:00:26. > :00:32.Shropshire, a rural county, residing where England meets Wales.
:00:33. > :00:42.And it's here that something is happening
:00:43. > :00:47.that could change the face of our woodlands for ever.
:00:48. > :00:53.Ellie's meeting an urban artist with a passion for the countryside.
:00:54. > :00:56.Matt Sewell may be known for his graffiti,
:00:57. > :00:59.but it's his characterful sketches of birds
:01:00. > :01:02.that are capturing everyone's imaginations.
:01:03. > :01:11.for billions of growing farm animals is no easy task.
:01:12. > :01:14.So could these little fellows be the answer?
:01:15. > :01:18.I'll be getting an exclusive look at European trials
:01:19. > :01:24.where they're feeding maggots to pigs and chickens.
:01:25. > :01:28.And Adam's in Devon, looking at a whole new approach to animal safety.
:01:29. > :01:32.On our moors and open commons that are crossed by roads
:01:33. > :01:36.on foggy days and at night, like now,
:01:37. > :01:40.the animals are often hit by cars, causing serious accidents.
:01:41. > :01:43.And hopefully, this special glow-in-the-dark paint
:01:44. > :01:57.can be applied to the animals and be a solution to that problem.
:01:58. > :02:00.The hills, farms and woodland of Shropshire
:02:01. > :02:08.Today, I'm in the heart of the county,
:02:09. > :02:11.in a woodland tucked between the busy market towns
:02:12. > :02:19.This year, autumn has been spectacular.
:02:20. > :02:23.Thanks to the wet summer and mild autumnal months,
:02:24. > :02:26.the colours of the countryside have been particularly vivid.
:02:27. > :02:31.But beautiful as they are, not all is well with our British trees.
:02:32. > :02:36.The threat from diseases and pests is a continual problem.
:02:37. > :02:42.Two epidemics of Dutch elm disease in the 1920s and '70s
:02:43. > :02:47.wiped out more than 60 million native elm trees in the UK,
:02:48. > :02:52.robbing the British landscape forever.
:02:53. > :02:56.And Dutch elm disease was just the start.
:02:57. > :03:02.knows the current state of our British trees.
:03:03. > :03:06.Well, what do you see as the big concerns facing our trees?
:03:07. > :03:08.Well, I think there are a couple of big concerns.
:03:09. > :03:13.But I think pests and diseases on trees are a huge issue
:03:14. > :03:18.We're faced with hundreds of new diseases coming from abroad
:03:19. > :03:20.and I think some of our trees are going to struggle
:03:21. > :03:24.I think some of the biggest threats are already here.
:03:25. > :03:26.So if you think about the larch tree,
:03:27. > :03:30.but it's currently suffering from Phytophthora.
:03:31. > :03:32.Chalara of ash is a real concern of ours.
:03:33. > :03:36.I think particularly because ash is probably our third most common tree.
:03:37. > :03:40.that it could change the face of some of our landscapes.
:03:41. > :03:43.And there are some very nasty beetles around at the moment, aren't there?
:03:44. > :03:45.Yeah, there are some particularly interesting beetles
:03:46. > :03:47.coming into our country at the moment.
:03:48. > :03:49.One of them I've got an example of here.
:03:50. > :03:55.That came in a few years ago on packaging from China.
:03:56. > :03:57.Fortunately, it was spotted early enough
:03:58. > :03:59.to mean that we were able to take control measures
:04:00. > :04:03.That's happening, is it? We're beating this beetle?
:04:04. > :04:05.So we're beating this one at the moment.
:04:06. > :04:09.that we have controls in place at our borders,
:04:10. > :04:12.so we're able to check packaging materials for things like this.
:04:13. > :04:16.But with more than 800 tree diseases and pests
:04:17. > :04:20.listed on the government's Plant Health Risk Register,
:04:21. > :04:22.there's more to be done to protect our woodland.
:04:23. > :04:25.that our trees will die of pests and diseases.
:04:26. > :04:29.But I think what we can do is we can plant more trees
:04:30. > :04:33.And particularly, UK-sourced and grown trees.
:04:34. > :04:36.Because I think it's really important that we don't, actually,
:04:37. > :04:41.introduced more pests and diseases into the countryside.
:04:42. > :04:45.A green shoot of hope comes in the form of tree packs from the Trust,
:04:46. > :04:48.given out to schools and community groups.
:04:49. > :04:51.We've planted half a million trees this year
:04:52. > :04:59.and we're hoping to plant 4? million over the next three years.
:05:00. > :05:01.To gather the seeds it needs for the project,
:05:02. > :05:03.the Woodland Trust works in partnership
:05:04. > :05:12.This is one of the woods where you're harvesting the seeds, then?
:05:13. > :05:15.Yeah, we're harvesting yew berries here.
:05:16. > :05:23.Robert Lee and his colleagues harvest 250 native species of seed
:05:24. > :05:28.The yew tree is not in any great danger at the moment, is it?
:05:29. > :05:31.But it's important to collect a good stock of the berries.
:05:32. > :05:35.Yeah, we're aiming to collect seed from native trees
:05:36. > :05:38.to ensure that what's being planted in the future
:05:39. > :05:47.we'd hope to have around 100 kilos of seed from these trees.
:05:48. > :05:51.four or five kilos of seed here at the moment.
:05:52. > :05:55.The aim is to harvest enough of this seed to last for more than one year.
:05:56. > :05:59.should there be a crop failure next year.
:06:00. > :06:03.We have a whole network of people in different parts of the country
:06:04. > :06:06.that will make some of those collections for us.
:06:07. > :06:08.So they're waiting for just the right time
:06:09. > :06:10.to swoop in and get the berries and the seeds?
:06:11. > :06:14.For some species, there's a window of opportunity of two or three days.
:06:15. > :06:21.For others, it might be three or four weeks.
:06:22. > :06:24.Armed with the fruits of today's harvest,
:06:25. > :06:26.a few kilos of berries and lots of leaves,
:06:27. > :06:31.we're heading back to the seed sorting unit just outside Shrewsbury.
:06:32. > :06:42.The contraptions they use here are like nothing I've ever seen before.
:06:43. > :06:45.This is an old-fashioned winnowing machine.
:06:46. > :06:47.The machine itself is probably around 100 years old. Wow!
:06:48. > :06:52.We've just modified it by putting an electric motor onto the machine.
:06:53. > :06:54.And a cardboard chute, I see. A cardboard chute.
:06:55. > :07:02.It works by sieving to different sizes.
:07:03. > :07:05.So we tend to put large sieves in it, small sieves,
:07:06. > :07:09.to take out all the impurities and just end up with clean seed.
:07:10. > :07:11.And what have we got over there, Robert?
:07:12. > :07:13.I mean, that looks really Heath Robinson to me.
:07:14. > :07:15.This is actually a home-made machine.
:07:16. > :07:18.It works very, very efficiently, in actual fact. Right.
:07:19. > :07:26.by using an extractor fan or even a Hoover.
:07:27. > :07:28.And we can feed the seeds through the machine.
:07:29. > :07:31.So it's set up so the good seeds that are heavier,
:07:32. > :07:34.they're falling into the tub. Right.
:07:35. > :07:36.And any impurities or empty seeds, which are light...
:07:37. > :07:41.They're blown up. ..they're being sucked out of the machine.
:07:42. > :07:52.So we do end up with a very, very clean sample.
:07:53. > :07:56.Every year, Robert and his team grow five million plants
:07:57. > :07:59.from the gathered seeds for the Woodland Trust.
:08:00. > :08:01.Then they're sent to nurseries around the UK
:08:02. > :08:10.by taking some of these saplings to a nearby farm.
:08:11. > :08:12.Some more trees! Ah, more supplies, lads.
:08:13. > :08:20.Some more saplings for us. Thanks, John.
:08:21. > :08:35.But as Tom has been discovering, they can also be a solution.
:08:36. > :08:40.Deep in the undergrowth, a farming revolution is stirring.
:08:41. > :08:51.Insects - increasingly being tipped as the food of the future.
:08:52. > :08:53.Deep-fried grasshoppers or crunchy crickets
:08:54. > :08:58.are largely seen as novelty foods, quirky canapes
:08:59. > :09:04.But this...isn't all about me and my tastes.
:09:05. > :09:14.There are plans to use insects as an ingredient in animal feed.
:09:15. > :09:18.There are more than 1.2 billion farm animals across the EU
:09:19. > :09:22.and they can't live on grass and hay alone.
:09:23. > :09:35.It's high in protein and a staple food for pigs and poultry.
:09:36. > :09:43.so we ship most of it in from South America.
:09:44. > :09:47.The problem is that supply is becoming increasingly unreliable.
:09:48. > :09:51.can no longer bank on endless shipments of soya,
:09:52. > :09:56.something that concerns the boss, Andrew Richardson.
:09:57. > :09:59.So how much have we got in here? Round about 30, 35 tonnes.
:10:00. > :10:01.It's all found its way in from Brazil.
:10:02. > :10:05.Why is this soya so important to Europe?
:10:06. > :10:11.and it's got a really good amino acid profile, as well.
:10:12. > :10:13.So to produce this kind of product within Europe
:10:14. > :10:15.is quite difficult, because of the climate.
:10:16. > :10:19.Why can't we just carry on importing this stuff in vast tonnages?
:10:20. > :10:22.The problem is, we don't want to be chopping down the rainforests.
:10:23. > :10:25.You know, the 40 million tonnes of these kinds of products
:10:26. > :10:30.creates a heavy demand on the Earth's resources.
:10:31. > :10:34.Even though soya production has been blamed for causing deforestation,
:10:35. > :10:39.it's not a product we can easily do without.
:10:40. > :10:41.So what would be the impact on our pig and poultry industry
:10:42. > :10:44.if we just stopped importing it? It's extremely difficult.
:10:45. > :10:47.You know, the commercial viability of many pig and poultry farms
:10:48. > :10:54.This conundrum has been dubbed the EU protein deficit
:10:55. > :10:57.and it's got the farming industry worried,
:10:58. > :11:00.leading some to think insects could plug the gap.
:11:01. > :11:03.Nutritionally, there is a strong case.
:11:04. > :11:15.to work out if insects could be farmed on an industrial scale.
:11:16. > :11:28.at the Food and Environment Research Agency in York.
:11:29. > :11:31.This is where I get to see live flies.
:11:32. > :11:33.Sorry if you're feeling a little bit queasy.
:11:34. > :11:37.They live in tents and it's their larvae, the maggots,
:11:38. > :11:43.that end up being fed to fish, pigs and poultry.
:11:44. > :11:49.Dr Elaine Fitches is coordinating the PROteINSECT project.
:11:50. > :11:53.The most extraordinary kind of farming I've ever seen.
:11:54. > :11:56.How on earth do you go about farming a fly?
:11:57. > :11:59.You can consider the adult flies as the breeding stock.
:12:00. > :12:01.We make sure that the flies are healthy enough
:12:02. > :12:07.Each female fly will produce maybe 500 eggs.
:12:08. > :12:11.The eggs are removed from the tents and placed on trays of manure,
:12:12. > :12:19.feeding until they're ready to turn into a cocoon or pupa.
:12:20. > :12:24.That's the final stage of development before becoming a fly.
:12:25. > :12:27.But just before that happens, nature lends a helping hand.
:12:28. > :12:31.The maggots wriggle out of the manure on their own
:12:32. > :12:36.This means they can be easily harvested
:12:37. > :12:41.How do you kill the maggots and harvest them?
:12:42. > :12:46.In Europe, there are two options - freezing or heating.
:12:47. > :12:49.Overall, why are you doing this? Why do think it's important?
:12:50. > :12:51.The world doesn't grow with the population.
:12:52. > :12:54.And we have to become more efficient in the production of protein
:12:55. > :13:01.in terms of protein production per hectare per year.
:13:02. > :13:07.you could get approximately 150 times the amount of protein
:13:08. > :13:10.per hectare per year, as compared to soya production.
:13:11. > :13:13.This is why I'm so passionate about it,
:13:14. > :13:19.because I really do think this could offer something towards a solution.
:13:20. > :13:21.So they've figured out how to farm insects,
:13:22. > :13:27.Countryfile has been given exclusive access
:13:28. > :13:34.I'll be seeing pigs and poultry feasting on insect meal
:13:35. > :13:36.and answering a very important question -
:13:37. > :13:53.I've come to a secret location in the south of Shropshire,
:13:54. > :13:59.on the hunt for one of the UK's rarest native mammals.
:14:00. > :14:03.Pine martens were once widespread across the UK,
:14:04. > :14:09.but in the 19th century, they suffered a massive decline.
:14:10. > :14:14.Loss of habitat and persecution pushed the pine marten to the brink.
:14:15. > :14:20.For more than 50 years, they were thought to be extinct in England.
:14:21. > :14:31.But a chance encounter in these very woods may tell a different story.
:14:32. > :14:34.Local Dave Pearce was out taking photographs one evening
:14:35. > :14:41.and I got aware of something over my shoulder,
:14:42. > :14:43.so turned round and there was a shape moving
:14:44. > :14:49.It was going really fast and, all of a sudden,
:14:50. > :14:52.it dawned on me that it was a pine marten.
:14:53. > :14:55.So I needed to get a photograph off pretty quick.
:14:56. > :14:58.But it wasn't until it came through a clearing
:14:59. > :15:01.And you managed to get some? Can we have a look? Yes, yeah.
:15:02. > :15:04.That can't have been easy, because they move pretty quick.
:15:05. > :15:09.Any doubt in your mind they might have been a stoat or a weasel?
:15:10. > :15:12.I'd never seen one before, but I think the sheer size,
:15:13. > :15:16.you know, it's over two foot in length,
:15:17. > :15:18.the shoulders are really big and the colour.
:15:19. > :15:23.So I needed to get these off to the Wildlife Trust to verify them.
:15:24. > :15:29.Fabulous. You must be so pleased to have got these. Yes, yes.
:15:30. > :15:34.Verification fell to Stuart Edmunds of the Shropshire Wildlife Trust.
:15:35. > :15:37.Since 2009, he's also been on the trail
:15:38. > :15:46.Stuart, all this kit just to get a sight of a pine marten.
:15:47. > :15:54.that we'd actually got that pine marten in Shropshire.
:15:55. > :15:56.You knew straightaway? Yeah, straightaway.
:15:57. > :15:59.Oh, wow. What did you do, then, as soon as you'd seen that?
:16:00. > :16:03.So the first thing, really, was I have to get out immediately,
:16:04. > :16:09.strike while the iron is hot and get as many cameras out as possible.
:16:10. > :16:12.What Stuart captured was more extraordinary
:16:13. > :16:21.of pine martens living in these woods.
:16:22. > :16:25.It was a bit of a kind of sit down shock moment for me.
:16:26. > :16:27.Completely something I wasn't expecting.
:16:28. > :16:31.we've got an English population of pine martens
:16:32. > :16:37.that we could actually hang around to study.
:16:38. > :16:40.Now Stuart and his team aim to research the pine martens
:16:41. > :16:48.We now just slide that into the rear of the tunnel.
:16:49. > :16:50.Pine martens are dependent on vertical habitat,
:16:51. > :16:53.because they're perfectly adapted to spending time up in trees.
:16:54. > :16:56.Not too many people around and there's plenty of food around
:16:57. > :16:58.in the form of bilberries and grey squirrels.
:16:59. > :17:06.There you go. That's pretty well covered.
:17:07. > :17:09.Once, pine marten fur was highly prized,
:17:10. > :17:15.Today, all Stuart's trying to get is just one hair,
:17:16. > :17:25.What do you think you might find out from the DNA tests?
:17:26. > :17:28.The assumption is that most pine martens
:17:29. > :17:30.that have been found in England and Wales
:17:31. > :17:35.But from speaking to locals in this area,
:17:36. > :17:37.they've actually reported seeing pine martens
:17:38. > :17:41.And you're trying to find out whether this population
:17:42. > :17:43.comes from them or whether it's from a long time ago.
:17:44. > :17:46.It could have been a presumed extinct variety, yes,
:17:47. > :17:49.that's been living under people's noses for all of these years.
:17:50. > :17:57.So this is the only way to find out? Yes. Great.
:17:58. > :18:00.Now, with me and the Countryfile crew traipsing around the woods
:18:01. > :18:04.there is no chance of us seeing a pine marten.
:18:05. > :18:08.we might have captured some footage of them.
:18:09. > :18:12.Last month, the Countryfile team, along with the Wildlife Trust,
:18:13. > :18:17.But with pine martens having such large territories,
:18:18. > :18:22.could we catch a tantalising glimpse?
:18:23. > :18:26.Yeah, this is not ideal weather for pine martens.
:18:27. > :18:28.No, or laptops. No, absolutely not.
:18:29. > :18:31.Right, let's have a look, then. Here we go...
:18:32. > :18:42.Mr Badger. And a badger, of course, yeah.
:18:43. > :18:46.That is one of the benefits, obviously.
:18:47. > :18:50.we don't always guarantee that we'll get a pine marten,
:18:51. > :18:52.but we are getting really good records of these other species.
:18:53. > :18:54.So we're able to monitor things like...
:18:55. > :18:56.Oh, it's a muntjac. A muntjac deer, yeah.
:18:57. > :18:59.We had no idea there were even muntjac in this part of Shropshire,
:19:00. > :19:08.But despite clip after clip of fantastic wildlife,
:19:09. > :19:28.Oh...! I really thought it was a pine marten for a second,
:19:29. > :19:30.because it's climbing along a branch,
:19:31. > :19:32.which you don't really associate with foxes.
:19:33. > :19:34.It's quite hard to tell the scale, isn't it?
:19:35. > :19:37.I wasn't sure if that was cat size or not. It wasn't. It was a fox.
:19:38. > :19:45.At the end of the day, a curious fox was as close as we got.
:19:46. > :19:47.Do you know, I'm not that disappointed
:19:48. > :19:52.because, for the first time in more than 100 years,
:19:53. > :19:56.there's evidence of a population of them here in England.
:19:57. > :19:59.And I've been in these very woods where they've been sighted.
:20:00. > :20:20.So I'll just have to hold out and hope I get lucky some other day.
:20:21. > :20:23.I've come to this farm just outside Market Drayton
:20:24. > :20:26.to meet the third generation of a farming family,
:20:27. > :20:32.a brother and sister who are building on their father's legacy.
:20:33. > :20:35.But to do that, Ben and Charlotte Hollins had first of all
:20:36. > :20:40.when they were only 19 and 21 years old.
:20:41. > :20:44.With the help of local people, they managed to raise enough money
:20:45. > :20:50.to turn the farm into England's first ever community-owned farm.
:20:51. > :21:04.Now, that must've been a heck of a challenge taking over the farm
:21:05. > :21:07.when you were so young after your father died. Yeah, it was.
:21:08. > :21:09.But to be honest, we just did what we needed to do.
:21:10. > :21:12.Charlotte and I grew up on the farm. We always wanted to be here.
:21:13. > :21:17.And, you know, we just did what we felt we had to do at the time.
:21:18. > :21:20.And everything is working well now? Yeah, it seems to be going well.
:21:21. > :21:22.We've got plenty of cattle about now.
:21:23. > :21:25.When Charlotte and I took over, we had 11 cows, six pigs and six sheep.
:21:26. > :21:29.Now we've got 120 cattle, 200 sheep and 70, 80 pigs.
:21:30. > :21:36.So the farm is thriving, all thanks to a bold decision
:21:37. > :21:39.made by Ben and Charlotte's father Arthur Hollins,
:21:40. > :21:46.We first heard about Arthur's ideas on Countryfile back in 1992.
:21:47. > :21:49.I had to try and find out what it was
:21:50. > :21:53.that made Father almost virtually bankrupt
:21:54. > :21:57.Barley was only growing to about a foot high.
:21:58. > :22:00.And yet, the woodland around me, which I was a lover of,
:22:01. > :22:06.And Father had to feed his land and still wasn't getting good results.
:22:07. > :22:12.Well it's taken a lifetime, which is some 50, 60 years.
:22:13. > :22:16.And we found that the main cause of the problem
:22:17. > :22:18.was the exposure of soil to sunlight.
:22:19. > :22:24.By going against the conventional practice
:22:25. > :22:27.of ploughing and reseeding every year,
:22:28. > :22:32.Arthur was able to preserve and perfect his pasture.
:22:33. > :22:35.Now, some 60 years after their dad decided to go organic,
:22:36. > :22:38.Arthur's children are still reaping the rewards.
:22:39. > :22:42.To Dad, you know, it wasn't necessarily understood
:22:43. > :22:46.it was actually just going back to the way things were.
:22:47. > :22:48.It was understanding the natural systems,
:22:49. > :22:50.the systems that the Earth has created over millennia
:22:51. > :22:54.and utilising that as much as possible to be able to create food.
:22:55. > :22:58.And what's this theory of his about foggage?
:22:59. > :23:00.Yes, so, foggage is the system that Dad created.
:23:01. > :23:03.And it's a fantastic system which we still use here today,
:23:04. > :23:06.which is based on a huge diversity of different grasses and herbs,
:23:07. > :23:09.right throughout our pastures here at Fordhall.
:23:10. > :23:11.And a rotation of the livestock across those fields
:23:12. > :23:18.The animals here can graze 40 different varieties of grass,
:23:19. > :23:24.which means there's no need for additional feed.
:23:25. > :23:29.And it's those decades of growth that have led to such thick, lush pasture.
:23:30. > :23:32.Some of those grasses are then bringing nutrients up
:23:33. > :23:37.some of the ones like the Timothies and the fescues
:23:38. > :23:40.have kind of got roots more across the surface,
:23:41. > :23:43.which help protect the soil during the winter months.
:23:44. > :23:45.Things like the plantains and the dandelion
:23:46. > :23:50.which go right down and they help maintain the soil structure.
:23:51. > :23:53.You can also see how sandy our soil is.
:23:54. > :23:55.You know, and so it doesn't take very long,
:23:56. > :23:57.if we didn't have this type of root structure,
:23:58. > :24:02.we would be losing our soil to erosion every single winter.
:24:03. > :24:04.When you're walking over a field like this,
:24:05. > :24:06.it's like walking on a Persian carpet.
:24:07. > :24:20.and, no matter how much the cattle walk on it, they don't damage it.
:24:21. > :24:23.Arthur's Persian carpet of grass is as healthy as ever
:24:24. > :24:37.In fact, the only tractor here is the one the children play on.
:24:38. > :24:40.But it's Ben and Charlotte's determination and passion,
:24:41. > :24:48.that's enabled the farm to grow and diversify.
:24:49. > :24:54.I'll be finding out more about that later.
:24:55. > :24:58.are the final, fading colours of autumn.
:24:59. > :25:02.But if you'd like the colours of the countryside all year round,
:25:03. > :25:14.The calendar costs ?9.50, including free UK delivery.
:25:15. > :25:19.You can buy yours either on our website. That's...
:25:20. > :25:46.To order by post, send your name, address and cheque to...
:25:47. > :25:50.And at least ?4 of the sale of every calendar
:25:51. > :25:59.And it does make a really nice Christmas present.
:26:00. > :26:01.Now, earlier, we heard how insects could be used
:26:02. > :26:10.But how would that work in practice? Here's Tom...
:26:11. > :26:13.Animals need protein to thrive and grow.
:26:14. > :26:16.At the moment, two thirds of that protein is imported,
:26:17. > :26:20.mainly in the form of soya from South America.
:26:21. > :26:24.But being so reliant on imports is a vulnerable position to be in.
:26:25. > :26:27.The farming industry is looking for alternatives.
:26:28. > :26:34.They're higher in protein than the current main source,
:26:35. > :26:37.which is soya, so the potential is huge.
:26:38. > :26:40.But it's the practicalities of feeding insects to farm animals
:26:41. > :26:50.Some of the top brains in Europe are working on it, though.
:26:51. > :26:52.I've made a trip across the Channel to Belgium,
:26:53. > :26:55.where pioneering feed trials are underway.
:26:56. > :26:58.Not the local waffles, though they are very good,
:26:59. > :27:05.I'm visiting Nutrition Sciences, a private company near Ghent,
:27:06. > :27:08.where the theory is being put into practice.
:27:09. > :27:13.and it's the first time they've allowed it to be filmed.
:27:14. > :27:19.These are the larvae from ordinary houseflies, dried maggots.
:27:20. > :27:23.They then get milled into a powder like this,
:27:24. > :27:27.which is mixed to make feed for chickens and pigs.
:27:28. > :27:33.This is a first for me and a first for the farming industry in Europe.
:27:34. > :27:37.Geert Bruggeman is in charge of the experiment.
:27:38. > :27:42.I've brought you your bucket of powdered maggots.
:27:43. > :27:45.The insect meal is mixed in with grain,
:27:46. > :27:49.vitamins and minerals to top up the protein content.
:27:50. > :27:53.These piglets have been eating it for about a week.
:27:54. > :27:55.But it's the first time they've had an audience.
:27:56. > :27:59.So these are the first pigs to be fed on insects, are they? Yes.
:28:00. > :28:04.They're a bit cautious at first, but soon get stuck in.
:28:05. > :28:07.but what is really the point of this trial?
:28:08. > :28:11.We want to see that they grow as fast on insect meal
:28:12. > :28:13.compared to the other protein sources.
:28:14. > :28:16.But in addition, we are also looking for ecological effects
:28:17. > :28:20.and the health of these insect proteins on the animal.
:28:21. > :28:23.So it's about how well they grow and do they remain healthy.
:28:24. > :28:27.The kind of things a farmer would want to know. Yes, isn't it?
:28:28. > :28:32.that need this kind of protein-based feed.
:28:33. > :28:35.Geert is also serving insect meal to chickens.
:28:36. > :28:38.What do you think the public will think of this idea?
:28:39. > :28:43.So you don't think they'll be turned off by the yuck factor?
:28:44. > :28:45.You know, "I don't like the idea of insects!"
:28:46. > :28:48.Yeah, that's the first reaction of lots of people, the yuck factor.
:28:49. > :28:53.And one of the aims of the project is indeed creating awareness.
:28:54. > :28:56.How confident are you personally that in, say, ten years' time,
:28:57. > :29:00.insects will be part of the farm animal diet in Europe?
:29:01. > :29:02.Yeah, I think insects have a promising future
:29:03. > :29:06.as a protein source in animal nutrition.
:29:07. > :29:11.All this is part of an ambitious project called PROteINSECT.
:29:12. > :29:16.If we're ever going to see this on British farms,
:29:17. > :29:22.and that's the support of the public.
:29:23. > :29:28.PROteINSECT commissioned a European-wide consumer survey.
:29:29. > :29:31.They wanted to find out if we know or care
:29:32. > :29:40.And Countryfile can exclusively reveal the results of that survey.
:29:41. > :29:44.For a start, three quarters said they would be comfortable
:29:45. > :29:48.eating the meat of an animal that's been fed on insects.
:29:49. > :29:51.There was also a question about food safety.
:29:52. > :29:55.More than three quarters of people felt there was little or no risk
:29:56. > :29:59.to human health from eating meat reared on insects.
:30:00. > :30:02.But that left a significant proportion, around one in ten,
:30:03. > :30:08.The job of ensuring what we eat is safe
:30:09. > :30:11.falls to the European Food Safety Authority,
:30:12. > :30:16.Last month, it published its official scientific opinion
:30:17. > :30:22.on the risks associated with producing and eating insects.
:30:23. > :30:25.Dr Adrian Charlton sits on Efsa's expert panel,
:30:26. > :30:28.so spends plenty of time in Brussels.
:30:29. > :30:31.He's also a member of the PROteINSECT team
:30:32. > :30:35.and he's agreed to come and meet me in the Belgian countryside.
:30:36. > :30:37.Is it safe to feed insects to farm animals?
:30:38. > :30:40.At the moment, I think the opinion generally suggests
:30:41. > :30:44.that it's as safe as any other form of livestock production.
:30:45. > :30:46.Are there any particular concerns with insects?
:30:47. > :30:49.There's a number of different toxins in the environment
:30:50. > :30:53.There's a possibility that some of these toxins
:30:54. > :30:59.and if animals are fed on insects over a long period of time,
:31:00. > :31:02.that the toxins will then accumulate in the animals.
:31:03. > :31:05.Now, the end of that would result in higher toxin levels
:31:06. > :31:07.in the meat products that end up on our shelves.
:31:08. > :31:10.So that's really something we need to guard against.
:31:11. > :31:14.for people to eat insects, if they want to,
:31:15. > :31:18.but it's currently illegal to put them into animal feed
:31:19. > :31:22.under rules brought in following the BSE crisis.
:31:23. > :31:24.The legislation really wasn't intended
:31:25. > :31:26.to control insects within the food chain.
:31:27. > :31:27.So people are having a serious rethink
:31:28. > :31:29.about whether the legislation is appropriate.
:31:30. > :31:35.I think, in the long term, yes, it will.
:31:36. > :31:40.But I think we need to do a lot of work to understand how it changes.
:31:41. > :31:44.But one of Europe's most cautious institutions
:31:45. > :31:49.seems open to the idea of using insects as feed.
:31:50. > :31:53.what about the man who'd have to sell it to the farmers?
:31:54. > :31:55.Andrew, can you see the day when this hopper
:31:56. > :32:02.You know, we wouldn't rule out looking at using something
:32:03. > :32:06.that's gone through the stringent guidelines, rules and regulations
:32:07. > :32:09.to be able to use other sources of protein.
:32:10. > :32:11.And providing it safe and traceable and its sustainable,
:32:12. > :32:21.Even European policy advisers have given it a guarded endorsement.
:32:22. > :32:25.Providing more research is done, of course.
:32:26. > :32:27.But for insect farming to truly work,
:32:28. > :32:30.it needs to be safe, practical for the farmers
:32:31. > :32:40.And for that, we might need to overcome the yuck factor.
:32:41. > :32:45.Would you eat insects or animals that have been fed on insects?
:32:46. > :33:02.or contact us through our website at...
:33:03. > :33:07.Increasing numbers of livestock are being killed on our country roads.
:33:08. > :33:10.It's a particular problem in Gloucestershire, where Adam lives.
:33:11. > :33:17.And it's ingenious, as Adam's about to find out.
:33:18. > :33:20.I'm on Minchinhampton Common in the Cotswolds.
:33:21. > :33:23.It's one of the most beautiful commons in the country
:33:24. > :33:26.and it's kept in shape partly by these lovely animals.
:33:27. > :33:31.Cattle have grazed here since medieval times.
:33:32. > :33:35.But these animals are falling victim to a very modern problem.
:33:36. > :33:41.The common is crisscrossed by lots of minor roads
:33:42. > :33:44.and during the night, and in foggy conditions like today,
:33:45. > :33:50.they're difficult to be seen and that's when accidents happen.
:33:51. > :33:54.This year, eight cattle have died on this common alone.
:33:55. > :33:59.About 500 graze here, owned by 13 different farmers.
:34:00. > :34:02.They help manage the common between May and November.
:34:03. > :34:05.But at this time of year, they're taken off the common
:34:06. > :34:14.So far, none of his cattle have been killed by traffic.
:34:15. > :34:16.But his livestock have started migrating home,
:34:17. > :34:21.which can be a dangerous time, as they need to cross the busy roads.
:34:22. > :34:25.I've come to give him a hand to get them home safely.
:34:26. > :34:26.So these animals have come off the hills
:34:27. > :34:30.They know it's time to come in for the winter.
:34:31. > :34:33.They've moved from the top down to the banks
:34:34. > :34:37.They're at higher risk by the roads. There's lots of cars whizzing by.
:34:38. > :34:40.There's a lot of traffic and, once you get into the autumn,
:34:41. > :34:44.You know, we've got fog and mist and rain.
:34:45. > :34:46.I saw a car whizzing past earlier and nearly hit a calf.
:34:47. > :34:50.You know, we'd like to try and find ways
:34:51. > :34:52.of making the cattle more visible at night.
:34:53. > :34:54.And how important is it for the cattle to be up here?
:34:55. > :34:57.Could you just take the animals off the common?
:34:58. > :34:59.Without them, it would soon get overgrown
:35:00. > :35:01.and there'd be bushes and weeds and brambles everywhere.
:35:02. > :35:05.You know, it's a big area to maintain otherwise.
:35:06. > :35:09.And I suppose they've been here for a long time.
:35:10. > :35:13.Yeah, before the motorcar was invented.
:35:14. > :35:19.Right, it's time to take this herd home,
:35:20. > :35:28.Lovely cattle, Tim. Why do you choose to keep Herefords?
:35:29. > :35:30.Well, my dad set up the suckler herd.
:35:31. > :35:33.They're quiet and docile, easy to handle.
:35:34. > :35:36.Do well off this pasture? They do well on the common. They always do.
:35:37. > :35:39.I think it's a large area for them to graze over.
:35:40. > :35:49.They're certainly nice and docile, the way they're moving along. Yep.
:35:50. > :35:52.What about this black cow, then, Tim? No, that's not one of mine.
:35:53. > :35:55.We'll drive that one back up on the common. OK. Go on, then.
:35:56. > :35:57.This lorry's in the way. Whoa! Whoa! Wait there.
:35:58. > :36:03.We'll just drive him round the side. Go on! On you go!
:36:04. > :36:09.Oh, well, looks like this cow is coming with us after all.
:36:10. > :36:12.Do you think the cows will ever learn that the roads are dangerous?
:36:13. > :36:14.I don't think they've got much road sense, to be honest.
:36:15. > :36:16.But by law, they've got the right of way.
:36:17. > :36:19.So cars have to give way to them. They seem to know that.
:36:20. > :36:21.They're just walking towards the traffic, aren't they?
:36:22. > :36:31.Yeah, they just carry on as normal, ignoring the traffic.
:36:32. > :36:35.We know where they are now and can sleep a bit easier.
:36:36. > :36:39.The bull's coming out towards us. He's come to meet his ladies.
:36:40. > :36:42.Go on, then. Just drive them in, shall we? That'll keep him busy.
:36:43. > :36:49.All Tim's cattle are now safely down for the winter.
:36:50. > :36:51.But next May, they'll be back out again,
:36:52. > :36:54.risking the busy roads on the common.
:36:55. > :36:59.He oversees the grazing animals on the common
:37:00. > :37:06.There's a big slow sign on the road there with a big red triangle
:37:07. > :37:10.And these cars are still racing along, aren't they?
:37:11. > :37:12.These are all attempts. There's a rumble strip there.
:37:13. > :37:16.There's a slow sign. There's a picture of a cow in a triangle.
:37:17. > :37:19.And they are all attempts to try and get people aware of the fact
:37:20. > :37:21.that this is where cattle get killed.
:37:22. > :37:24.They've even put reflective collars on the cows.
:37:25. > :37:27.These are things that we've been trying this year.
:37:28. > :37:32.and they use it on the ponies down there
:37:33. > :37:34.and, apparently, it's been quite successful.
:37:35. > :37:41.Sadly, with cattle, most of them fell off.
:37:42. > :37:59.I'm heading to Dartmoor, where vet Becky Lees
:38:00. > :38:04.has been working on an ingenious solution.
:38:05. > :38:09.Minchinhampton Common in the Cotswolds,
:38:10. > :38:11.where they are getting cattle hit by cars.
:38:12. > :38:13.And the problem's bad down here on Dartmoor, is it?
:38:14. > :38:15.It's a really big problem, yes. Definitely.
:38:16. > :38:17.And you think you've come up with a solution?
:38:18. > :38:20.We've produced a range of branding sprays and paints
:38:21. > :38:22.which are actually designed for sheep.
:38:23. > :38:24.So, is this the paint? This is the paint. That's right.
:38:25. > :38:27.As you can see, it's a fluorescent yellow in colour.
:38:28. > :38:30.So this fluorescent yellow you're going to paint on these animals?
:38:31. > :38:33.That's right. At the minute, our prototype is fluorescent.
:38:34. > :38:36.We need the fluorescent pigment there to get enough of a glow.
:38:37. > :38:39.Right, let's start painting, shall we, and see if it works? That's it.
:38:40. > :38:42.Wow, Becky, it's pretty bright stuff, isn't it?
:38:43. > :38:46.It is. But we've also got little reflective beads within there.
:38:47. > :38:52.I've actually tested this fluorescent version
:38:53. > :38:56.so I can actually tell you it is absolutely fine.
:38:57. > :38:59.But with modern pigments, they're all non-toxic.
:39:00. > :39:01.So, you know, we're not going to create problems that way.
:39:02. > :39:03.And you can see it sits on the outside of the coat.
:39:04. > :39:05.It's not going to soak down to the skin.
:39:06. > :39:09.up in the Welsh mountains and places, don't they,
:39:10. > :39:11.so they can recognise whose is whose. That's right.
:39:12. > :39:14.So, you know, we've made it so that it's going to withstand
:39:15. > :39:18.so it should be perfect for Dartmoor, as well.
:39:19. > :39:21.Not sure if I'm ever going to get to the Tate Modern, but...
:39:22. > :39:24.Although the pony looks a bit silly...
:39:25. > :39:26.While I leave Becky to finish her pony,
:39:27. > :39:30.from the Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society.
:39:31. > :39:37.You're making a good job there. Thank you.
:39:38. > :39:40.So how much of a problem is it for you down on Dartmoor,
:39:41. > :39:44.So far this year, we've had 72 animals killed.
:39:45. > :39:49.But last month alone, we had 15 killed.
:39:50. > :39:51.Goodness me! 15 in one month? Yeah, 15.
:39:52. > :39:54.So how excited are you about this project? Very excited.
:39:55. > :39:59.We're hoping that it may be the solution to slow cars down.
:40:00. > :40:01.So if we can get it on ponies and possibly cows,
:40:02. > :40:06.A lot of the ponies up on Dartmoor are quite timid and wild.
:40:07. > :40:08.How on earth are you going to get them all painted?
:40:09. > :40:11.Every year around September time, we have a drift time,
:40:12. > :40:13.where all the animals are brought in off the moors,
:40:14. > :40:16.They are sometimes wormed or they have their tails cut.
:40:17. > :40:19.And that would be a good time to put them in a corral or through a crush
:40:20. > :40:34.in the headlights of a car when it gets dark. Brilliant.
:40:35. > :40:45.Well, here comes the car. The moment of truth.
:40:46. > :40:48.Well, as the headlights have swung onto those ponies,
:40:49. > :40:50.that would usually be totally brown.
:40:51. > :40:53.With those fluorescent stripes on, they shine, don't they?
:40:54. > :40:55.It's really, really reflective, isn't it?
:40:56. > :40:57.Which is exactly what we're aiming for.
:40:58. > :40:59.This prototype shows we're onto the right thing
:41:00. > :41:02.and, with a bit more work, we should have a real solution.
:41:03. > :41:04.What do you reckon? I think it's perfect.
:41:05. > :41:06.I think it's giving off the real desired effect
:41:07. > :41:12.and it's reflecting in their headlights, brilliant.
:41:13. > :41:14.Hopefully, it'll stop some of the deaths on the roads.
:41:15. > :41:24.then this could be just the thing to keep cattle safe at night.
:41:25. > :41:39.Recognisable by its ancient towns and hilly landmarks.
:41:40. > :41:41.The Shropshire hills are abundant with wildlife.
:41:42. > :41:48.The berry-rich hedgerows a feast for migrating winter birds.
:41:49. > :41:51.It's these feathered friends that have captured the imagination
:41:52. > :42:00.of an artist whose work has very urban origins.
:42:01. > :42:05.Matt Sewell has exhibited in London, New York, Tokyo and Paris.
:42:06. > :42:08.He's spray painted walls across the globe.
:42:09. > :42:11.But this street artist is a country lad at heart,
:42:12. > :42:19.whose caricatures of birds are full of chirpy personality.
:42:20. > :42:21.Hi, Matt, are you all right? Good, thanks, yeah.
:42:22. > :42:26.It's not great weather for it. It's not the best.
:42:27. > :42:28.I think they might be sheltering, to be honest with you. Yeah.
:42:29. > :42:30.What was it that first got you into birds?
:42:31. > :42:35.From when I was a kid. I grew up on a smallholding in County Durham
:42:36. > :42:41.and my dad liked to just keep me in check
:42:42. > :42:43.with knowing that I knew everything that was there.
:42:44. > :42:46.I later found out they weren't always the right birds.
:42:47. > :42:50.So what about the street art, then? When did that come in?
:42:51. > :42:55.That was kind of when I got a bit older and moved to Brighton
:42:56. > :43:00.So nature and art became what I kind of did, really.
:43:01. > :43:03.What sort of stuff were you doing in Brighton?
:43:04. > :43:06.And it was the fox that quickly became
:43:07. > :43:09.kind of like my signature, in a sense.
:43:10. > :43:13.But today, it's Matt's Spotting And Jotting Guide To British Birds
:43:14. > :43:17.that's capturing people's imaginations.
:43:18. > :43:20.and it's the descriptions that make it pop.
:43:21. > :43:23.but you get a real sense of the caricatures
:43:24. > :43:27.It all comes from just the thoughts I used to have of them
:43:28. > :43:31.I couldn't help but just create little characters for them
:43:32. > :43:37.by what they looked like, as well, by their movements and habits.
:43:38. > :43:40.Matt and I have come to the Hollies Nature Reserve.
:43:41. > :43:45.for watching flocks of migrating redwings.
:43:46. > :43:49.Today, the birds may have taken shelter from the wind and rain,
:43:50. > :43:52.but that's not going to put us off sketching.
:43:53. > :43:57.You know, the best kind of light to see the lovely red armpits.
:43:58. > :44:00.Is that how you describe it? Yeah, it is.
:44:01. > :44:04.I just thought it looked like they'd picked up red spray paint
:44:05. > :44:09.Shall we have a go at drawing something,
:44:10. > :44:11.even though the shapes are a little bit blurry?
:44:12. > :44:15.I can definitely show you how to draw a redwing, anyway. OK, great.
:44:16. > :44:23.And the long body with the long wing.
:44:24. > :44:26.That's a distinctive Matt Sewell within seconds. Yeah.
:44:27. > :44:29.If I coloured that now, that would definitely be a blackbird.
:44:30. > :44:33.you just give it this kind of, like, marking behind the eyes
:44:34. > :44:42.Now all I need is my red pencil to go under the wing and there we go.
:44:43. > :44:46.Identifiable within seconds. That's amazing. Incredibly quick.
:44:47. > :44:48.What do you do on a day like today, if you come out
:44:49. > :44:51.and you're not getting the bird that you want to sketch?
:44:52. > :44:55.Well, I just quite like going and seeing what I can find.
:44:56. > :44:57.If it's like this, just going for a walk,
:44:58. > :45:01.and then taking it back to the studio.
:45:02. > :45:03.I basically just copied yours there, look.
:45:04. > :45:10.It looks more like a robin. It does look more like a robin!
:45:11. > :45:14.But then, a robin is related to it. It's a thrush.
:45:15. > :45:20.Matt didn't seem too impressed with my sketches,
:45:21. > :45:23.but maybe I'll fare better with a can of spray paint.
:45:24. > :45:32.that he's dedicated to Shropshire wildlife.
:45:33. > :45:36.Matt's illustrations have led to many commissions for murals,
:45:37. > :45:39.including this one on the edge of a housing estate
:45:40. > :45:46.You've got all the holly and everything.
:45:47. > :45:49.I guess what's great about this is that you're bringing wildlife
:45:50. > :45:52.that might not be seen in the town right into this environment
:45:53. > :45:54.and you couldn't really do this kind of work
:45:55. > :46:00.No, there's not that many places to do it. So this is perfect, really.
:46:01. > :46:03.There's a lot of nature around, all kinds of birds.
:46:04. > :46:06.It's like a spotters' checklist as they go off on their walk. Exactly.
:46:07. > :46:09.Yeah, see what you can see. I've never, ever done this.
:46:10. > :46:12.So I'm going to need a lot of guidance. I don't want to ruin it.
:46:13. > :46:14.You'll be all right. Gloves on. Yeah, get your gloves on.
:46:15. > :46:17.Just this section here. Oh, you've even marked it out for me.
:46:18. > :46:20.It's spray by numbers, isn't it? Exactly. I bet I still go wrong.
:46:21. > :46:32.I think people are just getting more and more used to seeing street art
:46:33. > :46:38.and public art, which is this kind of thing.
:46:39. > :46:41.Just bright and colourful. What do they ask you, then?
:46:42. > :46:47.I think anybody who's ever painted in the public
:46:48. > :47:34.we had our first Countryfile ramble for Children in Need.
:47:35. > :47:37.It was pretty tough going, but very uplifting.
:47:38. > :47:47.Across the country, we hiked the high road...
:47:48. > :47:53...wandered through Windsor Great Park,
:47:54. > :48:07.But the question is, how much has the ramble raised
:48:08. > :48:14.Well, I'm pleased to announce our running total
:48:15. > :48:23.But we've got lots more sponsorship money still to come in.
:48:24. > :48:26.We'll have a final total for you in the New Year.
:48:27. > :48:30.So well done to everyone and thank you.
:48:31. > :48:33.So, if you've been inspired to dig out your walking boots,
:48:34. > :48:35.you'll want to know what the weather is going to be doing.
:48:36. > :48:38.Time to find out with the Countryfile forecast
:48:39. > :48:57.Good evening, you will need some full weatherproof gear this week if
:48:58. > :49:00.you are heading out at about. At the moment we have a temperature
:49:01. > :49:05.contrast between the north Atlantic and our shores. The bigger the
:49:06. > :49:08.contrast, the stronger the jet stream and the more low-pressure
:49:09. > :49:14.systems, our way. It is linked to this little bubble in the South,
:49:15. > :49:17.with cold air to the North, this storm is producing dangerous
:49:18. > :49:19.conditions over Denmark but as it departs we are going into the colder
:49:20. > :49:24.air overnight. Wintry showers in the departs we are going into the colder
:49:25. > :49:29.North of England and in Scotland. Overnight, mild air tries to come
:49:30. > :49:35.from the south-west, bringing rain, and temperatures in the south-west,
:49:36. > :49:39.ten, 11 degrees. As the mild airs pushes -- mild air pushes north, the
:49:40. > :49:44.temperature contrast, it will hit the cold air and produce more snow.
:49:45. > :49:49.Maybe not as much today, but over the hills of Northern Ireland and
:49:50. > :49:51.Scotland, maybe a covering. Outbreaks of rain in Northern
:49:52. > :49:55.Ireland and southern Scotland, North England and the Midlands, feeling
:49:56. > :50:06.dry out across the south-east, some brightness. This is where we see the
:50:07. > :50:10.windiest weather, 40, 50 mph and temperatures 11-15. Some wintry
:50:11. > :50:14.showers but temperatures in the mid-single digits at best. Clear
:50:15. > :50:19.skies overnight, another cold night with another repeat performance of
:50:20. > :50:24.mild air pushing back. Monday night into Tuesday morning, mild across
:50:25. > :50:32.the South, 11, 12 degrees but where the snow is lying over Scotland with
:50:33. > :50:36.some high. It will be the coldest night of the week because this time
:50:37. > :50:47.the mild air has made more of a search North, but it will turn into
:50:48. > :50:51.rain later. Rain and drizzle around the coasts. Some brightness here and
:50:52. > :50:54.there and by the end of the day, we will all be back to temperatures
:50:55. > :50:59.where they should be for the time of year, 8-14. South-westerly wind as
:51:00. > :51:04.we finish Tuesday but the next low-pressure system is not far away.
:51:05. > :51:10.Further north this time, the North West of Scotland, a cold front
:51:11. > :51:14.pushing south and east. Lively bursts of rain, gusts of wind. On
:51:15. > :51:18.the wraparound occlusion as we finish on Wednesday, low risk, but
:51:19. > :51:22.the risk of some nasty winds to finish the day into Thursday night
:51:23. > :51:26.before things turn quieter. A cold night going into Thursday in the
:51:27. > :51:29.north of the country, mild air pushing into the South and this
:51:30. > :51:35.time, more significant rain across the southern part of the UK. It will
:51:36. > :51:41.hang around all day long, cold and brighter further north. It may turn
:51:42. > :51:45.windy in the South as the low-pressure system moves away. I
:51:46. > :51:48.pressure in the south this time, reversing the fortunes for the end
:51:49. > :51:53.of the week. The driest and brightest weather in the south and
:51:54. > :51:59.then, wet and windy pushing into the North. It is going to be a week
:52:00. > :52:02.where they will be some brightness around, as our Weather Watch
:52:03. > :52:07.pictures today have shown but there will be some strong winds at times,
:52:08. > :52:12.touching gale force out some of the hills and costs. Further rain, and
:52:13. > :52:14.where the ground is saturated, keep your ion flood warnings but there is
:52:15. > :52:23.some Today we're in the border county
:52:24. > :52:26.of Shropshire. Whilst Ellie's been getting creative
:52:27. > :52:30.with a spray can, I've been here on Fordhall Farm
:52:31. > :52:35.with Charlotte and Ben Hollins. Thanks to the legacy
:52:36. > :52:37.of their dad Arthur, they've been able to grow
:52:38. > :52:40.a successful farming business never ploughing
:52:41. > :52:48.or reseeding his pasture, so protecting the soil,
:52:49. > :52:53.he believed, from too much sunlight. And it's the light
:52:54. > :52:55.that kills the worm, that kills the bacteria
:52:56. > :52:57.in the worm castings, That's what I'm trying to say
:52:58. > :53:05.all the time, you see? Well, you're both
:53:06. > :53:08.chips off the old block, obviously, But tell me,
:53:09. > :53:13.what was he like as a man? He was passionate about his farming
:53:14. > :53:16.and Fordhall Farm and organics. If you ever couldn't find Dad,
:53:17. > :53:22.he'd be down the field, draining a ditch
:53:23. > :53:25.or checking the cattle. And he was a farmer through
:53:26. > :53:28.and through. A little bit eccentric. But, you know, he just loved nature.
:53:29. > :53:30.That was his passion. And if you were walking with Dad
:53:31. > :53:32.in the field, you wouldn't get very far before
:53:33. > :53:35.he was down on his knees showing you all the life
:53:36. > :53:39.that lived in the soil. And, of course, as young kids,
:53:40. > :53:42.we were just like, "Yes, all right, Dad.
:53:43. > :53:45.Let's move on." And now, you know,
:53:46. > :53:47.we appreciate it ourselves, as well. your father had lots of
:53:48. > :53:51.pioneering ideas, didn't he? Dad diversified the farm in many
:53:52. > :53:55.ways from the 1950s and '60s. Not only the yoghurt making,
:53:56. > :53:58.but also they had a country club, he did lots of school visits
:53:59. > :54:02.and volunteering. But, yes, in the 1990s,
:54:03. > :54:05.we were faced with eviction notices and 15 years of legal battles
:54:06. > :54:08.then ensued. And money was going into legal fees
:54:09. > :54:11.and court battles, it wasn't being reinvested
:54:12. > :54:13.in the farm. And then you came up
:54:14. > :54:17.with this, then novel, idea We had a real core group
:54:18. > :54:26.of local people that backed us. Then there were people who were
:54:27. > :54:28.sceptical to start with. Then, once people started
:54:29. > :54:30.to understand it, So how much did you have to raise and
:54:31. > :54:35.how long did it take you to do it? Yeah, we had first refusal to buy
:54:36. > :54:38.the farm for ?800,000. So we basically, we had just over
:54:39. > :54:43.a year to raise the money and we've raised most of it
:54:44. > :54:45.in about the last six months. Well, I imagine that one reason
:54:46. > :54:50.that you've both got such support was that people admired
:54:51. > :54:53.your youthful determination. We had everything to win
:54:54. > :54:55.and nothing to lose. So we just did what we needed to do
:54:56. > :54:59.and it paid off. Your dad would have been proud
:55:00. > :55:05.of you, I think. I hope so. and offering local people
:55:06. > :55:11.the chance to buy shares in the farm, Sadly, Arthur died
:55:12. > :55:18.before the farm was saved. But now, in what would have been
:55:19. > :55:24.his 100th year, the farm is thriving. Dilapidated farm buildings
:55:25. > :55:27.have been rejuvenated, housing a bakery, a butchery,
:55:28. > :55:31.a farm shop and cafe, all supplying the farm's varied
:55:32. > :55:37.produce straight to the customer. And can I have one of the whole
:55:38. > :55:39.chickens, please? Certainly. The community trust
:55:40. > :55:42.has now gone global, with 8,000 shareholders
:55:43. > :55:45.around the world. But it's the locals shopping here
:55:46. > :55:50.that have made this place flourish. Joena, you were one of the very first
:55:51. > :55:54.customers here, weren't you? I was, yes. I remember the days
:55:55. > :55:57.when the shop was in a lean-to and you could only pay by cash and
:55:58. > :56:03.the meat was all just in a freezer. So what keeps you coming back here,
:56:04. > :56:05.then? I just love everything
:56:06. > :56:07.that they do here. I love the ethos of Fordhall
:56:08. > :56:10.Community Land Initiative. The way that they involve
:56:11. > :56:14.the community And there's always something
:56:15. > :56:20.for everybody. Ben and Charlotte are keen to share
:56:21. > :56:26.their knowledge and experience. Across their 140 acres,
:56:27. > :56:30.they host a wide range of events For example, visitors can get their
:56:31. > :56:37.hands dirty in the community garden. Or there's care farming sessions
:56:38. > :56:43.for the elderly. involves volunteers
:56:44. > :56:49.and local students. They are helping to build a roof
:56:50. > :56:52.on what's going to be a wonderful roundhouse
:56:53. > :56:55.here in the woods, which will provide shelter
:56:56. > :56:57.for children when they're on school trips
:56:58. > :57:05.to the farm. will top walls filled with
:57:06. > :57:10.various recycled materials, as well as shelter youngsters
:57:11. > :57:18.on farm visits. But this isn't the only project these
:57:19. > :57:22.young people are helping with today. we're adding some new life
:57:23. > :57:30.to Arthur's all-important soil. Well, these saplings are part of
:57:31. > :57:33.the Woodland Trust's planting scheme that we heard about right
:57:34. > :57:36.at the start of the programme. that were sorted and processed by
:57:37. > :57:41.Robert and his team, who we met then. And now they're going to be planted
:57:42. > :57:47.right here. Oh, great.
:57:48. > :57:51.More supplies, lads. Excellent. Doing some tree planting
:57:52. > :57:55.along this ditch. We've got some saplings here
:57:56. > :57:57.from the Woodland Trust. And we're going to be planting
:57:58. > :58:02.all the way along this ditch So that will help shore up
:58:03. > :58:06.the stream, really. Yeah, yeah. The idea is help stop erosion
:58:07. > :58:08.into the ditch. with berries and things
:58:09. > :58:12.for the birds. And there's another reason,
:58:13. > :58:14.isn't there, Ben? That's right. to celebrate Dad's centenary
:58:15. > :58:19.on the farm, as well. Oh, great. We've brought some manpower for you,
:58:20. > :58:21.John. Another volunteer. Yeah, ready to help out.
:58:22. > :58:24.Just a little bit too late, Ellie. And that's it from Shropshire
:58:25. > :58:30.in this beautiful evening light. Yes. Next week, Joe Crowley and I
:58:31. > :58:32.will be exploring a brand-new scenic route
:58:33. > :58:36.in the far north of Scotland.