0:00:30 > 0:00:33Britain's most easterly edge.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36The famous sparkling Norfolk Broads carve their way through the
0:00:36 > 0:00:39landscape, not far from here.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42But the Suffolk Broads are about to make their own mark on
0:00:42 > 0:00:43East Anglia's map.
0:00:43 > 0:00:47Here in Lowestoft, an ambitious plan is under way to create
0:00:47 > 0:00:50a massive nature reserve, and if all goes to plan,
0:00:50 > 0:00:53it'll be one of the country's most important.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59I'll be finding out what they're doing to keep their wildlife
0:00:59 > 0:01:02and cattle safe from dog attacks.
0:01:02 > 0:01:03Good boy!
0:01:03 > 0:01:07Ellie's meeting some green-fingered folk who run their own
0:01:07 > 0:01:09community farm.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12It's a complete mix of people, people from all walks of life.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14If you hoe a row of beans alongside somebody,
0:01:14 > 0:01:17you can really get to know them.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20Tom's finding out about the egg thieves threatening our wild birds.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26We do know of birds changing hands for in excess of £10,000
0:01:26 > 0:01:28and sometimes even more.
0:01:28 > 0:01:30And we'll be meeting the first of our
0:01:30 > 0:01:33Countryfile Young Farmer of the Year finalists.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36Tom got the tractor and parked it over top of me.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39So he could come and get me to get help.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41He's just an inspiration.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43And he's my boy.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56We're on the east coast, in Suffolk.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59I'm in the very north of the county, in Lowestoft,
0:01:59 > 0:02:00near the border with Norfolk.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06I'm here to explore Carlton Marshes nature reserve,
0:02:06 > 0:02:08a jewel in Suffolk's crown.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12A jewel that's about to get a lot bigger and even more precious.
0:02:13 > 0:02:16Suffolk Wildlife Trust are making history
0:02:16 > 0:02:19with their biggest ever land purchase.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22And we are not just talking about going large here.
0:02:22 > 0:02:25We're talking about tripling the size of this nature reserve
0:02:25 > 0:02:29to over 1,000 acres and it is a pretty ambitious plan cos
0:02:29 > 0:02:33it'll stretch as far as the eye can see.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36It's more or less one man's vision.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40The man with the huge plan is reserve warden Matt Gooch.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43And Matt is showing me the lay of the land,
0:02:43 > 0:02:44as it stands at the moment.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47Yeah, so we've got lots of patches of reserve,
0:02:47 > 0:02:51like this one behind us here, where we've created these wetland
0:02:51 > 0:02:55scrapes, which have brought in lots of birds, both rare and not so rare.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58And that borders on to this land here,
0:02:58 > 0:03:03which is potentially the new land extension for the reserve.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06'When the dykes were put in to drain the land for arable farming
0:03:06 > 0:03:11'around 50 years ago, it dried out and the wildlife declined rapidly.'
0:03:11 > 0:03:13So you've got all these different areas, then,
0:03:13 > 0:03:17kind of dotted about and the plan is to link them all up, Matt.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20Yeah, and a really important factor is it being right next door to
0:03:20 > 0:03:22such a large population of people, as well.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25The reserve almost wraps itself around the edge of Lowestoft
0:03:25 > 0:03:29and 75,000 people with an opportunity to walk on to
0:03:29 > 0:03:31a potentially top nature reserve.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36'This is landscape-scale conservation.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40'The reserve also plans to join up a seven-mile network of these
0:03:40 > 0:03:44'freshwater ditches, allowing the rare broadland plants and
0:03:44 > 0:03:48'animals that live here to spread across the landscape.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51'The man with the net is ecologist Toby Abrehart.'
0:03:51 > 0:03:54Right, so, you're doing this, then, constantly at the moment, Toby.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57- Just surveying all of the ditches. - Yeah, absolutely.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00And whether the land they're going to be restoring will actually
0:04:00 > 0:04:03- be able to support the species that we've got here.- Mm-hm.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06Well, we know from that net full that the water beetle
0:04:06 > 0:04:09- population round here is quite something.- Yeah, it's exceptional.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12To find three great silver water beetles in one sample was unheard
0:04:12 > 0:04:15- of.- OK, well, just talk us through what else we've got in here, then.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18So what we've actually got in here, you've found the male smooth newt.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22- Mm-hm. He's lovely.- A little spotty tummy.- Look at his belly.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25He's looking rather fantastic and he's got his full crest on.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28And so what's the plan, going forwards, as far as the new land is
0:04:28 > 0:04:33concerned and maybe helping some of these species to thrive over there?
0:04:33 > 0:04:36Well, the idea is to try and create some of this habitat further
0:04:36 > 0:04:38out there, so you end up with nice,
0:04:38 > 0:04:40wide ditches that are good quality and you have
0:04:40 > 0:04:43a sort of good amount of clear water within them and with that,
0:04:43 > 0:04:46hopefully, you'll get an increased plant population going
0:04:46 > 0:04:49through there and when you start getting different plants
0:04:49 > 0:04:53coming in, you start to get more invertebrates coming in with that.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55'With my magnifying headset on,
0:04:55 > 0:04:58'I can see in close up some of Toby's start species.'
0:05:02 > 0:05:04There's another species in here.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08- Which is more rare. - Gosh! How do you find that in there?
0:05:08 > 0:05:11So, that is a thing called Anisus vorticulus,
0:05:11 > 0:05:15which is the little whirlpool ram's horn snail.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17It's an European protected species.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20It's only found in the Broads, down in Sussex, in the UK.
0:05:20 > 0:05:24Well, it's not just your favourite snails that you hope to find
0:05:24 > 0:05:25- in these samples, is it, Toby?- No.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28No, actually, there's another species that's actually found
0:05:28 > 0:05:30in these marshes.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34- It is the great fen raft spider. - Mm.- That's a big beast.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Kate, our director, is not a fan, are you, Kate?
0:05:37 > 0:05:39- < No!- No.
0:05:39 > 0:05:40So... We'll see if we can find one.
0:05:44 > 0:05:47Ooh, excellent. Excellent. Jolly good. I'll take the net.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51- There it is.- There it is. - There it is. Look at that!
0:05:51 > 0:05:55- Ooh.- OK, if you don't like spiders, look away now.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57If you do, feast your eyes on that.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03'The great fen raft spider was almost extinct in the UK before
0:06:03 > 0:06:07'a breeding programme reintroduced them here a few years ago.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11'Carlton Marshes is one of only six sites in the UK where they
0:06:11 > 0:06:12'can now be found.'
0:06:12 > 0:06:15- And what's the population like now? - It's extremely healthy.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17They seem to just be going in to all the ditches that are of a good
0:06:17 > 0:06:21quality, like the ditches we are finding all these other species in.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23And as far as their kind of relationship with the water
0:06:23 > 0:06:26is concerned, how do they live on it?
0:06:26 > 0:06:27Do they swim? Do they dive?
0:06:27 > 0:06:31They're sort of a stealth predator, so they'll be on the edge of
0:06:31 > 0:06:33the ditch and they'll be looking for prey coming along and they'll
0:06:33 > 0:06:35pounce on it.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38They can catch small sticklebacks, they can catch other species
0:06:38 > 0:06:42like that, so they're quite a top predator within a ditch system.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49'The wildlife trust's plans here are huge and the team are
0:06:49 > 0:06:53'doing everything they can to secure the future of the wildlife
0:06:53 > 0:06:54'here in the Suffolk Broads.'
0:06:58 > 0:07:00Now, of course,
0:07:00 > 0:07:03nature reserves like this are a safe haven for nesting birds,
0:07:03 > 0:07:07but elsewhere, they're not always quite so lucky and that is because
0:07:07 > 0:07:12egg collectors are still a threat to some of our rarest species,
0:07:12 > 0:07:13as Tom's been finding out.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24Nesting season, one of the best times to watch our wild birds.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30Today, we know how important it is not to disturb them at this
0:07:30 > 0:07:33time of year, but we weren't always so hands-off.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43From the 1800s to the mid 1900s,
0:07:43 > 0:07:46egg collecting was a popular and adventurous pastime,
0:07:46 > 0:07:49which, despite its reputation,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52added to our understanding of both birds and our environment.
0:07:53 > 0:07:55But by the mid 1950s,
0:07:55 > 0:07:59attitudes were changing and the practice was outlawed in the UK.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05But despite heavy fines and prison sentences,
0:08:05 > 0:08:09egg collecting continues as a serious threat to our wild
0:08:09 > 0:08:14birds and this is no longer the misguided endeavours of Victorians -
0:08:14 > 0:08:16this is organised crime.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22The birds can be worth so much money that egg thieves risk life
0:08:22 > 0:08:24and limb for their prize.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26Like the man dangling from this rope,
0:08:26 > 0:08:31Jeffrey Lendrum - an habitual egg thief who, right now, is on the run.
0:08:32 > 0:08:37He was convicted in 2010 for stealing 14 eggs that could
0:08:37 > 0:08:39have made him tens of thousands of pounds.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46The species he targeted - the peregrine falcon.
0:08:50 > 0:08:55Reaching up to 200mph in a dive, they're the fastest bird in
0:08:55 > 0:08:58the world and are also our most protected.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03They've been nesting here in Bristol's Avon Gorge for more
0:09:03 > 0:09:06than 25 years.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09There's a peregrine calling down there.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13'I'm here with Andy McWilliam from the National Wildlife Crime Unit.'
0:09:13 > 0:09:17So, Andy, how much of an issue is egg collecting today?
0:09:17 > 0:09:20Well, when I first started in wildlife crime, there was
0:09:20 > 0:09:25probably in the region of 150-odd egg collectors in the country.
0:09:25 > 0:09:28Now, the number's greatly reduced.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32We're down to, you know, a fraction of that number now.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35But it is still an issue, for a number of reasons.
0:09:35 > 0:09:38You've still got some persistent egg collectors,
0:09:38 > 0:09:40who just want the eggs for the shells,
0:09:40 > 0:09:44but then you've got others who will be targeting species for trade.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46And what's the particular issue with falcons,
0:09:46 > 0:09:47like we're looking at today?
0:09:47 > 0:09:50Well, we've done a lot of work on peregrines in the last few
0:09:50 > 0:09:54years, particularly, because of the increase in value.
0:09:54 > 0:09:58There are individuals who've seen there is an opportunity here
0:09:58 > 0:10:00to make money.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03So they will try and launder birds into that captive-bred market
0:10:03 > 0:10:06and supply them to the Middle East,
0:10:06 > 0:10:10where money doesn't seem to be an issue.
0:10:10 > 0:10:11How much could we be talking about?
0:10:11 > 0:10:15We do know of birds changing hands for in excess of £10,000 and
0:10:15 > 0:10:17sometimes even more.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22'Falcon racing is a traditional and popular sport in the
0:10:22 > 0:10:26'Middle East, where wild British birds are highly prized for
0:10:26 > 0:10:28'their speed, size and power.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34'But you don't have to go that far
0:10:34 > 0:10:36'to find eggs that command a premium.'
0:10:42 > 0:10:46They might not be at the top of your typical breakfast menu,
0:10:46 > 0:10:50but black-headed gulls' eggs are a delicacy at this time of year.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52Thank you very much.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56And unlike these hen's eggs, an omelette made from
0:10:56 > 0:10:59black-headed gull's eggs could set you back approaching £100.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07'And even if you buy them to cook yourself,
0:11:07 > 0:11:11'you're looking at about £10 per egg.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14'They've been highly prized for their rich flavour for
0:11:14 > 0:11:17'generations and were a favourite during World War II,
0:11:17 > 0:11:19'when hen's eggs were in short supply.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26'It is illegal to collect these eggs,
0:11:26 > 0:11:28'unless you have a licence, and even then,
0:11:28 > 0:11:32'they can only be taken from five small sites across the UK.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39'But Poole Harbour is not one of those sites.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42'It's a crime to take gulls' eggs from here,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45'but as Paul Morton from Birds of Poole Harbour has discovered,
0:11:45 > 0:11:48'not everyone's playing by the rules.'
0:11:48 > 0:11:50How did you know there was a problem with the gulls here?
0:11:50 > 0:11:55We realised the gull eggs were disappearing in 2016,
0:11:55 > 0:11:58when we were surveying the islands, and as we were crossing the islands,
0:11:58 > 0:12:00realised that almost 70% of the nests were empty,
0:12:00 > 0:12:02at the peak time when they should all actually be full.
0:12:02 > 0:12:06As we were surveying, we were looking down and finding footprints
0:12:06 > 0:12:08criss-crossing the entire length of the island, back and forth.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11And it became fairly obvious that there'd been a theft of eggs.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14So, roughly how many eggs do you think may have gone?
0:12:14 > 0:12:16It's really hard to say the exact number,
0:12:16 > 0:12:20but bearing in mind a nest contains anything from one to three eggs,
0:12:20 > 0:12:22even if one eggs was in each nest,
0:12:22 > 0:12:25we found thousands of empty nests, so the number's quite considerable.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30'It's not just black-headed gulls that Paul's worried about.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35'The threatened Mediterranean gull also nests here.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39'Thieves are mistaking their eggs for black-headed gull eggs and
0:12:39 > 0:12:41'are taking them, too.
0:12:41 > 0:12:45'Their ignorance is making a bad situation even worse.'
0:12:45 > 0:12:48When someone is going across the islands and taking the eggs,
0:12:48 > 0:12:50there's no real way of knowing, especially in the dark,
0:12:50 > 0:12:53whether it's a black-headed gull or a Mediterranean gull egg that
0:12:53 > 0:12:56they're taking. It's an illegal activity, OK?
0:12:56 > 0:12:59No-one should be collecting eggs in Poole Harbour of any species.
0:12:59 > 0:13:02- Is that one coming over now? - This is black-headed gull, this one.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07'This clean sweep of eggs could be one reason why the
0:13:07 > 0:13:12'black-headed gull population here has declined by 70% since 2008
0:13:12 > 0:13:17'and why the number of Mediterranean gulls nesting here has halved.'
0:13:17 > 0:13:21With such dire consequences for the targeted birds, it is vital
0:13:21 > 0:13:25that we crack down on the egg thieves, so what's being done?
0:13:25 > 0:13:28Well, that's what I'll be finding out later.
0:13:35 > 0:13:37Suffolk, East Anglia.
0:13:39 > 0:13:42Rich, arable fields border its wild coastline.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48It's also a Mecca for foodies,
0:13:48 > 0:13:51but I'm meeting those with a more grassroots approach to eating.
0:13:54 > 0:13:56Veg boxes have been around for a while and as we know,
0:13:56 > 0:14:01they're a great way to get seasonal fresh and local produce,
0:14:01 > 0:14:05but here in Ipswich, your veg box comes with a bit of a twist because
0:14:05 > 0:14:11it's grown on a farm worked on by the local community, run on waste.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18- Hi, John.- Hi, Ellie.- How are you doing?- Come in.- Thank you very much.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21'John Revell gets his veg on a weekly basis,
0:14:21 > 0:14:23'but he has to work for them.'
0:14:23 > 0:14:25- We've got kale shoots... - They're attractive, aren't they?
0:14:25 > 0:14:27They're lovely, aren't they?
0:14:27 > 0:14:30Just starting to flower but the flowers are perfectly edible.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32A bag of mixed salad leaves.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34- Mm-hm.- Some winter greens.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Do you find you eat more veggies than you otherwise would,
0:14:37 > 0:14:40- if you didn't have the box? - Oh, definitely.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43- This veg box scheme's a bit different.- It is, yes.
0:14:43 > 0:14:45Sure, you get a veg box, you pay for the veg box,
0:14:45 > 0:14:47but you don't just do that.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50You also commit at the beginning of your year when you join up to
0:14:50 > 0:14:52- work on the farm.- I want to go and see the place.- Great.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55If you want to go and put your boots on, I'll take you up there.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57Let's head down there.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02'John is taking me to Oak Tree Low Carbon Farm near Ipswich.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05'Here, people from the local community dig,
0:15:05 > 0:15:07'sow and grow their own produce.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11'And it's low carbon, as it's fuelled by other people's rubbish.'
0:15:13 > 0:15:14Nothing is wasted.
0:15:14 > 0:15:18The dredging from a local property developer's pond fertilises
0:15:18 > 0:15:20the fields.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25Oyster shells from the local fishmonger are crushed up and
0:15:25 > 0:15:26fed to the chickens,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29giving them extra calcium to make their egg shells nice and strong.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31The children love doing it.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35And these guys are fed leftover barley from the local brewery.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38Here we go.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40Ready?
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Ooh! Lovely!
0:15:42 > 0:15:43Lucky pigs!
0:15:46 > 0:15:49'The 12-acre farm also has cows and a chicken coop,
0:15:49 > 0:15:53'where Percival the cockerel can be found strutting his stuff.
0:15:55 > 0:16:00'People from all walks of life come here to share the work and
0:16:00 > 0:16:02'reap the rewards.'
0:16:02 > 0:16:04What was it that got you into this?
0:16:04 > 0:16:08Well, I took early retirement three or four years ago and
0:16:08 > 0:16:11coincidentally, the very day I retired,
0:16:11 > 0:16:14a leaflet about the farm turned up on the doorstep.
0:16:14 > 0:16:18So I jumped on my bike and cycled up here and liked what I saw and
0:16:18 > 0:16:21I joined up and I've been involved with the farm ever since.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24- It was a sign, perhaps. - It was, I think. I think it was.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27- From one life to another. - How does it all work up here?
0:16:27 > 0:16:30You work two hours a week, on average, for the spring and summer
0:16:30 > 0:16:33period and then, one hour a week, on average, for the rest of the year.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36- So that fits in with working people. - It does.- They can fit that in.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40That's right. It's great because you can come up here any time you like.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43- Yeah.- We always have a list of stuff that's available to do.
0:16:43 > 0:16:45- That tells you the work that needs doing.- Exactly.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48Hoe broad beans, sow sweetcorn. And what if someone goes on holiday?
0:16:48 > 0:16:50- Does that mean they get booted out? - Not at all, no.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52That's the benefit, compared to an allotment.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55There are always people doing the work while you are away on
0:16:55 > 0:16:56your holiday and you can pick up
0:16:56 > 0:16:59- when you return.- That's fantastic. What about that community aspect?
0:16:59 > 0:17:01- What have you got out of that? - I've got a lot out of that.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04I really think that is one of the best things.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08I'd just retired, so 40 years behind a desk. This was such a contrast.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11It's the opportunity to meet people that were living next door,
0:17:11 > 0:17:12- living up the road, or whatever. - Yeah.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15And here, you've got a common interest. And we have a great time.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18We usually have a brew up on a Saturday after the working
0:17:18 > 0:17:21- party and just sit round and have a chat.- Lovely. Sounds great.
0:17:23 > 0:17:25'The farm only became possible seven years ago,
0:17:25 > 0:17:28'due to the grit and determination of one woman.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32'When Joanne Mudhar bought the plot,
0:17:32 > 0:17:36'she found the soil was exhausted after decades of intensive
0:17:36 > 0:17:39'farming, so her aim was to bring some love back to the land.'
0:17:41 > 0:17:46I became really fascinated by the link between food production
0:17:46 > 0:17:47and carbon emissions.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Just wanting to know if it's possible to produce good food
0:17:50 > 0:17:53in a way that's good for the environment and for people as well.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56What state was this in when you came here?
0:17:56 > 0:17:59Well, to be honest, the soil was in pretty terrible condition,
0:17:59 > 0:18:03which is not unusual for industrial agricultural farms.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05The soil looked like a child's sandpit.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07I'd never seen anything like it, so it was
0:18:07 > 0:18:10a real shock to find out that that's what soil typically looks like.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14- Wow. So a lot of restoration, just in the earth itself.- Absolutely.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17And you've got a real mixed bag of people.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20Yes, it's a complete mix of people, people from all walks of life,
0:18:20 > 0:18:24all ages, all different backgrounds. And you really get to know somebody.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27If you hoe a row of beans alongside somebody,
0:18:27 > 0:18:30you can really get to know them.
0:18:30 > 0:18:32'But it's not just about the banter.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36'When Clare was faced with a death in the family,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39'she found coming here a place of solace.'
0:18:41 > 0:18:46My dad passed away two years ago and I was already here and other
0:18:46 > 0:18:48members kind of got me through it.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51So yes, it's been an amazing place for me, really.
0:18:51 > 0:18:54It kind of gives you that balance in life.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58I work and busy family and it's kind of me time really.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01Me time to come up here and think and,
0:19:01 > 0:19:03yeah, it's very important to me.
0:19:05 > 0:19:06'Spending time here,
0:19:06 > 0:19:11'you can see why this place means so much to the local community.
0:19:13 > 0:19:16'And with all the vegetables harvested and boxed up,
0:19:16 > 0:19:18'there's just time for a well-deserved brew.'
0:19:22 > 0:19:24That was a fantastic day!
0:19:24 > 0:19:28It's made me want to eat curly kale and Swiss chard, like never before.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Cheers, everybody. Flapjack?
0:19:30 > 0:19:32Thank you.
0:19:39 > 0:19:43Suffolk lies at the heart of England's breadbasket.
0:19:43 > 0:19:48A fertile county, famed for its grain production and its windmills.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52And as it's National Mills Weekend, I'm off to visit one of the
0:19:52 > 0:19:54county's finest.
0:19:54 > 0:19:57Once, they were a common sight right across Suffolk, but now,
0:19:57 > 0:20:01there's just a handful of them left and this is one of them,
0:20:01 > 0:20:03in the village of Bardwell.
0:20:05 > 0:20:08The mill was built in 1820, at a time when
0:20:08 > 0:20:12Constable was immortalising the Suffolk landscape on canvas.
0:20:13 > 0:20:18Enid Wheeler and her late husband Geoff bought the mill 30 years ago.
0:20:20 > 0:20:25But everything changed on the night of the Great Storm of October 1987.
0:20:25 > 0:20:28At around about two o'clock in the morning,
0:20:28 > 0:20:32these huge sails came crashing down into the garden here.
0:20:32 > 0:20:34You can still see some of the wind shaft,
0:20:34 > 0:20:35which is where it landed.
0:20:35 > 0:20:37And it came, of course,
0:20:37 > 0:20:40as a terrible shock for Enid and Geoff
0:20:40 > 0:20:42who were asleep in their home, here.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44They had been awakened by the noise and the wind,
0:20:44 > 0:20:47and had an incredibly lucky escape.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51It was the UK's worst storm for 300 years,
0:20:51 > 0:20:53causing devastation across the country
0:20:53 > 0:20:56with winds of up to 100 miles an hour,
0:20:56 > 0:20:58uprooting 15 million trees.
0:20:58 > 0:21:00The Wheelers' dream was smashed to pieces.
0:21:01 > 0:21:03And after the storm,
0:21:03 > 0:21:08when you were stood amongst all the wreckage of the sails,
0:21:08 > 0:21:10what were your feelings?
0:21:10 > 0:21:11Devastated.
0:21:11 > 0:21:13It was a very frightening time.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16The roaring of the wind,
0:21:16 > 0:21:20and the bits falling off the mill and crashing on the door and...
0:21:21 > 0:21:23Did you think that...
0:21:23 > 0:21:24that's it?
0:21:24 > 0:21:25Definitely.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28But very kind people in the village,
0:21:28 > 0:21:31they came the following Sunday,
0:21:31 > 0:21:32about 12 of them,
0:21:32 > 0:21:36and they'd collected £300 for us,
0:21:36 > 0:21:39to start getting organised again.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42And from that,
0:21:42 > 0:21:43we've put on events each year,
0:21:43 > 0:21:49and enough for us to start putting the sail back on,
0:21:49 > 0:21:53one sail, and then got through to the fourth,
0:21:53 > 0:21:56and, very excitedly, it's back.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59But anyway, are you going to try a piece of my flapjack?
0:21:59 > 0:22:00I certainly will.
0:22:00 > 0:22:01Mmm.
0:22:03 > 0:22:04Mmm!
0:22:04 > 0:22:05Wonderful.
0:22:05 > 0:22:06After Geoff's death,
0:22:06 > 0:22:10the rest of the family vowed to get the mill back into action.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14Building and installing new grain hoppers is the latest task
0:22:14 > 0:22:17and, luckily, son David is a furniture maker.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20David, why was it so important to get this windmill working again?
0:22:21 > 0:22:25It was important for both the family and the community,
0:22:25 > 0:22:30because it had been a landmark in the village for 200 years.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33So now you've got the sails working again,
0:22:33 > 0:22:35but what about the general state of the building?
0:22:35 > 0:22:37Some of these bricks look a bit dodgy.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41Yes, it's a catch up all the time, there's always work to be done.
0:22:41 > 0:22:42A bit like the Forth Bridge.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44You know, we're forever looking at repainting,
0:22:44 > 0:22:47and so when one job's finished, another one starts.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50So I'm doing my little bit to help.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54- Under this you'll feel some holes.- Yes, I see them, yes.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58Yes. And the finishing touch is just to help me lift the hopper in place.
0:22:58 > 0:22:59Right.
0:23:01 > 0:23:03There we go.
0:23:03 > 0:23:05What happens when there's no wind?
0:23:05 > 0:23:06Well, that's what we're working on.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09This set of stones is actually going to be electrified,
0:23:09 > 0:23:13we've got an electric motor up above here so that on calm days we can...
0:23:14 > 0:23:17..turn the stones, and we can produce flour
0:23:17 > 0:23:19which will help to bring in more funding
0:23:19 > 0:23:22to help with the ongoing restoration of the mill.
0:23:25 > 0:23:27And this is what it's all about.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29Bread.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32Enid's grandson Will is an award-winning baker.
0:23:32 > 0:23:33Along with his dad, Simon,
0:23:33 > 0:23:36he runs a small business next door to the mill.
0:23:36 > 0:23:38Mmm!
0:23:38 > 0:23:40That wonderful smell of a bakery in action!
0:23:40 > 0:23:42What's going on now, then?
0:23:43 > 0:23:46We are just dividing up the sourdough.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50So Will is scaling and I'm just rounding them up.
0:23:50 > 0:23:52So what about your materials, you know,
0:23:52 > 0:23:54the rye and all the other stuff, the flour,
0:23:54 > 0:23:55where does that come from?
0:23:56 > 0:23:59Well, most of the flower comes from a local mill,
0:23:59 > 0:24:04but the plan, long-term, is to use...
0:24:04 > 0:24:05That one there!
0:24:05 > 0:24:07That mill over there, yeah, yes!
0:24:08 > 0:24:10The restored mill should soon be up and running again,
0:24:10 > 0:24:13so hopefully they won't have too long to wait.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18- And what made you become a baker, then, Will?- I don't know!
0:24:18 > 0:24:19- I persuaded him.- No...
0:24:19 > 0:24:23Well, I sort of watched the old man doing it for years,
0:24:23 > 0:24:25thinking it'd be the last thing I'd ever want to do,
0:24:25 > 0:24:27- to be honest with you. - Or if you do it, you'd do it better.
0:24:27 > 0:24:29Yeah, that's the one!
0:24:29 > 0:24:30That's what drives me.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32No, I think it was...
0:24:32 > 0:24:35I'd spent some time as... Sort of cheffing, cooking in various places,
0:24:35 > 0:24:37and got a bit disillusioned with that,
0:24:37 > 0:24:40and this place was sort of dormant, really, wasn't it?
0:24:40 > 0:24:42- Other than the odd sort of mill day...- Yeah, yeah.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45..trying to raise money for the mill,
0:24:45 > 0:24:47we didn't really use it to its potential,
0:24:47 > 0:24:49and it just seemed like the right time,
0:24:49 > 0:24:53there's a renewed attitude of locally sourced food,
0:24:53 > 0:24:55an interest in meeting the people that make your foods,
0:24:55 > 0:24:59hence why we do a lot of farmers' markets, and do them myself as well,
0:24:59 > 0:25:02just seemed like the right time.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05- And it's become an obsession, really, through that.- Yeah.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09With Will taking care of the bread,
0:25:09 > 0:25:12his brother Joe runs a shop next door.
0:25:12 > 0:25:13- Hello, Joe.- Hello, John.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17- So you sell the bread that your dad and brother bake?- Yes, I do, yes.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19- And it looks a wonderful selection. - Thank you very much, thank you.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21And how about these cakes?!
0:25:21 > 0:25:23- Well, yes, I bake the cakes. - You make them, do you?
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Yes, while my brother bakes the bread, I make the cakes.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29Oh, well, I'll have a couple of your cookies, then, if I may?
0:25:30 > 0:25:32- Thank you.- There you are, thank you. - Thank you.
0:25:32 > 0:25:35- Thank you very much indeed. - Thank you, John.- All the very best.
0:25:35 > 0:25:36- Thank you very much.- Bye.
0:25:38 > 0:25:41It's had a turbulent recent past.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45But after 30 years of painstaking renovation...
0:25:47 > 0:25:50..the future looks good for Bardwell windmill.
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Now, earlier we heard how egg thieves are targeting
0:25:56 > 0:25:58some of our most protected birds,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00and making a killing in the process.
0:26:01 > 0:26:04So what's being done to combat this crime?
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Tom has been finding out.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16I was amazed to discover that one peregrine falcon chick,
0:26:16 > 0:26:18newly hatched from its egg,
0:26:18 > 0:26:20can make more than £10,000.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25This kind of egg theft is a real setback
0:26:25 > 0:26:29for a species that already suffers from illegal persecution in the UK.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35But catching the culprits is a real challenge,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37not least because thieves tend to operate in the dark,
0:26:37 > 0:26:40and in remote parts of the country.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44But also, nests can fail for a whole range of natural reasons,
0:26:44 > 0:26:47so, even if you suspect one has been raided,
0:26:47 > 0:26:49it can be very difficult to prove.
0:26:50 > 0:26:52Unless you catch them red-handed.
0:26:54 > 0:26:57For Andy McWilliam from the National Wildlife Crime Unit,
0:26:57 > 0:27:01surveillance cameras on nests across the country are a vital tool.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07There's a lot of nests which are protected by covert
0:27:07 > 0:27:10- and overt cameras.- And have they proved effective?
0:27:10 > 0:27:11They have.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13In fact, I will show you these.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17These are images of individuals we want to speak to
0:27:17 > 0:27:19regarding a nest robbery in Cheshire.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21So these are pretty recent, are they?
0:27:21 > 0:27:23This is still a live case.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26This is the very first time these images have been released
0:27:26 > 0:27:28to the public.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31I can see an individual here sort of carrying what looks like
0:27:31 > 0:27:32a sort of cooler bag.
0:27:32 > 0:27:36I suspect that that was to keep the eggs to hatch them out.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38So some of these guys look quite identifiable.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41What should people do if they recognise these characters?
0:27:41 > 0:27:44If anybody has any information about who these individuals are,
0:27:44 > 0:27:48or they have any knowledge of this offence,
0:27:48 > 0:27:50contact the police on 101,
0:27:50 > 0:27:54or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03So, cameras trained on nests are a big help in catching poachers,
0:28:03 > 0:28:06but the theft of gull eggs in Poole Harbour in Dorset
0:28:06 > 0:28:08called for a different approach.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16This year, Dorset police have started regular night patrols.
0:28:16 > 0:28:18- Evening.- Hello, mate.- Evening.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20PC Joel Brooks is leading the operation.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22Good to see you.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24You look all ready for action, what's happening tonight?
0:28:24 > 0:28:26We are. We're going out on a proactive patrol,
0:28:26 > 0:28:29- trying to target people stealing bird eggs.- Right.
0:28:29 > 0:28:32And how does this year's operation compare to ones the year before?
0:28:32 > 0:28:37Well, last year we found out about the bird eggs being stolen,
0:28:37 > 0:28:39but it had already happened, it was too late,
0:28:39 > 0:28:41so this year we've got in there early,
0:28:41 > 0:28:43and we're trying to do some proactive patrols
0:28:43 > 0:28:46- to try and catch the people doing it.- Right-oh, let's get on.
0:28:57 > 0:29:01The islands, they're a protected site under SSSI,
0:29:01 > 0:29:03so no-one is allowed to be on the islands.
0:29:03 > 0:29:06If they are, they're committing an offence already,
0:29:06 > 0:29:07regardless of what they're doing.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10And what do you think are the chances of seeing someone
0:29:10 > 0:29:11at this time of year?
0:29:11 > 0:29:14Because I gather we are approaching a key moment for this.
0:29:14 > 0:29:15Yeah.
0:29:15 > 0:29:17Fairly good, this time of year.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20The places that sell these eggs are advertising them
0:29:20 > 0:29:22as starting sale this weekend,
0:29:22 > 0:29:25so we're at a real key time for egg collecting at the moment.
0:29:32 > 0:29:35Poole Harbour is one of the largest natural harbours in the world,
0:29:35 > 0:29:37so there's a lot of water to cover.
0:29:39 > 0:29:40OK, so this is the first of the islands,
0:29:40 > 0:29:42and then behind it is the next two,
0:29:42 > 0:29:44- you can see just a bit of land over there.- Yeah.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47So we're just going to patrol around the area,
0:29:47 > 0:29:49see if anyone turns up.
0:29:55 > 0:29:57SEABIRDS CACKLING
0:29:57 > 0:29:59Night is really falling, now,
0:29:59 > 0:30:01and you can feel the dusk getting thicker,
0:30:01 > 0:30:03and as I begin to lose sight of the gulls,
0:30:03 > 0:30:05I can still hear them,
0:30:05 > 0:30:08and understand why they got their nickname the laughing gull.
0:30:11 > 0:30:12And this is just the kind of moment
0:30:12 > 0:30:15where if someone were to try and steal the eggs,
0:30:15 > 0:30:16they could be out there.
0:30:19 > 0:30:23As we lose the light, we switch to our night-vision camera.
0:30:32 > 0:30:35And what do you think in the end it's going to take
0:30:35 > 0:30:37to eliminate this problem, at least on your patch?
0:30:39 > 0:30:40Awareness, really.
0:30:40 > 0:30:42Regular patrols,
0:30:42 > 0:30:43and the market.
0:30:43 > 0:30:45Things wouldn't get stolen if no-one would buy them,
0:30:45 > 0:30:48but unfortunately there is a market for this delicacy.
0:30:53 > 0:30:56So do you think the gulls' eggs are safe for tonight?
0:30:56 > 0:30:58It's looking that way, Tom, at the moment.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02But it's like fishing, you've got to have your rod in to catch something,
0:31:02 > 0:31:04and then you've got to keep persistently trying,
0:31:04 > 0:31:06and we're going to hopefully catch someone.
0:31:06 > 0:31:08So now do you think it's back to harbour?
0:31:08 > 0:31:09I think we should go back in.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19So egg collecting is changing from being a misguided fascination
0:31:19 > 0:31:22to a criminal enterprise, driven by profit.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24But one of the key solutions remains the same.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27Vigilance, not only from the police,
0:31:27 > 0:31:28but from ALL of us,
0:31:28 > 0:31:31so if you know somewhere where nests could be in peril,
0:31:31 > 0:31:33keep your eyes peeled.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47With its big skies,
0:31:47 > 0:31:48vast landscapes,
0:31:48 > 0:31:50and sense of space,
0:31:50 > 0:31:53Suffolk has been inspiring artists for years.
0:31:55 > 0:31:58But I'm sure not many of them find inspiration
0:31:58 > 0:32:02in a converted lorry out the back of a working farm.
0:32:02 > 0:32:04MOTOR REVS
0:32:04 > 0:32:06Unless you're Ben Loughrill, that is -
0:32:06 > 0:32:08an acclaimed chainsaw sculptor
0:32:08 > 0:32:11whose works can be seen dotted about the country.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14One of his best-known pieces
0:32:14 > 0:32:16is the Wolf Howling To The Moon in Bury St Edmunds.
0:32:16 > 0:32:18WOLF HOWLS
0:32:20 > 0:32:23- Hi, Ben.- Hello, Ellie. - What are you working on here, then?
0:32:23 > 0:32:25This is going to be a bench.
0:32:25 > 0:32:27- Right.- A big bench.
0:32:27 > 0:32:29It's a mega-piece of wood, what's this story?
0:32:29 > 0:32:32The story with this is this was brought down by Storm Doris.
0:32:32 > 0:32:35- Oh, recently, then!?- Yeah, yeah. It fell in the bloke's garden.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37His wife was very upset that it fell,
0:32:37 > 0:32:40and instead of just logging it up they wanted to make something of it.
0:32:40 > 0:32:42This looks interesting. What's this piece over here?
0:32:42 > 0:32:44This is a commission that is going to be an owl.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47- Oh, wow, it's beautiful.- Yeah.
0:32:47 > 0:32:50There's lots of wood here on the site. Where do you get it all from?
0:32:50 > 0:32:52Well, most of this comes from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56People ring me up, offer me wood. Storms like Doris help me out.
0:32:56 > 0:32:57Yeah, yeah!
0:32:57 > 0:32:59So I guess it's wood that might otherwise be wasted,
0:32:59 > 0:33:01- so you're reusing it? - A lot of people would waste it.
0:33:01 > 0:33:03Most of that would have been firewood
0:33:03 > 0:33:06but people are sort of coming to the idea that...
0:33:06 > 0:33:09Instead of just seeing it smashed up into firewood,
0:33:09 > 0:33:11they'd rather see it re-used.
0:33:11 > 0:33:12- Turned into art.- Yeah.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15- You're like the Womble of Woodcraft. - I am, yeah!
0:33:15 > 0:33:17Treecycler!
0:33:17 > 0:33:20Ben not only collects wood everyday folk leave behind,
0:33:20 > 0:33:23but the machinery looks like it's been given a new lease of life, too.
0:33:23 > 0:33:26- This looks like an amazing piece of kit.- This is a saw bench.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29- A rec saw, they call it. - It doesn't look very modern.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31No, I think it's sort of '50s, '60s.
0:33:31 > 0:33:33Are you able to fire it up and show me how it works?
0:33:33 > 0:33:35- Yeah, of course, yeah.- Shall I stand well back?- Yeah, please.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38- It'll take a minute or so. - All right, ok.
0:33:38 > 0:33:40MOTOR RUMBLES THROATILY
0:33:40 > 0:33:41Well, it started.
0:33:41 > 0:33:42But the blade's not moving.
0:33:42 > 0:33:44Everything all right, Ben?
0:33:44 > 0:33:47Two bolts have come out. And it shouldn't go like that.
0:33:47 > 0:33:50- What do you expect?! It was built in the '50s!- 1950s, yeah.
0:33:50 > 0:33:51It's a very old piece of kit.
0:33:51 > 0:33:53You're the man who knows how to fix it, though.
0:33:53 > 0:33:55- Oh, don't say that. - LAUGHTER
0:33:58 > 0:33:59Just try that.
0:33:59 > 0:34:01He's roped in a local farmer to help.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04This may take a while!
0:34:04 > 0:34:05Hold on...
0:34:05 > 0:34:07MACHINE TRUNDLES LOUDLY
0:34:08 > 0:34:10Yay, you fixed it!
0:34:10 > 0:34:11Worst nightmare, isn't it?
0:34:12 > 0:34:15BLADE WHINING
0:34:21 > 0:34:23That's a very nicely cut piece of wood.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27Yeah, that's going to be the legs for the bench.
0:34:27 > 0:34:28- Fantastic.- Eventually.
0:34:31 > 0:34:35Ben also has a few experiments of his own on the go.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40This is what I'm trying to create at the moment, which is spalting.
0:34:40 > 0:34:44- This is created by fungus.- So this happens naturally, on dead wood?
0:34:44 > 0:34:46Yeah, it's the natural decay of the timber.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48And it has a very beautiful effect.
0:34:48 > 0:34:50Yeah, yeah, it's very sought after nowadays by woodturners,
0:34:50 > 0:34:52and people in the timber trade.
0:34:52 > 0:34:53So they want to recreate this effect,
0:34:53 > 0:34:55so what are you doing over here, then?
0:34:55 > 0:34:57Well, this is all trial and error,
0:34:57 > 0:34:59because you can actually grow this,
0:34:59 > 0:35:01you can grow the fungus into the timber.
0:35:01 > 0:35:05- These are my offcuts of these round pieces...- Yeah.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09And I'm hoping that eventually these are going to fruit with fungus,
0:35:09 > 0:35:13and then I can use the fungus to put back into the wood.
0:35:13 > 0:35:14So you're trying to grow your own culture
0:35:14 > 0:35:17- that you can use to create...? - Trying to culture it, yeah.
0:35:17 > 0:35:19Let's have a look. Drawer number one.
0:35:19 > 0:35:20Looks like it's going quite nicely.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23This is silver birch, and I found that one in the woods,
0:35:23 > 0:35:25which has got a fungus on it,
0:35:25 > 0:35:26I'm just trying to keep it alive.
0:35:26 > 0:35:27It's all quite fascinating.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30- So your man cave doubles up as a science lab.- Yeah!
0:35:36 > 0:35:39Ben's not alone in his world of wood.
0:35:39 > 0:35:42His unusual spalted pieces are highly sought after
0:35:42 > 0:35:44by other craftsmen in the area.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51So I'm off to see some more traditional craft,
0:35:51 > 0:35:53and I'm travelling in style.
0:35:53 > 0:35:54ENGINE RUMBLES
0:36:05 > 0:36:09Earlier in the year, we asked you to let us know about young farmers
0:36:09 > 0:36:12that you felt deserved special recognition.
0:36:12 > 0:36:13Well, it's been a tricky task,
0:36:13 > 0:36:17but Adam and Charlotte have managed to whittle all the nominations down
0:36:17 > 0:36:19to a shortlist of three.
0:36:19 > 0:36:21And here's the first of those finalists.
0:36:26 > 0:36:29Young farmers are the lifeblood of our countryside.
0:36:31 > 0:36:34Vital to the future of farming, food production and conservation.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37And that's why we're celebrating them
0:36:37 > 0:36:39with the Countryfile Young Farmer Award.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42We're looking for someone truly outstanding,
0:36:42 > 0:36:45someone who demonstrates the best of what young people do
0:36:45 > 0:36:46for British farming.
0:36:48 > 0:36:49And we'll be announcing the winner
0:36:49 > 0:36:52at the BBC Food And Farming Awards later in the year.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57You sent in nominations from all over the country -
0:36:57 > 0:37:01hundreds of stories of hard work, dedication, and character.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05The first step was for Charlotte and I to get together
0:37:05 > 0:37:07to try and narrow them down a bit.
0:37:07 > 0:37:09Longwool sheep! There you go!
0:37:09 > 0:37:12- Lincoln Longwools, rare breeds! Yeah, I'm liking this guy.- Yeah.
0:37:12 > 0:37:13Really interesting.
0:37:13 > 0:37:15With so many great candidates,
0:37:15 > 0:37:17we had our work cut out.
0:37:17 > 0:37:21Now, she, I think, didn't come from a farming background.
0:37:21 > 0:37:23Started out then as a shepherd,
0:37:23 > 0:37:27and has ended up very recently managing an estate.
0:37:27 > 0:37:28- I think I like that.- Yeah.
0:37:35 > 0:37:36It was a tough decision,
0:37:36 > 0:37:39but we eventually chose our three finalists.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41And we're on our way to meet all of them,
0:37:41 > 0:37:43starting here in south-east Wales,
0:37:43 > 0:37:45with a farmer called Tom.
0:37:45 > 0:37:46Take the strain!
0:37:48 > 0:37:50Steady... Pull!
0:37:52 > 0:37:55When he's not hard at work on the family farm,
0:37:55 > 0:37:5816-year-old Tom Phillips is training hard at the tug of war.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01He and his farming friends are national champions,
0:38:01 > 0:38:03and Tom competed for Wales,
0:38:03 > 0:38:06at the World Championships in Sweden last year.
0:38:06 > 0:38:08Tom was born into farming,
0:38:08 > 0:38:11but it's for one heroic, life-changing moment
0:38:11 > 0:38:12that he really stood out for us.
0:38:12 > 0:38:16We'll be hearing about that later, but first let's meet him.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19- Tom!- Hi there.- That was amazing, and slightly scary.
0:38:19 > 0:38:21- Yeah, hands are a bit sore. - Goodness me.- I can imagine!
0:38:21 > 0:38:23- Great to meet you. - Nice to meet you.- And you.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26- How long have you been doing this? - Oh, this will be my third year, now.
0:38:26 > 0:38:27What's the technique?
0:38:27 > 0:38:29Keeping quite close together and on your hip,
0:38:29 > 0:38:32you're not pulling with muscles, you're pulling with your bodyweight.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34You'll notice Adam's paying a lot of attention.
0:38:34 > 0:38:36I've got very soft hands, I don't want to ruin them.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38- Mine are quite soft, too.- Yeah. - I think you should have a go.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41- I reckon, as well. - He's dying to have a go!- Oh, yeah!
0:38:41 > 0:38:44- What are you going to do?- I'm going to go and be in charge, obviously.
0:38:44 > 0:38:48- Rope on your foot.- Yes. OK. - Like so.- Ready, boys?
0:38:49 > 0:38:52- Pick up the rope.- Ooh...
0:38:52 > 0:38:53And take the strain.
0:38:55 > 0:38:56Steady...
0:38:58 > 0:38:59Pull!
0:39:00 > 0:39:03Oh, that's tough, isn't it?!
0:39:04 > 0:39:06I don't think I'm actually doing a lot of pulling.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09- Can we make them hold it for ages? - Yeah, make 'em work!
0:39:09 > 0:39:12- How's your hands? - Well, they're hurting!
0:39:13 > 0:39:14We could go for a pint.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16No...! Down steady.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19Oh, I never did this when I was at Young Farmers.
0:39:19 > 0:39:21I can see why, now.
0:39:24 > 0:39:25Oh, good save.
0:39:25 > 0:39:26Nice one.
0:39:26 > 0:39:28LAUGHTER
0:39:28 > 0:39:30That's really impressive, fellas.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33And congratulations with all your achievements. Really good.
0:39:33 > 0:39:34I'm going to take this man away now,
0:39:34 > 0:39:36he's going to show me around his farm. Come on.
0:39:39 > 0:39:40So what makes Tom a contender
0:39:40 > 0:39:42for Countryfile's Young Farmer of the Year?
0:39:42 > 0:39:45Well, let's start by taking a look around his farm.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48It's a mixed farm with arable, cattle, pigs,
0:39:48 > 0:39:51and these easy-care sheep that shed their own wool.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53Come on, girls, here we are, here we are!
0:39:54 > 0:39:56That's a lovely farm, Tom.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58Yeah, it's all right.
0:39:58 > 0:40:01The terrain's steep and awkward, I'll give you that.
0:40:01 > 0:40:02Quite steep in places, is it?
0:40:02 > 0:40:05Yeah, you need one leg shorter than the other over there!
0:40:05 > 0:40:09So what is it that you really like about it?
0:40:09 > 0:40:11The thing I probably enjoy most
0:40:11 > 0:40:13is being trusted with everything.
0:40:13 > 0:40:15Dad is going out to work,
0:40:15 > 0:40:18doing his hedge-cutting, fencing, spraying,
0:40:18 > 0:40:22and he leaves me here to do the livestock work and groundwork,
0:40:22 > 0:40:24and the animals know me, I know them,
0:40:24 > 0:40:26especially the sheep and the cattle -
0:40:26 > 0:40:29they come up to you and look at you and scratch you and everything.
0:40:29 > 0:40:30It's all good.
0:40:30 > 0:40:33And what about when it's hosing it down with rain out here
0:40:33 > 0:40:34on a cold winter's day?
0:40:34 > 0:40:38You've just got to get on with it. Put your hood up and go, that's it.
0:40:38 > 0:40:41That's a lot of responsibility for a 16-year-old, isn't it?
0:40:41 > 0:40:44Oh, it is, it is, but I get the occasional telling-off
0:40:44 > 0:40:46for not doing something right,
0:40:46 > 0:40:48but he gets the odd one off me, as well!
0:40:50 > 0:40:53Tom doesn't just rear his livestock for market -
0:40:53 > 0:40:56he also takes pride in regularly showing his animals,
0:40:56 > 0:40:58like his rare-breed Saddleback pigs.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02- Look at the size of that boar, Tom! - Yeah, he's big, isn't he?
0:41:02 > 0:41:06Lovely, isn't he? So how long have you been keeping Saddlebacks?
0:41:06 > 0:41:11Well, when I was nine my dad bought me two saddlebacks,
0:41:11 > 0:41:13and then I had a real big interest in them from there.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17And then the first-ever show we did
0:41:17 > 0:41:20was a show and sale at Ross Market and we won champion there,
0:41:20 > 0:41:21which was just amazing.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24And then we went to the Royal Welsh,
0:41:24 > 0:41:26and then I won Young Handler of the Year for the first time.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29And then I got picked to go to America
0:41:29 > 0:41:31for the British Pig Association
0:41:31 > 0:41:34to show over there, which was incredible,
0:41:34 > 0:41:35a brilliant experience.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37What an amazing achievement.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40A lot of what you do, you do very well.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42Yeah. Well, I try my best.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46While Tom shows Adam around the rest of the farm,
0:41:46 > 0:41:47I'm back at the farmyard
0:41:47 > 0:41:51catching up with Tom's parents, Andrew and Amanda.
0:41:51 > 0:41:53So tell me about your son.
0:41:53 > 0:41:54He's one in a million.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57As a young boy, he never wanted to watch the telly,
0:41:57 > 0:42:00he was always outside, from a very young age.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03Where does this love of farming come from?
0:42:03 > 0:42:06When he was in a basket, he was in a tractor.
0:42:06 > 0:42:07He's seen quite a lot
0:42:07 > 0:42:10and he's always taken it in, quietly.
0:42:10 > 0:42:11Cos there are plenty of farm kids
0:42:11 > 0:42:14who don't want to know anything about farming,
0:42:14 > 0:42:17they don't want to go outside, they're not interested.
0:42:17 > 0:42:19He's got... He seems to have got an interest for everything.
0:42:19 > 0:42:23He's got such a passion for machinery and tractors,
0:42:23 > 0:42:25but also he was not disappointed
0:42:25 > 0:42:27if you're having a day with the livestock,
0:42:27 > 0:42:29you know, so that's...
0:42:29 > 0:42:32He always says to me, "What are we on tomorrow, Dad?"
0:42:32 > 0:42:33and that's encouraging, really.
0:42:33 > 0:42:36You must be really proud of him.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38- Yes, quietly. - SHE LAUGHS
0:42:39 > 0:42:40Back out in the fields,
0:42:40 > 0:42:44it's this familiarity with farm machinery that impresses.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46So, working on the tractors, then, Tom?
0:42:46 > 0:42:50Yeah, I do a lot of tractor work on the farm, such as the ploughing,
0:42:50 > 0:42:55harvesting, a lot of mowing and baling I do myself.
0:42:55 > 0:42:56Goodness me.
0:42:56 > 0:42:59Dad does give me a lot of trust, to trust me with the implements.
0:42:59 > 0:43:04And this trust was to make all the difference one fateful day
0:43:04 > 0:43:06when Tom was just ten years old.
0:43:06 > 0:43:08Me and Dad were out in the field
0:43:08 > 0:43:11and a cow had just had a baby calf,
0:43:11 > 0:43:12couple of hours old.
0:43:12 > 0:43:17Dad went over to pick the calf up to see if it was healthy and OK
0:43:17 > 0:43:21and the calf bellowed for its mother for it to come,
0:43:21 > 0:43:22and with that the bull come running.
0:43:25 > 0:43:29I just remember Tom looking at me and said, "Look out."
0:43:29 > 0:43:33And that was it, the lights went out, yeah.
0:43:36 > 0:43:41The bull tossed my dad nearly up to the telephone wires
0:43:41 > 0:43:44and then he come down in a thud.
0:43:44 > 0:43:47As he come down, the bull's just trampling on him,
0:43:47 > 0:43:49pawing on his stomach and his head,
0:43:49 > 0:43:51just hitting him with his horns
0:43:51 > 0:43:53and throwing him about like he was nothing.
0:43:53 > 0:43:54It was horrifying.
0:43:57 > 0:43:59I was so terrified of the bull,
0:43:59 > 0:44:02so I got the tractor and pushed the bull away,
0:44:02 > 0:44:06which I had to do, I felt I had to do something just to stop it.
0:44:09 > 0:44:12Tom got the tractor and parked it over top of me to stop the bull.
0:44:12 > 0:44:17And he manoeuvred the load-all on the front to protect the body
0:44:17 > 0:44:19so he could come and get me to get help.
0:44:21 > 0:44:24I got down on my hands and knees to try and find a pulse.
0:44:25 > 0:44:28His shirt was all ripped, blood everywhere.
0:44:31 > 0:44:32Erm...
0:44:33 > 0:44:37And then we... They landed the helicopter, loaded Andrew up.
0:44:39 > 0:44:42And Tom saved your life.
0:44:42 > 0:44:45Yeah, that's right. That's the bottom line, I suppose, yeah.
0:44:47 > 0:44:52Andrew broke 12 ribs and suffered severe internal and head injuries.
0:44:52 > 0:44:56Tom's quick thinking had saved his dad's life,
0:44:56 > 0:44:59but the experience put him off working with cattle for some time.
0:45:00 > 0:45:03I was quite scared about it to the age of 13,
0:45:03 > 0:45:04from what happened to Dad.
0:45:06 > 0:45:07It really knocked me
0:45:07 > 0:45:10and I wouldn't look at a cow, really.
0:45:10 > 0:45:11The last two years,
0:45:11 > 0:45:14because I've been trusted so much with them,
0:45:14 > 0:45:16I've just had to get on and face your fears
0:45:16 > 0:45:18and you've got to get on with it.
0:45:20 > 0:45:23It's not just his mum and dad who are proud of Tom.
0:45:23 > 0:45:27His granny Shirley is also, unsurprisingly, a big fan.
0:45:28 > 0:45:30Tom is a chip off the old block
0:45:30 > 0:45:34and Tom is identical to his dad.
0:45:35 > 0:45:37They love the countryside,
0:45:37 > 0:45:39they love the animals,
0:45:39 > 0:45:41they love farming.
0:45:43 > 0:45:45Tom's very caring,
0:45:45 > 0:45:46passionate for his farming,
0:45:46 > 0:45:48passionate for his animals.
0:45:48 > 0:45:50Get in your chops!
0:45:52 > 0:45:55He puts everybody before himself.
0:45:55 > 0:45:58He's just an inspiration.
0:45:58 > 0:45:59And he's my boy.
0:46:06 > 0:46:09What a great lad, and what a really positive start.
0:46:09 > 0:46:12He's so dug in to the community - at such a young age, as well,
0:46:12 > 0:46:13doing all these things
0:46:13 > 0:46:16like the tug-of-war and everything else that he's up to.
0:46:16 > 0:46:19He's only 16 and he's achieved so much in farming already, hasn't he?
0:46:19 > 0:46:22And he's got definite plans for this farm.
0:46:22 > 0:46:24He knows where he wants to take it.
0:46:24 > 0:46:26And then understanding the land
0:46:26 > 0:46:29and driving tractors on this beautiful farm.
0:46:29 > 0:46:31It's absolutely stunning. Really positive start.
0:46:31 > 0:46:34- I'm all inspired now to go and see our next one.- Me, too.
0:46:40 > 0:46:44I've been exploring Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve in Suffolk,
0:46:44 > 0:46:45and they're thinking big here,
0:46:45 > 0:46:47making the biggest land-purchase ever
0:46:47 > 0:46:50in the Wildlife Trust's 55-year history.
0:46:51 > 0:46:54The plan is to join up the landscape and make one massive nature reserve.
0:46:56 > 0:46:59But an increase in size means an increase in visitors -
0:46:59 > 0:47:03a large number of those with four legs, and some with bad behaviour.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08Now, we're all big fans of you here on Countryfile.
0:47:08 > 0:47:09Are you two listening?
0:47:09 > 0:47:12Because, let's be honest, I mean this is a perfect example,
0:47:12 > 0:47:14when you're out with your mates and you're given a free rein,
0:47:14 > 0:47:17things can get out of hand, can't they?
0:47:18 > 0:47:19Not even listening.
0:47:21 > 0:47:24All joking aside, there have been some serious incidents
0:47:24 > 0:47:27of loose dogs attacking animals on the reserve.
0:47:31 > 0:47:34So, you do welcome dogs onto the reserve,
0:47:34 > 0:47:36but you've had some problems, haven't you,
0:47:36 > 0:47:37with irresponsible dog owners?
0:47:37 > 0:47:41Yeah, we have. We've had incidents of cattle being chased by dogs,
0:47:41 > 0:47:43we've had dogs running across the marshes
0:47:43 > 0:47:46disturbing nesting birds, and we've had a number of incidents
0:47:46 > 0:47:49where dogs have run in with some of the school groups
0:47:49 > 0:47:51doing environmental education here on site.
0:47:51 > 0:47:53And, interestingly, you've been doing some research, haven't you,
0:47:53 > 0:47:56about the impact that dogs have on a place like this
0:47:56 > 0:47:57when they're off a lead?
0:47:57 > 0:48:00Yeah. You know, walking on a nature reserve,
0:48:00 > 0:48:05you create a band of disturbance anyway on a footpath of, you know,
0:48:05 > 0:48:0915-20 foot of area each side of you.
0:48:09 > 0:48:11With a dog off a lead,
0:48:11 > 0:48:14that could be up to 200 feet of disturbance each side of you,
0:48:14 > 0:48:16which is obviously a massive area.
0:48:16 > 0:48:20And if every dog walker doesn't have control of their dog,
0:48:20 > 0:48:22that just pushes birds and other species
0:48:22 > 0:48:25out of that area as a usable site.
0:48:26 > 0:48:28The trust took the unprecedented step
0:48:28 > 0:48:30of introducing a control order for dogs,
0:48:30 > 0:48:33meaning they must be kept on a lead or owners face a fine.
0:48:34 > 0:48:36They've also employed dog ambassadors
0:48:36 > 0:48:39to teach good practice when out and about with your dog.
0:48:45 > 0:48:48Dog ambassador - sounds like a great title.
0:48:48 > 0:48:51So when you're out there on the marshes,
0:48:51 > 0:48:53what's the best approach that you've found?
0:48:53 > 0:48:54Because, obviously, dog owners feel like
0:48:54 > 0:48:56they're doing the right thing for their dog
0:48:56 > 0:48:58and they have the best relationship with their dog
0:48:58 > 0:49:00and no-one can tell them otherwise -
0:49:00 > 0:49:03so how do you get involved in that scenario?
0:49:03 > 0:49:06Well, the best approach is the gentle approach, in all honesty,
0:49:06 > 0:49:09and it's just giving them the information.
0:49:09 > 0:49:11When we first got involved in this project
0:49:11 > 0:49:14it was a real eye-opener for us in some respects,
0:49:14 > 0:49:16because the Wildlife Trust
0:49:16 > 0:49:18were able to tell us what the implications were
0:49:18 > 0:49:21with regards to dogs being loose on the site.
0:49:21 > 0:49:23But there are plenty of safe places about
0:49:23 > 0:49:25where you can let your dog off a lead.
0:49:25 > 0:49:26Assess where you are,
0:49:26 > 0:49:30and if it's safe to let your dog off then let them, let them run about
0:49:30 > 0:49:34and have some fun, because dogs want to be dogs, at the end of the day.
0:49:35 > 0:49:37Mark and his team of trainers teach obedience
0:49:37 > 0:49:40using what's known as Temptation Alley.
0:49:42 > 0:49:45It replicates all the doggy distractions of a nature reserve.
0:49:47 > 0:49:50We've got replica wildfowl,
0:49:50 > 0:49:52dummy mammals and, well...
0:49:52 > 0:49:54lots of other stuff.
0:49:54 > 0:49:57Welcome, everybody, to Temptation Alley.
0:49:57 > 0:49:59So this is Gloria. What's her dog called?
0:49:59 > 0:50:01- Chaos. - HE LAUGHS
0:50:01 > 0:50:05Oh, you're off a lead, then, are you? That's the idea.
0:50:05 > 0:50:07Chaos, come!
0:50:07 > 0:50:09Aw, look at that.
0:50:09 > 0:50:11That's the way to do it.
0:50:11 > 0:50:12That's set the standard.
0:50:12 > 0:50:14Our second dog sails through.
0:50:15 > 0:50:16Well done.
0:50:16 > 0:50:18Nope. Put that down.
0:50:20 > 0:50:22'My turn next.'
0:50:22 > 0:50:26Come on, darling. What a good girl.
0:50:26 > 0:50:28What a good girl!
0:50:28 > 0:50:29Spirit, come.
0:50:29 > 0:50:32'It is a lot of fun, but the message here is serious.
0:50:32 > 0:50:34'If you're around wildlife or livestock,
0:50:34 > 0:50:36'make sure you can keep your dog under control.'
0:50:36 > 0:50:38I'm going to run to Temptation Alley -
0:50:38 > 0:50:40he's going to beat me through!
0:50:41 > 0:50:43What a good boy!
0:50:46 > 0:50:49Now, if you're planning a walk with your faithful friend this weekend,
0:50:49 > 0:50:51you'll want to know what the weather's doing.
0:50:51 > 0:50:54Here's the Countryfile forecast for the week ahead.
0:52:11 > 0:52:13Today, we've been exploring Suffolk...
0:52:15 > 0:52:18..with its signature windmills,
0:52:18 > 0:52:20famous Fens,
0:52:20 > 0:52:22and crafty characters,
0:52:22 > 0:52:26like Ben, who loves bringing new life to old wood.
0:52:27 > 0:52:29And he's not alone.
0:52:29 > 0:52:33Ahren here uses Ben's recycled wood to make artisan knives.
0:52:35 > 0:52:39In an unassuming shed at the bottom of a garden in Bury St Edmunds
0:52:39 > 0:52:41is Ahren's workshop.
0:52:42 > 0:52:43Hey, what a cool shed.
0:52:45 > 0:52:47The cuts and grooves in the old carpenter's bench
0:52:47 > 0:52:50are a testament to his many creations.
0:52:51 > 0:52:55But you could be left wondering what to do with his latest designs.
0:52:56 > 0:53:00- This is what I've been making just lately.- Wow.
0:53:00 > 0:53:04It's got a blade, so it's definitely for cutting - but what?
0:53:04 > 0:53:07It's bread, actually. It's an Appalachian bowsaw bread knife.
0:53:07 > 0:53:09- A bread knife!- Yeah, yeah.
0:53:09 > 0:53:11This one is made in spalted beech.
0:53:11 > 0:53:13How did you come across this, then?
0:53:13 > 0:53:15Found them in the flea market, actually.
0:53:15 > 0:53:17Found one old one lying there and I just picked it up
0:53:17 > 0:53:18and got quite interested in it.
0:53:18 > 0:53:20That originated from the Appalachian mountains.
0:53:20 > 0:53:24The mountain people there used bows in lots of tools they made.
0:53:24 > 0:53:26I guess it looks a bit like a hacksaw.
0:53:26 > 0:53:29No, it doesn't work like a hacksaw, it works on the side, actually.
0:53:29 > 0:53:32So basically it's a sawing action as if you are cutting wood.
0:53:32 > 0:53:34What type of woods do you use?
0:53:34 > 0:53:37I like to get stuff with knots, bit of character.
0:53:37 > 0:53:39I just love recycling.
0:53:39 > 0:53:41I just love bringing wood back to life, basically.
0:53:43 > 0:53:44How do you make it, then? Let's have a look.
0:53:44 > 0:53:48Yeah, let's demonstrate how we get one of these made.
0:53:48 > 0:53:49What's with the bowler hat?
0:53:49 > 0:53:51Well, got a lot of hair - it keeps the dust out!
0:53:53 > 0:53:55Slow.
0:53:55 > 0:53:58Draw back to you.
0:53:58 > 0:54:01Slowly you'll get a nice rounded finish.
0:54:01 > 0:54:04- Would you like to have a go at that? - Yeah, I'd like to have a go at that.
0:54:04 > 0:54:07- Yeah. So have you always been into woodwork, then?- Yeah.
0:54:07 > 0:54:08Well, my grandfather was a chippy
0:54:08 > 0:54:11and when I was, like, five, I used to stay round at the weekends,
0:54:11 > 0:54:15he used to take me in the shed and make little aeroplanes out of wood.
0:54:15 > 0:54:18- I've been sort of in love with it every since, really.- That's nice.
0:54:18 > 0:54:20But you've got a full-time job, haven't you?
0:54:20 > 0:54:22Yeah, I work for a local steel company -
0:54:22 > 0:54:25try and fit this in in between the 12-hour days!
0:54:25 > 0:54:28- Not easy.- Yeah, yeah. Cos it is just a hobby of mine.
0:54:28 > 0:54:31- Nice way to relax, actually. - Yeah. I do enjoy it, yeah.
0:54:31 > 0:54:34Come down the shed at the end of the day and just relax.
0:54:34 > 0:54:37I'm really sorry, I've slightly gouged a bit there.
0:54:37 > 0:54:40- No, that's recoverable. - Is it? You recover that.
0:54:40 > 0:54:42- I'm going to stand over here. - SHE LAUGHS
0:54:46 > 0:54:49My favourite part is actually waxing at the end of it
0:54:49 > 0:54:51because then it liberates the grain,
0:54:51 > 0:54:55you see what a lovely grain you've got in the wood.
0:54:55 > 0:54:56Every knife's different.
0:54:56 > 0:54:59It's just a joy every time you wax one up, really.
0:54:59 > 0:55:02- I reckon I could have a go at waxing and not...- Yeah, no problem.
0:55:02 > 0:55:05We'll sort that out for you. Let's go and get the old wax.
0:55:07 > 0:55:09Just rub it in and watch the lovely grain come out.
0:55:09 > 0:55:12Watch it shine. There we go.
0:55:12 > 0:55:15Lovely. Look at the comparison there, before and after. Beautiful.
0:55:20 > 0:55:22Very nice. Nice smell, too.
0:55:22 > 0:55:25- Waxing lyrical again?- Absolutely!
0:55:25 > 0:55:27As ever, John, as ever. I'm glad you're here, in good time.
0:55:27 > 0:55:29Want to show you one of these.
0:55:29 > 0:55:31An Appalachian bowsaw bread knife.
0:55:31 > 0:55:35Well, what a good job that I brought some bread with me, from the mill.
0:55:35 > 0:55:39- Shall I give it a try?- Yeah, what do you want? A malt loaf or sourdough?
0:55:39 > 0:55:42- I think sourdough.- That might be a bit sticky.- I think so.
0:55:42 > 0:55:44This apparently is very sharp, so watching fingers here.
0:55:44 > 0:55:47Let the blade do the... Oh, yeah, glides through like butter.
0:55:47 > 0:55:50- It does, cos it's quite a crusty loaf, isn't it?- How about that.
0:55:50 > 0:55:51Oh, lovely, thank you.
0:55:51 > 0:55:54- And that's all we've got time for, I'm afraid, from Suffolk.- Yes.
0:55:54 > 0:55:56Next week we'll be in Lanarkshire,
0:55:56 > 0:55:59where Matt will be looking at the area's traditional orchards
0:55:59 > 0:56:01and I'll be looking at a beehive adoption scheme.
0:56:01 > 0:56:03- We'll see you then.- Bye for now.