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Escape to the Country Season 26 Episode 3
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FunTranscript
00:00When looking for a home in the country, not all of our escapees are eager to ring the changes.
00:10Is decorating homes your thing? Not really.
00:15Some bring a friend to turn to for a second opinion.
00:18What I've realised is I've really got to get you on board.
00:21Although they might end up mentally moving in themselves.
00:25Oh, I really like it. This is where I can live. I can stay on my holidays here.
00:30But once our buyers know what they want, we'll always try to deliver.
00:35It's literally everything I ask for. Believe it or not, we aim to please.
00:38No, I do. I've done a very good job.
00:41We're on a very green and pleasant escape to a place that could be described as a real flower.
00:48We're on a very green and pleasant escape to a place that could be described as an English
01:12county garden, where historic towns and villages are brimming with beautiful homes.
01:18Come with us to Kent. Glorious Kent is widely regarded as England's first and oldest county,
01:26but as the region famous for growing fruit and veg will tell you, there's no such thing as ageing, only ripening.
01:36Located in the south-east of England, with a coastline along the channel, is the ceremonial county of Kent.
01:43Kent is the Garden of England. The clue is on the car registration plates in the county. They all begin with a G.
01:52I've lived in Kent all my life. It's just the nature and everything around. It's just almost like none other, really.
02:00We have really, really beautiful countryside. Even our country lanes, like, they're beautiful.
02:05Pretty market towns include sandwich, good for lunch or at any other time.
02:14Its proximity to a village named Ham inspires an entertaining road sign.
02:20And if it's making a merry escape you're after, Kent could well prove fruitful territory.
02:26Can you not see? So we're in the best part of United Kingdom. This area of the country is, like, it's warmer.
02:35So it's just why a lot of people is coming to this area to plant vines.
02:40And then we make lovely wines from these grapes that grow well in United Kingdom.
02:44After many years spent living and working overseas, today's buyer has decided it's high time that she and her son come home.
03:13Hi, I'm Kerry and this is Aidan and we're looking to escape to the country back in the UK.
03:22Nine-year-old Aidan was born in Britain but has grown up overseas, most recently in Mallorca.
03:29Now, Mum Kerry is keen to return to give him more time with his grandparents and a taste of life in the English countryside.
03:37We currently live in an apartment and we share the outdoor space. So we're really looking forward to an outdoor space of our own.
03:46We like bike riding, we like being in the country, going for hikes, we like being near the sea.
03:52And we hope to do a lot more of that back in the UK in Kent.
03:57Joining the search is Kerry's friend of over two decades, Nina.
04:00We both were pregnant at the same time and since then her and I have hung out with the kids.
04:09Kent sounds like it could be a really good idea for them.
04:13I'm yet to explore Kent myself so I'm looking forward to doing that with her.
04:17Kerry has asked for a character property with a modern interior.
04:24It should provide a double bedroom each for Aidan and herself and a dog-friendly garden as a puppy has been promised.
04:31She'd like to be close to schools and a train line for commuting to London.
04:36And her budget is £350,000.
04:40Wanting to look after your kids and give them the best is the reason us parents do so many things.
04:51I know I'd do anything to keep my little boy happy.
04:54For Kerry and Aidan, this is about getting to know his roots, where he's from, what it's like to live in our green, green land of England.
05:03They've chosen a great place to try it out.
05:10We've got a viewing lined up in the hamlet of Lenham Heath.
05:14But first, I want a taste of how the dynamic of house hunting with Kerry and friend Nina might work.
05:23So gorgeous, isn't it?
05:25Yeah.
05:26It's amazing.
05:27Bit different to that view in Mallorca, I'm sure.
05:28A lot greener, for sure.
05:30How does it feel to be back here on English soil looking for your first home here?
05:35It feels a bit surreal because I only landed last week, but it feels good to be back.
05:39The weather could be better.
05:40In Mallorca, what's it like, sunny all the time?
05:42Pretty much, yeah.
05:43We've got about 300 days of sun a year, so, yeah.
05:46But yet you want to be back here.
05:48Yeah.
05:49So myself and Aidan, my son, he's nine now.
05:52He really wants to get to understand what it's like to be English because he was born here.
05:56So it'll be nice.
05:57It's good timing for us to be back now.
05:58Nina, you're along.
06:00Yeah.
06:00What's your role going to be here?
06:02Are you the happy-go-lucky one or are you going to keep her grounded?
06:04No, more of the grounding, I think.
06:06So think about what their life might be in a few years rather than what they might need right now.
06:13Long-term living, yeah.
06:14Well, Aidan couldn't join us on the tour today, but I'm sure he has a lot of specific criteria.
06:20Anything I need to be aware of?
06:21He does.
06:21He's made a little video for you.
06:23Oh, that's super cute.
06:23Let me see.
06:24Hi, Denise.
06:28Remember, these are the things I want in the house.
06:31A front and back garden for a puppy.
06:34An upstairs staircase and a bedroom as big as my mum's.
06:42Oh, that's adorable.
06:43Yeah.
06:44Very specific, though.
06:45I love it.
06:45And he needs stairs.
06:47Loves a staircase.
06:47How intriguing.
06:48So no bungalows this week?
06:49No.
06:50No.
06:50Okay, well, I think we can deliver that.
06:52Aidan, I'm going to do my best.
06:54But this isn't just going to be about getting it right logistically.
06:57We're going to try and find somewhere that satisfies all parts of you.
07:00Yes.
07:00Your heart and your head and gets you close to your friends.
07:03Yes.
07:03We better get going.
07:04Okay.
07:04Just a mile and a half away from our first house is the medieval market village of Lenham.
07:15Both primary and secondary schooling is available, and public transport includes buses to the town of Maidstone,
07:22as well as trains to London's Victoria or King's Cross stations.
07:26It's a five-minute drive to the home we've got lined up.
07:30Come up the stairs.
07:37This is pretty.
07:38And I just wanted a garden at the front, so that is really lovely.
07:40Wow, you get this.
07:41Yeah, that's beautiful.
07:43Yeah, isn't it?
07:44It does feel quite rural, doesn't it?
07:45It does, yeah, it does.
07:46So far, I love it.
07:47I didn't think I'd be able to afford this kind of thing on my budget.
07:50Yes, it's beautiful.
07:51Yes, the surrounding area is beautiful.
07:53But what are you going to do?
07:54Because they've had a really active life in Mallorca.
07:56Yeah.
07:56It is the lifestyle, it's got to suit the lifestyle too.
08:00Of course, it's the community aspect.
08:02Yeah.
08:02Well, these neighbours are supposed to be brilliant.
08:04Yeah.
08:04Shall we have a look inside?
08:05Yes, please.
08:05Yeah, let's do it.
08:10Built in the middle of the 19th century to house workers for the nearby fields and brewery,
08:15this attached two-up, two-down brick-and-tile cottage is one of a group designed to meet Victorian ideas of healthy living.
08:24Hence, large front gardens intended for growing the family's fruit and veg and sash windows for light and air.
08:31We're heading to the rear to start our tour in the kitchen diner.
08:36Right, in the back door, which leads you straight into this charming kitchen door.
08:40It's very charming.
08:42Stairs for Aidan, that was on his wish list.
08:44He'd be very happy with that.
08:46And it's nice because we spend a lot of time, like, if we've got a table, he can do homework and I'm cooking.
08:50Nina, thoughts?
08:52Yeah, I like, I do like it.
08:53And then I think, for me, I'm like, what do you think of that outlook?
08:57Well, I think once you know what that is, you will enjoy that.
08:59Is that part of the home?
09:00Yeah.
09:00It is.
09:02OK, I think we'll be all right with that.
09:04So you'll be all right with that, yeah.
09:05You'll get out there and have a look in a bit.
09:06Let me show you through here and let's have a look at the view from here.
09:09OK.
09:13At the front is a reception room with high ceilings, original floorboards and storage.
09:19So, this would be your living room.
09:23Yeah, it's lovely.
09:24And that would be your view.
09:25Oh, yeah.
09:26See, that's funny.
09:26What do you think, Nina?
09:27Yeah, it's really, really cute.
09:29I think it's really good space.
09:31These cottages were, like, newly built back in the Victorian age.
09:34So, rather than having those very small ones, they'd thought about the medical health of the workers and created bigger proportions.
09:40I was going to say, the windows are quiet.
09:41Yeah.
09:42The windows, even the ceiling height.
09:44Ceiling, the heights.
09:44Yeah.
09:44So it's very generous.
09:45That feels patient.
09:46I know you're playing a very good role there, Nina, making it.
09:49Making sure it's grounded and well thought through.
09:51But how you feel is as is important.
09:53For me, this would be, I mean, I'd have it now.
09:55But it's got to be how this can last for me and Aidan for him going in teenage years and how it's going to be long term.
10:01Well, we've got him the stairs.
10:02You wanted a well-proportioned bedroom as well, didn't you?
10:05Yes.
10:05Right, let's go and find that.
10:06That's really important.
10:07We're heading up that must-have staircase to the bedrooms, where I'm sending Kerry and Nina to candidly assess the room at the back that could be Aidan's.
10:22It's a great size because I wanted to, like, get a double bed in here.
10:26Yeah.
10:26So I think Aidan would be really happy here.
10:29What's this?
10:30Oh, my goodness.
10:31That's unreal.
10:32He can chill out and have amazing views.
10:34And room to grow because it is big enough that when he's older and he can have books and whatever else he gets as a teenager.
10:41There's a family shower room, which is shared with the second of the two bedrooms, where I'm on hand to see how it suits Mum.
10:52So this would be yours.
10:55Love it.
10:57Now, Nina, look at that for a view.
11:00I know.
11:00And for me, the magnolia tree sells it.
11:03I feel like you're warming to this place, Nina.
11:05Kerry wants Aidan to experience, like, a British way of living.
11:08And I think you couldn't really get much more British than somewhere like this and this type of surrounding.
11:13Living in New York is very apartment living.
11:15So to have a house, to be able to walk out into my own garden, that would be really cool.
11:22Before I show them that garden, I want them to check out the part of the property they glimpsed from the kitchen.
11:28Yeah.
11:29Oh, my gosh.
11:31A 19th century wash house that's now an office benefiting from 21st century superfast broadband.
11:39We were literally just talking about where would Kerry work.
11:43You could have a sofa bed.
11:45Aidan can live in here when he's older.
11:46This is a teenager.
11:47No, genuinely, this is a teenager thing that we were talking about.
11:50And look, it's got toilet.
11:51You could also make this into a bedroom so my parents could stay here.
11:55Yeah, yeah, all on the ground floor.
11:59Oh, I really like it.
12:00This is where I can live.
12:01I can stay on my holidays here.
12:03This is amazing.
12:05This is brilliant.
12:05There's off-street parking shared with the other cottages.
12:12And as well as the large front garden, there's a very generous garden to the back, originally intended for keeping pigs and the household horse.
12:22Now, I bet you weren't expecting this.
12:24No.
12:25Oh.
12:26Is it the whole thing?
12:27The whole thing.
12:29Aidan would have a whale of a time here.
12:33He'd love it.
12:34I just can't go over the size of it.
12:35This is incredible.
12:36I think this and the other outbuilding has really changed my view on this property.
12:41These extras are unreal.
12:43It's literally everything I asked for.
12:45Believe it or not, we aim to please.
12:46No, I've done a very good job.
12:49We do try.
12:51So, I guess the one thing you need to know now, then, is how much it's on the market for.
12:55What do you think?
12:57I said 350 max, so I'm going to have to say that.
13:00OK.
13:01I think it's over, but I'm just going to say 350.
13:04I'll go 385.
13:07385,000 pounds.
13:08This house, with this garden and this beautiful setting, is on the market for 350,000 pounds.
13:18That is brilliant.
13:19Yeah.
13:20And worth every penny.
13:21I didn't think you'd get something like this for that budget.
13:24You enjoy yourself having a bit more of an explore around the property, and then I'll see you a little bit later.
13:29OK.
13:29Great.
13:32They were a bit hesitant at the start, but that's to be expected.
13:35This is such a big move.
13:36This house, however, has delivered.
13:41For a guide price of 350,000 pounds, this attached, mid-19th century workers' cottage would give Kerry and Aiden a double bedroom each.
13:52There's a separate, well-appointed home office and generous gardens to front and back.
13:57It's in a rural location, but just a mile and a half from a large village with services and schools.
14:04Oh, Aiden's going to love this place.
14:07It's exactly what he asked for.
14:09I said he could get a puppy.
14:10Now he's going to want five, because the size of the garden.
14:12So he's going to be really excited about that.
14:14It's been a strange week, Kerry just moving back, and already we're here looking at houses.
14:22But I think coming here and knowing that it's within her budget, I think that makes it feel much more realistic, and that makes me feel very happy for them.
14:29Well, that was a great start, wasn't it?
14:35Yeah.
14:36Beautiful.
14:36There's lots more to come.
14:38Great.
14:38For Kerry, finding a family-friendly community with good schools, plus activities to help Aiden discover what it's like to live in the UK, is a central part of the move to Kent.
14:58We're sending mum and son to explore the town of Cranbrook together.
15:03Quite a lot of lovely little shops here.
15:06It's a lovely little high street.
15:07It's a really nice place to bring up children.
15:12There's loads of mums, there's lots of groups that people go to, and everyone connects with each other.
15:16Let's have a look at this.
15:19Oh, look, youth club.
15:22And there's just lots of great things to do for children around here.
15:27Annual events include a street festival, and for schooling, there's the country's only co-educational state grammar that caters to both day students and boarders.
15:37Oh, that's beautiful.
15:39I do love a windmill.
15:41It's quite tall.
15:42The iconic windmill, originally built to serve a population swelled by soldiers ready to fight off Napoleon, still mills flour and is cared for by a committee of volunteers.
15:56Who open it up for visitors.
16:00We are open at weekends.
16:02We have lots of families come to visit us.
16:05It's a nice place, but if you just look around, apart from windmill, the school is 500 years old, the church is just as old.
16:17Queen Elizabeth I passed through here.
16:19It just has a nice warm atmosphere to it.
16:23Beautiful view.
16:24It's very high up.
16:25Very high up.
16:27I'd love to live in one of these houses.
16:29Hmm.
16:30What one do you like?
16:32Um, that one.
16:35Myself and my family, we moved down here 45 years ago.
16:38We love Granbrook, and from where I live, I walk 100 yards, and I've got open fields and woodlands.
16:48For shopping, there's a selection to suit young and old.
16:53Can we go inside?
16:54Oh, that looks so pretty.
16:55Come on then.
16:56And traditional face-to-face counter service is at the heart of the many independently-run businesses.
17:05Look at that.
17:05Do you want to see?
17:06They're cut trees.
17:07That's brilliant.
17:08Thank you so much.
17:08You're welcome.
17:10Oh, it's the best sweet shop ever.
17:12Beautiful.
17:15Cranbrook seems to be working a treat for them.
17:18So do you like Cranbrook?
17:19Yeah.
17:20Now to find the home that hits that sweet spot too.
17:26The next offering is in the village of Pluckley.
17:33Known as the most haunted village in England, with claims of up to 17 active ghosts, there's nothing dead about this place.
17:42Kent County character shines through, from good old-fashioned butchers and bakers.
17:47A choice of pubs includes two previously owned by noble family the Derings, who favoured arched windows due to a myth that an ancestor had escaped through one during the English Civil War.
18:00Once the site of a large works producing the bricks and tiles featured in many local homes, a station opened in 1842 to serve the growing community.
18:12And the railway has a strong connection to the house we're here to view.
18:17So, this is our second property.
18:24A gorgeous little cottage.
18:25So we thought we'd bring you somewhere that's a bit more the heart of a village.
18:29So close, in fact, to village life that you've got the train station right there.
18:33Yeah, really handy.
18:35That's the pub across the road.
18:36It's a stone's throw, literally.
18:38What a place to get to know people.
18:40Yeah, it's great.
18:40I like this location.
18:42Yeah.
18:42And I think maybe starting a new life might be a little bit easier if you are closer to people.
18:47Yeah.
18:47It is the property, but it's your lifestyle.
18:49It is.
18:49Lifestyle is really important and you've got to think about that too.
18:52But I'm just falling in love with each house as I see them.
18:55Let's see how much you fall in love with this one.
18:57Mid-row in a set of cottages built for station staff in the 19th century with a series of later extensions to the rear,
19:08it features the village vernacular Daring windows and a slate roof with dormers.
19:14Set back from the road with gravelled parking, our tour starts via a front porch in the reception room.
19:21I do feel that this is a lot more enclosed.
19:25It's just not grabbing me as much as the first one did.
19:29It is cottagey, it is cosy, but you do have to, I think, use your imagination a bit a lot more.
19:34We've got to strip out this furniture.
19:35Yeah, to have smaller furniture.
19:36Just imagine it was furniture that fits you and your style.
19:39Is decorating homes your thing?
19:41Not really, no.
19:43So is that putting you off then because this would need some work?
19:48What do you think?
19:48I like the look of this one so far.
19:50And you've got like the hallway, which is really nice to have a hallway.
19:53That's a real big bonus, to be able to take all your boots off.
19:54Being able to see through there.
19:56Yeah.
19:57And that is gorgeous.
19:58It is.
19:58I love that.
19:59It is really nice.
20:00Okay, so Nina's moved in.
20:01I'm still working on you.
20:03Come and see the kitchen.
20:06Bathroom on the way.
20:08It's great.
20:08It's got a bath.
20:09That's a bonus.
20:10This is nice.
20:12Oh.
20:12The light's coming in now, so this changes it, doesn't it?
20:17It does.
20:17So this is really bright and light.
20:19Given it's where you spend a fair amount of time.
20:21Yeah, and there's a nice, there's still, I mean, we've got a small table here, but actually
20:24you could have quite a big table.
20:25I thought that.
20:25You could fit something a bit more generous here.
20:27One of the extendable ones.
20:28There's not much to do here.
20:29It's all done really lovely.
20:31What do you think Aidan would think of this?
20:32I'm not sure he'd care about what the house downstairs looks like, his bedroom, and then
20:37what the garden looks like.
20:38That's going to be his...
20:39Okay.
20:40Well, we've got stairs.
20:44And I'm sending Nina and Kerry up those to explore.
20:48A large central landing room is being used as an office, but could also work for guests.
20:54Okay, so this must be the work from home area.
20:57Yeah.
20:58It's nice and big.
20:59Okay.
20:59It's good because they've got, like, because they've got the skylight.
21:03Works well.
21:04You could have, like, a little sofa or a sofa bed in here.
21:07So if you wanted to watch TV up here, he could be downstairs.
21:11Yeah, because if he grows up, he was going to want more of his own space.
21:13Yeah.
21:15Leading off and set into the eaves of a back extension is a double with a gable end window.
21:23Okay, so this would be Aidan's room.
21:26You could get a double bed and you could get his desk in here.
21:28And it's got 50 wardrobes.
21:31So it'd be a good space.
21:34Then, to the front is the final bedroom, a double with dormer window.
21:40I think this would be my room.
21:42It's big enough.
21:43It's got a double.
21:43You could get a king in here.
21:44Yeah, I'm not keen on this.
21:45You've gone down there.
21:49Yeah.
21:49You would have space for everything, but it's not...
21:53I'm not loving it as much.
21:54No.
21:55I think with a young son growing up, being closer to people will have a draw, but which
22:03thing will she want to trade off?
22:04The house or the location?
22:05There's a manageable and well-enclosed rare garden to provide puppy playtime, as well as patio seating
22:15and a barbecue, all with a good amount of peace and privacy.
22:19So, this is your garden area.
22:24Do you think Aidan would be happy with this?
22:26Yeah, I still think we could get a dog.
22:28For me, it's actually better this size because I wouldn't have so much work to do and I'm
22:33not very green-fingered, so this would work quite well.
22:36So how much do you think this property is on the market for?
22:39I think it's probably still near top of my budget, so about £340,000.
22:44£340,000.
22:45I would have gone for £340,000.
22:46Okay.
22:47Because of the amenities and the location, I think it'll be higher.
22:51This property is on the market for £350,000.
22:56Really?
22:57Yes.
22:58Interesting.
22:59Yes.
22:59And it was recently dropped, so it was on at £375,000.
23:03Because of the location.
23:04Yeah.
23:04Yeah, yeah.
23:05So it's tuning you in a bit now.
23:07Yeah, yeah, no.
23:08Yeah.
23:08Yeah.
23:11This mid-row former station workers' cottage has architectural features including arched
23:17staring windows, two double bedrooms and an additional office space.
23:22There's off-road parking and it's in a characterful, lively village with rail links right on the
23:28doorstep.
23:29So what's really good about this property is the fact that it's near a train station,
23:33which means commuting to London will be great.
23:35It means that when Aidan does get a bit older, he can go into town on his own.
23:39I like the driveway as well, so you can just come in on a rainy day and just jump inside.
23:47Yeah.
23:47And the garden definitely would be more manageable.
23:50It's sort of made me think more about that head versus heart and the practicalities.
23:59That's been great.
23:59Different country, unfamiliar county, house tours.
24:13Well, Kerry, how lovely is it to be here actually making this move now?
24:29It's really lovely and having seen what I've seen today, I'm really glad that I've made
24:34the right choice.
24:35And Kent, it's new for you as well.
24:37Yeah, I mean I grew up in Surrey from when I was 14 and I know Surrey very well but I
24:41didn't know Kent very well.
24:43What are you feeling so far?
24:44Loving it.
24:45Really impressed.
24:46Kent is beautiful and the houses we've seen today have just shown that actually you can
24:50get more in Kent for your budget than you can in Surrey, so that's really good.
24:54As a mum of a son, get a very strong bond with your son, don't you?
24:57Yeah.
24:58And this move is so much about giving him something special.
25:02Tell me more about that.
25:03Well, first of all, he wants to come back to England.
25:05He's really happy about being back here.
25:07He's getting to that stage where he's really kind of finding out about his identity and
25:10he's like, yeah, I'm English and I want to live in England and I love the weather and
25:14I want to go back.
25:15So he's really pushed the move.
25:17Well, getting closer to your friends is important.
25:18Getting Aidan closer to friends and building new relationships.
25:23Yeah.
25:23And obviously the school will have a community he can be part of, but that's really important
25:26for him is to build up a friendship group to take him through the next phases of his life
25:30as well.
25:31I love what a strong head he's got on his shoulders.
25:33He knows exactly who he wants, doesn't he?
25:36Thank goodness we've got another day to look at some more properties and enjoy more of this
25:39gorgeous countryside.
25:41Fantastic.
25:48My buyer, Kerry, has already spotted something.
25:58When it comes to Kent property prices, they're significantly lower than those of neighbouring
26:03Surrey.
26:03In fact, at £609,000, whilst above the UK figure of almost £440,000, the average price achieved
26:13by a detached house in Kent is a whopping £361,000 lower than that of detached Surrey homes.
26:21And there's always the option of trying the place out for a bit and renting.
26:29All the character and less of the commitment could come in the form of this Grade 2 listed
26:34two-bed cottage set in 90 acres of farmland just over the Kent border into East Sussex.
26:41A short-term tenancy is £1,900 per calendar month, available furnished or unfurnished.
26:50For those looking to buy, why not ring the changes in a 17th century historic two-bedroom
26:56home?
26:59That's within earshot of church bells.
27:01It has a courtyard garden and lovers of period features will be positively beaming on the
27:09market for £295,000.
27:13For a larger budget, how about half of a historic hall house?
27:18Dating to the 15th century and more recently divided into two, this share has three bedrooms,
27:25incredible interiors and a glorious garden.
27:28It's offered at £475,000.
27:36Well, it's time for the Mystery House and today it's all about Aidan.
27:40Well, Kerry's wish for Aidan to get to know his British heritage.
27:46Our Mystery House is taking us closer to the coast and the Sussex border at the small settlement
27:52of Sandhurst Cross.
27:54A mile away, I've sent my buyers to check out the vibe of Sandhurst Village.
28:01Alongside many weather-boarded houses common to this part of Kent, there's a Victorian clock
28:06tower, a social club and activities, from adult ballet to horticultural society meetings in
28:14the old school hall.
28:16Should Aidan get his promised puppy, pet supplies are sold at the petrol station, which has a
28:21convenience store and parcel drop-off.
28:24A restaurant offers Spanish cuisine with a British twist.
28:27And talking of national flavours, the Mystery House really puts Kerry's wish to give Aidan
28:34a taste of his homeland at the forefront.
28:37And what could be more British than moving into a 17th century, Grade II listed period cottage?
28:43And if you think this one looks gorgeous on the outside, just wait until you see what they've
28:47done on the inside.
28:48This 17th century mystery cottage has attached neighbours either side, meaning although it's
28:56exempt from energy performance ratings because it's listed, it needs much less energy to heat
29:01than a similar detached home.
29:04Right, the first thing that strikes you about this house is not just how beautiful it looks,
29:09but how warm it is.
29:10It's so warm and cosy.
29:12It's got all the period features you'd want, but it's been lovingly restored by the current
29:16owners, so it has all the modern conveniences too, including underfloor heating.
29:22But will Kerry warm to it?
29:26Hello!
29:28Ooh, indeed, it's Mystery House time!
29:31Super cute, that's all you can say, it's super adorable.
29:34This is a listed cottage.
29:36It used to be a long house, so the animals would be underneath and the humans lived at the
29:40top.
29:40Not anymore, it's fit for human habitation, I promise you.
29:44What do you think Aidan would think?
29:46He'd like it as well, the garden at the front, so he's ticked that.
29:49It looks very diddy, it looks very cute, wondering how small it will be, but then who knows?
29:55I'm just really excited to get inside.
29:57You are?
29:57Kind of a little bit chilly.
29:59Come on, let's get in the warmth.
30:01It's not known when this four centuries-old long house, featuring weatherboarding, brick
30:09and tiles, was divided into four homes.
30:12Sitting between neighbours, the mystery pick has been extended to the rear.
30:16The front path through the garden is shared for access with a home to the side, and leads
30:21to a timber front door, opening into the reception room.
30:24Ooh, yeah.
30:26Yes, ooh, yes.
30:27Character, yes.
30:27Yay!
30:28Oh my gosh, look at this.
30:30It's very pretty.
30:32And all the natural materials in here.
30:35But there is a modern twist as well, underfloor heating.
30:37No way.
30:38Yes way.
30:39I said you've had Aidan already, but I'm just saying underfloor heating.
30:41OK.
30:42I was like, so Aidan, right, he'll be happy with you.
30:45He's more modern than me, but this has got a good mix, because it's got modern touches,
30:50and like I said, underfloor heating.
30:52Sold.
30:52Sold.
30:53So far, love it.
30:55Let me show you some more.
30:56OK.
30:59From the reception room, there's a corridor through to the rest of the ground floor,
31:03which has been ingeniously put to use,
31:06with additional fitted units for the kitchen diner.
31:11Practicalities.
31:12Look at this.
31:12Oh.
31:13Built-in storage.
31:14There we go.
31:15All the way through into this.
31:17I love it.
31:18Fabulous kitchen.
31:19It's fabulous.
31:20It's amazing.
31:21And having that space is brilliant.
31:23That's incredible.
31:24Incredible?
31:25Love this.
31:25So nice.
31:26Nina, I think, I've been trying to sell the places to Kerry,
31:29but what I've realised is I've really got to get you on board.
31:31So to hear you say incredible.
31:32It is just maybe a bit more of that flexible space that Kerry and Aidan would need.
31:38And then we can see a utility room that looks quite big as well.
31:40And even if you had friends around, you can sit while you're cooking.
31:43They've done it really well.
31:44It's really charming and it's old and it's got a history and it's got a story and I love that.
31:49But for modern day living, it works really well.
31:51We chose this because we were thinking about making Aidan happy,
31:54but we've happened to make you extremely happy too with this level of history.
31:59Yeah, no, it's really nice.
32:00I love it.
32:00The mystery house is doing its work.
32:01It's doing its job.
32:02It's getting better as we move in.
32:04Excellent.
32:04All right, I want you to head upstairs now then.
32:06Have a look at the bedrooms on offer.
32:08And then I will find you out the back.
32:10Okay.
32:10All right.
32:11Off you go.
32:11Thanks.
32:13After you.
32:13Oh, there you go.
32:16You keep the son happy, you get the mum too and even the friend.
32:19Triple whammy.
32:24Keeping them both in mind, there's Aidan's requested staircase with exposed timbers showcasing this home's historic bones.
32:32And then there are two double bedrooms, starting with one at the front, partly set into the eaves.
32:40I'm not seeing a wardrobe.
32:41No.
32:42This is a bit small.
32:43Yeah.
32:47There is space to fit additional storage.
32:50And next to this, the family bathroom shows how a modern finish with built-in units work within this home's timber bean dimensions.
32:58Well, that's nice.
33:00Oh, that's lovely.
33:01Oh, that is nice.
33:03Beautiful.
33:05So this was always going to be a bit of a gamble.
33:07But showing how this cottage and what you can do and how you can get that mix of the old and the new, I think is a bit of a revelation.
33:14They've really used, like, the space so well, because you would think, how would you fit a bathroom in this, like, proportion?
33:20Oh, I think it looks so nice.
33:21Oh, I think it looks so nice.
33:22Yeah.
33:22Oh, I think it looks so nice.
33:30Oh, look at that. That's amazing. Look how high the ceilings are there.
33:34It's a little bit smaller than what I'd hoped,
33:36because I wanted to be able to get his bed and a desk.
33:39It's got lots of character, but it maybe is not practical at all, yeah.
33:48Kerry may be struggling to visualise the furniture she needs in the bedrooms,
33:52but outside, it's all laid out for her.
33:56The front garden has a patio courtesy of bricks from the home's original floor,
34:01while the back garden has raised beds and a synthetic lawn
34:04to suit even the most horticulturally challenged house buyer.
34:09What used to be the wash house is now a versatile brick outbuilding.
34:14For me, it means there's not a lot of maintenance, again,
34:16because there's lots of pots, so only a little bit for me to kill.
34:20So, yeah, the space in the garden is great.
34:22OK, so it's time to discuss price.
34:26How much do you think this property is on the market for?
34:29I'm going to go slightly above budget and say, like, £355,000.
34:33£355,000.
34:35I'm going to go £390,000.
34:37£390,000.
34:39Yeah.
34:39Well, that would be quite over your budget, wouldn't it?
34:42Well, this property is on the market for £350,000.
34:48And that's great, because there is nothing to do.
34:50There is nothing to do.
34:53Packed with period features, this Grade II listed 17th century cottage
34:58has an impeccably finished kitchen diner, two double bedrooms,
35:02plus front and rear gardens.
35:05It's in a rural location with village facilities just a mile away.
35:09The kitchen is gorgeous, and I do like the fact the upstairs has higher ceilings.
35:15Those ceilings are amazing.
35:15And the beams in Aidan's, what would be Aidan's room, were really characterful, so I like that.
35:20That highlighted how low the ceilings were, though, downstairs, for me.
35:24As soon as we came back down again, then, it just felt...
35:26Yeah.
35:28I think if I was buying this from my heart, I would buy this one, because I love it.
35:35If I had to live on my own, this would be what I'd buy.
35:38OK.
35:39Which is why I'm here, so there we go.
35:53A big driver on this house hunt is a mother's instinct to return her son to his roots.
36:01And at Bleen Woods, near the city of Canterbury, a project to bring free-roaming bison,
36:07descendants of the ancient Orochs, back to Britain, is being spearheaded by the Wildwood Trust.
36:13Director of Zoological Operations is Mark Haben.
36:22So, Mark, it's a gorgeous day to be out in the woods.
36:24How long ago did we last have bison here?
36:27Well, there's actually a lot of debate about that.
36:29We may not have done.
36:30Certainly in mainland Europe they were here.
36:32We had the Oroch, which was very closely related,
36:35in which bison essentially descended from many, many years before.
36:40How many bison do you have, then, roaming wild?
36:43So, we've got eight now, and the herd has been growing.
36:45We've got four youngsters and the four adults.
36:47That's amazing that you can see a perimeter fence.
36:50So, they're wild, but how does this work?
36:52Yeah, that's right.
36:53We have to put a perimeter fence up.
36:55At the moment, they fall under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act in the UK.
36:57It's a very large perimeter fence, and they're living a wildlife within this reserved area.
37:03And the idea behind this is that we want to create a far better mosaic of habitats
37:08within this footprint, within this area.
37:10So, what they're doing is just changing everything.
37:12Well, I know we can't get super close, but can we get a little closer,
37:15so I can have a look at the work they're doing?
37:17Absolutely. That's no problem.
37:18Let's go.
37:20So, over here, we've got a very good example of the kind of things that the bison have been doing.
37:25And it's just a nice comparison between the dense woodland and the open spaces that they're creating.
37:30Wow. So, this would not look like this had it not been for the bison.
37:35No. That's right.
37:36And in thickets like this, it's so dense that the sunlight doesn't reach the ground at all.
37:41But they're so heavy as they stomp through.
37:43They're crushing smaller plants, smaller trees growing up, which inhibits this huge monoculture.
37:49And then they'll start browsing on it.
37:50So, they create these clearings.
37:52And I would imagine that in a couple of years, this will just be a small field, this area,
37:57surrounded by woodland.
37:58And that's what they like, that mosaic of habitat.
38:01And it just wouldn't happen without them.
38:02So, they're going through, they're kind of turning up the earth,
38:05they're crashing through and then allowing this biodiversity.
38:08So, you get lots of different plants rather than just the ones that you've had already.
38:12It's exactly that.
38:13And they're spreading seeds as well, of course, from the plants that they're eating.
38:17And there's plants just coming through.
38:18And then, of course, that encourages other life as well.
38:23As well as over 55 hectares of wooded territory, where the bison herd roam free,
38:29there's an animal park where the public can view species
38:32the organisation breeds or rescues from other zoos.
38:39And that includes an enclosure with a couple of young bison.
38:42This is incredible. They are so majestic. And they're huge.
38:50These are still quite young, these two. They're around 20 months at the moment,
38:54but they will get quite a lot bigger. They can weigh up to a tonne, the balls.
38:59These are both boys. And as you can see at the moment, they're shedding this thick winter coat.
39:04And this thick fur that they have, this is what the birds are really benefiting from.
39:09We regularly see the birds picking up the fur from the enclosure.
39:13So that really helps biodiversity within the local landscape.
39:16It's an honour to stand here with these beautiful creatures
39:20and to know that they are contributing to everything springing back to life.
39:24People can come to the park and actually see what bison are doing.
39:28And, of course, doing much larger scale out in the bling.
39:31I think the term eco-engineers couldn't be better for this species.
39:40It's been illuminating to learn what bison can bring to our natural landscapes.
39:45But let's see if we've found the right native habitat for Kerry and Aidan,
39:49with any of our houses here in Kent.
39:58Well, we've had a fabulous couple of days in the Kent countryside,
40:01but now it's time to find out what Kerry and Nina think of everything we've shown them.
40:05Well, given you lots to think about over the last few days, haven't we?
40:15Yes.
40:16Has anything surprised you as we've been going round?
40:18I thought I'd be more practical.
40:21I think what surprised me is I see a house straight away and go,
40:23oh, this is nice. I want this one.
40:26So I've needed Nina to kind of go, well, how would that work?
40:29And where would that go? And how would you get to school?
40:32So all those questions, rather than just going, oh, this is a lot of love to live here.
40:36That's pretty.
40:37Yeah.
40:37You have been great. It's been wonderful to watch you both, the dynamic and how useful it's been to
40:43help you just see all the aspects as you go into a property and you've really provided that.
40:49And we can't forget Aidan. Couldn't at all that little video message telling me what I needed to
40:54provide. How do you think I've done?
40:56Great. I think he will love lots of aspects of all the different houses. The first one would be the
41:01garden would be the key thing. And also that room where he could grow into as a teenager and have
41:06his own space.
41:08So what are your next steps? We need to know. Are you going to go for any of our properties?
41:11Because you really did like number one.
41:13I know. If my heart was up, that would have been bought already.
41:17But I think what I now know is that location is really important. It's actually the practicalities
41:23of that. So looking at the location a lot more and spending some more time in Kent to understand it
41:27more, I think that's the next step. And maybe even going back to that first property to see what's around it.
41:32But we know for sure that you can get a property that could deliver everything you need
41:37in this county for a price you can afford.
41:40Yes. Yes. And that's been the biggest plus from it going, actually, when we find the
41:46right property in the right location, I can actually afford it. So, yeah.
41:50Well, it's been so much fun showing you the properties. I've loved how you've leaned into it
41:54with that heart of yours. And I have no doubt there will be Aidan, there will be a beautiful home,
42:00and there will be a puppy next time I come and see you.
42:02Yeah, for sure. Thank you for all your help. It's been really good fun.
42:05Well, for Kerry, this is a big move. Moving from the sun in Majorca back to English soil
42:16and making a new start for her in Aidan. And I love how beneficial this process has been for her,
42:22because that's what this journey is all about. We've shown her the countryside, we've shown her
42:27what it could be like to be in Kent, and we've shown her different properties. And every single one
42:31has taught her something new. And what she knows for sure now is that all she wants is to get back
42:37here, set up the new life with her son, and that it is possible to live the dream life that they've
42:43been envisioning for so long. I can't wait to hear that they are here and settled. I'll see you next
42:50time on Escape to the Country. If you would like to escape to the country in England, Northern Ireland,
42:57Scotland or Wales, and need our help, why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.
43:27this is a great way to escape.
43:31Thanks for joining us, we'll be watching you next time.
43:33Thanks for joining us.
43:35We'll be watching you next time.
43:39We'll see you next time.
43:41Bye.
43:43Bye.
43:45Bye.
43:47Bye.
43:49Bye.
43:51Bye.
43:53Bye.
43:55Bye.
43:56Bye.
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