- 2 days ago
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Short filmTranscript
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, wildlife superhero Ray Jackson has a life-or-death case on his hands.
01:04When it came in, he couldn't even stand up and it was going downhill fast.
01:08Graphic artist Nicky Thompson is on a special assignment.
01:11Mum's always saying, when are you doing Alzheimer's report?
01:14And I say, one day. Well, it's today.
01:17A family of cheesemakers are trying something new.
01:20Quite excited to make this cheese. I'm a little bit apprehensive because it's the first time I've done it.
01:25And Macclesfield's mega market is back in business.
01:29On a good day, we expect about 15,000 people to walk through the town centre.
01:34But first, a long line of traditional cheesemakers are pinning their hopes and family business on a new, old cheese.
01:44Nestled between the Pennines to the east and the Welsh hills to the west, the rich and vibrant landscapes spreading out across the county are on the turn.
01:59Autumn has arrived and the good people of Cheshire are busy shaking off the lazy summer haze.
02:06A flurry of activity has descended upon the region.
02:11Known for its rich pastures and fertile soils, the county has long been an area ideal for all things dairy.
02:21And at this time of year in particular, cheesemaking.
02:25Every autumn, farms all over Cheshire are bustling with activity.
02:35The milk that we're using today is from cows that are coming to the end of their lactation.
02:40The solids are an awful lot higher than they are in the spring.
02:44In the south-west of the county, the latest in a long line of traditional Cheshire cheesemakers is busy making the best out of the season.
02:54The milk is creamier. It's almost got that more of a vanilla-y kind of tint to it.
03:01Hugo Baum heads up the family farm in the pretty little village of Malpass.
03:06I've been making cheese for my whole life, I suppose.
03:11My youngest memory was sat on the side of this vat here.
03:15The Bournes have been making cheese since 1750.
03:17That's how far we go back to. We've been making cheese all over Cheshire.
03:21It was a Cheshire thing to do. Everybody made Cheshire cheese.
03:24It was traditionally the farmer's wife that made it.
03:27In my case, it was my granny who started it off here with my grandfather.
03:32Since its heyday of the 1960s, when 40,000 tonnes were sold each year,
03:39cheese produced in the region has sadly seen a steady decline.
03:44And today, Hugo and his family are the last to be producing Cheshire cheese the traditional way.
03:52Dad is probably the oldest cheesemaker kicking around.
03:55His cheesemaking career of, what, 70 years?
03:59And Hugo is determined not to give up on the county's famous cheese.
04:03The responsibility in making sure that we keep this business alive is immense.
04:10It's overwhelming.
04:11Every time I sort of think about it, what would happen if I didn't?
04:15This would be another cheesemaker that's gone.
04:18A bit overripe.
04:20Overripe?
04:21He's reviving a special recipe called 1845,
04:26which it's hoped will draw in a new generation of cheese lover.
04:32We're trying to kickstart the Cheshire market back down the artisan route.
04:37Last made on the family farm over 15 years ago,
04:41the special recipe was once one of Britain's favourites.
04:44And Hugo is sure is ready for a resurgence.
04:48I'm quite excited to make this cheese.
04:50I'm a little bit apprehensive because it's the first time I've done it.
04:54I'm not entirely sure what we're doing.
04:58The curd was over set.
05:00It'll be all right, Dad, won't it?
05:01Yes, it'll be all right.
05:03Dad made it 15 years ago,
05:05but this is a completely different cheese to what we're normally making.
05:09With only Hugo's dad, John, able to remember how the cheese is actually made,
05:14he's been convinced to dust off his cheesemaking apron
05:17and step back into the fold.
05:20Well, for the day at least.
05:22It's a copy of the cheese which was made in 1845.
05:28It was put into a book by a land agent called John Wright,
05:33who surveyed cheesemaking process on five different farms
05:37and tabulated it in a book.
05:40I had a copy of it.
05:42I lent it somebody and never had it back,
05:44which pains me greatly.
05:46With the original recipe now missing,
05:49Hugo is hoping the secrets to its success
05:52are still etched in John's memory.
05:55What's it taste like?
05:57Good.
05:59Yeah.
06:00For Hugo, this is a chance to inherit the secret recipe,
06:04but to do so he's going to have to watch, learn,
06:08and do what he's told.
06:10Dad, what you've got to do is you've got to get on.
06:13I'm going to help you.
06:16We will keep this stirred now for about 40 to 50 minutes.
06:21As it is stirred, a solid curd starts to form.
06:29That's showing really good signs of a really good cheese.
06:31Yes, chicken flesh.
06:32So what's next stage?
06:33Millet.
06:34The process steps up a notch.
06:39Do you want to have a try, Dad?
06:43Is that how you remember this cheese?
06:48Yes.
06:49It's okay.
06:50It's okay.
06:51It's okay.
06:52While the master cheese maker may be giving nothing away,
06:56for Hugo, today has been an important step.
06:59In a few weeks' time, they'll get to see if they have managed
07:02to revive this once famous cheese.
07:06Very good.
07:07So now, I suppose, the proof in the pudding,
07:10we've got to see what it turns out like.
07:17With everything from beautiful canals to historic castles,
07:21a huge railway hub, and a famous zoo,
07:24Cheshire is a county packed with variety.
07:28One hour away, just outside the market town of Knotsford,
07:34sits a magnificent stretch of Cheshire's woodlands.
07:38These ancient trees provide cover and food for a whole host of wildlife,
07:45from large deer to tiny shrew.
07:49And one man has made it his life's work to not only protect these precious forests,
07:54but also the animals inside it.
07:59In these aviaries here, I've got Louie the crow.
08:02He's been here for must be about 20 years now.
08:04I can speak to him.
08:14Ray Jackson runs Lower Moss Wood Educational Nature Reserve.
08:21Now you do it.
08:22A centre that not only promotes conservation and the environment,
08:26but also provides a place where injured animals can recover
08:30and rehabilitate before returning to the wild.
08:36When the sanctuary started,
08:37I took over the job of doing the teaching
08:40and the education side of the wood.
08:42And then I got a phone call from a lady
08:44saying that her dog had brought a fox cub home
08:47and is there any chance that I could come and look after it?
08:51I said yes instantly, because as a kid I'd always ever wanted,
08:55I was a pet fox.
08:57So suddenly then I was the man in the woods with the fox.
09:02Originally, a centre set up to educate about life in the woods,
09:06Ray's arrival and passion for nursing sick animals back to health
09:10opened the floodgates to a new objective at the reserve.
09:16And then people started bringing me other things around, hedgehogs and all sorts.
09:20My life just changed totally.
09:22And say now it's 38 years on and we're taking two and a half thousand animals a year.
09:29I have staff, I've got a brand new hospital.
09:32So it's been my life's work, but it's been hard.
09:35But I wouldn't swap it for the world.
09:37The latest patient that Ray and his team are looking after arrived at the sanctuary in a sorry state.
09:46At first it was unclear whether he would even make it.
09:49He'd been found in some brush by a pond.
09:54He was stuck and he'd been there a few days.
09:57When it came in, he couldn't even stand up.
10:00He was really, really weak.
10:03He was going downhill fast.
10:06Spread across the UK, 70,000 pairs of breeding buzzard play a vital role in the ecosystem as both hunter and scavenger.
10:18But while numbers are strong, the magnificent bird of prey remains vulnerable to the threats of illegal persecution.
10:27We decided to persevere with it.
10:31He had a problem with his toll, which was discolored.
10:35So we gave it antibiotics and we wormed it.
10:39We covered every base.
10:41And it just got stronger and stronger.
10:44I wanted to show you how our buzzard is doing.
10:47Working alongside Ray for the past three years is hospital manager, Janet.
10:53I reckon it's doing quite well.
10:55It's definitely been able to fly.
10:58I find it on the perches most morning.
11:00Eating very well.
11:02So I reckon it's not far from release.
11:05When I came past last night, it was on the perches and it was going from one to the other beautifully.
11:11Okay.
11:12It was fantastic.
11:13It was fantastic.
11:14What it was like when he came in.
11:15Yes.
11:16Yes.
11:17He was pretty much collapsed, wasn't he?
11:18Yeah.
11:19And very dehydrated.
11:20So I think we did very well this time.
11:22Right.
11:23We've got to think about release now.
11:24How long do you think that'll be?
11:25I reckon about a week.
11:28We've got 18 acres of woodland with lots of perches.
11:31He can go from perch to perch while he gets stronger.
11:34Yes.
11:35Yes.
11:36I agree.
11:37All eyes will be on how the buzzard recovers over the coming week.
11:41Will it really be ready to go back into the wild?
11:46Coming up, Hugo's Cheese Gamble gets the professional taste test.
11:53We don't know what people are going to think of it.
11:56Is there space for a cheese like this in the market?
12:00It could be a massive mistake.
12:02And a local artist feels the pressure of his latest project.
12:06I feel a little bit nervous.
12:07This is my hometown.
12:08I know it really, really well, but it's the first time I've been here to create an artwork.
12:16Spanning over 900 square miles, this spectacular Cheshire landscape is dominated by its verdant, low-lying plain.
12:29Interrupted only by a picturesque sandstone ridge of rolling hills dotted with historic castles and ancient woods.
12:39But north of the county, there's another vista entirely.
12:43The Mersey estuary on the southern edge of the Wirral Peninsula.
12:47Home to the pretty harbour town of Ellesmere and graphic artist Nicky Thompson.
12:54Ellesmere Port's home.
12:57I grew up here, went to school here, played football here very badly, learnt to draw here.
13:02I don't think people necessarily think of Ellesmere Port when they think of Cheshire.
13:07They think of the kind of bucolic, beautiful villages.
13:11But Ellesmere Port is quintessentially Cheshire in terms of its industrial heritage.
13:16It's a beautiful place, being here, just living here.
13:20So visceral and vibrant and colourful.
13:24And in my career as a designer illustrator, I'd always wanted to produce artwork in that classic British genre, 1930s.
13:35I've done artworks for towns and cities and tallest attractions all over the United Kingdom, but I've never done one of Ellesmere Port.
13:42And my mum's always saying, when are you doing Ellesmere Port? And I say one day, well, it's today.
13:49To keep mum happy, Nicky has decided to create a work of art for the National Waterways Museum, paying homage to Ellesmere Port's canal heritage.
13:59If I get it wrong, I'm never going to hear the last of it.
14:02So I'm here to take some reference photographs.
14:04I will then take those back to the studio, surround me with all that reference material, and then I'll start drawing.
14:09It's a beautiful place.
14:13Colour of the brickwork, it's fabulous.
14:16Swan's having a praying.
14:22I'm not sure if this is one of the shots they used for Peaky Blinders, but they should do. It's brilliant art.
14:30I'm here to create an artwork of my hometown, and I'm a little bit daunted.
14:34Strangely, it's more important to me to get this right than maybe any of the others that I've done. Don't want to mess it up.
14:41A mini history lesson could be just the inspiration Nicky needs.
14:46My granddad worked as a tugboat stoker on the Mersey.
14:49And that's how my lot kind of ended up in Ellesmere Port.
14:52Chris Kaye is the lead volunteer and tour guide at the museum, so has an encyclopedic knowledge of the area.
14:59In the mid-1700s, there was nothing here at all.
15:03From 1840 onwards, when the canal network was finished, it really then took off, because it was essentially the gateway to the Industrial Revolution.
15:10Wow.
15:11The goods and materials could come in and out, and then it would be distributed all across the country on the canal network,
15:17to naturally feed the country's industrial development.
15:20So Industrial Cheshire really is about the canals?
15:22It is.
15:24Families lived on these boats. Tell me about their lives.
15:27I mean, the boat people in particular had a very hard life.
15:30A lot of them couldn't afford a house ashore, so a family could live on that boat full-time.
15:34But the problem with that was, of course, the children didn't get a schooling.
15:39They were often illiterate.
15:41Really, they'd have to sort of stay with the boat family sort of community to get a living.
15:45The townsfolk, a lot of suspicion about these people who didn't talk to anyone, very insular.
15:51So they were very much treated as outsiders?
15:53They were very much.
15:54And it was very sad, because they were a very, very hard-working group.
15:59It's a lot of history to take in, isn't it?
16:01It is. It is indeed.
16:02Enriched with some additional history, Nicky continues on his search for that perfect visual.
16:10Got to get a boat in the shot.
16:13Perfect.
16:15I know the reflections are great.
16:20That's going to be the hero shot.
16:22The tower.
16:24Because the whole composition is going to be centred around that vertical.
16:27I think that could be it.
16:28I've got the vertical I'm looking for, I've got the reflection that I'm looking for.
16:37I think I just need to get back to the studio, start drawing.
16:40Yeah, I think we're in pretty good shape.
16:41Since as far back as the 12th century, Cheshire has been famed for producing Britain's oldest cheese, making it a staple of British culinary heritage.
16:55But while its popularity peaked in the early 1960s, today only one family can truly say they make Cheshire cheese the traditional way.
17:09That was pretty good.
17:11Over on Bank Farm, in the southwest of the county, it's a big day for two generations of cheesemakers.
17:19Let's go see what Dad thinks.
17:21Always looking for ways to recapture the popularity of Cheshire cheese, Hugo and his dad, John, have taken a gamble on a cheese recipe from 1845 that has not been produced at the farm in over 15 years.
17:35Here we are, Dad.
17:37Here you go.
17:39See what you think.
17:40Having left the wheel to mature, it is finally time for a taste test.
17:45This is the first time that we've tried this cheese, so we're all a little bit unsure.
17:52And living in the shadows of a Cheshire master cheese maker is only adding to Hugo's uncertainty.
18:00The only way I can secure the future of our Cheshire cheese is by looking to the past and looking at how my parents, my grandparents, even predating that, how they used to make cheese, and try and bring that back to life.
18:13Here's the best bit.
18:17Cheshire cheese is getting lower in the ranks every year because there are better cheeses out there.
18:24So it's actually crucial that we do try and give it the push that it needs to get it back on the map.
18:31I feel a massive responsibility in keeping this tradition going.
18:36Bourne's been making cheese since 1750 and I don't want that to end on my watch.
18:41With the family reputation at stake, Hugo and John have summoned a trusted group of cheese aficionados to a tasting.
18:49A seal of approval here means it's ready to go to market.
18:52Where would you like this platter?
18:55Without one, they will be back to the drawing board.
18:58Behind the bread if that's okay.
18:59Okie dokie.
19:01It's a tense day.
19:02Do not drop it.
19:04Even Hugo's partner Charlotte is feeling the pressure.
19:08I'm feeling quite anxious actually.
19:10I'll be launching a new product after having the same range for quite a long period.
19:15So the guys we've got coming as well are very opinionated people.
19:22Just trying to make sure everything looks flat on.
19:27Big fan of your cheese.
19:29Hello.
19:31Hi everybody.
19:32Hello.
19:33Hello.
19:34Thank you all very much for coming.
19:35Very much appreciated.
19:37So we've been making a product that you guys might not have known about.
19:41And you're here today so I can show it to you and you can all try it and let me know what you think.
19:48Ta-da!
19:50The 1845 is a risk.
19:52We don't know what people are going to think of it.
19:55Is there space for a cheese like this in the market?
19:59I don't know.
20:01It could be a massive mistake.
20:03So that is a cheese that Dad made 20 years ago.
20:05It's from a recipe that originates from 1845 in Cheshire.
20:11Did your dad find the recipe in the attic?
20:15Dad, where did you find the recipe?
20:17I'm sorry to admit that I bought a book on eBay.
20:23The type of how to make Cheshire cheese.
20:26And that's the result.
20:28With the master cheese maker's secret sauce revealed.
20:32That's the perfect way to cut a cheese.
20:34Everyone gets on with the delicate job in hand.
20:37They come from all different parts of business.
20:39Their opinion will give us a good idea as to what to expect.
20:44It's all in the tasting now.
20:46There we go.
20:48Yeah.
20:50It's like butter.
20:52Totally different than I would expect for a traditional Cheshire.
20:54They're a tough crowd, so let's see what they say.
20:56It does taste different.
20:58You can smell all the love and devotion that's gone into a piece of cheese like that.
21:03It's so nice.
21:06For now, Hugo has done all he can do.
21:09A positive reaction from the room has affirmed his risky move to reproduce this ancient cheese.
21:15One of my new sayings is, fly by the seats in your pants.
21:18Which is what I did on this.
21:20So, we'll see what happens.
21:23Yeah.
21:2650 miles away to the east, the town of Macclesfield is gearing up for one of the biggest events in its calendar.
21:34Treacle Market is an absolute must for those who love to shop.
21:44With over 160 stalls of unique crafts, vintage finds, and exceptional food, the market has been attracting big crowds to the area for the past 14 years.
21:56With a nod towards the town's nickname of Treacle Town, inspired by the centuries old local legend of a wagon spilling treacle on the town's cobblestones, Treacle Market's lively atmosphere is considered a celebration of Macclesfield's community spirit.
22:14There we go.
22:15There we go.
22:16Thank you very much indeed.
22:17And for one new resident, the market has proved a lifeline to a fledgling business that crosses cultures.
22:27This is all handmade in Afghanistan.
22:29This is all handmade in Afghanistan.
22:31The work is done mostly in Kabul, with very basic tools.
22:36Waheed, with his family, arrived to the UK from Afghanistan in 2021, after regime change resulted in massive displacement of Afghan citizens.
22:50I am very welcomed here.
22:54The people are very nice.
22:56Each individual, our neighbors, everybody has been very nice.
22:59And they try to give us the helping hand to lift us and be part of the community.
23:05They welcome us.
23:06I've always seen positive from the people around.
23:10While establishing a new life for himself and his family in the town is important to Waheed,
23:16he doesn't want to just forget those he's left behind.
23:21I was thinking of my people there, especially the artisans, and mainly the women artisan.
23:31At least 50% of the work is done by female artisans in Afghanistan.
23:36Because of the disconnection between Afghanistan and the world, I was thinking that I have to do something as a person
23:43to empower the women through economic activities.
23:47It could be a very small thing, but it can still help people.
23:52Waheed now imports specialist handmade rugs, jewellery, and ornate bowls and plates from across the country.
23:59In these items, the central flower is the same design, but the corners are not the same.
24:06So I'm taking this because it's also showing that I have different designs.
24:10Today, Waheed is unboxing his latest shipment of treasures in preparation for the upcoming treacle market.
24:18As well as plates, Waheed is gambling on some bigger ticket items.
24:23A good quality of emerald.
24:29Covered very tightly in sterling silver, all made by hand.
24:33Of course, this is very costly for me, and it will be very expensive also for customers because it is not normal like small stones.
24:43It's expensive emerald from Afghanistan.
24:45I think I will be selling it around a thousand pounds for this seed.
24:50With every market bringing a different kind of customer, Waheed now has the tricky task of trying to second guess which of these delightful gems will appeal to the crowd this time round.
25:04In the Cheshire area, there are all people who like handmade products.
25:09The difficulty is the price of it.
25:11I see a lot of people that they say, well, it's a very nice thing.
25:14I wish I had that much money to buy it.
25:16So I'm hopeful for it, but of course, there's always risk in business.
25:21With just a few days to go, will Waheed get lucky on some of his big money items?
25:26Or will he find a more cautious kind of clientele this time round?
25:31Coming up, it's crunch time for Ray's sick buzzard.
25:36He's hefty.
25:38Are we ready?
25:39Ready to go?
25:40Okay.
25:41He won't fall in the ditch, will he?
25:43Well, you can get him.
25:45And will graphic artist Nicky get the reaction he's hoping for?
25:49Okay, so here we are, two weeks later, the artwork is finally finished.
25:53With a deep-rooted history of craftsmanship, creativity, and cultural innovation, Cheshire has long been a hub for artistic expression.
26:12For centuries, artists like Turner, one of Britain's most famous landscape artists, have been inspired by the scenery across Cheshire, laying the groundwork for others that would later follow in their footsteps.
26:27And in the north of the county, graphic artist Nicky Thompson is beginning the process of turning his Ellesmere Port photography into poster artwork.
26:38And because he's local to the area, he's put a lot of pressure on himself to deliver something as special as the works that have made him internationally renowned.
26:50It tells me, I want it to be right, I want people to say, he's done a good job.
26:57So stage one, we've been out, we've taken photographs, and we have black and white printouts of some of the better shots in terms of composition.
27:05I can't get away from the fact that the chimney is the hero of this shot, and the reflection of the chimney in particular.
27:11The colour of this composition is going to be centred around this beautiful terracotta brickwork.
27:16I'm thinking of perhaps having a seagull top right.
27:21Nicky has made a name for himself with this style of art, and it all started by chance, with a last minute rush job several years ago.
27:31One Friday afternoon, I got a call from the local council asking if I could produce a poster to encourage people to travel on the Mid-Cheshire line, and they need it yesterday.
27:43And on the face of it, it was a real quick in and out job.
27:47So I created one over the weekend, and I got a really positive response.
27:51And then I got an order to produce one for every station across the line.
27:55We had quite a bit of attention from the media, and as a result of that, I was then getting commissions to produce posters nationally.
28:02It's at this point, really, that I go from pencils and paper and magic markers to a more digital world.
28:10For me, it's going to be the blue, I think.
28:16This is the final piece of the jigsaw, if you like, and I can start adding hand-drawn embellishments and details.
28:25I think that's it. I think I'm happy with it.
28:28If Chris says I've done a good job with this, I'll take that, you know.
28:32He'll be unveiling his work to Chris and the Ellesmere Port Museum staff later this week.
28:39Will it get their seal of approval?
28:45To the east of Ellesmere Port, tucked in amongst the county's ancient woodlands,
28:50animal lover Ray Jackson and hospital manager Janet are preparing to release a special animal that they've been nurturing back into the wild.
29:03The buzzard is a bird of prey, commonly found on the edge of woodlands.
29:08There are over 140,000 of them across the UK.
29:12But a few weeks ago, one such bird desperately needed the care of this wildlife sanctuary.
29:19How do you think he's doing?
29:21I think he's ready to go.
29:23Yeah? Good.
29:24Looks like he can't wait.
29:25Well.
29:26Can't believe it.
29:28No.
29:29Did so well.
29:30Okay, let's go then.
29:31Okay.
29:34After years dedicating his life to saving injured animals,
29:38Ray's selfless work has been recognised at the highest level.
29:43I got a letter through the post and it was from the Prime Minister,
29:47saying that the Queen has asked me if I would be willing to accept an honour of becoming a member of the British Empire.
29:55I was so proud.
29:57My mum was so proud because I took her with me and my wife.
30:00It was a great day.
30:02I received it off Prince Charles, which is not so disappointed, but I really wanted to meet the Queen.
30:09And said, my niece rang me up when we were on the train, she said,
30:12Are you going to see the Queen, Uncle Ray?
30:14Says, Yeah, I am.
30:16You better turn round, she's in Blackburn.
30:19Now, Ray Jackson, MBE, is more determined than ever to continue to provide a safe sanctuary for injured animals like their magnificent buzzard.
30:32To get something back from death's door, to release it back into the wild is one of the nicest feelings ever.
30:40With a 50-50 chance of survival when he arrived at the sanctuary, Ray's buzzard is lucky to have made it this far.
30:48And now it's the moment of truth.
30:51He's hefty.
30:53Shrouded in a towel to keep it calm, the buzzard is brought into the sanctuary's private woodlands for release.
31:02Do it over here.
31:09Are we ready?
31:10Ready to go?
31:11Okay.
31:12You won't fall in the ditch, will you?
31:14Well, you can get in.
31:17That way or?
31:19That way.
31:20Okay.
31:21Right.
31:22Gotcha.
31:23Not in the ditch, yeah.
31:32Not in the ditch.
31:37Go, go.
31:40Oh, Sherbert.
31:43When you release him, you've still got to muscle up, you know what I mean?
31:48He's gone into the woods.
31:52I can't follow.
31:55Right, okay.
31:56It's brilliant.
31:57Went well.
31:58Well done.
31:59Yep.
32:00Yes, it made the wood.
32:00We flew back into the wood.
32:02That's right.
32:02Yeah, good.
32:03Very happy.
32:05Oh, thanks, you've seen it.
32:07There it is.
32:08Oh, yeah.
32:10Wow.
32:11Makes it all worthwhile.
32:13Yep.
32:14That's for sure.
32:16Good luck.
32:18It'll be back tomorrow.
32:22Thanks to Ray, Janet and all the team at Lower Moss,
32:25another animal is safely restored to the wild
32:28and they are ready to help the next one
32:30who comes through their sanctuary's door.
32:36Further to the west of Ray and his team,
32:39just off the banks of the River Mersey,
32:42artist Nicky Thompson is preparing for his big reveal.
32:46It's really nerve-wracking
32:47when you show off your art for the first time.
32:50He's just completed the poster artwork
32:52for his hometown of Ellesmere Port,
32:56a job he's wanted to do
32:57for as long as he's been working.
33:00Here we are two weeks later,
33:02the artwork is finally finished.
33:04And today he's presenting the finished product
33:06to Chris and the staff
33:08at the National Waterways Museum.
33:10Ellesmere Port, brilliant town,
33:12brilliant people, fascinating history,
33:15and this is my small tribute to it.
33:20Oh, yes, I really like that.
33:23That's fantastic.
33:27I just think the colours are just so evocative
33:30and that's just how we can see it during the evenings.
33:34The subtlety, the sort of modern style to it,
33:37yet set within that classic railway poster sort of frame.
33:40And I love that yellow sky
33:42against the terracotta brickwork.
33:44It's a wonderful, tranquil scene
33:47and it depicts the buildings of the museum perfectly.
33:51I like the swan, of course.
33:53We're renowned for having our swans.
33:56That is glorious.
33:59Thank you all very much.
34:01I've got a little gift for you.
34:03It's the very first signed print of the artwork.
34:07Wow.
34:08It's worth this unless I get hit by a bus
34:10and then it'll be worth a fortune.
34:12Oh, that's amazing.
34:13But I hope you enjoy it and thank you very much.
34:15Oh, thank you ever so much for that.
34:16It's been a joy actually being with you
34:19and seeing the work you've done.
34:20Fantastic.
34:22I shall treasure that.
34:22Really, thank you, Chris.
34:26I thought that went really well.
34:27I hope I've done Ellesmere Port Justice.
34:30I'm really pleased that Chris liked it, I have to say.
34:32But what about the most important lady in Nicky's life?
34:39Will she approve?
34:40I think my mum will like it.
34:43She's getting it for a Christmas present anyway,
34:45so she hasn't got much choice really.
34:52Coming up...
34:53Morning!
34:54It's the day of the big Macclesfield market.
34:58I've got up by the side of the church and the space is there.
35:00Will Waheed sell his big ticket item?
35:04What is the green stone?
35:06This is an emerald from Afghanistan.
35:07Oh, they're from Afghanistan?
35:09They're all from Afghanistan, yeah.
35:10Oh!
35:10Yeah.
35:11And how will Hugo's cheese go down with the paying public?
35:14The county of Cheshire has long been a cradle of craftsmanship
35:27and artisan excellence with a legacy rooted in creativity.
35:33From intricate silk weaving to the handcrafted precision
35:37of traditional Cheshire cheesemaking,
35:39the region has nurtured a deep connection to quality and tradition.
35:45And nowhere is that more evident than in Macclesfield's monthly market.
35:50The enormously popular Treacle Market is coming to town.
35:55If you could back down, that would be ideal because it's kind of one way.
35:58Wait, it'll definitely be fine.
35:59Yeah.
36:00It's 7am and up early to make sure the whole operation runs like clockwork
36:05are market organisers, husband and wife team, Becky and Andy Thompson.
36:11In this time of day, it's all about the traders coming in and getting set up.
36:14We've been round and put bins out and gazebos and signage.
36:18This is our busiest time.
36:21A treasure trove of over 150 stalls.
36:25The monthly market is a melting pot of fine artisan foods,
36:30crafts, antiques and entertainment.
36:34Feel free to hang whatever you want off the stall.
36:37With more than 15,000 people expected throughout the day,
36:41the pair has certainly got a lot of organising to do.
36:45I spend my month kind of building up to this.
36:47This is my job.
36:48When we actually get to market day,
36:49it's really fab to see it all come to fruition.
36:52It's probably the best Macclesfield ever looks each month.
36:55It's massively buzzing.
36:57All the bars and restaurants get filled up.
36:59We have coach tours arriving from all over the country.
37:02So it's quite an amazing thing to see.
37:04Yeah.
37:05Morning.
37:05You all right?
37:06Yes, you?
37:07Yes, what happened to your face?
37:09It's like a mad happy family.
37:11All of the traders we've built relationships with over the years that we've run it.
37:16And, yeah, it's just a really nice sort of community of lovely folks and lovely people.
37:22Hair and make-up.
37:23Put me some hair on there.
37:24I know.
37:24You're going to struggle, aren't you?
37:26I'll see you in a bit, guys.
37:27One of the things we do do, though, is we like to bring stuff into the town as well.
37:32Stuff that you can't get locally.
37:34Keeps it vibrant and keeps it interesting.
37:36One of the newest members of the Treacle Market family is Waheed.
37:40I need to have a welcome sign always for my business.
37:43With expert assistance from his son, Abdullah,
37:46Waheed is bringing a slice of Afghanistan to this Macclesfield market.
37:51These are some bracelets.
37:55So these are the new stuff.
37:57How does it look?
37:58It looks great, really.
38:00Do you want to change anything, the position of any of the items?
38:03It might be better if people look this way.
38:05I see, I see, I see.
38:07Good idea.
38:08Yeah, I'm hopeful for a very good day.
38:11The weather is dry.
38:12And there is one piece in particular that Waheed is hoping will catch someone's eye.
38:19There is like one piece of jewelry that I have,
38:22which is emerald and made in handmade silver.
38:25I doubt that it will be sold in here.
38:26The reason is its price.
38:28I've never sold for £1,000 before.
38:31So let's see if I can sell it today.
38:33But it will be difficult for me, I think.
38:35With the traders poised and ready to sell,
38:40Becky and Andy get the show underway.
38:44Right, so that's it now.
38:45All the traders are in.
38:46We've closed the barriers and pedestrianised the town centre.
38:49All we do now is hope for hundreds and hundreds of visitors, ideally.
38:53But on a good day, we expect about 15,000 people to walk through the town centre.
38:57As the crowd soon flood the market,
39:05a familiar face is hoping his tempting display will draw them his way.
39:12It's a lovely day for us today, isn't it?
39:13There we go.
39:14Do I get anything else?
39:16Sixth generation cheese farmer Hugo has been given the thumbs up on his new Cheshire cheese
39:22and, along with his partner Charlotte,
39:25has brought it to the market today for its first ever outing.
39:31I'm slightly nervous how today is going to go.
39:34It's a new cheese.
39:35The people at Cheshire are very proud.
39:37They love their Cheshire cheese.
39:39I'm just not sure what their take on this cheese is going to be.
39:47Over at Waheed's stall, the customers are coming thick and fast.
39:52How many are these?
39:55They will be, like, originally £36, but because of the discount that we have,
39:59so it will be £32.5 for you.
40:01Those three.
40:01Those three?
40:02Those three.
40:02Okay.
40:03So it will be altogether £70 for you.
40:06Okay.
40:08Thank you very much.
40:09That's the call and it's going to my heart.
40:11It's okay, yeah.
40:11The selling is going well, especially the new stuff that has arrived.
40:15People are taking more interest in that as well.
40:21What are the green stoves?
40:22This is an emerald from Afghanistan.
40:24Oh, they're from Afghanistan?
40:25They're all from Afghanistan, yeah.
40:26Oh.
40:27Yeah.
40:28That's interesting.
40:29Yeah.
40:29Afghanistan, so we have some of the best emeralds.
40:33I like how they're not perfect as well.
40:35Yeah, yeah, yeah, because it's all hand-hand cut, so with very elementary tools.
40:39Everyone is unique, isn't it?
40:41Yeah, yeah.
40:41I'd definitely hope to come back and actually buy something.
40:44Yes.
40:44Thank you very much.
40:46A few stalls down, Hugo and Charlotte's Cheshire Cheese is also going down a treat.
40:54How's that piece for you?
40:55That's lovely.
40:56Thanks.
40:56So, £11 on the dot.
40:58How's that for you?
40:58There we go.
40:59Bigger than this.
41:00I'm a bit of a smashy job.
41:02Thank you very much.
41:02Take care.
41:02Bye.
41:03There we go.
41:04£14.50, sir.
41:05How's that?
41:06So, have a try.
41:07See what you think.
41:08Lovely.
41:08Do you like it?
41:11Very nice.
41:12Now, the most important thing is, would you like a piece?
41:15I would.
41:15How is that for you?
41:16Yeah.
41:17There we go.
41:18Thank you very much indeed.
41:20With a flurry of last-minute sales, Tretel Market begins to wind up for another month and
41:27for our organisers.
41:29It's been an absolute belter today, hasn't it?
41:32The day has been a runaway success.
41:35Probably busier than we expected today.
41:37I think at this time of year, it's been such a beautiful day where people have come out
41:41in their droves and we've counted at least five coach loads.
41:45The economy of the town is really close to our hearts and to see Macclesfield's own shops,
41:53hospitality operations, all full, busy and, you know, doing what they do best, it's just
41:58fabulous and it's what we kind of live for on market day, really.
42:02For Waheed, the day has been a success.
42:05He may not have sold that big-ticket piece, but he's staying positive.
42:10I'm happy still that there was some interest in it.
42:13At least three different individuals were interested in it, which is very important for me.
42:18For Hugo, he needn't have worried either.
42:22It seems the good folk of Cheshire haven't lost the love for his old favourite.
42:26Gone.
42:30Yeah, I think it had quite a good reception.
42:34I think it had quite a good welcoming first day out.
42:38Thank you very much.
42:39First cheese to sell out.
42:41I bought more than I ever thought I was going to need and it's just gone.
42:45So, brilliant.
42:46Absolutely fantastic.
42:47Next time, Master Thatcher Wayne preps his apprentice.
42:55Wayne tells me when I've gone wrong.
42:57The heat is on site manager Mark at Cruise Historic Trainworks.
43:02Only time will tell if we're going to hit this deliverer.
43:04And in the peaks, a new whisky is coming to the county.
43:08Our first ever Cheshire single malt.
43:10We'll see you next time.
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