0:00:02 > 0:00:05SHEEP BLEAT
0:00:05 > 0:00:07We've got high-flying birds and deep-swimming fish,
0:00:07 > 0:00:11but here on Landward, we like to keep our feet firmly on the ground.
0:00:30 > 0:00:32Hello, and a very warm welcome to Landward.
0:00:32 > 0:00:34This week, I'm on the River Earn,
0:00:34 > 0:00:37where local anglers are deeply upset at the prospect
0:00:37 > 0:00:39of giving up their hobby,
0:00:39 > 0:00:42but first, here's what else is coming up on the programme.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48Guest presenter Martel Maxwell discovers the dangerous world
0:00:48 > 0:00:49of the potato men.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51I've been to Beirut,
0:00:51 > 0:00:54and had to follow a convoy of Hezbollah guerrillas out of town.
0:00:54 > 0:00:57I've been in Israel when there was mortars flying over the car.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00- I really got a taste for it... - I meet Jim Smith -
0:01:00 > 0:01:03farmer by day, stand-up by night.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07I was very grateful for the farming community came out to support me.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09It was quite a sight in Edinburgh, seeing all these guys
0:01:09 > 0:01:11with checked shirts and tweed jackets walking up.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14- Hey, that's all the rage now. - Absolutely.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16OK, pull.
0:01:16 > 0:01:21And Sarah finds out what's different about all-women shooting clubs.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24Have you got used to all the cheering yet after the shots?
0:01:24 > 0:01:27There's a few of that with the ladies' days. That's for sure.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32GEESE SHRIEK
0:01:32 > 0:01:34But first, at this time of year,
0:01:34 > 0:01:36you are never far away from the cry of geese.
0:01:36 > 0:01:40Euan's been to find out a bit more about our visitors from abroad.
0:01:45 > 0:01:48Iceland - famous for its beautiful, snowy hills,
0:01:48 > 0:01:53geysers, and fresh waters,
0:01:53 > 0:01:56but the winters can be a bit too chilly for some.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58They've got to escape.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02And this is one of the places that they flock to.
0:02:02 > 0:02:03I'm at Montrose Basin.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05It's 5:30am in the morning.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08It's cold and it's dark, and believe it or not,
0:02:08 > 0:02:13pink-footed geese absolutely love these conditions.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15So, another goose count.
0:02:15 > 0:02:17Now, we had the record number last time,
0:02:17 > 0:02:19so fingers crossed for another high number today.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23'Volunteers and rangers recently spotted record numbers
0:02:23 > 0:02:27'of the birds here - more than 85,000.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29'But counting them is no easy task,
0:02:29 > 0:02:33'as I'm about to find out, with the help of ranger Anna Cheshire.'
0:02:33 > 0:02:36- So this is the hide?- There's quite a few through here, yeah.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38We are counting pink-footed geese today,
0:02:38 > 0:02:40but you can find others in Scotland,
0:02:40 > 0:02:42including greylag,
0:02:42 > 0:02:44barnacle,
0:02:44 > 0:02:46- and Canada. - GOOSE HONKS
0:02:47 > 0:02:51'As we head towards the mudflats, it's starting to get light,
0:02:51 > 0:02:54'and I can't but help feel apprehensive.'
0:02:54 > 0:02:56GEESE SHRIEK
0:02:56 > 0:02:58There are thousands here. How do you do it?
0:02:58 > 0:03:01I mean, presumably, they all come in one big whoosh?
0:03:01 > 0:03:03You sort of get used to counting them in numbers of hundreds,
0:03:03 > 0:03:06rather than individuals, when they go out in groups like that.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09- So it's just kind of, chunk, chunk, chunk, chunk, chunk.- Yes, yeah.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11So are they quite spooky at the moment?
0:03:11 > 0:03:13They're certainly awake, because they were making
0:03:13 > 0:03:15a lot of noise before, so we may not have a long wait.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22'But as ever on Landward - famous last words.'
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Well, it's coming up to 8am.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28We've been here for two and a half hours and, still,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31the geese are out there, but there's a lot going on.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33You've got the shelducks have been piling in.
0:03:33 > 0:03:35Every now and again, you get the call of the curlews.
0:03:35 > 0:03:42But all the time, this vast army of geese, just standing and waiting,
0:03:42 > 0:03:45and I'm told it's partly because the weather is quite good,
0:03:45 > 0:03:48but their digestive system is lousy, so their bellies will be full,
0:03:48 > 0:03:51so there's no great incentive for them to get up
0:03:51 > 0:03:53and go out to the fields.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55I'm sure it'll happen, but at the moment, we'll have to wait.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58BIRDS SHRIEK
0:03:58 > 0:04:03'But around half an hour later, things do start to happen.'
0:04:03 > 0:04:07First the geese take to the skies, in dribs and drabs,
0:04:07 > 0:04:09and then the magical moment
0:04:09 > 0:04:12when it's time to start counting in earnest.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14This is impossible.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16We'll just have to go for it.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19- I'm counting blocks of 1000, at the moment.- Mm-hmm.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21BIRDS SHRIEK
0:04:22 > 0:04:25So why's there so many geese here in Montrose Basin?
0:04:25 > 0:04:28Well, Montrose is one of the first places that the geese will
0:04:28 > 0:04:30actually make landfall when they migrate from Iceland.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34They can do it in about two days, so pretty speedy.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36In fact, one was tracked last year,
0:04:36 > 0:04:40and they can be travelling at 58km per hour.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42But why Montrose?
0:04:42 > 0:04:44I mean, what's the attraction of being in the mudflats for the geese?
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Well, the geese really like Montrose Basin.
0:04:47 > 0:04:48It's an enclosed estuary,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51and because they can be out that bit onto the estuary, they've got
0:04:51 > 0:04:54that bit of an advantage if any predators are coming for them.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56They can see them before they get to them.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00GEESE SHRIEK
0:05:02 > 0:05:05- So, you've got the guys all round here.- That's right, yeah.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08I mean, I've made mine 17,300.
0:05:08 > 0:05:09- Did you?- Yeah.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12- That's very interesting. - What did you get?
0:05:12 > 0:05:13- Shall I tell you?- Yeah.
0:05:13 > 0:05:16- I got 18,767.- Yes.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18So I think you're on the team.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21How good is that?
0:05:21 > 0:05:23So, we go back and find out what the rest of the guys got.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25Yeah, I think that's a good idea,
0:05:25 > 0:05:27and tally up, and see how many we've got altogether.
0:05:27 > 0:05:28- Exciting.- That's made my day.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31- Oh, I'm pleased with you. - THEY LAUGH
0:05:31 > 0:05:33'And I'm rather pleased with myself too.'
0:05:33 > 0:05:37Can I have the totals from the visitor centre, please?
0:05:37 > 0:05:38Back at the visitor centre,
0:05:38 > 0:05:42it's time to collect the numbers from all the other volunteers.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46That's great, and at Tayock, we had 18,760.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48'And the total -
0:05:48 > 0:05:51'34,983.'
0:05:51 > 0:05:53Great. Thanks, everyone.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Well, that was incredible,
0:05:55 > 0:05:57and really worthwhile getting out of bed early for.
0:05:57 > 0:05:58Now, over the next few weeks,
0:05:58 > 0:06:01most of these birds will be heading south in search of food,
0:06:01 > 0:06:04but some do stay here for the winter, so you've got
0:06:04 > 0:06:07plenty of time to get up early and see them in full flight.
0:06:07 > 0:06:11GEESE SHRIEK
0:06:11 > 0:06:12Earlier in the series,
0:06:12 > 0:06:16we reported on the three-year ban on coastal salmon netting.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19It's part of the Government's Wild Fisheries Review.
0:06:20 > 0:06:23'The Review's aim is to manage, conserve
0:06:23 > 0:06:25'and develop our wild fisheries,
0:06:25 > 0:06:28'to maximise the sustainable benefit of
0:06:28 > 0:06:32'Scotland's wild fish resources to the country as a whole.'
0:06:32 > 0:06:35The coastal fishing ban was seen as a victory for angling bodies,
0:06:35 > 0:06:38but now, they, too, are being affected by
0:06:38 > 0:06:40the Wild Fisheries Review.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44As part of the Review, every river in Scotland has been categorised.
0:06:44 > 0:06:48The salmon stocks in category-one rivers - the areas marked in blue -
0:06:48 > 0:06:52are deemed sustainable, and no action is required.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55The grey areas cover category-two rivers,
0:06:55 > 0:06:58which need a conservation plan to be put in place,
0:06:58 > 0:07:00and the rest of Scotland, coloured beige,
0:07:00 > 0:07:02features category-three rivers,
0:07:02 > 0:07:06where exploitation of salmon is deemed unsustainable,
0:07:06 > 0:07:09and a mandatory "catch and release" rule is put in place,
0:07:09 > 0:07:11meaning no salmon can be killed.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16And it's that third category that's causing the most controversy.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18The decisions were made by Marine Scotland,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21which is the Government body responsible for all fisheries.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23I've come to the River Earn,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26which has been declared a third-category river,
0:07:26 > 0:07:29which means the salmon can be caught but not killed.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50'David Somers represents the Tay District Salmon Fishery Board.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53'He thinks, when it comes to the River Earn,
0:07:53 > 0:07:55'the Government needs to rethink their decision.'
0:07:55 > 0:07:57Uh-huh.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00David, why did Marine Scotland come to the conclusion that this
0:08:00 > 0:08:02was a category-three river?
0:08:02 > 0:08:04Well, I would say there's probably two main reasons.
0:08:04 > 0:08:09The first is that the benchmark which this river is compared with,
0:08:09 > 0:08:12something called the conservation limit,
0:08:12 > 0:08:16is partly derived from the River North Esk,
0:08:16 > 0:08:18- which is a productive Highland river.- Hmm.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21It's a much better River, inherently,
0:08:21 > 0:08:23for producing young salmon than the Earn is,
0:08:23 > 0:08:25and ever will be, or ever was.
0:08:25 > 0:08:30And it's a benchmark that's actually unattainable for this river.
0:08:30 > 0:08:34It's inappropriate for it, so, A, it'll never reach that,
0:08:34 > 0:08:37and the second reason is it that
0:08:37 > 0:08:40they compare the benchmark with catches.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43Now, the last two or three years here, for example,
0:08:43 > 0:08:45the autumns have been very dry.
0:08:45 > 0:08:48- There's been droughts and the fishing's been very poor.- Yeah.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51Irrespective of however many salmon there are in the river.
0:08:51 > 0:08:54So, if you're not catching fish, for whatever reason,
0:08:54 > 0:08:56you're not reporting them,
0:08:56 > 0:08:58then it is deemed there are no fish in the river.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Now, that's clearly nonsense.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04'Local angling groups have also been shocked by the decision.
0:09:04 > 0:09:08'Tom Monaghan is secretary of the River Earn Improvement Association.
0:09:08 > 0:09:11'He's giving me a casting lesson.'
0:09:11 > 0:09:14So, not too fast on the front stroke.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16Up to ten o'clock, and then forward...
0:09:16 > 0:09:18'But we can't fish for salmon today -
0:09:18 > 0:09:21'they aren't in season - but grayling are.'
0:09:21 > 0:09:24So, Tom, what's the reaction been amongst your members that this has
0:09:24 > 0:09:26become a category-three River?
0:09:26 > 0:09:29Well, Dougie, there's been one of surprise, really,
0:09:29 > 0:09:32because what we have here in the Earn
0:09:32 > 0:09:36is a very stable rolling five-year average catch
0:09:36 > 0:09:38of 800 salmon per year,
0:09:38 > 0:09:41- and that's been gauged over the last 20 years and beyond.- Uh-huh.
0:09:41 > 0:09:44Some years, we have more fish than that.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47Some, during drought years, we have less,
0:09:47 > 0:09:51but the trend has been upwards.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54Tom says the anglers here are very aware of conservation,
0:09:54 > 0:09:58and typically release 80% of the salmon they catch,
0:09:58 > 0:10:02but they do like to be able to take the odd fish home.
0:10:02 > 0:10:03We've already done straw polls
0:10:03 > 0:10:06up and down the associations on the river
0:10:06 > 0:10:09and if people aren't going to be allowed to take the occasional
0:10:09 > 0:10:13fish for the pot, they certainly won't renew their membership.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Now, that will have a devastating effect on the future of salmon
0:10:16 > 0:10:19conservation in this river because as a body,
0:10:19 > 0:10:21we rely purely on donations.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23We can only survive on donations.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28Tom has taken me to one of the Earn's tributaries to show me
0:10:28 > 0:10:31the type of work his association does.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35Volunteers are clearing a potential blockage to salmon migration.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Now, if we can keep this going on an ongoing basis,
0:10:38 > 0:10:40we will ensure that the salmon
0:10:40 > 0:10:43and sea trout will be able to spawn in these river unfettered.
0:10:43 > 0:10:48If the build-ups continue and the conservation work finishes,
0:10:48 > 0:10:52then salmon and sea trout won't have access into these streams.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Tom and his fellow anglers on the River Earn want
0:10:56 > 0:10:59the government to reconsider their position.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01We asked the minister for rural affairs for an interview,
0:11:01 > 0:11:02but she was unavailable.
0:11:02 > 0:11:06However, the government did send us this statement.
0:11:06 > 0:11:09"Restrictions on our fisheries are never taken lightly,
0:11:09 > 0:11:12"but action to conserve stocks is, in the long term,
0:11:12 > 0:11:15"essential to protect the sustainability of the communities
0:11:15 > 0:11:18"and the ecosystems that they support."
0:11:18 > 0:11:21The government went on to say it is aware of the concerns that
0:11:21 > 0:11:25have been expressed by the River Earn Improvement Trust
0:11:25 > 0:11:28and officials from Marine Scotland will be meeting the Trust
0:11:28 > 0:11:31later this month to provide clarification on the Earn's
0:11:31 > 0:11:34classification as a category three river.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38If you'd like to get involved in the debate
0:11:38 > 0:11:40over the management of our countryside,
0:11:40 > 0:11:42you can do via our Facebook page,
0:11:42 > 0:11:43or e-mail...
0:11:48 > 0:11:51As we travel about Scotland, we like to stop and ask the folk
0:11:51 > 0:11:55we meet on the street what they love about the local area.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57Crieff sits on the banks of the River Earn
0:11:57 > 0:11:59and on the Highland Boundary Fault Line,
0:11:59 > 0:12:03which splits the Highlands over there with the Lowlands down there.
0:12:09 > 0:12:11Imagine I'm coming here for the very first time
0:12:11 > 0:12:14and there's something that I must do here.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17What would you say is the thing that I must experience?
0:12:17 > 0:12:20Oh, well... Well, first of all, the welcome is very warm.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23The Crieff people are very friendly.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Are you running away from me there, are you?
0:12:25 > 0:12:28- Uh-huh. I'm in a hurry! - Right you are. No bother.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30I would run away from me as well.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35There's two or three nice pubs in Crieff. The tower.
0:12:35 > 0:12:36Get a nice meal up there.
0:12:36 > 0:12:38The scenery round about is beautiful,
0:12:38 > 0:12:41so if you want to take a walk anywhere,
0:12:41 > 0:12:45just five minutes up the hill there and you're into beautiful woodland.
0:12:45 > 0:12:46Do you work for the tourist board?
0:12:46 > 0:12:49I don't, but if you're offering me a job, I'll happily take one.
0:12:49 > 0:12:53You should be Chief Executive, in my opinion.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57Actors Ewan McGregor and his uncle Denis Lawson were both brought up
0:12:57 > 0:13:00in Crieff and they both feature in the Star Wars movies.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03Yes, the Force is indeed strong in Crieff.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07HE MAKES LIGHTSABER NOISES
0:13:08 > 0:13:10It's not a real lightsaber, is it? No.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15- What would you say I've got to do? It could be anything at all.- Erm...
0:13:15 > 0:13:19- Coffee?- Cake, Campbell's Bakery down the road.
0:13:24 > 0:13:28There's Lady Mary's Walk. There's lots of nice walks.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30And afterwards, Delivino's for lunch
0:13:30 > 0:13:32just round the corner.
0:13:35 > 0:13:40What's the most romantic place or the most romantic thing about Crieff, would you say?
0:13:42 > 0:13:45- The park.- The park?- Yeah. A beautiful park there.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52So that's what the people of Crieff think is the best thing
0:13:52 > 0:13:55about the town, but I reckon this deserves a mention.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59Just up from Lady Mary's Walk is this 600-year-old oak tree,
0:13:59 > 0:14:02said to have once sheltered both Bonnie Prince Charlie
0:14:02 > 0:14:03and Rob Roy MacGregor.
0:14:05 > 0:14:07These days, not a bad place for a swing.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15For the next few weeks, we have a guest presenter
0:14:15 > 0:14:18who hails from further down the Tay river system in Dundee.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Martel Maxwell has been looking at her area's reputation
0:14:22 > 0:14:25for innovation in potato production.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29I've been taking my first Landward task very seriously.
0:14:29 > 0:14:34I've been doing my research on Egypt, Morocco, Israel...
0:14:34 > 0:14:35I can't wait!
0:14:38 > 0:14:41No, obviously I'm not going to sunnier climes,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45but there is one Scottish product which is, in droves.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00I'm talking about seed potatoes and exports are soaring.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04A record number have been sent to non-EU countries in the past year.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07Egypt tops the list of destinations.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10It's also the biggest international market for Rob Doig
0:15:10 > 0:15:13from Caithness Potatoes in Perthshire.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17- Hi, Rob.- Hi, Martel.- How are you doing?- Good, thanks. How are you?
0:15:17 > 0:15:21Good thanks. Take me back to basics. What are seed potatoes?
0:15:21 > 0:15:23I mean, these are seed potatoes.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25And the only difference between these
0:15:25 > 0:15:27and the normal potatoes you eat is these are the ones
0:15:27 > 0:15:29that are designed to be super healthy to plant in the ground,
0:15:29 > 0:15:32to grow really good crops of potatoes next year
0:15:32 > 0:15:34that people are the going to eat the potatoes of.
0:15:34 > 0:15:39OK. And they're especially popular in Egypt. Why is that?
0:15:39 > 0:15:43Well, it's because Egypt's a very hot country and the potato diseases
0:15:43 > 0:15:46that make them yield less really like hot weather.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48Scotland of course is a very cold country
0:15:48 > 0:15:53so we have an ideal climate to produce healthy seed potatoes
0:15:53 > 0:15:54to send to them
0:15:54 > 0:15:57so that they can grow super healthy crops of potatoes over there.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59- So we give them a good start. - We give them a good start.
0:15:59 > 0:16:04OK. And the boxes in the background there, where are they off to?
0:16:04 > 0:16:08Er, well, we're loading potatoes to Egypt, as you mentioned,
0:16:08 > 0:16:12and we're also loading to two of the Canary Islands.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16The Canaries are fourth on the Scottish export list and Robert also
0:16:16 > 0:16:22sends seed potatoes to places like Morocco, Israel, Iraq and Syria.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25So this truck's off to the Canary Islands, so that's 25 tonnes
0:16:25 > 0:16:28of our nice Scottish seed potatoes heading off to a sunnier clime.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30Uh-huh. How many potatoes is that?
0:16:30 > 0:16:32Martel!
0:16:33 > 0:16:34No, I don't expect you to know.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38And often it'll be countries... War-torn countries, Syria, Iraq.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Have you ever been out to visit these countries?
0:16:41 > 0:16:45Er, I've been to some of them in times of strife, if you like.
0:16:45 > 0:16:46I've been to Beirut
0:16:46 > 0:16:50and had to follow a convoy of Hezbollah guerrillas out of town.
0:16:50 > 0:16:53I've been in Israel when there was mortars flying over the car.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56These are the countries and the places our customers live
0:16:56 > 0:16:58and work in and we're inclined to trust them.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01If they say it's safe to go, we trust that it's safe to go.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05And when you see your truck finally head off, how does it make you feel?
0:17:05 > 0:17:07Oh, it's great. I mean, that's a nice job.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10Potatoes going out of the country, money coming back in.
0:17:10 > 0:17:12It's good for us, it's good for Scotland,
0:17:12 > 0:17:14it's good for everybody, really.
0:17:14 > 0:17:15A funny concept to think people could be
0:17:15 > 0:17:17enjoying your tatties in Tenerife.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20Yeah, it's quite cool. Amazingly, I've never been to Tenerife.
0:17:20 > 0:17:21I've been to some of these other places.
0:17:21 > 0:17:23I've never been there. Isn't that terrible?
0:17:23 > 0:17:25But the hard work's not over for Rob.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27There are three more containers still to go.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31That's two million potatoes! Small fry really.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35I love hearing that Scotland's really nailing it at something
0:17:35 > 0:17:38and we're certainly doing that with seed potatoes.
0:17:38 > 0:17:43But what really surprises me is the range of countries we export to.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46My visit here today has really whetted my appetite
0:17:46 > 0:17:51for the next part in my exploration of the Tayside tatty industry.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55Farming these days is a serious business with money being so tight.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59However, one farmer is determined to have a laugh in his working life.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03I've been to meet the Perthshire farmer with a calling for comedy.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12Ladies and gentlemen, you'll love this. You'll absolutely love this.
0:18:12 > 0:18:15I love this - this is a great joke. You'll love this. OK, here we go.
0:18:15 > 0:18:18A farmer walks into a comedy club, right?
0:18:18 > 0:18:21BOO!
0:18:24 > 0:18:26How very rude!
0:18:31 > 0:18:35Jim Smith is a man with a double life. Farmer by day...
0:18:35 > 0:18:38Hup! There they go. There they go. Hup!
0:18:38 > 0:18:39Get on!
0:18:39 > 0:18:42..and comedian by night.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45Are you all city slickers? Is there any tcheuchters in here tonight?
0:18:45 > 0:18:48Or at least on the nights when he's not lambing,
0:18:48 > 0:18:50calving or involved in the harvest.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53- How's it going, Jim?- Hello, Dougie. How are you getting on?- Not bad.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55- How are you?- I'm good, thanks. Nice to see you.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58Now, this isn't very show business. What are you doing?
0:18:58 > 0:19:00No, this is the bread and butter, Dougie.
0:19:00 > 0:19:02My first love, which is farming.
0:19:02 > 0:19:05So farming's your first love, how did you get into comedy then?
0:19:05 > 0:19:08Well, I really got a taste for it
0:19:08 > 0:19:10when I was involved in Young Farmers competitions
0:19:10 > 0:19:12at the East Area Cabaret
0:19:12 > 0:19:14and then we did pantomimes as well
0:19:14 > 0:19:16so started writing the scripts for that.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20So I got a bug all out of Young Farmers, really.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23So how do you manage to balance being a farmer and a comedian?
0:19:23 > 0:19:28I don't do gigs during lambing or calving or at harvest,
0:19:28 > 0:19:31so you know, there's maybe actually only nine months of the year
0:19:31 > 0:19:33that I'm doing comedy.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36- Right, OK.- So that's how I work it.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38Now, you played this year at the Edinburgh Festival, at the Fringe.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41- Absolutely.- What was that like? - Oh, it was brilliant.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45I did two weeks at the Fringe. Called it Farmed And Dangerous.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49It was a really worthwhile experience.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51A great learning curve actually for me.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53To go from maybe doing...you know,
0:19:53 > 0:19:5615 minute set to have to write a whole hour of comedy.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58It was spot on and I was very grateful
0:19:58 > 0:20:02- for the farming community that came out to support me.- Did they?
0:20:02 > 0:20:04It was quite a sight in Edinburgh, seeing all these guys
0:20:04 > 0:20:07in checked shirts and tweed jackets walking around.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09- Hey, that's all the rage now. - Absolutely!
0:20:09 > 0:20:11Everyone's wearing that these days, so I believe.
0:20:11 > 0:20:12Now, I believe, Jim,
0:20:12 > 0:20:15that you do an impersonation of one of our presenters on Landward?
0:20:15 > 0:20:19It has been known that I've done the odd Euan McIlwraith impression,
0:20:19 > 0:20:20- Dougie, aye.- Uh-huh.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24- AS EUAN:- Well, Dougie, to be honest, the one thing that really annoys me
0:20:24 > 0:20:28is how come you get all the good gigs and I get all the rubbish.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31That's just like him! He moans all the time.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33'Yes, Euan, I do get all the good gigs.
0:20:33 > 0:20:35'A few hours later,
0:20:35 > 0:20:39'and I'm at the Stand Comedy Club in Glasgow's trendy West End.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42'Jim is backstage doing some last-minute revision.'
0:20:42 > 0:20:44- Hi, Jim. Is it OK to come in?- Yes. Come in, Dougie.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47- Come in to the famous green room. - So how are you feeling?
0:20:47 > 0:20:50Well, I always get a bit nervous just before a gig,
0:20:50 > 0:20:52but I think that's just natural, you know.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54Cos you never know what the crowd's going to be like.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57So how do you think the rural comedy will go down in the city?
0:20:57 > 0:21:01Erm, well, I try and do it in a way that it's...
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Like, I explain to them how it works,
0:21:04 > 0:21:07so, you know, it's like the village idiot coming to the big city
0:21:07 > 0:21:10kind of thing, which I seem to play well.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13You know, so I try not to do too much in depth farming jokes.
0:21:13 > 0:21:15Right. Well, listen, I'm rooting for you. Have a good show!
0:21:15 > 0:21:18- Remember to laugh at the right bits, Dougie.- I'll laugh the whole time.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21- Have a good one. Cheers, man. - Cheers. Thanks, Dougie.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25And a fair crowd has gathered to watch tonight's performance.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28This young lad looked at a cow - never seen a cow in his life -
0:21:28 > 0:21:30and he says, "Mr... How does a cow...?
0:21:30 > 0:21:32"Why does a cow have four teats?"
0:21:32 > 0:21:34I says, "That's easy.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37"Full fat, semi-skimmed, skimmed, lactose free."
0:21:38 > 0:21:41And it really appears there was no need for Jim to be nervous
0:21:41 > 0:21:43as the crowd are really enjoying the act.
0:21:43 > 0:21:45- LAUGHTER - Yeah, he was good,
0:21:45 > 0:21:49but I was trying to follow the terminology.
0:21:49 > 0:21:52I think I did OK. Tcheuchter? I have no idea what a tcheuchter is.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Cos I came out when I was 15, said I was going to be a tcheuchter.
0:21:55 > 0:21:56I think it means farmer?
0:21:56 > 0:21:59You don't know what it's like at agricultural college.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01You know Top Gun, the movie?
0:22:01 > 0:22:04- It's a lot like that, but for tractor drivers. - LAUGHTER
0:22:04 > 0:22:07I thought it was very good. He's obviously nervous, but very funny.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09Now, I don't know if you're up to date
0:22:09 > 0:22:12with your knowledge of sheep, people of Glasgow.
0:22:12 > 0:22:14But I showed him all the different types of sheep and...
0:22:14 > 0:22:18A sheep that has a lamb for the first time is called a gimmer.
0:22:18 > 0:22:20I liked it. The best gag for me was the Andy Murray one.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22I liked that one the best.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24This other type of sheep, we have another name for her.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Now she's had two lambs and that's what I want every sheep to have.
0:22:27 > 0:22:31That's perfect. But she only really loves one lamb
0:22:31 > 0:22:34and she'll only give one lamb all the love and all the encouragement.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36And we call them
0:22:36 > 0:22:40- Judy Murrays. - LAUGHTER
0:22:40 > 0:22:43Now, I love Judy Murray, but even she would have to admit,
0:22:43 > 0:22:44that was pretty funny.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47Ladies and gentlemen, you've been an absolute pleasure.
0:22:47 > 0:22:49I've been Jim Smith. Enjoy the rest of your evening.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54From the adrenaline rush of a live performance
0:22:54 > 0:22:56to the buzz of country sports.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58At last year's Commonwealth Games,
0:22:58 > 0:23:02more than half of the Scottish shooting team were made up of women.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06So we wondered, why is there a need for all-female shooting clubs?
0:23:06 > 0:23:09Sarah went along to a day's clay pigeon shoot.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15Pull.
0:23:18 > 0:23:19In my experience,
0:23:19 > 0:23:24shooting can often be about lots of competitive men dressed in tweed
0:23:24 > 0:23:28and for a woman wanting to have a go, it can be quite daunting.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31But times are a-changing because right here in Aberdeenshire,
0:23:31 > 0:23:33a revolution is taking place.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35It's unashamedly feminine
0:23:35 > 0:23:39and it's helping to break down the sport's masculine image.
0:23:46 > 0:23:52Welcome to the world...of women-only shooting.
0:23:52 > 0:23:53For the past year,
0:23:53 > 0:23:56the Glad Rags And Cartridge Bags club have been encouraging
0:23:56 > 0:23:59ladies of all ages to pick up a gun
0:23:59 > 0:24:02and learn the basics of clay and game shooting.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05So have a good day and happy shooting.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08And it all started with Mhairi Morriss.
0:24:08 > 0:24:11So what do you think it is about what you do on these days
0:24:11 > 0:24:13that appeals to women?
0:24:13 > 0:24:14It's the relaxed atmosphere.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17I think it's the fact they get taught how to shoot properly.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20There's a handful that's come along because their husbands do shoot
0:24:20 > 0:24:23and they want to get better without being seen to be getting better,
0:24:23 > 0:24:25so they come along for a sneaky shoot
0:24:25 > 0:24:27and they're growing in confidence,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30they're growing in their abilities and they will be as good,
0:24:30 > 0:24:33if not better, than their partners very quickly.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36How many women have you had at these events? How have numbers been?
0:24:36 > 0:24:38This is our 11th event, Sarah,
0:24:38 > 0:24:45and we've had 269 guns at those 11 events and 140 different ladies.
0:24:45 > 0:24:47So how have the men taken to it?
0:24:47 > 0:24:48I think generally very well.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50I think there's a bit of a giggle going on in the pub
0:24:50 > 0:24:53on a Friday night when the guys get together and they see us
0:24:53 > 0:24:55discussing kit, discussing guns...
0:24:55 > 0:24:57So I think, rewind a year ago,
0:24:57 > 0:25:00they'd never have thought how much the ladies have got into it.
0:25:00 > 0:25:01Pull.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06Whoo!
0:25:07 > 0:25:09I got two. Whee!
0:25:10 > 0:25:14Gladrags is just one of several women-only clubs across Scotland.
0:25:14 > 0:25:18Their popularity is growing, and Scottish women continue
0:25:18 > 0:25:21to perform well on the international sporting stage.
0:25:23 > 0:25:26Impressive. So, if women can shoot just as well as men,
0:25:26 > 0:25:28why do they need a separate club?
0:25:31 > 0:25:33I think it's just nicer being with the girls,
0:25:33 > 0:25:36and if you don't do so well, there's no pressure.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39- If you do really well, then as your hear...- She got one.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43- We're all, yeah, very supportive of each other.- Whoo! Well done.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46It's not competitive at all, it's all very relaxed,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49very enjoyable and it's just a good day out for the girls.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51There's so much else that goes with it.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54The biggest thing was having my own gun.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57That was a great decision for me, and it's been fitted to me
0:25:57 > 0:25:59and that makes a hell of a difference,
0:25:59 > 0:26:01getting used to your own gun.
0:26:01 > 0:26:02Pull.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07- That was much better. - I'm getting better.- Yeah.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09That's a relief!
0:26:09 > 0:26:13I've just started to learn to shoot, so don't expect too much. OK?
0:26:13 > 0:26:14Jim, any tips?
0:26:14 > 0:26:18- Aye, be positive, believe in yourself.- OK.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20I'll get my ears on.
0:26:26 > 0:26:27OK, pull.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Killed it beautifully.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35Why do you think these days just for women are growing in popularity?
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Ladies have got just as good hand-eye coordination as men.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43Let's say, maybe sounds sexist, I hit a golf ball -
0:26:43 > 0:26:47I'm bigger, stronger than you, so I should beat you at golf.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49But that's not an issue with shooting.
0:26:49 > 0:26:52So you're pretty much starting on a level playing field.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58Have you got used to all the cheering yet after the shots?
0:26:58 > 0:27:02There's a few of that with ladies days, that's for sure.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04Oh, she's going to do it.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12What a brilliant day out. Women from all walks of life having fun.
0:27:12 > 0:27:17Yes, it ticks the boxes and breaks down certain gender stereotypes,
0:27:17 > 0:27:19but ultimately it's great to see
0:27:19 > 0:27:22so many women wanting to learn to shoot,
0:27:22 > 0:27:25which has to be good for the sport.
0:27:27 > 0:27:30Sarah is so competitive, I knew she wouldn't miss a clay.
0:27:30 > 0:27:33In the meantime, from all the Landward team here in Crieff,
0:27:33 > 0:27:35thanks for your company, bye for now.