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00:00Come on Fletchers! We've reached our fourth year in farming and we've fallen
00:09for this way of life hook line and sinker. Can you keep this? Right Milo let's get
00:17some jobs done. Farming's a breeze compared to having four kids. We're
00:24surrounded by the spectacular peat district. As far as an office goals it's
00:29it's pretty good isn't it? With ancient woodlands and rolling hills as their
00:38playground. This year we've big plans to increase our flock and herd.
00:53Oh you can't ride on him, no. Whilst continuing to diversify. What about if
00:59we've created some sort of farm musical? Kevin we've got enough to do without creating a farm
01:04phantom. And we're excited about what our next chapter might hold. I can't think of
01:10something that would beat this for me. This is my version of a happy full life.
01:14Right let's get some cup of tea then.
01:23Help me tip it. This year all four kids have found their feet and each are doing their bit to help
01:41run our farm. Put your hand up if you can drive a tractor. Good boy Matthias.
01:47We're in our groove. We're in it. We're in it now. There's no there's no turning back. That's it. We're four years in.
01:53We're learning every single day and I think more than anything we've found our
01:56purpose now and this is it. Still feels strange to say I'm a farmer but we are
02:02farmers. We're farming every day. It's what we're doing now. It's our life. I'd even go
02:06as far as saying that the kids are farmers because they're farming as well. The leader of
02:11the pack is our nine-year-old budding shepherdess Marnie. Marnie is just a force to be reckoned with.
02:19Come on sheep. Come on. Come on. And she's totally got the measure of her brothers three-year-old
02:29twins Maximus and Matthias and Milo who's six. I don't really think Milo will be a farm. No. I think he's going to be a scientist.
02:39Dad look I found this. Oh wow. He looks like dinosaur's boobs. That's how I picture him like
02:47traveling our world and like looking for fossils. Max is really good at dancing.
02:53Max is just going to be on West End but then Matthias is all my dad like everything about him my dad.
03:01So Matthias is going to be the next farmer. Heavy isn't it? I'm stronger. You are stronger.
03:07Yeah. Because I eat my dinner. All of it.
03:16But as we juggle kids, animals and life's usual chaos we're also trying to live with a devastating curveball.
03:26That looks like well you know where the fire has started around there.
03:29It's going to be a big job to fix isn't it? Yeah. Like everything.
03:35We took the whole family away and a few days in we got the call to say the house was on fire.
03:41Our first reaction was thank god we weren't here. Thank god that the only thing that was damaged is
03:48bricks and mortar. And something that we always do, we just get up and we carry on.
03:53And the farmhouse fire hasn't dampened our ambitions for our farm.
04:02This week, lambing season is well underway.
04:05Can I have that one? Yeah, you can have that one.
04:09And after Marnie's tup viper spent winter with her jacobs, she receives a special delivery.
04:15Aww. Aww, look at you.
04:19Can we keep this?
04:21And as we start making plans to grow our herd.
04:27Our Lincoln Reds give us the runaround.
04:29Oh, there's a cow there. Oh my god.
04:33Our farming journey at the very heart of it has been all about just
04:38stepping into the unknown and taking a challenge. If you're going to do something,
04:41there's no point doing things by arse in my book. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
04:50Moo.
05:05Our farm covers 120 acres and is made up of a mix of grazing fields.
05:11Some that we rent out to a neighbouring farmer, and others we run our own livestock on.
05:17There's around 40 acres of woodland and a number of fields that we've yet to fully utilise.
05:23But this year, we have grand plants.
05:26This farm was once upon a time a proper, what they call mixed farm,
05:30so not only did it real livestock, but it also grew crop as well from barley, oats, potatoes.
05:38However, in the last 20 years, it's purely just been livestock, but we've made the decision.
05:43We're going to actually grow some oats, and hopefully in six, nine months from now,
05:48we'll be sat at the breakfast table eating our own Fletcher oats.
05:52That's the plan anyway, that's the dream.
05:54So it's another first for us on the farm, and as always, it'll be a steep learning curve.
06:00But we're keen to diversify in order to move forward.
06:04Not only will we get some oats, you'll also get, which is somewhat the waste product, is the straw.
06:09I mean, that is what you call being self-sufficient, really.
06:12That was always the dream for this little farm.
06:15First things first, today we're ploughing, and it's going to be an oat field.
06:19And to help us get the job done, we've enlisted the help of over four tonnes of specialist machinery.
06:25And for a petrol head like me, I can't wait to see this kit in action.
06:32The man behind the wheel of this incredible machine is local farmer and contractor, Chris.
06:38It looks brutal, this, doesn't it?
06:39Yeah.
06:40You wouldn't want to get your hand in there, would you?
06:41No, no.
06:43It's a good bit of kit, to be fair.
06:44It smashes the ground up a bit and makes it easier for the drill.
06:47Well, there's a lot to it, isn't there?
06:48Yeah.
06:49Boys and their toys, eh?
06:50Yeah.
06:51Right, good, good. Let's get started, then.
06:53Chris' task is to transform this nine-acre grazing field into the farm's first oat field in over two decades.
07:18Oh, look at that.
07:21That is so satisfying.
07:23We're ploughing.
07:27We're actually far...
07:28I'm an arable farmer.
07:31I'm an arable farmer.
07:34As the metre plus blades cut through the weed ridden soil, it drags up the rich earth that's packed with nutrients that'll feed the oat seeds we're about to sow.
07:45These lines are pretty straight.
07:46And the soil looks really good.
07:48And the soil looks really good.
07:48It looks very dark and...
07:51It looks like good soil.
07:56And what do I know about?
07:57While Chris carries on with my dream job, I'm tasked with helping his dad load up the seed spreader.
08:10Right, come on then, let's get seeding, eh?
08:11And if the soil, weather and crops do well, then this field could produce up to 20 tonnes of oats in just six months.
08:21Look how exciting that looks.
08:24It's weird looking at that field like that. I can't get used to it.
08:31But very, very exciting.
08:36This was definitely Kelvin's idea.
08:38And I did say that I didn't think it was possible.
08:42Because we have a lot of things against us, the weather, you know, the space.
08:46But he was determined that we were going to make oats.
08:49And this is such a different, you know, venture for us.
08:52And what do we love?
08:55We love porridge.
08:56So looks like we're going to have a lifetime supply of porridge.
08:59It's so good on us.
09:02After lying untouched for over 20 years, it's a joy to see the soil worked once more,
09:08restoring our field to its former glory as arable land.
09:15So now the seed's in, I think the next couple of weeks we'll start to see some sort of shoots coming through.
09:21I can't believe we're going spring goats.
09:25Who do we think we are?
09:27Been at it two minutes.
09:29We're going spring goats.
09:30We're going spring goats.
09:30One of the biggest markers in any farmer's calendar is lambing season.
09:57This spring, we're really keen to produce strong, healthy lambs that will help us grow our flock of native clintz.
10:04A breed we've come to really appreciate.
10:07And this year, our 40 ewes are already showing signs that with a year of motherhood under their belt, they know what they're doing.
10:14Lambing season for me is like new year, so this is my favourite time of the year in farming.
10:21The sun's shining and it really is, you never know what's going to happen.
10:25So the pens are full and then we'll hopefully get all these out in the fields and then the next set can come in and yeah, busy.
10:32This is our fourth year lambing now and I think we're well and truly in our groove.
10:37The lambs are just flying out of the mums which is great.
10:39We're not having to kind of get involved at all and it's just exactly what you want really.
10:44Are you enjoying it?
10:46Yeah.
10:47And I'm going to take a video of the tummy.
10:52Yeah, we're taking lambs out of the sheep's tummy, yeah.
10:54This year, the twins are more actively involved and helping in their own way.
11:00Get some gloves.
11:02Get some gloves?
11:03Wait, can I just ask a question before we do?
11:05Who's the boss here?
11:06Who's the boss?
11:07I work here.
11:09You work?
11:10I'm the boss of the house.
11:13Definitely going to need subtitles for you.
11:17Maximus is a bundle of confidence and loves leading the charge for his thoughtful and kind brother Matthias.
11:24We always say that Maximus is a mini version of me and Matthias is a mini version of Liz.
11:33Yeah, and we are twins.
11:36We are twins, yeah.
11:38It's very different from last year because the twins were still in their prams and, you know, sleeping a bit more as now they can really get involved.
11:46Oh, it's coming. See the bag coming out.
11:49So if you look at the sheep's bum, you'll see like a clear bag coming out.
11:53That means the lamb's coming.
11:55It's not actually the bum it comes out of there.
11:57The front bum is, don't they?
11:58Just keeping it simple.
11:59It's the front bum that's on the back.
12:00You can't call it front bum if you're going to be correct.
12:03Vagina?
12:04It can't be.
12:05It's a vagina on a sheep.
12:07A vulva.
12:08A vulva.
12:09I can't be seeing vulva on TV.
12:12I've already sat here with no makeup.
12:15I can't be seeing vulva.
12:17Whatever we decide to call it, the twins are already getting an incredible education in farming and we're certainly still learning year on year.
12:29I think this has been our easiest lambing so far. Touch wood. Last year was definitely our trickiest. This year it has been smooth running. We've only had to really get involved with, what, two or three?
12:43Two.
12:45The rest have done it themselves, which is amazing. We do prefer that sort of leave them to it and let them work it out and it's, so far, so good.
12:54In their defence, they were shearlings last year so they were first timers so they know what to expect this time round.
13:01With 70 lambs expected this year, there's plenty to keep us occupied. Even if the twins get a little distracted.
13:08Oh, it's going to come.
13:09I think we were a little bit.
13:10There we go, there we go.
13:11Oh, let me shout out the twins.
13:12Boys!
13:13Max, Mateus, come and have a look.
13:15There we go, it's coming.
13:16Oh, they've missed it.
13:18Is she going to lick the thing off?
13:20Oh.
13:22Just...
13:24Oh.
13:29Oh.
13:36That's the worry seat, she did really well then, just birthing it herself, but she didn't go over it instantly to lick it and break the bag that was around the lamb's face and that's when they suffocate, so that's when you have to kind of step in and just quickly break the bag.
13:57But all good, all really good.
14:01Twins totally missed it.
14:03Just typical.
14:04Twins are too busy playing on the bike, they missed it.
14:06Look, you missed it!
14:15Look, she's had two now!
14:17The other one's come out, can you see?
14:20What do you think, Max?
14:21Do you think it's a boy or a girl, that little lamb?
14:24A girl.
14:25You think it's a girl.
14:26What do you reckon, Mateus?
14:27I think that lamb is a boy.
14:29That lamb's a boy?
14:30A boy.
14:31That lamb is a boy.
14:32Oh, look, she's going to feed!
14:34The little lamb's going to feed!
14:36Can I have that one?
14:39Yeah, you can have that one.
14:41Max can have the other one and you can have that one, yeah?
14:45The twins may have missed the berth, but with 30 plus ewes still to lamb, plenty more opportunities lie ahead for them.
14:52Our plans for our new farming year don't stop with growing oats and doubling our flock.
15:12We also have big ambitions for our Lincoln Reds.
15:16Last year, Cherry, one of our two cows, was named Supreme Champion at the Royal Cheshire Show.
15:23So to build on that win, we've decided to invest in a breeding bull to help grow our herd.
15:39We've never had a male cow on the farm before who's there to serve.
15:45I'm excited, I think, more than anything else, just to kind of see how he's going to react, how are they going to react.
15:51Now it's a case of opening the gates and letting him see the females.
16:01The bull is another pedigree Lincoln Red from award-winning stock, so I'm hoping he'll help us produce more show winners and boost our reputation.
16:10Come on, boy.
16:11After a hesitant start, the girls are quick to make the bull feel welcome.
16:27I think they were more excited than him.
16:31They run over from the top of the field right down, and as girls do, they then pretended they weren't interested, having ran all the way from down there.
16:43It was almost like she said, come on, come and chase me.
16:48And he did just that.
16:52It was lovely to see that.
16:55Once he's settled in, we'll start to wean the calves off their mums so that our new bull can get down to the important job of expanding our herd.
17:04Just seeing him there with his nose ringing.
17:08Just looks like a proper herd now.
17:13Thought the good times are all, eh?
17:15Four months later, and the big lad has certainly grown, and has settled into life on the farm.
17:32He's looking well established now, and he's pretty relaxed, you know, for a young bull.
17:38I guess bulls typically would be a little bit fiesty-er than the females, obviously with testosterone, but so far so good.
17:47He's got a really lovely temperament, and I've got a big soft spot for him.
17:53And when it came to naming him, it was finally my turn to choose him.
17:58Because he's a pedigree animal, there's a pedigree Lincoln Red, the year that they are born, they're designated a letter from the society.
18:06So any animal born in that year must be, the name must start with a C.
18:12And straight away I thought, this is perfect, what about Crowther?
18:18The reason we called him Crowther was because he's actually named after my best mate, who sadly passed away.
18:25And, yeah, so every time I look at Crowther, I think of, you know, my mate Crowther, who I've just got some, some of my best memories were spent, you know, with him by my side, really.
18:37So, if Crowther was going to be an animal, he would be a bull, there's no denying that.
18:44I took a picture and sent it to his mum and dad and his sisters, and they were, dare I say, they were delighted that his name lives on.
18:55We'll be running him with the cows soon, in the hope that the first of Crowther's calves will be arriving this summer.
19:02This year, our young shepherdess Marnie has big plans to grow her small herd of Jacob's.
19:19Her hand-picked-up viper has done his job, and all three of the ewes are expecting, and the first lamb arrived last night.
19:26This is my first Jacob lamb of probably, yeah, the year. I think it's a good, strong lamb.
19:36That lamb's probably my favourite lamb that I've actually done today, but I've, I've sticked my hand up a lot of bums, and this is probably the main one.
19:48How you up, Marnie?
19:51Come looking at your Jacob.
19:53Yeah.
19:55Look at this.
19:56It's cute.
19:57Look at this.
19:58I can see its little horns.
19:59I know.
20:00Well, that's the big difference between your breed of sheep, the Jacob, and my Clint's, because...
20:03No, mine's cute, though.
20:05Well, yours have horns.
20:06It's got lovely markings, hasn't it?
20:08Yeah.
20:09Do you know if it's a little tuplam or a ewe lamb?
20:11Well, I'm hoping that it's a female.
20:14Oh, right, and if it's a boy?
20:17His days are numbered.
20:19He's gone.
20:20Shall we have a look?
20:23Bye.
20:25Well, Daddy will go in and get the lamb.
20:27They're my favourite breed, but the only thing that makes them, like, scary is just the horns.
20:33So, you wait here.
20:39The best way to handle the mum, is anyway, is to actually get the horns and use the horns.
20:45Bring it close to you.
20:46Once it's to you, you're in control then.
20:49Right.
20:50Let Daddy get this lamb now.
20:53What happens with the Jacobs is all Marnie's decision.
20:56She can either keep them all to grow her flock or sell some to fund a new bloodline.
21:02So, I'll let you do the honours.
21:04I'll do the honours one.
21:06There we go.
21:07Your first ever...
21:09Your first ever...
21:10Dad, feel that.
21:11It's so fluffy.
21:12Jacob lamb.
21:14Bred on this farm.
21:16Yeah.
21:17By you.
21:18It's a boy or a girl.
21:19Stop.
21:22It's a boy!
21:23It's a boy.
21:24I did have a feeling that it was boy, because always the boys and lambs are always the cutest.
21:29And then it's the opposite of the humans, isn't it?
21:33Is it really?
21:35For definitely.
21:36So, when it comes to lambs, boys are cuter, but when it comes to...
21:39Humans, girls are cuter.
21:41Humans, girls are cuter.
21:42They weren't dressing.
21:43Boys are just so hard to dress.
21:45Well, I didn't know that.
21:46What are you going to call him?
21:48Oh!
21:50Oh, look at him.
21:52Can we keep this?
21:55What do you look like?
21:56How about Jacob?
21:58Because he's a Jacob.
21:59Jacob the Jacob.
22:01Can we do that?
22:02My goodness.
22:04Jacob the Jacob?
22:05Jacob the Jacob.
22:07Yeah?
22:08Yeah.
22:09Right.
22:10That's it.
22:11It's called Jacob the Jacob.
22:12Jacob.
22:14He's very cute, isn't he?
22:15Shall we give him back to his mummy now?
22:16Mwah!
22:17Yeah.
22:18Right.
22:19Oh!
22:20It loves me too much.
22:22Look at it!
22:24Here you go.
22:25Just get him back in.
22:26There we go.
22:28There we go.
22:29There we go.
22:31Do you think he's cute?
22:32Have you bonded?
22:33Yeah.
22:35He's my little...
22:36He's my little mate.
22:38I'm not sure this little guy will be heading to Marky any time soon.
22:44For now, Marnie will just keep an eye on him and the other expectant mums.
22:49What does it feel like to have your own Jacob, your own lamb?
22:51It's hard to explain but I just feel, like, happy but also, like, I want everything to go well.
22:59Yeah.
23:00It will do.
23:01But if it doesn't, Daddy's here.
23:02Yeah.
23:03So we'll be all right.
23:05Sure.
23:06Here's a guess.
23:07Well done.
23:08Your first Jacob lamb.
23:10Jacob the Jacob.
23:11Jacob the Jacob.
23:12Come on.
23:13Go and get that sweeping brush and go and get some work done.
23:15Starting with sweeping up.
23:17Isn't that your job?
23:18It's yours.
23:20Aww.
23:21We may have a few years of farming under our belt, but there's still so much to learn about this life.
23:42And caring for our livestock is our top priority.
23:45To be sure our herd are in tip-top condition, the bulls and cows get regular check-ups from our vet, Hugo.
23:52The cows are in great, great shape.
23:54However, what's consistent in them all is that they are lacking in iodine.
23:59So their minerals need addressing, really.
24:03An iodine deficiency is a common issue and is treated easily by inserting a slow-release capsule down the back of their throats called a bolus.
24:12Never done it before.
24:14I'll watch Hugo today, see what he does, and then in six months time when we maybe need to give them another bolus, then I know what to do and we'll do it ourselves really.
24:25You alright, Hugo?
24:26Morning, Kelvin.
24:27How are you, mate?
24:28Alright, yeah.
24:29Hugo gets straight to work, using an applicator to deliver the bolus to the back of the cow's throat.
24:35And you can just feed it over the back of the throats.
24:40So you should just feel it, it'll just go loose when it's over the back of the throats.
24:44Yeah.
24:45Then you just depress.
24:46They're probably going to spit it out if they want to do it.
24:54If they spit it out, just pick it up and put it back in.
24:57Correct.
24:58He also treats the herd for worms.
25:03Don't put your fingers too far back.
25:05Alright.
25:06It won't hurt too bad if they bite you there.
25:08If they bite you with the molars, it'll ruin your fingers.
25:12Alright.
25:13So just hand there.
25:14There!
25:15And then just over the back of...
25:17Some of it will come out, but the dose rate's worded out to allow for that.
25:26Alright.
25:27One done.
25:30As easy as that, eh?
25:33Well, I've realised in farming, the best way to learn is to get hands on.
25:39Right, I'm going to try the bull.
25:41Just remember, his neck's going to be a hell of a lot stronger than the others.
25:45Yeah.
25:46Just hold on to him for dear life.
25:48He'll be alright.
25:59Good swallow.
26:00You're in swallow.
26:01Yeah, you're in swallow, yeah.
26:02Alright.
26:03Well done.
26:05Really good, that.
26:08A lot of people do struggle with this, so you're doing really well.
26:12But you've only done one.
26:14Alright, alright.
26:15Alright.
26:17Yeah, I'm happy with that.
26:19Just the drench to go in now, and then I'm all done.
26:23Hey, hey, hey.
26:24Come on, lad.
26:25Good lad.
26:26Good lad.
26:27Great job.
26:28Good lad.
26:29Well done, lad.
26:30Well done, lad.
26:31Well done, Crowther.
26:33Well done, Crowther, lad.
26:35You've done well there, mate.
26:38He's a softie.
26:40Well done, lad.
26:42That was great, yeah.
26:43I enjoyed that.
26:44Yeah, he's certainly an act to it.
26:46I think more than anything, I was just worried about getting my fingers bitten off.
26:53I think that went as well as I'd hoped, really.
26:59So, cows-wise, they're all good now?
27:03Yeah, all good.
27:04That iodine deficiency's been addressed.
27:06Yeah, soon.
27:07They've been wormed and fluked, so we could turn them back down.
27:09Everything's addressed.
27:10With the sunshine now, that'll pick up.
27:13Yeah, yeah.
27:14You should really notice them bloom now.
27:22With our first crop sown, a healthy herd and lambing season well underway,
27:27the year has got off to a busy start.
27:32But it hasn't all been plain sailing.
27:35While the animals have been thriving, at the end of last year,
27:38an unexpected and devastating disaster hits our farmhouse.
27:43The fire has, we think, has started around there and...
27:49And then it's honestly gone up through the roof and...
27:53..the roof's completely gone.
28:14Our farmhouse has been standing for over 200 years,
28:18surrounded by the rolling hills of Cheshire
28:21and the Peak District National Park.
28:24Since moving in four years ago,
28:26we've restored it to a loving family home at the heart of our farm.
28:30But, sadly, at the end of last year, we had a setback that cost us our home.
28:39Oh!
28:40I mean, this is my Dyson.
28:41You can just see, it's just completely...
28:42Yeah, I don't think you could use that again, could you?
28:43I don't think...
28:44Yeah, I can't do a whip round with that now, can I?
28:46It's gutting to see, isn't it?
28:47But...
28:48It's gutting to see, isn't it?
28:49But...
28:50I feel like we just start...
28:51Start again.
28:52Start again.
28:53Start again.
28:54Start again.
28:55Start again.
28:56Clean up and just...
28:57Start rebuilding it home.
28:58I mean, this is my Dyson.
29:00You can just see, it's just completely...
29:01Yeah, I don't think you could use that again, could you?
29:03I don't think...
29:04Yeah, I can't do a whip round with that now, can I?
29:07It's gutting to see, isn't it?
29:12But...
29:13It...
29:14I feel like we just start...
29:16Start again.
29:17Start again.
29:18Clean up.
29:19And just...
29:20Start rebuilding it home.
29:24So, as you can see, we've...
29:26We've had a fire.
29:28We were away on holiday, our family holiday this year,
29:31and we got a call from our neighbour, Jilly.
29:34Just a frantic...
29:36It was just kind of the stuff of nightmares.
29:38She was just in...
29:40Panic.
29:41And the fire was...
29:43Was kind of roaring then, so, obviously,
29:45Fire Brigade were called and...
29:47And...
29:48Just surreal, because, obviously, we were away in other countries,
29:52nothing we can do.
29:53And it's just...
29:55Yeah, it's...
29:58It's a real issue.
29:59I've never...
30:00I've never experienced anything like that before, really, so...
30:03The fire brigade arrived within eight minutes of receiving the call.
30:07But by then, the fire had already been burning for several hours.
30:19And although the fire was contained, the damage was sadly extensive.
30:24The smell is so strong.
30:29Oh, God, look at it.
30:31Yeah, it just...
30:32Even as a...
30:33It feels...
30:34It still feels like it has a haze.
30:36And the smell, it just gives you a headache instantly.
30:41The smoke damage has affected the whole farmhouse,
30:44which means we can't live in any part of it.
30:47So this is the bit that was...
30:49Where the fire was contained, actually, in that room.
30:51But this is kind of all smoke damaged and...
30:55And water damage from where they've obviously just...
30:57Yeah, that's where...
30:58...spray it, to put it out.
31:00And then this is the, erm...
31:04This is the...
31:05The main...
31:06The main bit.
31:07This is where our electrics are, and...
31:10That looks like, well, you know, where the fire is...
31:13We think has started around there, and...
31:18And then it's honestly gone up through the roof, and...
31:22And the roof's completely gone.
31:26It's gonna be a big job to fix, isn't it?
31:29Yeah.
31:30Like, everything.
31:31It's a complete rewire.
31:33Complete new boiler system, everything.
31:38Well...
31:41It is what it is.
31:45Onwards and upwards.
31:52Thankfully, the animals were all well away from the fire, and safe.
31:56The kids have taken the upheaval in their stride,
31:59and even managed to find a positive,
32:01hidden amongst their charred clothes and toys.
32:04Look at it.
32:08Milo's little...
32:09Untouchable.
32:10It's a Spider-Man outfit.
32:13Aw.
32:14Special powers.
32:15Special powers, I know.
32:17So it didn't get burnt, because it's got special powers.
32:20That's what we told Milo.
32:21We said, guess what didn't get burnt out of everything?
32:23Your Spider-Man outfit.
32:25And he was like, oh, it's because it's powerful.
32:27I could have cried at that moment.
32:29I know, yeah.
32:31But we've got to just clean up, tidy up.
32:35What are we calling it?
32:37Restoration?
32:40Restoration.
32:41It's a new show, isn't it?
32:42It's a new show.
32:44It's a restoration show.
32:45If there's one thing I love, it's a rebuild.
32:47You get to restore an 18th-century barn.
32:50Can't wait.
32:52Well...
32:53We're determined.
32:54I mean, my ironing board's gone.
32:55Luckily, I never did any ironing.
32:57We never got used anyway.
32:58They're still here, probably still in the box.
33:00I mean, look at the tumble dryer.
33:02The fire brigade said, you might want to check the plug on that
33:04before you reuse it.
33:05Look at it.
33:08Use it again.
33:09Hey, you're joking.
33:10We might need a wipe down, I don't know.
33:13Look at my stuff in there.
33:16Yeah, does it smell?
33:18Oh, twin socks.
33:20Well, it does, it smells.
33:22Well, I've got a pair of underpants here.
33:24You might want to get them out.
33:27I think we have to find some lightness to this.
33:31It's devastating and we're absolutely heartbroken, but...
33:35You know...
33:36It's upsetting, but...
33:37It is upsetting.
33:38You know...
33:39We're alive, we're all safe, we're all fine,
33:41and I think the only way is that we can find a bit of light in it
33:45and just get through it and start again.
33:48Yeah, exactly that.
33:51For now, we're renting a place down the road
33:53and at the farm morning, noon and night,
33:55and looking forward to the renovations starting soon.
33:58Whatever life throws at us, one thing farm life has gifted us is a never-ending to-do list.
34:17And when Milo is in tow, seemingly mundane jobs like clearing the stream or collecting wood are always way more fun.
34:24Have you ever been there before?
34:26No.
34:27Are you good?
34:28Yeah, I'm good.
34:30Go on, in the swamp. Jump in the swamp.
34:33Yes!
34:35I made it!
34:36I'm still alive!
34:38Woo-hoo!
34:39Out of all the children, Milo loves discovering the many hidden treasures and natural wonders found lurking in and around our forests and farmland.
34:50Dad, look! I found this!
34:53Oh, wow!
34:54Looks like dinosaurs' bones!
34:56This habitat provides a home to many native species from bats and hares to deer and barn owls.
35:05And in spring, Liz likes to keep watch for the non-native Canada geese, who come for a short stay.
35:12We've noticed that we get these two geese every year, around the same time, and it'll be a male and a female, and then they have chicks.
35:21And this time, we've only just seen the one.
35:25And I'm presuming that it's the male, and the female should come back to him.
35:32Like, when geese mate, they mate for life.
35:34Where is she?
35:35Because they're normally here together by now, and he just looks so sad.
35:40He literally looks lost, like...
35:45Look at his little face.
35:48I'd like to think that that's how Kelvin would look if I wasn't around.
35:52But he'd probably be buzzing, just doing farm jobs without me, just, like, free.
36:00But deep down, he'd be sad. Deep down.
36:03We're going to keep goose watch and just hope that the female and some chicks...
36:11..appear soon.
36:13Because I can't bear looking at him like that every day.
36:17I'll have to look after him. I'll find him a woman.
36:19He cannot be alone.
36:22While Liz stays on goose watch, Milo and I have some maintenance work to do.
36:27So, we'll take what we need, the firewood.
36:30I just need one more wall.
36:31And anything we don't need, we can leave here and let the bugs live in it.
36:36Yeah. Yeah?
36:37Wait, leave this, cos this is a bug hotel.
36:40This is like a bug hotel, exactly.
36:42I can know that.
36:43Are you sure?
36:44Right, in the back of the pick-up.
36:50Oh, lad.
36:52Don't lie, push it right. I can't see it.
36:54That's it.
36:57Milo's always had a great imagination.
37:00Oh, wow, that is a big one.
37:02That looked like a dinosaur's foot.
37:05And being surrounded by nature seems to fire up his creative juices.
37:10Dad, I thought if we get wood, cos this does, it looks like a duck, does it?
37:16Yeah.
37:17I thought we cut our eye out, and then it can be his body.
37:21So, you're on about making a sculpture?
37:23Yeah.
37:24But I thought we were using it for firewood.
37:26Oh, yeah, but can we just keep this one for building?
37:30So, keep that one for building.
37:31Right, back to the yard then, Milo. Come on, mate.
37:38Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep.
37:42Right, Milo, are you ready?
37:43Yeah.
37:44So, this is called a log...
37:47Erm, cutter.
37:49Nearly?
37:50Log splitter.
37:51Log splitter, good lad.
37:52And then what happens is, see this spike here?
37:54Yeah.
37:55You make sure the piece of wood is against there.
37:58And the spike splits the wood.
38:00Oh, wow.
38:01Now, before we do anything, what have we got to do?
38:04Put our goggles on.
38:05Put your goggles on.
38:06Or safety goggles.
38:07Safety goggles.
38:08Yeah, Milo's, he's...
38:11I think he likes the hands-on jobs.
38:14What is it I can climb on or jump in or pick up?
38:17He quite likes picking up worms and chasing rats and...
38:21It's all random stuff like that.
38:22Pull your lever down, press the button.
38:24Yeah, that'll do.
38:25Oh, there we go.
38:27Excellent work.
38:28Yep, go.
38:29Good lad.
38:30That'll do.
38:31Good lad.
38:32This is just great teamwork.
38:33Perfect.
38:34See, Dad, I told you, this is really perfect.
38:37Today, Milo's made the perfect tree surgeon's apprentice.
38:38And tomorrow, he could be onto something completely different.
38:40Job well done.
38:41Well done.
38:42Up above.
38:43Up above.
38:44Up above.
38:45To the side.
38:46To the side.
38:47Down below.
38:48Down below.
38:49This is low.
38:50Oh, you got me.
38:51Dad, to the side.
38:52Up below.
38:53You got me.
38:54Wait, what's up there?
38:55Oh.
38:56Good.
38:57Good lad.
38:58What are you doing?
38:59You got me.
39:00Good lad.
39:01Yay.
39:02Today, Milo's made the perfect tree surgeon's apprentice.
39:04And tomorrow, he could be onto something completely different.
39:05Up above. To the side. To the side.
39:09Down below. This is low.
39:11Oh, you got me.
39:26After their recent health check, our cows can return back out to pasture.
39:33Come on.
39:34This time, we're separating the herd to wean our young calves, Sonic and Ray,
39:38from their mums, Ruby and Cherry,
39:40as we're keen to get them back in calf before the summer.
39:43So, that's the girls in the meadow,
39:46and now we're going to try and bring the boys up.
39:51A few potential risks is that if they call the boys,
39:55the boys will just go to where they are.
39:57So we just need to try and make a smooth transition into the paddock.
40:01Which nine times out of ten?
40:05Won't happen.
40:07So...
40:09Handling three males isn't for the faint-hearted,
40:13but as we increase our herd,
40:15we both need to work at handling them with confidence.
40:18I still get a little bit nervous around the cows.
40:24I think just the sheer size of them.
40:27So, yeah, Kelvin says I'm always a bit slow around the cows,
40:30but...
40:31I'm the head of the family only for one.
40:33I can't...
40:34I can't be injured or go, you know.
40:36Thankfully, today, Crowther, Sonic and Ray are behaving for us,
40:40and we've safely navigated them to the paddock.
40:44Job done.
40:46Pretty seamless.
40:51Now they're just going to be crying for each other, which is, er...
40:55Which is the problem.
40:56It's not ideal because there's only a, you know, a hedge apart, really.
41:01Hopefully they don't escape.
41:03I mean, this field is pretty securely fenced, but I don't want to...
41:07I don't want to tempt it.
41:09Oh, there's a cow there.
41:11Oh, my God.
41:12So, do you know we said it went really smoothly?
41:17Just as we thought everyone were in the fields that they were meant to be in,
41:21we turned round and the cows had just walked over the fence.
41:24It's the mums, Ruby and Cherry,
41:27who have found a gap in the fencing
41:29and are sauntering their way back to their boys.
41:32Time for Plan B.
41:42After our crafty cows breached the fence of one field,
41:51we're on the move again.
41:54So, we've got a better secure fence up here.
41:58But it's a small paddock.
41:59It's a smaller field,
42:01but we'll put them in there and I think it will just prevent any problems
42:05and we'll just fix this fence.
42:08We need Ruby and Cherry to be in a field away from the boys
42:12so that they can be fully weaned before getting back in calf.
42:16Oh, no!
42:20The unthinkable happened.
42:23Oh, you just can.
42:30This time, it's Crowther who's breached the paddock
42:33and we're back to square one.
42:35Again.
42:39It's electric fence, Liz, that's the only way.
42:42They don't forget the weather breaches.
42:44It's like, you know, them board games
42:45where you used to push a block up and then you have to put it across.
42:48Cow Tetris.
42:50That is what it is.
42:52It's been a long day.
42:53We've had no breakfast.
42:54We've had no lunch.
42:55We're hungry.
42:57We're just going to get them all back together for one more day.
43:00Fix what we need to fix and make sure everything's secure
43:02and then we'll separate them.
43:04Come on then.
43:05Right, okay.
43:06Cup of tea and food.
43:07Dinner.
43:08Yes.
43:11Do you want me to get you a proper farmer's stick
43:12so you've not just got like a pint?
43:15I think this is alright.
43:17It's like a nice walking stick.
43:19Is it?
43:20Yeah.
43:22So even with the farmhouse fire, it's pretty much as it's as usual on the farm.
43:40With cows, sheep and kids giving us the runaround.
43:43And even though the fire is a huge blow, we'll face the challenges it brings us together as a family.
43:52I'll tell you what you guys can do.
43:53What?
43:54You can go in the house and get your very last bits of favourite toys that aren't damaged.
43:59Bring them out and we'll try and salvage them, okay?
44:01Yes!
44:02Go and have a good route.
44:03I mean, the sad thing is, where the fire was was your wardrobe.
44:09Your clothes are all gone.
44:10I know.
44:12Well, I could get...
44:13That might be a sign to get some new clothes.
44:16Treat yourselves.
44:17Yeah, yeah.
44:18It's a bit of a reset really, isn't it?
44:20We didn't want one, but sometimes it's forced upon you.
44:24As if we weren't busy enough.
44:26But there'll be a time when we're sat out here in the sun.
44:29Not next to the burnt rubble.
44:31Cheers to that.
44:32What a fountain!
44:34What a fountain!
44:35What a fountain!
44:36I found this!
44:38Look at Marnie!
44:39Oh!
44:41Look at all this!
44:42That's a Lamborghini!
44:45Oh, look, there's Marnie with all our sheep!
44:48And these four certainly know how to keep Liz and I in the present,
44:52and allow us to appreciate everything we do still have.
44:56The years will pass so quickly, I'll soon be grown like you.
45:01So, here are special handprints.
45:04I need this just for you.
45:07And it looks like somebody's brought my bed down.
45:10Daddy brought the bed down.
45:12Is that Daddy's bed?
45:13That's my bed.
45:16This is going to be a big year.
45:18I would say this is our biggest year yet.
45:20It's going to be the most challenging, and we will get through it.
45:23And when we do, it'll be some party.
45:26Next time, on our farm, we enrol the help of the kids to protect our first crop.
45:41I say, say, one, two, three, scarecrow!
45:44Scarecrow!
45:45Liz hatches a plan to keep our unruly chickens in check.
45:49He's a good-looking cock.
45:51The things you can laugh at in farming, eh?
45:56And the cows continue to give us the runaround.
46:00Kelvin!
46:01Yeah?
46:02There's a bull here!
46:04God, if you ever want to rob a bank, take a cow with you.
46:07They get out of anything!
46:08HE SIGHS
46:09HE SIGHS
46:10HE SIGHS
46:11Go, give him all the type of資ежicовой HCs, I'll move on to lie.
46:14And using it as your hitching
46:18It just runs off.
46:24It is particularly seasoned in dollars.
46:27Who willstock this for?
46:28He's talking to thequisitor.
46:29Then it just runs away from...
46:30The burnt carpet.
46:31You have to draw something easy.
46:32He...
46:33No?
46:34You can find09 골� porque...
46:35It is a accident from where they are!
46:37You
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