what, that is exhausting.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28Well, back in 1880s, an eccentric member of the swimming club
0:12:28 > 0:12:32set up tea parties on pontoons just like this one -
0:12:32 > 0:12:35a welcome break for everybody.
0:12:35 > 0:12:40Now, it's a little bit choppy today, but we're catching cups
0:12:40 > 0:12:43and we've got a flask full of tea. So, let's celebrate!
0:12:44 > 0:12:46And up we go, lovely. There's...
0:12:46 > 0:12:47THEY CHEER
0:12:47 > 0:12:50- There's one. Cheers, everyone. ALL:- Cheers.
0:12:50 > 0:12:52Can I have mine black, please?
0:12:52 > 0:12:55From the Victorian bathing huts of yesteryear
0:12:55 > 0:12:58to the Channel swimmers of today, the wonderfully eccentric
0:12:58 > 0:13:01adventures of the Brighton Swimming Club look set to continue.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13'Back on dry land at Killerton, spring has sprung early.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17'I'm on the estate's oldest tenant farm, which is
0:13:17 > 0:13:19'welcoming its newest arrivals.
0:13:19 > 0:13:21'Arthur Salter runs the farm.'
0:13:23 > 0:13:25How old do you reckon this farm is, Arthur?
0:13:25 > 0:13:28They think it's about 15th century.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30- And how long have your family been here?- We've...
0:13:30 > 0:13:34The family have been here very nearly 150 years.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37I bet a lot of people would be surprised to see
0:13:37 > 0:13:42- lambs at this time of year. - There are a few early lambs about.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46It just happens to fit in with the system at the farm.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50The lambs are bred in the winter whilst
0:13:50 > 0:13:52the workload on the farm is quiet.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55It means they'll then be ready to savour the first shoots of spring.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Once the lambs are sold, the pasture can recover and then
0:13:59 > 0:14:01the cattle will go out to graze,
0:14:01 > 0:14:03making the best use of the farming year.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06- Feeding time, Mark, is it?- Yeah.
0:14:08 > 0:14:09'But before they get out to pasture,
0:14:09 > 0:14:13'some of the lambs need a helping hand from shepherd Mark Hodgson.'
0:14:15 > 0:14:17Here's a thirsty one.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19This must be a really busy time of year for you, Mark.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22How many lambs will you have all together?
0:14:22 > 0:14:24Probably about 150-200.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28And will they eventually get out and graze?
0:14:28 > 0:14:30Obviously, we'll start letting them out now
0:14:30 > 0:14:32in the next couple of weeks, probably.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36- Well, these seem pretty fit, pretty hungry.- Fit lambs at the moment.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38Getting through the whole bottle very quickly.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41Three times a day, they all drink a bottle.
0:14:41 > 0:14:45'Of course, most of our lambs don't appear until springtime,
0:14:45 > 0:14:49'when this striking calendar image could be gracing your wall.'
0:14:50 > 0:14:51A couple of years ago,
0:14:51 > 0:14:55Ellie got her own glimpse of some rare birds of prey on Exmoor,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58birds that once would have been a common sight
0:14:58 > 0:15:01in the British countryside.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04These days, getting a glimpse of one of these magnificent
0:15:04 > 0:15:06creatures in the wild is a rare treat.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09What precious few remain risk being targeted
0:15:09 > 0:15:12by those who see birds of prey as competition.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18This is a picture of a rare goshawk found dead near Exeter.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21It was deliberately poisoned, along with three other goshawks.
0:15:21 > 0:15:24But with only 20 breeding pairs left in the whole county,
0:15:24 > 0:15:27it represents a really significant loss.
0:15:32 > 0:15:34'Josh Marshall is a wildlife crime officer.
0:15:34 > 0:15:38'It's his job to try and catch people attacking birds of prey.'
0:15:38 > 0:15:40Who are these people, then, doing all this?
0:15:40 > 0:15:42With birds of prey,
0:15:42 > 0:15:45the national picture would suggest that, with goshawks,
0:15:45 > 0:15:49you've got gamekeepers or people you'd associate with
0:15:49 > 0:15:52the shooting fraternity that may want to poison the birds.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54Not saying that they all do.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57There are some really reputable shoots out there as well.
0:15:57 > 0:15:58What can you do to combat the problem?
0:15:58 > 0:16:01We've got these motion-activated covert cameras now,
0:16:01 > 0:16:04which we've placed on certain nest sites within Devon,
0:16:04 > 0:16:06hopefully to catch these people
0:16:06 > 0:16:09who are thinking about committing these sort of dreadful acts.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12'Today, at a secret location,
0:16:12 > 0:16:15'Josh is checking a goshawk nest and a camera.'
0:16:15 > 0:16:17- Got your ladder.- Yeah. Yeah.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22Ellie, goshawks are really sensitive and prone to disturbance
0:16:22 > 0:16:24- so we need to keep that to a minimum on the visit.- OK.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26So, I'm going to leave you here while I go up
0:16:26 > 0:16:29- and service the batteries on the camera.- Oh, OK.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31- I'll wait for you, then.- OK, then. - See you in a bit.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37We've actually had to have special permission just to get this far,
0:16:37 > 0:16:41let alone going up to the nest, so I'll leave Josh to that one.
0:16:41 > 0:16:45It a pretty cold day today so he's going to have to be really quick.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49He's got to be in there, service the camera and back out again because we
0:16:49 > 0:16:53don't want the eggs, or the chicks, if they've hatched already,
0:16:53 > 0:16:57- to get cold.- It's gone. - I think something's wrong.
0:17:00 > 0:17:06- What's up?- Well, unfortunately, the camera's gone.- You're kidding.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08The good news is that the birds are still there.
0:17:08 > 0:17:10The female was there when I was there so...
0:17:10 > 0:17:12And it doesn't appear that there's
0:17:12 > 0:17:15been any attempt on the nest or anything.
0:17:15 > 0:17:16Some of the cameras are wireless
0:17:16 > 0:17:18so they'll e-mail the images back
0:17:18 > 0:17:20to computers back at the police station.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23So, potentially, we could have the image of them taking
0:17:23 > 0:17:26- the camera there.- So, technology, actually, is a step ahead?
0:17:26 > 0:17:29- Yeah.- You can't take the camera and get away with it.- That's right, yeah.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31- You'll get done for theft as well. - Well, there you go.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37'With the help of technology and policemen like Josh,
0:17:37 > 0:17:39'perhaps one day rare birds of prey
0:17:39 > 0:17:42'can prosper just as they did centuries ago.'
0:17:43 > 0:17:47In medieval times, the sport of falconry was big business.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50A bird of prey was a status symbol that said "power and wealth".
0:17:50 > 0:17:53So, today, where we might have a flashy watch or
0:17:53 > 0:17:56piece of jewellery, back then, it was all about the bird.
0:17:57 > 0:17:58Oh.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03The wide-open space of Putsborough Sands provides the perfect arena
0:18:03 > 0:18:06to meet Jonathan Marshall, a falconer who's keeping
0:18:06 > 0:18:09the tradition alive... and going one step further.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15Wow, what handsome-looking animals you have here. Who's this?
0:18:15 > 0:18:18This is Quinn, who is a peregrine falcon. A little male peregrine.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20- Beautiful.- He's a cracker. He's a beautiful bird.
0:18:20 > 0:18:21I bred him myself so...
0:18:21 > 0:18:25And the hood's just to keep them... Stop from... Not spooked.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28We're just go to fly him shortly and so he doesn't waste all his energy,
0:18:28 > 0:18:32we hood him first, so when I do fly him he's all revved up, ready to go.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35- Amazing. So, you bred this one. - Yeah, I bred this one.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37I've had him since he was an egg.
0:18:37 > 0:18:40He was a very good-looking egg, but even better-looking as an adult.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42Absolutely. And what about this horse?
0:18:42 > 0:18:44Well, this is one of my best horses.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47His name's Tulio and he's a Lusitano.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50He's an ex-bullfighting horse, came from Portugal.
0:18:50 > 0:18:54So, falconry is a sport, but how come you've brought horses into that?
0:18:54 > 0:18:56Well, originally, falconry was practised from horseback
0:18:56 > 0:18:59because, of course, in years gone by they didn't have
0:18:59 > 0:19:02Land Rovers so they needed to get from A to B somehow and horses,
0:19:02 > 0:19:05at that time, were very much part of everyday life.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07And this particular breed of horse,
0:19:07 > 0:19:10and all of the Spanish horses, were exceptionally good
0:19:10 > 0:19:13for falconry because they're quick on their feet, they're very agile,
0:19:13 > 0:19:14they're very manoeuvrable.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17These horses were about the best and still are.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19I'm looking forward to this, Jonathan.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21- I'll go over there and see you in action.- Okey-doke.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Incredibly neat, tight riding.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40Jonathan swings in the lure above his head to tempt the falcon
0:19:40 > 0:19:41into diving for a catch.
0:19:44 > 0:19:45The speed of that peregrine!
0:19:53 > 0:19:57Oh! That's awesome! It can fly through the horse's legs.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03HE WHISTLES
0:20:03 > 0:20:05Through the legs again, that's amazing.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08'Seeing horse and bird move so gracefully under Jonathan's
0:20:08 > 0:20:12'direction is like watching a carefully choreographed ballet.'
0:20:15 > 0:20:17It's a beautiful scene.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30'Finally, Jonathan lets the falcon take the lure.'
0:20:32 > 0:20:33Well deserved.
0:20:37 > 0:20:40Ha-ha! Wow! I have never seen horsemanship like it.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43That was amazing.
0:20:43 > 0:20:47Jonathan, how would you even begin to start training to do this?
0:20:47 > 0:20:49Well, rather than explaining, why don't I just show you?
0:20:49 > 0:20:52- Yes, good thinking.- Have a go. Take a glove.- Yeah.- There you go.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57'Jonathan brings out his second bird, the Harris hawk.'
0:20:57 > 0:20:58HE WHISTLES
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Oh, here we go.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02Oh, wow!
0:21:04 > 0:21:05'What a beautiful animal.'
0:21:05 > 0:21:07OK, one, two, three.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09'But I must admit,
0:21:09 > 0:21:11'I'm a little bit nervous about doing this on horseback.'
0:21:11 > 0:21:12SHE LAUGHS
0:21:12 > 0:21:14- There you go.- Thank you very much.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17- That's it.- Put one on there. - Raise your hand up nice and high.
0:21:17 > 0:21:18Here we go. HE WHISTLES
0:21:18 > 0:21:20Your best falconer's whistle.
0:21:20 > 0:21:25Oh, wow. That was awesome. Jonathan, what an experience.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39'Back on the Killerton estate, they're getting the place
0:21:39 > 0:21:41'ready for the year ahead.
0:21:41 > 0:21:45'With 160,000 visitors annually there's lots to do.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50'I'm heading through the orchards to meet up again with area ranger
0:21:50 > 0:21:52'Ed Nicholson.'
0:21:53 > 0:21:55What's going on here, Ed?
0:21:55 > 0:21:57Just racking off the cider,
0:21:57 > 0:22:00so taking the part-fermented cider, a good cider
0:22:00 > 0:22:03that's still got fermentation to go, off the dead yeast.
0:22:03 > 0:22:08- So, it's going into another tank, is it?- Yeah, Alison's over there.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11We've got a clean tank and eventually come April-May,
0:22:11 > 0:22:14we'll have a finished product.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17'Ed tells me they've got 50 acres of orchard with
0:22:17 > 0:22:20'over 100 different varieties of apple,
0:22:20 > 0:22:23'many of which are specially cultivated for cider.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26'In fact in olden times farmers around here often used to
0:22:26 > 0:22:29'pay their workers in cider.
0:22:29 > 0:22:30'Not sure that would be allowed today!'
0:22:32 > 0:22:34We had a great autumn last year.
0:22:34 > 0:22:37Lots of fruit and people often say that we only use
0:22:37 > 0:22:40half of our fruit and we waste the other half.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43Well, yeah, we do only use half of our fruit for human consumption.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46The other half of the fruit isn't wasted in our mind
0:22:46 > 0:22:49because it's used for wildlife and the migrating birds that come over
0:22:49 > 0:22:52and use these orchards as such special habitats.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54That's deliberate policy, then?
0:22:54 > 0:22:57Yeah, the cider is a by-product of our orchard management and
0:22:57 > 0:23:00we manage these traditional habitats primarily for the wildlife.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03And what kind of cider do you produce?
0:23:03 > 0:23:05Is it scrumpy or is it pure cider?
0:23:05 > 0:23:08This is part of the reason why we're doing the racking off.
0:23:08 > 0:23:10We want to produce quite a fine cider.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14We wouldn't want to leave it on the dead yeast, which can produce
0:23:14 > 0:23:16quite a rough, scrumpy form of cider,
0:23:16 > 0:23:19so basically we're taking this off now
0:23:19 > 0:23:23and we do two different varieties, a dry and a slightly sparkling sweet.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27All this talk of cider is giving me a bit of a thirst, Ed.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30Well, I think we ought to organise a little bit of a tasting later on.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32It is the end of the festive season, after all, isn't it?
0:23:36 > 0:23:40'From the russet tones of autumn's harvest to the dusky hues
0:23:40 > 0:23:43'of the sun setting behind the island of Ailsa Craig,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46'our September image in the Countryfile calendar.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52'I had my own island adventure off the coast of Northumberland last
0:23:52 > 0:23:57'year, in search of a creature whose life we know very little about.
0:24:00 > 0:24:03'Underwater cameraman Ben Burville is at the start of a five-year
0:24:03 > 0:24:08'project to learn more about the life of this elusive mammal.'
0:24:08 > 0:24:11What are the chances of us seeing this creature?
0:24:11 > 0:24:15- With nature, you never know, John. - Fingers crossed.- Fingers crossed.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23'Our high-speed RIB will take us far out to sea to an area where
0:24:23 > 0:24:26'they've been spotted in the past.'
0:24:28 > 0:24:30So, what exactly is it that we're looking for?
0:24:30 > 0:24:32What we're looking for today, John, is this.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34This is a white-beaked dolphin,
0:24:34 > 0:24:38the most abundant dolphin in the North Sea, with about 8,000 to
0:24:38 > 0:24:4210,000 of them in there, but one that very few people know much about.
0:24:42 > 0:24:43Why is that?
0:24:43 > 0:24:46It's really the fact that it tends to be in deeper waters
0:24:46 > 0:24:48and tends to be offshore.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50Is it important now to find out more about these dolphins?
0:24:50 > 0:24:54It is important for their conservation and also to find out
0:24:54 > 0:24:57whether activities that we do can affect them in an adverse way.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09'Ben's a GP by day but away from the surgery
0:25:09 > 0:25:10'he's an underwater cameraman.'
0:25:13 > 0:25:18- Dolphin, definitely.- Definitely dolphin?- Yeah, got one, dolphin.
0:25:18 > 0:25:22- Where?- Dorsal fin, five o'clock. Quarter of a mile.- Give me a range.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25Quarter of a mile. Five o'clock.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29- Oh, there it is, see it there? - What is it?
0:25:29 > 0:25:30It's actually a minke whale.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33It's a minke whale. It's not a white-beaked dolphin.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36No, it's not a white-beaked dolphin. That's a minke whale.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39'It's a great sighting, but thrilling as it is to spot
0:25:39 > 0:25:43'a minke whale, it's not the reason why we're out here today.'
0:25:50 > 0:25:54'We head further out into the North Sea to continue our search.'
0:26:06 > 0:26:10Why have we stopped, then, because nobody has seen a dolphin?
0:26:10 > 0:26:11No, no, we've just stopped
0:26:11 > 0:26:14because there's quite a few puffins over there in the water.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16Is that a sign that maybe there are dolphins around?
0:26:16 > 0:26:19It's a sign there may be food in the water, there may be big sand eels.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21There could be dolphins there as well.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24There could well be dolphins there as well, we hope.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26'To use an old landlubber saying,
0:26:26 > 0:26:29'it's like looking for a needle in a haystack.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33'Now, we're rendezvous-ing with Newcastle University's marine
0:26:33 > 0:26:35'research ship, The Princess Royal.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38'Today, Ben is working alongside Simon Laing,
0:26:38 > 0:26:41'whose team is hoping to find out what effect the construction of
0:26:41 > 0:26:44'wind farms at sea has on dolphins
0:26:44 > 0:26:47'and Simon is using sound, not pictures.'
0:26:47 > 0:26:49What have we got here, then, Simon?
0:26:49 > 0:26:50This is a towed hydrophone,
0:26:50 > 0:26:54- a special type of microphone that listens...- A microphone?- Yeah.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57I've see lots of microphones in my time
0:26:57 > 0:26:59but never one that looked like this.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03This is a special microphone that listens for sounds underwater.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05'But the really clever part is in here.'
0:27:05 > 0:27:09Now the microphone's in the water we can come over to the computer
0:27:09 > 0:27:12and as soon as we press "record", what we'll start to see is some
0:27:12 > 0:27:15of the sounds that we're hearing right now popping up on the screen.
0:27:15 > 0:27:18That's background noise that you're seeing on-screen.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21What sort of symbol would you see if it was a white-beaked dolphin?
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Well, we would hopefully see a red triangle popping up on screen
0:27:24 > 0:27:26and that would mean we're recording something in real-time
0:27:26 > 0:27:29and it would be about 200m behind the vessel.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31Can you actually hear the sound of the dolphins?
0:27:31 > 0:27:33Well, dolphins make two types of sounds.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35They make whistles and they make clicks.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38We can hear the whistles but we can't hear the clicks.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41In fact I've got a recording here of some white-beaked dolphin
0:27:41 > 0:27:42whistles, if you'd like to have a listen.
0:27:45 > 0:27:46WHISTLING
0:27:46 > 0:27:49- That really is a whistle, isn't it?- Yeah, yeah.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52One of the things we're trying to determine with this project -
0:27:52 > 0:27:55"Do the dolphins in the north-east of England have a different
0:27:55 > 0:27:58"whistle to those in Scotland?" Because that would indicate
0:27:58 > 0:28:00those two populations are very separate if that is the case.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03And what's the research telling you, that they might?
0:28:03 > 0:28:05The research at the moment is that telling us
0:28:05 > 0:28:07they may well have different whistles, yeah.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10So, you could well have, in this bit of the North Sea, Geordie dolphins?
0:28:10 > 0:28:11With a Geordie accent?
0:28:11 > 0:28:15Potentially, yes, you could have Geordie dolphins in the north-east.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17'Whatever the accent, there's not a whistle right now
0:28:17 > 0:28:21'from the white-beaked dolphins, so we are obviously in the wrong place.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25'I'm going to try my luck again with Ben.'
0:28:25 > 0:28:26There we go.
0:28:26 > 0:28:27JOHN LAUGHS
0:28:27 > 0:28:29Don't it, whoops!
0:28:31 > 0:28:35'Ben reckons our best chance of seeing the dolphins lies 18 miles
0:28:35 > 0:28:36'out in the Farne Deeps,
0:28:36 > 0:28:40'where the sea floor will be around 100m below us.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43'That's equivalent to the height of St Paul's Cathedral.'
0:28:57 > 0:28:59'We've arrived at our destination.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03'All we can do now is keep our eyes peeled and hope.'
0:29:15 > 0:29:16Oh, there we are look, straight there!
0:29:16 > 0:29:18CREW SHOUT EXCITEDLY
0:29:18 > 0:29:23- 15m from us. - OK, here at the front of the boat.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27- I see them there.- Can you see it? There we are!- Wow!
0:29:27 > 0:29:31So, this is a white-beaked dolphin and it's choosing to bow-ride.
0:29:33 > 0:29:39One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, wow.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42HE LAUGHS
0:29:42 > 0:29:44- Goodness me. - A beautiful sight, John.
0:29:44 > 0:29:50Isn't it an amazing sight! And I can see the white beaks so clearly now.
0:29:52 > 0:29:56'What's incredible to me is that these wild creatures
0:29:56 > 0:29:59'want to come so close to our boat and just play around.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01'Now, it's illegal to disturb dolphins
0:30:01 > 0:30:05'so Ben's been granted a special licence to dive close to them.'
0:30:07 > 0:30:08This is a massive pod, isn't it?
0:30:08 > 0:30:10This is a big pod. It's an aggregation here.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13- Several pods, do you think? - Without a doubt.
0:30:13 > 0:30:16All gathered together. It will be interesting to see what you find.
0:30:24 > 0:30:28SQUEAKING AND CLICKING
0:30:44 > 0:30:49- John, I am surrounded by dolphins. - What an experience!
0:30:49 > 0:30:51When they're under the water, John,
0:30:51 > 0:30:53they're using their echolocation
0:30:53 > 0:30:56and they're using clicks and whistles.
0:30:56 > 0:30:58And the whistles really are to communicate with each other
0:30:58 > 0:31:04and the maximum we can hear is about 20 kilohertz.
0:31:06 > 0:31:10- Here we go, I'm just going to have a quick look at that one.- OK.
0:31:16 > 0:31:18SQUEAKING AND CLICKING
0:31:28 > 0:31:31- Quite amazing to see, isn't it? - What did we get, then?
0:31:31 > 0:31:34Without doubt, some identification of males and females.
0:31:34 > 0:31:36What do you notice about their behaviour?
0:31:36 > 0:31:39Their behaviour is that they're inquisitive.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43They are amazing wildlife just off our shores here, you know,
0:31:43 > 0:31:46- and these dolphins...- That we know so little about?- So little about.
0:31:46 > 0:31:48The information you're gathering underwater
0:31:48 > 0:31:51could be vital for the future protection of these species?
0:31:51 > 0:31:53It certainly could for the future protection of these creatures.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55Yes, John, you're right.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00'That really was a first,
0:32:00 > 0:32:02'a pioneering trip that I'll never forget.'
0:32:07 > 0:32:11'Today, we're behind the scenes on the Killerton estate in Devon -
0:32:11 > 0:32:15'a hive of activity as it gets ready to open its doors to the public
0:32:15 > 0:32:17'in the months ahead.'
0:32:17 > 0:32:21Well, this is a pretty unassuming building from the outside,
0:32:21 > 0:32:25but I'm told that inside there's a real treasure chest. Let's go see.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32Well, what a surprise!
0:32:32 > 0:32:35I was expecting something vaguely agricultural
0:32:35 > 0:32:38but instead we've got costumes.
0:32:38 > 0:32:42Rows upon rows of costumes, by the look of it.
0:32:42 > 0:32:43- Are you in charge of them? - Yes, I am.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45How many have you got altogether?
0:32:45 > 0:32:49Well, we have about 20,000 items on our database altogether.
0:32:49 > 0:32:50And how did they get here, then?
0:32:50 > 0:32:56They came here in the mid-1970s after the death of the original collector
0:32:56 > 0:32:59and once they'd been displayed at Killerton,
0:32:59 > 0:33:01we began to acquire more things.
0:33:04 > 0:33:08These costumes are now part and parcel of the Killerton estate,
0:33:08 > 0:33:10and some are even older than the house itself,
0:33:10 > 0:33:15ranging from the 1690s to the 1970s.
0:33:15 > 0:33:19Each garment has a unique number and the store room is kept
0:33:19 > 0:33:22at a constantly cool temperature to preserve them.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27So, do all these costumes just stay in here?
0:33:27 > 0:33:31At the moment, they're "resting", to use a theatrical term.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33What happens when they're not resting, then?
0:33:33 > 0:33:36When they're not resting, their moment comes along,
0:33:36 > 0:33:39and they go on display.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42I make a selection every year for the annual exhibition,
0:33:42 > 0:33:45so next month, we'll be opening the exhibition,
0:33:45 > 0:33:49and Charlotte's just preparing some of the pieces
0:33:49 > 0:33:51to go on show at the moment.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54A selection of the costumes has been displayed
0:33:54 > 0:33:57annually at the house for the past 35 years.
0:33:57 > 0:34:02This year's theme is The Nature of Fashion, showcasing natural fibres.
0:34:02 > 0:34:03Excuse me, ladies!
0:34:06 > 0:34:08What are you doing here, Charlotte?
0:34:08 > 0:34:10I'm actually using cold steam,
0:34:10 > 0:34:13just to apply a bit of moisture to the fibres to make them relax,
0:34:13 > 0:34:16and therefore, for the creases to drop out.
0:34:16 > 0:34:20Obviously, with a period garment, you can't actually iron it,
0:34:20 > 0:34:23because the hot temperature would obviously damage the fibres.
0:34:23 > 0:34:29How difficult is it to take a dress like this from the rack
0:34:29 > 0:34:32and turn it into something that looks real?
0:34:32 > 0:34:35It's a process that takes about three or four days,
0:34:35 > 0:34:36to mount something correctly.
0:34:36 > 0:34:40And what kind of era are we talking about here?
0:34:40 > 0:34:42This dress is about 1870.
0:34:43 > 0:34:46This dress is going into next month's exhibition, is it?
0:34:46 > 0:34:48Yes, this is part of the display for next month.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50And what about this one?
0:34:50 > 0:34:55This one, too. This is 1914, Broderie Anglaise, day dress.
0:34:55 > 0:34:57- Which is rather pretty.- Looks more like a nightdress to me.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00It does look like a nightdress, but no, it's a day dress.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03- And that's cotton? - That's cotton, that one's silk.
0:35:03 > 0:35:05All very much part of your theme.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08Yes, we're talking about natural fibres and natural fabrics,
0:35:08 > 0:35:11so linen, cotton, silk, wool.
0:35:14 > 0:35:19Visitors even get their own chance to try on some of the costumes.
0:35:19 > 0:35:22Now, here's a fine looking wardrobe.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25And there's a notice on it. "Open me".
0:35:25 > 0:35:27MAGIC TINKLE
0:35:27 > 0:35:28Narnia!
0:35:30 > 0:35:33It's a dressing room for the exhibition.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36There's men's period fashion as well.
0:35:39 > 0:35:43There's plenty to inspire here, as there is with our calendar.
0:35:43 > 0:35:47October's image is of a hungry red squirrel having a snack.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51A couple of years ago, Julia went looking for squirrels herself,
0:35:51 > 0:35:54as well as a host of other wildlife, in one of our largest
0:35:54 > 0:35:57man-made forests - Kielder, in Northumberland.
0:36:04 > 0:36:08The open, rugged moorland here was transformed in the 1920s
0:36:08 > 0:36:11to meet the demand for wood after World War I.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14Today, it's just as vast and valuable as it ever was,
0:36:14 > 0:36:18but it's managed for more than just profit.
0:36:18 > 0:36:22Now, Kielder is valued for its views and its wonderful wildlife.
0:36:22 > 0:36:24Graham Gill is in charge of managing
0:36:24 > 0:36:28the entire 150,000-acre woodland.
0:36:28 > 0:36:3120% of all the timber produced in England comes from this forest.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34- From this very spot? - From this very spot.
0:36:34 > 0:36:36If I asked you to put a price on each tree,
0:36:36 > 0:36:38what would you come back with?
0:36:38 > 0:36:41Well, a single tree standing in the forest isn't worth very much.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44- It's about £5 for a tree.- No!
0:36:44 > 0:36:48Doesn't sound a lot, when we've spent maybe 50 years growing that tree,
0:36:48 > 0:36:52and that's what it's worth. But it does multiply up.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54And also, the work's become easier, hasn't it,
0:36:54 > 0:36:57- thanks to machines like this? - Well, yes.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00It works out itself on the computer how to get the best value
0:37:00 > 0:37:04out of that tree, and then it cuts the tree off the stump, and it
0:37:04 > 0:37:09strips off the branches, and then it's pre-programmed to cut the right
0:37:09 > 0:37:11length and diameter of products from the tree.
0:37:11 > 0:37:13And it looks good!
0:37:13 > 0:37:17So, when you're in the business of providing wood for tables
0:37:17 > 0:37:20and chairs, just how do you add a little beauty to the mix?
0:37:20 > 0:37:22Well, here, they've softened the woodland edges
0:37:22 > 0:37:25and brought in broadleaf trees to make the forest that little bit
0:37:25 > 0:37:29more alluring for the 200,000 visitors that come here every year.
0:37:29 > 0:37:35And a lucky few may even catch a glimpse of our rarest mammals, too.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39This might be a man-made forest, but a wide variety of wildlife
0:37:39 > 0:37:42have quite happily taken up residence here.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45The guy keeping an eye on the wonderful wildlife
0:37:45 > 0:37:46is Martin Davison.
0:37:46 > 0:37:48Well, this is a great spruce forest,
0:37:48 > 0:37:51and a large number of cone bearing trees,
0:37:51 > 0:37:54which means a lot of food resource for red squirrels.
0:37:54 > 0:37:59- And here is an absolute classic red squirrel dining table.- Right.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02These are typical chewed up cones... The squirrel picks them up,
0:38:02 > 0:38:05feeds in the tree and just drops them,
0:38:05 > 0:38:08or comes down onto the ground and just happily gnaws away on them.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11But, what about the grey squirrels?
0:38:11 > 0:38:15The grey squirrels don't survive very well on small seeded cones,
0:38:15 > 0:38:17so, what we're hoping is that,
0:38:17 > 0:38:20because we've got such a huge reservoir of spruce trees
0:38:20 > 0:38:24within the forest, is that the greys will never do very well within
0:38:24 > 0:38:26the forest and the red will continue to thrive.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28- And thriving they are. - That's right.
0:38:28 > 0:38:32Here at Kielder, we have two-thirds of the English population.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34The red squirrel's not the only rare species
0:38:34 > 0:38:36to make this forest their home.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38So, what are we doing here?
0:38:38 > 0:38:40I've brought you here, Julia,
0:38:40 > 0:38:42to hopefully show you something quite exciting.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45Down underneath that branch there's exactly what we're after.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48There's a nice tail feather, that's off a female goshawk.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52- A goshawk?- It is.- So, you've got goshawks in the forest?- We have.
0:38:52 > 0:38:54We've got a few pairs of goshawks in the forest.
0:38:54 > 0:38:56Because they're very rare.
0:38:56 > 0:39:00They are, yes. And it's exciting to have them. Very exciting.
0:39:00 > 0:39:05- That is exciting. So, he or she?- It's she, Julia.
0:39:05 > 0:39:10It's a female goshawk's feather, nice, broad band in the tail,
0:39:10 > 0:39:13- with a nice whitely-buffed tip. - Mm-hm.
0:39:15 > 0:39:17Top predators of the forest,
0:39:17 > 0:39:21goshawks are ideally suited to hunting in the densest cover.
0:39:21 > 0:39:24With their malleable wings, they can manoeuvre around branches
0:39:24 > 0:39:27in flight, and reach speeds of up to 50kmh.
0:39:27 > 0:39:28At this time of the year,
0:39:28 > 0:39:31they'll be nesting high up in the top of the canopy.
0:39:31 > 0:39:34Now, this is their favourite tree, where the bird
0:39:34 > 0:39:38- often has prey underneath, so we'll go and check that.- Right.
0:39:38 > 0:39:42- This is exactly what we're after. - So, this is a feeding ground?- It is.
0:39:42 > 0:39:46The bird, what happens is, a male comes into the site carrying prey.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49He plucks, he might let the head, have a feed,
0:39:49 > 0:39:53and then brings in the rest of the carcass.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57And so, you end up with bits of bones. That's a wood pigeon.
0:39:57 > 0:39:59- Right, well, it was a wood pigeon. - It was a wood pigeon!
0:39:59 > 0:40:02- What have we got here? We've got a little skull, here.- Yeah, yeah.
0:40:02 > 0:40:07- Oh, it's a red squirrel. - Oh, no!- It is, it is.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10They are a forest bird.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13Squirrels are forest animals. You'd expect them to eat red squirrels.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15It will not harm the population at all.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18When the squirrels are having a good year, obviously,
0:40:18 > 0:40:19more get predated, but in a poor year,
0:40:19 > 0:40:22when there's not so many squirrels, they are too hard to catch.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25It's only when they're common that they take one or two.
0:40:29 > 0:40:31Well, Julia, there's been an awful lot of signs today,
0:40:31 > 0:40:36but I'm really hoping that we're going to show you something alive.
0:40:36 > 0:40:40- It's a bird box.- It is. So, let's see if anybody's at home.
0:40:41 > 0:40:42TAPPING
0:40:44 > 0:40:45Hear that?
0:40:48 > 0:40:50That's a bill clapping.
0:40:50 > 0:40:54- It's a tawny owl.- It's not! - It is, it is.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57- You can help us ring him, if you want.- All right.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01- And it's OK to handle them?- It is, yes.- Oh, look, they're so fluffy!
0:41:02 > 0:41:06And here, we have one very large tawny owl chick.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08Right.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11- So, if you want to handle and hold this one.- Yes, of course.
0:41:11 > 0:41:13- Because there's two.- Right.
0:41:13 > 0:41:15Look at that!
0:41:17 > 0:41:20Absolutely lovely, aren't they?
0:41:20 > 0:41:22Hello. Aw, gosh, so gorgeous.
0:41:22 > 0:41:25Not long off fledging. Ha-ha!
0:41:25 > 0:41:30If you just hold him, yes, just gently, by the leg, and just
0:41:30 > 0:41:33put your other hand underneath, that's absolutely perfect.
0:41:33 > 0:41:35Oh, look at that.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37The tawnies are thriving in Kielder.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41There are now over 200 nesting boxes in the forest.
0:41:41 > 0:41:42By ringing the baby owls,
0:41:42 > 0:41:46Martin can keep track of their population for years to come.
0:41:46 > 0:41:48He's enjoying his bed.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50If you try to do this in the middle of the night, it would
0:41:50 > 0:41:54be jumping about, food calling, hungry,
0:41:54 > 0:41:57but in the middle of the day, they're just having a siesta, basically.
0:41:58 > 0:42:01- You never get sick of looking at them.- No.
0:42:01 > 0:42:05Hopefully, this little fellow will survive, thrive and, in time,
0:42:05 > 0:42:07return here to breed.
0:42:15 > 0:42:18Today, we're looking forward to this new year by looking back
0:42:18 > 0:42:20at some of our favourite moments
0:42:20 > 0:42:25inspired by the winning entries in our photographic competition.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27And, if you're planning for the year ahead,
0:42:27 > 0:42:29as they are here at Killerton, well, it's not too late to get
0:42:29 > 0:42:32a Countryfile calendar for all those important dates.
0:42:34 > 0:42:36It costs £9, and comes with free delivery.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40If you'd like one, then please go to the Countryfile website.
0:42:40 > 0:42:43There, you'll find all the details you'll need to order your copy.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48And at least £4 from the sale of every calendar
0:42:48 > 0:42:51goes to the BBC Children In Need appeal.
0:42:51 > 0:42:52But, you'll have to wait
0:42:52 > 0:42:56until the last month of the year to find this snowy scene.
0:42:56 > 0:42:57It looks stunning,
0:42:57 > 0:43:01but there's no letup for farmers in these bleak conditions.
0:43:01 > 0:43:04The winter of 2010 was a bad one on Adam's farm.
0:43:11 > 0:43:16When there are animals to look after, you simply can't take a day off.
0:43:16 > 0:43:20I'm all dressed up in thermals and waterproof trousers,
0:43:20 > 0:43:23waterproof jacket, gloves and I'm feeling fairly toasty,
0:43:23 > 0:43:27but these animals have to stay out in the snow all night long.
0:43:27 > 0:43:30And Dougal, the little pet pony we've got here, has got an amazing coat.
0:43:30 > 0:43:34In fact, you can see the snow hasn't melted on his back
0:43:34 > 0:43:36because his coat is so well insulated.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38And he's a real tough old beast.
0:43:38 > 0:43:41The geese and ducks are a bit bemused by it.
0:43:41 > 0:43:43They just went out into the snow and sit down.
0:43:43 > 0:43:48DUCKS QUACK, COCK CROWS
0:43:55 > 0:43:58These chickens need to be able to get round to their trough here,
0:43:58 > 0:44:02which is frozen solid. Going to pour a bit of fresh water on the top.
0:44:02 > 0:44:04They don't like ploughing through the snow,
0:44:04 > 0:44:07so I'm just making a bit of a path for them.
0:44:14 > 0:44:18This is their food.
0:44:18 > 0:44:22It's just got wheat and chicken pellets in it.
0:44:22 > 0:44:27Just flip the end, and it comes out onto the ground.
0:44:27 > 0:44:28There you are, hens.
0:44:28 > 0:44:31HENS CLUCK CONTENTEDLY
0:44:36 > 0:44:38Every day, Charlie, my partner,
0:44:38 > 0:44:42turns our horses out into the fields for exercise.
0:44:44 > 0:44:47It's a little bit different today, though. Not that they seem to mind.
0:45:03 > 0:45:08One of the major problems in this weather for livestock is water.
0:45:08 > 0:45:10Frozen.
0:45:12 > 0:45:15The sheep are OK, they can just lick snow and get enough
0:45:15 > 0:45:19moisture from that, but the pigs and the cattle need to drink.
0:45:19 > 0:45:23These conditions are pretty unusual, it's about -10 at the moment.
0:45:23 > 0:45:26Colder in Britain than it is in parts of Russia.
0:45:26 > 0:45:29So, it just means you have lots of extra jobs.
0:45:29 > 0:45:32You don't usually have to cart water to things. Right.
0:45:47 > 0:45:49I feed these pigs on this concrete pad and the powder,
0:45:49 > 0:45:53so I've just got to clear it off a bit.
0:45:57 > 0:45:59Pig-pig-pig-pig!
0:46:05 > 0:46:06Pigs are really hardy.
0:46:06 > 0:46:09They'll live out in these pig arks, you know, just...
0:46:09 > 0:46:11We've got a wooden hut there and then just arks of tin.
0:46:11 > 0:46:13Fill them with straw and they just lie out in it.
0:46:13 > 0:46:15They're absolutely fine,
0:46:15 > 0:46:18particularly these Iron Age ones that are like a cross between a wild boar.
0:46:18 > 0:46:19They've got such a thick coat,
0:46:19 > 0:46:22whereas the Gloucester Old Spots are a little bit softer,
0:46:22 > 0:46:25haven't got quite as much hair and they were all tucked up in their hut.
0:46:28 > 0:46:30The pigs are as happy as they can be,
0:46:30 > 0:46:33but there's plenty more animals to check on yet.
0:46:41 > 0:46:43Next, it's the sheep.
0:46:43 > 0:46:45They may be hardy, but it's really extreme weather
0:46:45 > 0:46:47and I want to see that they're OK.
0:46:47 > 0:46:50It's a chance for the dogs to have a bit of a run around, too.
0:46:50 > 0:46:52HE CALLS INSTRUCTIONS TO DOG
0:46:56 > 0:46:59So, these are our primitive ewes, really.
0:46:59 > 0:47:02This is a little North Ronaldsay, there's two of them there
0:47:02 > 0:47:04and a Castlemilk Moorit next to it.
0:47:04 > 0:47:07All of these ewes are heavily in lamb now,
0:47:07 > 0:47:10they'll be lambing in April and you can see the North Ronaldsay's
0:47:10 > 0:47:14got icicles and snow on her back, that's because her body warmth
0:47:14 > 0:47:18is staying under her wool, not melting the snow on her back.
0:47:18 > 0:47:21All these ewes will be lambing outside in this field
0:47:21 > 0:47:23so, hopefully by April, this snow will have gone.
0:47:25 > 0:47:26These sheep have a natural instinct to dig
0:47:26 > 0:47:31for the grass which they know lies beneath the snow.
0:47:32 > 0:47:35Under here is my winter barley.
0:47:35 > 0:47:38Maris Otter is the variety that I'm growing for making beer
0:47:38 > 0:47:41and when it's underneath the snow like this,
0:47:41 > 0:47:46although the ground is frozen, it's actually fairly well insulated.
0:47:46 > 0:47:50It's better off under the snow than being exposed and frosted
0:47:50 > 0:47:52because these leaves would break off, then.
0:47:52 > 0:47:56It's actually sitting under here reasonably happily.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01Even in these harsh conditions, growers have to harvest winter veg.
0:48:01 > 0:48:04Not easy with the ground frozen.
0:48:07 > 0:48:09Next job is the cattle troughs.
0:48:09 > 0:48:12I've had a call to say that the water supply pipe is frozen
0:48:12 > 0:48:15and that's something I need to put right straightaway.
0:48:17 > 0:48:21These cattle have managed to dig a hole in the ice.
0:48:24 > 0:48:30What you've got to do is take the blocks of ice out of the water,
0:48:30 > 0:48:33otherwise it just freezes up pretty quick.
0:48:38 > 0:48:39I'll get the gas.
0:48:44 > 0:48:46TORCH BLOWS
0:48:48 > 0:48:50There we go.
0:49:02 > 0:49:05Well, despite all the hard work on the farm,
0:49:05 > 0:49:06the kids are off school
0:49:06 > 0:49:09so there's still a bit of time for some sledging. Right, can I join in?
0:49:09 > 0:49:12- Yep.- OK, together, up, ready?
0:49:12 > 0:49:15Goodness me, I think I'm going to fall off the back!
0:49:15 > 0:49:18Hooray-ay!
0:49:18 > 0:49:20Look out, doggie.
0:49:20 > 0:49:22Hey-hey, look out!
0:49:28 > 0:49:29Oh!
0:49:36 > 0:49:39I've been working all morning, managed to stay warm and dry.
0:49:39 > 0:49:41Now I'm freezing cold and very tired.
0:49:41 > 0:49:43You get fit walking up this hill.
0:49:47 > 0:49:49DOG BARKS
0:49:49 > 0:49:51SHRIEKS OF DELIGHT
0:49:56 > 0:49:58LAUGHTER
0:50:05 > 0:50:07Oh, just like big kids.
0:50:07 > 0:50:10It's getting late, but there's still one thing
0:50:10 > 0:50:12I want to do before I call it a day.
0:50:17 > 0:50:20These cattle have got plenty of silage and they drink from the stream
0:50:20 > 0:50:23and these Highlands have been bred for hundreds of years
0:50:23 > 0:50:26to survive in these kind of conditions and they cope very well.
0:50:26 > 0:50:29In fact, they cope a lot better than me.
0:50:29 > 0:50:32Farming in the snow like this just takes up so much time
0:50:32 > 0:50:37and it's such a big effort. I could really do with it going away.
0:50:37 > 0:50:39There's a good girl. You're all right, aren't you?
0:51:03 > 0:51:07'Today, I've been behind the scenes on the Killerton estate in Devon
0:51:07 > 0:51:09'where they're getting the place ready
0:51:09 > 0:51:11'for the first visitors of the year.'
0:51:14 > 0:51:17'It's been a busy day. The gardens have been tended,
0:51:17 > 0:51:18the cider's been taken care of
0:51:18 > 0:51:22'and preparations for the annual costume exhibition are under way.'
0:51:24 > 0:51:27'I'm heading out into the woodland to see what the estate's
0:51:27 > 0:51:29'countryside team has been up to.'
0:51:29 > 0:51:32Well, a lot of woodland to look after here, Ed?
0:51:32 > 0:51:34Across the estate, we've got about 650 hectares of woodland
0:51:34 > 0:51:37so quite a lot of woodland to manage. Keeps us busy.
0:51:37 > 0:51:40- A lot of timber going on? - Yeah, we do quite a bit
0:51:40 > 0:51:42to the local log market. Sell a lot of timber there,
0:51:42 > 0:51:45but our woodland's primarily managed for nature conservation
0:51:45 > 0:51:49- and then access to the public. - Any particular type of conservation?
0:51:49 > 0:51:51Yes, this site in particular is managed
0:51:51 > 0:51:52for the pearl-bordered fritillary.
0:51:52 > 0:51:55We've only got a few sites where this butterfly lives in the country
0:51:55 > 0:51:58so it's really quite important that we get this right.
0:51:58 > 0:52:00One of the things we do, the charcoal burning here
0:52:00 > 0:52:01helps us create the right habitat
0:52:01 > 0:52:05for the common dog violet which is this little flower down here.
0:52:05 > 0:52:06It's not flowering at the moment
0:52:06 > 0:52:09- but see the little heart-shaped leaves down here?- Oh, yeah.
0:52:09 > 0:52:11This is the larval food plant so this is a food plant that
0:52:11 > 0:52:15the caterpillars need to feed on before they go into being an adult.
0:52:15 > 0:52:17That one's been eaten away a bit which is a great sign,
0:52:17 > 0:52:20shows that we've got some larval stages here.
0:52:20 > 0:52:24So, why do you need to chop down trees then, so that these can grow?
0:52:24 > 0:52:27The old adage was that the pearl-bordered fritillary
0:52:27 > 0:52:28followed the forester around.
0:52:28 > 0:52:32Once you take a tree away, extra light gets into the forest floor
0:52:32 > 0:52:35and these are often the first flowers that pop up through.
0:52:35 > 0:52:37If we left it as a closed-canopy woodland, these would be
0:52:37 > 0:52:41shaded out and we'd obviously lose the butterflies as well.
0:52:41 > 0:52:45- Well, how about this for a log fire, Ed?- That's right.
0:52:45 > 0:52:47- Slightly larger than your average wood burner!- Yeah!
0:52:47 > 0:52:50- You can feel the heat from here. - Yeah.
0:52:50 > 0:52:54This is one of our charcoal kilns. So, we've got a bonfire there
0:52:54 > 0:52:57going at the moment. What the guys are just about to do is pop the lid
0:52:57 > 0:53:01on the top and as they do that, we'll start to see the flames
0:53:01 > 0:53:04- and the smoke coming out...- Coming out of here?- ..out of the chimneys.
0:53:04 > 0:53:08We seal the top with sand and then, we can add
0:53:08 > 0:53:12an element of control by just holding the airflow in and out.
0:53:12 > 0:53:14And how long will this go on for, now?
0:53:14 > 0:53:18After about 12 hours, we'll close it all down, cut the oxygen out
0:53:18 > 0:53:20and that'll slowly let it cool down.
0:53:20 > 0:53:23What kind of a demand is there these days for charcoal?
0:53:23 > 0:53:26Locally-burned charcoal's having a bit of a renaissance at the moment.
0:53:26 > 0:53:29People are being much more aware of where their charcoal
0:53:29 > 0:53:31comes from for their barbecues.
0:53:31 > 0:53:35That's good to hear because a lot of the charcoal is imported, isn't it?
0:53:35 > 0:53:36From Portugal, places like that.
0:53:36 > 0:53:41It is and an awful lot of tropical hardwoods are going into charcoal
0:53:41 > 0:53:43and that's not really sustainable.
0:53:43 > 0:53:46So, it's great to see this tradition being carried on
0:53:46 > 0:53:48and it's great for the local wildlife.
0:53:50 > 0:53:52After a day of hard graft,
0:53:52 > 0:53:55it's time for one last flush of post-Christmas indulgence.
0:53:57 > 0:54:00As we pull the plug on another festive season,
0:54:00 > 0:54:04it's time to welcome the new year with the staff and volunteers
0:54:04 > 0:54:07and a burger cooked over a bit of Ed's charcoal.
0:54:07 > 0:54:10The resolutions can wait for another day.
0:54:10 > 0:54:13And where's that cider you promised me, Ed?
0:54:13 > 0:54:14Well, funny you should say that.
0:54:14 > 0:54:17I have here a couple of glasses of mulled cider.
0:54:17 > 0:54:19This is our cider mixed with a few herbs and spices,
0:54:19 > 0:54:22- warmed over the fire.- Wow. - Perfect for a winter's evening.
0:54:22 > 0:54:25Never had mulled cider before. And a burger.
0:54:25 > 0:54:27- And we have some burger here, beef from our local estate.- Wow.
0:54:27 > 0:54:30- Couldn't be more local, then. - This is it.
0:54:30 > 0:54:33Thanks to all of you here for your hospitality, it's been fantastic.
0:54:33 > 0:54:36- To everybody at Killerton. Here's to Killerton.- Here's to Killerton.
0:54:36 > 0:54:38- ALL:- To Killerton!
0:54:38 > 0:54:41Next week, we'll be in Surrey where Helen will be trying to
0:54:41 > 0:54:43overcome her fear of horses as she attempts to get
0:54:43 > 0:54:47back in the saddle again after a very nasty accident last year,
0:54:47 > 0:54:50and I'll be discovering about a local man
0:54:50 > 0:54:54who hatched a plan that transformed the future of our countryside.
0:54:54 > 0:54:56So, I hope you can join us. Bye for now.