Britain's Most Scenic Counties Cheshire Season 1 Episode 2

Reality Insight Hub

Britain's Most Scenic Counties Cheshire Season 1 Episode 2  #Hot2025 #RealityInsightHub   🎞 Please subscribe to our official channel to watch the full movie for free, as soon as possible. ❤️Reality Insight Hub❤️ 👉 Official Channel: https://www.dailymotion.com/TrailerBolt 👉 THANK YOU ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Transcript

00:00Perched on Britain's north-west sits Cheshire, a county that has it all.

00:09It's a lovely mix of towns, cities and countryside.

00:13Cradled between a patchwork of rolling emerald fields sit timeless villages, criss-crossed with tranquil waterways.

00:23I mean, look at that. Love it. Wouldn't be anywhere else.

00:27Stand vast county estates and castles.

00:31Beating with an industrial heart both old...

00:35That's the last of the cutting done.

00:36...and new.

00:37This is going to be tight this week for the delivery.

00:40...the rich tapestry of historic traditions...

00:43It's so difficult.

00:44...and modern cultures...

00:46Ta-da!

00:47...forms a vibrant and thriving community.

00:50Welcome to Cheshire.

00:52He's looking good.

00:53Oh!

00:57This time...

00:59Lie down.

01:00Come by. Lie down.

01:01...sheepdog handlers Jane and James get competitive.

01:05Have you seen the trophies?

01:06The trophies is round there.

01:08I feel very nervous.

01:09Hi, John.

01:10Better crack on weaving.

01:11Textile graduates Bea and Ruth take on a 40-year challenge.

01:16There's so many things in the loom that could go wrong.

01:19They've not been tested in over 40 years.

01:22Good girl.

01:23And Chester Zoo is hoping for a new arrival.

01:27I'd say it's the dream job.

01:29It's amazing.

01:33Tucked between the Welsh hills to the west...

01:36...and the mighty Pennines to the east...

01:38...the charming county of Cheshire is on the turn.

01:42Autumn time is spreading across the region...

01:45...changing the landscape and its people.

01:50But the season is no slouch.

01:52Autumn begins with a flurry of activity.

02:02Cheshire's sweeping slopes and open pastures have made it one of Britain's agricultural heartlands.

02:08First farmed over 6,000 years ago...

02:12...today, over 70% of the county still exists as farmland...

02:17...famed worldwide for the high quality of its dairy herds.

02:21To the east of the county...

02:23...as the wide-open plains change into a more rugged terrain...

02:27...sheep rule the roost.

02:29Over 200,000 of them call the fields of Cheshire home.

02:34But to manage these unpredictable roaming flocks...

02:39...it takes a good amount of persuasion...

02:41...that is best found in a sheepdog.

02:49For generations, the highly intelligent and agile broader collie...

02:54...the quintessential sheepdog...

02:56...has served the sheep farmers of Cheshire.

02:59Specially bred at the end of the 19th century...

03:02...colleys soon became the favoured sheepdog...

03:05...not just in Cheshire, but all over the world.

03:08And over time...

03:10...the collaboration between farmer and dog...

03:13...has developed from simple farm work...

03:16...into a fiercely fought competition.

03:19Battled at local, national and even international level...

03:23...sheepdog trials have for decades...

03:26...tested the ability for handler and dog...

03:29...to demonstrate a controlled dominance over the sheep herd.

03:34To the east of the county...

03:36...at the family-run Pie Ash Farm...

03:38...husband and wife team, James and Jane...

03:41...have become experts in the sport.

03:43Right, off you go!

03:45Playtime!

03:46This is a family-run farm...

03:49...so my dad grew up here...

03:51...and then we've been farming here 30 years...

03:54...just over 30 years now.

03:56I love this area that we live in.

03:58We live in Cheshire, a beautiful county...

04:01...we've got the green fields, the rolling landscape...

04:05...so it's just a lovely place to live.

04:07Hey!

04:09These two are little sisters...

04:11...and now they're seven months old.

04:12They've seen sheep...

04:13...but not really had the contact with them yet.

04:15Fessy, come on!

04:16You can see them now, they're sort of playing...

04:18...and they're stalking each other.

04:20So they're showing a bit of that...

04:22...hunting instinct already whilst they're just playing.

04:25Come on, come on!

04:26Picking a pup is really difficult.

04:28We want something that's got a bit of character.

04:31Over the past 30 years...

04:33...James and Jane have been lucky enough...

04:35...to breed and train a number of champion trial dogs.

04:40So Peg, here we go.

04:42James's passion for sheepdogs started at an early age.

04:47Originally, when I left school in the early 80s...

04:50...Dad bought me a little sheepdog called Jill...

04:52...and we had a few lessons...

04:54...through the Agricultural Training Board...

04:56...and we were both very keen, young.

04:59I practised and practised what I was taught...

05:01...and this is where it's taken me to.

05:04Today, James's latest sheepdog coming through the ranks is Holly.

05:09Good girl.

05:11Holly's two years old now.

05:13She is maturing well.

05:14She's had the training...

05:16...probably competing now at about ten different nursery trials.

05:20These trials meant for young dogs...

05:23...that are competing in their first season.

05:25And she's doing quite well.

05:27Currently ranking in the top of the league...

05:29...James and Holly are on target to take this year's championship.

05:34Come by.

05:41How are we?

05:42And with the next set of trials just days away...

05:45Good girl.

05:46...can James and Holly zero in on that all-important title win?

05:50Lie down.

05:51Lie down.

05:52And they aren't the only ones competing.

05:54Jane and her dog, Rita, will also have a trial.

05:57That'll do.

05:58Holly!

05:59In North West Cheshire, on the picturesque River Weaver...

06:06...lies a 13th century market town of Frodsham.

06:10Surrounded by natural beauty and tranquil waterways...

06:14...the area serves as an inspirational backdrop...

06:18...for traditional and modern artists alike.

06:21Jennifer Barker is a local artist...

06:26...whose love of working with glass began, by chance...

06:30...when she was an A-level art student.

06:32I've lived in Cheshire all my life.

06:34I absolutely love Cheshire because it's a great place.

06:38It's quite country-fied.

06:39You can get into the country very quickly...

06:41...but also you've got access to Manchester, Chester, Liverpool...

06:44...some fab cities.

06:45So it's a great place.

06:47Beautiful.

06:48I went to a local sixth form college...

06:52...and they asked us to do an A-level project...

06:54...on something that was a bit more diverse...

06:57...than doing Picasso or Henry Moore base work...

07:00...and I decided that I was going to look at glass blowers...

07:03...and I was hooked.

07:05After a Masters in glass design...

07:08...Jennifer became a fully-fledged and renowned glass artist...

07:12...who is in demand.

07:14Jennifer's intricate designs require meticulous planning...

07:17...which is all part of a painstaking process...

07:20...to create the works of art.

07:22This specialist glass comes all the way from Oregon in the USA.

07:27Jennifer doesn't want to waste a shard.

07:30It's very expensive to work with...

07:34...which means that if it goes wrong...

07:37...it's a total nightmare for me.

07:39So I'm just putting a design together...

07:43...for a multi-component sculpture.

07:46I've done a full-scale drawing...

07:48...and now I'm going to cut out the various components.

07:52Today, Jennifer is busy creating a special piece of glass work...

07:57...to celebrate the first year anniversary...

07:59...of a Cheshire-based organic restaurant.

08:02So the design that I'm making is going to be all about organic growth.

08:07This is almost like a seed...

08:09...and then everything will be coming from there...

08:12...so all of these kind of leaves will be coming up from there.

08:15So it's all very abstract.

08:17The first stage in creating the artwork...

08:22...is cutting large sheets of glass to fit Jennifer's design.

08:27So a lot of the cuts that I've got to make are quite intricate.

08:31They're really difficult to do.

08:33The glass can easily crack at this point.

08:36The entire thing just could go completely wrong...

08:39...if I don't cut it out well enough.

08:41So I'm under a lot of pressure to get this right.

08:47When finished, this sculpture will be the centrepiece...

08:50...for the special anniversary celebrations.

08:53Just a few days away.

08:56It's a little bit stressful...

08:58...because I've got a really tight turnaround on this.

09:01I've basically got two days to finish this piece.

09:05I hope I've got enough glass.

09:07Jennifer's last piece is by far the most challenging.

09:11So glass wants to cut straight edges...

09:14...so cutting a curve like this is really, really difficult.

09:17I think it might crack along there...

09:21...and then we've got a problem...

09:23...because I haven't got any glass that's left.

09:33There we go. Oh, my God.

09:34We'd have been in real trouble if that didn't work.

09:36Right, I think my work here is done.

09:39I'm quite pleased with it.

09:42I'm hoping that the firing and the kiln gods do their magic.

09:47There's still this element where you sort of think,

09:50Oh, my God, is it going to crack? Is it going to work?

09:53And so there is an element where it could go horribly wrong.

09:58That moment that I close the kiln,

10:01it's sort of a little bit in the lap of the gods.

10:04And there's nothing else I can do.

10:06I've just got to wait and see.

10:14Coming up, Chester Zoo is hoping for a new arrival.

10:17This is Ada, one of our two breeding females in this enclosure.

10:22As you can see, they're really quite a friendly species to work with.

10:27And textile graduates, Ruth and Bea, are finding the going tough.

10:32Ruth's made a mistake here. She's crossed over the top.

10:35We mess it up fairly often.

10:37At one time, a powerhouse on the national and international stage,

10:53Cheshire made a significant contribution to the industrial revolution.

10:58From the world-renowned salt mines of Northwich,

11:03to the cutting-edge locomotive of cruise pioneering railways,

11:08the county represented a cornerstone for the British Empire.

11:13And it was Macclesfield's silk industry

11:16that added a touch of glamour to the party.

11:19During its heyday of the mid-1800s,

11:23Macclesfield, affectionately known as Silk Town,

11:27would have echoed to the clacking, whirring and rustling

11:31of over 70 silk mills,

11:33providing employment to thousands of the townsfolk.

11:39Together, the mill's 5,000 looms churned out luxury silk goods

11:44destined for the high-end fashion retailers

11:47of London, Paris and New York,

11:50generating so much money

11:52that it helped to swell the national economy.

11:56Today, though, that industrial pinnacle

11:59has given way to technological advancement

12:01and foreign competition.

12:03The glorious past can still be remembered here,

12:07at Paradise Mill.

12:09Nice day for eight.

12:12My body's still hurting from weaving yesterday.

12:15Oh, no.

12:17While lovingly preserved as a working museum,

12:20Paradise Mill hasn't produced any new silk designs in 40 years.

12:25Lee and Ruth attended Manchester University School of Art

12:29and came to the mill while on a graduate programme.

12:33It sounds cheesy, but I think you kind of feel it when you walk in here.

12:37It's the fact that everything is left exactly as it was

12:42when people dropped their tools in the 80s.

12:45It's unavoidable, the feeling that you have when you walk in this room.

12:49It's amazing.

12:51It feels like there's so much potential here still as well.

12:54The pair were instantly fascinated by the history of the mill

12:58and what it represented.

13:00We're both from the south, but being in Manchester,

13:02we were really excited to get to the bottom of the industrial revolution

13:06and the heritage in this area.

13:08Now they have set themselves a massive challenge

13:12to design and produce the first piece of silk on these looms in decades.

13:18Hands away.

13:20So that one comes all the way through.

13:24It felt impossible at the time, but we just decided we needed to do it.

13:28I remember the phone call that you made to me

13:31and you explained it and we just said, let's do it.

13:35Let's just do it. Let's see what we can do. Let's give it a go.

13:39The difficulty is they're going to have to teach themselves

13:42how to work this Victorian technology as they go through the process.

13:47How to set up a loom, how to weave, how to use these machines.

13:51And the pressure isn't just about producing the product.

13:54It's about saving a dying craft.

13:57It's on the red list, on the endangered list of craft,

14:01which means that within the next generation,

14:05it's at risk of dying out completely,

14:07which is why it's so important for people like me and Ruth

14:10to be learning this skill and passing it on to future generations.

14:13It feels really important to keep working with it

14:16and keep working here so that it is no longer endangered.

14:20In designing our pattern,

14:23we've been able to visualize what it's going to look like.

14:26We know that it will look cool,

14:28but we've never woven it before.

14:31So actually, there's so many things that could go wrong.

14:34Looms of the early 19th century

14:36used an ingenious method of stretching silk across beams

14:41that, when operated, allowed another thread to interweave

14:46between the strands to create lengths of fabric.

14:50Before Ruth and Beacon even get to weaving,

14:53first they have to feed the 200-year-old loom instructions

14:58on how to weave the new design in a language it understands.

15:03This is the piano card cutter.

15:06This is the machine that we use to translate our design

15:12into what is readable by the loom.

15:14So it works on punch cards, which read binary code.

15:18It is very complicated.

15:20You're working off of all sorts of math.

15:22So it's very much the same system as modern-day computing.

15:25We mess it up fairly often.

15:28So you can see Ruth's made a mistake here.

15:30She's crossed over the top.

15:31And what I'm gonna do is just paste a little bit over the top here.

15:35The more that we do it, the more that we practise,

15:38the more we're able to pick up on those mistakes.

15:45So that's 288 done.

15:48With the holes punched to match the required design,

15:51it's down to be to stitch together the guide, ready for weaving.

15:56And should they be the wrong amount of space apart from each other,

16:00it might jam up the loom.

16:02If we get a mistake and we don't notice it at this stage,

16:05we're wasting silk or wasting time.

16:09And for Ruth and Bea, the clock is ticking.

16:12They've set themselves a deadline of just two days

16:15to prove Macclesfield's traditional silk weaving can be saved.

16:20And they've invited one of the few people still alive and qualified

16:24to judge the final product.

16:27Karen Sheldon, the granddaughter of the mill's previous owner.

16:32It's important to us that Karen likes our work

16:35because she's seen this mill in all its glory.

16:37It's a huge legacy that we're working on top of at the mill.

16:41So for her to like what we're doing here would be amazing.

16:52Whether they're history enthusiasts or nature lovers,

16:55thrill seekers or shopaholics,

16:58the county of Cheshire has something for everyone.

17:01Even the Romans found themselves lured across its borders.

17:05With so much an offer,

17:07it's no wonder this charming county is visited

17:10by around 50 million of us each year.

17:13And one destination in particular is always a firm favourite.

17:18Chester Zoo, close to the Welsh border,

17:22is one of the largest and most renowned zoological parks in the UK.

17:30As a top attraction in the region,

17:32the park welcomes in over 2 million excited visitors each year

17:37to explore the 125 acres site that is home to over 20,000 animals.

17:47Many of which are endangered.

17:50You're good girls!

17:53Hi!

17:54Fiona has been a zookeeper here at the park for the past 17 years.

17:59You're good girlie!

18:00It is an incredible place to work.

18:02Inspiring because we work so closely with conservation,

18:06such unique animals.

18:08And it is, I'd say, it's like the dream job.

18:11It's amazing.

18:12So this is Ada,

18:13one of our two breeding females in this enclosure.

18:16As you can see,

18:17they're really quite a friendly species to work with.

18:21So you can have good body checks.

18:23And then you can also check for signs of pregnancy,

18:25a bigger tummy as the gestation goes on.

18:29And then also check for a milk bag

18:31to see when she's getting close to give birth.

18:34As part of the park's remit to help safeguard species worldwide,

18:38a breeding programme at the zoo has been set up

18:41to protect some of their more endangered residents.

18:44Come on, Mum!

18:45And their Okapi, or forest giraffe,

18:49are proving a success story.

18:51It's vitally important that we have a good solid breeding programme here.

18:55We've got the five individuals,

18:57one breeding male, three breeding females,

19:00and there's only 13 individuals in the UK currently.

19:03The Okapi are incredible to look after.

19:06I've worked with almost 17 now,

19:08and they all are unique,

19:09all different characters,

19:11work closely with youngsters when they're born,

19:13build up a nice, solid relationship

19:15so you can have hands-on,

19:16you can do hoof care with them.

19:18You come in!

19:20They are quite an intricate species to us,

19:22which I like.

19:23I feel like I'm always learning.

19:25Specific to the Democratic Republic of Congo,

19:28the Okapi are regarded as endangered species

19:32due to habitat loss from deforestation,

19:35poaching,

19:36and the impacts of ongoing conflict in the region.

19:39With only 10,000 left in the wild,

19:42breeding programmes like this

19:44are vital to the species' future.

19:46Let's go!

19:47Chester Zoo is also the only park in Europe

19:50to have a special science lab

19:52that is dedicated to monitoring poo.

19:56And with Ada having recently shown size

19:58that she might be pregnant,

20:00Fiona is working with colleagues at the park

20:03who'll be able to confirm either way.

20:05So I'm just collecting Ada's morning faecal sample,

20:09the freshest sample she's just passed,

20:12and then we can take her up to the labs

20:14to run for hormone analysis.

20:17With fresher carpi poo pocketed,

20:20Fiona is off to put the new lab through its paces.

20:23Morning, John.

20:24Hi, Bea.

20:25Here's Ada's faecal sample.

20:26Perfect, thank you.

20:27All right, see you in a bit.

20:28See you soon.

20:29Jonah Hamlin is the lab technician,

20:31and it's down to him to work out

20:33whether Fiona's a carpi is hopefully pregnant.

20:36All the work we do here at Chester is through poo.

20:39Why?

20:40Because there's lots of it

20:41and it's really easy to get hold of.

20:43So now the alcohol's been added,

20:45we're just going to give it a quick shake.

20:47Just a shake called the Hormones All the Fecal sample,

20:50and into the sample that we'll measure later on.

20:56With pregnancies lasting up to 450 days,

21:02an early confirmation will help gain a clearer insight

21:05into their carpi's gestation period,

21:08boosting their chances of a safe pregnancy

21:10and, fingers crossed, a new addition to the park.

21:15So now we're just going to measure the hormone itself in the sample.

21:19We've been working with Okapi for over 13 years here at the zoo.

21:23And what we can see here is really nice, clear Easter cycle,

21:26so following a nice cyclic wave up and down.

21:28At this point here, she was mated.

21:30And in the samples, essentially, concentrations go up and stay elevated.

21:34And so we can tell when Okapi's pregnant

21:36within the first 20 days following mating.

21:38And considering this is sample number 20,

21:40we can confirm, because it's still elevated,

21:42that she is pregnant and we should have a baby Okapi on the way.

21:46It's a great result for the zoo's breeding programme

21:49and even better news for Ada the Okapi.

21:53We get a good indication when we think they could be pregnant.

21:56But for us, working closely with science helps us back up that knowledge

22:01and confirm they are differently pregnant.

22:03With more collaborations like this in the future,

22:07Chester Zoo is hoping more endangered species

22:10can be brought back from the edge of extinction.

22:18Blessed with a unique blend of rural beauty

22:21and historical significance,

22:23Cheshire has, for centuries,

22:26given birth to countless influential artists.

22:29From Lewis Carroll to Gary Barlow,

22:31the county is a hotbed of creativity.

22:35And over in the east of the county,

22:37world-renowned glass artist Jennifer Barker

22:41is taking her life in her hands

22:43to finish her wall sculpture

22:45that she is making for a local restaurant

22:48who are celebrating their first anniversary.

22:51Jennifer is crafting twigs of glass to complement her artwork.

22:57So I've tried to make some really interesting shapes

23:00for the restaurant

23:02to hopefully put in some of their flower arrangements.

23:05And for the final glass piece,

23:07Jennifer hopes to bring that extra bit of je ne sais quoi.

23:11I've got a mould here

23:13and I'm gonna do a technique called draping.

23:16And basically it's heat and gravity

23:18that pull the glass down over the mould

23:22and create it into a vessel.

23:24So hopefully this piece will go down

23:28and it'll sort of cascade down

23:30and then all the frongs will stand up.

23:34If it doesn't work, I will have to really...

23:37Well, I really pray it does.

23:38But if it doesn't work,

23:40I'm gonna have to remake another one really quickly

23:43before the opening of the restaurant.

23:47Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

23:53Coming up, our silk weavers take a gamble.

23:57We've been able to visualise what it's gonna look like,

24:00but we've never woven it before.

24:02And it's showtime for James and Jane.

24:06She's missed two of the gates

24:08and now she's gonna bring them back to the pen.

24:10These sheep have been tricky to pen today

24:12so she'll be happy if she gets them in.

24:14The county of Cheshire in the northwest of Britain

24:24has a long and proud agricultural heritage.

24:29From arable farming to livestock rearing,

24:32the fertile soils of its rolling pastures

24:35have contributed significantly

24:37to the local and national economy.

24:40And while some century-old traditions

24:43have been modernised,

24:45others have remained strong.

24:49Good girl!

24:50In the east of the county,

24:51it's an early morning for sheepdog handlers,

24:54husband and wife team,

24:56James and Jane.

24:57Okay, I hope these dogs run well today.

24:59I know.

25:00Quite a lot riding on it.

25:01Today, both competing in not one,

25:03but two separate sheepdog trials each.

25:07So, it's all to play for,

25:10with the placings and the league table.

25:12So, Jane will be running in the novice with Rita,

25:16and I'll be running in the nursery class with Holly.

25:19I'll be trying my hardest to win that cup.

25:22Having already competed in a number of trials this year,

25:26today is all about winning more points

25:28to build a championship lead on their competitors.

25:32At the end of the year,

25:34the pair with the most points takes the win.

25:39Well, I'm very nervous.

25:40Keep calm and carry on, dear.

25:42That's it, I will.

25:43First up, it's James,

25:45with two-year-old Holly.

25:47Have you seen her trophies?

25:48Trophies around there,

25:49with a table with all the trophies on.

25:55Holly.

25:56Come by, get out.

25:58So, a sheepdog trial, basically,

26:02is they let some sheep out at the top of the field.

26:05We have to herd them around the course,

26:08around the sets of gates that are set out,

26:11and then finally into a pen to finish with,

26:14and that's all done within an allowed time.

26:18With a total of 100 points up for grabs in each run,

26:22a dog's natural ability, obedience, and calm demeanour,

26:26as well as the handler's skill in communicating effectively,

26:30are being scrutinised.

26:32She's now got to lift the sheep.

26:34Everything should be done calm and controlled.

26:37The judge is looking out for straight lines,

26:40and if she's got the sets of sheep,

26:42then the sheep are very unforgiving and won't run.

26:44Lie down. Steady. Way.

26:48Having successfully negotiated the sheep

26:50through pre-positioned gates,

26:52James now has the hardest challenge to come.

26:55Lie down.

26:56Get them into the pen.

26:57Holly. Holly. Holly. Holly. Holly.

27:00Now, they have been proven quite tricky to pan.

27:03Just need them to walk straight in.

27:05Now, you're not allowed to touch the sheep.

27:07She's got one getting in.

27:09Yeah, well done.

27:10That was really good. That was really good.

27:13Good gear. Good gear.

27:15Go get my dog out.

27:16Having done everything right,

27:18James and Holly make it look easy,

27:20but hopefully the sheep will also be as accommodating

27:23for Jane and her dog, Rita.

27:25Whew! Get me breath.

27:27I'll just give her a drink.

27:29Good gear. Come on, Rita.

27:31There's a lot of people who have failed at the pen

27:33and have run out of time.

27:35Come by.

27:36See how Jane gets on.

27:38She's missed two of the gates,

27:40and now she's gonna bring them back to the pen.

27:42These sheep have been tricky to pen today,

27:44so she'll be happy if she gets them in.

27:46It's quite difficult trying to get three or four sheep

27:49into a pen that's just put up in the middle of a field,

27:53but that's the challenge.

27:57She's now at the pen.

27:59The sheep have gone past the pen.

28:02She's regrouped them.

28:04Right on.

28:06And she's putting a bit of style on herself now, Jane,

28:09as...

28:10Right on.

28:11..trying to get these sheep in the pen,

28:14so she's doing all right.

28:16With the clock ticking,

28:17Jane has to get the sheep moving

28:19or she'll run out of time.

28:21If she can get these sheep in, she'll be happy.

28:24Go on. Get in.

28:26Go on.

28:27Yes.

28:28Yeah.

28:29She'll be happy with that.

28:30I got them in, yeah, didn't she?

28:31Happy?

28:32Yeah, dead good.

28:33With strong performances from James and Holly

28:35and Jane and Rita,

28:37it's time to find out who's taken top dog

28:41and gets to walk away with a trophy.

28:44First prize on 86 points.

28:46Cheers, mate.

28:47Yeah, well done.

28:48The novice, 79 points.

28:50And then the nursery aggregate

28:52was won by James Gilman with Holly.

28:54Thank you very much, Malcolm.

28:55Yeah, thank you.

28:56Good to see us again, sir.

28:57And all that sort of thing.

28:58Lovely.

28:59Yeah.

29:00Yeah, I get they still run away.

29:01Yeah.

29:02Yeah, I get they still run away.

29:03Well done.

29:04Thank you very much, Malcolm.

29:06Yeah.

29:07Yeah, I get this fella run here.

29:08Come on, get him on here.

29:09That's it, look at that.

29:10That's pretty good scoring, that.

29:11Congratulations.

29:12Mm-hmm.

29:13We've ended up winning the aggregate cup.

29:15It's my dog running well every trial I go to.

29:19Hopefully the results will be in

29:22from the other trial that we've been to today.

29:24Ooh.

29:25I'll give him a ring.

29:26Give him a ring.

29:27Give him a ring and see what we're up to.

29:28Yeah.

29:29How's it going there?

29:30Any of the scores?

29:31And I won the novice!

29:34Yeah!

29:35Well done, dear.

29:36Yeah.

29:37Might not be quite such a big trophy, but I am very happy.

29:40I've never won a novice class ever.

29:42Ever.

29:43Did you sort them sheep out?

29:45Did you?

29:46No.

29:47Man's best friend.

29:48At one time, the centre of the British Industrial Revolution, the 18th and 19th century, saw great change to Cheshire.

30:09Railways and canals fed by salt and silk brought vast wealth to the region.

30:14In Macclesfield, the silk weaving industry was declared the finest in the world.

30:20Today, in Cheshire's last traditional silk mill with functioning looms, Ruth and Bea are embarking on an almost impossible challenge to revive a forgotten craft using only the traditional machines and tools.

30:36We've been designing the first new patterns that's been done in this mill in roughly 40 years.

30:42In our lifetime?

30:43Yeah.

30:44The first thing Ruth and Bea have to do is to grapple with this ancient technology to turn their design into a reality.

30:51In designing our pattern, we've been able to visualise what it's going to look like, but we've never woven it before.

30:59That's something that could potentially go wrong is that we weave it and it turns out it's all squashed or warped.

31:04As well as that, there's so many things in the loom that could go wrong.

31:08They've not been tested over long stretches of weaving in over 40 years.

31:13Or potentially that we've cut the cards wrong.

31:15The holes that Ruth has punched into the 288 cards should tell the loom exactly what to do, but will what the machine's stitches actually match their design?

31:27Have you got it?

31:28Got that.

31:29To get this card set on the loom is the most exciting feeling.

31:34Hands away?

31:35Yeah.

31:38How's it looking?

31:39Yeah, all good.

31:40Ready to start?

31:41Yeah.

31:42Cool.

31:49Come on then.

31:50You got me.

31:52Well, at first, things get off to a promising start.

31:57I mean, it looks like how we imagined it.

31:59We can just see a couple of, we can just see maybe two millimetres of it, so we can't really tell at this point, but it looks right though.

32:07Better crack on weaving, I'll come back, find you.

32:10Yeah, I'll get on with it.

32:11It's not long before there is a hitch.

32:17The old loom is starting to show its age.

32:20Uh-oh.

32:25It's now down to the museum's loom expert, Dan Hearn, to save the day.

32:31Otherwise, all their hard work could have been for nothing.

32:34All right, yeah, I can see some turned hooks.

32:38Uh-oh.

32:39Yeah.

32:40Well, two have definitely turned 90 degrees.

32:42You've got two that have turned, in fact, and actually three that have turned the four 180 degrees.

32:46It's a major setback.

32:48The bent hooks mean they're not lifting the thread needed for Ruth and Bea's complex design.

32:53So if we can't fix this now, we're going to have to take apart the mechanism, and that's obviously going to delay the weaving that you're going to be doing.

33:00Because taking apart the mechanism is not a quick job.

33:06Coming up, Jennifer's dreams of a beautiful glass sculpture are at risk of being shattered.

33:12Normally, it goes well, but for some reason, today, it is just not going to plan.

33:19And the silk mill gets a VIP inspection.

33:23I'm really nervous that it won't live up to the standards that they had here when she was in the mill.

33:36At the peak of success during the 18th and 19th century, the Cheshire Silk Empire centred around the industrial town of Macclesfield.

33:45And although the industry has declined almost completely since then, there is one mill still clinging on to the past.

33:54Today, Ruth and Bea are attempting to revitalize the critically endangered craft of silk weaving.

34:01But a centuries-old loom has been acting up and is hampering progress.

34:06So if you release the treadle.

34:09Yep.

34:10All these hooks are in the correct position.

34:12We are up and running again.

34:13Cool.

34:15The pressure is on as the granddaughter of the mill's previous owner is coming to inspect their work.

34:22Karen Sheldon is one of the last people alive who remembers how a proper Cheshire silk should look and feel.

34:30I'm really nervous that it won't live up to the standards that they had here when she was in the mill.

34:36A new design hasn't been attempted in the mill for over 40 years, and Ruth and Bea are quickly discovering just how much skill it takes to keep the old tradition alive.

34:48It's so beautiful.

34:49It's so much more difficult than weaving with just one shuttle because I'm constantly using this mechanism, this double shuttle mechanism.

35:06So I'm moving maybe twice as many things as I'm normally moving whilst I'm weaving.

35:12It's taken Ruth and Bea days to start weaving the sample.

35:18Finally, the beauty of their design is beginning to be revealed.

35:24We could only imagine what it looked like when we were designing it.

35:30Did we imagine it to look like this?

35:32I think it's even better than we imagined it, to be honest.

35:34Yeah.

35:35I think it is.

35:36Yeah.

35:37I'm really pleased with how it looks.

35:38Scales right, the colour looks amazing, the way that the silk works with the design.

35:43We've done it.

35:46It seems like all the hard work is starting to pay off, but there is only one way to find out for sure.

35:54Karen Sheldon is the granddaughter of Stuart Sheldon, the mill's former owner, and fondly remembers her early years at the mill.

36:03I used to come and visit Granny and Grandpa, which I absolutely loved.

36:08With a lifetime spent around the craft, what will Karen make of Bea and Ruth's brand new pattern?

36:16I hope she likes it.

36:17I'm sure she will.

36:18I'm sure she will.

36:19Will their work live up to the silks that were produced here in the past?

36:24Have they managed to revitalise the tradition and create something of intrinsic value?

36:31Hello.

36:32Hello.

36:33Hello.

36:34It's lovely to be here.

36:35I'm so pleased.

36:36It's so lovely to have you here as well.

36:37It's really special.

36:38Is this piece of silk?

36:39Ta-da!

36:40Oh.

36:41Just looking at the colours, they're so wonderful.

36:44Because it doesn't look like anything that's ever been woven here before.

36:49What do you think of the design?

36:51It just all goes together so well.

36:58We took in so many things from around the mill.

36:59Yeah.

37:00And we went through some of the archives and we looked at so many things.

37:06How does it feel to see the mill producing some fabric again?

37:10Can I say I've been waiting 40 years.

37:11That is so perfect.

37:12It's all I've waited for.

37:13Is it up to the standard of how they used to weave here?

37:14Easily.

37:15Gosh, yes.

37:16Yes.

37:17It's beautifully done.

37:18I mean, no wonkiness down the sides.

37:19Yeah.

37:20That's what you always look for as a weaver.

37:21I'm sure you know that.

37:22But, yeah.

37:23Yeah.

37:24I feel like everything's kind of come together.

37:25Meeting Karen.

37:26Amazing.

37:27I've heard her thoughts on what we're doing.

37:28And I'm so glad that she's enjoyed seeing our process and seeing what we do here.

37:42Yeah.

37:43It means a lot.

37:44Yeah.

37:45As well as securing Karen's approval, Bea and Ruth can claim victory with their significant

37:50contribution to saving this endangered craft.

37:54I think we've achieved more than we thought was actually possible.

37:59And we've proved that it is possible at the same time, which is amazing.

38:03But I'm so proud of how much we've done here.

38:06I'm hugely proud of the work we've done.

38:08Yeah.

38:09Having proved that it can be done, Bea and Ruth have a new challenge.

38:13To pass on their newfound knowledge.

38:16But the next thing is being able to hand over these skills.

38:20Because I don't want these to die with us.

38:22I think it's been such, it's been completely invaluable the experience that we've had here.

38:28But it's that much more important that we are able to share it with other people.

38:32And able to preserve the craft and get it off the endangered list.

38:36Yeah.

38:37Over in the west of the county, the city of Chester, known for its historical charm and vibrant community, has become a significant cultural hub to the region.

38:55Tonight, glass artist Jennifer Barker is revealing her latest piece at a local restaurant, 28.

39:05Specialising in serving organic produce sourced locally, with sustainability at its heart.

39:11Jennifer has created a design that mirrors those themes.

39:15It's a very small space. I used to working with a bigger space than this.

39:20So, it's going to be interesting how it works.

39:24But the artwork isn't preterporting.

39:27Jennifer must plan precisely where her installation will be mounted.

39:31What we're going to do now is, we're going to place the components where they need to be, one at a time.

39:39We're going to work from the bottom upwards. Bottoms up.

39:43So, this is the first component at the bottom.

39:50So, I know the fixtures are there.

39:55Right, OK, so that's ready for the base of the fixtures to go in.

39:59OK.

40:02Oh, gosh.

40:06It's still a little bit too... It's not in the right place.

40:14Oh, that's too wobbly now.

40:17Normally, it goes well.

40:20But, for some reason, today, it is just not going to plan.

40:25The wall fixtures aren't lining up with the ones in the glassware.

40:30I can't put it on. I'm going to force the glass, and then I'm going to end up cracking the glass.

40:35And I don't want to do that.

40:37So, we're just having a little rethink. No panic.

40:43With the clock counting down, there really is no time to lose.

40:48It's very stressful, because you've got a hammer and a drill right next to some very expensive glassware.

40:55OK, let's have a look.

40:58OK, let's just hope, fingers crossed, we can get this in.

41:07OK, that's great. Crisis averted.

41:15I mean, it has changed a little bit, but it doesn't matter, does it?

41:19And then we've only got one more to do.

41:22Last piece. Ha-ha.

41:25You got it?

41:26Yeah. Fab.

41:29I think it looks great.

41:31But let's see what they think when it gets revealed tonight.

41:42Night has fallen, and guests are gathering to celebrate the exclusive evening event.

41:52Welcome, everybody, to Restaurant 28 this evening.

41:55Where Jennifer is hoping that her organically inspired work of art will impress the crowd.

42:01And we're delighted to be part of this celebration event for one full year now.

42:09It's like revealing your soul when you make a piece of artwork, because you just don't know what people's reaction is going to be, and art is such a subjective thing.

42:20Finally, after all her hard work, Jennifer's artwork is revealed.

42:25Oh, yes, that's fantastic.

42:28The reaction to the piece was absolutely great. I'm really, really chuffed. Everyone seems really taken with it. It fits in really well with the restaurant. It's just been a really great occasion. So, really pleased.

42:50Next time, wildlife superhero Ray Jackson has a life or death case on his hands.

43:00It was going downhill fast.

43:02A family of cheesemakers are trying something new.

43:05I'm excited to make this cheese. I'm a little bit apprehensive.

43:07And Macclesfield's mega market is back in business.

43:11We expect about 15,000 people to walk through the town centre.

43:18And you can see that next Friday at nine.

43:21Will a risky investment sow more seeds of division in the Foresight family?

43:25Five's brand new drama continues Monday at nine.

43:28A bombshell email, a devastating memoir.

43:31What next for the former Duke of York?

43:33Five days that brought down Prince Andrew is brand new tomorrow at 9.20.

43:37Next, hello, hello, 40 years of laughs.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended