Suffolk Countryfile


Suffolk

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Britain's most easterly edge.

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The famous sparkling Norfolk Broads carve their way through the

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landscape, not far from here.

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But the Suffolk Broads are about to make their own mark on

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East Anglia's map.

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Here in Lowestoft, an ambitious plan is under way to create

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a massive nature reserve, and if all goes to plan,

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it'll be one of the country's most important.

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I'll be finding out what they're doing to keep their wildlife

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and cattle safe from dog attacks.

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Good boy!

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Ellie's meeting some green-fingered folk who run their own

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community farm.

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It's a complete mix of people, people from all walks of life.

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If you hoe a row of beans alongside somebody,

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you can really get to know them.

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Tom's finding out about the egg thieves threatening our wild birds.

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We do know of birds changing hands for in excess of £10,000

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and sometimes even more.

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And we'll be meeting the first of our

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Countryfile Young Farmer of the Year finalists.

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Tom got the tractor and parked it over top of me.

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So he could come and get me to get help.

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He's just an inspiration.

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And he's my boy.

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We're on the east coast, in Suffolk.

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I'm in the very north of the county, in Lowestoft,

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near the border with Norfolk.

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I'm here to explore Carlton Marshes nature reserve,

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a jewel in Suffolk's crown.

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A jewel that's about to get a lot bigger and even more precious.

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Suffolk Wildlife Trust are making history

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with their biggest ever land purchase.

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And we are not just talking about going large here.

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We're talking about tripling the size of this nature reserve

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to over 1,000 acres and it is a pretty ambitious plan cos

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it'll stretch as far as the eye can see.

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It's more or less one man's vision.

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The man with the huge plan is reserve warden Matt Gooch.

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And Matt is showing me the lay of the land,

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as it stands at the moment.

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Yeah, so we've got lots of patches of reserve,

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like this one behind us here, where we've created these wetland

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scrapes, which have brought in lots of birds, both rare and not so rare.

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And that borders on to this land here,

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which is potentially the new land extension for the reserve.

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'When the dykes were put in to drain the land for arable farming

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'around 50 years ago, it dried out and the wildlife declined rapidly.'

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So you've got all these different areas, then,

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kind of dotted about and the plan is to link them all up, Matt.

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Yeah, and a really important factor is it being right next door to

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such a large population of people, as well.

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The reserve almost wraps itself around the edge of Lowestoft

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and 75,000 people with an opportunity to walk on to

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a potentially top nature reserve.

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'This is landscape-scale conservation.

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'The reserve also plans to join up a seven-mile network of these

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'freshwater ditches, allowing the rare broadland plants and

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'animals that live here to spread across the landscape.

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'The man with the net is ecologist Toby Abrehart.'

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Right, so, you're doing this, then, constantly at the moment, Toby.

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-Just surveying all of the ditches.

-Yeah, absolutely.

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And whether the land they're going to be restoring will actually

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-be able to support the species that we've got here.

-Mm-hm.

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Well, we know from that net full that the water beetle

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-population round here is quite something.

-Yeah, it's exceptional.

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To find three great silver water beetles in one sample was unheard

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-of.

-OK, well, just talk us through what else we've got in here, then.

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So what we've actually got in here, you've found the male smooth newt.

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-Mm-hm. He's lovely.

-A little spotty tummy.

-Look at his belly.

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He's looking rather fantastic and he's got his full crest on.

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And so what's the plan, going forwards, as far as the new land is

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concerned and maybe helping some of these species to thrive over there?

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Well, the idea is to try and create some of this habitat further

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out there, so you end up with nice,

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wide ditches that are good quality and you have

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a sort of good amount of clear water within them and with that,

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hopefully, you'll get an increased plant population going

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through there and when you start getting different plants

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coming in, you start to get more invertebrates coming in with that.

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'With my magnifying headset on,

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'I can see in close up some of Toby's start species.'

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There's another species in here.

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-Which is more rare.

-Gosh! How do you find that in there?

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So, that is a thing called Anisus vorticulus,

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which is the little whirlpool ram's horn snail.

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It's an European protected species.

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It's only found in the Broads, down in Sussex, in the UK.

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Well, it's not just your favourite snails that you hope to find

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-in these samples, is it, Toby?

-No.

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No, actually, there's another species that's actually found

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in these marshes.

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-It is the great fen raft spider.

-Mm.

-That's a big beast.

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Kate, our director, is not a fan, are you, Kate?

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-< No!

-No.

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So... We'll see if we can find one.

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Ooh, excellent. Excellent. Jolly good. I'll take the net.

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-There it is.

-There it is.

-There it is. Look at that!

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-Ooh.

-OK, if you don't like spiders, look away now.

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If you do, feast your eyes on that.

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'The great fen raft spider was almost extinct in the UK before

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'a breeding programme reintroduced them here a few years ago.

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'Carlton Marshes is one of only six sites in the UK where they

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'can now be found.'

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-And what's the population like now?

-It's extremely healthy.

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They seem to just be going in to all the ditches that are of a good

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quality, like the ditches we are finding all these other species in.

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And as far as their kind of relationship with the water

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is concerned, how do they live on it?

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Do they swim? Do they dive?

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They're sort of a stealth predator, so they'll be on the edge of

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the ditch and they'll be looking for prey coming along and they'll

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pounce on it.

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They can catch small sticklebacks, they can catch other species

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like that, so they're quite a top predator within a ditch system.

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'The wildlife trust's plans here are huge and the team are

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'doing everything they can to secure the future of the wildlife

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'here in the Suffolk Broads.'

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Now, of course,

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nature reserves like this are a safe haven for nesting birds,

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but elsewhere, they're not always quite so lucky and that is because

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egg collectors are still a threat to some of our rarest species,

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as Tom's been finding out.

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Nesting season, one of the best times to watch our wild birds.

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Today, we know how important it is not to disturb them at this

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time of year, but we weren't always so hands-off.

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From the 1800s to the mid 1900s,

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egg collecting was a popular and adventurous pastime,

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which, despite its reputation,

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added to our understanding of both birds and our environment.

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But by the mid 1950s,

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attitudes were changing and the practice was outlawed in the UK.

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But despite heavy fines and prison sentences,

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egg collecting continues as a serious threat to our wild

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birds and this is no longer the misguided endeavours of Victorians -

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this is organised crime.

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The birds can be worth so much money that egg thieves risk life

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and limb for their prize.

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Like the man dangling from this rope,

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Jeffrey Lendrum - an habitual egg thief who, right now, is on the run.

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He was convicted in 2010 for stealing 14 eggs that could

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have made him tens of thousands of pounds.

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The species he targeted - the peregrine falcon.

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Reaching up to 200mph in a dive, they're the fastest bird in

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the world and are also our most protected.

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They've been nesting here in Bristol's Avon Gorge for more

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than 25 years.

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There's a peregrine calling down there.

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'I'm here with Andy McWilliam from the National Wildlife Crime Unit.'

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So, Andy, how much of an issue is egg collecting today?

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Well, when I first started in wildlife crime, there was

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probably in the region of 150-odd egg collectors in the country.

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Now, the number's greatly reduced.

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We're down to, you know, a fraction of that number now.

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But it is still an issue, for a number of reasons.

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You've still got some persistent egg collectors,

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who just want the eggs for the shells,

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but then you've got others who will be targeting species for trade.

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And what's the particular issue with falcons,

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like we're looking at today?

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Well, we've done a lot of work on peregrines in the last few

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years, particularly, because of the increase in value.

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There are individuals who've seen there is an opportunity here

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to make money.

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So they will try and launder birds into that captive-bred market

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and supply them to the Middle East,

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where money doesn't seem to be an issue.

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How much could we be talking about?

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We do know of birds changing hands for in excess of £10,000 and

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sometimes even more.

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'Falcon racing is a traditional and popular sport in the

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'Middle East, where wild British birds are highly prized for

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'their speed, size and power.

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'But you don't have to go that far

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'to find eggs that command a premium.'

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They might not be at the top of your typical breakfast menu,

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but black-headed gulls' eggs are a delicacy at this time of year.

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Thank you very much.

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And unlike these hen's eggs, an omelette made from

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black-headed gull's eggs could set you back approaching £100.

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'And even if you buy them to cook yourself,

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'you're looking at about £10 per egg.

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'They've been highly prized for their rich flavour for

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'generations and were a favourite during World War II,

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'when hen's eggs were in short supply.

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'It is illegal to collect these eggs,

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'unless you have a licence, and even then,

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'they can only be taken from five small sites across the UK.

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'But Poole Harbour is not one of those sites.

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'It's a crime to take gulls' eggs from here,

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'but as Paul Morton from Birds of Poole Harbour has discovered,

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'not everyone's playing by the rules.'

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How did you know there was a problem with the gulls here?

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We realised the gull eggs were disappearing in 2016,

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when we were surveying the islands, and as we were crossing the islands,

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realised that almost 70% of the nests were empty,

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at the peak time when they should all actually be full.

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As we were surveying, we were looking down and finding footprints

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criss-crossing the entire length of the island, back and forth.

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And it became fairly obvious that there'd been a theft of eggs.

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So, roughly how many eggs do you think may have gone?

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It's really hard to say the exact number,

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but bearing in mind a nest contains anything from one to three eggs,

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even if one eggs was in each nest,

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we found thousands of empty nests, so the number's quite considerable.

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'It's not just black-headed gulls that Paul's worried about.

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'The threatened Mediterranean gull also nests here.

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'Thieves are mistaking their eggs for black-headed gull eggs and

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'are taking them, too.

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'Their ignorance is making a bad situation even worse.'

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When someone is going across the islands and taking the eggs,

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there's no real way of knowing, especially in the dark,

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whether it's a black-headed gull or a Mediterranean gull egg that

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they're taking. It's an illegal activity, OK?

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No-one should be collecting eggs in Poole Harbour of any species.

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-Is that one coming over now?

-This is black-headed gull, this one.

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'This clean sweep of eggs could be one reason why the

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'black-headed gull population here has declined by 70% since 2008

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'and why the number of Mediterranean gulls nesting here has halved.'

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With such dire consequences for the targeted birds, it is vital

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that we crack down on the egg thieves, so what's being done?

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Well, that's what I'll be finding out later.

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Suffolk, East Anglia.

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Rich, arable fields border its wild coastline.

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It's also a Mecca for foodies,

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but I'm meeting those with a more grassroots approach to eating.

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Veg boxes have been around for a while and as we know,

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they're a great way to get seasonal fresh and local produce,

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but here in Ipswich, your veg box comes with a bit of a twist because

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it's grown on a farm worked on by the local community, run on waste.

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-Hi, John.

-Hi, Ellie.

-How are you doing?

-Come in.

-Thank you very much.

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'John Revell gets his veg on a weekly basis,

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'but he has to work for them.'

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-We've got kale shoots...

-They're attractive, aren't they?

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They're lovely, aren't they?

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Just starting to flower but the flowers are perfectly edible.

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A bag of mixed salad leaves.

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-Mm-hm.

-Some winter greens.

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Do you find you eat more veggies than you otherwise would,

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-if you didn't have the box?

-Oh, definitely.

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-This veg box scheme's a bit different.

-It is, yes.

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Sure, you get a veg box, you pay for the veg box,

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but you don't just do that.

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You also commit at the beginning of your year when you join up to

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-work on the farm.

-I want to go and see the place.

-Great.

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If you want to go and put your boots on, I'll take you up there.

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Let's head down there.

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'John is taking me to Oak Tree Low Carbon Farm near Ipswich.

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'Here, people from the local community dig,

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'sow and grow their own produce.

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'And it's low carbon, as it's fuelled by other people's rubbish.'

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Nothing is wasted.

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The dredging from a local property developer's pond fertilises

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the fields.

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Oyster shells from the local fishmonger are crushed up and

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fed to the chickens,

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giving them extra calcium to make their egg shells nice and strong.

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The children love doing it.

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And these guys are fed leftover barley from the local brewery.

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Here we go.

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Ready?

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Ooh! Lovely!

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Lucky pigs!

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'The 12-acre farm also has cows and a chicken coop,

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'where Percival the cockerel can be found strutting his stuff.

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'People from all walks of life come here to share the work and

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'reap the rewards.'

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What was it that got you into this?

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Well, I took early retirement three or four years ago and

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coincidentally, the very day I retired,

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a leaflet about the farm turned up on the doorstep.

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So I jumped on my bike and cycled up here and liked what I saw and

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I joined up and I've been involved with the farm ever since.

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-It was a sign, perhaps.

-It was, I think. I think it was.

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-From one life to another.

-How does it all work up here?

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You work two hours a week, on average, for the spring and summer

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period and then, one hour a week, on average, for the rest of the year.

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-So that fits in with working people.

-It does.

-They can fit that in.

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That's right. It's great because you can come up here any time you like.

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-Yeah.

-We always have a list of stuff that's available to do.

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-That tells you the work that needs doing.

-Exactly.

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Hoe broad beans, sow sweetcorn. And what if someone goes on holiday?

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-Does that mean they get booted out?

-Not at all, no.

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That's the benefit, compared to an allotment.

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There are always people doing the work while you are away on

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your holiday and you can pick up

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-when you return.

-That's fantastic. What about that community aspect?

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-What have you got out of that?

-I've got a lot out of that.

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I really think that is one of the best things.

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I'd just retired, so 40 years behind a desk. This was such a contrast.

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It's the opportunity to meet people that were living next door,

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-living up the road, or whatever.

-Yeah.

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And here, you've got a common interest. And we have a great time.

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We usually have a brew up on a Saturday after the working

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-party and just sit round and have a chat.

-Lovely. Sounds great.

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'The farm only became possible seven years ago,

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'due to the grit and determination of one woman.

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'When Joanne Mudhar bought the plot,

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'she found the soil was exhausted after decades of intensive

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'farming, so her aim was to bring some love back to the land.'

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I became really fascinated by the link between food production

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and carbon emissions.

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Just wanting to know if it's possible to produce good food

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in a way that's good for the environment and for people as well.

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What state was this in when you came here?

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Well, to be honest, the soil was in pretty terrible condition,

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which is not unusual for industrial agricultural farms.

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The soil looked like a child's sandpit.

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I'd never seen anything like it, so it was

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a real shock to find out that that's what soil typically looks like.

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-Wow. So a lot of restoration, just in the earth itself.

-Absolutely.

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And you've got a real mixed bag of people.

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Yes, it's a complete mix of people, people from all walks of life,

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all ages, all different backgrounds. And you really get to know somebody.

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If you hoe a row of beans alongside somebody,

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you can really get to know them.

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'But it's not just about the banter.

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'When Clare was faced with a death in the family,

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'she found coming here a place of solace.'

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My dad passed away two years ago and I was already here and other

0:18:410:18:46

members kind of got me through it.

0:18:460:18:48

So yes, it's been an amazing place for me, really.

0:18:480:18:51

It kind of gives you that balance in life.

0:18:510:18:54

I work and busy family and it's kind of me time really.

0:18:540:18:58

Me time to come up here and think and,

0:18:580:19:01

yeah, it's very important to me.

0:19:010:19:03

'Spending time here,

0:19:050:19:06

'you can see why this place means so much to the local community.

0:19:060:19:11

'And with all the vegetables harvested and boxed up,

0:19:130:19:16

'there's just time for a well-deserved brew.'

0:19:160:19:18

That was a fantastic day!

0:19:220:19:24

It's made me want to eat curly kale and Swiss chard, like never before.

0:19:240:19:28

Cheers, everybody. Flapjack?

0:19:280:19:30

Thank you.

0:19:300:19:32

Suffolk lies at the heart of England's breadbasket.

0:19:390:19:43

A fertile county, famed for its grain production and its windmills.

0:19:430:19:48

And as it's National Mills Weekend, I'm off to visit one of the

0:19:480:19:52

county's finest.

0:19:520:19:54

Once, they were a common sight right across Suffolk, but now,

0:19:540:19:57

there's just a handful of them left and this is one of them,

0:19:570:20:01

in the village of Bardwell.

0:20:010:20:03

The mill was built in 1820, at a time when

0:20:050:20:08

Constable was immortalising the Suffolk landscape on canvas.

0:20:080:20:12

Enid Wheeler and her late husband Geoff bought the mill 30 years ago.

0:20:130:20:18

But everything changed on the night of the Great Storm of October 1987.

0:20:200:20:25

At around about two o'clock in the morning,

0:20:250:20:28

these huge sails came crashing down into the garden here.

0:20:280:20:32

You can still see some of the wind shaft,

0:20:320:20:34

which is where it landed.

0:20:340:20:35

And it came, of course,

0:20:350:20:37

as a terrible shock for Enid and Geoff

0:20:370:20:40

who were asleep in their home, here.

0:20:400:20:42

They had been awakened by the noise and the wind,

0:20:420:20:44

and had an incredibly lucky escape.

0:20:440:20:47

It was the UK's worst storm for 300 years,

0:20:480:20:51

causing devastation across the country

0:20:510:20:53

with winds of up to 100 miles an hour,

0:20:530:20:56

uprooting 15 million trees.

0:20:560:20:58

The Wheelers' dream was smashed to pieces.

0:20:580:21:00

And after the storm,

0:21:010:21:03

when you were stood amongst all the wreckage of the sails,

0:21:030:21:08

what were your feelings?

0:21:080:21:10

Devastated.

0:21:100:21:11

It was a very frightening time.

0:21:110:21:13

The roaring of the wind,

0:21:140:21:16

and the bits falling off the mill and crashing on the door and...

0:21:160:21:20

Did you think that...

0:21:210:21:23

that's it?

0:21:230:21:24

Definitely.

0:21:240:21:25

But very kind people in the village,

0:21:250:21:28

they came the following Sunday,

0:21:280:21:31

about 12 of them,

0:21:310:21:32

and they'd collected £300 for us,

0:21:320:21:36

to start getting organised again.

0:21:360:21:39

And from that,

0:21:390:21:42

we've put on events each year,

0:21:420:21:43

and enough for us to start putting the sail back on,

0:21:430:21:49

one sail, and then got through to the fourth,

0:21:490:21:53

and, very excitedly, it's back.

0:21:530:21:56

But anyway, are you going to try a piece of my flapjack?

0:21:560:21:59

I certainly will.

0:21:590:22:00

Mmm.

0:22:000:22:01

Mmm!

0:22:030:22:04

Wonderful.

0:22:040:22:05

After Geoff's death,

0:22:050:22:06

the rest of the family vowed to get the mill back into action.

0:22:060:22:10

Building and installing new grain hoppers is the latest task

0:22:100:22:14

and, luckily, son David is a furniture maker.

0:22:140:22:17

David, why was it so important to get this windmill working again?

0:22:170:22:20

It was important for both the family and the community,

0:22:210:22:25

because it had been a landmark in the village for 200 years.

0:22:250:22:30

So now you've got the sails working again,

0:22:300:22:33

but what about the general state of the building?

0:22:330:22:35

Some of these bricks look a bit dodgy.

0:22:350:22:37

Yes, it's a catch up all the time, there's always work to be done.

0:22:370:22:41

A bit like the Forth Bridge.

0:22:410:22:42

You know, we're forever looking at repainting,

0:22:420:22:44

and so when one job's finished, another one starts.

0:22:440:22:47

So I'm doing my little bit to help.

0:22:480:22:50

-Under this you'll feel some holes.

-Yes, I see them, yes.

0:22:510:22:54

Yes. And the finishing touch is just to help me lift the hopper in place.

0:22:540:22:58

Right.

0:22:580:22:59

There we go.

0:23:010:23:03

What happens when there's no wind?

0:23:030:23:05

Well, that's what we're working on.

0:23:050:23:06

This set of stones is actually going to be electrified,

0:23:060:23:09

we've got an electric motor up above here so that on calm days we can...

0:23:090:23:13

..turn the stones, and we can produce flour

0:23:140:23:17

which will help to bring in more funding

0:23:170:23:19

to help with the ongoing restoration of the mill.

0:23:190:23:22

And this is what it's all about.

0:23:250:23:27

Bread.

0:23:270:23:29

Enid's grandson Will is an award-winning baker.

0:23:290:23:32

Along with his dad, Simon,

0:23:320:23:33

he runs a small business next door to the mill.

0:23:330:23:36

Mmm!

0:23:360:23:38

That wonderful smell of a bakery in action!

0:23:380:23:40

What's going on now, then?

0:23:400:23:42

We are just dividing up the sourdough.

0:23:430:23:46

So Will is scaling and I'm just rounding them up.

0:23:470:23:50

So what about your materials, you know,

0:23:500:23:52

the rye and all the other stuff, the flour,

0:23:520:23:54

where does that come from?

0:23:540:23:55

Well, most of the flower comes from a local mill,

0:23:560:23:59

but the plan, long-term, is to use...

0:23:590:24:04

That one there!

0:24:040:24:05

That mill over there, yeah, yes!

0:24:050:24:07

The restored mill should soon be up and running again,

0:24:080:24:10

so hopefully they won't have too long to wait.

0:24:100:24:13

-And what made you become a baker, then, Will?

-I don't know!

0:24:140:24:18

-I persuaded him.

-No...

0:24:180:24:19

Well, I sort of watched the old man doing it for years,

0:24:190:24:23

thinking it'd be the last thing I'd ever want to do,

0:24:230:24:25

-to be honest with you.

-Or if you do it, you'd do it better.

0:24:250:24:27

Yeah, that's the one!

0:24:270:24:29

That's what drives me.

0:24:290:24:30

No, I think it was...

0:24:300:24:32

I'd spent some time as... Sort of cheffing, cooking in various places,

0:24:320:24:35

and got a bit disillusioned with that,

0:24:350:24:37

and this place was sort of dormant, really, wasn't it?

0:24:370:24:40

-Other than the odd sort of mill day...

-Yeah, yeah.

0:24:400:24:42

..trying to raise money for the mill,

0:24:420:24:45

we didn't really use it to its potential,

0:24:450:24:47

and it just seemed like the right time,

0:24:470:24:49

there's a renewed attitude of locally sourced food,

0:24:490:24:53

an interest in meeting the people that make your foods,

0:24:530:24:55

hence why we do a lot of farmers' markets, and do them myself as well,

0:24:550:24:59

just seemed like the right time.

0:24:590:25:02

-And it's become an obsession, really, through that.

-Yeah.

0:25:020:25:05

With Will taking care of the bread,

0:25:070:25:09

his brother Joe runs a shop next door.

0:25:090:25:12

-Hello, Joe.

-Hello, John.

0:25:120:25:13

-So you sell the bread that your dad and brother bake?

-Yes, I do, yes.

0:25:130:25:17

-And it looks a wonderful selection.

-Thank you very much, thank you.

0:25:170:25:19

And how about these cakes?!

0:25:190:25:21

-Well, yes, I bake the cakes.

-You make them, do you?

0:25:210:25:23

Yes, while my brother bakes the bread, I make the cakes.

0:25:230:25:26

Oh, well, I'll have a couple of your cookies, then, if I may?

0:25:260:25:29

-Thank you.

-There you are, thank you.

-Thank you.

0:25:300:25:32

-Thank you very much indeed.

-Thank you, John.

-All the very best.

0:25:320:25:35

-Thank you very much.

-Bye.

0:25:350:25:36

It's had a turbulent recent past.

0:25:380:25:41

But after 30 years of painstaking renovation...

0:25:420:25:45

..the future looks good for Bardwell windmill.

0:25:470:25:50

Now, earlier we heard how egg thieves are targeting

0:25:540:25:56

some of our most protected birds,

0:25:560:25:58

and making a killing in the process.

0:25:580:26:00

So what's being done to combat this crime?

0:26:010:26:04

Tom has been finding out.

0:26:040:26:06

I was amazed to discover that one peregrine falcon chick,

0:26:130:26:16

newly hatched from its egg,

0:26:160:26:18

can make more than £10,000.

0:26:180:26:20

This kind of egg theft is a real setback

0:26:220:26:25

for a species that already suffers from illegal persecution in the UK.

0:26:250:26:29

But catching the culprits is a real challenge,

0:26:320:26:35

not least because thieves tend to operate in the dark,

0:26:350:26:37

and in remote parts of the country.

0:26:370:26:40

But also, nests can fail for a whole range of natural reasons,

0:26:400:26:44

so, even if you suspect one has been raided,

0:26:440:26:47

it can be very difficult to prove.

0:26:470:26:49

Unless you catch them red-handed.

0:26:500:26:52

For Andy McWilliam from the National Wildlife Crime Unit,

0:26:540:26:57

surveillance cameras on nests across the country are a vital tool.

0:26:570:27:01

There's a lot of nests which are protected by covert

0:27:040:27:07

-and overt cameras.

-And have they proved effective?

0:27:070:27:10

They have.

0:27:100:27:11

In fact, I will show you these.

0:27:110:27:13

These are images of individuals we want to speak to

0:27:130:27:17

regarding a nest robbery in Cheshire.

0:27:170:27:19

So these are pretty recent, are they?

0:27:190:27:21

This is still a live case.

0:27:210:27:23

This is the very first time these images have been released

0:27:230:27:26

to the public.

0:27:260:27:28

I can see an individual here sort of carrying what looks like

0:27:280:27:31

a sort of cooler bag.

0:27:310:27:32

I suspect that that was to keep the eggs to hatch them out.

0:27:320:27:36

So some of these guys look quite identifiable.

0:27:360:27:38

What should people do if they recognise these characters?

0:27:380:27:41

If anybody has any information about who these individuals are,

0:27:410:27:44

or they have any knowledge of this offence,

0:27:440:27:48

contact the police on 101,

0:27:480:27:50

or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

0:27:500:27:54

So, cameras trained on nests are a big help in catching poachers,

0:27:590:28:03

but the theft of gull eggs in Poole Harbour in Dorset

0:28:030:28:06

called for a different approach.

0:28:060:28:08

This year, Dorset police have started regular night patrols.

0:28:120:28:16

-Evening.

-Hello, mate.

-Evening.

0:28:160:28:18

PC Joel Brooks is leading the operation.

0:28:180:28:20

Good to see you.

0:28:200:28:22

You look all ready for action, what's happening tonight?

0:28:220:28:24

We are. We're going out on a proactive patrol,

0:28:240:28:26

-trying to target people stealing bird eggs.

-Right.

0:28:260:28:29

And how does this year's operation compare to ones the year before?

0:28:290:28:32

Well, last year we found out about the bird eggs being stolen,

0:28:320:28:37

but it had already happened, it was too late,

0:28:370:28:39

so this year we've got in there early,

0:28:390:28:41

and we're trying to do some proactive patrols

0:28:410:28:43

-to try and catch the people doing it.

-Right-oh, let's get on.

0:28:430:28:46

The islands, they're a protected site under SSSI,

0:28:570:29:01

so no-one is allowed to be on the islands.

0:29:010:29:03

If they are, they're committing an offence already,

0:29:030:29:06

regardless of what they're doing.

0:29:060:29:07

And what do you think are the chances of seeing someone

0:29:070:29:10

at this time of year?

0:29:100:29:11

Because I gather we are approaching a key moment for this.

0:29:110:29:14

Yeah.

0:29:140:29:15

Fairly good, this time of year.

0:29:150:29:17

The places that sell these eggs are advertising them

0:29:170:29:20

as starting sale this weekend,

0:29:200:29:22

so we're at a real key time for egg collecting at the moment.

0:29:220:29:25

Poole Harbour is one of the largest natural harbours in the world,

0:29:320:29:35

so there's a lot of water to cover.

0:29:350:29:37

OK, so this is the first of the islands,

0:29:390:29:40

and then behind it is the next two,

0:29:400:29:42

-you can see just a bit of land over there.

-Yeah.

0:29:420:29:44

So we're just going to patrol around the area,

0:29:450:29:47

see if anyone turns up.

0:29:470:29:49

SEABIRDS CACKLING

0:29:550:29:57

Night is really falling, now,

0:29:570:29:59

and you can feel the dusk getting thicker,

0:29:590:30:01

and as I begin to lose sight of the gulls,

0:30:010:30:03

I can still hear them,

0:30:030:30:05

and understand why they got their nickname the laughing gull.

0:30:050:30:08

And this is just the kind of moment

0:30:110:30:12

where if someone were to try and steal the eggs,

0:30:120:30:15

they could be out there.

0:30:150:30:16

As we lose the light, we switch to our night-vision camera.

0:30:190:30:23

And what do you think in the end it's going to take

0:30:320:30:35

to eliminate this problem, at least on your patch?

0:30:350:30:37

Awareness, really.

0:30:390:30:40

Regular patrols,

0:30:400:30:42

and the market.

0:30:420:30:43

Things wouldn't get stolen if no-one would buy them,

0:30:430:30:45

but unfortunately there is a market for this delicacy.

0:30:450:30:48

So do you think the gulls' eggs are safe for tonight?

0:30:530:30:56

It's looking that way, Tom, at the moment.

0:30:560:30:58

But it's like fishing, you've got to have your rod in to catch something,

0:30:590:31:02

and then you've got to keep persistently trying,

0:31:020:31:04

and we're going to hopefully catch someone.

0:31:040:31:06

So now do you think it's back to harbour?

0:31:060:31:08

I think we should go back in.

0:31:080:31:09

So egg collecting is changing from being a misguided fascination

0:31:150:31:19

to a criminal enterprise, driven by profit.

0:31:190:31:22

But one of the key solutions remains the same.

0:31:220:31:24

Vigilance, not only from the police,

0:31:240:31:27

but from ALL of us,

0:31:270:31:28

so if you know somewhere where nests could be in peril,

0:31:280:31:31

keep your eyes peeled.

0:31:310:31:33

With its big skies,

0:31:450:31:47

vast landscapes,

0:31:470:31:48

and sense of space,

0:31:480:31:50

Suffolk has been inspiring artists for years.

0:31:500:31:53

But I'm sure not many of them find inspiration

0:31:550:31:58

in a converted lorry out the back of a working farm.

0:31:580:32:02

MOTOR REVS

0:32:020:32:04

Unless you're Ben Loughrill, that is -

0:32:040:32:06

an acclaimed chainsaw sculptor

0:32:060:32:08

whose works can be seen dotted about the country.

0:32:080:32:11

One of his best-known pieces

0:32:120:32:14

is the Wolf Howling To The Moon in Bury St Edmunds.

0:32:140:32:16

WOLF HOWLS

0:32:160:32:18

-Hi, Ben.

-Hello, Ellie.

-What are you working on here, then?

0:32:200:32:23

This is going to be a bench.

0:32:230:32:25

-Right.

-A big bench.

0:32:250:32:27

It's a mega-piece of wood, what's this story?

0:32:270:32:29

The story with this is this was brought down by Storm Doris.

0:32:290:32:32

-Oh, recently, then!?

-Yeah, yeah. It fell in the bloke's garden.

0:32:320:32:35

His wife was very upset that it fell,

0:32:350:32:37

and instead of just logging it up they wanted to make something of it.

0:32:370:32:40

This looks interesting. What's this piece over here?

0:32:400:32:42

This is a commission that is going to be an owl.

0:32:420:32:44

-Oh, wow, it's beautiful.

-Yeah.

0:32:440:32:47

There's lots of wood here on the site. Where do you get it all from?

0:32:470:32:50

Well, most of this comes from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

0:32:500:32:52

People ring me up, offer me wood. Storms like Doris help me out.

0:32:520:32:56

Yeah, yeah!

0:32:560:32:57

So I guess it's wood that might otherwise be wasted,

0:32:570:32:59

-so you're reusing it?

-A lot of people would waste it.

0:32:590:33:01

Most of that would have been firewood

0:33:010:33:03

but people are sort of coming to the idea that...

0:33:030:33:06

Instead of just seeing it smashed up into firewood,

0:33:060:33:09

they'd rather see it re-used.

0:33:090:33:11

-Turned into art.

-Yeah.

0:33:110:33:12

-You're like the Womble of Woodcraft.

-I am, yeah!

0:33:120:33:15

Treecycler!

0:33:150:33:17

Ben not only collects wood everyday folk leave behind,

0:33:170:33:20

but the machinery looks like it's been given a new lease of life, too.

0:33:200:33:23

-This looks like an amazing piece of kit.

-This is a saw bench.

0:33:230:33:26

-A rec saw, they call it.

-It doesn't look very modern.

0:33:260:33:29

No, I think it's sort of '50s, '60s.

0:33:290:33:31

Are you able to fire it up and show me how it works?

0:33:310:33:33

-Yeah, of course, yeah.

-Shall I stand well back?

-Yeah, please.

0:33:330:33:35

-It'll take a minute or so.

-All right, ok.

0:33:350:33:38

MOTOR RUMBLES THROATILY

0:33:380:33:40

Well, it started.

0:33:400:33:41

But the blade's not moving.

0:33:410:33:42

Everything all right, Ben?

0:33:420:33:44

Two bolts have come out. And it shouldn't go like that.

0:33:440:33:47

-What do you expect?! It was built in the '50s!

-1950s, yeah.

0:33:470:33:50

It's a very old piece of kit.

0:33:500:33:51

You're the man who knows how to fix it, though.

0:33:510:33:53

-Oh, don't say that.

-LAUGHTER

0:33:530:33:55

Just try that.

0:33:580:33:59

He's roped in a local farmer to help.

0:33:590:34:01

This may take a while!

0:34:020:34:04

Hold on...

0:34:040:34:05

MACHINE TRUNDLES LOUDLY

0:34:050:34:07

Yay, you fixed it!

0:34:080:34:10

Worst nightmare, isn't it?

0:34:100:34:11

BLADE WHINING

0:34:120:34:15

That's a very nicely cut piece of wood.

0:34:210:34:23

Yeah, that's going to be the legs for the bench.

0:34:230:34:27

-Fantastic.

-Eventually.

0:34:270:34:28

Ben also has a few experiments of his own on the go.

0:34:310:34:35

This is what I'm trying to create at the moment, which is spalting.

0:34:370:34:40

-This is created by fungus.

-So this happens naturally, on dead wood?

0:34:400:34:44

Yeah, it's the natural decay of the timber.

0:34:440:34:46

And it has a very beautiful effect.

0:34:460:34:48

Yeah, yeah, it's very sought after nowadays by woodturners,

0:34:480:34:50

and people in the timber trade.

0:34:500:34:52

So they want to recreate this effect,

0:34:520:34:53

so what are you doing over here, then?

0:34:530:34:55

Well, this is all trial and error,

0:34:550:34:57

because you can actually grow this,

0:34:570:34:59

you can grow the fungus into the timber.

0:34:590:35:01

-These are my offcuts of these round pieces...

-Yeah.

0:35:010:35:05

And I'm hoping that eventually these are going to fruit with fungus,

0:35:050:35:09

and then I can use the fungus to put back into the wood.

0:35:090:35:13

So you're trying to grow your own culture

0:35:130:35:14

-that you can use to create...?

-Trying to culture it, yeah.

0:35:140:35:17

Let's have a look. Drawer number one.

0:35:170:35:19

Looks like it's going quite nicely.

0:35:190:35:20

This is silver birch, and I found that one in the woods,

0:35:200:35:23

which has got a fungus on it,

0:35:230:35:25

I'm just trying to keep it alive.

0:35:250:35:26

It's all quite fascinating.

0:35:260:35:27

-So your man cave doubles up as a science lab.

-Yeah!

0:35:270:35:30

Ben's not alone in his world of wood.

0:35:360:35:39

His unusual spalted pieces are highly sought after

0:35:390:35:42

by other craftsmen in the area.

0:35:420:35:44

So I'm off to see some more traditional craft,

0:35:470:35:51

and I'm travelling in style.

0:35:510:35:53

ENGINE RUMBLES

0:35:530:35:54

Earlier in the year, we asked you to let us know about young farmers

0:36:050:36:09

that you felt deserved special recognition.

0:36:090:36:12

Well, it's been a tricky task,

0:36:120:36:13

but Adam and Charlotte have managed to whittle all the nominations down

0:36:130:36:17

to a shortlist of three.

0:36:170:36:19

And here's the first of those finalists.

0:36:190:36:21

Young farmers are the lifeblood of our countryside.

0:36:260:36:29

Vital to the future of farming, food production and conservation.

0:36:310:36:34

And that's why we're celebrating them

0:36:350:36:37

with the Countryfile Young Farmer Award.

0:36:370:36:39

We're looking for someone truly outstanding,

0:36:390:36:42

someone who demonstrates the best of what young people do

0:36:420:36:45

for British farming.

0:36:450:36:46

And we'll be announcing the winner

0:36:480:36:49

at the BBC Food And Farming Awards later in the year.

0:36:490:36:52

You sent in nominations from all over the country -

0:36:540:36:57

hundreds of stories of hard work, dedication, and character.

0:36:570:37:01

The first step was for Charlotte and I to get together

0:37:030:37:05

to try and narrow them down a bit.

0:37:050:37:07

Longwool sheep! There you go!

0:37:070:37:09

-Lincoln Longwools, rare breeds! Yeah, I'm liking this guy.

-Yeah.

0:37:090:37:12

Really interesting.

0:37:120:37:13

With so many great candidates,

0:37:130:37:15

we had our work cut out.

0:37:150:37:17

Now, she, I think, didn't come from a farming background.

0:37:170:37:21

Started out then as a shepherd,

0:37:210:37:23

and has ended up very recently managing an estate.

0:37:230:37:27

-I think I like that.

-Yeah.

0:37:270:37:28

It was a tough decision,

0:37:350:37:36

but we eventually chose our three finalists.

0:37:360:37:39

And we're on our way to meet all of them,

0:37:390:37:41

starting here in south-east Wales,

0:37:410:37:43

with a farmer called Tom.

0:37:430:37:45

Take the strain!

0:37:450:37:46

Steady... Pull!

0:37:480:37:50

When he's not hard at work on the family farm,

0:37:520:37:55

16-year-old Tom Phillips is training hard at the tug of war.

0:37:550:37:58

He and his farming friends are national champions,

0:37:580:38:01

and Tom competed for Wales,

0:38:010:38:03

at the World Championships in Sweden last year.

0:38:030:38:06

Tom was born into farming,

0:38:060:38:08

but it's for one heroic, life-changing moment

0:38:080:38:11

that he really stood out for us.

0:38:110:38:12

We'll be hearing about that later, but first let's meet him.

0:38:120:38:16

-Tom!

-Hi there.

-That was amazing, and slightly scary.

0:38:160:38:19

-Yeah, hands are a bit sore.

-Goodness me.

-I can imagine!

0:38:190:38:21

-Great to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

-And you.

0:38:210:38:23

-How long have you been doing this?

-Oh, this will be my third year, now.

0:38:230:38:26

What's the technique?

0:38:260:38:27

Keeping quite close together and on your hip,

0:38:270:38:29

you're not pulling with muscles, you're pulling with your bodyweight.

0:38:290:38:32

You'll notice Adam's paying a lot of attention.

0:38:320:38:34

I've got very soft hands, I don't want to ruin them.

0:38:340:38:36

-Mine are quite soft, too.

-Yeah.

-I think you should have a go.

0:38:360:38:38

-I reckon, as well.

-He's dying to have a go!

-Oh, yeah!

0:38:380:38:41

-What are you going to do?

-I'm going to go and be in charge, obviously.

0:38:410:38:44

-Rope on your foot.

-Yes. OK.

-Like so.

-Ready, boys?

0:38:440:38:48

-Pick up the rope.

-Ooh...

0:38:490:38:52

And take the strain.

0:38:520:38:53

Steady...

0:38:550:38:56

Pull!

0:38:580:38:59

Oh, that's tough, isn't it?!

0:39:000:39:03

I don't think I'm actually doing a lot of pulling.

0:39:040:39:06

-Can we make them hold it for ages?

-Yeah, make 'em work!

0:39:070:39:09

-How's your hands?

-Well, they're hurting!

0:39:090:39:12

We could go for a pint.

0:39:130:39:14

No...! Down steady.

0:39:140:39:16

Oh, I never did this when I was at Young Farmers.

0:39:170:39:19

I can see why, now.

0:39:190:39:21

Oh, good save.

0:39:240:39:25

Nice one.

0:39:250:39:26

LAUGHTER

0:39:260:39:28

That's really impressive, fellas.

0:39:280:39:30

And congratulations with all your achievements. Really good.

0:39:300:39:33

I'm going to take this man away now,

0:39:330:39:34

he's going to show me around his farm. Come on.

0:39:340:39:36

So what makes Tom a contender

0:39:390:39:40

for Countryfile's Young Farmer of the Year?

0:39:400:39:42

Well, let's start by taking a look around his farm.

0:39:420:39:45

It's a mixed farm with arable, cattle, pigs,

0:39:450:39:48

and these easy-care sheep that shed their own wool.

0:39:480:39:51

Come on, girls, here we are, here we are!

0:39:510:39:53

That's a lovely farm, Tom.

0:39:540:39:56

Yeah, it's all right.

0:39:560:39:58

The terrain's steep and awkward, I'll give you that.

0:39:580:40:01

Quite steep in places, is it?

0:40:010:40:02

Yeah, you need one leg shorter than the other over there!

0:40:020:40:05

So what is it that you really like about it?

0:40:050:40:09

The thing I probably enjoy most

0:40:090:40:11

is being trusted with everything.

0:40:110:40:13

Dad is going out to work,

0:40:130:40:15

doing his hedge-cutting, fencing, spraying,

0:40:150:40:18

and he leaves me here to do the livestock work and groundwork,

0:40:180:40:22

and the animals know me, I know them,

0:40:220:40:24

especially the sheep and the cattle -

0:40:240:40:26

they come up to you and look at you and scratch you and everything.

0:40:260:40:29

It's all good.

0:40:290:40:30

And what about when it's hosing it down with rain out here

0:40:300:40:33

on a cold winter's day?

0:40:330:40:34

You've just got to get on with it. Put your hood up and go, that's it.

0:40:340:40:38

That's a lot of responsibility for a 16-year-old, isn't it?

0:40:380:40:41

Oh, it is, it is, but I get the occasional telling-off

0:40:410:40:44

for not doing something right,

0:40:440:40:46

but he gets the odd one off me, as well!

0:40:460:40:48

Tom doesn't just rear his livestock for market -

0:40:500:40:53

he also takes pride in regularly showing his animals,

0:40:530:40:56

like his rare-breed Saddleback pigs.

0:40:560:40:58

-Look at the size of that boar, Tom!

-Yeah, he's big, isn't he?

0:40:590:41:02

Lovely, isn't he? So how long have you been keeping Saddlebacks?

0:41:020:41:06

Well, when I was nine my dad bought me two saddlebacks,

0:41:060:41:11

and then I had a real big interest in them from there.

0:41:110:41:13

And then the first-ever show we did

0:41:130:41:17

was a show and sale at Ross Market and we won champion there,

0:41:170:41:20

which was just amazing.

0:41:200:41:21

And then we went to the Royal Welsh,

0:41:210:41:24

and then I won Young Handler of the Year for the first time.

0:41:240:41:26

And then I got picked to go to America

0:41:260:41:29

for the British Pig Association

0:41:290:41:31

to show over there, which was incredible,

0:41:310:41:34

a brilliant experience.

0:41:340:41:35

What an amazing achievement.

0:41:350:41:37

A lot of what you do, you do very well.

0:41:370:41:40

Yeah. Well, I try my best.

0:41:400:41:42

While Tom shows Adam around the rest of the farm,

0:41:430:41:46

I'm back at the farmyard

0:41:460:41:47

catching up with Tom's parents, Andrew and Amanda.

0:41:470:41:51

So tell me about your son.

0:41:510:41:53

He's one in a million.

0:41:530:41:54

As a young boy, he never wanted to watch the telly,

0:41:540:41:57

he was always outside, from a very young age.

0:41:570:42:00

Where does this love of farming come from?

0:42:000:42:03

When he was in a basket, he was in a tractor.

0:42:030:42:06

He's seen quite a lot

0:42:060:42:07

and he's always taken it in, quietly.

0:42:070:42:10

Cos there are plenty of farm kids

0:42:100:42:11

who don't want to know anything about farming,

0:42:110:42:14

they don't want to go outside, they're not interested.

0:42:140:42:17

He's got... He seems to have got an interest for everything.

0:42:170:42:19

He's got such a passion for machinery and tractors,

0:42:190:42:23

but also he was not disappointed

0:42:230:42:25

if you're having a day with the livestock,

0:42:250:42:27

you know, so that's...

0:42:270:42:29

He always says to me, "What are we on tomorrow, Dad?"

0:42:290:42:32

and that's encouraging, really.

0:42:320:42:33

You must be really proud of him.

0:42:330:42:36

-Yes, quietly.

-SHE LAUGHS

0:42:360:42:38

Back out in the fields,

0:42:390:42:40

it's this familiarity with farm machinery that impresses.

0:42:400:42:44

So, working on the tractors, then, Tom?

0:42:440:42:46

Yeah, I do a lot of tractor work on the farm, such as the ploughing,

0:42:460:42:50

harvesting, a lot of mowing and baling I do myself.

0:42:500:42:55

Goodness me.

0:42:550:42:56

Dad does give me a lot of trust, to trust me with the implements.

0:42:560:42:59

And this trust was to make all the difference one fateful day

0:42:590:43:04

when Tom was just ten years old.

0:43:040:43:06

Me and Dad were out in the field

0:43:060:43:08

and a cow had just had a baby calf,

0:43:080:43:11

couple of hours old.

0:43:110:43:12

Dad went over to pick the calf up to see if it was healthy and OK

0:43:120:43:17

and the calf bellowed for its mother for it to come,

0:43:170:43:21

and with that the bull come running.

0:43:210:43:22

I just remember Tom looking at me and said, "Look out."

0:43:250:43:29

And that was it, the lights went out, yeah.

0:43:290:43:33

The bull tossed my dad nearly up to the telephone wires

0:43:360:43:41

and then he come down in a thud.

0:43:410:43:44

As he come down, the bull's just trampling on him,

0:43:440:43:47

pawing on his stomach and his head,

0:43:470:43:49

just hitting him with his horns

0:43:490:43:51

and throwing him about like he was nothing.

0:43:510:43:53

It was horrifying.

0:43:530:43:54

I was so terrified of the bull,

0:43:570:43:59

so I got the tractor and pushed the bull away,

0:43:590:44:02

which I had to do, I felt I had to do something just to stop it.

0:44:020:44:06

Tom got the tractor and parked it over top of me to stop the bull.

0:44:090:44:12

And he manoeuvred the load-all on the front to protect the body

0:44:120:44:17

so he could come and get me to get help.

0:44:170:44:19

I got down on my hands and knees to try and find a pulse.

0:44:210:44:24

His shirt was all ripped, blood everywhere.

0:44:250:44:28

Erm...

0:44:310:44:32

And then we... They landed the helicopter, loaded Andrew up.

0:44:330:44:37

And Tom saved your life.

0:44:390:44:42

Yeah, that's right. That's the bottom line, I suppose, yeah.

0:44:420:44:45

Andrew broke 12 ribs and suffered severe internal and head injuries.

0:44:470:44:52

Tom's quick thinking had saved his dad's life,

0:44:520:44:56

but the experience put him off working with cattle for some time.

0:44:560:44:59

I was quite scared about it to the age of 13,

0:45:000:45:03

from what happened to Dad.

0:45:030:45:04

It really knocked me

0:45:060:45:07

and I wouldn't look at a cow, really.

0:45:070:45:10

The last two years,

0:45:100:45:11

because I've been trusted so much with them,

0:45:110:45:14

I've just had to get on and face your fears

0:45:140:45:16

and you've got to get on with it.

0:45:160:45:18

It's not just his mum and dad who are proud of Tom.

0:45:200:45:23

His granny Shirley is also, unsurprisingly, a big fan.

0:45:230:45:27

Tom is a chip off the old block

0:45:280:45:30

and Tom is identical to his dad.

0:45:300:45:34

They love the countryside,

0:45:350:45:37

they love the animals,

0:45:370:45:39

they love farming.

0:45:390:45:41

Tom's very caring,

0:45:430:45:45

passionate for his farming,

0:45:450:45:46

passionate for his animals.

0:45:460:45:48

Get in your chops!

0:45:480:45:50

He puts everybody before himself.

0:45:520:45:55

He's just an inspiration.

0:45:550:45:58

And he's my boy.

0:45:580:45:59

What a great lad, and what a really positive start.

0:46:060:46:09

He's so dug in to the community - at such a young age, as well,

0:46:090:46:12

doing all these things

0:46:120:46:13

like the tug-of-war and everything else that he's up to.

0:46:130:46:16

He's only 16 and he's achieved so much in farming already, hasn't he?

0:46:160:46:19

And he's got definite plans for this farm.

0:46:190:46:22

He knows where he wants to take it.

0:46:220:46:24

And then understanding the land

0:46:240:46:26

and driving tractors on this beautiful farm.

0:46:260:46:29

It's absolutely stunning. Really positive start.

0:46:290:46:31

-I'm all inspired now to go and see our next one.

-Me, too.

0:46:310:46:34

I've been exploring Carlton Marshes Nature Reserve in Suffolk,

0:46:400:46:44

and they're thinking big here,

0:46:440:46:45

making the biggest land-purchase ever

0:46:450:46:47

in the Wildlife Trust's 55-year history.

0:46:470:46:50

The plan is to join up the landscape and make one massive nature reserve.

0:46:510:46:54

But an increase in size means an increase in visitors -

0:46:560:46:59

a large number of those with four legs, and some with bad behaviour.

0:46:590:47:03

Now, we're all big fans of you here on Countryfile.

0:47:050:47:08

Are you two listening?

0:47:080:47:09

Because, let's be honest, I mean this is a perfect example,

0:47:090:47:12

when you're out with your mates and you're given a free rein,

0:47:120:47:14

things can get out of hand, can't they?

0:47:140:47:17

Not even listening.

0:47:180:47:19

All joking aside, there have been some serious incidents

0:47:210:47:24

of loose dogs attacking animals on the reserve.

0:47:240:47:27

So, you do welcome dogs onto the reserve,

0:47:310:47:34

but you've had some problems, haven't you,

0:47:340:47:36

with irresponsible dog owners?

0:47:360:47:37

Yeah, we have. We've had incidents of cattle being chased by dogs,

0:47:370:47:41

we've had dogs running across the marshes

0:47:410:47:43

disturbing nesting birds, and we've had a number of incidents

0:47:430:47:46

where dogs have run in with some of the school groups

0:47:460:47:49

doing environmental education here on site.

0:47:490:47:51

And, interestingly, you've been doing some research, haven't you,

0:47:510:47:53

about the impact that dogs have on a place like this

0:47:530:47:56

when they're off a lead?

0:47:560:47:57

Yeah. You know, walking on a nature reserve,

0:47:570:48:00

you create a band of disturbance anyway on a footpath of, you know,

0:48:000:48:05

15-20 foot of area each side of you.

0:48:050:48:09

With a dog off a lead,

0:48:090:48:11

that could be up to 200 feet of disturbance each side of you,

0:48:110:48:14

which is obviously a massive area.

0:48:140:48:16

And if every dog walker doesn't have control of their dog,

0:48:160:48:20

that just pushes birds and other species

0:48:200:48:22

out of that area as a usable site.

0:48:220:48:25

The trust took the unprecedented step

0:48:260:48:28

of introducing a control order for dogs,

0:48:280:48:30

meaning they must be kept on a lead or owners face a fine.

0:48:300:48:33

They've also employed dog ambassadors

0:48:340:48:36

to teach good practice when out and about with your dog.

0:48:360:48:39

Dog ambassador - sounds like a great title.

0:48:450:48:48

So when you're out there on the marshes,

0:48:480:48:51

what's the best approach that you've found?

0:48:510:48:53

Because, obviously, dog owners feel like

0:48:530:48:54

they're doing the right thing for their dog

0:48:540:48:56

and they have the best relationship with their dog

0:48:560:48:58

and no-one can tell them otherwise -

0:48:580:49:00

so how do you get involved in that scenario?

0:49:000:49:03

Well, the best approach is the gentle approach, in all honesty,

0:49:030:49:06

and it's just giving them the information.

0:49:060:49:09

When we first got involved in this project

0:49:090:49:11

it was a real eye-opener for us in some respects,

0:49:110:49:14

because the Wildlife Trust

0:49:140:49:16

were able to tell us what the implications were

0:49:160:49:18

with regards to dogs being loose on the site.

0:49:180:49:21

But there are plenty of safe places about

0:49:210:49:23

where you can let your dog off a lead.

0:49:230:49:25

Assess where you are,

0:49:250:49:26

and if it's safe to let your dog off then let them, let them run about

0:49:260:49:30

and have some fun, because dogs want to be dogs, at the end of the day.

0:49:300:49:34

Mark and his team of trainers teach obedience

0:49:350:49:37

using what's known as Temptation Alley.

0:49:370:49:40

It replicates all the doggy distractions of a nature reserve.

0:49:420:49:45

We've got replica wildfowl,

0:49:470:49:50

dummy mammals and, well...

0:49:500:49:52

lots of other stuff.

0:49:520:49:54

Welcome, everybody, to Temptation Alley.

0:49:540:49:57

So this is Gloria. What's her dog called?

0:49:570:49:59

-Chaos.

-HE LAUGHS

0:49:590:50:01

Oh, you're off a lead, then, are you? That's the idea.

0:50:010:50:05

Chaos, come!

0:50:050:50:07

Aw, look at that.

0:50:070:50:09

That's the way to do it.

0:50:090:50:11

That's set the standard.

0:50:110:50:12

Our second dog sails through.

0:50:120:50:14

Well done.

0:50:150:50:16

Nope. Put that down.

0:50:160:50:18

'My turn next.'

0:50:200:50:22

Come on, darling. What a good girl.

0:50:220:50:26

What a good girl!

0:50:260:50:28

Spirit, come.

0:50:280:50:29

'It is a lot of fun, but the message here is serious.

0:50:290:50:32

'If you're around wildlife or livestock,

0:50:320:50:34

'make sure you can keep your dog under control.'

0:50:340:50:36

I'm going to run to Temptation Alley -

0:50:360:50:38

he's going to beat me through!

0:50:380:50:40

What a good boy!

0:50:410:50:43

Now, if you're planning a walk with your faithful friend this weekend,

0:50:460:50:49

you'll want to know what the weather's doing.

0:50:490:50:51

Here's the Countryfile forecast for the week ahead.

0:50:510:50:54

Today, we've been exploring Suffolk...

0:52:110:52:13

..with its signature windmills,

0:52:150:52:18

famous Fens,

0:52:180:52:20

and crafty characters,

0:52:200:52:22

like Ben, who loves bringing new life to old wood.

0:52:220:52:26

And he's not alone.

0:52:270:52:29

Ahren here uses Ben's recycled wood to make artisan knives.

0:52:290:52:33

In an unassuming shed at the bottom of a garden in Bury St Edmunds

0:52:350:52:39

is Ahren's workshop.

0:52:390:52:41

Hey, what a cool shed.

0:52:420:52:43

The cuts and grooves in the old carpenter's bench

0:52:450:52:47

are a testament to his many creations.

0:52:470:52:50

But you could be left wondering what to do with his latest designs.

0:52:510:52:55

-This is what I've been making just lately.

-Wow.

0:52:560:53:00

It's got a blade, so it's definitely for cutting - but what?

0:53:000:53:04

It's bread, actually. It's an Appalachian bowsaw bread knife.

0:53:040:53:07

-A bread knife!

-Yeah, yeah.

0:53:070:53:09

This one is made in spalted beech.

0:53:090:53:11

How did you come across this, then?

0:53:110:53:13

Found them in the flea market, actually.

0:53:130:53:15

Found one old one lying there and I just picked it up

0:53:150:53:17

and got quite interested in it.

0:53:170:53:18

That originated from the Appalachian mountains.

0:53:180:53:20

The mountain people there used bows in lots of tools they made.

0:53:200:53:24

I guess it looks a bit like a hacksaw.

0:53:240:53:26

No, it doesn't work like a hacksaw, it works on the side, actually.

0:53:260:53:29

So basically it's a sawing action as if you are cutting wood.

0:53:290:53:32

What type of woods do you use?

0:53:320:53:34

I like to get stuff with knots, bit of character.

0:53:340:53:37

I just love recycling.

0:53:370:53:39

I just love bringing wood back to life, basically.

0:53:390:53:41

How do you make it, then? Let's have a look.

0:53:430:53:44

Yeah, let's demonstrate how we get one of these made.

0:53:440:53:48

What's with the bowler hat?

0:53:480:53:49

Well, got a lot of hair - it keeps the dust out!

0:53:490:53:51

Slow.

0:53:530:53:55

Draw back to you.

0:53:550:53:58

Slowly you'll get a nice rounded finish.

0:53:580:54:01

-Would you like to have a go at that?

-Yeah, I'd like to have a go at that.

0:54:010:54:04

-Yeah. So have you always been into woodwork, then?

-Yeah.

0:54:040:54:07

Well, my grandfather was a chippy

0:54:070:54:08

and when I was, like, five, I used to stay round at the weekends,

0:54:080:54:11

he used to take me in the shed and make little aeroplanes out of wood.

0:54:110:54:15

-I've been sort of in love with it every since, really.

-That's nice.

0:54:150:54:18

But you've got a full-time job, haven't you?

0:54:180:54:20

Yeah, I work for a local steel company -

0:54:200:54:22

try and fit this in in between the 12-hour days!

0:54:220:54:25

-Not easy.

-Yeah, yeah. Cos it is just a hobby of mine.

0:54:250:54:28

-Nice way to relax, actually.

-Yeah. I do enjoy it, yeah.

0:54:280:54:31

Come down the shed at the end of the day and just relax.

0:54:310:54:34

I'm really sorry, I've slightly gouged a bit there.

0:54:340:54:37

-No, that's recoverable.

-Is it? You recover that.

0:54:370:54:40

-I'm going to stand over here.

-SHE LAUGHS

0:54:400:54:42

My favourite part is actually waxing at the end of it

0:54:460:54:49

because then it liberates the grain,

0:54:490:54:51

you see what a lovely grain you've got in the wood.

0:54:510:54:55

Every knife's different.

0:54:550:54:56

It's just a joy every time you wax one up, really.

0:54:560:54:59

-I reckon I could have a go at waxing and not...

-Yeah, no problem.

0:54:590:55:02

We'll sort that out for you. Let's go and get the old wax.

0:55:020:55:05

Just rub it in and watch the lovely grain come out.

0:55:070:55:09

Watch it shine. There we go.

0:55:090:55:12

Lovely. Look at the comparison there, before and after. Beautiful.

0:55:120:55:15

Very nice. Nice smell, too.

0:55:200:55:22

-Waxing lyrical again?

-Absolutely!

0:55:220:55:25

As ever, John, as ever. I'm glad you're here, in good time.

0:55:250:55:27

Want to show you one of these.

0:55:270:55:29

An Appalachian bowsaw bread knife.

0:55:290:55:31

Well, what a good job that I brought some bread with me, from the mill.

0:55:310:55:35

-Shall I give it a try?

-Yeah, what do you want? A malt loaf or sourdough?

0:55:350:55:39

-I think sourdough.

-That might be a bit sticky.

-I think so.

0:55:390:55:42

This apparently is very sharp, so watching fingers here.

0:55:420:55:44

Let the blade do the... Oh, yeah, glides through like butter.

0:55:440:55:47

-It does, cos it's quite a crusty loaf, isn't it?

-How about that.

0:55:470:55:50

Oh, lovely, thank you.

0:55:500:55:51

-And that's all we've got time for, I'm afraid, from Suffolk.

-Yes.

0:55:510:55:54

Next week we'll be in Lanarkshire,

0:55:540:55:56

where Matt will be looking at the area's traditional orchards

0:55:560:55:59

and I'll be looking at a beehive adoption scheme.

0:55:590:56:01

-We'll see you then.

-Bye for now.

0:56:010:56:03

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