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Short filmTranscript
00:01I'll grab onto the line in case I disappear.
00:06It's well and truly stuck in there.
00:08Oh, I've got it. I've got it. I've got it.
00:10Oh, I've snapped it. Reel me in, David.
00:30Today we are following in the wake of Tarka the Otter,
00:55whose story was born here in North Devon.
00:58Now, this is a landscape that's shaped by rivers
01:01and will be forever linked
01:03to one of Britain's most charismatic predators,
01:06the Eurasian otter.
01:07Just half a century ago,
01:09otters were on the brink of extinction in the UK
01:12and now Devon is considered a stronghold for them.
01:16It is a remarkable comeback,
01:18but is everybody as thrilled as we are
01:20to catch a glimpse of these elusive river dwellers?
01:23Or is there quiet ripples of concern beneath the surface?
01:28We'll be exploring some of the streams and rivers that crisscross North Devon,
01:32providing the perfect otter habitat,
01:36with Sammy starting her journey on the banks of the river Mall.
01:41I'm so excited. I've never seen an otter up close.
01:45Oh, you're going to love it. You're going to love it.
01:47And I'm actually getting to be involved in releasing two orphaned otters back into the wild.
01:52Oh, magic. Honestly, I can't wait for this trip either,
01:55because I'm going fishing with somebody that's famous for catching.
01:58Oh, really? Yeah.
02:02It's amazing what you can find.
02:05Wow.
02:06In the streams and the rivers of North Devon.
02:10David, how are you doing?
02:12I'm not too bad at you.
02:14Look at his little face.
02:16He'll come there because he likes to spray.
02:17It's amazing to see them play in the water.
02:19Proper show off. He loves you.
02:20He is, isn't he?
02:21What have I caught? Caught a rock.
02:26Meanwhile, on his farm in the Cotswolds,
02:28Adam's facing the effect of a lack of water when feeding his animals.
02:33I'm dropping food out the back, sheep nuts.
02:36And this is a job we would regularly do in the winter months when there's no grass,
02:40but not something we usually do in the summer.
02:43North Devon's waterways have been synonymous with wild otters ever since Tarka the Otter was published in 1927.
03:07And when the UK otter population was pushed to the verge of extinction in the mid 20th century,
03:12the South West remained a precious otter stronghold.
03:19Watching those rare mammals back then was a young boy who was inspired to a lifetime of otter obsession.
03:28Dave Webb is the founder and CEO of the UK Wild Otter Trust.
03:34Supported by a team of volunteers, Dave is dedicated to the rescue,
03:39rehab and release of injured and orphaned otters.
03:44The newest arrival is a female cub called Morna.
03:47This is Morna.
03:50Okay, Morna.
03:51That's an interesting name, isn't it?
03:52Yeah.
03:53Well, she was found in Lamorna Cove in Cornwall.
03:56Oh, wow.
03:57And so we called her Morna.
03:58She was the smallest one that we'd ever had.
04:00She was a little over 300 grams when she was found and the eyes were still closed partly.
04:04So it was a critical time.
04:07Yeah.
04:10Morna was found tired and dehydrated by a walker on the busy South West Coast path.
04:17With her mother nowhere to be found, the walker did the right thing and called Dave's team.
04:22One of around 700 calls the Trust receive each year from all over the UK.
04:29A lucky little otter.
04:30I mean, at that age, it's incredible that she survived.
04:33Yeah.
04:34She'll be about four months now, four to five months.
04:36So how long do you reckon she'll be with you?
04:38She'll be here for a year.
04:39Yeah.
04:40So it'll be next year release.
04:41So all the ones that come in are here for a minimum of 12 months.
04:46Orphaned cubs usually arrive here due to road accidents or other man-made disturbance.
04:53There are currently 19 otters at the centre.
04:57That's a lot of meals to prepare.
05:00Their favourite, a fish and chick supper.
05:06Well, it certainly smells like something in here.
05:08Yeah, it's not the most glamorous part of what we do, for sure.
05:13We're going to put in two fish, one each.
05:15So one fish each?
05:16Yeah, and then chick-wise there's eight chicks to go in each bag.
05:19Eight?
05:20What do they normally eat when they're out in the wild?
05:22It's primarily fish, so it's 75-80% fish.
05:26They will take eggs, they'll take small mammals, they'll take birds, things like ducks.
05:30It must be quite an expense making sure they're getting the right food and enough.
05:33It can be, it's the biggest part of our expense.
05:35Oh, OK.
05:36We rely solely on donations, so as a result of that we don't get, we don't take any money out of it.
05:41None of the volunteers get paid, so everything we get is basically spent.
05:45Our biggest expense is food.
05:47Yeah, so how much do you think you spend on an otter from it arriving here to hopefully it being released?
05:52Anything between £3,000 and £4,000 each cost us around about £75,000 a year to run this.
05:57Wow.
05:58Wild otter cubs spend up to 18 months with their mothers, learning everything they need to survive, including what to eat and even how to swim.
06:10At the sanctuary, the challenge is to help the otters learn, but still maintain their wildness.
06:16I can really hear the teeth.
06:21See the one on the right, he's shaking it about.
06:28Yeah.
06:29But he thinks he's killing it.
06:30Oh, OK.
06:31They don't log on yet that it's dead.
06:33We've saved them a job.
06:34And the other thing they do when they get older is they grab the chick and they take it into the pond and dive with it and try and drown it.
06:41Well, they drown it because they don't know it's dead and they do it with the fish as well.
06:44I mean, that's good. Again, that's what you want to see.
06:46You want them to be doing that.
06:47Yeah.
06:49The Trust's goal is to return every otter to the wild.
06:56But when four-year-old Tolga arrived, he was too used to human contact to be safely released.
07:04He's now a beloved resident at the centre.
07:12Oh, look, he's lovely.
07:13He'll come there because he likes to spray.
07:15Why is it that you're, like, doing this and just encouraging him to the water?
07:18Well, this is because he's captive. He's got to have stimulation, he's got to have enrichment.
07:23Right, OK.
07:24Otherwise, they just get bored and pace round and round in circles.
07:26When he came to us, he was too friendly.
07:30Oh, really?
07:31And we're just waiting for humans and we put him into an isolation program which didn't work.
07:35OK.
07:36We do it through that if you want, whatever's easy for you.
07:38There we go.
07:40Look, it's amazing to see them play in the water.
07:43It's a proper show off. He loves the attention.
07:47He is, isn't he?
07:48He's just so playful, look at him.
07:50It's so playful, look at them.
07:54About three o'clock tomorrow morning, here get fed up and you'll be able to leave.
07:58Perfect, I'll be here all night.
08:02Although Tolga may never return to the wild,
08:05late summer is a busy time here for releasing the rehabilitated otters.
08:10Later on, I'll be meeting Karma and Kismet,
08:14two sisters about to move to their forever home on a Cornish river.
08:20There's just a small matter of rounding them up first.
08:33For successful releases, Dave and the otters need healthy rivers with healthy fish.
08:41Matt is meeting one local farmer who's on a mission to provide just that.
08:50Along the River Tore, farmer and keen fisherman Andy Gray tends his land with the river in mind,
08:58protecting his waters as carefully as his fields.
09:04Andy is working on a new scientific approach that's monitoring and changing how water flows through his farm.
09:11And I'm here to find out why.
09:17Andy!
09:18Hi Matt!
09:19How's it going, alright?
09:20Good, good, how are you?
09:21I'm very well, I tell you what, this is a beautiful spot you live in here, isn't it?
09:24Yeah, it's a lovely spot.
09:25It's a gorgeous valley.
09:27What are you busy with today then, what's happening here?
09:29Well, this is silvopastia.
09:31Silvopastia, so that is basically trees in the landscape.
09:34Trees in a field, it's a fancy name for trees in a field.
09:36Have you decided to plant it on the valley bank for a reason, or?
09:40Yes, it's partly because we're really interested in its impact on water and pollution.
09:44And effectively, all water that goes into a river has travelled through land and soil.
09:50So this is a great way to improve that water by increasing the carbon in the soils and therefore the structure of those soils.
09:57But also because it's protecting the soil.
09:59This soil is very light and tends to run away if you don't look after it really well.
10:03Right.
10:03You've obviously got quite a few different varieties of trees in here, then.
10:08What have you got in the mix?
10:09We've got 26 different species.
10:10Right.
10:11Mainly indigenous, though we do have chestnuts and walnuts, which do suit this climate, and they're European.
10:17Uh-huh.
10:17So you've got this hawthorn then, and these guards.
10:20The whole concept here is just trying to protect these growing trees.
10:23It is, yeah.
10:24How big were they when you put them in to start?
10:25They were about six inches.
10:26They were about that sort of height.
10:27All right.
10:28And there's a basic principle that the smaller the tree that you plant, the quicker it grows.
10:32Right.
10:33So this tree is really interesting.
10:34I mean, this one hasn't got a guard on.
10:35No.
10:35Or any hawthorn around it.
10:36So this is to be browsed by the cattle.
10:38Ah.
10:39This is an elm, and cattle particularly love the taste of elm.
10:42And those leaves can give it a bit of variety in its diet, more tannins, which suppress worms
10:47and things like that.
10:48Yeah.
10:48It's a great tree, poor silver past, yeah.
10:50But it's interesting, because you're not sort of planting these trees kind of higgledy-piggledy
10:54and just creating this kind of, like a woodland.
10:57Everything's in rows here, so you can actually farm between the rows if you want to.
11:01You can.
11:02And that's me keeping my options open.
11:03I mean, this bank side here is quite different to what's going on over there, isn't it?
11:10It is, yeah.
11:10So what do the neighbours think about all this?
11:12Well, they do think I'm slightly dotty on occasions.
11:15But having said that, you know, we're in a drought year this year, and you can look back
11:19at this farm, and it's greener than a lot of other ground, because it's got these improved
11:24soils, which are holding on to water better, cycling nutrients better, and that sort of thing.
11:29The theory behind silvopasture is that the tree roots and extra-organic matter help create
11:37a more porous soil structure.
11:40A study's shown that this system can increase the soil's water retention by up to 60 times
11:45more than conventional pasture, hopefully meaning less soil and fewer chemicals find their way
11:51to the river.
11:53Just look down through my trees.
11:55Oh, I see water.
11:56Yep.
11:57And water is what it's all about.
11:59Andy's drafted in help from the water quality specialists at Plymouth Marine Laboratories,
12:04who have recently installed some tech that may help test the silvopasture theory.
12:10So this is a remote sensor.
12:13It's monitoring water quality, and it's monitoring the pollutants that are coming into the water.
12:19And all the information then, can you access that?
12:21It's stored on chips, but we're collecting it on my phone in my pocket by Bluetooth, hopefully
12:27giving us some useful feedback as to whether or not the experiments we're doing on the land
12:32are impacting on the water quality coming in.
12:35The monitoring from Andy's property is still in its early stages, and it will take time
12:41before any meaningful results emerge.
12:44With so many factors influencing water quality, much more data will be needed to reveal if Andy's
12:51silvopasture is a success.
12:53What's your ultimate goal with all of this, Andy?
12:58Well, it's about just getting clean water back into rivers again.
13:03It's looking at opportunities to address the way we farm.
13:06We need to produce food.
13:08It's absolutely critical that we do that, but it's whether or not we can do it in a way
13:12which is less damaging to the environment.
13:15And there are lots and lots of solutions for just working our way through them and trialling
13:19ways of getting water off landscapes into rivers where they're actually providing clean water.
13:27So the invertebrates recover, the fish recover.
13:30You know, it's a good environment for otters and herons and kingfishers and all the creatures
13:35up through the terrific levels.
13:37So that's the really exciting bit.
13:39Well, honestly, from what I've seen today, you know, there's no doubt about it.
13:42You're doing your bit, aren't you?
13:44You're having a go.
13:45We're having a go.
13:45Exactly.
13:46Yeah.
13:46Right, good.
13:47Well, let's get out of these waders.
13:49Yeah.
13:49That was fascinating.
13:50Thank you so much for showing me around.
14:14Thank you so much for joining us.
14:15Thank you so much for joining us.
14:16Thank you so much for joining us.
14:17Thank you so much for joining us.
14:19Thank you so much for joining us.
14:20Thank you so much for joining us.
14:21Thank you so much for joining us.
14:22Thank you so much for joining us.
14:23Thank you so much for joining us.
14:24Thank you so much for joining us.
14:25Thank you so much for joining us.
14:26Thank you so much for joining us.
14:27Thank you so much for joining us.
14:28Thank you so much for joining us.
14:29Thank you so much for joining us.
14:30Thank you so much for joining us.
14:31Thank you so much for joining us.
14:32Thank you so much for joining us.
14:33Thank you so much for joining us.
14:34Thank you so much for joining us.
14:35authors and artists to the present day the eldest and biggest of the litter was
14:45a dog cub and when he drew his first breath he was less than five inches
14:50long from his nose to where his wee tail joined his backbone he was called Tarka
14:56which was the name given to otters many years ago by men dwelling in hut circles
15:01on the moor it means little water wanderer or wandering as water
15:06I'm Jane Lovell and I'm a poet and writer in the heart of Tarka country
15:14I've lived all over the UK but I never really felt I belonged anywhere till I came here
15:22it's the wildness
15:24the presence of otters is everywhere here but you rarely see one
15:30they're so elusive
15:32I first read Tarka when I was about nine or ten and it had a profound effect on me
15:47and even now my poetry is still about wildlife and creatures that don't have their own voice
15:54before Tarka most animal stories were told from a human perspective or gave the animals human
16:04personalities like Beatrix Potter and Wind in the Willows where they wore human clothes and drove
16:10motor cars Henry Williamson told it in a slightly different way he immersed us in the real world of
16:17the animals and showed how their lives interacted on the riverbank changed people's view of animals
16:23it's essentially a story of survival and it endures partly because it's so beautifully written
16:32and partly because it allows us to see into the lives of animals
16:36I find myself writing about creatures that are victims of our cruelty and greed but also our lack of regard for other species I want to tell their stories give them a voice
17:03a sudden chevron of dark water and he's there fleet fitch river spirit whiskered and intent through plumes of weed to deeper pools he weaves a fleeting shadow seeking ghosts even salmon
17:23sliding west past willow older the river churns about a fallen oak its sunken limbs awash and streaming
17:32just there you think you glimpse him a lithe quick bright eyed swirl of life
17:38water dweller wanderer Tarka did we dream him
17:45ravens call the flagpole heron lifts his wings
17:49a line of bubbles drifts downstream and he is gone
17:56of course otters aren't the only ones who feel at home along the waterways of North Devon
18:08sharing these rivers are members of the angling community drawn to the peace wildlife and tradition of fishing
18:16well this is the beautiful and breathtaking River Torridge and I'm here to meet a fisherman who's certainly a safe pair of hands when it comes to teaching me the art of fly fishing
18:23well this is the beautiful and breathtaking River Torridge and I'm here to meet a fisherman who's certainly a safe pair of hands when it comes to teaching me the art of fly fishing
18:36he's vans here and there he is in the water David how are you doing I'm not too bad
18:43you look like you're in a painting
18:46I'm coming round
18:50David Seaman was a legend in goal for Arsenal for more than a decade and for England in many major tournaments
18:56since retiring from full time football he coaches Arsenal's young goalkeepers and he's built himself quite a reputation as a riverbank guru too
19:05and so today I'm hoping he can teach me a thing or two about catching trout
19:10oh this is a spot and a half
19:13I know we've just seen some kingfishers go up there as well so
19:16have you?
19:17yeah
19:18I mean just listen to that
19:19yeah
19:21well listen David I would love to learn the art of flying fishing
19:25well it's like riding a bike it takes a while
19:27okay
19:28but then once you've got it
19:29yeah
19:30I just love being out here it's just
19:33yeah
19:34yeah
19:35you can see I mean look at your face
19:36you're absolutely full of joy
19:37yeah I know
19:38and I used to go with you know my very special friend Mr Gascoyne
19:41you know I used to take him fishing you know when we were during Euro 96 and he actually bought me this rod
19:47no way
19:48in Euro 96 he bought me
19:50oh well after Euro 96 he bought me that
19:51did he?
19:52yeah
19:53what a lad
19:54I know you know and it's very special and I've caught quite a few trout on that
19:57and Gazzle loves his fishing
19:58I bet you were blown away when he bought you that one
20:00I know
20:01you know but that's
20:02a lovely thoughtful gift
20:03that's what he's like though you know he's got a heart of gold
20:05mmm
20:06show me the technique then and show me what I'm aiming for
20:08so
20:09okay see how I've got the line on the water there
20:10yeah
20:11I'm using that as resistance
20:12when I drag it the rod will bend a little bit and then I'll speed it up
20:15and it flicks
20:17got ya
20:18and then flick it back
20:19yeah
20:20do you want to have a little go?
20:21I do yeah
20:22I'm excited
20:23well let me come this side
20:24I'm holding this here
20:25yeah
20:26yeah
20:27pull and then flick it
20:29oh yeah
20:30yeah yeah yeah yeah
20:31and then
20:32right exactly that but do it a little bit quicker
20:35mm-hmm
20:36so
20:37you'll get that feeling yeah
20:38there you go
20:40so I guess it was quite helpful for you then
20:45you know certainly in the stressful times
20:47when you were playing
20:48you just needed to get away
20:49exactly just to get away from football you know because it's it's all encapsulating and consuming
20:58because you're in the hotels you've got like just sat in hotels waiting you'll go to all these different countries you'll see the airport the hotel the stadium back on the aeroplane
21:10and then you go into this cauldron this that you know when you think of some of the stadiums the amount of people the energy the noise yeah like and then you're here I know yeah you know what I mean absolutely totally opposite yeah yeah
21:23did you ever take your fishing kit with you when you were playing no not so much with Arsenal but with England we got a little bit more time and Terry was brilliant especially during Euro 96
21:38Terry Venables Terry Venables yeah God bless him he would he would say to me David taking fishing is getting on my nerves meaning Gazza you know because Gazza used to be Gazza yeah
21:49and so so we'd get in my car and then we'd go fishing and he just loved it you know but he was Terry was so good at that spotting you know when players needed time to relax or whatever you know yeah it was brilliant that's the way he handled Gazza that's you know Gazza his passion for fishing is still there he still goes now
22:07it's something that he loves and he can cast a really good line
22:12it must be nice for you though to get people down to the water's edge and to pick up a rod for the first time and for you to sort of show them the ropes
22:18it is as well because it is satisfying the other day we were teaching teaching some some scouts to fish you know on a pond with a whip you know with like just a maggot on the end you know the kids faces was amazing because they were catching these little fish all the time
22:32it's that moment though isn't it when you get the bite yeah and suddenly yeah you have that experience because I don't can you think back to the first time you caught a fish
22:41so I I first went when I was probably about eight no probably about nine to ten with some of my dad's friends right and the first bite that I got I didn't know what I was doing and I saw the float disappear and I've just pulled the rod and then the next thing the fish has pulled me and I've like just gone like that and I'm like trying to reel it in with a rod pointing right at the line which is not what you do right the line snapped you know but the
23:02then I didn't start properly till I was about 22 my brother-in-law introduced me to fishing and I just with the flow and maggots and that you know get catching a few like two pound carp and then I saw a 25 pound carp that this guy had caught and I was like wow I want to catch some of them and then that's where the love of carp fishing came in right but then I've done all all aspects of fishing
23:26well there's been no sign of a bite for us today so far
23:30how's that looking now David that's looking really good mate yeah yeah I've been told by a friend that there's a very good spot just down there
23:41there's like a little bit of a weir pull and then obviously that'll put oxygen into the water and hopefully
23:45yeah that's where the trout are because they're certainly not here yeah
23:48right I'll get me a bag should I get the net we're gonna need the net
23:53next weekend it's the country file ramble
24:02your chance to get involved and help raise money for BBC children in need
24:07here's John and Pudsey with more details
24:11isn't it great place to be out walking in this beautiful British countryside
24:23what you're doing hey you can't take a break yet we've only just started we've got a long way to go
24:34and we've got to get the whole nation out walking that's more like
24:38it's almost here the country file ramble for BBC children in need takes place next weekend on the 13th and 14th of September
24:50and as we take to the valleys and the hills with some incredible youngsters we want you to join us
24:59because this is your chance to raise some money for BBC children in need all you need to do is challenge yourself
25:08to a ramble if you'd like to get involved head to the country file website where
25:13you'll find everything you need to set up your own sponsored ramble
25:17enjoy yourself putsy
25:24well when you're on your ramble why not take some footage on your phone and send it to us
25:33because that way you could see your ramble on country file send us your videos on whatsapp
25:40or upload them via our website
25:47children in need do all they can to make life lighter
25:50for youngsters who are going through a challenging time
25:53children like Daniel
25:57seal I found it
25:59now I know you're doing something
26:01I'm not doing anything I'm just looking for words
26:0414 year old Daniel lives in Dagenham with his mum Funmi
26:09I've I won
26:11yeah but only because I let you
26:13what are we saying
26:14I didn't exist before him
26:16it's kind of dramatic but I didn't expect to feel a strong emotion as I felt
26:27yeah
26:29my blood pressure went high because there's this little thing in front of me that I'm now responsible for
26:36when he was born they did the test so we were back home already in and someone just knocked the door one day and they said oh by the way you had sickle cell
26:49that's how she said this came and told me
26:56people with sickle cell disease produce abnormal sickle shaped red blood cells that can block blood vessels
27:04it's a life impacting disorder which can lead people with the condition to become anemic and have painful episodes known as pain crises
27:12wherever that part where it gets stuck which is usually in the joints that's where it starts to become painful and starts to hurt which causes crisis
27:25the leg the back the most serious one maybe when it's a chest
27:32it can last for up to weeks sometimes months
27:36Daniel has been having pain crises since he was just three years old but in 2018 he suffered an episode that nearly took his life
27:49at first he didn't recognize me
27:51at first he didn't recognize me it was delirious and then I was still calm until he said
27:56he said mom I'm gonna give up
27:59he was just seven then
28:02and the doctor said that one of his lungs were collapsed and I had to watch him for four days
28:10four days
28:11four days
28:12four days
28:13four days
28:14four days
28:15not knowing whether he was going to survive
28:17but luckily he came out of it
28:31approximately 300 babies are born with sickle cell each year
28:36and many can like Daniel go on to experience pain crises on a regular basis
28:44extreme weathers can trigger crisis when I'm severely dehydrated when I overwork myself if it affects my legs then I can't move
28:56if it affects my back obviously I can't move I'm immobile if it affects like my upper body let's say my arms I can't really write
29:05during school time that means I'd have to miss out on school I'm missing out in general like I feel like all my friends get to do it but I can't do it because I'm not well
29:17it's a very lonely time for Daniel
29:22I didn't really understand how to explain it to people I didn't know what to say to them how to answer their questions I used to hide it
29:32I can't see it's in pain because you will see it on his face but it's hiding it from me and he didn't want people to know it felt like I was ashamed that he had that condition
29:45Desperate for help when Daniel was 12
29:47Desperate for help, when Daniel was 12, Fummi discovered a charity supported by BBC Children in Need specifically for those with sickle cell
29:57I don't feel the pain
29:59I don't, I'm not as informed as I should be about it
30:03I thought maybe his interaction with them will help
30:06Funded in part by BBC Children in Need
30:11Sienna Smile provide an invaluable source of support and education for those with sickle cell and their families across the UK
30:20and encourages them to talk confidently about their condition
30:24My first memory of Sienna Smile is when I was involved in one of their literacy clubs
30:30I wrote a poem about sickle cell
30:33Many of us may seem different and be different
30:36For art we're so special
30:39We are like flowers ever given
30:43We are championing change and change is for champions
30:47It's time the world learns the story of schools
30:50Thank you for listening
30:56Sienna Smile came up to me, well came up to my mum
31:00And asked if she could maybe publish the poem
31:03And that made me feel proud of myself
31:05To be honest
31:09Through their activities and outreach
31:11They bring together those who have often felt isolated by their condition
31:16Just like Daniel
31:19Meeting people with sickle cell makes me feel relatable
31:25Like I feel like I'm not the only one suffering with this condition
31:31It's not relaxing anymore to talk about the condition with anyone really
31:37He's more informed as well
31:40So when I tell him things now he understands it's not mum trying to stop him from having fun
31:45Sienna Smile offers respite breaks, activity days and hospital support for families
31:56With BBC children in need funding some of their activities and stuff
32:01Daniel is 14
32:03He's never been, he's never been on holiday
32:06He's never been on holiday
32:10But thanks to Sienna's smile
32:13That's about to change
32:15As they're taking Daniel on his first holiday
32:18So that's another thing I wouldn't have been able to afford
32:21It makes us feel less alone
32:23It makes us feel supported
32:26You can see it's tangible
32:28You can see what they're doing and you can see the impact of it
32:31Yes
32:32Yes
32:37I try to carry on
32:39Even when I have a crisis I still try to make the best
32:42And just try to distract yourself from the pain as much as you can
32:47The king's in danger
32:48You have to save the king
32:49You have to protect the king
32:51Mum, if that was King Charles, would you not move someone else?
32:53No, don't touch King Charles
32:55I've been able to go out more
32:59I've been able to see more things
33:02What I mainly want to do is to be a musician
33:06I play the saxophone and the drums too
33:20Since Sienna's smile has come into my life
33:23I feel like they've empowered myself
33:26And they've also, like, encouraged me
33:29To spread the word about sickle cell
33:34How did I get so lucky?
33:42Having Sienna's smile in their lives is incredibly important
33:47But the challenge of living with sickle cell will continue
33:51The spring crisis are still regular
33:54So at least once a month we deal with it
33:57People say, oh, you've done well
33:59But I haven't done anything
34:01It's all him
34:04It's all him
34:06That is amazing
34:08That's all I can say
34:12Even though I may be looking at you
34:15I may be smiling in front of you
34:16I may be smiling in front of you
34:17But I may still be in pain
34:19Now that I've
34:22I've recognised that
34:23Oh, I'm going to live with this
34:24It's going to be my life
34:25I'm going to have to
34:27Embrace what I have
34:30I've started to show it more to people
34:33I just stopped hiding it
34:34Projects like Sienna's smile
34:40Can help change the lives of young people like Daniel
34:44And this is where you can help
34:46You can donate any amount of money online to BBC Children in Need
34:51By scanning the QR code on your screen right now
34:54Or head to bbc.co.uk forward slash countryfarm
35:01Or to donate 5, 10, 20, 30 or 40 pounds
35:07Text the word 5, 10, 20, 30 or 40 to 70705
35:16Text will cost your donation amount
35:18Plus your standard network message charge
35:20And 100% of your donation will go to BBC Children in Need
35:26You must be 16 or over
35:28And please ask the bill payer's permission
35:31For full terms and more information
35:34Go to bbc.co.uk forward slash countryfile
35:39And don't forget you can organise your own ramble to raise money
35:43Our ramble is taking place next weekend
35:46On Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 14th of September
35:51But don't worry if your ramble is being held later than that
35:55Your donations will help make a difference to young lives
35:59When they need us the most
36:01Supporting incredible projects in communities across the UK
36:05So, go to the website to get yourself all set up
36:08Now then Putsy, what are you hiding behind your back?
36:13I might have guessed, it's a countryfile ramble bobble hat
36:18And I'll try it on for size, how about that?
36:21Look okay? Why don't you get one online
36:24And then you'll be ready to ramble
36:26Let's finish our ramble off, shall we Putsy?
36:29We're almost there
36:30Over on his farm in the Cotswolds, Adam's been dealing with the consequence of this very dry summer
36:48This spring and summer have been among the driest I can remember here in the Cotswolds
36:58And we've felt the impact right across the whole farm
37:01Today I'm dealing with the fallout on the livestock side of the business
37:07Where we've had to take some difficult decisions, inexpensive ones
37:11Normally this field would be full of lush green grass
37:15Keeping the ewes milking and their lambs growing
37:18But right now, there's just nothing
37:21I'm out with Gwen, who's keeping the sheep away from the front of the vehicle
37:25And I'm dropping food out the back, hard food, sheep nuts
37:29Which are very expensive
37:31And this is a job we would regularly do in the winter months when there's no grass
37:35But not something we usually do in the summer
37:40So the questions are what to do with the flock now
37:53We need to get the ewes weaned, take the lambs off them
37:56To get them back in good condition
37:58Because they're going back to the ram in the autumn, to lamb next year
38:00And for the lambs, we would have usually sold half of them by now
38:03They'd have gone to market
38:05But they're underweight
38:06We could sell them now as store lambs, it's known as
38:09So onto another farm that's got grass, where they will fatten them up
38:13But we won't get a very good price for them
38:15Ideally, we want to get them fattened up ourselves
38:18And thankfully, we've got a crop called sandfoyne
38:21Which we've been working very hard at growing
38:24And this year, it's our saving grace
38:26Last year, the crop struggled in all the wet weather
38:29But this year, due to its deep-rooting nature, it's survived the drought
38:35And the introduction of bees has also helped produce a seed crop too
38:41We've foraged it, so we've cut it to make silage
38:46And that forage, that silage, we can feed to these lambs
38:49And so that's a winter forage we'll be feeding in the summer
38:53So it's all upside down, all back to front
38:56But I think it's the only way that we can get these lambs growing
38:59Put on a good amount of condition
39:01Before they go to market
39:03And hopefully, then benefit from a better price
39:06So all in all, the weather has just been against us for the last two years
39:10Terribly wet, and then incredibly dry
39:13It's been really, really challenging
39:15Aside from the weather, another challenge facing farmers this year is blue tongue
39:22A viral disease that causes illness in ruminant animals like cattle and sheep
39:28DEFRA now classes the whole of England, and much of the UK, as high risk for blue tongue
39:35After a surge in cases over the past two years
39:38It causes fever, swelling and lameness in livestock
39:42And can be fatal in sheep
39:43A new vaccine has been licensed in the UK that could help control the virus
39:50It's a welcome relief, but it comes at a cost for farmers
39:56Sam, our new livestock manager, and Charlie, our livestock assistant
40:02Are treating our herd with vet Alex Emsley
40:05Hi Alex
40:07So with blue tongue, it's a major problem isn't it?
40:10It is, so we've seen this outbreak continue from last year into this year
40:14And we are seeing cases continue to rise across the country
40:17And it's spread by midges?
40:18Yeah, so blue tongue's a virus, and it's blood borne
40:21But it's spread by biting midges, biting between animals and spreading the virus as they bite on
40:27And as far as its transmission, it can't spread to people and it doesn't affect meat
40:31No, it doesn't affect people and it doesn't affect food safety
40:35But it can cause real production losses for farmers and obviously big welfare impacts on sheep in particular
40:40So clinical signs in cattle can be quite subtle, but the sheep can get really poorly with it
40:44And so it's important that we're making sure they've got their vaccines to protect them
40:47And the vaccine's quite new isn't it?
40:48It is relatively new, yeah, it's relatively new in licensing
40:52They were using it under emergency usage
40:54And it's been, had to have been produced for this specific blue tongue outbreak
40:57And how effective?
40:59So the vaccine's very effective at reducing clinical signs and mortality
41:03And can be effective at really reducing the level of virus that is sort of circulating within the animal
41:09It's not a 100% protective vaccine, so it's not going to stop them from contracting it entirely
41:13And are many of your customers vaccinating?
41:16Yes, they are, I think being over where we have been in the West
41:19I think we were quite lucky last year in that we weren't seeing as much of a problem as the farmers over in the East were
41:23But now that we've seen these cases spread and they are over in our area now
41:27Then yes, people are really picking up on the vaccination
41:29Yeah, what a worry
41:33Very easy, you didn't even feel it!
41:35You got the touch!
41:36Go on then!
41:52Well it's good to get the animals protected from blue tongue
41:56And the weather has just really hit us for the last two years
42:00But we've just got to keep going and hope for a better year next year
42:06Any luck David?
42:18Nothing mate
42:20Nothing
42:22They do call it fishing, not catching
42:25Anyway, the conditions down here are absolutely beautiful
42:28But what has the weather got in store for the week ahead?
42:30Will it get any hotter?
42:32Let's find out with the Countryfile forecast
42:36Thanks very much Matt
42:45Well the forecast for this week is actually looking otterly autumnal
42:49It'll be breezy, in fact windy at times
42:52And there's going to be some rain around as well
42:54It's a continuation of a change we've seen in our weather over the last couple of weeks
42:58It has turned wetter, here's one example
42:59In England, according to the Environment Agency
43:03The period from late August into early September was England's wettest week since late January
43:09That is representative of a change that's taken place across large parts of the UK
43:14Of course it's not enough to undo what has been a really dry spring and summer
43:18Concerns about water shortages will continue
43:20However, there is more rain in the forecast for this week, particularly out towards the west
43:26That is where we'll see the wettest of the weather
43:29Because we've got this big area of high pressure that will be dominating across continental Europe
43:34And so when rain-bearing weather systems push in from the west
43:37They will tend to weaken as they run up against that area of high pressure
43:42Now we've seen quite a lot of rain today
43:44That will clear overnight and tomorrow we'll start off with some sunshine
43:47Some showers though, especially out towards the west
43:49Where some will be heavy and thundery
43:51A few showers further east
43:53Quite windy again in the northwest of Scotland
43:55Guts of 40 miles per hour or more
43:57And temperatures down on where they have been
43:59We got to 27 degrees today in eastern England
44:01Tomorrow a high of 21
44:04Now the winds will fall light through Monday night
44:06Quite a chilly start to Tuesday
44:08Then we see this next frontal system pushing in from the west
44:10But remember the weather fronts are weakening as they push eastwards
44:15This one actually will tend to dive southwards
44:17So a bit of rain for Wales, the southwest of England
44:19Some of that could be quite heavy
44:21But for most other areas a largely dry day
44:23Sunny spells, just a small chance of one or two showers
44:26And maximum temperatures of around 16 to 21 degrees
44:30Now through Tuesday nights and into Wednesday
44:32Here comes another frontal system
44:34Now this one is expected to make some more progress eastwards
44:37We will see some sporadic and quite showery outbreaks of rain pushing eastwards
44:42Some of the rain could be quite heavy
44:44But notice northeast Scotland, parts of eastern England
44:47May well stay dry for a good part of the day
44:50Those temperatures again around 16 to 21 degrees
44:54The winds will be picking up especially out towards the west
44:57And then through Wednesday night, well it may well be that this area of low pressure
45:00Passing to the northwest of the UK deepens
45:03You can see the isobars squeezing together
45:05We could see a swathe of quite strong winds across parts of northern Ireland, western Scotland
45:09Some uncertainty about just how windy it will be
45:12The winds likely to pick up down towards the southwest as well
45:14Lots of showers on Thursday
45:16But again, most of them out towards the west
45:18Not as many showers further east, temperatures 14 to 20 degrees
45:23Now for the end of the week, it looks like the big area of high pressure across Europe
45:27Will retreat eastwards, low pressure firmly in charge for Friday
45:31Quite a few showers in the forecast blown in on the westerly breeze
45:35But again, it will be those areas exposed to the westerly breeze
45:38That see the lion's share of the showers
45:40Further east, not as many showers, more dry weather and sunshine
45:44Temperatures of 14 to 19 degrees
45:46That's about where we should be really at this point in September
45:48So to sum up for the week ahead
45:51We will see spells of rain, but always wettest out towards the west
45:54It will often be windy
45:56There'll be some sunshine too
45:57Temperatures around the average for the time of year
46:00Now if you have the chance to step outside over the next hour
46:03You may get a chance to glimpse the total lunar eclipse
46:06If the skies are clear overhead
46:09That's all from me, let's go back to the team in Devon
46:18We've been following in the paw prints of Tarka the Otter
46:23In the picture-perfect rivers and streams of North Devon
46:28But before we head back, here's John with a reminder of how you can vote for your favourite photograph
46:35That will appear on the front cover of the 2026 Countryfile calendar
46:40Sultanate of BBC Children in Need
46:42From the thousands of photos sent in, these are the final 12
46:53Now it's up to you, our viewers, to decide on the overall winner
46:58And here they are
46:59Peck and Mix by Jackie Gordon
47:04Aurora Arborealis by John Ray
47:08R Humbug by Caroline Everlyn
47:12A Slug's Life by Alan Smith
47:16Blaze of Glory by Robin Morrison
47:20Hyde and Seaweed by Ellie Kane
47:24A Fawn's Dawn by Sue Lindenberg
47:27Waddle Squad by Hussain Turkin
47:32Mouse on a Mission by Paul Bowler
47:36Breathtaking by Malcolm Hebbin
47:40This Rocks by Mark Hetherington
47:44And Sealed In by Craig Denford
47:47You can find the full list of photographs that we've chosen
47:51And how to vote for them on the Countryfile website
47:53And here's a reminder of how to pick your favourite
47:57There's no voting by phone this year
48:00But you can find everything you need online
48:03To vote for your favourite, go online to bbc.co.uk
48:09forward slash Countryfile
48:11The terms and conditions and privacy notice can also be found on our website
48:18The vote will close on Monday the 8th of September, 2025, at 10am
48:24If you're watching on demand, then the vote may be already closed
48:29And the best bit is that voting online is completely free
48:33For another way to access the voting system
48:36Simply open your phone or tablet's camera
48:39And point it at the screen now to scan the QR code
48:43You'll be taken straight to where you need to go
48:45We can't wait to see the photograph you choose as the winner
48:56I'm on the River Torridge in Devon
48:59Where former England goalkeeper David Seaman is teaching me how to catch trout
49:04We've moved downstream to a new beat
49:07And hopefully a change in look
49:09David thinks the bubbling water below this small weir
49:12Might be where the fish are hiding today
49:16Right, do you fancy having a go at
49:18Yeah, of course
49:19Trying this cast
49:20Yeah
49:21And then let go with this
49:22Yeah
49:23Left-hand side together
49:24As you come through
49:25Get that tight there
49:26Oh, hang on, I'm stuck on
49:28Is it stuck?
49:29I've caught something
49:30What have I caught?
49:31Look at that!
49:32Look at the bend on the... I've caught a rock!
49:34That must be a big fish, it's not moving
49:37What do we do now?
49:39Let me risk it
49:40Go on then try
49:41I don't know what it is
49:42I just keep trying to jiggle it
49:43Hang on
49:44I'll grab onto the line in case I disappear
49:48It's well and truly stuck in there
49:51Oh, I've got it, got it, got it
49:52Have I snapped it?
49:53Has it snapped?
49:54It's all right, I've got plenty more
49:56Reel me in David
49:59You hold that
50:00We're not quite cracking this
50:04But there's one man who knows these waters like the back of his hand
50:08Local fishing legend, Charles Innes
50:11Charlie!
50:12He's been the secretary of the Torridge Rivers Association for the last 46 years
50:17Hopefully this is the help that David and I need to get a result deep in the second half
50:23I've been watching you David
50:25Yeah
50:26Yeah
50:27Two or three times you've got the fly hooked on the stones on the bottom
50:29Yeah
50:30To my mind you want to be fishing a fly on the surface
50:33So more of a dry fly
50:34Have you got any small dry flies?
50:36Have a look
50:37Oh, hang on
50:38I always bring some flies with me
50:41Good lad
50:42When I'm walking down by the river
50:43I like that
50:44Those sort of bright garish flies are the wet flies that sink
50:47Right
50:48And these with the sort of bushy feathers
50:51They're ones that float on the surface
50:53Now if I was fishing
50:55Yeah
50:56I would fish something like that
50:58Oh
50:59That I'm sure will entice a little wild brown trout
51:01It's very dainty that one, isn't it?
51:03And our dainty new fly comes with some gentle advice
51:08Let's say I saw a trout rise by that leaf that's on the water
51:12Yeah
51:13Well then I've got to get the fly exactly where that leaf is
51:17Oh
51:18Oh that's not far away
51:19That's perfect
51:25Even if we don't catch a trout
51:27At least Charles has improved our chances and my technique
51:31You're casting a lot better now
51:33Well I've seen the master at work, yeah
51:37Well you've more than set us on our way Charles
51:39Well let me help you get back to the edge safely
51:41No don't worry
51:42I'm looking out for the cricket pitch as well, keeps me fit
51:45Oh good stuff
51:46Are you a cricketer?
51:47I'm as good at cricket as I am at fishing
51:50It's been a very tranquil experience
52:00But honestly I've loved it
52:01It's been an absolute pleasure man
52:02Thanks for your company, it's been epic
52:04Brilliant
52:05You're a great teacher as well
52:06You're quite thirsty don't you, fishing?
52:11Yeah, just a bit
52:13Especially when there's a very nice pub up the road
52:16Well if it's the heat of the day and all that
52:18And if the fish aren't biting
52:20Put the lure on
52:21Yeah, brilliant, right
52:23Let's go and get a little swifty
52:24I'm definitely getting you a beer for that lesson
52:30Thank you, do you know what I seriously think
52:33That you've got a career as a fishing coach
52:35I've been spending time with Dave Webb of the UK Wild Otter Trust
53:02Since 2016, Dave and his team have successfully released almost 200 otters back to the wild
53:11And today, I'm hoping to help him release another two
53:15So first things first, the otters have to be caught
53:20And then they get a full health check by Dave before they can get released to the wild
53:24The otters planned for release today are twin sisters Karma and Kismet
53:29They were found dumped in a cardboard box on a road in Stropshire
53:33When Dave took the call to take them in, it was touch and go whether they would survive
53:38One's out, come out behind you, Colin
53:41But after 12 months of rehab, they could prove tricky to catch
53:46That's what he thinks of that
53:48Only experienced handlers can enter the enclosure
53:57Dave's colleagues, Lily and Colin, have been on otter catching duty with him many times before
54:03Do you want the cloth over that, Col?
54:06You don't think he's in there?
54:11We've lost an otter
54:14Two out
54:16Oh
54:18They caught one pretty quickly
54:20And then the second one's just given them a little bit of run around
54:23He's just jumped into the otters
54:25Now you've got a soccer wet otter to catch
54:28Go!
54:42Got him
54:44Before the twins can be released, they must pass one last health check
54:51Any signs of illness, injury or weight loss would mean postponing plans till a later date
54:57Fingers crossed they'll be fit to go
55:00So what are you looking out for?
55:02So we're looking at the eyes
55:04Okay
55:05So they're nice and bright
55:06Okay
55:07We're looking at the fur
55:08Which is nice and clear and clean and shiny
55:12Get the other one in by the other one
55:18What are the scales saying?
55:2013.6
55:21Good enough weight
55:25The otter's artificial holt has been taken to the release site
55:28So they have a safe place to rest while they explore their new surroundings
55:38Karma and Kismet are heading to a secluded riverside location
55:42With welcoming landowners in Cornwall
55:49After 12 months of careful rehab
55:52Two happy healthy otters are heading towards freedom together
55:58The twins will be monitored with trail cameras to make sure they're safe and eating well
56:06As one journey ends, a new adventure is about to begin
56:09As the otters are placed in their holts one last time
56:15They're trying to get out
56:17Oh Neil
56:18But these two seem pretty impatient to get going
56:21That one's coming out Dave
56:22Yeah
56:23I'm going to lift it out of the way
56:24I'm going to lift it away
56:30Wow
56:34Oh wow
56:35Oh wow
56:36This was a really nice feeling I guess
56:48Like being able to just see them in their own natural habitat again
56:51Yeah
56:52Yeah
56:53And they were in a really bad state when they come to us
56:54When they were like really thin and
56:56We didn't think they'd make it
56:57Yeah
56:59But the good thing for them was they had each other
57:01Yeah
57:02Yes, good job done
57:03They've done well and they've been together ever since
57:05Yeah
57:06And they'll meet up again while they're here
57:07Yeah
57:08Oh they will definitely
57:09A nice happy ending
57:10Yeah
57:27How was it?
57:28Honestly it was outstanding
57:29Everything you hoped for?
57:30Yeah
57:31It was a real privilege to be able to see them in the wild
57:33Incredible
57:34You know what, I had a fantastic time too
57:36What a fishing partner
57:37Yeah?
57:38What more could we want, eh?
57:39Was it good?
57:40Beautiful setting and great company as well
57:41The spirit of Tarka is live and well
57:43Yeah
57:44Well that's all we've got time for
57:46From North Devon
57:47Next week Charlotte and I will be in Worcestershire
57:49Where we'll be going in search of the inspiration for the Archers
57:56I've been listening for about 30 years and I love it
58:00I'm not alone
58:01Millions of people tune in every day
58:03Every day
58:07I think we ought to get suited and booted
58:08Come on let's do it
58:09If you don't mind doing that
58:12This is very Arch is this
58:18Oh good
58:19I really enjoyed that, it's really fun isn't it?
58:23See you then
58:24Bye bye
58:26Just getting in the mood for next week
58:28Yep
58:29Very good
58:33He may be retired but he's in no mood to relax
58:36Press red for One Foot in the Grave
58:38One of many classic comedies on iPlayer
58:40And three years since lives were transformed by cricket
58:43A new group enter Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams in an hour's time
58:47Next, the Antiques Roadshow makes its way to Bradford
58:49You
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