0:00:27 > 0:00:30MATT: The Ribble Valley carves its way between
0:00:30 > 0:00:33the old industrial mill towns of Lancashire
0:00:33 > 0:00:36and the southernmost edge of the Yorkshire Dales.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42Surrounded by bustling towns and cities,
0:00:42 > 0:00:46it's the perfect place for a lungful of fresh air...
0:00:46 > 0:00:48and to feel the icy wind in your face.
0:00:52 > 0:00:57Anita is visiting a farm that embraces 500 years of tradition,
0:00:57 > 0:01:00but it's also very forward-thinking.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02- Who's this, then? - PIG SQUEALS
0:01:02 > 0:01:04Oh!
0:01:04 > 0:01:07A squealing pig...squealing.
0:01:07 > 0:01:11Tom is looking at how new Home Office rules have sparked a row
0:01:11 > 0:01:14between GPs and gun owners in many of our rural areas.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19If everyone was paying a fee, I wouldn't have a problem.
0:01:19 > 0:01:22I feel the system is not right, it's not the same for everybody.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25And Adam is meeting the stallions doing their bit
0:01:25 > 0:01:28to help protect some of our rarest breeds.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30Hopefully, we will collect a sample off him
0:01:30 > 0:01:32that we can go and freeze in a minute.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34- He's keen, isn't he?- Yeah.
0:01:48 > 0:01:51East Lancashire's Ribble Valley,
0:01:51 > 0:01:54where uplands meet woodlands.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58Dominated by the Forest of Bowland,
0:01:58 > 0:02:01an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09This is the Gisburn Forest.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13Covering more than 1,200 hectares, it's the largest in Lancashire
0:02:13 > 0:02:17and, as you would expect, a lot of wildlife calls this place home
0:02:17 > 0:02:20and this is the perfect time to spot it.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27Dawn in the forest.
0:02:28 > 0:02:30Quiet.
0:02:30 > 0:02:31Clear.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Calm.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43I'm with James Upson on an early-morning safari.
0:02:43 > 0:02:44He's the Forestry Commission's
0:02:44 > 0:02:47wildlife manager for the North of England.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53Well, James is just on the lookout for one of the more exotic creatures
0:02:53 > 0:02:55that calls this forest its home.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59It was introduced from Japan back in the 19th century.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02We're on the search for sika deer.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17- WHISPERS:- We're going to come through this hole
0:03:17 > 0:03:19and then we'll go about ten yards in
0:03:19 > 0:03:22and it'll open up into a glade and I think there'll be some,
0:03:22 > 0:03:24either stood or crossing the glade.
0:03:24 > 0:03:25OK? So, wait a second.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33WHISPERS: Obviously they are a very flighty and aware animal,
0:03:33 > 0:03:36so we are just trying to be as calm as possible.
0:03:37 > 0:03:39They probably even know we're here already.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46There's a little glade through here and they'll be doing their best
0:03:46 > 0:03:49to pick off any vegetation that they can nibble at.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55It's so calm and so peaceful.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02So, no sika deer today, but, you know...
0:04:02 > 0:04:03Not today, yeah.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05They're doing right - it's nippy!
0:04:05 > 0:04:08Yeah, they'll probably be in that cover there.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11So, what is their kind of daily routine, then, James?
0:04:11 > 0:04:13Where do they normally hang out at this time of day?
0:04:13 > 0:04:17Mostly they are in the open during the night
0:04:17 > 0:04:20and then they'll work their way in as it gets lighter and lighter.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Especially with the full moon, they'll be coming into cover.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24- So they're quite nocturnal?- Yeah.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26Well, we haven't got eyes on the sika deer,
0:04:26 > 0:04:27we can't hear them either,
0:04:27 > 0:04:29but they have got really quite an interesting call -
0:04:29 > 0:04:32- it's a bit like a squeaky door, isn't it?- Oh, yeah,
0:04:32 > 0:04:35the stags, especially in the rut, have got a really eerie whistle.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38STAG WAILS
0:04:38 > 0:04:42And it does cut right through you and then the alarm call, as well.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46HIGH-PITCHED WAIL
0:04:46 > 0:04:48It's like a real shrill squeak
0:04:48 > 0:04:53and that never fails to make me jump out of my boots, you know.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56We had a wagon driver wouldn't come into the forest.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59He got to the barrier and he heard the stags whistling
0:04:59 > 0:05:01and thought there was something supernatural going on.
0:05:01 > 0:05:02- Oh, really?!- Yeah, yeah.
0:05:02 > 0:05:05What kind of numbers are we talking about, then, with the sika?
0:05:05 > 0:05:08I can only talk for Gisburn Forest, but I would say in the forest
0:05:08 > 0:05:11we've got somewhere around the region of 200,
0:05:11 > 0:05:12maybe between 200 and 250.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16Would you have said this was our best bet, then, of seeing them?
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Or is there anywhere else we could have a little look?
0:05:18 > 0:05:20With this being kind of sheltered from the wind,
0:05:20 > 0:05:22I would have said it was the best bet,
0:05:22 > 0:05:25especially with it being a bit later in the day and with the moon,
0:05:25 > 0:05:27I'd have thought they'd want to be in cover, but...
0:05:30 > 0:05:33We may have missed the deer, but the beautiful solitude of this forest
0:05:33 > 0:05:36made the dawn start more than worthwhile.
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Later, as the local towns wake up,
0:05:39 > 0:05:42I'll be seeing a different side to this forest.
0:05:48 > 0:05:52Now, Home Office rules about firearms licences have sparked a row
0:05:52 > 0:05:56between GPs and gun owners in many of our rural areas.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Here's Tom.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05Across our countryside, for many...
0:06:07 > 0:06:10..owning a gun is like owning a tractor -
0:06:10 > 0:06:12it's a part of rural life.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15It is the tool of a trade,
0:06:15 > 0:06:18but there's no denying it can also be a lethal weapon
0:06:18 > 0:06:21and, if you want to own one, you're going to have to deal with this -
0:06:21 > 0:06:26a 271-page report launched in 2016
0:06:26 > 0:06:30that was supposed to bring uniformity to gun licensing,
0:06:30 > 0:06:33but instead has brought confusion and anger.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40A key issue is people's medical suitability to own a gun.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44In the past, anyone applying for a licence or renewal
0:06:44 > 0:06:47ticked a box to say there was no medical reason
0:06:47 > 0:06:50why they should not be granted one.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54But under the new guidelines, your doctor is asked to verify this.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57Now gun owners and doctors have fallen out
0:06:57 > 0:07:00after some GPs started charging a fee.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05I'm in Lincolnshire with gun owner Mark Clover.
0:07:05 > 0:07:10He's shooting vermin - foxes which might take poultry from local farms.
0:07:10 > 0:07:12Beyond just shining it out of the window,
0:07:12 > 0:07:14is there a certain kind of knack to it?
0:07:14 > 0:07:18Some people will park up in an area where they think there's foxes
0:07:18 > 0:07:20and they'll try and squeak them.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23You can get electronic calls and everything nowadays.
0:07:23 > 0:07:26And that attracts the foxes to them?
0:07:26 > 0:07:27That attracts them, hopefully,
0:07:27 > 0:07:31- and then you just keep looking for the eyes appearing.- Right.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33It should be easier to spot.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38In an area where farmers have chickens and geese to protect,
0:07:38 > 0:07:42lamping - hunting at night with a light - is fairly common
0:07:42 > 0:07:45and perfectly legal, with the landowner's permission.
0:07:46 > 0:07:51There's some... Some roe deer out there...
0:07:51 > 0:07:53Oh, I see the deer over there, yeah, yeah.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56- No foxes, though, at the moment.- No.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58Well, on we go, see what else we can catch.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04- There's a badger.- Where?
0:08:04 > 0:08:07- There, right there, look, right near us.- Oh, yeah.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09We might see a fox yet - we're seeing everything else!
0:08:09 > 0:08:11TOM CHUCKLES
0:08:11 > 0:08:13Deer, badgers and then...
0:08:13 > 0:08:16Can you see it, on that hill's top? See it glowing at us?
0:08:16 > 0:08:19- Oh, right, there? They are that far away?- Yeah.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23Mark and I have spotted a fox over there, 90% sure,
0:08:23 > 0:08:27we can see the red eyes, but it's too far to shoot
0:08:27 > 0:08:30and you need to be 100% sure that it's a fox to shoot -
0:08:30 > 0:08:32you need to be able to actually identify the animal.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37Mark's been shooting since he was a teenager,
0:08:37 > 0:08:41but ran into problems when he tried to renew his licence last autumn.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44So, tell me about the struggles you've had recently
0:08:44 > 0:08:46with renewing your licence.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49Yeah, it's the medical side that has been the problem.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54I sent off my application, as I have done for the last 35 years,
0:08:54 > 0:08:56every five years, and never had a problem.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00This time, it's having to go and see a doctor
0:09:00 > 0:09:03and things just went a bit pear-shaped for me.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Under the new guidance,
0:09:05 > 0:09:08his GP was asked to sign off his health declaration.
0:09:08 > 0:09:13Some doctors do this for free, but Mark's charged him £30.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17If everyone was paying a fee, I wouldn't have a problem.
0:09:17 > 0:09:20I feel the system is not right - it's not the same for everybody.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24And the doctors seem to be able to just charge you what they like.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27Surely there should be some actually set fees
0:09:27 > 0:09:30and some regulations for it.
0:09:30 > 0:09:34I just think the licensing process all needs to be a big shake-up.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36It seems diabolical at the moment.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38Why is this row so important?
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Well, it's not just about a few farmers with shotguns.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46A number of people have been shot dead in Cumbria
0:09:46 > 0:09:49by a gunman who is still on the loose.
0:09:51 > 0:09:55In 30 years, there have been three mass shootings in the UK -
0:09:55 > 0:09:57Hungerford, Dunblane and Cumbria.
0:09:57 > 0:10:01They were all by people who had certified themselves
0:10:01 > 0:10:04as medically fit to own a gun under the old system,
0:10:04 > 0:10:07so it's a matter of public safety that the new guidelines
0:10:07 > 0:10:12ought to be crystal clear about how GP checks work.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14Sadly, they are far from it -
0:10:14 > 0:10:16and Liam Stokes from the Countryside Alliance
0:10:16 > 0:10:19says shooters should not have to pay.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23So, what are gun owners experiencing, in your view,
0:10:23 > 0:10:26- that is causing trouble?- Well, they are experiencing total chaos,
0:10:26 > 0:10:28depending on where they are in the country.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31They were led to believe that what they were going to experience
0:10:31 > 0:10:34was going to be a well-regulated system that would apply
0:10:34 > 0:10:35no matter where you were.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38What's actually happening is you can be in one county
0:10:38 > 0:10:40and find that the system is operating as it should,
0:10:40 > 0:10:43you're submitting your application, the letter is going to the GP,
0:10:43 > 0:10:45the GP is checking your record, applying the flag
0:10:45 > 0:10:48and your certificate is coming through.
0:10:48 > 0:10:49You could live in the adjoining county
0:10:49 > 0:10:53and find the GP is sending you a bill for anything up to £200.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57But can you justify why a doctor should be spending time
0:10:57 > 0:11:01on getting you a gun licence rather than seeing someone who is sick?
0:11:01 > 0:11:03Doctors spend time doing all sorts of form filling
0:11:03 > 0:11:04for different things, whether that be
0:11:04 > 0:11:07driving cars, driving trucks, whatever it happens to be.
0:11:07 > 0:11:11But other professions have to pay for the medical
0:11:11 > 0:11:14to get their licence - HGV drivers, divers...
0:11:14 > 0:11:17- Why shouldn't shooters?- We're not drawing a line in the sand,
0:11:17 > 0:11:19saying absolutely no fees can be charged by anybody.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23What we're saying is we need a system that is fair,
0:11:23 > 0:11:26that is the same for everybody, that is only charged once.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30And he's clear it's the doctors' union, the BMA,
0:11:30 > 0:11:33that is to blame for the confusion.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35Initially, they signed up to this process
0:11:35 > 0:11:38by which the check would occur without any expectation of a fee
0:11:38 > 0:11:41and within three months, they're telling their members,
0:11:41 > 0:11:43"Actually, no, do charge a fee."
0:11:43 > 0:11:47The result is a stalemate and, in rural counties like Lincolnshire,
0:11:47 > 0:11:51a growing backlog of licence applications.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55The countryside's doctors and gun owners are at an impasse,
0:11:55 > 0:12:01with the shooters blaming the GPs, so what have they got to say?
0:12:01 > 0:12:03I'll be asking them later in the programme.
0:12:08 > 0:12:15In the Ribble Valley, in the shadow of Pendle Hill, lies Gazegill Farm.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19It's been running as an organic farm for decades,
0:12:19 > 0:12:21long before the term was even coined.
0:12:21 > 0:12:26This farm has been in the same family for six generations.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28It's steeped in history,
0:12:28 > 0:12:30but it's also incredibly forward-thinking.
0:12:30 > 0:12:34That's thanks to Emma Robinson, the current owner,
0:12:34 > 0:12:36and her husband, Ian O'Reilly.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40Every waking moment of this couple's life is spent dedicated
0:12:40 > 0:12:45to the land that has been a part of Emma's family for centuries.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47So, that's your farm we can see just behind us.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Just in the bottom of the valley there.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52We run from over by the cows that you can see in the distance,
0:12:52 > 0:12:54- all the way back round... - To the wind turbine.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56That wind turbine is yours?
0:12:56 > 0:12:58It certainly is, yes.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01Yes, that gives us about three-quarters of our energy needs.
0:13:01 > 0:13:02That's great!
0:13:02 > 0:13:04Yeah, should have put a bigger one in!
0:13:05 > 0:13:08Today, Gazegill is entirely self-sufficient
0:13:08 > 0:13:10through wind and solar power
0:13:10 > 0:13:13and they've always championed organic principles.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15Why did you not intensify, like most other farms in Britain,
0:13:15 > 0:13:17after the Second World War?
0:13:17 > 0:13:20My dad was so passionate about his hay meadows and the rare birds,
0:13:20 > 0:13:22looking after the curlews and the lapwings,
0:13:22 > 0:13:25and it's come to us and we've always farmed organically.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27It's a real low-intensity farming,
0:13:27 > 0:13:30but the animals are better for it, the souls are better for it.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Without the nature, we haven't got a farm.
0:13:34 > 0:13:38Emma and Ian are involved in every aspect of the farming process,
0:13:38 > 0:13:41from field to fork.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44They rear rare-breed animals, including Shorthorn cattle
0:13:44 > 0:13:46and Oxford Sandy and Black pigs.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49So, this is Betty, who likes her tummy rubbed.
0:13:49 > 0:13:51We've got Glenda at the back, Nora
0:13:51 > 0:13:53and this is Edward, who is a bit antisocial.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Gazegill Farm specialises in raw milk and rose veal.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59So, where are we going now?
0:13:59 > 0:14:01We're going up to the top shed with the rose veal calves are.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06For Ian, the welfare of his animals is very important.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09Usually the males born into a dairy herd are disposed of,
0:14:09 > 0:14:12but at Gazegill they have a different approach.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14Goodness me!
0:14:14 > 0:14:17So there is a whole heap of different ages in here -
0:14:17 > 0:14:18the babies are at the far side
0:14:18 > 0:14:21and then they sort of come up in age groups.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23What is rose veal, Ian?
0:14:23 > 0:14:26Well, anything under 12 months is veal,
0:14:26 > 0:14:28but rose veal is between 9 and 12 months,
0:14:28 > 0:14:32so they have grown on a bit, there is a bit of meat on the carcass,
0:14:32 > 0:14:34but it has got that sort of pink hue to it.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37- Tell me the ethos.- These are the offspring from the milk herds.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39They are a living by-product.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42There are three options with a by-product such as a calf.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44One is it's destroyed shortly after being born,
0:14:44 > 0:14:47which still happens in the industry, which, you know, I don't agree with.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50It's morally wrong. There is an alternative
0:14:50 > 0:14:53that they can be exported live at 6 to 8 weeks, or rose veal,
0:14:53 > 0:14:56which is probably the best out of the three options,
0:14:56 > 0:14:58to actually utilise them as a food product,
0:14:58 > 0:15:02beautiful meat, high-protein, low-fat, great tasting.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04So, if you are an ethical consumer of meat,
0:15:04 > 0:15:07- then rose veal should absolutely be something you think about. - It should be on your menu.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12On the other side of the farm, in the dairy,
0:15:12 > 0:15:14Emma is in charge of raw-milk production.
0:15:17 > 0:15:21She single-handedly takes care of 75 Shorthorn cows.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25Well, not quite single-handedly cos she's got a little helper today.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28- How are you doing down there, Izzy? - Good.- Yeah?
0:15:28 > 0:15:30The farmers come down the female line
0:15:30 > 0:15:34and Izzy is already in training to be the next custodian of Gazegill.
0:15:34 > 0:15:36- Do you think you will take over the farm?- Yeah.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39- Definitely?- Yeah. - That's cool, isn't it?
0:15:39 > 0:15:44Emma and Izzy know all 75 of their cows individually.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48- This is called John... - You can tell from the back?
0:15:48 > 0:15:51Yeah, I understand them more from their udders.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55This is Apple, this one is called Hope and that one is called Bobby.
0:15:57 > 0:16:01As the milk is raw, Emma is meticulous about cleanliness
0:16:01 > 0:16:03and today she has agreed to let me get milking.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05I've never done this before.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07Just touch its leg before you do anything,
0:16:07 > 0:16:08- then she knows you're there.- Hello.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11- She knows it's someone different. - Yeah.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14- And then...a bit of warm water on, give it a good rub.- Come on!
0:16:14 > 0:16:15Aw!
0:16:15 > 0:16:18- ANITA GIGGLES - How am I doing?
0:16:18 > 0:16:20Really, really well, actually.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23- Now we need back to the first one. - Right, here we go.- Yeah.
0:16:23 > 0:16:24Oh, look at that.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28Yes!
0:16:28 > 0:16:29Oh, poo!
0:16:29 > 0:16:31Stand aside, stand aside!
0:16:31 > 0:16:32Poo!
0:16:32 > 0:16:34The danger zone down here.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37Because we do raw milk, it takes me so long.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40I'm so fussy on any bit of poo, any bit of muck.
0:16:40 > 0:16:41You have to be, don't you?
0:16:41 > 0:16:43- And wee.- Wee!- And wee!
0:16:43 > 0:16:45I'm going to stand over here.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47I'm totally with you in spirit.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51- Watch out.- Oh, no!
0:16:52 > 0:16:56Emma's Shorthorns have been antibiotic-free for three years now
0:16:56 > 0:17:00and the milk they produce is not pasteurised or homogenised.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06The farm has even set up its own raw-milk micro dairy.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09What makes milk raw? What makes it different?
0:17:09 > 0:17:13OK, it is straight out of the cow - we've done nothing to it whatsoever.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15It comes out of the cow, it goes into a milk tank,
0:17:15 > 0:17:18we chill it down and we bottle it and send it out.
0:17:18 > 0:17:19Now, that might worry some people who think,
0:17:19 > 0:17:22"Well, surely we should be drinking pasteurised milk,
0:17:22 > 0:17:24"surely that's what we need, it's better for us..."
0:17:24 > 0:17:25We have been told for many years
0:17:25 > 0:17:27that pasteurised milk is better for us
0:17:27 > 0:17:29and, yes, it takes bad bacteria out,
0:17:29 > 0:17:31but it also takes all the good bacteria out
0:17:31 > 0:17:35and our gut needs good bacteria to keep us healthy.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37It's extra creamy as well, isn't it?
0:17:37 > 0:17:40You know, because these guys are fed hay during the winter
0:17:40 > 0:17:44and they are grass fed during the summer, it is sweeter.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47There's only one thing left to do - taste the produce.
0:17:47 > 0:17:51But before I can, the heavens open.
0:17:51 > 0:17:54Oh, it's hail! Welcome to Lancashire!
0:17:54 > 0:17:59- Let's try this raw milk. - Quick, before it freezes!- Cheers!
0:17:59 > 0:18:00Oh, that's quite hard.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06It's really...! It's delicious!
0:18:06 > 0:18:09THEY GIGGLE
0:18:09 > 0:18:12- Ow!- Izzy, you've got snow on the top of your head.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14She's the toughest one here!
0:18:14 > 0:18:16It's not even fazing you.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18- Cheers, hardy! - IZZY GIGGLES
0:18:19 > 0:18:23At least the weather doesn't faze this ancient breed of cattle.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25They've grazed this land for centuries
0:18:25 > 0:18:28and are now producing the most forward-thinking of products.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34It's this echo back to the way this farm has been run
0:18:34 > 0:18:37for the past 500 years plus Ian and Emma's new innovations
0:18:37 > 0:18:40that will hopefully ensure that this place
0:18:40 > 0:18:43will continue to run for the next 500 years.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01Kate Eveson is a textile artist
0:19:01 > 0:19:05who is inspired by the stunning Ribble Valley.
0:19:05 > 0:19:09Her dad John remembers how it all began.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13Kate has always had an interest in art,
0:19:13 > 0:19:15so you could tell right away when she was a little girl,
0:19:15 > 0:19:18every time she got five minutes spare, she'd always got
0:19:18 > 0:19:20a bit of paper and crayons front of her
0:19:20 > 0:19:23and I think it just developed from there. She loves it.
0:19:32 > 0:19:37So, as a child, I always really loved wildlife and animals.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40We always had various different pets on the farm.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43I had a couple of pet sheep.
0:19:44 > 0:19:50But my favourite pet was... We had a jackdaw that we found in the stream.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53It had obviously fallen out of a nest and he was quite poorly,
0:19:53 > 0:19:55so we fetched him in.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58Anyway, we nursed him back to life and, yeah,
0:19:58 > 0:20:00he just used to land on people's shoulders
0:20:00 > 0:20:03when they came round to the house, used to scare people to death.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05It used to be quite funny.
0:20:12 > 0:20:15We moved to Lancashire, didn't we, about 20 years ago?
0:20:15 > 0:20:17Onto a sheep farm.
0:20:17 > 0:20:22And I do remember moving there and just absolutely loving the freedom.
0:20:22 > 0:20:24As soon as we arrived, she just had a big smile on her face
0:20:24 > 0:20:26and she just loved being there.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29She loved the sheep and wandering around and the freedom
0:20:29 > 0:20:31and she's loved it ever since.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40With my dad being an agricultural photographer,
0:20:40 > 0:20:43it's definitely had an influence on my work,
0:20:43 > 0:20:46seeing my dad take lots of pictures of animals,
0:20:46 > 0:20:49and images of farm animals have always been around.
0:20:49 > 0:20:54I work for the Farmers Guardian and other agricultural publications
0:20:54 > 0:20:56and picture libraries.
0:20:56 > 0:21:03To combine agriculture and photography, it's just marvellous.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13I can't imagine living in a city.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17I just like being able to get out. I love walking.
0:21:17 > 0:21:19That's the thing, the Ribble Valley,
0:21:19 > 0:21:23it's a fairly quiet, unknown, beautiful place really.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26I think everyone heads off to the Yorkshire Dales
0:21:26 > 0:21:29or they go to the Lake District, but it's just as nice here.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32It is a rich landscape, which I think
0:21:32 > 0:21:36is probably why there is loads of artists around here.
0:21:43 > 0:21:44To start the process,
0:21:44 > 0:21:47I'll go out and gather photographs and work from those.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49I take that back to the studio,
0:21:49 > 0:21:52I'll do some sketches and I get a line drawing.
0:21:54 > 0:21:55I then sew that,
0:21:55 > 0:21:58I stretch it and then I paint it,
0:21:58 > 0:22:01so they're sort of textile paintings if you like,
0:22:01 > 0:22:02but they are portraits
0:22:02 > 0:22:04and I mainly focus on their heads.
0:22:04 > 0:22:06I think that's the most interesting part.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20I try to get people to look at sheep and animals in a different way,
0:22:20 > 0:22:22in ways that you don't normally see them,
0:22:22 > 0:22:25so taking them out of the fields, taking them out of the landscape.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30Yeah, people always ask about the lines.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32They started quite organically really,
0:22:32 > 0:22:34it wasn't a conscious decision.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38Sometimes I think they're almost like an aura coming off the sheep,
0:22:38 > 0:22:43but it's up to anybody else what they think to them really,
0:22:43 > 0:22:45but that's kind of my sort of take on it.
0:22:52 > 0:22:53I particularly like horned sheep
0:22:53 > 0:22:58because I think they've got really interesting, quite sculptural heads.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00They've got lots of different textures -
0:23:00 > 0:23:02they've got wool bodies,
0:23:02 > 0:23:03furry heads
0:23:03 > 0:23:06and then they've got the hard horns, which are a great shape.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11I've just gone back to university
0:23:11 > 0:23:15to start my masters degree in fine art...
0:23:16 > 0:23:19..which is a whole new chapter for me, going back to education.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21I'm looking forward to it
0:23:21 > 0:23:26and I'm hoping I constantly use the landscape and my surroundings
0:23:26 > 0:23:28as inspiration for my work.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32I'm sure it will always play a part in what I do.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41Rural doctors have found themselves
0:23:41 > 0:23:44at the centre of a row about gun ownership,
0:23:44 > 0:23:47which is causing some bad feeling in the countryside.
0:23:47 > 0:23:48Tom has been finding out more.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55There are two million legally owned guns in the UK.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58In the countryside, they are a working tool,
0:23:58 > 0:24:00or simply used for sport.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04For years, individual police forces followed different systems
0:24:04 > 0:24:07for issuing licences, so, in 2016,
0:24:07 > 0:24:10the Home Office published revised national guidelines.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16The idea of a new standardised licensing system
0:24:16 > 0:24:18was broadly welcomed.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21The guidelines give doctors a greater say
0:24:21 > 0:24:24over who is suitable to own a gun.
0:24:24 > 0:24:26But despite the good intentions,
0:24:26 > 0:24:32it's resulted in confusion among gun owners, doctors and the police.
0:24:32 > 0:24:36Doctors are now asked to check applicants' files
0:24:36 > 0:24:38for relevant medical conditions.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42Some GPs charge for this, others don't, sparking a national row
0:24:42 > 0:24:46that is being played out here in Lincolnshire.
0:24:47 > 0:24:48We just want it to be fair, really.
0:24:48 > 0:24:52I mean, it's different all over the country by the sound of it.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55Pull!
0:24:55 > 0:24:58People's perception of people with guns -
0:24:58 > 0:25:02I think they immediately think of the criminal element,
0:25:02 > 0:25:05but you know, living out here in a rural environment,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08it's part of our way of life, it's our culture.
0:25:08 > 0:25:13Lincolnshire is typical of how the row is unfolding nationally.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17Dr Kieran Sharrock advises GP practices across the county.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Why is it important that the medical profession
0:25:20 > 0:25:22is involved in the whole licensing procedure?
0:25:22 > 0:25:26We need to make sure that patients are safe and the public is safe.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29There's a number of medical conditions, physical and mental,
0:25:29 > 0:25:34that could mean it's not safe for someone to have a firearm, shotgun.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37You have to have information from the medical profession
0:25:37 > 0:25:41because patients may not realise that their medical conditions
0:25:41 > 0:25:45actually affect their fitness to have a shotgun, so for instance,
0:25:45 > 0:25:49diabetes, if your sugars are out of control, it can affect your mood.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51If you've got asthma and you are on long-term steroid treatment,
0:25:51 > 0:25:53that can affect your mood.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55So it's not just mental illness.
0:25:55 > 0:26:01And why should shooters pay for this check?
0:26:01 > 0:26:04Well, GP time is very short.
0:26:04 > 0:26:09We are finding it difficult to find enough time to see our NHS patients.
0:26:09 > 0:26:14This work isn't NHS work, so we can't be doing this work
0:26:14 > 0:26:16when we should be seeing our NHS patients.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19But surely we're just talking about five or ten minutes
0:26:19 > 0:26:20to bring up the records on a computer.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23For some patients, yes, it's five, ten minutes,
0:26:23 > 0:26:25you have to look at the medical record on the electronic...
0:26:25 > 0:26:28on the computer, and the paper records.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31For other patients, they could have a significant medical history,
0:26:31 > 0:26:35so it can take up to hours to do this work.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37It all comes down to the guidelines
0:26:37 > 0:26:40that were intended to improve the situation,
0:26:40 > 0:26:43but even Dr Sharrock agrees the BMA nationally got it wrong.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46It's a real shame that the opportunity to get this sorted out
0:26:46 > 0:26:50wasn't taken in 2016. I believe
0:26:50 > 0:26:54the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association
0:26:54 > 0:26:56was not consulted deeply enough on this
0:26:56 > 0:27:00because, as soon as the guidelines came out, they were unhappy
0:27:00 > 0:27:04that we were not able to make a sensible charge for this service.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07The BMA weren't available to interview,
0:27:07 > 0:27:11but said they were alarmed the Government had provided no resources
0:27:11 > 0:27:13for GPs to do the extra work.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17The problem with guidelines this long is they leave plenty of room
0:27:17 > 0:27:21for people to interpret different sentences to suit their own agenda.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23For instance, it says here quite clearly,
0:27:23 > 0:27:28"There is no expectation of a fee being charged for this check."
0:27:28 > 0:27:31But nearly 200 pages later on,
0:27:31 > 0:27:34some GPs are looking at this sentence where it says,
0:27:34 > 0:27:36"Police may ask some applicants
0:27:36 > 0:27:39"to obtain and pay for a medical report."
0:27:40 > 0:27:43And if you think that's bizarre, it gets worse.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46Buried in an appendix, the guidelines say
0:27:46 > 0:27:48if the police don't hear from your GP,
0:27:48 > 0:27:51they can give you a gun licence anyway.
0:27:51 > 0:27:53When we approached the Home Office,
0:27:53 > 0:27:57they said the guidelines will be "kept under review".
0:27:57 > 0:28:00But here in Lincolnshire, the police have had enough
0:28:00 > 0:28:03and are breaking ranks and setting up their own system.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06If you don't have a GP report here, you won't get a licence.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10So, are there different conditions to getting shotgun, say,
0:28:10 > 0:28:11- than getting a 22 rifle?- Yes.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14The county's head of firearms licensing
0:28:14 > 0:28:16is Detective Inspector Peter Shaw.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19So, how are you now dealing with this in Lincolnshire?
0:28:19 > 0:28:24The force is moving to a position that we realise and value
0:28:24 > 0:28:26the importance of medical reports for firearms licensing.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29We think it is very much in the public interest
0:28:29 > 0:28:31that we are going to insist on a medical report every time
0:28:31 > 0:28:36we renew or grant a shotgun or a firearm in Lincolnshire.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40So, very clear. For new licences, no medical report, no licence.
0:28:40 > 0:28:42- And renewals as well.- Right.
0:28:42 > 0:28:46We need to make sure that people who are taking possession of guns
0:28:46 > 0:28:48are fit to take possession of them.
0:28:48 > 0:28:53It may sound like a sensible stance, but it does nothing to solve
0:28:53 > 0:28:56the argument between the gun owners and doctors.
0:28:56 > 0:28:59Liam Stokes from the Countryside Alliance
0:28:59 > 0:29:01says they are not backing down.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04What will you be saying to your members in Lincolnshire?
0:29:04 > 0:29:08Are you going to say that they have to go along with the police or not?
0:29:08 > 0:29:10Our policy will remain,
0:29:10 > 0:29:13"Do not pay any fees that you are charged by your GP
0:29:13 > 0:29:15"whilst we try and resolve this situation."
0:29:16 > 0:29:19We are at a standoff where, if anything,
0:29:19 > 0:29:22both sides are entrenching their positions,
0:29:22 > 0:29:25leaving the ownership of these -
0:29:25 > 0:29:30a vital tool of country life yet also a lethal weapon -
0:29:30 > 0:29:32mired in deepening confusion.
0:29:38 > 0:29:42The views across Gisburn Forest seem endless,
0:29:42 > 0:29:43especially in the snow.
0:29:45 > 0:29:46Tranquil...
0:29:49 > 0:29:51..calm...and still.
0:29:56 > 0:29:58And if you live here and you like peace and quiet,
0:29:58 > 0:30:01then you are one of the lucky few
0:30:01 > 0:30:05because the Ribble Valley is the least populated place in Lancashire.
0:30:08 > 0:30:13It's deceptively remote, as nearby busy towns and cities buzz.
0:30:13 > 0:30:17Leeds, Bradford, Lancaster, Blackpool and Manchester
0:30:17 > 0:30:19are all closer than you might think,
0:30:19 > 0:30:22but here there is plenty of space and fresh air.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27And Gisburn Forest are only too happy to share,
0:30:27 > 0:30:31as they want to make these woods accessible for everyone.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39Martin Colledge left behind the hustle and bustle of Liverpool
0:30:39 > 0:30:42almost 20 years ago and he has never looked back.
0:30:42 > 0:30:46He is the Forestry Commission's Bowland area manager.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48We've estimated there is about five million people
0:30:48 > 0:30:51live within about an hour's drive, so Gisburn Forest
0:30:51 > 0:30:53is a great place for them to come for a day out.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56And what we are walking on here, then, has been the key
0:30:56 > 0:31:00in making sure that everybody of various different physical abilities
0:31:00 > 0:31:02can actually come and access this landscape.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05That's right. This trail has been adapted
0:31:05 > 0:31:08so that it's suitable for a wide range of people,
0:31:08 > 0:31:10suitable for all ability scooters,
0:31:10 > 0:31:14families with pushchairs, people who just have difficulty walking,
0:31:14 > 0:31:17so it's an easy-access trail.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20You must get an enormous amount of satisfaction
0:31:20 > 0:31:22to just see whole families out here,
0:31:22 > 0:31:25who can come here and just enjoy this.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28I do - it's fantastic seeing whole family groups out
0:31:28 > 0:31:32- and everyone can enjoy the same walk together.- Yeah.
0:31:33 > 0:31:35The easy-access routes are a big hit
0:31:35 > 0:31:38with rambling groups for all abilities across Lancashire -
0:31:38 > 0:31:43and 4x4 mobility scooters are the key to really getting off-road.
0:31:43 > 0:31:44Just ask Owen.
0:31:44 > 0:31:47It's nice and warm, actually, when you get into the sunshine, isn't it?
0:31:47 > 0:31:50- Yes, it's lovely. - That is beautiful.
0:31:50 > 0:31:53I always used to use motorbikes in my youth.
0:31:53 > 0:31:55It's like riding a motorbike, really.
0:31:55 > 0:31:56Yeah.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58Only slower!
0:31:58 > 0:32:01Do you mind if I ask how old you are?
0:32:01 > 0:32:0287.
0:32:02 > 0:32:04And still enjoying the sunshine.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07Enjoying every minute of it. I love it.
0:32:08 > 0:32:10Eileen is also a big fan.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14I have a Shoprider, so a shopping scooter,
0:32:14 > 0:32:17and then I progressed to get a Tramper
0:32:17 > 0:32:19and do some more of the more difficult routes.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23And the thing is, as well, the landscape is not an issue,
0:32:23 > 0:32:28the weather is not an issue and when you look at this vehicle here,
0:32:28 > 0:32:29you know, incredible technology,
0:32:29 > 0:32:33- but what it gives you as a person... - Yes.
0:32:33 > 0:32:35That's my mileometer.
0:32:35 > 0:32:40- 4,778.- 4,778 miles?!
0:32:40 > 0:32:44- Do you know what? That says it all, doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47We've got Jean bringing up the rear. Are you all right back here?
0:32:47 > 0:32:49It's marvellous.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51Look at this! What a vehicle!
0:32:51 > 0:32:53- What's it like to drive? - It's absolutely great fun
0:32:53 > 0:32:55and I've been up a mountain in it as well.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58I hadn't been up for 24 years.
0:32:58 > 0:33:00What was it like when you got up there onto the top?
0:33:00 > 0:33:05On a day like today, the view's all full along Windermere,
0:33:05 > 0:33:08the Langdale Pikes on one side,
0:33:08 > 0:33:11360 degree views
0:33:11 > 0:33:14and I could see the roof of my own house down at the bottom.
0:33:14 > 0:33:15Could you really?
0:33:15 > 0:33:18It was just unbelievable. I was crying.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21Accompanying Jean are Ali Pennington and Jeanette Moore
0:33:21 > 0:33:25from Freedom Wizard, a charity that uses these all-terrain vehicles
0:33:25 > 0:33:27on outdoor adventures.
0:33:27 > 0:33:31You may lose your mobility, unfortunately, as Jean has,
0:33:31 > 0:33:33but being able to still get out there,
0:33:33 > 0:33:37that desire to still get outdoors, it doesn't go away.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40But it's fantastic, with the likes of the Forestry Commission
0:33:40 > 0:33:43and the National Trust putting in more and more
0:33:43 > 0:33:46accessible kind of paths out there, it's absolutely fantastic.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50- It's what they can do now, rather than what they can't.- Absolutely.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52And people are focusing on that and that is wonderful.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59I tell you - this is a lovely bit of the ramble.
0:33:59 > 0:34:02- Mulled wine! This is incredible! - Cheers.- Yeah, cheers!
0:34:02 > 0:34:04Cheers to one and all! Do you know, you lot should definitely do
0:34:04 > 0:34:07the Countryfile Ramble for Children In Need, yeah?
0:34:07 > 0:34:09- What a great idea! - Can I sign you up?
0:34:09 > 0:34:10- Definitely.- Good. All right, then.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12Jean, there's a little tipple for you, my dear,
0:34:12 > 0:34:14and I've got one here for Owen.
0:34:14 > 0:34:16Owen, you're going to do the Countryfile Ramble
0:34:16 > 0:34:18- for Children In Need, all right? - Very good!
0:34:18 > 0:34:20I'm not going to...
0:34:20 > 0:34:21I'm not going to put it in your diary,
0:34:21 > 0:34:23I'm going to stick it in the Countryfile calendar,
0:34:23 > 0:34:26also sold in aid of Children In Need, for you.
0:34:26 > 0:34:29This is it. Obviously, it's January at the moment,
0:34:29 > 0:34:31so if you haven't got yours yet, then you need to look busy.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33Here's John with all the details.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39It costs £9.50, including UK delivery.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43You can go to our website, where you will find
0:34:43 > 0:34:48a link to the order page, or you can phone the order line on...
0:34:58 > 0:35:00If you'd prefer to order by post,
0:35:00 > 0:35:03then send your name, address and a cheque to...
0:35:16 > 0:35:20A minimum of £4.50 from the sale of each calendar
0:35:20 > 0:35:23will be donated to BBC Children In Need.
0:35:35 > 0:35:39Preserving the bloodstock of Britain's native farm animals
0:35:39 > 0:35:40is an important job.
0:35:40 > 0:35:43The Rare Breeds Survival Trust
0:35:43 > 0:35:48was set up by Adam's dad Joe back in the 1970s to do just that.
0:35:48 > 0:35:50Since then, we've not lost a single breed
0:35:50 > 0:35:53of our native farm animals.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57The trust's search for endangered farm animals
0:35:57 > 0:35:59has covered the length and breadth of Britain,
0:35:59 > 0:36:02from the mountains of England...
0:36:02 > 0:36:04to the Highlands...
0:36:04 > 0:36:06and Islands of Scotland.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13And their work continues.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16I've travelled to Cheshire to see what they're doing
0:36:16 > 0:36:18to help save one of our rarest breeds.
0:36:20 > 0:36:23This is Linnet. She's a really lovely Eriskay pony
0:36:23 > 0:36:27and very typical of the breed - a small, hardy animal
0:36:27 > 0:36:29that originates from the Western Isles,
0:36:29 > 0:36:30off the coast of Scotland,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33where she would have been used by the crofters as a workhorse.
0:36:33 > 0:36:35They make a good little riding pony too,
0:36:35 > 0:36:37but sadly, they have fallen into decline
0:36:37 > 0:36:39and now they are critically rare,
0:36:39 > 0:36:41one of the rarest of all the equine breeds.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46I'm meeting up with Linnet's keeper, Keith Siddorn,
0:36:46 > 0:36:48and Tom Beeston from the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
0:36:50 > 0:36:54- Hi, Keith.- Hello, Adam.- Hi. Good to see you again, Tom.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57- STRAINING:- My word, well, I've got your little pony for you!
0:36:57 > 0:36:59So, how come you've got into Ersikays?
0:36:59 > 0:37:02Well, I work closely already with the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05I have a herd of traditional Hereford cattle, a rare breed,
0:37:05 > 0:37:08and I offered to look after a rare-breed pony and Linnet is here.
0:37:08 > 0:37:10Well, she's really great, isn't she?
0:37:10 > 0:37:12How rare are they, then?
0:37:12 > 0:37:14We estimate there's about 100 breeding females left,
0:37:14 > 0:37:16- so they are on the critical list. - Goodness me!
0:37:16 > 0:37:18So, what's the plan with her?
0:37:18 > 0:37:20The plan is to get her in foal next spring,
0:37:20 > 0:37:22so we'll take her to our local AI centre
0:37:22 > 0:37:25and hopefully get her artificially inseminated
0:37:25 > 0:37:28and then, 11 months later, we'll have a foal.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30Tom, it's great, isn't it, having farmers like Keith
0:37:30 > 0:37:32looking after these rare breeds on the ground?
0:37:32 > 0:37:34It's fantastic, but it's not the only string in our bow,
0:37:34 > 0:37:39so we also have a gene bank where we freeze the semen and the embryos,
0:37:39 > 0:37:43so that if we need to recreate a population, if there is a disaster -
0:37:43 > 0:37:47disease or climate change - that we can actually do that, you know.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50There are many diseases around, as you know, like bovine TB,
0:37:50 > 0:37:54that could wipe out a whole breed of animal, so we need those genetics.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56So you've got eggs and semen in store
0:37:56 > 0:38:00that you can then recreate a little Eriskay if they get wiped out?
0:38:00 > 0:38:01Just exactly that, yeah.
0:38:01 > 0:38:03And how is the gene bank so far?
0:38:03 > 0:38:07We've got about 70 horses across the 13 breeds in the gene bank already,
0:38:07 > 0:38:12but we need 350 in there, so it's another £1.5, £2 million we need,
0:38:12 > 0:38:15just for the equines, to get to them gene banked.
0:38:15 > 0:38:16Come on, then.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25Collecting the individual animals needed for the gene bank
0:38:25 > 0:38:28is a costly and time-consuming task,
0:38:28 > 0:38:31but the trust can call upon the very latest technology
0:38:31 > 0:38:34to acquire the eggs and semen once the animals have been found.
0:38:37 > 0:38:42Shropshire-based Stallion AI Services are helping with the task.
0:38:44 > 0:38:46I'm meeting manager Tullis Matson
0:38:46 > 0:38:49and a few of the stallions with an important job to do.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54- My word, Tullis, it is a smart stables!- Thank you very much.
0:38:54 > 0:38:56How many rare-breed horses have you got in here?
0:38:56 > 0:38:59Four different breeds here at the moment, a couple from each breed.
0:38:59 > 0:39:02- This is the Fell we've got here. - How rare are the Fell?
0:39:02 > 0:39:05They're pretty rare - there's about 600 females left in the UK,
0:39:05 > 0:39:08so they are on the register for the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10Some important work to do, this fellow.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12We've been collecting semen off him for the last two weeks
0:39:12 > 0:39:14and he's doing very well, it's freezing well,
0:39:14 > 0:39:17so we've got his genetic line banked now.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19I recognise this monstrous beast over here.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22Oh, what a beautiful animal this is! This is a nice big Shire.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25Some of the heavy horses are in real trouble, aren't they?
0:39:25 > 0:39:28They are, and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust have just launched
0:39:28 > 0:39:31the Heavy Horse Appeal, really to try and protect these heavy horses.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33One of the reasons, the pure size of the animal -
0:39:33 > 0:39:35it's a big animal to keep and feed each day.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37And rareness of the Shire?
0:39:37 > 0:39:40There's just over 900 females left in the country,
0:39:40 > 0:39:42so again, yes, there's a few about,
0:39:42 > 0:39:44but it wouldn't take long for the breed to actually get
0:39:44 > 0:39:46smaller and smaller. The genetic pool shrinks
0:39:46 > 0:39:48and then you've got other issues as well, so yes,
0:39:48 > 0:39:52they are on the at-risk register for the Rare Breeds Survival Trust.
0:39:52 > 0:39:54Better shut that door, otherwise he's going to walk out on us!
0:40:00 > 0:40:01This is the Eriskay pony.
0:40:01 > 0:40:05I met Keith earlier, who is desperate to get his mare in foal.
0:40:05 > 0:40:08They are really on the borderline of extinction, these animals.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11- Could be lost forever?- They could be, if we don't something about it.
0:40:11 > 0:40:13They are lovely animals, it would be a great shame to lose them.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15So, you're taking semen from this one today?
0:40:15 > 0:40:18Yes, we'll collect semen off him and then it can be stored indefinitely.
0:40:21 > 0:40:25Advances in technology mean it's now possible to store samples
0:40:25 > 0:40:28that just five years ago would have been lost.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33Collection, however, is a much more basic process
0:40:33 > 0:40:37and Tuffy here seems more than up for playing his part.
0:40:37 > 0:40:39What is happening now with the Eriskay?
0:40:39 > 0:40:41We're just about to carry out a collection.
0:40:41 > 0:40:43He'll jump on the dummy and hopefully we will collect
0:40:43 > 0:40:45a sample off him that we can go and freeze in a minute.
0:40:45 > 0:40:46- He's keen, isn't he?- Yes.
0:40:49 > 0:40:53And so, by using this technology and your investment here,
0:40:53 > 0:40:56you will be able to get lots of foals from this stallion.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59Potentially, yes, we can get 100-odd foals from this stallion.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03We can get about between seven and ten foals per collection, in theory,
0:41:03 > 0:41:05and then obviously distribute it all over the world.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07It's just brilliant, isn't it?
0:41:07 > 0:41:10- He seems to be enjoying himself! - Yes! That's it, that's it.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12Once he's done his collection,
0:41:12 > 0:41:14we'll take that semen sample in the lab,
0:41:14 > 0:41:17analyse it, see how good the quality is and then freeze it down
0:41:17 > 0:41:20and then it's there for future use.
0:41:20 > 0:41:22Good old Tuffy, did the job there.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27Facilities like this are giving many of our rarest breeds
0:41:27 > 0:41:32a fighting chance of survival, but it's not just rare breeds here.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34Tullis and his team are also developing
0:41:34 > 0:41:36the bloodlines of some rare talent.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41This is Big Star.
0:41:41 > 0:41:45At the 2016 Rio Olympics, he and his rider, Nick Skelton,
0:41:45 > 0:41:47won a gold, Britain's first
0:41:47 > 0:41:50individual showjumping medal since 1972.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53And for a horse of this pedigree,
0:41:53 > 0:41:57there's plenty of owners out there hoping to breed from him.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01- Nick, hi.- Hi.
0:42:01 > 0:42:02Good to see you.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05My word! The superstars together!
0:42:05 > 0:42:09Well, he's a superstar, I think. I was only the pilot.
0:42:09 > 0:42:11A horse like this is worth a lot of money.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14You must have had demands from all over the world.
0:42:14 > 0:42:16Yeah, when he was competing at the top,
0:42:16 > 0:42:20before Rio, after London, we got offered a lot of money for him,
0:42:20 > 0:42:22but the owners, Gary and Beverley Widdowson,
0:42:22 > 0:42:23they didn't want to sell him,
0:42:23 > 0:42:25they wanted to keep him for his jumping
0:42:25 > 0:42:28and also, you know, with his career at stud now, he's doing a great job.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30- Have you got your gold medals with you?- Yes.
0:42:30 > 0:42:32Wow! What are these two?
0:42:32 > 0:42:35That one is from London and this one is from Rio.
0:42:35 > 0:42:37Where you got your individual gold.
0:42:37 > 0:42:38Yeah, he won them both,
0:42:38 > 0:42:41so you don't get many horses that win two gold medals.
0:42:41 > 0:42:43What is it in a horse like this
0:42:43 > 0:42:45that you are really looking for to breed from?
0:42:45 > 0:42:49I think he is combination, he's a very good-looking horse,
0:42:49 > 0:42:53he's got plenty of size about him, his mentality is very good.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56He's not difficult to ride, he's got a great temperament
0:42:56 > 0:42:59and, all in all, he's... he's as good a horse as you get.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02As good a horse as I have seen in my lifetime anyway.
0:43:02 > 0:43:04And if you've got all those combinations,
0:43:04 > 0:43:07will it run through? Should it run through?
0:43:07 > 0:43:09Well, I mean, it's not guaranteed to run through, but I mean,
0:43:09 > 0:43:12if you haven't got it to start with, I don't think it's ever
0:43:12 > 0:43:14going to run through, so at least he has got it there.
0:43:14 > 0:43:16- Has he got foals already? - Yes, he has.
0:43:16 > 0:43:19The eldest one in this country, I think, is four years old.
0:43:19 > 0:43:24And last season, his foal fetched over £90,000.
0:43:24 > 0:43:27- Goodness me!- His first foal, yes. - That's a lot of money!- Yes.
0:43:27 > 0:43:29Well, congratulations for all your achievements.
0:43:29 > 0:43:32- You're both national treasures. - Thank you.
0:43:36 > 0:43:38Nick and Big Star are now enjoying
0:43:38 > 0:43:40a well-earned retirement from competition,
0:43:40 > 0:43:45but the work to preserve the genetic traits of horses like him continues
0:43:45 > 0:43:49and that could benefit all our rare equine breeds.
0:43:51 > 0:43:54And there are other still more advanced techniques
0:43:54 > 0:43:56that could yet play a part.
0:44:00 > 0:44:02This is Murka's Gem.
0:44:02 > 0:44:06Remarkably, he's a clone of a horse called Gem Twist,
0:44:06 > 0:44:07who was renowned the world over
0:44:07 > 0:44:10for being one of the best showjumpers of all time.
0:44:10 > 0:44:12He's the stallion, so he can breed.
0:44:12 > 0:44:14And depending on where your ethics lie,
0:44:14 > 0:44:17whether there's the willingness and the money,
0:44:17 > 0:44:18perhaps, scientifically,
0:44:18 > 0:44:21this is another way of saving breeds from extinction.
0:44:36 > 0:44:40I'm on Gazegill Farm in the heart of the Ribble Valley,
0:44:40 > 0:44:44a place steeped in history that's always looking to the future.
0:44:46 > 0:44:48The nurturing approach of farmers Emma and Ian
0:44:48 > 0:44:51stretches far beyond the animals they rear.
0:44:55 > 0:44:59They've thrown open their doors to refugees recently arrived in the UK.
0:45:03 > 0:45:07Lee Holmes from the Country Trust is in charge of today's tour.
0:45:07 > 0:45:10So, Lee, tell me, why do the Country Trust do this?
0:45:10 > 0:45:13Every child, every young person, should have an opportunity
0:45:13 > 0:45:16to come and visit our amazing British countryside.
0:45:16 > 0:45:19What challenges can arise from doing this?
0:45:19 > 0:45:21You never know what is around the corner.
0:45:21 > 0:45:25Some people have had chaotic lives to get to our country.
0:45:25 > 0:45:30They are living in cities, so it is a little bit different.
0:45:30 > 0:45:34Some of them have not been in the country long, the refugees,
0:45:34 > 0:45:36so snow could be a first.
0:45:36 > 0:45:38How many people have you got coming down today?
0:45:38 > 0:45:42We've got 12 children and some parents.
0:45:42 > 0:45:43And where are they coming from?
0:45:43 > 0:45:45They are coming from Bradford, OK?
0:45:45 > 0:45:48- Lots more Bradfordians! - I know you're from Bradford.
0:45:48 > 0:45:49- You know I'm from Bradford.- So am I.
0:45:49 > 0:45:51I can't wait to see their reactions.
0:45:51 > 0:45:54- They'll be here shortly.- Good.
0:45:54 > 0:45:57These refugees have recently settled in my hometown,
0:45:57 > 0:45:59having fled war-torn Syria and Sudan.
0:45:59 > 0:46:02- Hi.- Hi, everyone.- Welcome!
0:46:02 > 0:46:06The dogs are absolutely fine and really friendly, OK?
0:46:06 > 0:46:10For many, this is their first time on a working farm.
0:46:10 > 0:46:14It's fine, it's fine. He's friendly, look.
0:46:14 > 0:46:17- He's a nice dog. - This one is called Alf.- Alfie.
0:46:17 > 0:46:18Hi, Alf.
0:46:18 > 0:46:21- There we go.- He's great.
0:46:21 > 0:46:24Winter in the Ribble Valley can be harsh
0:46:24 > 0:46:27and the cold is proving to be a bit of a culture shock.
0:46:29 > 0:46:30We're keeping warm.
0:46:32 > 0:46:35The snow, for these children, really is a novelty.
0:46:35 > 0:46:37Look, you've got to throw it, like this.
0:46:41 > 0:46:42Agh!
0:46:42 > 0:46:44It's a snowball fight!
0:46:46 > 0:46:48Oh, there we go!
0:46:50 > 0:46:53This visit to Gazegill is a chance for families
0:46:53 > 0:46:57/to get out of the city and spend time together making new memories.
0:46:57 > 0:46:59- Who's this, then? - PIG SQUEALS
0:46:59 > 0:47:00Oh!
0:47:00 > 0:47:03Do you want to give it a little stroke like this?
0:47:03 > 0:47:05- PIG SQUEALS - OK, come and say hello.
0:47:05 > 0:47:06A squealing pig.
0:47:06 > 0:47:08Squealing.
0:47:08 > 0:47:10- You've seen a pig before.- Yeah. - There you go.
0:47:10 > 0:47:13Do we know what these are called?
0:47:13 > 0:47:14What's this called?
0:47:14 > 0:47:17Yeah, these are pigs, but do we know what this is?
0:47:17 > 0:47:18Em...
0:47:18 > 0:47:20Like a hair.
0:47:20 > 0:47:24It's like hair, it's a bristle.
0:47:24 > 0:47:26These are soft bristles, yeah.
0:47:32 > 0:47:36For Emma and Ian, the farm has always played an important role
0:47:36 > 0:47:39in spreading the word about farming.
0:47:39 > 0:47:41How many times have you had refugees come,
0:47:41 > 0:47:43how many visits have you had?
0:47:43 > 0:47:46- We've had quite a few now.- Quite a few, yes. We've lost count.
0:47:46 > 0:47:49From Syrian to Somalian, so right across the spectrum, but, yeah.
0:47:49 > 0:47:51And what is the reaction?
0:47:51 > 0:47:52- It...- Varied.
0:47:52 > 0:47:54They are a bit lost when they first arrive.
0:47:54 > 0:47:57They hold on to the kids and they're worried about everything.
0:47:57 > 0:48:00- LEE:- You must do it like that, OK?
0:48:01 > 0:48:04LAUGHTER
0:48:04 > 0:48:07But by the time they're going, they've had a good day.
0:48:09 > 0:48:11APPLAUSE
0:48:11 > 0:48:12Why do you do it?
0:48:12 > 0:48:15Mum and Dad opened the farm, in the early '60s,
0:48:15 > 0:48:17to doing free school trips.
0:48:17 > 0:48:19They believed that they've got a beautiful back yard -
0:48:19 > 0:48:22why not share it with as many people as possible?
0:48:22 > 0:48:26It's a nice thing to do. The farm has always done it.
0:48:26 > 0:48:28It's something that we've carried on doing.
0:48:28 > 0:48:31We've always had Shorthorns, so it's that sort of thing,
0:48:31 > 0:48:34but it is enjoyable, it is enjoyable for us.
0:48:34 > 0:48:35It's nice to see.
0:48:35 > 0:48:37There you go!
0:48:37 > 0:48:40Look at that! You just fed a little pony!
0:48:41 > 0:48:44All of the refugees have a story.
0:48:44 > 0:48:49Seven months ago, Nagua and her family escaped civil war in Sudan.
0:48:49 > 0:48:52Hello, little Efra. There we go.
0:48:52 > 0:48:56She grew up in the Sudanese countryside.
0:48:56 > 0:48:57So, what was your life like?
0:48:57 > 0:49:01Did you plant your own vegetables? Were you farmers?
0:49:03 > 0:49:07- TRANSLATION:- I was 12 years old. I was young,
0:49:07 > 0:49:11but the adults worked on the farm and we helped them harvest the crop.
0:49:13 > 0:49:17Now that you're in the UK, what are your hopes for the future?
0:49:19 > 0:49:22- TRANSLATION:- I hope to raise my children in a better environment
0:49:22 > 0:49:26and educate them as, unfortunately, I never got this opportunity.
0:49:26 > 0:49:28Maybe she could be a farmer.
0:49:28 > 0:49:30An English farmer.
0:49:30 > 0:49:32TRANSLATOR SPEAKS
0:49:32 > 0:49:35- Mumki.- Possible!
0:49:35 > 0:49:37I know what "mumki" means, it means possible.
0:49:37 > 0:49:40Why the heck not, eh? Why the heck not?
0:49:40 > 0:49:43The final event of the day is something all kids
0:49:43 > 0:49:48and, to be honest, I love, even in this weather.
0:49:48 > 0:49:49Who likes ice cream?
0:49:49 > 0:49:51I like it!
0:49:51 > 0:49:53What is your favourite flavour?
0:49:53 > 0:49:55- Strawberry.- Me too!
0:49:55 > 0:50:00This is a chance for the youngsters to make their own ice cream.
0:50:00 > 0:50:02The creamier the better, I say. Yes!
0:50:02 > 0:50:04Delicious!
0:50:04 > 0:50:07It's made using the best and most local produce.
0:50:09 > 0:50:11Do you know where the milk comes from?
0:50:11 > 0:50:14In the barn next door.
0:50:14 > 0:50:16- Yes!- Yeah, the cows next door.
0:50:18 > 0:50:20It's so important that these newcomers
0:50:20 > 0:50:22get the chance to see rural British life
0:50:22 > 0:50:25and learn where their food comes from.
0:50:32 > 0:50:34Off they go.
0:50:35 > 0:50:37Back to the city.
0:50:38 > 0:50:40Some of those families, that was
0:50:40 > 0:50:42their first ever trip to the British countryside
0:50:42 > 0:50:45and I think they've had the most amazing day.
0:50:45 > 0:50:46I certainly have.
0:50:59 > 0:51:01Now, I might not be able to feel my toes,
0:51:01 > 0:51:03but there's never a wrong time for ice cream, is there?
0:51:03 > 0:51:05We have had it all.
0:51:05 > 0:51:07We've had sun, we've had snow, even hail,
0:51:07 > 0:51:10but what is the weather doing for the week ahead?
0:51:10 > 0:51:12Here is the Countryfile forecast.
0:52:10 > 0:52:11We're in the Ribble Valley
0:52:11 > 0:52:14and while Anita has been having fun on the farm...
0:52:14 > 0:52:17Snowball fight!
0:52:17 > 0:52:20..I've been exploring Gisburn Forest.
0:52:22 > 0:52:25Earlier, I met a group enjoying the forest on four wheels.
0:52:27 > 0:52:32But this place is also renowned for adventures on two wheels.
0:52:32 > 0:52:33We're talking mountain bikes
0:52:33 > 0:52:37and there's no less than 30km of trail to explore.
0:52:41 > 0:52:45The unusual thing here is that a group of fanatical cyclists
0:52:45 > 0:52:47give up thousands of hours of their time
0:52:47 > 0:52:49to help maintain the trails.
0:52:49 > 0:52:52And I'm following in the tyre tracks of Anthony Lacey,
0:52:52 > 0:52:55a local coach and enthusiastic volunteer.
0:52:55 > 0:52:58Here's the hardy team, then, yeah?
0:52:58 > 0:53:02The trails themselves are maintained mostly by the volunteer group.
0:53:02 > 0:53:04How are we doing, team, all right?
0:53:04 > 0:53:06You are keeping warm, then, in the snow?
0:53:06 > 0:53:08Great! What have you been up to here?
0:53:08 > 0:53:11Is this a little bit of a drain or a new feature you are putting in?
0:53:11 > 0:53:13People have just been going off to the side,
0:53:13 > 0:53:16so we've filled the muddy hole with rock
0:53:16 > 0:53:20and now we're just about to put some gravel over it
0:53:20 > 0:53:23and jump up and down on it.
0:53:23 > 0:53:25Flatten it down again!
0:53:25 > 0:53:27But this is all very technical!
0:53:27 > 0:53:29And, Anthony, as far as the forest is concerned,
0:53:29 > 0:53:32what does it offer mountain-bike riders?
0:53:32 > 0:53:35Mountain-bike riders, we've got a really wide range of trails here,
0:53:35 > 0:53:38we've got trails for all abilities and there is all sorts of
0:53:38 > 0:53:42little interesting features here and there.
0:53:42 > 0:53:44This place has such a wide catchment area.
0:53:44 > 0:53:46People are coming in from far and wide.
0:53:46 > 0:53:49We've actually had people coming up from London just to ride Gisburn
0:53:49 > 0:53:53and to do a course, which obviously, for me, is fantastic.
0:53:53 > 0:53:56It seems like the trails have always been here, you know,
0:53:56 > 0:53:58but there was a time when there wasn't really anything,
0:53:58 > 0:54:00there were just forest tracks
0:54:00 > 0:54:02and it's all been down to the Forestry and the group
0:54:02 > 0:54:06that we've managed to get together that has made it all happen.
0:54:06 > 0:54:10You ride the trails that we build and that's the best bit for me,
0:54:10 > 0:54:12you build them and you ride them.
0:54:12 > 0:54:14How long has all this been going, then?
0:54:14 > 0:54:18- Give or take, probably a little over nine years now.- Right.
0:54:18 > 0:54:19And in that time,
0:54:19 > 0:54:23any idea how much of this trail you have actually built by hand?
0:54:23 > 0:54:27The volunteers have done more than three miles.
0:54:27 > 0:54:30More than 8,000 man-hours have gone into it.
0:54:30 > 0:54:32It's impressive, team. It is impressive!
0:54:32 > 0:54:34MATT LAUGHS
0:54:34 > 0:54:36Good to see you. All the best.
0:54:36 > 0:54:40- Enjoy!- Cheers, see you later. Thanks.
0:54:45 > 0:54:47Nothing gets the New Year off to an exhilarating start
0:54:47 > 0:54:49like an icy mountain-bike adventure.
0:54:49 > 0:54:53It might be cold, but this is one way of staying warm.
0:55:00 > 0:55:01Oh, bit marshy there!
0:55:05 > 0:55:07Safely over the bridge and that will do
0:55:07 > 0:55:10because, on that note, that is all we've got time for this week.
0:55:10 > 0:55:13Next week we're going to be in Somerset, where we'll be
0:55:13 > 0:55:16discovering a wildlife project that is involving the whole community.
0:55:16 > 0:55:18But, Anita, I am on my way.
0:55:18 > 0:55:21I can't believe I'm saying this, but, from a snow-filled forest,
0:55:21 > 0:55:25save us an ice cream. Bye-bye.
0:55:25 > 0:55:27Well, Matt, you'd better get your skates on
0:55:27 > 0:55:29because this is the last bit and it's melting.
0:55:29 > 0:55:31I've saved him one, really!
0:55:31 > 0:55:33We'll see you all next week. Bye.