- 2 days ago
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00:00And we've fallen for this way of life, hook, line and sinker.
00:07Can you keep this?
00:10Right, Milo, let's get some jobs done.
00:13Farming's a breeze, compared to having four kids.
00:17We're surrounded by the spectacular peat district.
00:22As far as an office goes, it's pretty good, isn't it?
00:27With ancient woodlands...
00:30What about Dad there?
00:32..and rolling hills as their playground.
00:35You ready?
00:37This year, we've big plans to increase our flock...
00:42No, Mum!
00:45..and herd...
00:47Can I ride on him?
00:49Oh, you can't ride on him, no.
00:51..whilst continuing to diversify.
00:53What about if we created some sort of farm musical?
00:57Kevin, we've got enough to do, we're not creating a farm bantle.
01:00..and we're excited about what our next chapter might hold.
01:04I can't think of something that would beat this for me.
01:07This is my version of a happy, full life.
01:09Right, let's get some cup of tea, then.
01:11This week on our farm...
01:23You're excited.
01:25Wow.
01:26Yeah.
01:27Did you like that?
01:28Yeah.
01:29The twins help this year's lambs thrive.
01:32Come on.
01:34..and training for the Royal Cheshire Show gets underway in earnest.
01:38Right, stand there.
01:39Right, we're ready.
01:41So make sure his feet are square.
01:43I pull together a team of Ruby League legends for a special fundraiser.
01:48We need the final player.
01:50Will you be it?
01:51Mark Flanagan.
01:53We've got him.
01:54And our flock presents us with a whole new challenge.
01:58It's just not that easy.
02:00My hands are too big.
02:01You need delicate, cute, little, beautiful hands.
02:04I'll do it for the lamb.
02:05Yeah?
02:06Good, good.
02:07I'll do it for the life of a lamb.
02:21Just putting a new bale in for Sonic and Ray.
02:26Feeding time at the zoo.
02:27Hello, chickens.
02:28Hello, chickens.
02:29Hello, chickens.
02:30Hello, chickens.
02:33The smell when you open that bale up.
02:38If you know, you know it's one of them.
02:42The sweetness.
02:43It's just...
02:44Keeping the farm running smoothly has had its challenges recently.
02:49We've had a lot of upheaval in our lives after a fire in the farmhouse meant we had to move into temporary rented accommodation.
02:57While I don't want to add extra stress, there's one event in the farming calendar I think is worth adding to our to-do list.
03:04So what we're going to do in a few weeks' time, we're going to go to a thing called the Royal Cheshire Show.
03:11And we're going to go there.
03:13We're going to go there and we're going to take the calves with us.
03:17And we're going to put a lead on them so we can walk in with them.
03:22Can I hold a big one?
03:24Yeah.
03:25Can I ride on him?
03:27Oh, you can't ride on him, no, but what you can do is walk next to him on a lead.
03:32And you can show him around on the grass in front of everybody.
03:37Yeah?
03:38Yeah?
03:39Would you like to do that?
03:40I want to hold him.
03:42Which one do you want to take on?
03:44Donut.
03:45The big one?
03:46Yeah.
03:47You want to take Sonic in?
03:48The big one?
03:49Yeah.
03:50All of them.
03:51Well, you might need some big muscles, though, because he's very strong.
03:54Let me just check, let me just check, see if your big muscles are big enough.
03:59Let me just check, let me check.
04:01I'm not, I didn't eat my dinner all.
04:04Oh, did you not eat your dinner all up?
04:06I don't know if they're going to be big enough then.
04:09I will.
04:10Are you sure?
04:11I am.
04:12Let me just check.
04:13Yeah.
04:14Well, make sure you eat the rest of your dinner, then you'll get big muscles and then you can
04:17take him in the show ring.
04:19Well, Matthias is keen.
04:21And while preparing the young calves for the show takes time, it's essential for us to be
04:25showing our herd and putting the Fletcher family name on the map as breeders of native
04:30Lincoln Reds.
04:32So we're going to put a new bale in for the calves.
04:36Keeping them indoors, we can start alter training them, getting some condition on them,
04:41making sure they're looking as good as they can.
04:44So we need to get cracking.
04:46As well as looking their best, the calves can get used to being handled and the kids will
04:54need to spend time with them to build their trust.
04:59What do you think?
05:00Fluffy.
05:01Fluffy?
05:02Say hello, Sonic.
05:03Hello, Sonic.
05:04Hello, Sonic.
05:05Hello, Sonic.
05:06Can I give my hug on?
05:09You want to give him a cuddle?
05:10Yeah.
05:11Of course you can.
05:12I love Sonic.
05:15You love Sonic?
05:17Yeah.
05:18When in the show ring, the calves will be marked on their form and frame.
05:24And to show them at their best means training them to walk on a halter.
05:31I'm a little bit out of practice.
05:33Come on, Sonic.
05:35Then the thing get, and then it's on.
05:37There we go.
05:38It's okay.
05:39It's okay.
05:40Shhhhhh!
05:41Shhhhhh!
05:42And then it's on.
05:43Hey!
05:44With the twins watching, training is underway.
05:51I can't pull him.
05:52I don't know how the kids are going to go.
05:54I think Sonic is a little bit too big and strong at the minute, even for Marnie and Milo.
05:58I mean, it might be ambitious, but I think if we can get him ultra-trained.
06:01You've got to make sure that the animal they're with can be controlled by a young kid.
06:08Before you know it, all six of us will be there at the Royal Cheshire show.
06:12The Fletchers are back to defend their title.
06:31Oh, you're a strong lamb here, lad.
06:45Just got me Banksy. Just got me Banksy.
06:50As lambing season draws to a close, there's just a few newborns left in the barn
06:55that we're keeping an eye on before we turn them out to join the rest of the flock.
07:00Right, you hold the lamb whilst Daddy helps the mummy.
07:05Yeah, you hold the lamb together.
07:07Oh, you sit down. Good boy.
07:11A set of twin lambs have been struggling to latch on
07:14and I need to check everything is alright with their mum
07:17and her production of the white stuff.
07:20The milk in her bag has kind of hardened and the teats are just...
07:25There's a little bit of nut coming out there, but not much.
07:28Yeah, you can just feel it's all gone very hard, so...
07:32There's an infection there.
07:35These are all signs of mastitis,
07:37an inflammation of the udder that's painful and can stop her from producing milk,
07:42putting her life and her lambs at risk.
07:45I think it'd be good to make up a little bottle and feed this lamb
07:48because it's looking very thin.
07:51So, boys, would you like to feed the lamb?
07:53Yeah?
07:54Well, I'll get it.
07:56Mummy!
07:57Yeah?
08:00Shall we go and make a bottle?
08:02Yeah.
08:03Come on then.
08:04Until the swelling has gone down and the infection cleared,
08:07her lambs will need to be fed by us.
08:09Thankfully, a course of antibiotics should clear it up.
08:14We've done it in the past where there's kind of like a little capsule
08:18and it goes into the teats and you just shoot the fluid up there
08:22and that helps break down the mastitis and clear the infection out.
08:25It's pretty important that we get it, you know, we get onto it straight away, really.
08:30Right, let's see what we've got to make this bottle.
08:33What are you doing there?
08:34So, we need a bottle.
08:37We need a jug.
08:40We need a teat.
08:43And we need some milk.
08:46With four kids of our own,
08:48one thing Liz and I are dab hands at is making up bottles.
08:52So, this is just basically like formula, I guess,
08:55that you would give to babies, but it's designed for lambs.
08:59So, I'm just going to literally make a bottle like you would for a baby.
09:05And this year, our babies are now big enough to bottle feed the lambs.
09:09Let's hear us. Go give that to Dad.
09:14Oh, wow, is this the milk?
09:16Yeah.
09:17Ready to go.
09:20Hello, Mummy.
09:22Are you excited?
09:24Yeah.
09:26Let me say, come on, Nanny.
09:28Oh.
09:30Look.
09:33Now I just absolutely love how interested they are
09:36and how much they want to do it and be in the place.
09:38They're not scared of anything.
09:40Do you like that?
09:41Do you like that, man?
09:43Say, do you like that?
09:44Say yes.
09:45Did she say yes?
09:47They just instinctively take on a parental role and they're kind of like,
09:52are you all right, baby?
09:54No, they're babying themselves and they see themselves as the protector of this lamb and such a beautiful natural quality.
10:02Very hungry, wasn't it, Matthias?
10:05Yes.
10:07Oh, nice full belly.
10:09With the lamb content, a short course of antibiotics will clear the mastitis
10:13and the lambs will hopefully be latching on again in no time.
10:18The kids make these jobs way more fun, that is for sure.
10:31Right, Marnie, we're going to get Sonic out first.
10:32Come here.
10:33Come on.
10:34Hey.
10:35Hey.
10:36Hey.
10:37Hey.
10:38Hey.
10:39Hey.
10:40Cattle training for the Royal Cheshire Show is underway.
10:44Hey.
10:45Hey.
10:46Hey.
10:47Hey.
10:48Hey.
10:49Come on.
10:50Hey.
10:51Hey.
10:52Hey.
10:53Hey.
10:54Hey.
10:55Hey.
10:56Hey.
10:57Hey.
10:58Hey.
10:59Hey.
11:00Hey.
11:01Hey.
11:02Hey.
11:03Hey.
11:04Hey.
11:05Hey.
11:06This year, we've entered Sonic, Ray and Cherry, who's still yet to calf,
11:10into several categories, including young handlers.
11:14So to help build Marnit and Milo's confidence,
11:16we need to get them hands-on with the young calves.
11:23Sonic is, you know, is just over a year old.
11:29And although he's been on an altar, he's had a wash,
11:33he's been in a show ring, that was a year ago.
11:37And he was with his mum, so it's going to be very different for him this time.
11:41So now the time is to get him washed, get a lot of practising,
11:46get him on the altar and just get the kids walking around the yard with him.
11:50Right, come on then, kids.
11:52So job number one, sleeves up.
11:57The shows are not just about showing the animals, that's one aspect of it,
12:01but too, it's incredible for our kids to understand the importance of looking after your herd.
12:07A way of you having some sort of recognition of what you're doing with your farm
12:12and then when we do sell the produce afterwards,
12:17we are in, hopefully, award-winning.
12:21Oh, bubbles!
12:27Nice.
12:29He likes this.
12:31Oh, I've got the back-end job.
12:32It doesn't take four people to wash the cow, but you've got to designate yourself a job.
12:38They're all getting stuck in, it's good.
12:41Looking good, isn't it, Milo?
12:42What do you reckon, mate?
12:43Good.
12:44Yeah?
12:44I don't even know if this is for a cow.
12:46Oh, I've got a feeling this is a dog brush.
12:50Good lad, Milo.
12:53Excellent work.
12:55Let's give him a good scrub.
12:56Come on.
12:58But when the judge says,
12:59Guys, these animals look amazing,
13:03you can say,
13:05Well, yeah, we've washed them.
13:08That's it.
13:11We're good.
13:11So now we'll take Sonic for a little walk around the yard
13:18and we can all take it in turns, yeah?
13:22Are we ready?
13:30Looks terrible.
13:32Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
13:33Wait, look, you OK?
13:36Sonic is nearly three times the size and weight that he was last year
13:40and he's making sure I know it.
13:45Oh.
13:47You OK?
13:48Yeah?
13:49And it calls the cows.
13:51There's a lot of risk involved.
13:54They're fast, they're strong, they could drag you off easily.
13:57Kelvin has got balls of steel.
14:02Come on.
14:06Can't say I feel relaxed right now,
14:07but I'm trying to soak in the good vibes and be calm.
14:12With patience and practice,
14:14Sonic will soon learn not to pull on the halter
14:16and then it'll be safe for the kids to take the reins.
14:22It's just a slow process
14:24and that's why before the show,
14:26you want to be doing this every day.
14:29If you want to have a chance at the show,
14:31this is the absolute commitment you've got to have.
14:33And next time it will be that little bit easier
14:36and a bit easier
14:37and day after day it'll be easier.
14:40Should we get him in then?
14:42Yeah.
14:42Got to open the gate.
14:43Yeah.
14:45But there's no denying
14:47that there's a lot of work to do before showtime.
14:51One down, one to go.
14:52Keeping on top of farm maintenance
15:06is one of the hardest things to do.
15:11But we're lucky enough
15:12to have a rather special group of volunteers
15:14who love to lend a hand.
15:16How are we getting on, guys?
15:23We're doing well.
15:24But it's a great job
15:25and it's just as it's now come back again, hasn't it?
15:27Yeah, yeah.
15:28We've put it all back, didn't we, early in the year.
15:29It's just perfect for us, this.
15:31Got my own trimmers now, Darren.
15:33I'm going to be...
15:33These are my nan's trimmers.
15:35Oh, fantastic.
15:36They're extendable as well,
15:37which is pretty good for someone short like me.
15:39Yeah.
15:46So today, we've got people
15:50from the David Lewis Centre,
15:53a local charity.
15:54We have them here every single Thursday
15:56on the farm
15:57and helping with a variety of little jobs, really.
16:01As we're doing now,
16:02just cutting back some of the edges,
16:04keeping things neat and tidy.
16:05It's the allowing them to get out
16:07and come on our farm
16:09and just experience, you know,
16:11something a little bit different, really.
16:13Nearly two years ago,
16:14this local charity
16:15that provides accommodation and support
16:17for a wide range of adults
16:18with additional needs
16:19asked me to become an ambassador.
16:22And it's been such a great experience.
16:25There you go.
16:26Are you ready, Terrence?
16:27You're bringing your wheelbarrow up.
16:30As well as supporting fundraising events,
16:32they've become a big part
16:34of our lives on the farm too.
16:36Come rain or shine,
16:37they're here.
16:38We're smiles on their faces
16:39and collectively,
16:40they just seem to love it.
16:43I guess it helps us as well
16:44the upkeep of a farm is huge.
16:49It's not been easy
16:50for us as a family
16:52these last few months.
16:52It's been really challenging at times
16:54and because of the fire,
16:55so to have little jobs like this
16:57kind of have help with,
16:59it's made a massive impact.
17:01you know, impacts.
17:03Every week,
17:05a few adults
17:05and their support workers
17:06like Darren
17:07get hands-on helping.
17:11So, Aidan loves this type of job,
17:13just cutting back.
17:14Chris will enjoy that.
17:15Paul likes his more manual things.
17:17Yeah.
17:18Aidan, keep going a bit further up now.
17:21That's it.
17:21Here, here, here.
17:22You're doing well there, Aidan.
17:23Paul's lived with us for many years
17:29and he's been telling me
17:30for many years
17:31about how he's gone to Lyme Park
17:32and done a dry stone walling course,
17:34but you've never been able
17:34to test it, have we?
17:36So, last week,
17:37when we saw the fallen wall,
17:38I said to Paul,
17:40are you up for it?
17:41And what did you say?
17:42Definitely.
17:42Definitely.
17:47That's actually better
17:48than what it was
17:48originally, I think.
17:50Do you enjoy doing this?
17:51Oh, definitely, yeah.
17:52Yeah.
17:53It brings back memories
17:54of my granddad, my dad,
17:56and we used to hold
17:57the fallen wall, son.
17:58So, that's why you're
17:59so good at it then, is it?
18:03He's in his happy place there,
18:05just rebuilding the wall.
18:07So, you know,
18:08that's a little moments like that
18:10that, you know,
18:10make this whole partnership,
18:12if you like, worthwhile.
18:14And I've just got wind
18:15of an opportunity
18:16to raise some money
18:17this weekend.
18:18I'm hoping Darren
18:19and the team will support.
18:20So, I've entered
18:22a local rugby
18:23tournament
18:24and playing
18:27for David Lewis.
18:28Oh, fantastic.
18:29Right.
18:29So, um,
18:31I'm not asking you
18:32if you've got any rugby boots.
18:34Unless you fancy a game,
18:35I don't know.
18:36You know what?
18:37I'm not as fit as you
18:38where the rugby's concerned.
18:39There's a few lads
18:46in the team
18:46who are
18:47in their day
18:49they were
18:51they were,
18:52like I'm saying this,
18:53but they were world class.
18:55The likes of
18:56Danny Maguire,
18:58Gareth Ellis.
19:01But,
19:02there's one spot to fill.
19:05I'm going to hopefully
19:06pull in a big favour.
19:08He's a very good friend of mine
19:09and an ex-rugby league player
19:11as well.
19:13Mr. Mark Flanagan.
19:15His dad
19:15played rugby
19:16for Oldham
19:17and for Great Britain.
19:20And Flash carried
19:20that rugby tradition on
19:21and he started playing
19:22and he inherited
19:23the name Flash as well.
19:26He's not fast.
19:27So, I don't know,
19:28I still to this day
19:29know,
19:29I don't know why
19:30he's called Flash.
19:33Hello, laddie.
19:35What do you want?
19:36Never mind,
19:37what do I want?
19:38I'm calling for a favour.
19:40Right.
19:42But I've entered a team
19:44and
19:44we need the final player.
19:47We need the final piece
19:47of the puzzle.
19:48Will you be it?
19:50Uh,
19:50when is it?
19:54In two days' time.
19:56Two days?
19:59For you, Kelvin,
20:01yes.
20:01You're in?
20:02You're in?
20:03Yeah, anything for you, lad.
20:04Right, OK, then.
20:05All right.
20:06Love you, lad.
20:06See you, lad.
20:07Love you, lad, mate.
20:08Drap, bye-bye.
20:11We've got him.
20:12We've got him.
20:14Mark Flanagan.
20:16A fellow Oldham lad.
20:17The Farmyard Flyers
20:18are at full strength.
20:20We've got a full team.
20:22Two days' prep.
20:27It's the worst that can happen.
20:29It's called the Farmer's Carry.
20:51It's actually a workout, that.
20:53People are doing the gym.
20:54Who needs a gym when you're on the farm?
20:56After how Houdini heard breach the fences of our paddock,
20:59I'm out doing a temporary fix on the gap
21:01by putting up some electric fencing
21:03while they're back in the barn for halter training.
21:05I'm not the first farmer,
21:08and I won't be the last farmer
21:10to have animals escape.
21:15That'll do.
21:16As daft as it sounds,
21:18this is the stuff that,
21:19when you're inexperienced,
21:21this is the stuff that kind of catches you out a little bit
21:23because a lot of farmers who are generational,
21:26have done this with mum and dad or nan and granddad.
21:29We're constantly having to kind of figure it out for ourselves
21:31and learn on the job, really.
21:35And what we've learnt with our cows
21:36is that the weaning process is challenging
21:39and our usually passive Lincoln Reds
21:41will pretty much charge through anything to stay together.
21:47I mean, I'm always surprised how high cows can jump.
21:50This is, what, three and a half, four,
21:52and they'll just spring that like they're a gazelle.
21:54Those cows need to get to a point in their life
21:56from kind of nine months old
21:57to stand up for themselves, really.
21:59So the weaning process is absolutely crucial, really.
22:03Part of that process is obviously separating them
22:05and making sure that they stay separated.
22:10Right.
22:12Let's get an energiser on it.
22:13Who wants zapping?
22:16The electric current runs through this simple rope
22:19and gives off a low-level shock
22:21that's enough to act as a deterrent for the cows.
22:25So what we do, we're just going to hang this.
22:29We have the green that goes to the earth.
22:31I'll put a little earth stake in.
22:33So that earth's the current.
22:37And then we'll get that on there.
22:40And then we've got our terminals here.
22:45Red to positive, black to negative.
22:48And then I've got a little device
22:49just to check what sort of voltage it's throwing out.
22:52So we'll get it connected first.
22:54Oh, so that's showing 7,000 volts.
23:04And it's enough to, like, eesh!
23:077,000, I reckon that would give me...
23:10Yeah, I reckon that would probably, yeah.
23:12It's tempting us to touch it though and it
23:14just to see what it would feel like, but no.
23:16And I don't recommend doing that at home.
23:21The shock is at a safe level and won't harm the cows.
23:24Just send them a strong enough signal
23:25that they need to stay in this field.
23:28All done.
23:29Electric fence up.
23:31It's working 7,000 volts.
23:34So that'll certainly keep the cows at bay.
23:36It's another beautiful spring day on the farm.
23:53And we're all up and at it and ready for anything.
23:59Oh, look at you in them shoes.
24:02Not used to being in them.
24:03Where's your wellies, Kelvin?
24:05We look too hot, isn't it, for wellies?
24:07It seems that Liz doesn't think I'm quite ready.
24:12I bet you've had them shoes 20 years.
24:14They're so old that they're now back in fashion.
24:16You know that, don't you?
24:17Are they?
24:18Yeah.
24:20Fashion guru, Kelvin.
24:22Wear it for long enough and it will come back in fashion.
24:24There's your tip.
24:27Liz is right.
24:29I probably should have wore my wellies
24:30as this next job could get very messy.
24:33Yeah, a big thing we talk about farming is poo.
24:37Sheep poo.
24:38But today we're going to get the sheep in
24:41so we can collect some samples.
24:44They're checking the poo for worms, basically.
24:47Because worms are a big problem for sheep.
24:48And if you get too many, it is deadly.
24:50Last year we lost quite a few lambs, so now it's a bit warmer.
24:56We're just going to be as proactive as possible
24:59and try and pre-empt any sort of worm issues.
25:04Which means today's task is simple.
25:06Gloves on.
25:10Pick up poo.
25:13Send it down to the vets.
25:15They'll examine it.
25:17Give us a reading.
25:18If they need a drenching, we drench them.
25:21If they don't, then that's it.
25:23It's good news.
25:26Drenching is basically the way we administer medicine to the flock.
25:31Into their mouths using a dispenser.
25:34Come on, Ginger.
25:38So, in an attempt to build up the flock's resilience,
25:41we've waited to treat.
25:46And the samples we collect today
25:48will let us know how well the flock are faring.
25:51So, we need to get these hurdles off.
25:54First, we need to build our holding pen
25:56before we herd them down.
25:58And we have a mixed track record of this going well.
26:01I'm not going to get involved in the plan today.
26:04I'm going to do exactly what Kelvin says.
26:08Which will be music to his ears.
26:10The sun's shining.
26:12You know, we'll go with the flow.
26:13Line them up separate, babe.
26:14Six footers and four footers.
26:17What a gorgeous day to be working together.
26:19We've still not got a sheep handling system.
26:22That's the problem.
26:23But other things happen,
26:26and then you end up spending your money on something else.
26:31It's not as warm as it looks, is it?
26:33No.
26:34Wear this.
26:35Oh.
26:36I've got two T-shirts on.
26:37Oh.
26:39You're such a jank, Kelvin.
26:40Look at that, eh?
26:47There we go.
26:50Now I'm dressed for farming.
26:52Right, so this is our...
26:54corridor.
26:56Once we've got all the sheep in here,
26:59we're going to open the gate.
27:02Like so.
27:03That gate's closed at the bottom,
27:05and we'll fill this up.
27:06What could possibly go wrong?
27:08Right, I think that's it, darling.
27:10I know.
27:10All this for some poo.
27:12You ready?
27:13No.
27:14Right.
27:15Come on.
27:16Sheep here.
27:17Don't forget.
27:19Teamwork makes the...
27:21Dreamwork.
27:22Just remember, no matter what,
27:25you still love me.
27:26I still love you.
27:26I've got to keep reminding myself that.
27:28Mind yourself.
27:29When you're dealing with sheep,
27:30just remember you love your wife.
27:32Remember, your wife's not against you,
27:35she's with you.
27:36That's the hardest thing to remember.
27:38When you're dealing with sheep,
27:39remember that you still love each other.
27:41LAUGHTER
27:41The flock are scattered around our top field,
27:51so my job is to drive them down to Liz
27:53so we can herd them into the new pens.
27:56These are those jobs.
27:57It's intense.
27:58It's really serious.
28:00It's, you know, really important.
28:02And these are moments where you have to focus.
28:06And I get distracted quite a bit sometimes.
28:09And they'll be like, Liz!
28:10LAUGHTER
28:10I'm like, oh, a butterfly!
28:14LAUGHTER
28:15With almost 100 sheep and lambs
28:27and just the two of us,
28:29there's no time for daydreaming.
28:31Come on, little lamb, that way.
28:34Just as I thought,
28:35the sheep just do whatever they want.
28:37And the lambs are all calling,
28:38so they all split up,
28:39but we'll get there.
28:50Come on.
28:54LAUGHTER
28:55First part of the job is done.
29:01Next, it's time to collect the poo samples.
29:03Did I really say this was the life we dreamt of?
29:16The sun's shining,
29:17the sheep are behaving,
29:20and while Liz and I round them up
29:22to collect samples to test for worms,
29:24back at the farm, Milo is on feeding duties.
29:28There it is.
29:31One, two, three!
29:36Whoo!
29:39I've got to feed the chicken!
29:43There we go.
29:46Let's go.
29:49Jump, jump! Come on!
29:52It's great that Milo is now old enough
29:55to take one of the many farm jobs off my hands.
29:58All I've got to do is...
30:01put that like that...
30:04and give them something.
30:13Then let's get the lid.
30:17We can do that.
30:19Ba-ba-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba-da-ba-da.
30:25Right.
30:26All done!
30:31When you hear
30:32a cro-clun
30:34do cro-c-a-daw-da-da-daw,
30:37it means
30:38to another chicken's
30:40quick, there's danger.
30:42Back up at the top of the farm, we've moved our entire flock of sheep into a holding
30:56pen.
30:57Our next task is collecting fresh poo samples to get tested by the Vet for Worms.
31:02Look at these little wows!
31:05Oh, you're so cute!
31:13The lambs are still only a few weeks old, and this is a good opportunity to check how they're
31:17getting on.
31:18Go on then.
31:19Lamb.
31:20These were our first triplets.
31:23Look at the size of them now.
31:26Really good long legs, beautiful face.
31:30My and his little Jacobs are so cute.
31:33They are so cute.
31:37It's absolutely exhausting doing this, it's physical work.
31:41Old Farman is physical work.
31:44Now we've got to take the poo samples.
31:45How far are you going in?
31:46I thought you were just picking up off the floor.
31:57Sample number one.
31:58We've got to get ten different samples from across the ewes.
32:02We get the mums in this side, so we know that the poo in this section is from the mum.
32:07And we know that the poo in that section is from the lamb.
32:09So when we're checking it, you know...
32:11Are you enjoying that?
32:14That is...
32:15Kids are...
32:16One, two, three, four, five.
32:18Five.
32:19You've got to get five more.
32:20Five more.
32:21Here you go.
32:22Three.
32:23Three good ones there.
32:25I'll just spot the poo because I'll make you collect it.
32:28It's amazing how there's any romance left in our relationship.
32:31Well, there is.
32:32He's still there.
32:33I've seen you do some things in my time.
32:36This is a day day, isn't it?
32:38Oh, me and Liz had a lovely day together the other day.
32:42Wow, what did you do?
32:43We just picked up a load of poo together.
32:46We didn't want that.
32:47Well spotted.
32:49Grass-fed.
32:50That's the ew poo taken care of, and now we need ten samples from the lambs.
32:56Do you want to do five and I'll do five?
32:58No, honestly, you can have that one.
33:00You're doing a great job.
33:02Which is easier said than done.
33:04I found one on the floor so far, which is obviously not ideal.
33:09I'm going to have to actually go into the lambs bum and...
33:13Just give me a little finger.
33:17Pick the poo out.
33:18You need gloves on?
33:19Yeah, I'm going to get a glove on.
33:20Oh, my God.
33:21Won't be letting him cook my dinner again if he does it that way.
33:23This is something the vet's done in the past.
33:26We've never actually done it.
33:28We take his lamb samples before, we've always just taken it from the ewes
33:32and it's there in abundance on the floor.
33:34It's just not that easy.
33:39Sheep.
33:40Time to phone the vet for some advice.
33:44Hello, it's Kelvin.
33:46We're just trying to get some poo samples from the lambs.
33:50I'm struggling to get my hand in there to get a sample.
33:53So, glove on, it's just one finger with a lamb.
34:00Yeah.
34:01But it can be, if there's nothing there,
34:03it can be a bit difficult to actually collect it.
34:06I'm still in a smaller hand.
34:08And how's the best way of doing it?
34:10Do we need to put any lube on?
34:11It's a bit nicer, isn't it?
34:12You've just got to kind of, yeah, literally wiggle about a bit
34:16so you can get a look at it.
34:18All right, great stuff.
34:20We'll give it a go.
34:21Brilliant.
34:22All right, well, thank you very much for that.
34:23All right.
34:24Cheers.
34:25Bye-bye.
34:26Cheers.
34:27I like that.
34:28My hands are too big.
34:29You need delicate, cute, little, beautiful hands.
34:33Do you know anyone?
34:35But that little finger...
34:36I'll do it for the lamb.
34:37Yeah.
34:38Oh, good.
34:39I'll do it for the life of the lamb.
34:41That's the spirit, Liz.
34:43Right, you just make sure it don't kick.
34:46Oh, God!
34:47Are you in?
34:48He's just like, erm...
34:49There's no poo there.
34:50I don't think there's any poo there.
34:51Right, just have a feel.
34:52Have a good root round.
34:53No, you can't just have a root round.
34:54No, you can't just have a root round.
34:55That's not nice.
34:56Would you like someone to stick a finger up your bum?
34:57Yeah.
34:58Just use your little finger.
34:59There's no poo there.
35:00You think...
35:01I don't think there's any poo there.
35:02Right, just have a feel.
35:03Have a good root round.
35:04No, you can't just have a root round.
35:05That's not nice.
35:06Would you like someone to stick a finger up your bum?
35:08Yeah.
35:14Just use your little finger.
35:15There's no poo there.
35:16Oh, God.
35:17Oh, God.
35:18There's no poo there.
35:19Look, there's no poo on my finger.
35:20There's no poo there.
35:21We've dealt with enough dirty nappies to not be afraid of a bit of poo.
35:25But these samples aren't easy to get.
35:28So we'll take what we have to the vets and hope it's enough to test for worms.
35:41You check this at the vets.
35:42That's...
35:43That's...
35:44One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
35:48Ten samples of you poo.
35:50Gorgeous.
35:51And just one sample of lamb poo.
35:54Right.
35:56I'll see you later.
35:57Good day.
35:58I'll let you know.
35:59Good news on the worms.
36:00Yeah.
36:01Or bad news.
36:02Today, we're getting our young calves used to being on the halter, ahead of their appearance
36:15in this year's Cheshire Show.
36:16Come on, Ray.
36:17Little Ray's not even a year old.
36:18He's a baby.
36:19But he's a big, powerful baby.
36:20So you've just got to have that respect, especially when you've got kids around.
36:21He's a lovely calf.
36:22He's a lovely calf.
36:23He is a lovely calf.
36:24Isn't it?
36:25Isn't it?
36:26He's got a lovely calf, isn't it?
36:27He's got a lovely calf.
36:28He likes this.
36:29He's got a lovely calf.
36:30He's got a lovely calf.
36:31He's got a lovely calf.
36:32He likes this.
36:33It seems like Ray is, I mean, he's behaving impeccably now.
36:34I think, for the kindness of the calf, I think, for the kindness of the calf, he's a baby.
36:35He's a baby, but he's a big, powerful baby.
36:38So you've just got to have that respect, especially when you've got kids around.
36:47He's a lovely calf.
36:48He is lovely.
36:49Isn't he?
36:50It's got a lovely colour, isn't it?
36:52He likes this.
36:55It seems like Ray is, I mean, he's behaving impeccably now.
37:01I think for the kindness of the wash today, the cow wash, I think Ray wins.
37:08He's certainly been the easier of the two.
37:10I might take him for a little bit of a walk.
37:13The young calves are nowhere near ready for the kids to take the reins, but there's always
37:18other jobs they can help us do to get them show ready.
37:21What I'm going to do now, Marnie, I want you to pretend that you're the judge.
37:27You're the stock judge.
37:29This is my calf.
37:31I'm going to walk him round the yard, and I want you to stand in the middle and be watching
37:36us both.
37:37We'll have a rehearsal.
37:38A practice...
37:39A practice show.
37:42And next up is...
37:45The Lincoln Rex.
37:47Come on.
37:49Come on.
37:50Come on.
37:51Come on.
37:52Come on.
37:53Come on.
37:54Come on.
37:58Come on.
37:59Right, stand there.
38:01Right.
38:02Can I hold the stick?
38:03Yeah.
38:04Right, are we ready?
38:06So make sure his feet are square.
38:08I think you did a great job.
38:10You're very good at controlling him.
38:12What breed is he?
38:14A Lincoln Red.
38:15How old is he?
38:17He's approaching one.
38:19I love how you stopped when he needed to stop.
38:22I don't know if he's quite up to having one of you guys walking him yet.
38:27I think we still need to do a little bit more training with him.
38:30Because he's even pulling daddy around.
38:32Trying to dominate dad.
38:34No one dominates dad.
38:36No one dominates dad.
38:38I'm the boss.
38:40I've no doubt Marnie will be the boss of these calves soon enough.
38:45And bring home another win for the Fletcher herd.
38:49I actually feel like Ray handled it very well.
38:52I hope, fingers crossed, that we win again.
38:55But I would like another wall of rosettes.
38:59So, yeah, this is going to be the wall of champions.
39:04Today the whole family is taking a break from farm work.
39:23Trading hay bales for rugby balls.
39:26As they come and cheer me on in a local rugby tournament.
39:29So, Kelvin's put a team together.
39:32So, they're going to play rugby for the incredible charity,
39:35which is David Lewis.
39:36They come to the farm once a week.
39:38We've kind of set them little jobs on the farm
39:40that just gets them outside, gives them a bit of independence.
39:43So, we're here.
39:44We're playing something called Rugby Sevens,
39:46which I've never heard of before.
39:47Kelvin's got his team together.
39:48He's got a good set up over there.
39:50And we're here as a family.
39:52The sun's out.
39:53It's glorious.
39:54The local charity work with adults and young people
39:57with additional needs.
39:59And today, they're here supporting us too.
40:02I'm really excited.
40:03Really excited.
40:04I don't think it's something we're going to win.
40:06But, you know, we'll have a good time and we'll have a good laugh.
40:09This is your kit, Anton.
40:10This is some goodies in there.
40:12Oh, perfect.
40:13You've got our playing kit.
40:14Shorts, socks and a top.
40:16And you've also got a candle.
40:17Oh, nice.
40:18Oh, and a candle.
40:19Yeah, I forgot about that, actually, yeah.
40:20Everyone's for the girlfriends.
40:21Have you got them a scissor?
40:22Yeah, yeah, she's coming down.
40:23Well, there you go.
40:24I may not have much experience on a rugby pitch,
40:27but luckily, I know a few people who have.
40:30So I've signed up ex-England players Danny Maguire
40:33and Gareth Ellis, along with experience forward Mark Flanagan.
40:37When lads get together, their banter is so much fun.
40:42They're all comedians, aren't they?
40:44I think Kelvin's definitely going to get a bit of stick today
40:47because he's not amazing at rugby.
40:49He should probably stick to chasing sheep around,
40:51not rugby balls.
40:54The teams will play each other in turns
40:56in rounds of quick 14-minute games.
40:59It's fast, fun, and I'm just hoping I can keep up.
41:04Firstly, thank you for all...
41:06It's proper team talk, isn't it?
41:08Genuinely, you know, thanks for coming here
41:10to have a good time today.
41:12We're here to have fun, but ultimately,
41:14putting ourselves out of our comfort zone,
41:15people are, as you'll know, doing that day in, day out.
41:17So that's kind of the spirit of the game.
41:19Let's just have some fun.
41:21Let's just have a good laugh.
41:22And the one thing we have to do...
41:24We have to beat at least one team.
41:26Yeah? Right, then.
41:28Come on, all in.
41:29Farmyard Flyers on three.
41:31One, two, three.
41:33Farmyard Flyers!
41:36Team talk done, now it's game time.
41:39And I've been benched by the team captain,
41:41Mike Flanagan.
41:43Kelvin's not made the first team
41:44because they don't really know what he's doing.
41:46He's an actor, he's a farmer, he's a great dancer.
41:48Well, when it comes to rugby,
41:49I'm not quite sure he knows what he's doing,
41:51so I think it's a good chance for people
41:52who might be a bit more experienced like these guys.
41:54Kelvin can get his notepad out
41:56and make a few pointers and see how it goes.
41:59My own team, I've not even made the starting line-up.
42:03I think I've become player-coach now, yeah, player-coach.
42:07I've not barked a single command yet, though.
42:13With the whole family supporting me
42:15and the Farmyard Flyers, the games get underway.
42:26So the good news is we're raising lots of money,
42:28but the bad news is that they're losing.
42:30Hopefully people will feel sorry for me
42:32and put in more money.
42:34After being benched for the first half,
42:36I finally get in on the action
42:38and a chance to salvage some pride.
42:41Push, push, push, push!
42:43These lads are big, but they're not as big as the cows,
42:45and I've seen him sort them out.
42:46He'll be all right.
42:47He'll be all right.
42:48But what is it they say pride comes before?
42:51Whoo!
42:52I got pummel good there, didn't I?
42:57Took you out.
42:59Remind me of that time that sheep took me out.
43:01That was just what he was like.
43:02Do you remember?
43:03We just don't look at the rules.
43:05Just get the ball and run.
43:06That's all you've got to do.
43:07I think we should have gone into the social competition.
43:10Oh, you're in the wrong one.
43:11You're in the professional.
43:13Oh, God.
43:14One solid tackle later,
43:16and I'm feeling a little worse for wear.
43:18Little injury.
43:21I'm hoping, fingers crossed, I've not,
43:24but it feels like I've tore my bicep.
43:26Kind of.
43:27Yeah.
43:28So, erm...
43:31Not exactly ideal timing,
43:33especially with a Cheshire show fast approaching.
43:37Man's injured.
43:38Oh, come here.
43:41Oh, do you need looking after?
43:43I do, actually, yeah.
43:44I'll see if I know any bad ones.
43:48My main concern is,
43:49can you still pull the cow on Tuesday?
43:51That's what I'm worried about.
43:52They have to get you in.
43:53Oh, God.
43:54Super sub.
43:55I don't know if he's pulled a muscle,
43:57snapped the tendon.
43:59Whatever's happened,
44:00I want to make sure that he can lead the cow.
44:03Erm,
44:04it's the arm that you would lead the cow on as well.
44:07So,
44:09yeah,
44:10we'll have to get him strapped up
44:11and make sure he's all right.
44:14With the last game played,
44:15time to announce how the Farmyard Flyers got on.
44:18Right, guys.
44:19Well,
44:20thank you for today.
44:21Er,
44:22I've just found out we came fifth out of six,
44:23so,
44:24I think that's the result.
44:25We had,
44:26we had,
44:27we had, yeah.
44:28Yeah,
44:29round of applause.
44:30Yeah, yeah, yeah.
44:31Finally,
44:32and I think mostly Paul,
44:33I just want to say thank you to Darren,
44:34and everybody at David Lewis,
44:35for turning out today.
44:36Hopefully you've had some good engagement with people,
44:38and,
44:39good bit of fundraising.
44:40Yep.
44:41That's what it's all about.
44:43All in all,
44:44despite the bruises,
44:45it's been a fantastic day.
44:46Now,
44:47if someone could kindly direct me to the nearest A&E,
44:50that would be great.
44:52It's been a good day.
44:53Weather's been good.
44:54Everyone's smiling.
44:55Everyone's happy.
44:56But we have got an handful of injuries.
44:58There's going to be some soul bodies tomorrow.
45:00My biggest concern now is getting fit for Cheshire Shaw,
45:03for cow duties,
45:04so we'll have to see how it goes.
45:06So,
45:07thanks again,
45:08guys.
45:09Hopefully this is the first of many,
45:10so,
45:11cheers to you all.
45:12Cheers, guys.
45:13Cheers, boys.
45:20Next time,
45:21on our farm,
45:22Liz and the twins bust out their funkiest moves
45:25in a desperate bid to summon some rain.
45:27Cheshire!
45:32Go to the rain!
45:36We find ourselves turning to some unconventional
45:39halter training techniques.
45:41Good boy!
45:43Good boy!
45:44And now I find myself trying to explain
45:47the romantic escapades of sheep.
45:49This year,
45:50when you send Viper out,
45:52he's not just got three girlfriends,
45:54he might have ten.
45:56Animals are weird.
45:58Yeah.
45:59Like, cringey.
46:06Good boy!
46:07Hope everyone fulfilling.
46:08Fantastic.
46:09Thank you so much!
46:11For more information,
46:12there are
46:34Oh,
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