:00:31. > :00:35.This is the Montrose Basin, a huge expanse of sand
:00:36. > :00:39.and sea just inland from the town of Montrose in Scotland.
:00:40. > :00:53.and it's a haven for rare wildfowl and all kinds of bird life.
:00:54. > :00:58.But when the tide's out, it's all too easy to get stuck in the mud.
:00:59. > :01:00.She is well and truly stuck. That's serious business.
:01:01. > :01:04.We're coming! Don't worry, we're on our way.
:01:05. > :01:10.discovering the hidden history of the dunes.
:01:11. > :01:16.I can't quite believe that you've created all of this from scratch.
:01:17. > :01:19.And with the EU referendum looming, Tom's looking
:01:20. > :01:23.at the biggest decision to face our countryside in decades.
:01:24. > :01:26.I've met up with both the Prime Minister and Boris Johnson
:01:27. > :01:29.to find out why they think our rural landscape
:01:30. > :01:35.will be better off either in or out of the European Union.
:01:36. > :01:40.And Adam's finding out just how smart his working dogs really are.
:01:41. > :01:58.Straight in, that was very quick. There's a good girl.
:01:59. > :02:03.This is Montrose, on the east coast of Scotland.
:02:04. > :02:09.It's where you'll find an extraordinary natural feature.
:02:10. > :02:13.This is the Montrose Basin, a vast inland disc of mudflats,
:02:14. > :02:19.flooded twice a day by the North Sea.
:02:20. > :02:25.the Montrose Basin is a vast inland estuary,
:02:26. > :02:31.It's internationally important for the sheer numbers
:02:32. > :02:37.and varieties of birds it shelters and feeds.
:02:38. > :02:43.but a cataclysmic natural disaster 7,000 years ago
:02:44. > :02:48.It's incredible to get your head around,
:02:49. > :02:51.that a chunk of land the size of Iceland
:02:52. > :02:54.broke off Norway, creating a huge tidal wave,
:02:55. > :03:01.which then flooded the east of Scotland for 50 miles inland.
:03:02. > :03:03.As the tsunami ebbed back out to sea,
:03:04. > :03:07.it left sandbanks which silted up the mouth of the estuary,
:03:08. > :03:17.Today the Montrose Basin is a place of peace and quiet,
:03:18. > :03:28.a haven for thousands upon thousands of birds.
:03:29. > :03:33.The basin is a nature reserve, managed by Scottish Wildlife Trust.
:03:34. > :03:37.It's overseen by the watchful eye of ranger Anna Cheshire
:03:38. > :03:40.and a team of wildlife volunteers who, like the birds,
:03:41. > :03:48.That's quite some view, isn't it? It's pretty special. What a sight.
:03:49. > :03:51.How many different species of birds do you get here?
:03:52. > :03:56.but there's over 200 species of bird here at different times.
:03:57. > :04:00.Before you came, I was observing the tern raft we've got out there.
:04:01. > :04:03.At the moment, there are about 120 common terns on there,
:04:04. > :04:07.and that's their breeding site for the summer. Fantastic, isn't it?
:04:08. > :04:10.Absolutely, yes. It's not a bad place to work, is it? No.
:04:11. > :04:19.I think I might need to get out there.
:04:20. > :04:24.The basin is a wonderful natural creation, but Anna and her team
:04:25. > :04:27.also give Mother Nature a helping hand.
:04:28. > :04:33.This is our sand martin bank. It's for breeding sand martins.
:04:34. > :04:36.What do they think it is? Why are they attracted to this wall?
:04:37. > :04:39.This is similar to what their natural breeding site would be.
:04:40. > :04:41.Normally, they would go in cliff faces.
:04:42. > :04:44.So they think that's a cliff face? They do.
:04:45. > :04:48.Do they not mind that it's a man-made, prefab housing estate?
:04:49. > :04:50.No, it's very popular. We've got about
:04:51. > :04:52.30 pairs breeding in there this year.
:04:53. > :04:56.And you've handily numbered each hole for the sand martin postman.
:04:57. > :04:58.ANNA LAUGHS Well, that helps us as well.
:04:59. > :05:00.That means that when we do our surveys,
:05:01. > :05:03.we can keep track of which holes are being used.
:05:04. > :05:06.Are some holes more popular than others? Yes.
:05:07. > :05:10.These ones get more sun, and that might be why. Of course.
:05:11. > :05:15.Prime real estate over there. Absolutely!
:05:16. > :05:19.Spring sees the return of thousands of seabirds and wildfowl
:05:20. > :05:25.It makes the monthly task of counting the birds
:05:26. > :05:29.especially challenging for Anna and her team.
:05:30. > :05:32.Can you see all the black and white birds with the orange bills? I can.
:05:33. > :05:34.Those are oystercatchers. We need to count those.
:05:35. > :05:38.How do you count thousands upon thousands of birds?
:05:39. > :05:41.I would normally, at this point, have a rough estimate
:05:42. > :05:45.in case they get up and go and then you've missed them.
:05:46. > :05:48.So a rough estimate for me would be 70 to 80.
:05:49. > :05:51.I think that's experience, because my rough estimate would be way out.
:05:52. > :05:55.You get used to what size the bird is
:05:56. > :05:58.and how densely they're packed in, and then you can make a rough guess.
:05:59. > :06:01.Then you've got that in your mind while you're doing your count.
:06:02. > :06:03.At the moment, they don't look like they're going anywhere,
:06:04. > :06:10.Imagine if you got to bird number 5,756 and they all flew away.
:06:11. > :06:23.Anna's trying something different - with straw.
:06:24. > :06:30.so we're giving them somewhere to breed.
:06:31. > :06:32.The idea is that we're making basically a tube of hay
:06:33. > :06:35.that's encased in wire to hold it all together.
:06:36. > :06:37.And we're positioning that over water
:06:38. > :06:42.so that it's a bit more secure from predators.
:06:43. > :06:45.We roll this along, and then we pin this together.
:06:46. > :06:49.What did the mallards do without cable ties?
:06:50. > :07:01.My wellies have definitely got a hole in, but I'm fine.
:07:02. > :07:08.We're nearly there now. We're OK. We should be fine. All right. OK.
:07:09. > :07:13.This is not a duck house, this is a duck palace.
:07:14. > :07:16.Let's hope they appreciate it. Do you reckon they will?
:07:17. > :07:21.Let's get your holey welly out of this water. Are you managing?
:07:22. > :07:31.From duck nests on poles to man-made rafts for the terns,
:07:32. > :07:37.the birds of the Montrose Basin get the very best of care and attention.
:07:38. > :07:41.And that's thanks in no small part to the efforts of Anna
:07:42. > :07:46.and her hard-working team of volunteers.
:07:47. > :07:49.For decades now the British countryside has been shaped
:07:50. > :07:52.by our membership of the European Union,
:07:53. > :07:55.but will its future be best served in or out of the EU?
:07:56. > :08:04.With the Brexit vote imminent, we're looking at the key issues
:08:05. > :08:11.of the EU referendum debate that will affect Britain's countryside.
:08:12. > :08:13.Last week, we heard from the Prime Minister,
:08:14. > :08:17.from the Britain Stronger In Europe campaign...
:08:18. > :08:20...and Boris Johnson, from Vote Leave,
:08:21. > :08:24.about issues relating to farming, trade and migration
:08:25. > :08:32.This week, we asked both about the environment and fisheries.
:08:33. > :08:37.The Remain camp claims the EU has helped our countryside
:08:38. > :08:39.in protecting our precious environment
:08:40. > :08:44.with legislation on wildlife habitats, clean lakes and rivers
:08:45. > :08:50.But one environmental issue that prompts particularly fierce debate
:08:51. > :08:58.Some believe they threaten the environment,
:08:59. > :09:02.others that they could help farmers cut their chemical usage.
:09:03. > :09:05.Recently, the UK government has backed GM,
:09:06. > :09:11.whereas the EU has been much more sceptical.
:09:12. > :09:15.who's an arable farmer in the Vale of York,
:09:16. > :09:19.feel that it's the EU's stance that is holding back British farmers
:09:20. > :09:29.that we really aren't unlocking at all.
:09:30. > :09:32.And while we're in the EU, I don't think we'll ever get the opportunity
:09:33. > :09:38.If you could breed a variety of wheat or potato that was resistant
:09:39. > :09:41.to diseases they get that cost us as farmers lots of money to treat,
:09:42. > :09:44.increase the yields of the crop at the end of the day,
:09:45. > :09:46.it all leads to cheaper food production,
:09:47. > :09:50.I really can't see how that's going to be anything
:09:51. > :09:54.but a beneficial thing for the industry.
:09:55. > :10:01.the possibilities that GM could offer.
:10:02. > :10:04.So, what's the Prime Minister's position?
:10:05. > :10:07.This Government and previous governments in the UK
:10:08. > :10:11.have basically been in favour of genetically modified crops,
:10:12. > :10:17.and yet it doesn't happen because European politicians say no.
:10:18. > :10:21.I'm not a great enthusiast for everything to do with the EU.
:10:22. > :10:24.There are drawbacks, problems, difficulties and frustrations.
:10:25. > :10:29.but GM is quite a good example where we have now negotiated
:10:30. > :10:32.a situation so countries have more flexibility.
:10:33. > :10:37.More flexibility to say no, but not yes.
:10:38. > :10:40.No, we have the flexibility here in Britain now to say yes
:10:41. > :10:46.I'm interested because if there are advances in science that are safe,
:10:47. > :10:49.where we could develop grains that might help us
:10:50. > :10:52.feed the starving in the world, we'd be mad not to look at that,
:10:53. > :10:59.in protecting the environment of Britain?
:11:00. > :11:02.If you think of the Habitats Directive and Birds Directive,
:11:03. > :11:04.there's a lot of power there, isn't there?
:11:05. > :11:07.I think the truth is this - if you're in the EU or out of the EU,
:11:08. > :11:12.you would have to have some important directives,
:11:13. > :11:15.laws to protect habitat, to encourage biodiversity.
:11:16. > :11:18.And I think you can say, with Europe, there's a mixed scorecard.
:11:19. > :11:21.Sometimes it feels a bit over-prescriptive
:11:22. > :11:23.and can be frustrating, but generally speaking,
:11:24. > :11:26.actually, we have to have rules on habitat
:11:27. > :11:28.and if you look at species and biodiversity,
:11:29. > :11:34.often used as overzealous European behaviour
:11:35. > :11:41.There are cases of enormous amounts of money being spent...
:11:42. > :11:44.Newt bridges. ..on newt bridges and also,
:11:45. > :11:47.infrastructure not happening, houses are not being built,
:11:48. > :11:53.because of something which isn't particularly rare in Britain,
:11:54. > :11:57.and you just end up with European rules being imposed.
:11:58. > :12:01.Through my renegotiation we now have, for the first time,
:12:02. > :12:04.targets to cut unnecessary regulation,
:12:05. > :12:06.including the stock of regulation in Brussels,
:12:07. > :12:09.and that can be applied to all sorts of regulation
:12:10. > :12:11.including the sorts of things you talk about.
:12:12. > :12:14.But I would argue, whether you're in or out,
:12:15. > :12:18.you still need habitat and wildlife and biodiversity rules.
:12:19. > :12:21.Sometimes, they will be frustrating for developers
:12:22. > :12:27.it's an important thing that we try to leave a country,
:12:28. > :12:33.where there are species thriving and not degrading.
:12:34. > :12:36.Looking after our wildlife is one thing,
:12:37. > :12:42.but looking after our fisheries is, well, a different kettle of fish.
:12:43. > :12:45.But many who are trying to make a living from our seas
:12:46. > :12:53.when it comes to our fishing industry and our fish.
:12:54. > :13:00.Britain had more than 20,000 fishermen.
:13:01. > :13:06.40 years on, and that number has nearly halved.
:13:07. > :13:10.In the Cornish coastal town of Looe, Angela Pengelly's family
:13:11. > :13:14.have been in the fishing business for five generations,
:13:15. > :13:22.what she believes is Europe failing the industry she loves.
:13:23. > :13:27.I've seen such a decline. 32 trawlers at one point.
:13:28. > :13:32.We should be the guardians of our own seas,
:13:33. > :13:36.not ministers who we do not know, we haven't voted in,
:13:37. > :13:40.We understand it's an ecological thing,
:13:41. > :13:47.And so, to survive, to keep our industry going, we've got to be out.
:13:48. > :13:52.who rely on the industry for their livelihoods,
:13:53. > :13:58.our waters should be controlled by our Government.
:13:59. > :14:00.Well, let's look at the Common Fisheries Policy.
:14:01. > :14:04.Basically, it's been a disaster for fish and for fishermen, hasn't it?
:14:05. > :14:06.Well, I think if you go back 20 years,
:14:07. > :14:08.it was not a good policy. It's still not now...
:14:09. > :14:11.If you take the last five years since I've been Prime Minister,
:14:12. > :14:15.actually, the value of the British fishing industry
:14:16. > :14:17.and fish-processing industry has gone up.
:14:18. > :14:20.The value of the fish that we've been landing, British boats,
:14:21. > :14:24.the UK fleet, is up 20% over the last five years.
:14:25. > :14:26.So I think there are big changes that took place
:14:27. > :14:29.we got rid of the mad discards policy.
:14:30. > :14:32.It's still not perfect, but again, the single market...
:14:33. > :14:34.It's about as far from perfect a system you can get.
:14:35. > :14:37.The fish are still declining, the fishermen are still in trouble...
:14:38. > :14:39.Actually, if you look at what's happened recently
:14:40. > :14:43.on the important species for us - things like cod and plaice -
:14:44. > :14:46.we're actually seeing the quota go up.
:14:47. > :14:48.But also, here's the point again about the single market.
:14:49. > :14:53.We land and sell into Europe about ?1 billion worth of fish
:14:54. > :14:57.That's twice as much as we sell anywhere else in the world.
:14:58. > :15:01.and again, there's not a country in the world
:15:02. > :15:04.that has tariff-free access on those sorts of goods.
:15:05. > :15:08.Even the Norwegians actually pay tariff on their fish.
:15:09. > :15:09.But the countries that have been able
:15:10. > :15:13.to protect their fish and fishermen are places like Iceland and Norway,
:15:14. > :15:16.where it's in their hands. Surely that tells us something?
:15:17. > :15:19.I think you're seeing now, with this greater regional control
:15:20. > :15:22.that we have managed to negotiate, you're seeing fish stocks recover.
:15:23. > :15:24.So if you look at the most recent figures,
:15:25. > :15:26.we're actually allowing our fishermen now
:15:27. > :15:31.That's why I say, over the last five years,
:15:32. > :15:35.the UK-landed fish has actually increased by 20%.
:15:36. > :15:38.So I think, when we talk about the Common Fisheries Policy,
:15:39. > :15:42.A lot of it has changed. Is it perfect? No.
:15:43. > :15:45.Are we better off fighting from within? Yes.
:15:46. > :15:50.Is this market vital for our farmers and our fishermen? Absolutely, yes.
:15:51. > :15:54.So, that's what David Cameron, for the Stronger In Europe campaign,
:15:55. > :15:58.thinks the future holds for Britain's seas and countryside.
:15:59. > :16:03.on the issues of fisheries and environment,
:16:04. > :16:12.Boris Johnson believes we would be better off leaving the EU.
:16:13. > :16:18.MATT: The Montrose Basin is a vast, almost circular inland sea.
:16:19. > :16:29.And it's this stuff that makes the basin perfect
:16:30. > :16:41.Back in 1913, the Royal Flying Corps, as the RAF was first known,
:16:42. > :16:48.chose Montrose to build Britain's first ever military airfield.
:16:49. > :16:52.The all-important grass landing strip ran along here,
:16:53. > :16:58.It may not look like much today, but the grass and -
:16:59. > :17:02.more importantly - the sand that was underneath it was ideal
:17:03. > :17:09.for the primitive planes that would often come down with a bump.
:17:10. > :17:14.The planes were built in Hampshire, and took four days to fly here.
:17:15. > :17:18.Their arrival in Montrose was a sensation for townsfolk,
:17:19. > :17:22.most of whom had never even SEEN a plane.
:17:23. > :17:27.and there's an incredible amount of the original airbase left.
:17:28. > :17:32.still have the frames of World War I hangars,
:17:33. > :17:40.were the nerve centre of Squadron HQ.
:17:41. > :17:46.Today, this airbase is a museum run by volunteers, mostly retired.
:17:47. > :17:52.At the controls is chairman Alan Doe.
:17:53. > :17:55.Alan, here we are on the first operational airbase in Britain,
:17:56. > :17:59.if not the world. How did it come to be here?
:18:00. > :18:01.The land is sandy, it's well-drained.
:18:02. > :18:03.So you're not going to get bogged down when you land.
:18:04. > :18:07.There's no cliffs and horrible natural obstacles around,
:18:08. > :18:12.recreation and so forth. Absolutely ideal.
:18:13. > :18:15.So No.2 Squadron was established here,
:18:16. > :18:20.to find out what could be done with aircraft.
:18:21. > :18:24.in their single-engined aircraft across the Irish Sea,
:18:25. > :18:27.and they were working out very capably for war,
:18:28. > :18:35.At the outbreak of war, No.2 Squadron reached for the sky,
:18:36. > :18:39.with skills they'd learnt here, over Montrose.
:18:40. > :18:41.From a location perspective, there's real risks here.
:18:42. > :18:45.if you run into trouble and you've gone that way,
:18:46. > :18:47.there's not much chance of a safe landing.
:18:48. > :18:51.No-one's going to come to your aid, because you haven't got a radio.
:18:52. > :18:54.So you're down there and you hope you can perhaps ditch it
:18:55. > :18:57.by a fishing boat, if they're out there at the time.
:18:58. > :19:01.But the one navigational aid was the spire of St Cyrus Church,
:19:02. > :19:05.So you would take your bearing from that spire,
:19:06. > :19:08.and then you would arrive over the airfield
:19:09. > :19:16.Montrose airbase became hugely important for pilot training,
:19:17. > :19:20.and as more young men were drawn into the war in France,
:19:21. > :19:22.local women became key players on the base
:19:23. > :19:30.And in this hangar is something remarkable
:19:31. > :19:38.This is quite a creation. How are you? Nice to see you.
:19:39. > :19:42.I can't quite believe you've created all of this from scratch.
:19:43. > :19:46.It's just absolutely beautiful to look at.
:19:47. > :19:49.This is a replica de Havilland BE2 -
:19:50. > :19:53.one of the longest-serving planes of the Great War.
:19:54. > :19:56.My ground crew today are Brian, Andy and Jules,
:19:57. > :19:59.volunteers who've built this warbird from scratch -
:20:00. > :20:07.The ladies have helped stitch all the ribs to the canvas.
:20:08. > :20:14.and all the feathering has been done as it was in 1914, we believe.
:20:15. > :20:17.What a team effort. How long have you been on with it?
:20:18. > :20:22.Listen, lads, the question has to be, which one of you brave souls
:20:23. > :20:25.is going to take this up into the sky, then?
:20:26. > :20:34.Well, since you're here, would you like to be our test pilot?
:20:35. > :20:38.It's just beautiful, even from the side. Look at this...
:20:39. > :20:40.The team has allowed me to moonlight
:20:41. > :20:52.Not to worry, try the next one. We'll take that one out.
:20:53. > :20:59.That's dodgy nails. You did that on purpose, Brian, I know.
:21:00. > :21:05.Bit stubborn there. It's not easy, is it? My son will be over the moon.
:21:06. > :21:08.He won't believe his eyes when he sees this.
:21:09. > :21:10.What are you going to build when it's finished?
:21:11. > :21:14.Well, I'd like to build a jet aircraft.
:21:15. > :21:20.It's been a privilege being here with Brian
:21:21. > :21:23.and his team on the airbase where it all began,
:21:24. > :21:26.where the first of the few learnt to fly,
:21:27. > :21:36.NAOMI: Inland from the Montrose Basin,
:21:37. > :21:38.the landscape begins its sweeping climb
:21:39. > :21:42.towards the mighty Grampian Mountains.
:21:43. > :21:46.Nestled in the dramatic folds of rock is the Invermark estate -
:21:47. > :21:57.but I've come here for a different reason.
:21:58. > :22:02.Just like the basin, this too is a haven for wildlife.
:22:03. > :22:04.But the animals of Invermark are very different
:22:05. > :22:11.I've spent my career documenting wildlife all over the globe.
:22:12. > :22:15.but it still has some celebrated species,
:22:16. > :22:19.and this is a great place to see them.
:22:20. > :22:25.On a good day here you can spot black grouse...
:22:26. > :22:39.And with the coming of spring to the glen,
:22:40. > :22:42.this SHOULD be the best time to see them.
:22:43. > :22:46.But today, the weather is anything but springlike,
:22:47. > :22:53.so I may have to search to find them.
:22:54. > :22:56.If anyone knows how to locate these animals in the mist,
:22:57. > :23:00.it's gamekeeper Andy Malcolm, who now also runs guided tours
:23:01. > :23:03.to show off the estate's wild inhabitants.
:23:04. > :23:05.Hello, Andy. Hi, Naomi, very pleased to meet you.
:23:06. > :23:09.Very nice to meet you, too. Thanks for inviting me to see this place.
:23:10. > :23:12.What is it about this area that is so good for wildlife?
:23:13. > :23:15.It's a wonderful, big expanse of really pristine ground,
:23:16. > :23:23.is show people some of the hidden corners of some of the things
:23:24. > :23:29.What really gives me a buzz is when you can take people
:23:30. > :23:35.how to work out where they might find these things for themselves.
:23:36. > :23:37.What do you think we might see today?
:23:38. > :23:47.Shall we get going? Definitely. Great.
:23:48. > :23:51.We're heading deep into the glen in search of the local fauna,
:23:52. > :23:58.to think Andy has got superhuman eyesight.
:23:59. > :24:01.Ooh! I see a little bird fluttering about in the bracken down there.
:24:02. > :24:08.I think you've just missed the action. Oh, sorry.
:24:09. > :24:11.That could be the deer up there. Where am I looking?
:24:12. > :24:17.'He is eagle-eyed. I need to raise my game.#
:24:18. > :24:21.I think you are literally one of the people
:24:22. > :24:28.who can read the bottom line of the optician's chart.
:24:29. > :24:39.much of the land management here is geared towards this small bird.
:24:40. > :24:44.That is basically the bread and butter of the whole estate.
:24:45. > :24:50.That's what keeps everything running. And why is that?
:24:51. > :24:52.It's a very valuable bird in that people pay
:24:53. > :24:55.a lot of money to come and shoot grouse.
:24:56. > :24:58.Every year we do if you like a stocktake,
:24:59. > :25:01.and when we're sure we've got a sustainable surplus,
:25:02. > :25:07.And normally we're only shooting for four or five weeks,
:25:08. > :25:10.and then that's us finished for another year.
:25:11. > :25:12.And the money we bring in in that short period
:25:13. > :25:15.is what keeps the estate running for the rest of the year.
:25:16. > :25:19.They are so well camouflaged, aren't they? They have to be.
:25:20. > :25:32.They've got a lot of different predators out looking for them.
:25:33. > :25:39.Back on the road, and Andy's other senses are coming into play.
:25:40. > :25:42.So we'll stop here and we'll just have a listen.
:25:43. > :25:55.BIRDS CHIRP Oystercatcher down there.
:25:56. > :25:58.BIRD CALLS OUT Pheasant.
:25:59. > :26:04.That's a thrush singing behind us here.
:26:05. > :26:25.The weather is really turning against us.
:26:26. > :26:29.So Andy heads for a spot where he reckons some of the wildlife
:26:30. > :26:36.Right, this is a really good spot to have a little nose around.
:26:37. > :26:41.So we're going to get out and have a walk and see what we can see. OK.
:26:42. > :26:44.We brave the elements and continue on foot.
:26:45. > :26:49.I'm really starting to see what makes Andy tick.
:26:50. > :26:52.How long have you been looking after this landscape?
:26:53. > :26:55.Er, I've been here for over 25 years.
:26:56. > :26:58.So I know the ground reasonably well by now.
:26:59. > :27:01.You're obviously extraordinarily passionate
:27:02. > :27:08.Erm, I've always been interested in the countryside.
:27:09. > :27:12.And being in this job, you feel a responsibility for them.
:27:13. > :27:16.And yes, we are looking after our grouse and our deer herd,
:27:17. > :27:19.but the spin-off is that so many other species benefit,
:27:20. > :27:22.and it gives you a real buzz when you see animals
:27:23. > :27:25.and birds flourishing - often, the animals and birds
:27:26. > :27:27.that are struggling in other places -
:27:28. > :27:29.and when they're flourishing on your patch,
:27:30. > :27:37.I'm beginning to give up hope of seeing any more wildlife.
:27:38. > :27:42.Hare! There, hooray! Mountain hare. Just, yeah...
:27:43. > :27:46.Normally, they're an animal that you will see
:27:47. > :27:50.but there's something about this glen that they like.
:27:51. > :27:52.They are an animal that for a while -
:27:53. > :27:56.they really weren't doing so well here
:27:57. > :27:59.and the numbers dropped way, way down.
:28:00. > :28:04.But the numbers really seem to have come up again... Good.
:28:05. > :28:14...to the point that I can see hundreds in a day.
:28:15. > :28:17.we can't see more than a few metres
:28:18. > :28:20.so I don't think we're going to be seeing much else today.
:28:21. > :28:24.But it has been a real privilege to explore this stunning landscape
:28:25. > :28:29.and to find out a bit more about the animals that call it home.
:28:30. > :28:32.But time for a cup of tea? Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
:28:33. > :28:48.TOM: Earlier, we heard from David Cameron for the Stronger In campaign
:28:49. > :28:55.on why he believes our countryside would be better off IN the EU.
:28:56. > :28:59.I'm back on Boris Johnson's family farm in Exmoor
:29:00. > :29:02.to find out how the Vote Leave campaign
:29:03. > :29:08.see the future of our environment and the UK's fisheries post-Brexit.
:29:09. > :29:11.When it comes to our environment, the Remain camp claim
:29:12. > :29:15.the European Union has been key in passing legislation that has
:29:16. > :29:19.helped protect and clean up the countryside around us.
:29:20. > :29:23.In fact, Boris' own father, Stanley Johnson,
:29:24. > :29:29.was instrumental in the 1992 EU Habitats Directive which protects
:29:30. > :29:35.many wild species, from the humble dormouse to the natterjack toad.
:29:36. > :29:39.Here in Cumbria, Alistair Maltby from the Rivers Trust has
:29:40. > :29:44.concerns about what leaving the EU might mean for our environment.
:29:45. > :29:48.My fear, if we were to leave the EU, is that we might lose
:29:49. > :29:51.some of the protection and some of the aspirations -
:29:52. > :29:55.our future aspirations we have for how we want our rivers to be.
:29:56. > :29:59.EU legislation has led to some of the greatest improvements
:30:00. > :30:03.in water quality and river health that we have seen in a generation.
:30:04. > :30:08.So, if the EU does so much to safeguard our environment,
:30:09. > :30:14.The EU has been a champion and protector of the natural
:30:15. > :30:19.environment of Britain, and if we left, surely that is in peril.
:30:20. > :30:25.I certainly think that the agreements that have been
:30:26. > :30:29.reached at a European level have been valuable for the environment.
:30:30. > :30:32.But the question that you need to ask yourself, Tom...
:30:33. > :30:36.Who wrote them? Your dad wrote a lot of them! A great man.
:30:37. > :30:39.Stanley Johnson was an architect of EU environmental protection,
:30:40. > :30:41.you should be proud of it. I am, I am.
:30:42. > :30:44.But the question you need to ask yourself is,
:30:45. > :30:49.do you need the full apparatus of the European Court of Justice
:30:50. > :30:53.and thousands of regulations coming through,
:30:54. > :30:57.imposed in this top-down one-size-fits-all way,
:30:58. > :31:02.which cannot be deviated from or dissented from in any way?
:31:03. > :31:06.I think that we're... We love our countryside,
:31:07. > :31:08.we love the farming industry in Britain,
:31:09. > :31:10.it's part of our souls, it's part of our character,
:31:11. > :31:14.we are going to want to protect our countryside.
:31:15. > :31:18.I think, by the Attlee government, from memory.
:31:19. > :31:21.This idea of protecting rural Britain is very deep
:31:22. > :31:23.and very dear to us. So that's going to continue.
:31:24. > :31:26.But you know a lot of people in this country care passionately
:31:27. > :31:30.about the natural environment, birds, wildlife... Yeah.
:31:31. > :31:34...and they believe the EU has done a lot to protect what they care about.
:31:35. > :31:37.there will be the same level of protection?
:31:38. > :31:40.That's very important, because I think people do passionately
:31:41. > :31:43.care about it and they do see that the EU has done a lot of good.
:31:44. > :31:46.But you could do so much of that protection through
:31:47. > :31:49.all sorts of intergovernmental arrangements - which,
:31:50. > :31:54.by the way, non-EU countries in this area already sign up to.
:31:55. > :31:58.So, we'd be in the same position as them, signing up to that level
:31:59. > :32:02.of protection and perhaps even going further where it was necessary.
:32:03. > :32:06.An example of an environmental issue, if you like, where the
:32:07. > :32:12.EU differs from Britain just taking GM crops - if we voted to leave,
:32:13. > :32:15.would we be more likely to see GM crops in our fields?
:32:16. > :32:19.Well, you know, I'm a technological optimist, I am pro
:32:20. > :32:22.where possible, but it would be a matter for the government
:32:23. > :32:26.to decide, but at least we would have that freedom.
:32:27. > :32:31.So it seems both Boris Johnson and David Cameron are pro-GM -
:32:32. > :32:35.but where they differ is on how the decisions around it are made.
:32:36. > :32:41.many believe membership of the EU has destroyed the industry -
:32:42. > :32:46.with its troubled history of sharing our waters, arguments
:32:47. > :32:54.over quotas, and throwing perfectly good fish back into the sea.
:32:55. > :32:57.At Europe's largest fish market, at Peterhead in Aberdeenshire,
:32:58. > :33:01.you'd be hard pressed to find anyone wanting to stay in Europe.
:33:02. > :33:07.the Chief Executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, has concerns
:33:08. > :33:14.about what Brexit might mean for the industry, so he remains undecided.
:33:15. > :33:18.It seems self-evident that recovery of sovereignty and jurisdiction
:33:19. > :33:21.over some of the best fishing grounds in the world
:33:22. > :33:25.would be a good thing, so it looks like a no-brainer.
:33:26. > :33:29.However, what would the UK do with that sovereignty and jurisdiction?
:33:30. > :33:35.when it comes to arguments about resetting everything
:33:36. > :33:38.with our relationship with Europe, and we would be fearful
:33:39. > :33:44.that in a reset, fishing would be used as a bargaining tool.
:33:45. > :33:47.So, how would the fishing industry be viewed by a post-Brexit
:33:48. > :33:52.government, when it came to renegotiating with Europe?
:33:53. > :33:56.It's difficult to paint the EU as a great success on fisheries.
:33:57. > :34:00.I mean, you know, we've got half as many people
:34:01. > :34:05.involved in fishing now as there were when we joined, possibly fewer.
:34:06. > :34:09.And that would be a great thing, take back control of our fish.
:34:10. > :34:17."but at least fisheries is a powerful lobby in Europe, whereas
:34:18. > :34:20."it's not in Britain, and if we left the EU, the fisheries would
:34:21. > :34:23."end up having an even smaller voice in government than they do now."
:34:24. > :34:25.Well, I don't agree with that at all.
:34:26. > :34:29.I've just literally come from Cornwall where, as I say,
:34:30. > :34:39.You know, there's a strong, strong constituency.
:34:40. > :34:42.Look at what's happened to our coastal towns.
:34:43. > :34:47.They are areas, in many cases, where you've seen too much...
:34:48. > :34:52.Bringing back the fishing industry in those areas would be fantastic.
:34:53. > :34:55.But in the last few years, we've begun to turn it around -
:34:56. > :34:57.some stocks are improving, there's been some
:34:58. > :35:01.recovery in the levels of the monetary value coming from fishing.
:35:02. > :35:05.We just abandon the Common Fisheries Policy as it gets it right?
:35:06. > :35:11.You know, my view is that I'm not hostile to our friends
:35:12. > :35:15.I just think we can do it just as well ourselves,
:35:16. > :35:17.and if we managed our waters, some of the rules -
:35:18. > :35:23.fish to manage the quotas - I mean, come on, that's got to be crazy.
:35:24. > :35:28.There's got to be a better way of doing it.
:35:29. > :35:30.So, now we've heard from both sides of the debate
:35:31. > :35:37.This referendum will be keenly felt across our countryside, and is
:35:38. > :35:43.arguably the biggest decision that voters have had to make for decades.
:35:44. > :35:49.Let's go on having a living, working countryside.
:35:50. > :35:53.Being inside the EU helps with that, and so therefore if we love
:35:54. > :35:57.the countryside and we want farmers to succeed, let's stay in.
:35:58. > :36:06.the EU, there is absolutely no reason
:36:07. > :36:09.why our countryside in Britain should not be as beautiful,
:36:10. > :36:14.if not more beautiful and wonderful, than ever before.
:36:15. > :36:23.Whichever way the UK votes on June the 23rd, change to our countryside
:36:24. > :36:27.will be inevitable, but how that change is shaped
:36:28. > :36:37.ANITA: We're a nation of dog lovers, but for Adam, they're more than
:36:38. > :36:42.just a pet - they're part of his working team, too.
:36:43. > :36:52.It takes animals with intelligence to work closely with us,
:36:53. > :36:55.but how can we gauge how smart they really are?
:36:56. > :37:02.One of the things that I love about having a flock of sheep
:37:03. > :37:06.And as far as the sheep are concerned,
:37:07. > :37:10.the dog relates way back to the wolf and is their predator.
:37:11. > :37:14.And as a shepherd, the great skill is understanding the sheep and then
:37:15. > :37:17.positioning the dog in the right place to keep the flock moving.
:37:18. > :37:19.HE WHISTLES Peg here, I would say,
:37:20. > :37:22.is probably one of the most intelligent dogs I've ever had.
:37:23. > :37:30.And that's absolutely essential with a working dog.
:37:31. > :37:34.How we measure how clever a dog is can be difficult.
:37:35. > :37:37.As a farmer, it's important that I understand my animals,
:37:38. > :37:43.so when I discovered dogs' IQ can be tested, I had to find out more.
:37:44. > :37:48.Dr Rosalind Arden is an expert in human intelligence.
:37:49. > :37:52.'But her latest research involves devising an IQ test
:37:53. > :38:00.they're not stressed by working with us, they like it.
:38:01. > :38:03.And they're tractable, they're easy to work with,
:38:04. > :38:06.they're fun, they like doing the tests, and that's really important.
:38:07. > :38:12.We were just trying to see whether, as with people,
:38:13. > :38:15.a dog that's good at one test tends to be reasonably good at another,
:38:16. > :38:17.even if it's a different kind of test.
:38:18. > :38:20.It would also be helpful to know, from when a dog is young,
:38:21. > :38:22.whether it's likely to be more trainable.
:38:23. > :38:25.I've got three dogs - shall we go and put them through their paces?
:38:26. > :38:35.So we've got Peg here, who's an ex-trialling dog.
:38:36. > :38:37.And then Millie, who's also a working sheepdog.
:38:38. > :38:41.But she's just from basic working stock. Sweet little natured dog.
:38:42. > :38:44.And then Boo, who's a Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla,
:38:45. > :38:46.who's a house dog, really. Bit of a bumbling buffoon,
:38:47. > :38:49.but it'll be interesting to see how bright she is. Yes.
:38:50. > :38:54.Shall we try Peg first? Sure. Hi, Boo.
:38:55. > :38:58.We're putting the dogs through a series of five tests.
:38:59. > :39:00.Based on how well each of the dogs does,
:39:01. > :39:03.Rosalind will calculate a score at the end.
:39:04. > :39:11.We've set up this little experiment here where the dog is going to see
:39:12. > :39:14.some food on the other side of a barrier,
:39:15. > :39:18.and we're going to see how long it takes Peg to figure out she
:39:19. > :39:21.has to go around the barrier and not under it to get to the food reward.
:39:22. > :39:29.She'll probably just run off and try round up some sheep. OK!
:39:30. > :39:36.'First up is Peg. I've got high hopes for her.'
:39:37. > :39:41.So she's a bit baffled by the netting. She is.
:39:42. > :39:45.It looks really like a simple test to us, but dogs aren't people.
:39:46. > :39:48.She's gone round it now. There you are. Smart sheepdog.
:39:49. > :39:58.'But how will she compare against her sheepdog rival, Millie?'
:39:59. > :40:01.Oh, it was quicker, wasn't it? She was very quick, you're right.
:40:02. > :40:04.She's also very greedy. I know she loves her food.
:40:05. > :40:16.There she goes, she's got it. That was quick, too, wasn't it? Yes.
:40:17. > :40:19.So Peg, who I thought was going to be the brightest,
:40:20. > :40:21.is actually losing on this task. She's really lagging.
:40:22. > :40:24.I mean, my guess is that Peg maybe is very vigilant
:40:25. > :40:26.in looking around her to see what's going on -
:40:27. > :40:29.it could be that in this slightly less scientific farm setting
:40:30. > :40:34."let me check around before I actually go straight for the food."
:40:35. > :40:36.That's why we need to do lots of different tests.
:40:37. > :40:56.'but we've added two more barriers to make it slightly harder.
:40:57. > :41:01.'achieved the task in just 12 seconds.
:41:02. > :41:04.'Boo, however, started to show her true colours...'
:41:05. > :41:06.Pretty quick on the stick. THEY LAUGH
:41:07. > :41:24.Rosalind would repeat these tests to get a more scientific result.
:41:25. > :41:32.But for our demonstration, we move onto the next task.
:41:33. > :41:35.So what's this about with the two bowls?
:41:36. > :41:37.We've got two bowls, both with food in,
:41:38. > :41:40.and we're going to see if Peg goes to the bowl that you point out.
:41:41. > :41:57.whether or not she picks up on a human-delivered social cue.
:41:58. > :42:02.You're not allowed that one, I didn't point at that one.
:42:03. > :42:09.'Millie was up next, but got slightly confused by this test.'
:42:10. > :42:12.Naughty dog. HE LAUGHS
:42:13. > :42:18.'Boo, however, had no problem following the human command.'
:42:19. > :42:24.Straight in, that was very quick. There's a good girl.
:42:25. > :42:28.if the dogs can differentiate between quantities.
:42:29. > :42:32.Will they go for the plate with the most food on it?
:42:33. > :42:36.So she went straight for the big one. More is better. Very clever.
:42:37. > :42:44.'but for a dog that sees the world differently, this can be very hard.
:42:45. > :42:47.'Millie just goes straight in for the small portion.'
:42:48. > :42:54.'Boo, however, is not going to miss out on the opportunity to eat more.'
:42:55. > :43:09.'before Rosalind can come up with a meaningful score.'
:43:10. > :43:12.Well, this looks a lot more elaborate, Rosalind. It is.
:43:13. > :43:14.The dog has to get the food from outside,
:43:15. > :43:17.so although, you know, for us, it looks simple,
:43:18. > :43:19.it's not so simple for the dog because she has to realise
:43:20. > :43:22.she has to go backwards and come around to get the food.
:43:23. > :43:30.Shall we see how she does? Yeah. Peg...
:43:31. > :43:32.Oh, she mastered that really quickly.
:43:33. > :43:36.because it's quite a thing to think, "Oh, I've got to go backwards
:43:37. > :43:39."and then around," so that was not a trivial task for a dog.
:43:40. > :43:53.I'll get Millie. All right, see how SHE does.
:43:54. > :43:56.She was really good at that, wasn't she? Very good for Millie.
:43:57. > :44:01.'Millie pulls back some points on the last test.
:44:02. > :44:20.She was a little bit confused to start off with, wasn't she?
:44:21. > :44:21.She did better than I thought she would do,
:44:22. > :44:25.but she got the hang of it. So where are we with the scores?
:44:26. > :44:28.Well, Peg did best of all with nine points.
:44:29. > :44:33.Millie did middle with seven, and Boo was just behind with six.
:44:34. > :44:38.Well, one thing is, it shows there's variety, that dogs differ
:44:39. > :44:42.from each other in their mental abilities, as we thought they did.
:44:43. > :44:45.And it showed that when we did a bunch of different tests,
:44:46. > :44:47.we found that Peg really sort of came out in front.
:44:48. > :44:51.So although Boo was last, she hasn't got a terribly low IQ, has she?
:44:52. > :44:54.No, she hasn't. And IQ is just one thing,
:44:55. > :44:59.and we love our dogs for lots of different reasons, right?
:45:00. > :45:08.I've discovered how my dogs' skills at different tasks can really vary.
:45:09. > :45:12.The more we can understand a man's best friend,
:45:13. > :45:16.the better we can work together in the future.
:45:17. > :45:27.For information on this dog IQ test, please visit our website.
:45:28. > :45:37.a vast tidal estuary that drains twice a day to reveal huge mudflats.
:45:38. > :45:41.It's a haven for sailors, fishermen and bird-watchers.
:45:42. > :45:49.But at low tide, the mud is 40 feet deep and it can be fatal.
:45:50. > :45:55.Over the years, many visitors have come unstuck - or rather, STUCK.
:45:56. > :45:58.And so, Her Majesty's Coastguard has stepped in.
:45:59. > :46:01.It might seem like a bit of harmless, squelchy mud
:46:02. > :46:05.but, believe me, that is treacherous.
:46:06. > :46:08.But the team here in Montrose have come up with a unique way
:46:09. > :46:14.of rescuing people who get stuck in it.
:46:15. > :46:18.The Montrose Coastguard, led by Ross Greenhill, is one of 50
:46:19. > :46:22.specialist coastguard mud-rescue teams based around the UK coastline.
:46:23. > :46:26.Hello, Ross. Hi, Anita, how are you doing? I'm very well.
:46:27. > :46:28.Lovely to see you. Lovely to see you.
:46:29. > :46:31.Now, the basin, to me, looks absolutely picturesque
:46:32. > :46:34.and beautiful. Just how dangerous is it?
:46:35. > :46:36.It's much more dangerous than it looks.
:46:37. > :46:39.We often think of people getting stuck in mud up to their waists,
:46:40. > :46:42.up to their chest. You don't need to go that far.
:46:43. > :46:45.Literally just above your ankles and you won't be able to move an inch.
:46:46. > :46:49.To enable the rescue teams to move freely without sinking,
:46:50. > :46:57.they use special mud shoes designed to mimic the feet of wading birds.
:46:58. > :46:59.Basically, it spreads out as you put the foot down.
:47:00. > :47:03.And as you lift your foot up, it comes back in again
:47:04. > :47:05.and reduces the vacuum so that you can pop your foot out.
:47:06. > :47:09.Must be a really strange experience walking on the mud in these.
:47:10. > :47:13.Today, the team is staging an emergency exercise
:47:14. > :47:15.that will test these mud shoes to the limit.
:47:16. > :47:22.has volunteered to become stuck in the mud.
:47:23. > :47:27.The more she struggles, the deeper she sinks.
:47:28. > :47:30.I'm all right, I am properly stuck, though...
:47:31. > :47:34.And the tide will soon be racing back in.
:47:35. > :47:44.This exercise replicates the very real dangers of the basin.
:47:45. > :47:49.And it's not even that far out - look how deep she is.
:47:50. > :47:51.She is well and truly stuck. That's serious business.
:47:52. > :47:54.Yeah, it doesn't take very much at all. You all right, Hayley?
:47:55. > :47:59.She says she's all right. That's a lie.
:48:00. > :48:05.We're coming, don't worry, we're on our way.
:48:06. > :48:13.Heels in first, that'll spread the weight out.
:48:14. > :48:17.'And these special shoes really do stop you sinking.
:48:18. > :48:19.'I wonder if this is how a duck feels.'
:48:20. > :48:25.Unfortunately, the smell will only get worse as we go.
:48:26. > :48:28.'The specialist sleds we're pulling are multipurpose.
:48:29. > :48:31.'They carry equipment, they're floating work stations,
:48:32. > :48:36.'and they're also stretchers to carry casualties back to dry land.'
:48:37. > :48:43.It's unlike anything I've ever experienced.
:48:44. > :48:55.This is horrendous. What is this stuff?
:48:56. > :49:00.And then underneath that level, it's sort of like clay.
:49:01. > :49:06.'There's only so much you can do with your bare hands,
:49:07. > :49:12.'so an air lance is used to blast compressed air into the mud.'
:49:13. > :49:20.'And that's the sound of the compressed air
:49:21. > :49:23.'breaking the grip of the mud around Hayley's leg.'
:49:24. > :49:38.'Even with Hayley free, the mud can still kill.
:49:39. > :49:41.'Mud pressure squeezes blood out of the legs, which can cause
:49:42. > :49:43.'life-threatening medical conditions,
:49:44. > :49:48.'so it's vital the casualty is kept horizontal to avoid this.'
:49:49. > :50:03.I know that was a practice, but did you feel quite terrified out there?
:50:04. > :50:06.I did feel quite frightened at one point.
:50:07. > :50:09.The more I was wriggling, the more I was sinking.
:50:10. > :50:13.And only we will know the stench. Absolutely. It's disgusting.
:50:14. > :50:16.Absolutely disgusting. I think we both need a shower. Well done.
:50:17. > :50:19.Well done. Well done, everybody. Thank you. Thanks, guys.
:50:20. > :50:25.I am amazed at how quickly Hayley got stuck in that mud.
:50:26. > :50:29.She sunk. And it's terrifying, it's sticky, it's disgusting,
:50:30. > :50:33.it stinks, but I am so impressed with the coastguard volunteers.
:50:34. > :50:36.The way they got out there, how professional they are
:50:37. > :50:39.and how quickly they managed to get her out of there. I'm amazed.
:50:40. > :50:56.If you've been inspired by the mud-rescue volunteers,
:50:57. > :50:59.then go to the BBC Do Something Great website, do the quiz
:51:00. > :51:02.and you'll get personalised suggestions of volunteering
:51:03. > :51:15.Let's hope you get the weather for it. Here's the forecast.
:51:16. > :51:24.Hello. There is some more warm and rather humid weather to come this
:51:25. > :51:28.week, but first let's take a moment to look back at today. The
:51:29. > :51:36.temperature at Porthmadog in West Wales made 27.8 Celsius, the highest
:51:37. > :51:42.the UK has seen so far this year. The verdict on me from the Met
:51:43. > :51:49.Office, April was cold, but me was warm, and we got to 27.7 in northern
:51:50. > :51:53.Scotland, and me was slightly drier than average. It is the end of the
:51:54. > :51:59.three months which for statistical purposes which make up
:52:00. > :52:02.meteorological spring. This is rainfall, much of England wetter
:52:03. > :52:08.than normal, much of the north and west at or below average rainfall,
:52:09. > :52:12.and with the heat this week, that may explain why the gardens are
:52:13. > :52:16.looking a little drive. And there is not a huge amount of rain in the
:52:17. > :52:20.forecast this week. Your eyes will be drawn to a low pressure in the
:52:21. > :52:23.Atlantic, but that is staying here for now. It can't stay there
:52:24. > :52:31.forever, we will get to that in a moment. Starting with tomorrow,
:52:32. > :52:35.misty low cloud early on the east coast, a few showers heading in
:52:36. > :52:40.through the afternoon. A greater chance of catching a shower tomorrow
:52:41. > :52:43.compared with today. Very warm sunshine around for many of us, but
:52:44. > :52:49.this sunshine influenced by the breeze off the sea. If you get to
:52:50. > :52:54.see some sunshine, it will be pleasant. On Tuesday, a weather
:52:55. > :52:58.disturbance is working East across the UK, so it is on Tuesday there is
:52:59. > :53:05.the greatest chance of catching a thundery downpour. Not everybody
:53:06. > :53:10.will catch one, and there are still warm spells and sunshine. By
:53:11. > :53:14.Wednesday, high-pressure starting to come back in, diminishing the shower
:53:15. > :53:20.potential. There could still be the odd heavy downpour on Wednesday,
:53:21. > :53:25.particularly across western parts. The arrows indicate the breeze off
:53:26. > :53:32.the sea, and still the range of temperatures. By Thursday,
:53:33. > :53:38.high-pressure is right across us, the brightest day of the week. You
:53:39. > :53:44.can see the flow of air around that area of high pressure. And now we
:53:45. > :53:49.get to Friday, and we are beginning to look to the West. That low
:53:50. > :53:54.pressure in the Atlantic starting to push the whether our way. Whenever
:53:55. > :53:57.you break down from high pressure to low pressure, there is a lot of
:53:58. > :54:04.uncertainty as to when that will happen, so Friday may not look like
:54:05. > :54:09.this. These are the main headlines for this week, though. Warm and
:54:10. > :54:14.humid with the exception of the cooler North Sea coasts. A few
:54:15. > :54:19.showers or thunderstorms in the first half of the week. Pollen looks
:54:20. > :54:26.likely to be high this week, and the grass pollen is starting to ramp up.
:54:27. > :54:29.Now I want to show you the jet stream, then next weekend on the
:54:30. > :54:34.following week, more active, stronger across the Atlantic. This
:54:35. > :54:39.will take those areas of low pressure and push them across the
:54:40. > :54:51.UK. Wetter, rain to the garden, windy and a little cooler,
:54:52. > :54:56.MATT: We're exploring the stunning Montrose Basin.
:54:57. > :55:10.It's not just the aircraft of the local historic airbase
:55:11. > :55:13.that benefited from a soft, sandy landing.
:55:14. > :55:15.It also takes the sting out of rugby, too.
:55:16. > :55:23.Just behind Montrose Beach and dunes is the town's rugby club.
:55:24. > :55:25.And they've come up with an ingenious way of getting
:55:26. > :55:30.Britain's newest sport has arrived in Montrose.
:55:31. > :55:34.It's a sport that's aimed at everybody, young and old,
:55:35. > :55:41.And I'm just enjoying watching Scotland's first team.
:55:42. > :55:47.That's why they're playing against themselves.
:55:48. > :55:49.Walking rugby - the clue's in the name.
:55:50. > :55:56.It has no running, and there's no tackling. You can only intercept.
:55:57. > :55:59.Helping spread the word about walking rugby is Willie Officer,
:56:00. > :56:05.Willie's also a farmer, with 1,000 acres of potatoes
:56:06. > :56:10.and flower bulbs, six miles north of Montrose.
:56:11. > :56:14.Walking rugby helps him keep fit for the farm.
:56:15. > :56:17.Tell you what, you've got good numbers here, haven't you?
:56:18. > :56:21.It's a Friday afternoon but people are having a good day,
:56:22. > :56:27.Some grandparents here, some right down to some of the younger kids.
:56:28. > :56:30.So how do you win as a team, what's the idea of the game?
:56:31. > :56:33.At the end of the day, we just need to get the ball over the line.
:56:34. > :56:36.Just exactly the same as the full game.
:56:37. > :56:38.It's very difficult, actually, to try and control,
:56:39. > :56:41.Because that's your natural instinct, to want to run
:56:42. > :56:44.when you've got the ball. Right, let's do this.
:56:45. > :56:47.OK, so we're going to play on the non-bib team. OK. Hello, everybody.
:56:48. > :56:51.'Well, a very, very warm welcome to Montrose Park
:56:52. > :56:58.'Newest signing Matt Baker is getting his first taste
:56:59. > :57:04.'They know the rules - hold on to the ball for no more than three
:57:05. > :57:08.'seconds and absolutely no running. Good self-discipline.'
:57:09. > :57:15.'Close teamwork - that's the key to getting that ball over the line.'
:57:16. > :57:21.'Oh, what about that, he's been sin-binned! Baker's gone.'
:57:22. > :57:24.Do you know what? It's such good fun, there's a wonderful sense
:57:25. > :57:27.of community here which, at the heart, that's exactly what rugby is.
:57:28. > :57:32.And there's camaraderie there, and you don't half have a good workout.
:57:33. > :57:33.'Well, what about this for a shock move?
:57:34. > :57:37.'Nobody expected the Montrose Bibs to introduce their latest signing.
:57:38. > :57:44.Come on, how hard can this be? Walking rugby...
:57:45. > :57:47.'Baker's really going to have to up his game here.'
:57:48. > :57:50.Right, what do I do? Head down and pace. Ready?
:57:51. > :58:02.I don't know what he did, but it was cheating. That's how you do it.
:58:03. > :58:06.Look at this! Pass it, pass it... Oh, this is too tempting.
:58:07. > :58:09.Excuse me, Morgan, I'm going in. Wahey!
:58:10. > :58:11.Next week, we're going to be in Hampshire,
:58:12. > :58:14.where I'm following in the footsteps of some old smugglers.
:58:15. > :58:16.And I'll be celebrating British Flowers Week,
:58:17. > :58:20.hopefully on my own two feet. This is a foul, Matt Baker!
:58:21. > :58:30.I've got the ball! See you next week! See you!
:58:31. > :58:32.Now, there's no Countryfile next Sunday.
:58:33. > :58:38.Instead, we're on at 7:30 on Wednesday. That's the 15th of June.