0:00:26 > 0:00:28This is Mersea Island, off the Essex coast.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34The waters here have been fished since Roman times.
0:00:36 > 0:00:38And this is the prize - oysters.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40And, believe it or not,
0:00:40 > 0:00:43these are some of the most sought-after in the world.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45And, today, I'm out on the boats to find out why.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50Shauna sets her sights on one of our most elusive creatures,
0:00:50 > 0:00:51the water vole.
0:00:51 > 0:00:56Now, I'm seeing lots of little holes here, little burrow-type things.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Tom's looking at the darker side of man's best friend.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05- What kind of injuries were they suffering, the sheep?- It actually...
0:01:05 > 0:01:07tore the jaws, the bottom jaws, clean off.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12And, thankfully, Adam's on hand in the lambing shed.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16Usually, the sac around the lamb breaks,
0:01:16 > 0:01:18but it was trapped around its nose.
0:01:18 > 0:01:20It's fortunate I was here.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44Today, we're in Essex.
0:01:44 > 0:01:48A county where the many estuaries, creeks and inlets
0:01:48 > 0:01:51give it what's thought to be the longest coastline in England.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56I'm visiting Mersea Island, just to the South of Colchester,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59to meet some of its fishing community.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04I think it's fair to say that this place was built on oysters.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08In fact, there's been a connection with them for more than 2,000 years,
0:02:08 > 0:02:13including when nearby Colchester was the capital of Roman Britain.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18These days, the Mersea Island oysters
0:02:18 > 0:02:20find their way to the high-end restaurants
0:02:20 > 0:02:23of our present-day capital and beyond.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26These delicacies are caught by the Blackwater Oystermen,
0:02:26 > 0:02:28who take their name from the river
0:02:28 > 0:02:31that feeds the estuary surrounding the island.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37Richard Haward's family have been working
0:02:37 > 0:02:40the oyster beds of Blackwater since the 1700s.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43How many oystermen are out there these days? What's the situation?
0:02:43 > 0:02:46- Well, there's about a dozen.- And how long have you been doing this?
0:02:46 > 0:02:48Well, all my life, on and off.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50- And that's a long time. - MATT LAUGHS
0:02:50 > 0:02:53- We don't need to go into numbers. - No.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57The Hawards catch between 2,000 and 4,000 oysters every day.
0:02:57 > 0:03:02The vast majority of which are the non-native Pacific, or rock oyster.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04This is the rock oyster.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06These are called, basically, rock oysters
0:03:06 > 0:03:07cos they look like a rock, I think.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10- Introduced from the Pacific about 50, 60 years ago.- Right.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14But the rarer, more prized catch is the native species,
0:03:14 > 0:03:16the European flat oyster.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Well, this is your native oyster, been here since the Romans,
0:03:19 > 0:03:23or even earlier. Very flat shell, smooth-shelled.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27- These are thought to be the better-quality oysters.- Mm-hm.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31But these, in contrast to the rock oysters, are in very short supply.
0:03:31 > 0:03:32The old saying about these is,
0:03:32 > 0:03:35"The first thing they think of doing is dying,"
0:03:35 > 0:03:37- so they're a very delicate animal, really.- Yeah.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42Native oysters are massively in decline.
0:03:42 > 0:03:46It's thought that the population is down as much as 99%
0:03:46 > 0:03:47in the UK's waters.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50And the reasons are not yet fully understood.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54So oystermen like Richard depend on the more abundant rock oyster.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57- I'll just pop them down here, shall I, yeah? That's all right?- Yeah.
0:03:57 > 0:03:59Every day, they transfer their catch
0:03:59 > 0:04:01into these crates for purification.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03The oysters are flushed with seawater
0:04:03 > 0:04:06that's been treated with ultraviolet light.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09The UV kills any microbes present.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13The oysters filter this sterilised water, leaving them safe to eat.
0:04:13 > 0:04:19So an oyster this size, let's say, how old would you expect that to be?
0:04:19 > 0:04:21- Probably about five years. - Five years.
0:04:21 > 0:04:23Probably about the youngest oyster we sell here
0:04:23 > 0:04:25- is about four years old.- OK.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28- And we have some which are probably ten years old.- Mm-hm.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31And, from this process then, how quickly are they then kind of
0:04:31 > 0:04:34packaged up and then they're in the markets, or on the shelves?
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Well, I mean, we'll take them out today,
0:04:37 > 0:04:39and they'll be in shops and markets tomorrow.
0:04:39 > 0:04:44Richard sells between 15,000 and 20,000 oysters every week,
0:04:44 > 0:04:46both nationally and internationally.
0:04:46 > 0:04:48But the best place to sample them...
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Well, it's got to be here.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53Well, listen, I can't kind of witness the whole process
0:04:53 > 0:04:55- without witnessing the WHOLE of the process.- That's true.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58- So I've got to eat one of these. And I'd like to.- OK.
0:04:58 > 0:04:59So, do you know, with me...
0:04:59 > 0:05:01I don't know, whenever I eat oysters,
0:05:01 > 0:05:05you do get this kind of...zing that goes on in your mind.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09- Do you find that as well, Richard? - Yes, you can do. That's very true.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13- Get the top off.- Yeah.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16- That's quite a big one, that, isn't it?- Loosen it in the shell.- Yeah.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18- And that's all ready to eat. - Here we go.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24Mmm.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28Well, it's meaty and, um...
0:05:29 > 0:05:32If you say that the oyster tastes like the water that it comes from,
0:05:32 > 0:05:35then, um...that's quite pleasant, out there.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38- Did you want to try a rock oyster as well?- Why not?
0:05:38 > 0:05:39HE LAUGHS
0:05:39 > 0:05:40Why not?
0:05:42 > 0:05:43Down the hatch.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49That... That, to me, does taste a bit saltier.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52- Difference in texture? - Difference in texture. It's lighter.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56That native is definitely meatier. There seems to be more to it.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Much firmer.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01So I can see why you want to focus on them, to be fair.
0:06:01 > 0:06:03It... Somehow, I don't know,
0:06:03 > 0:06:07- you can taste the quality in there, can't you?- Well, I think so.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Although the oystermen are still allowed
0:06:12 > 0:06:16to catch some native oysters, there aren't many here to be had.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20Numbers are so low, they've been classified as functionally extinct.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23Meaning that the population isn't large enough to sustain itself,
0:06:23 > 0:06:25or grow further.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27Richard and his fellow Blackwater Oystermen
0:06:27 > 0:06:30are desperate to see the native's numbers increase.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33- And how passionate are you about the natives?- Oh...
0:06:34 > 0:06:37It's... It's originally what this place was all about, you know?
0:06:37 > 0:06:40- The rock oyster's come along in recent years...- Yeah.
0:06:40 > 0:06:41..because there's been so few.
0:06:41 > 0:06:46But we do want to try and get these back to sustainable levels, really.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Later, I'll be finding out how the local Wildlife Trust
0:06:50 > 0:06:53and the University of Essex have joined forces with the oystermen
0:06:53 > 0:06:56to help the native oyster population.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59There's something about the Essex marshes that gets under your skin.
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Now, as I know myself,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06a working dog is an essential part of livestock farming.
0:07:06 > 0:07:08But, as Tom has been finding out,
0:07:08 > 0:07:12if a pet dog gets loose on a farm, the results can be disastrous.
0:07:17 > 0:07:19From the photos you send us,
0:07:19 > 0:07:23it's obviously not just people who like to watch Countryfile.
0:07:23 > 0:07:24Your pet dogs do, too.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Dogs have a very special place in our lives.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35Whether they're earning their keep on the farm,
0:07:35 > 0:07:37or out for a walk with their owners,
0:07:37 > 0:07:40the countryside can seem like the perfect place for them.
0:07:40 > 0:07:44It's easy to forget that man's best friend -
0:07:44 > 0:07:46even one as tiny as this -
0:07:46 > 0:07:50is descended from one of the animal kingdom's greatest predators,
0:07:50 > 0:07:56the wolf, and it's impossible to completely eradicate that instinct.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01Working dogs are highly trained, and respond instantly to commands.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04FARMER WHISTLES COMMANDS
0:08:04 > 0:08:07But an uncontrolled dog, loose in the countryside,
0:08:07 > 0:08:09can leave a trail of destruction.
0:08:11 > 0:08:16Idris Roberts has spent his whole life farming sheep in North Wales.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19On many farms, pregnant ewes are still out in the fields
0:08:19 > 0:08:21at this time of year.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25But Idris has brought his in already, to protect them from dogs.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28Well, they're close to lambing. They'll be lambing in the next week,
0:08:28 > 0:08:29and we try and house them before then.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31But we've housed them a little bit earlier this time,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34in case we have any dog attacks on them, to be perfectly honest.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36We did have a nasty incident last year,
0:08:36 > 0:08:38and it makes us a little bit nervous this time.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41Last winter, an unaccompanied dog
0:08:41 > 0:08:43attacked some of Idris's pregnant sheep
0:08:43 > 0:08:46on land just a few miles from his home.
0:08:47 > 0:08:49We had a telephone call,
0:08:49 > 0:08:52and the dogs had run these sheep through a fence -
0:08:52 > 0:08:56a pretty new fence - broke about ten posts, tore the fence apart.
0:08:56 > 0:08:58- You mean big, wooden posts had just been snapped?- Yeah.
0:08:58 > 0:09:00Gives you an idea of the panic and the fear.
0:09:00 > 0:09:01Well, the fear that was in them.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03What kind of injuries were they suffering, the sheep?
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Absolutely torn apart, some of them.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09It actually tore their jaws, their bottom jaws, clean off.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13And we had to shoot three in the field there, as it was.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16- How many did you lose, roughly, in the end?- Six, we lost.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18And, after that, I'm sure we lost another ten.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21- Right, wow.- A fair few aborted,
0:09:21 > 0:09:23and we were having ewes go into the shed.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25In the morning, they were dead.
0:09:25 > 0:09:27Obviously, the lambs had died in the womb
0:09:27 > 0:09:29and the sheep had had septicaemia.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33So it's not just the immediate horror and suffering,
0:09:33 > 0:09:35it goes on?
0:09:35 > 0:09:38After is the worst part of it. You don't know what to expect.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41But, to the dog owners who are watching this programme,
0:09:41 > 0:09:42what would you say to them
0:09:42 > 0:09:44when they're going out, where there are sheep in the area?
0:09:44 > 0:09:47Let's put it like this. If there's a pregnant woman,
0:09:47 > 0:09:49you wouldn't want to run a pregnant woman very far.
0:09:49 > 0:09:51It's the same with sheep. They're very, very heavy.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55And they can't run very long. Oh, 100 yards at the most.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59After that, the dog just pulls them to pieces. Tears them apart.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Absolute cruelty, that is.
0:10:01 > 0:10:02Run! Run!
0:10:02 > 0:10:05This footage of a dog attacking and killing sheep
0:10:05 > 0:10:07was captured by a passing motorist.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11No, it's got one! It's got one! It's got one!
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Although no-one knows for sure how many dog attacks there are,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18conservative estimates put the number of farm animals
0:10:18 > 0:10:21killed or injured in the UK every year in the thousands.
0:10:21 > 0:10:26In January alone, a newly-formed organisation, SheepWatch UK,
0:10:26 > 0:10:32has logged 27 attacks, leading to the death of 111 sheep
0:10:32 > 0:10:34and four shot dogs.
0:10:34 > 0:10:39This footage was taken by a farmer after a loose dog got onto the farm.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41Get the gun!
0:10:41 > 0:10:44And what many people don't realise
0:10:44 > 0:10:46is that any farmer can legitimately shoot a dog
0:10:46 > 0:10:48that's worrying livestock,
0:10:48 > 0:10:52and that the pet's owner could be prosecuted for the offence.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55- Good morning, Dave.- Morning, Tom.
0:10:55 > 0:10:59PC Dave Allen works for North Wales Police Rural Crime Team,
0:10:59 > 0:11:03and much of his time is taken up with dog attacks.
0:11:03 > 0:11:06So, tell me, how bad is the problem with dog attacks, in your view?
0:11:06 > 0:11:09We've been collating figures since September 2013 now.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11In the North Wales area as a whole,
0:11:11 > 0:11:15we've had 259 attacks, livestock attacks.
0:11:15 > 0:11:20Majority of those are sheep. I'd probably say about 98%.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Is that's a true reflection of what's actually going on?
0:11:22 > 0:11:25I think that's a vastly under-reported figure.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29I think farmers are quite self-sufficient people.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32And if they turn up to their field where there's livestock
0:11:32 > 0:11:34and see they've been a victim of a dog attack,
0:11:34 > 0:11:37but there's no witnesses or dog, they'll probably think,
0:11:37 > 0:11:39"Well, what can the police do about it?"
0:11:39 > 0:11:43When it is reported, dog owners face a fine of up to £1,000,
0:11:43 > 0:11:46damages for the farmer, and the loss of their pet.
0:11:46 > 0:11:49But, perhaps surprisingly, it's not dogs being walked
0:11:49 > 0:11:52that carry out most of the attacks.
0:11:52 > 0:11:53Many, it seems, are committed
0:11:53 > 0:11:55by pets that have escaped from their homes.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58In those cases, the owner might know nothing about it
0:11:58 > 0:12:01until the police knock on the door.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04First thing that people say to me is, "My dog wouldn't do that."
0:12:04 > 0:12:08Well, in my experience, any dog's capable of it, really.
0:12:08 > 0:12:09DOG GROWLS
0:12:09 > 0:12:12And I think once we're in the police station,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14where you're there with your solicitor,
0:12:14 > 0:12:16the tape machine's out, ready for interview.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19I think that's when the reality of the situation bites.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22I think that's when I've heard people start crying.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24And what about the moment when the dog has to go?
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Is it sometimes you that has to take it away? What's that like?
0:12:27 > 0:12:29Yeah, it's very emotional.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31There's no easy way to do it, really.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34I'll turn up on the day and literally take that dog away
0:12:34 > 0:12:37from you, and it will be put to sleep that afternoon.
0:12:37 > 0:12:38It's horrendous. It's...
0:12:38 > 0:12:40It's a death in the family, isn't it?
0:12:40 > 0:12:44Nobody - police, farmers or pet owners -
0:12:44 > 0:12:46wants to see a dog shot or put down.
0:12:46 > 0:12:49But, sometimes, there's no alternative.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53These ewes are due to give birth in the next week or so
0:12:53 > 0:12:56and, with lambing under way right across the country,
0:12:56 > 0:12:59this is a critical time for sheep farmers.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02Later on, I'll be looking at both what dog owners
0:13:02 > 0:13:05and farmers can do to make sure their pets
0:13:05 > 0:13:08and their livestock can safely share the countryside.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10SHEEP BLEAT
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Mersea Island sits where the Greater Thames Estuary
0:13:16 > 0:13:21meets the mouth of the River Colne, where saltwater mingles with fresh.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26Upstream, the river meanders through the heart of rural Essex.
0:13:28 > 0:13:33Its steep banks, a home for nature, a haven for wildlife,
0:13:33 > 0:13:36watched over by a close-knit community of river users -
0:13:36 > 0:13:39all of them united by the love of one animal.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43This special waterway has become a stronghold
0:13:43 > 0:13:48for one of Britain's most endangered mammals, the water vole.
0:13:48 > 0:13:52Back in the 1970s, a voracious predator was introduced to the UK -
0:13:52 > 0:13:55the North American mink.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59This invasive species almost wiped out our native water voles,
0:13:59 > 0:14:02pushing them to the brink of extinction here in Essex.
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Then the Wildlife Trust stepped in.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09Six years ago, Countryfile featured an ambitious project
0:14:09 > 0:14:11to boost water vole numbers in the county.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14We joined Darren Tansley from the Essex Wildlife Trust,
0:14:14 > 0:14:17as he released the first of 600 water voles
0:14:17 > 0:14:19along the banks of the River Colne.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Today, I'm catching up with Darren
0:14:23 > 0:14:26to find out how these charismatic creatures have fared.
0:14:28 > 0:14:31So, Darren, how are the vole population doing, six years later?
0:14:31 > 0:14:35We don't know what numbers we've got, but we know that the sort of
0:14:35 > 0:14:37percentage of the habitat that's being used now
0:14:37 > 0:14:40is much more than it was, say, ten years ago.
0:14:40 > 0:14:41It's been remarkable, really.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43They've spread right the way along the river.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45They've gone upstream, downstream,
0:14:45 > 0:14:48into little ditches along the sides of the river valley.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50So we've found them in places
0:14:50 > 0:14:53that are well off the actual river itself.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Probably partly to do with a lot of flooding that we get these days,
0:14:56 > 0:14:59and it sort of pushes them outwards, off the river.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01- Right, so the numbers have spread obviously, very well.- Yeah.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04- You must be very pleased. - Yeah, we're really happy.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06I mean, it's just such a success story in Essex,
0:15:06 > 0:15:09because all of our main rivers have lost their water voles now,
0:15:09 > 0:15:11the big rivers.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15And the Colne is the only one with a successful population on it now.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18So it's wonderful to see that thriving.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24To give ourselves the best chance of seeing water voles,
0:15:24 > 0:15:25we've set up a camera trap
0:15:25 > 0:15:28and there are paw prints all around it.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31Actually, that's interesting.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35We have got some small tracks, which look a bit like water vole.
0:15:35 > 0:15:36They are about the right size.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39Could be water vole, could be a young brown rat.
0:15:39 > 0:15:41But these larger tracks, they're all otter.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44So an otter's come out of the river last night,
0:15:44 > 0:15:47- and it's come right up to the camera trap.- Fantastic.
0:15:47 > 0:15:49- They're naturally curious, aren't they?- Yes.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51So they're probably just wondering what that was.
0:15:51 > 0:15:54They quite often lick the camera, you just get a shot of the tongue.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57- SHAUNA LAUGHS - Let's hope so!
0:15:57 > 0:16:00An otter's a great sighting, but it's not a water vole.
0:16:05 > 0:16:08Luckily, we don't have to rely solely on cameras.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14You're right in the centre of Colchester, aren't you?
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Yeah, we've got quite a bit of wildlife
0:16:16 > 0:16:18on the water around Colchester.
0:16:18 > 0:16:23We've got otters, water voles, kingfishers, swans, ducks...
0:16:23 > 0:16:26As a canoe instructor, the aptly named Steve Waters
0:16:26 > 0:16:30has a unique view of every twist and turn of this river.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33He is one of a number of volunteer river wardens
0:16:33 > 0:16:35keeping an eye out for signs of the water vole.
0:16:37 > 0:16:42Now, I'm seeing lots of little holes here, little burrow-type things.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45- Would that be homes for water voles? - Yeah, you have to go...
0:16:45 > 0:16:48That's the beauty of a canoe, that you can...
0:16:48 > 0:16:50If you see a hole, you can stop the canoe
0:16:50 > 0:16:53- and then go backwards and inspect it.- Shall we have a look?
0:16:53 > 0:16:57- Can we have a look? - Yeah, let's go and have a look.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01On the grass, if the grass is cut at 45 degrees,
0:17:01 > 0:17:06where they're eating it, then that's another sign of a water vole.
0:17:06 > 0:17:11I think you were quite observant there, finding that hole.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14- So you hadn't seen that before? - No, no, I haven't seen that one.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16- That's fairly fresh.- Takes me to come out on the river with you.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18You never know what you might find.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22- We're a good double act. - A double act, yeah.- What about...?
0:17:22 > 0:17:24# Bring me sunshine... #
0:17:24 > 0:17:25SHAUNA LAUGHS
0:17:25 > 0:17:30As well as monitoring water vole numbers, river wardens like Steve
0:17:30 > 0:17:33keep an eye out for the deadly North American mink.
0:17:33 > 0:17:37They're still a big threat to the fragile water vole population here.
0:17:38 > 0:17:42- If there was mink on the river, you would not have water voles.- No.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46So we've got a raft upstream that monitors the mink.
0:17:46 > 0:17:51The rafts are covered in soft clay that shows up footprints.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54If mink are found, then traps are set.
0:17:54 > 0:17:56Any mink caught have to be humanely destroyed,
0:17:56 > 0:17:59as it's illegal to release them back into the wild.
0:18:00 > 0:18:05Luckily, there are only signs of water voles here today.
0:18:05 > 0:18:06There we go!
0:18:06 > 0:18:08That is water vole poo.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10And you can see, it's about the size of a Tic Tac.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Nice and brown, with rounded ends.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16If those ends were pointed, then that would be rat.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20It's a shame that this weren't wet enough to capture the footprint,
0:18:20 > 0:18:21otherwise we'd have had a footprint.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Cos obviously it's pooed on there, so it's been across it.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26So that's good news, there are water voles about.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29- Yeah, good news all round.- Mm-hm.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34Water voles are thriving here,
0:18:34 > 0:18:37with the effective control of mink on the River Colne.
0:18:37 > 0:18:41And that is good news for all the other wildlife here, too.
0:18:41 > 0:18:43BIRDSONG
0:18:43 > 0:18:46RIVER TRICKLES
0:18:49 > 0:18:53It's said that if you really want to know how well a river is doing,
0:18:53 > 0:18:54then ask a fisherman.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59- Hiya, Jim, can I join you? - Oh, come on in.- What a lovely spot.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01- This is so nice. - Yes, it is lovely, isn't it?
0:19:01 > 0:19:04As a coarse angler and river warden,
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Jim Beard is the eyes and ears of the river.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12As a warden, I would normally be patrolling this for an hour,
0:19:12 > 0:19:13maybe two hours.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17Whereas if I come here fishing, I could be here for eight hours.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20During that time, my eyes are on the water,
0:19:20 > 0:19:23and I think fishermen can be...
0:19:23 > 0:19:26..the sort of custodians of the water in that way.
0:19:26 > 0:19:29What we're looking for when we're fishing
0:19:29 > 0:19:31is all the species to be there.
0:19:31 > 0:19:34They're all indicative of a healthy river.
0:19:34 > 0:19:38I think everybody of my age remembers fishing
0:19:38 > 0:19:39these types of rivers
0:19:39 > 0:19:42and seeing water voles every time you went fishing.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46The mink came in and there was pollution in the rivers...
0:19:47 > 0:19:50..and we lost the water vole. It's a very dear little animal.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53I can see water voles when I come fishing now,
0:19:53 > 0:19:55which is a wonderful thing for me.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01- Hang on, you've got a fish. - We've got one?- Yeah.
0:20:01 > 0:20:05- OK. Ooh, it's quite a big one, I think.- Yeah, it is a big one.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07- Ooh.- OK, just leave it there now. - Right.- Leave it there.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10- I'll go and get this. We've got it. - You've got it, in the net?
0:20:10 > 0:20:13Wow, look at that! Fantastic.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16- A good size as well. - It is a good size.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19- What is that one?- It's a wonderful dace, I'll let you have it.
0:20:19 > 0:20:20Let's have a look. Wow.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23- And you'll see that it's in beautiful condition.- Mm-hm.
0:20:23 > 0:20:24Look at that.
0:20:26 > 0:20:28It's a very good size.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31- Whoa!- And you can see, just looking at it,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34that it is a very healthy fish,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37coming from a very healthy river.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47Now, it's time for our winter warmer.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51During the summer, we asked some well-known faces,
0:20:51 > 0:20:52from athletes...
0:20:54 > 0:20:55..to comedians...
0:20:55 > 0:20:57Ooh! It's quite refreshing after a while.
0:20:57 > 0:20:58..actors...
0:21:00 > 0:21:02..to chefs...
0:21:02 > 0:21:03Bon appetit.
0:21:03 > 0:21:08..what part of our magnificent countryside was special to them?
0:21:21 > 0:21:25This week, actor Nina Wadia is in the breathtaking Highlands...
0:21:27 > 0:21:31..sharing her love of the open road, and her passion for adventure.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39Our driving holidays began because of Mum and Dad.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45We never booked hotels or, you know, places in particular.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48We would just go and hope to find a little quirky B&B.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52That's the holidays I knew.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59I used to absolutely love
0:21:59 > 0:22:01when my parents would pack us off into a car.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05Sometimes, overnight, I'd be woken up,
0:22:05 > 0:22:07I'd open my eyes and go, "Where are we?"
0:22:07 > 0:22:09And Mum and Dad would be, like, "Oh, look.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12"Look, we've stumbled across the south end of India, here we are."
0:22:15 > 0:22:19I wanted to just recreate that kind of love of travel,
0:22:19 > 0:22:22and just adventure, with my own new little family.
0:22:22 > 0:22:25So, we tend to do that. We jump in a car.
0:22:25 > 0:22:27And the kids always get excited. "Where are we going?"
0:22:27 > 0:22:29And I'll say, "I have no idea."
0:22:33 > 0:22:36I've always had an affinity with Scotland.
0:22:36 > 0:22:40And it might be because I went to a school in India, where I was born,
0:22:40 > 0:22:42called Bombay Scottish Orphanage High School.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46There's something about
0:22:46 > 0:22:49here, in Scotland, that I just feel at home.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53There's something special in these mountains.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58The view changes dramatically every few miles.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03My son, in particular, loved Scotland.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06And he said, "Mum, Mum, look at the mountains.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09"Don't they look like sleeping dinosaurs?"
0:23:09 > 0:23:12And I said, "Actually, they do, they really do."
0:23:23 > 0:23:28We were in Fort William, and we wanted just to explore, a day out.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30So, we wanted to go somewhere that was a bit off the beaten track.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35We ended up at a loch called Loch Leven,
0:23:35 > 0:23:38which we, you know, never knew existed.
0:23:38 > 0:23:42My hubby and myself had had a little bit of a barney in the car.
0:23:42 > 0:23:43SHE CHUCKLES
0:23:43 > 0:23:46And so, as soon as we hit the loch, we went,
0:23:46 > 0:23:49"Ah, why are we bothering? Look at this, this is so beautiful."
0:23:49 > 0:23:53Yes, holidays in Scotland can save your marriage. You heard it here.
0:23:53 > 0:23:55SHE CHUCKLES
0:23:58 > 0:24:01It was perfect timing, because it was lunchtime,
0:24:01 > 0:24:05and we found a seafood cafe which did some of the best food I've had.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11It just ended up being the most perfect day.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15It's not a very well-known place, not a very well-known loch.
0:24:15 > 0:24:18It's not even that huge. But it is just beautiful.
0:24:30 > 0:24:35Anywhere that there is water, I feel connected, I feel at peace.
0:24:35 > 0:24:39It just has this feel of tranquillity about it.
0:24:42 > 0:24:43Ah.
0:24:43 > 0:24:47Who could ask for anything better?
0:24:47 > 0:24:49You've got the most beautiful food.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52You've got the most beautiful view in the world.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54The sun's shining.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09I think, because of the roles I've played on TV,
0:25:09 > 0:25:13people might not know that I very much love adrenaline sports.
0:25:16 > 0:25:20There is a waterfall up this way.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25And it would be amazing to go and explore around there.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33I've had an absolute love for doing anything that makes my heart jump,
0:25:33 > 0:25:37and anything that makes me think I'm probably going to die doing this.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43- Hiya, hi.- Hi, Nina, how are you doing?- Yeah, good, thank you. Good.
0:25:43 > 0:25:47Erm, look, I love doing stuff like this.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Except, I like to start at the top and then land down.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53- This, I've never done before. - So, you're more into jumping?
0:25:53 > 0:25:56- Yeah, I'm always jumping. - This is called Via Ferrata.- OK.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59It's a beautiful climb up the side of the Grey Mare's Tail waterfall.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01- All the way up there?- Yeah.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03We're going to get to the very top of that cliff there.
0:26:08 > 0:26:10OK, now, remember, go slow!
0:26:13 > 0:26:15This way.
0:26:15 > 0:26:16BOTH LAUGH
0:26:16 > 0:26:18- Are you OK?- OK.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21- Now you've got to get back on. - Oh, no, I can't!
0:26:25 > 0:26:27You can either stand on here or down there.
0:26:30 > 0:26:32What do I hold on to?
0:26:32 > 0:26:34- There's loads of handles.- There.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Holy moley!
0:26:42 > 0:26:45We're probably about 80 metres vertical here,
0:26:45 > 0:26:47we're about the same height as the top of the waterfall.
0:26:47 > 0:26:52- Wow. I can see why it's called the Grey Mare's Tail.- Why?
0:26:52 > 0:26:56Well, it actually looks like a horse's tail!
0:26:56 > 0:26:58Obviously!
0:26:59 > 0:27:02We're just over halfway, Nina.
0:27:02 > 0:27:03We're just...
0:27:03 > 0:27:05SHE LAUGHS
0:27:10 > 0:27:11Superb.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15Oh, boy.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24That's it, Nina, we're at the top.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28Wa-hey!
0:27:30 > 0:27:31Well done. Brilliant.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36- Oh! Again!- Again?
0:27:38 > 0:27:41Come on over here, Nina, I'll show you the Pap of Glencoe.
0:27:41 > 0:27:42OK.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47This is breathtaking.
0:27:48 > 0:27:50Oh-ho!
0:27:52 > 0:27:54This could not be a more perfect day.
0:27:54 > 0:27:56I came to my favourite loch.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59Did something unbelievably exciting.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03This sunset, I mean...
0:28:03 > 0:28:05Seriously, if there is a heaven, this is it.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13Now, earlier, we heard about the disastrous effect
0:28:13 > 0:28:15a dog can have on livestock, especially sheep,
0:28:15 > 0:28:18if they get loose on a farm.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20Tom's been finding out what can be done
0:28:20 > 0:28:22to protect livestock from family pets.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25And his film does contain some distressing images.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33A walk through the countryside with your pet dog
0:28:33 > 0:28:35can be one of the great pleasures in life.
0:28:35 > 0:28:40But not if your beloved pet runs off on farmland.
0:28:40 > 0:28:43Most, if not all, dogs, can play havoc with livestock.
0:28:43 > 0:28:48But many owners are either ignorant of this, or in complete denial.
0:28:48 > 0:28:52And, once a dog has attacked, there is a high probability,
0:28:52 > 0:28:55given the chance, it will do it again.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04John Blair had been taking his dogs for daily walks
0:29:04 > 0:29:08in this Hampshire country park without a problem for 15 years.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11He had no concerns about them attacking sheep
0:29:11 > 0:29:15until, that is, a few weeks ago, when one of them ran off.
0:29:15 > 0:29:18- Morning, John, looks like you've got your hands full there.- Morning.
0:29:18 > 0:29:19- Yes, indeed.- Who have we got here?
0:29:19 > 0:29:21We have Barney.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23And we have Millie. And Wilfie.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25They're gorgeous. So, which one was it that ran off,
0:29:25 > 0:29:28- and what did you do? - It was our little Wilfie here.
0:29:28 > 0:29:33As we were walking back down this way, we got to about this point,
0:29:33 > 0:29:37and he shot off down the field, went through the first two hedges
0:29:37 > 0:29:39across the lane, into the field on the other side.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42And then, ultimately, to the field just below the wood there.
0:29:42 > 0:29:44And in that field, there were sheep.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47- You could tell, could you, what he was heading for?- Oh, yeah, yeah.
0:29:47 > 0:29:51It was pretty clear that he was headed for the sheep.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54And no amount of calling was going to change his direction.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57The sheep, of course, were running.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00And that's a great stimulus for a dog to chase sheep.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04What's fun for a dog can be stressful or fatal for a sheep.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06Absolutely, yes, indeed.
0:30:06 > 0:30:08And you're obviously aware that dogs can do such things.
0:30:08 > 0:30:12I've never really associated it with being our little Wilfie.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15- He hasn't got form in that regard? - Not at all, no, no.
0:30:15 > 0:30:19He's your standard little household lovely pet.
0:30:19 > 0:30:22But it just shows that there is the opportunity for any dog
0:30:22 > 0:30:26- to go and do what he did. - There is a bit of wolf in Wilfie.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29A bit of the wolfie, yes, sadly, there is.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31Wilfie didn't kill or injure any sheep.
0:30:31 > 0:30:34But just the stress of being chased can lead to death,
0:30:34 > 0:30:38or cause ewes to lose their unborn lambs.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41- Has all of this kind of changed your behaviour with the dogs?- It has.
0:30:41 > 0:30:46We tend now to walk in a slightly different part
0:30:46 > 0:30:49where there aren't any sheep that we know of.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51That's always the trouble, of course.
0:30:51 > 0:30:54You can walk around a corner and there's a field of sheep.
0:30:54 > 0:30:59But, yeah, to that extent, we keep Wilfie, from now, on a long lead.
0:30:59 > 0:31:01We're trying to train him.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04I believe there are ways that you can break this habit.
0:31:04 > 0:31:07If you're interested in training, I've someone I'd like you to meet,
0:31:07 > 0:31:08- if we can potter down this way. - Lovely.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10- Shall I take one of these? - Yes, Barney.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13- Barney, come on, then. - That's Barney.- Off we go.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19Both John and Wilfie could easily have ended up
0:31:19 > 0:31:21on the wrong side of the law.
0:31:21 > 0:31:26So, what should owners be doing to stop their dogs attacking livestock?
0:31:26 > 0:31:27Keep out. Good boy.
0:31:27 > 0:31:29Terena Plowright has had her own flock of sheep
0:31:29 > 0:31:31for the last 25 years.
0:31:31 > 0:31:32And, lie down!
0:31:32 > 0:31:34She's also a dog lover,
0:31:34 > 0:31:39and offers training to help improve their behaviour around farm animals.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42- Hello, Terena.- Hello, there.- They look controlled and accomplished.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45- This is John. This is Wilfie. - Hi, John.- Nice to meet you.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48Right from the outset, I just want to make it very clear to you
0:31:48 > 0:31:51that we cannot stop your dog chasing sheep entirely.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53Sure, yeah.
0:31:53 > 0:31:56We would try to get it so that your dog might hesitate
0:31:56 > 0:31:58- before doing anything.- OK.
0:31:58 > 0:32:02- Try to get him under control. - That's exactly it. And, once you've got the dog under control,
0:32:02 > 0:32:05you can clip it on, and carry on with the walk. Sure.
0:32:05 > 0:32:09So, what I'm going to do is, I'm going to put him on a long lead
0:32:09 > 0:32:13and that will give him the feeling that he's free.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16What we're looking for is, when he looks at sheep, just say to him,
0:32:16 > 0:32:19- no!- No! No!- No.
0:32:19 > 0:32:23That's it. He is clearly very, very fascinated by them.
0:32:23 > 0:32:27- Yeah.- And you can see
0:32:27 > 0:32:30- how, if he wasn't on the lead... - He could be a problem.
0:32:30 > 0:32:33What could happen is he's suddenly gone.
0:32:33 > 0:32:37- Never trust him.- No, certainly not now.- Never ever trust him.- No, no.
0:32:37 > 0:32:39Terena doesn't just do training.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42She's also launched the SheepWatch UK campaign
0:32:42 > 0:32:45to help reduce the number of dog attacks.
0:32:45 > 0:32:50We're asking farmers, please put a notice on the start of your field,
0:32:50 > 0:32:53so that people know when they are entering a field with sheep.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55Just put a really simple notice,
0:32:55 > 0:32:57"Sheep in this field, dogs on leads."
0:32:57 > 0:32:59We're also asking farmers,
0:32:59 > 0:33:02please put a notice on the reverse of that to say
0:33:02 > 0:33:05you are now leaving the area where you need to have your dog on a lead.
0:33:05 > 0:33:09We don't want people to think, everywhere, they've got to put their dog on a lead.
0:33:09 > 0:33:13Then, what we want to do is try and get farmers to inform
0:33:13 > 0:33:16either the police or, if they haven't got time for that,
0:33:16 > 0:33:20just text us to say whether they've had a dog attack,
0:33:20 > 0:33:23just four or five words, so we can begin to build up a picture
0:33:23 > 0:33:25of what's happening across the UK.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27Why do you think this is needed?
0:33:27 > 0:33:30Every single day, I am getting e-mails from farmers,
0:33:30 > 0:33:33and from smallholders,
0:33:33 > 0:33:38and in those e-mails are some absolutely horrendous
0:33:38 > 0:33:41pictures of sheep that have been ripped by dogs.
0:33:41 > 0:33:45And these farmers are upset, the sheep are suffering.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49And this just has to stop, it absolutely has to stop.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54There are 8.5 million pet dogs in the UK,
0:33:54 > 0:33:56and their numbers keep growing.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59So, unless things change, dog attacks on livestock
0:33:59 > 0:34:03are a problem that's just going to get worse.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06Most of the time, dogs bring us nothing but joy.
0:34:06 > 0:34:10But, when those hunting instincts are unleashed,
0:34:10 > 0:34:14I've seen the suffering that can result.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17The key to addressing this is for owners to acknowledge that,
0:34:17 > 0:34:20however unlikely it may seem,
0:34:20 > 0:34:23their dog has the potential to chase sheep.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36This is the Blackwater Estuary, just off Mersea Island.
0:34:36 > 0:34:38Earlier, I was learning about the plight of the native oyster,
0:34:38 > 0:34:42from seventh-generation oysterman Richard Haward.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45Now, I'm with Essex Wildlife Trust's Sarah Allison
0:34:45 > 0:34:49who's also a PhD researcher from the University Of Essex,
0:34:49 > 0:34:50studying native oysters.
0:34:50 > 0:34:53How often have you been coming out here, then?
0:34:53 > 0:34:56For a while, very regularly, leading up to the MCZ being designated.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59Thanks, in part, to Sarah's research,
0:34:59 > 0:35:02these waters are now a Marine Conservation Zone,
0:35:02 > 0:35:05specifically because of the decline of the native oyster.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08Native oysters, they're known as a keystone species.
0:35:08 > 0:35:12It means that their presence within an environment
0:35:12 > 0:35:16allows other species to be present within that environment as well.
0:35:16 > 0:35:19Much of Sarah's work concerns the importance of the oyster
0:35:19 > 0:35:21to the marine ecosystem.
0:35:21 > 0:35:24The Essex Estuary is the one that we're in now, the Blackwater.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27It's very mobile, it's got lots of mobile sediment.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30But oysters are a constant within that environment.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33They group together, as a group of individual animals.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36And, because they have a hard surface,
0:35:36 > 0:35:38things can live on it, and things can live in it.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46Small fish fry, juvenile fish, they can get away from predators,
0:35:46 > 0:35:49and live within it, so that it becomes this really complex
0:35:49 > 0:35:51reef-like system.
0:35:51 > 0:35:55It's called an oyster bed, but it's a three-dimensional structure
0:35:55 > 0:35:57and there's loads of stuff present.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02So, vitally important as far as filtering water's concerned?
0:36:02 > 0:36:04They're called filter feeders.
0:36:04 > 0:36:10And they constantly take in water from the environment.
0:36:10 > 0:36:13And everything contained within it that's organic,
0:36:13 > 0:36:15they will digest that, as food particles.
0:36:15 > 0:36:18And then, all of the clean water is released through the system.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21So they're constantly cleaning the water.
0:36:23 > 0:36:27Working alongside the Blackwater oystermen has taught Sarah
0:36:27 > 0:36:30a lot about the health of the oyster population locally.
0:36:30 > 0:36:33The Essex Estuary has always been famous for the fact
0:36:33 > 0:36:36that it has native oysters within it.
0:36:36 > 0:36:39But very little scientific information
0:36:39 > 0:36:42or ecological information was known about the populations.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45So, we surveyed the whole of the Marine Conservation Zone
0:36:45 > 0:36:47for this particular species of native oyster.
0:36:47 > 0:36:48How did you do that?
0:36:48 > 0:36:51The best way to find a native oyster is to use the fishing boats
0:36:51 > 0:36:53that are designed to find native oysters.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55And were you surprised by what you saw?
0:36:55 > 0:36:58We expected to find pockets of individuals.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00Some pockets were doing really well
0:37:00 > 0:37:03and some pockets were doing not so well
0:37:03 > 0:37:05and that was the really interesting bit.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07And is there any hope in discovering
0:37:07 > 0:37:10what the native oysters actually need in order to thrive,
0:37:10 > 0:37:12even at this stage in the research?
0:37:12 > 0:37:16Yeah, a part of the research certainly is, where are they?
0:37:16 > 0:37:20But also, where are they not? Where could they be?
0:37:20 > 0:37:24And we're going to start looking at restoration techniques
0:37:24 > 0:37:27for those areas, to see if we can build the numbers up.
0:37:31 > 0:37:32There's still a long way to go
0:37:32 > 0:37:35for Sarah and her fellow PhD researchers.
0:37:35 > 0:37:37But, even at this stage,
0:37:37 > 0:37:40it's clear the future of the Mersea Island native oyster
0:37:40 > 0:37:42depends on this curious partnership
0:37:42 > 0:37:45between the oystermen and the conservationists.
0:37:55 > 0:37:58ROOSTER CLUCKS
0:37:58 > 0:38:03At long last, winter is drawing to a close.
0:38:03 > 0:38:08And the early signs of spring are beginning to show on Adam's farm.
0:38:08 > 0:38:09LAMBS BLEAT
0:38:09 > 0:38:11PIG GRUNTS
0:38:11 > 0:38:15It's not only the seasonal newcomers that are demanding his attention.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17For his favourite sidekick,
0:38:17 > 0:38:20life could be about to change in a big way.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25At this time of year, the fields are fairly empty
0:38:25 > 0:38:26because my flock of pregnant ewes
0:38:26 > 0:38:29are all in the sheep shed, waiting to give birth.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31So, for the working dogs, it's a quiet time of year,
0:38:31 > 0:38:34because we don't want them chasing the sheep around
0:38:34 > 0:38:35when they're heavily pregnant.
0:38:35 > 0:38:37So, to keep dogs like Peg here fit,
0:38:37 > 0:38:40I let them run around when I'm out in the buggy.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43But, for Boo, it's a very different story.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47She's the house dog, and I'm letting her ride in the cab with me
0:38:47 > 0:38:49to take it easy because, hopefully,
0:38:49 > 0:38:52I've got some good news to share with you later.
0:39:00 > 0:39:01- ADAM WHISTLES - Peg!
0:39:04 > 0:39:05SHEEP BLEAT
0:39:09 > 0:39:11We're right at the early stages of lambing.
0:39:11 > 0:39:15We've got about 550 ewes to give birth and a bunch of goats as well.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18And the shed is a lovely environment to be lambing in,
0:39:18 > 0:39:21not only for the shepherds, but also for the sheep,
0:39:21 > 0:39:23in the warmth and comfort here.
0:39:23 > 0:39:25We've had a few lambs born so far.
0:39:25 > 0:39:27Really good sets of twins down here,
0:39:27 > 0:39:28all looking well.
0:39:31 > 0:39:35This ewe here has successfully given birth to her first lamb.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38And she's in the process of giving birth to her second.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40Usually, a ewe will lie down to give birth.
0:39:40 > 0:39:42But she's doing it standing up.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45I'll just stand back and watch,
0:39:45 > 0:39:47and she should get on with it fine by herself.
0:39:49 > 0:39:52It's actually hanging out of her now.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55And the lambs are in a water bag, it's called,
0:39:55 > 0:39:58full of amniotic fluid to protect them inside the ewe.
0:39:58 > 0:39:59Usually, the bag breaks,
0:39:59 > 0:40:02but this lamb is hanging still inside the bag,
0:40:02 > 0:40:03with liquid all around its head.
0:40:03 > 0:40:07So, there's a danger it might drown. I'm just going to get in.
0:40:10 > 0:40:14Just have to clear its nose, otherwise it'll suffocate.
0:40:14 > 0:40:16Get it breathing.
0:40:16 > 0:40:21Usually, the sac around the lamb breaks,
0:40:21 > 0:40:25and then, as it comes out, it can breathe for air.
0:40:25 > 0:40:27But it was trapped around its nose,
0:40:27 > 0:40:32and it was in danger of drowning, so it was fortunate I was here.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35And, there we are. That's...it's breathing well now.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38When you're lambing in close quarters like this,
0:40:38 > 0:40:40in this kind of environment in a shed,
0:40:40 > 0:40:43there's a danger that the lambs will get muddled up
0:40:43 > 0:40:45and end up with the wrong ewe.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49Because another ewe has come in. It's what we call an auntie.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51This isn't the mother of these lambs.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53She's got incredibly strong maternal instincts.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56Probably is only 12, 24 hours off lambing herself.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59But she's desperate to have some lambs.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02So, she's trying to steal these ones off their mum
0:41:02 > 0:41:04which is the ewe just over there.
0:41:04 > 0:41:05And she's pushed the other ewe out the way,
0:41:05 > 0:41:08and she's licking them and talking to them.
0:41:08 > 0:41:11The danger is she'll take them away from their mother.
0:41:11 > 0:41:14And then she'll eventually lie down and give birth to her own lambs,
0:41:14 > 0:41:15and end up with four.
0:41:15 > 0:41:18And, if you're not here to sort out the muddle,
0:41:18 > 0:41:20you can get into all sorts of trouble
0:41:20 > 0:41:23and end up with rejected lambs and lambs with the wrong ewes.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27So, that's why we have a shepherd on duty in the shed 24 hours a day.
0:41:27 > 0:41:28Right, now...
0:41:28 > 0:41:30So, I'm going to remove the mother and the lambs,
0:41:30 > 0:41:32and put them in a separate pen.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35That way, Auntie can't interfere.
0:41:35 > 0:41:36There's a good girl.
0:41:36 > 0:41:38SHEEP BLEAT
0:41:42 > 0:41:45They're nice and safe in there, and they should bond as a family.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48And the other ewe should go off now and give birth to her own.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53Lambing season is well under way,
0:41:53 > 0:41:55so we have to keep an eye on the ewes around the clock.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58But, if that wasn't enough to keep us busy,
0:41:58 > 0:42:00the pigs are getting in on the action, too.
0:42:13 > 0:42:16We've got a number of different breeds of pig on the farm.
0:42:16 > 0:42:19And I'm just picking up some straw to bed them down.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22Because it's been so wet, we've got them in the stables.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24And a number of them have got piglets.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27So I give them a bit of straw, and their breakfast.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34SOW GRUNTS
0:42:36 > 0:42:39This is one of my Gloucestershire Old Spots.
0:42:39 > 0:42:41I just want to move her into a slightly bigger stable.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43It's all bedded down and ready for her.
0:42:43 > 0:42:47If I just let her out, hopefully, the piglets will follow her.
0:42:48 > 0:42:51But Mum seems more interested in the food than her piglets.
0:42:51 > 0:42:53Time for plan B.
0:42:53 > 0:42:55Hello, little piggies.
0:42:55 > 0:42:57Come on. Come on!
0:42:57 > 0:42:58PIGLETS SQUEAL
0:42:58 > 0:43:00Come on!
0:43:00 > 0:43:01Go on.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04Peg, no!
0:43:04 > 0:43:06OK, so using a pig board clearly isn't working.
0:43:06 > 0:43:08That'll shift them.
0:43:08 > 0:43:11I'll tempt the sow into the barn using some pig nuts
0:43:11 > 0:43:14and, hopefully, the piglets will follow. It normally works.
0:43:14 > 0:43:16But, on this occasion,
0:43:16 > 0:43:19the piglets are enjoying their freedom too much.
0:43:19 > 0:43:21Time for plan C.
0:43:36 > 0:43:39Just need to grab the final piglets.
0:43:39 > 0:43:41PIGLETS SQUEAL
0:43:44 > 0:43:48Whenever you pick piglets up, they always squeal for their mother.
0:43:48 > 0:43:50SQUEALING
0:43:58 > 0:44:00There you go.
0:44:02 > 0:44:06At this time of year, there's plenty of new life on the farm.
0:44:06 > 0:44:09And, for Boo, who we introduced to the family three years ago,
0:44:09 > 0:44:13a trip to the vet today could be life-changing.
0:44:16 > 0:44:20Boo's a really lovely dog. She's a great pet in the house.
0:44:20 > 0:44:22And the children absolutely adore her.
0:44:22 > 0:44:24And, four weeks ago, we found her a boyfriend.
0:44:24 > 0:44:26And so, now, I'm hoping she's pregnant.
0:44:26 > 0:44:29So, I'm taking her to the vet to have her scanned.
0:44:29 > 0:44:31And, if she's not pregnant, it's a negative scan,
0:44:31 > 0:44:34the children are going to be really disappointed.
0:44:34 > 0:44:36So, fingers crossed. In you go, Boo.
0:44:40 > 0:44:43It's a short drive to my local vets in Broadway.
0:44:49 > 0:44:51Ah, very relaxed.
0:44:51 > 0:44:55So, she went to the dog about 30-odd days ago.
0:44:55 > 0:44:57I don't know whether that suits scanning.
0:44:57 > 0:45:01It should give us a good chance of seeing some pups, if she's pregnant.
0:45:01 > 0:45:02OK, all right.
0:45:02 > 0:45:05She's got a bit of a bulge on here, so I've got high hopes.
0:45:05 > 0:45:07- Let's hope so.- OK.
0:45:07 > 0:45:11We'll start off by putting some ultrasound jelly on her belly.
0:45:11 > 0:45:13OK, let's have a look.
0:45:15 > 0:45:17And already we can see multiple puppies.
0:45:17 > 0:45:19ADAM LAUGHS
0:45:19 > 0:45:20Fantastic!
0:45:20 > 0:45:24Wonderful, Boo, you're going to be a mum, hopefully.
0:45:24 > 0:45:26- That's brilliant, isn't it? - They keep coming. Gosh.
0:45:26 > 0:45:29- There's a few there. - She must have a few, yes.
0:45:29 > 0:45:32That one's moving. Look at it.
0:45:32 > 0:45:34Those are really good shots, there. Yeah.
0:45:34 > 0:45:37What do you reckon, as far as numbers go, can you tell?
0:45:37 > 0:45:40She's certainly carrying multiple pups.
0:45:40 > 0:45:43- And I would estimate around eight. - Wow, that's a good-sized litter.
0:45:43 > 0:45:46- It's a great litter. - Wonderful. That's good news.
0:45:46 > 0:45:49You're going to be a mum, hopefully, Boo-Boo.
0:45:49 > 0:45:52I know the family will be absolutely over the moon.
0:45:52 > 0:45:54- Delighted.- Ah, good.
0:45:55 > 0:45:58It's great news that Boo's expecting puppies.
0:45:58 > 0:46:00We'll have to give her lots of love and attention now.
0:46:00 > 0:46:02All in all, it's been a good day.
0:46:02 > 0:46:05We've had new lambs, new pigs, and Boo's a mum-to-be.
0:46:05 > 0:46:07I'd better get back and tell the family.
0:46:09 > 0:46:11It's great to see spring on its way.
0:46:11 > 0:46:14We'd love to see your spring photographs.
0:46:14 > 0:46:17Send them via our Twitter account, or the website.
0:46:17 > 0:46:20And we might use yours in an upcoming programme.
0:46:24 > 0:46:29There's something very special stirring in the Essex undergrowth.
0:46:29 > 0:46:30DOG SNUFFLES AND PANTS
0:46:42 > 0:46:46Meet Stig, a very spirited Springer Spaniel.
0:46:54 > 0:46:56But Stig isn't just a playful pet.
0:46:56 > 0:46:58He's got a job to do.
0:47:01 > 0:47:06And it's a job he does better than any human could.
0:47:06 > 0:47:09He's using his nose, he's having a good old rummage around
0:47:09 > 0:47:11to see what he can find.
0:47:11 > 0:47:15For Stig is the first and only dog in the world specially trained
0:47:15 > 0:47:18to sniff out one of Britain's most endangered mammals,
0:47:18 > 0:47:20the water vole.
0:47:20 > 0:47:23When he finds something, he'll just freeze, he'll stop.
0:47:23 > 0:47:25- There we go.- Has he found something?
0:47:25 > 0:47:28OK. He doesn't want... I can see something there. Let's see.
0:47:28 > 0:47:29Some poo.
0:47:31 > 0:47:35Ecologist Ali Charnick is Stig's owner.
0:47:36 > 0:47:40So, Ali, how does Stig, as an ecology dog, work?
0:47:40 > 0:47:44OK, so he helps us to survey for water voles.
0:47:44 > 0:47:46And he sniffs out their latrines.
0:47:46 > 0:47:48So he's looking for their droppings.
0:47:48 > 0:47:52And what has he taught you about water voles you didn't know before?
0:47:52 > 0:47:54We're constantly learning with him.
0:47:54 > 0:47:56We were doing a survey, and he actually found
0:47:56 > 0:48:00a latrine on an island that we wouldn't have been able to get to.
0:48:00 > 0:48:02He's found floating latrines on logs.
0:48:02 > 0:48:05We wouldn't necessarily have looked on a log for a latrine,
0:48:05 > 0:48:06so that's a gap we've managed to fill in.
0:48:06 > 0:48:09So, we are learning about the species through him,
0:48:09 > 0:48:11- which is really helpful.- Great.
0:48:11 > 0:48:13I love the boots. Look at the little shoes he wears.
0:48:13 > 0:48:17They're great, they help him get into stinging nettles.
0:48:17 > 0:48:19At the time of year when we'd be surveying,
0:48:19 > 0:48:20stinging nettles are prolific.
0:48:20 > 0:48:23With these boots, he's nice and protected, and safe.
0:48:23 > 0:48:25He's saying, "Shut up, Mum, come on, let's get to work!"
0:48:25 > 0:48:27THEY LAUGH
0:48:34 > 0:48:37Stig seems blissfully unaware of the important role
0:48:37 > 0:48:40he's playing in the survival of the water vole.
0:48:40 > 0:48:43And he certainly seems to be enjoying his work.
0:48:45 > 0:48:48But, at nine years old, he's reaching retirement age.
0:48:50 > 0:48:54Waiting in the wings, though, is seven-month-old Lola,
0:48:54 > 0:48:57and Ali is starting to train her up.
0:48:57 > 0:48:59- She's not a Springer Spaniel. - She's not, no.
0:48:59 > 0:49:01She's a Sprocker Spaniel.
0:49:01 > 0:49:04So, her dad is a Cocker Spaniel, and her mum is a Springer Spaniel.
0:49:04 > 0:49:07Ah, does that mean she's doubly quick?!
0:49:07 > 0:49:09She's a healthy mixture of the two.
0:49:09 > 0:49:12And what do you look for in an ecology dog,
0:49:12 > 0:49:14how you know she's going to be a good worker?
0:49:14 > 0:49:18She's ball crazy, which helps because that's her reward.
0:49:18 > 0:49:21Although she's a gun dog, she doesn't want to look for birds.
0:49:21 > 0:49:23She's good to be working in a sensitive site
0:49:23 > 0:49:24and on a nature reserve.
0:49:24 > 0:49:27- She'll work alongside Stig? - She will, yeah.
0:49:27 > 0:49:29She'll do the bulk of the work,
0:49:29 > 0:49:32and Stig can have a leisurely time in his old age.
0:49:32 > 0:49:35She's raring to go. Shall we have a look at her?
0:49:35 > 0:49:37Yeah, let's get her going. Come on, then.
0:49:39 > 0:49:42Before Lola learns to sniff out water vole scent,
0:49:42 > 0:49:45she must first be trained to find a tennis ball.
0:49:45 > 0:49:47Lola.
0:49:47 > 0:49:49Find it. Find it.
0:49:49 > 0:49:52There we go. Good girl.
0:49:55 > 0:49:57She was a little bit keen there. She went in with her teeth.
0:49:57 > 0:49:59She's a little bit excited.
0:49:59 > 0:50:01So, I held her back, waited till her nose was on it,
0:50:01 > 0:50:02then we asked her to come off.
0:50:02 > 0:50:05It's all about repetition. And, the more she does it,
0:50:05 > 0:50:08the more she'll understand what we want from her.
0:50:08 > 0:50:10- So, she's doing well at finding the ball.- She is, yeah.
0:50:10 > 0:50:13How do you move on, then, to finding the scent you want her to find?
0:50:13 > 0:50:17So, we move on by reducing the amount of tennis ball,
0:50:17 > 0:50:20and increasing the amount of water vole dropping.
0:50:20 > 0:50:22She'll start to build that association
0:50:22 > 0:50:24with the tennis ball and the droppings.
0:50:24 > 0:50:27Then, eventually, we'll be able to take the tennis ball away,
0:50:27 > 0:50:29and she'll just be imprinted on the water vole poo.
0:50:29 > 0:50:31It's fun for her, it's a game at the end of the day.
0:50:31 > 0:50:34It's the same for Stig, it's all a game. They love it.
0:50:34 > 0:50:37- They love to work.- Yep.- Look at her. She's desperate for it.
0:50:37 > 0:50:39She's desperate to find some more for us.
0:50:39 > 0:50:43- Come on, then. See what we can find. - Where is it?- Lola.
0:50:43 > 0:50:45Where is it, Lola?
0:50:58 > 0:51:01Whilst Shauna's been on the hunt for water voles,
0:51:01 > 0:51:03I'm doing a bit of oyster catching
0:51:03 > 0:51:07in the Blackwater Estuary just off Mersea Island in Essex.
0:51:07 > 0:51:09Thanks, in part, to the research being done
0:51:09 > 0:51:12by conservationist Sarah Allison,
0:51:12 > 0:51:16this estuary has been classified as a Marine Conservation Zone
0:51:16 > 0:51:19which has had an impact on the local oystermen.
0:51:19 > 0:51:21What was your reaction, Richard, when you heard that
0:51:21 > 0:51:26the wildlife trusts wanted to come and start surveying this area,
0:51:26 > 0:51:29- an area that you've known since you were a lad?- Alarm.
0:51:29 > 0:51:31- OK.- Well, concern, anyway.
0:51:31 > 0:51:33From the outside looking in,
0:51:33 > 0:51:35it does seem very much like it's a really odd partnership.
0:51:35 > 0:51:37We found that, for different reasons,
0:51:37 > 0:51:40we really both wanted the same thing.
0:51:40 > 0:51:44With Richard's son Bram at the helm, we're going to dredge
0:51:44 > 0:51:46some of Richard's own private oyster beds.
0:51:49 > 0:51:52These beds lie outside the Marine Conservation Zone
0:51:52 > 0:51:55and so aren't subject to the same restrictions on fishing.
0:51:55 > 0:51:59Responsibility for the welfare of the native oysters here
0:51:59 > 0:52:01rests with Richard.
0:52:02 > 0:52:04There's a lot there, Richard.
0:52:04 > 0:52:07- Yeah, a lot of shell, not a lot of oysters necessarily.- OK.
0:52:07 > 0:52:10Stood on this board at the back, Sarah,
0:52:10 > 0:52:13this is how you've been doing the majority of your research, is it?
0:52:13 > 0:52:17This is my research, yeah. Wet, muddy research.
0:52:17 > 0:52:19This is a long-term monitoring project.
0:52:19 > 0:52:20It's not just a one-off.
0:52:20 > 0:52:23We need to know what the health of these beds are, going forward.
0:52:23 > 0:52:27And the oystermen will be a part of that.
0:52:27 > 0:52:31- Yeah, there's a lot of shell in here.- Can you see here?
0:52:31 > 0:52:34This is kind of an example of the way that they all group together.
0:52:34 > 0:52:39So, a smaller juvenile individual will want to attach to a larger one.
0:52:39 > 0:52:42And they build up into this reef system.
0:52:42 > 0:52:46And you can see here and here, and there's another one here.
0:52:46 > 0:52:49And that's just a really good example.
0:52:49 > 0:52:52How have you done with the natives? Because we saw...
0:52:52 > 0:52:54We'll probably get one or two more.
0:52:54 > 0:52:58But that really summarises the situation.
0:52:58 > 0:53:01There's plenty of rock oysters, but not many natives on the ground.
0:53:01 > 0:53:04But, if we shunt this lot over the side, we'll have another haul
0:53:04 > 0:53:06and we'll see what we get this time.
0:53:12 > 0:53:14Richard and Bram have chosen not to dredge
0:53:14 > 0:53:17in this specific part of the estuary for several years now.
0:53:17 > 0:53:21They want to see the young native oysters gain a foothold.
0:53:21 > 0:53:23Wow, that is a lot.
0:53:29 > 0:53:33- There's loads of natives here. - We've got some native action.
0:53:33 > 0:53:34We've got a lot here.
0:53:34 > 0:53:38There's a real mix of live natives in here,
0:53:38 > 0:53:42and it's the age range that we're really looking for.
0:53:42 > 0:53:46The smaller ones mean that the older ones are producing larvae.
0:53:46 > 0:53:48What strikes me as being quite unusual is,
0:53:48 > 0:53:51I've spent a lot of time with folk from the Wildlife Trust
0:53:51 > 0:53:53and what have you, people passionate about wildlife.
0:53:53 > 0:53:55And yet, here you are,
0:53:55 > 0:53:59taking out the very species that you're trying to protect.
0:53:59 > 0:54:02- And you're helping to do it. - I know, I know.
0:54:02 > 0:54:06- It seems like an illogical situation to most people.- Yes.
0:54:06 > 0:54:08But, in an area where the oystermen are,
0:54:08 > 0:54:12where the oystermen work, where the oystermen cultivate their oysters,
0:54:12 > 0:54:14the species is doing much better there.
0:54:14 > 0:54:16There's this huge increase in numbers,
0:54:16 > 0:54:19compared to an area that isn't being worked by the oystermen,
0:54:19 > 0:54:22isn't being cultivated, and isn't being looked after by them.
0:54:22 > 0:54:25So, it really is the presence of the oystermen in the estuary
0:54:25 > 0:54:28that is helping the native oyster.
0:54:28 > 0:54:31And that's where the conservation comes from.
0:54:33 > 0:54:36And that's got to be good news for the communities above and below
0:54:36 > 0:54:39the waves, along this beautiful stretch of British coastline.
0:54:43 > 0:54:46Well, that's all we've got time for from Essex.
0:54:46 > 0:54:49Next week, John and Anita will be in Northern Ireland
0:54:49 > 0:54:52where John will be finding out about the thriving kelp business
0:54:52 > 0:54:54on Rathlin Island.
0:54:54 > 0:54:56And Anita will be exploring the beauty of the Ulster Way.
0:54:56 > 0:54:59Hope you can join them then.