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00:00And we've fallen for this way of life, hook, line and sinker.
00:08Oh, can you keep this?
00:11Right, Milo, let's get some jobs done.
00:14Farming's a breeze, compared to having four kids.
00:19We're surrounded by the spectacular peat district.
00:23As far as an office goes, it's pretty good, isn't it?
00:27With ancient woodlands and rolling hills as their playground.
00:38This year, we've big plans to increase our flock and herd.
00:47Can I ride on him?
00:49Oh, you can't ride on him, no.
00:51Whilst 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 fan song.
01:00And 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, our nerves are on edge as vet Hugo checks our herd.
01:28Big day today, TB results day, so naturally this is where the nerves kick in.
01:34Because, you know, it can be devastating.
01:37And we also keep everything crossed for the pitter-patter of tiny hooves.
01:41This is the next test.
01:42We've got to get Ruby in and find out, one, if she's back in calf and two, when she's due.
01:47Mateus gets stuck into some farm jobs.
01:50It's quite heavy. Heavy, isn't it?
01:52I'm stronger.
01:53You are stronger.
01:54Because I eat my dinner.
01:57Yes.
01:58All of it.
01:59And I have grand plans to become the greatest showman in Cheshire.
02:04I could create a farm musical.
02:07It could almost be our story.
02:10Two actors.
02:12What?
02:14Kelvin, we've got enough to do.
02:16We're not creating a farm banto.
02:29A new day means more newborns.
02:34And our twins, Maximus and Mateus, are helping to protect the lambs against infection by spraying them with iodine.
02:41Good lad.
02:42Are we going?
02:43Good lad.
02:44Put it down.
02:45And what's that?
02:47That's a little girl.
02:49That's a ewe lamb.
02:50And that's yours, Maximus.
02:52So you can name her.
02:53Good boy.
02:54Hiya, mami.
02:55Hiya, mami.
02:56Hiya.
02:57Hiya.
02:58Right, Mateus, you spray that one, darling.
03:01Good lad.
03:04And this one is a little girl too.
03:07What do you want to call her?
03:08Diet.
03:09Diet.
03:10Okay, mate.
03:12And while Milo is on cleaning duties, Marnie is heading to the paddock to check on her young Jacobs.
03:20Come on.
03:21Come on.
03:22Come on sheep.
03:23Come on.
03:24Come on.
03:25Come on.
03:26Come on.
03:27So the Jacobs are running towards me.
03:33The sheep walks in great shape already.
03:37All of her lambs arrived without a hitch, and they've been turned out to enjoy the fresh spring grass in the sunshine.
03:43There's this one sheep, and I meant to have another two double, but I don't know where the second one is.
03:50One, two, three, four.
03:52I need one more.
03:53Where's my other one?
03:55Another one.
03:56This year, Marnie is flying solo with her flock, and we couldn't be prouder of the work she's putting in to rear them.
04:03My lambing season was quite good.
04:05I think the lambs came out very good.
04:08Just one little lamb's a bit slim, but we can get that.
04:12The first time when I was lambing, it felt like a bit nerve-wracking.
04:17I was just like really worried, really scared, but I feel very proud.
04:21I think they've lambed very well. I think they've done a great job.
04:26Marnie's hues have produced five healthy boys.
04:29All Marnie needs to do now is make sure they're all present and correct and growing well.
04:34The plan is to get some more sheep, so then when I've got enough sheep, I can then make lamb boxes, my lamb boxes, Marnie lamb boxes.
04:44Or I can give them to market.
04:48Want to make some more?
04:50Right, I've got to look for that last lamb.
04:55Right.
04:56I think my children's lecture.
04:58While Marnie channels my sheep wrangling skills, the twins are helping to settle the next set of newborns.
05:05What we're going to do now, we've set the pen up ready, so we're going to take the two lambs and the mummy will hopefully follow.
05:12So I want you boys to get a lamb each. Show me your muscles before you pick... Big muscles, yeah? Big muscles, right.
05:18You can have that one.
05:23A bit strong.
05:24Two hands.
05:25You'll have to help Max, babe, cos you can help two.
05:27And a baby.
05:28Strong, be strong, mate.
05:29Come on.
05:30There we go.
05:31Come on.
05:32Come on.
05:33Come on.
05:34There you go.
05:35In you go.
05:36Shut.
05:37Yay.
05:38Well done.
05:39Well done, kids.
05:41Well done.
05:42High five.
05:44Right.
05:45All my Jacobs are over there.
05:47So that's three.
05:49One, two, five.
05:52So I've got five.
05:54To be fair with you, they all, all the sheep, my dad and mine, they all look pretty healthy.
06:01Who's the cutest out of you two?
06:17With the animals all fed and watered, we can turn our attention to the next big task on
06:22our to-do list.
06:24Good lad.
06:25While Marnie and Milo are at school, they get a bit of them time with us.
06:29We get to get all the attention.
06:31We need one more little piece of wood.
06:34Hey, that was good.
06:37The work on renovating the farmhouse has been delayed while the insurance claim gets sorted.
06:42But that hasn't stopped us exploring other renovation work that we can do in the meantime.
06:48So it should be warm, dry, practical.
06:52But still have that rustic farm feel.
06:54Yeah, yeah.
06:56We're always exploring new ways to generate revenue.
07:00With that in mind, we're turning our focus to the barn.
07:03And we have some exciting plans in the works.
07:06But we need to get cracking.
07:08So this was our old stable block.
07:11And we've decided to kind of convert it into a bit of an event space, all-encompassing space
07:17that we can have our little farm events here.
07:21But the biggest thing is we've actually agreed to have a wedding here in September, four months away.
07:28I know.
07:29When we agreed to it, it felt like it was years away.
07:32And now it's come round quickly, hasn't it?
07:35They asked us 12 months ago, and we were like, oh, it'll be done by April.
07:39We have had a house fire.
07:40We have had a house fire.
07:42Let's not forget that.
07:43The plan this year was to do this barn.
07:46What we're doing this year is not only farming, but doing this barn and rebuilding our own house.
07:51True.
07:52Having had a fire, so we've had...
07:54There's been a lot.
07:55There's been a few curveballs, but...
07:56There's a lot on the list.
07:57You know.
07:58With a big day fast approaching, Liz is letting her creative juices run wild,
08:04working her magic to turn this tired old barn into a glamorous wedding venue.
08:09I just want everything to be like wood inside.
08:13So basically how it looks outside, but on the inside.
08:16So you don't see any of the brick.
08:18A nice concrete floor.
08:21And then I want some really old antique, if I can find any, barn doors on both sides.
08:28So we'll have two nice antiquey barn doors on there.
08:31Sweet doors.
08:32All right, okay.
08:33So this needs ripping out?
08:34Yeah, we're going to get rid of all that.
08:35So it's just a full, empty space.
08:38We've always said there's so much potential.
08:40So this is phase one.
08:42Get it ready for September for the wedding.
08:44And hopefully, you know, who knows, it might be...
08:48We might have more weddings in the future.
08:50We just need to have a clear plan.
08:51I mean, they were excited about it looking like this.
08:54They were like, this is fine.
08:56We got married in an old decommissioned church, which was, again, not a barn, but an empty space that we decorated the way we wanted.
09:04And I think that's the vision that we have here, that this is an empty space and whatever we do here, we can decorate the way we want.
09:11I mean, we've been married 10 years this year.
09:14We could get remarried here.
09:15It's 10 years this year, isn't it?
09:17Hey, we could have a party here for our anniversary.
09:19Oh, we could, yeah.
09:20Couldn't we have a 10-year anniversary in here?
09:22We could have...
09:23Why don't we do that?
09:24...a 10-year anniversary party in the barn.
09:26Party, yeah.
09:27Yeah.
09:2828th of November.
09:29We should do it.
09:30That's a good idea.
09:31Oh, my God, shall I wear my wedding dress?
09:34Don't even know where it is.
09:37But first things first is someone else's wedding.
09:40After talking through the plan, it's become clear we've got a massive job ahead of us.
09:45Think less, weekend project, more epic transformation.
09:51First things first, empty the barn.
09:54So, over the next few days, this barn's got to be completely cleared out.
09:58Yeah.
09:59Operation Barn, that's what I like.
10:02The countdown starts.
10:03Right.
10:04Let's go.
10:25Today I've got my farming apprentice, Matthias, helping me with a few odd jobs on the farm.
10:30I'd say this is that he's a proper farmer.
10:33I'm not a betting man, but if I was to place a bet as to which one of the four children would
10:40be the first in line to take over the Fletcher farm, he'd be this lad.
10:47He's not shy of a bit of hard work and he just loves being outside.
10:53What I used to do is go to my dad's work with him.
10:56He used to work with trucks as a diesel fitter.
10:59And I'd just be there passing in spanners and passes a 12 mil and I'd have, you know, that was just my...
11:05And I loved it.
11:06I was his little apprentice.
11:08And I kind of sensed that, you know, Matthias is like that with me, really.
11:12Anything with an engine.
11:14And, of course, he's already got his own tractor that we're doing up at the minute.
11:19Do you remember that tractor we bought?
11:20Yeah.
11:21Yeah.
11:22That'll be ready soon, hopefully.
11:23And then you can drive it.
11:25On my own.
11:26Yeah, you can...
11:27You don't need daddy.
11:28That'd be good, wouldn't it?
11:29Matthias might have to wait a little while before getting behind the wheel of a vintage tractor we bought the twins last year.
11:39But right now, there's a few more jobs to do before I get to that.
11:45After collecting the old fencing from the paddock, it's now ready for sorting.
11:51It's a bit of a long-winded job, this one.
11:54Some of the waste wood is going to be used in our bonfire at the end of the year.
12:02And all the good bits, we're going to...
12:05Should I say Liz is going to design kind of like a bench table,
12:11which will hopefully go in our events barn and provide the seating.
12:16This has to be done because we've obviously got some events happening at the farm in our event space very soon,
12:22starting with a wedding in September, and then hopefully a few more after that, so...
12:27People are going to need somewhere to sit and have their dinner, aren't they?
12:30So all this stuff, we need to pull the nails out, give them a good sanding down.
12:35And I've got a nice little job that Matthias can help me with,
12:39just like the jobs my dad used to give me.
12:42See this nail, how it's all crooked, I need to take that out.
12:45How?
12:46Well, I'm going to show you. This is called a crowbar.
12:49To get the nail out? To get the nail out, yeah, feel it.
12:52It's quite heavy.
12:55It's heavy, isn't it?
12:56I'm stronger.
12:57You are stronger.
12:58Because I eat my dinner.
13:01Yes.
13:02All of it.
13:03All of it, yeah.
13:04So what's that called?
13:05A crowbar.
13:06So we get it like this.
13:08Yeah.
13:09And then, we pull up.
13:17See?
13:18It's the big one.
13:21It's the big nail, we just got it out.
13:23What we do now with that big nail, we go and put it in that blue box,
13:26so nobody stands in it.
13:27Why?
13:28Because that's what we do with all the old nails.
13:30And the cows will stand in it?
13:32Then the cows won't stand in it.
13:34So go on, go and put that in that blue box.
13:43Another one.
13:46That's it.
13:49One.
13:50Two.
13:54All the nails are out.
13:59Yeah.
14:00My little handyman is soaking up skills
14:02that I'm hoping will prepare him for his own farming journey.
14:05Alongside his brothers and big sister,
14:07who are currently on their own adventure with their mum.
14:11Liz is taking Marnie, Maximus and Milo for a spot of fishing.
14:18Come on, Maximus.
14:20Right, let's go over here.
14:22Over there, please.
14:23Come on, let's see if we can see any tap poles.
14:26First, what do we need to collect tap poles?
14:27Uh, with a bucket.
14:28We need some water in this bucket.
14:29And then when you scoop them up, you can pour them in here.
14:30So let me down first.
14:31Put all that big black blob over there.
14:32There's loads over there.
14:33Now, don't ever do this without me around, OK?
14:34Come and jump down.
14:35Or Daddy.
14:36Or Daddy.
14:37So I'm going to hold you so...
14:38Is that the longest it'll go?
14:39Wait, I think I can do it.
14:40That's it.
14:41Oh, okay.
14:42Come on, let's see if we can see any tap poles.
14:43Come on, let's see if we can see any tap poles.
14:44First, what do we need to collect tap poles?
14:45Uh, with a bucket.
14:46We need some water in this bucket.
14:47And then when you scoop them up, you can pour them in here.
14:50So let me down first.
14:52Put all that big black blob over there.
14:54There's loads over there.
14:55Now, don't ever do this without me around, OK?
14:58Come and jump down.
14:59Or Daddy.
15:00So I'm going to hold you so...
15:03Is that the longest it'll go?
15:04Wait, I think I can do it.
15:06That's it.
15:07Oh!
15:09Right, put them in the water.
15:11I think I've got some.
15:12Oh!
15:13Wow!
15:14Wow!
15:15I've got a whole family!
15:18Whee!
15:19Oh my gosh!
15:21There's so many!
15:24With each season comes new life.
15:27And with an abundance of natural habitats on our doorstep,
15:30we're lucky to have the opportunity to witness the life cycle
15:33of so many different creatures.
15:36It changes throughout the year.
15:39It's, you know, the flowers die off in the winter.
15:42And then at spring, they just come alive again.
15:45And there's so much life here.
15:47Our lake is home to many birds, insects and impressive mirror carp.
15:52Although there is some disagreement on what this particular body of water actually is.
15:57So I call this a pond, but Kelvin tells me that officially, because of the size of it, it's a lake.
16:04But I just can't bring myself to call this lake.
16:06So it's a pond.
16:07It's a pond.
16:08But one thing is it is full of life.
16:10It's full of fish.
16:11It's full of tadpoles every year.
16:13We have birds and ducks and chicks and a heron.
16:17We have so much going on here.
16:19And it's not too deep, but it's just deep enough where we can kind of see through and just get a glimpse of the fish and what's going on under there.
16:29And it's so interesting to watch.
16:30I could sit here for hours and watch what goes on in here.
16:35And the kids are getting a live nature lesson to boot.
16:39Not a bad way to pass the time.
16:41Several weeks ago, we got the sad news that our much-loved cow Ruby miscarried her calf.
17:03Thankfully, she was soon well enough to run with our young bull again.
17:06And today, we will find out if he's done his job.
17:10Busy day today.
17:11We've got Hugo the vet here.
17:13And we've got all our cows in the shed.
17:17And then we'll get Ruby in.
17:18And all being well, she's back in calf.
17:20And she'll be calving not too long after her charity.
17:25Because the plan is, obviously, Royal Cheshire Show 2025.
17:29Four children and the young handlers.
17:32That's my dream from last year.
17:35So fingers crossed.
17:36We'll see.
17:37The Royal Cheshire Show is one of the biggest events in the agricultural calendar.
17:43And after winning a handful of rosettes last year, we're keen for our herd of cows and kids to get in the ring again.
17:50So, before Hugo does the pregnancy test on Ruby, he's checking the herd for TB, which they will need to be clear of if we're thinking of entering the show.
18:00Hi, Hugo.
18:01Hi, morning.
18:02Are we clean?
18:03Clean?
18:04Clean.
18:05Clean, yeah.
18:06So you've got a first patient in.
18:08Probably TB test them first, then do the dirty job after.
18:11Right, OK.
18:12TB is a chronic infectious disease that is still an issue in parts of England and Wales.
18:19As I've done before, just clip some hair off in two patches.
18:23Anybody who keeps cattle has to go through this.
18:27We're every six months with the area where we are and as a new established herd.
18:32If you do get a reaction and they deem it, you know, conclusive that that animal needs to be cold, then, yeah, it's devastating on your herd, really.
18:45We don't like finding any, but it's important that it's done properly and it's important that it's done, isn't it?
18:52Yeah.
18:53But, yeah.
18:55So I'll just take some measurements off her now.
18:58Hugo will inject a small amount of a derivative of the bacteria into the cows.
19:04He'll return in a few days to check any reactions.
19:09Friday's the nervous day.
19:11But, like my dad always tells me, if it's not in your control, don't be worrying about it.
19:20Next up is Cherry.
19:23This is an award-winning cow, isn't it? This, Cherry.
19:28Do you realise that you're a champion?
19:30You're a Cheshire champion, you know.
19:33You'd never been in a ring before and I took you in.
19:36After her health check, Hugo scans Cherry again to see how her pregnancy is progressing.
19:42Six and a half months, yeah, judging by the size of the calf's head that I'm holding now.
19:47So that means she's going to be sort of an end of May carver, doesn't it?
19:54Yeah.
19:55Then that could potentially mean we're taking a two or three week old calf to Cheshire show.
20:01Yeah, perfect. In June, yeah.
20:03Yeah, yeah.
20:04I would love to take her to defend the title but I don't think I'll be showing her.
20:09I don't really intend on showing this year, me and Liz.
20:11I think we're going to try and take a back seat and try and get like the kids.
20:15And if we've got four kids, showing four calves then.
20:18Our young calves, Sonic and Ray, would hopefully be joined by Cherry's expectant calf and Ruby's
20:24if we get a positive result today.
20:26We don't know actually because this is the next test.
20:29We've got to get Ruby in and find out, one, if she's back in calf and two, when she's due.
20:34The last time I was this nervous about a pregnancy scan was when we found out we were having twins.
20:42Right.
20:43Okay, so we've got a pregnancy.
20:48So, she is three months in calf.
20:52Twelve weeks.
20:53Possibly a bit more actually looking at the size of the legs.
20:56But it was fourteen weeks.
20:58So, a bit late for show season but I think we were expecting that, weren't we?
21:03Yeah, we were.
21:04That's good news, yeah.
21:05She's back in calf.
21:06That's the main thing and it's healthy.
21:07So, unfortunately, she's going to miss the Cheshire show.
21:11So, one of the twins, I'm not too sure who yet, will be without a calf.
21:15They might have to share a calf.
21:17The most important thing is that she's held this calf.
21:19You know, last time she did get in calf and she miscarried.
21:21So, yeah, I'm very happy.
21:23She's done well there.
21:25Well done, Ruby.
21:27I'm so thrilled for Ruby.
21:29She produced such a cracking calf last year.
21:31I just hope this one is a simpler birth.
21:36This is little Ray.
21:37So, he was born in July.
21:38He was about fifty kilos.
21:40He was quite a big calf.
21:41And he wouldn't come out.
21:43He'd been stuck.
21:44And me and Liz pulled him out.
21:46And look at him now.
21:47I mean, they are modo-coddled a little bit here.
21:51But if you keep them tame and keep them friendly and calm,
21:54then days like this hopefully go a little bit smoother, he says.
21:58Let's hope the TB testing runs smoothly too.
22:01Wait three days and then we'll come and check the skin.
22:05And fingers crossed none of them have any reactions on the skin.
22:10And then we're TB clear.
22:12A nervous wait now until three days.
22:14You go come back on Friday.
22:16Exam them again.
22:18Then.
22:19See you Friday.
22:21Yes, thank you for today.
22:22Keep your fingers crossed till then.
22:23Yeah.
22:24We'll be alright.
22:25Bar the odd grey day, this spring has been the best we've ever experienced on the farm.
22:43And I'm hoping all this spring sunshine will be helping our new addition thrive.
22:48Our first crop of oats.
22:51As with most of our other endeavours, we're learning as we go.
22:55But we're lucky enough to have some expert help at hand in the form of Ben, our agronomist.
23:00And he's back today to check on the crop and make sure it's growing as it should be.
23:05How are the oats looking? Are they looking good?
23:11They are looking good to be fair, yeah.
23:13Like in comparison to last week, it was quite a dark green.
23:17Right.
23:18Now it's sort of gone a lighter green.
23:19And I mean, I'm going to do a tissue sample to double check.
23:22But my suspicion is it's manganese deficiency throughout the day.
23:26The plant is meant to open and close its stomata, which is a thing that sort of allows things in.
23:31Allows nutrients.
23:32Allows nutrients and water in.
23:33The problem is what happens is if you've got manganese deficiency, that process can't happen.
23:38So they remain open all the time.
23:41And then all the moisture is being let go.
23:43And that's why, in part, it looks kind of floppy.
23:46If you feel it, it doesn't feel very...
23:48Sturdy.
23:49Sturdy.
23:50Sturdy.
23:51That's manganese deficiency.
23:52Oh, right.
23:53You spray it with folia manganese and that just goes away in about a week.
23:58You don't want a floppy one, do you?
24:00You don't want a floppy one, do you?
24:03Moving on from flaccid crops to more solid issues, arable farming has been a real eye-opener.
24:10It's taught me just how sensitive plants can be and how critical it is to get the environment
24:16and nutrients just right if you want your crop to thrive.
24:19And you said the crop's looking good, as you said, but it's got a deficiency.
24:23So a deficiency is a bad thing, surely?
24:25Well, deficiencies, they're not good, but every single crop is going to get a nutrient deficiency, really.
24:31The soil won't provide it with everything that it requires to grow, so you have to apply it as a foliar feed, basically.
24:39And what about the lack of rain? Is that an issue?
24:43Well, yeah, so the lack of rain, for one, it will create this hormone in the plant.
24:48The plant's response is to produce a thing called ethylene, and ethylene is effectively the ripening hormone of all plants.
24:55So you want a bit of ethylene to make it mature at the end, or else it would never actually mature.
25:01But if you have a build of ethylene, what effectively the plant does is goes, we're under pressure, we need to race to the end.
25:08Because all the plant wants to do is survive, but that's not good if you've grown a crop.
25:12These side shoots will start to die, and it will only keep what it really needs.
25:18Wow, so it'll kind of self-sabotage effectively just to survive?
25:22Just to get through to the end, yeah.
25:24Another thing that I have seen is when, in these big fields, you just see kind of massive, fancy garden, essentially like a garden jet on a bigger scale, just spraying water.
25:35So if it's not raining, then can we just, like you'd water the grass in the garden?
25:40Well, you know, it's actually not a stupid thing to say, because in certain parts of the country, in Europe and in America, they do irrigate their crops.
25:48Right, right, wow.
25:49The amount of water that you'd need to sort of simulate the rain would be thousands of litres.
25:55Oh, really?
25:56You'd have to be doing it with a sprayer, like, I don't know, you'd have to do, like, a hundred passes in a day, just to get close to, like, two mil of rain.
26:05So I can keep my watching car in the shed?
26:06I wouldn't bother, you'll be there.
26:09Visions of me and Liz walking up with kids, just...
26:11I'll come next week and you'll be exhausted, you'll still be going.
26:15Well, that option's definitely off the table.
26:18So it's back to watching the weather forecast and crossing our fingers for some rain.
26:23And who would have thought that oak crops would earn a spot on my ever-growing worry list?
26:28So I'll wait for these lab results...
26:30Yeah.
26:31..on the leaf test, tissue test, and in the meantime I'll do a rain dance.
26:35Yeah, exactly.
26:38Right.
26:39Thanks, Ben.
26:40See you next week, mate.
26:41See you next week.
26:43It feels like at every stage, every week, there's something new to consider.
26:49It's so dependent on the weather and things out of your control, really.
26:53But the whole point for me of having a low-input farm is that nature kind of does all the hard work, really.
27:00You've got great animals that are thriving in the conditions we've got.
27:05Those native breeds we know will do so well.
27:08And we want to establish a crop that will do well.
27:11900 feet above sea level in the north of England.
27:14I want the kind of land to provide itself in that sense, you know, sustain itself.
27:20But there's a lot to a growing crop.
27:22Nothing is ever straightforward.
27:25I'm not deterred by that.
27:27This was an experiment this year, let's not forget that.
27:29You know, we've never done this before.
27:30This farm has not done anything like this for the last 20 or so years.
27:35It was always going to be a bit of a gamble.
27:37It was always going to be a bit of an unknown.
27:39So I just think we've tried it.
27:42That's enough.
27:43You know, that's a big step.
27:46It's looking all right so far.
27:48That's an even bigger step.
27:49And what will be, will be.
27:51So keep our fingers crossed.
28:05Who's your favourite cow?
28:07Which one is it?
28:12The little cow.
28:13The little cow. Is that Ray?
28:14Yeah.
28:15Do you like Ray? Yeah.
28:16Is he your favourite?
28:18Not a big cow.
28:19Not the big cow.
28:20Do you not like the big ones?
28:21I like the little one.
28:23You like the little one?
28:24Yeah.
28:25Okay.
28:26Big day today.
28:27TV results day, so.
28:30Naturally, this is where the nerves kick in.
28:32Yeah, we just want a clear result today.
28:34Because, you know.
28:35It can be devastating.
28:36If you've got five cows or 500 cows, it's.
28:38It can have the same sort of impact, so.
28:40Fingers crossed.
28:41Let's think positive.
28:43Although TB cases in Cheshire are in decline.
28:46Our farm sits in what's called an edge area.
28:49Bordering counties where the infection rate remains higher.
28:53Max, what do you reckon?
28:54Is it going to be good today?
28:55We've got you smiling, so.
28:58That'll be a final.
29:00Right, Hugo.
29:01We've got an apprentice here today.
29:03I can see.
29:04Little Max is, er.
29:05This could be determined whether he becomes a vet or a farmer.
29:09Do you think?
29:10Might maybe, yeah.
29:11What do you think, Max?
29:12Would you like to be a vet like Hugo or a farmer like Daddy?
29:16A farmer like Daddy.
29:17A farmer like Daddy.
29:18A farmer like Daddy.
29:19Yeah, I'll do that.
29:20I'll do that if I would do.
29:22Let's get you sat down, then.
29:24Mr. Cute.
29:25There we go.
29:26Like that.
29:27Perfect.
29:28What's that?
29:29Is that a good little seat?
29:30Yeah?
29:31Right, you sit there.
29:32Daddy's going to climb over here, and we'll just get them through, yeah?
29:35No!
29:36Hugo will inspect and measure the site where he injected a form of the bacteria.
29:45If any reactions are detected, then the cows will have to be cold.
29:51Yeah, no reactions, no lumps, so she's clear.
29:55No TB in her.
29:56Good, good.
29:57Just cross her off the list.
29:58Yeah, no, it's a good start.
30:00We'll get them through.
30:04So again, no lumps, no reaction, so that one's clear.
30:11Right, cool.
30:12Next one.
30:13Two down, three to go.
30:15Max, you okay, mate?
30:16Guess who this is?
30:20This is Ray, your favourite.
30:22Give him a wave.
30:25Ray's okay, Max.
30:27He's good.
30:28No TB.
30:29He's all right.
30:30Not poorly.
30:31All but one done, yeah.
30:32We've got the last one now.
30:33Crowd of the bull.
30:36Come on, lad.
30:43Yeah, so no lumps, no reactions, so that means there's no reactions on any of them,
30:48which is a clear TB test, so you can relax now.
30:52Good, good.
30:53Cross him off, and I'll put that through to the ministry later.
30:58Yeah, all right.
31:01Yeah, big relief.
31:04It's only five, but still it's pretty nerve-wracking.
31:06Can't imagine what it'll be like if you've got scores in school.
31:10But yeah, good news.
31:12Clear result, and start looking forward now.
31:15Hugo will update the government's site that is tracking the disease, and hopefully many
31:22other farmers will be receiving the same good news this spring, and TB rates continue to fall.
31:29Are you going to say well done to all the cows now?
31:31Yeah.
31:32Yeah.
31:33Come here.
31:34I want you to say, say well done cows.
31:36Yeah, come on.
31:37So what do we say to Hugo?
31:40Yeah, thanks Hugo for today, mate.
31:41No problem.
31:42Good result.
31:43Yeah, yeah.
31:44All right.
31:45Right, come on.
31:46Growing up on the farm means that when we're not roping the kids in to help with the farm
32:03jobs, they're off finding their own fun, and sometimes they find natural treasures.
32:10Guys, look what I found!
32:13What have you got?
32:14Look what Milo's got!
32:16What is it?
32:17What is it?
32:18I think it's a bird nest.
32:20I just found that on the floor.
32:22Oh really?
32:23The kids all know not to disturb nesting birds, but this abandoned nest is great for the kids
32:30to see up close.
32:31Hey, look what they've used!
32:33What's that?
32:34Sheep wool!
32:35Sheep's wool?
32:36I've never known a bird's nest to use sheep's wool before.
32:40Wow, that must have been a cosy.
32:42Who would like to sleep in there?
32:44Me!
32:45Me!
32:46I'd love to snuggle up in there.
32:48That looks so cosy.
32:49This is like a little bird's nest, isn't it?
32:51Is this like a little bird's nest?
32:53I'm the baby bird.
32:54You're the baby bird.
32:55Aww!
32:56Aww!
32:57We're the lovebirds!
32:58We're the lovebirds!
32:59I'm the baby!
33:01One project that's seriously testing our metal is the barn.
33:18We had the bright idea to host a wedding here for some friends.
33:22Very romantic.
33:23Very ambitious.
33:24But with the big day fast approaching, we really need to get moving.
33:29Especially since it's currently looking more like an agricultural storage unit than a wedding
33:34venue.
33:35The wedding is the tester.
33:36So we're emptying it.
33:37So there's a blank canvas.
33:38And from then on, we need Kelvin to get our thinking caps on and see what else we could
33:42do in here.
33:43We're getting the concrete poured in a couple of days.
33:46It's got to be emptied for that.
33:48And if there's one thing we're good at working to, it's the deadline.
33:51It takes a special set of wheels to handle a job of this importance.
33:56My jingle van.
33:58This van has been with us for a very long time, before we ever lived on a farm.
34:03And my dad borrowed it once and he didn't give it back for two years.
34:06And then when we finally moved to the farm, we were like, Dad, can we have that van back?
34:12It's rusty, it's old, but it just does the job.
34:17The only thing is wrong with it, the only thing, it's only two-wheel drive.
34:22And we've been stuck a few times, haven't we?
34:26Today, though, it'll be used as originally intended to help us haul some of this rubbish away.
34:32Well, I say rubbish.
34:36The birds will be loving life, isn't they?
34:39Don't they?
34:40Yeah.
34:42It's like a ready-made hedge, isn't it?
34:44We don't waste anything on the farm if we don't have to.
34:47Some birds will be really happy in there next season.
34:52Between the birds, a bonfire and Liz's creations, every twig will find a new purpose.
34:59Oh, I hope we don't get stuck.
35:03Yes, keep going.
35:07Slow down, not too, Matt.
35:10If you spin a little bit, there's no point in thinking.
35:13Keep going.
35:21Yeah, that'll do.
35:23Get that on.
35:25This is our first crack at renovating a space like this.
35:29Nail it, and it could pave the way for plenty more events to come.
35:33It'll be nice to have a bit of love and romance on the farm and someone else's memory of...
35:43You know, it's quite an honour to host someone's wedding here.
35:47It's something really special.
35:48See, I'll do all this and then Kelvin will get his favourite, favourite machine out.
36:00It's quite impressive.
36:01You know, it's something that when I met him, if he'd have picked me up in it, I'd have never met him again.
36:13But it's really handy around the farm.
36:19Here he is.
36:20All this talk of weddings has me feeling romantic.
36:37You know there's going to be a wedding here?
36:38Yeah.
36:39Or a first ever wedding.
36:40I've got an idea.
36:42What?
36:43He's coming to our house.
36:44Aww.
36:45Who do you come with?
36:46Why not?
36:49No, it doesn't matter.
36:53I just thought about all the work I'd have to do to make this a wedding space for us.
36:57It'd be fine as it is.
36:59Just a few fairy lights.
37:00I'll be in my wedding dress putting fairy lights up.
37:02Be romantic.
37:03We're bringing a bit of romance to the farm.
37:06I might need to let the idea sink in a little with Liz, but this space certainly has potential.
37:11The barn is empty.
37:13The barn is empty.
37:14It's going to be good, isn't it?
37:15It's going to be really good.
37:16This could be so many things.
37:18I know.
37:19Interior shop.
37:21Stage.
37:22A show.
37:23A theatre show.
37:25Pantomite.
37:26It could be anything.
37:27Might well get myself a job.
37:29I could actually cast myself in my own production.
37:33You know what we could actually do?
37:35We could create a farm musical.
37:38I'm serious.
37:41Can you sing?
37:42No.
37:43No.
37:44No.
37:45No, that bit I won't be in.
37:47It could almost be our story.
37:49Two actors.
37:51What?
37:54Why have you just spat your tea out?
37:57Babe, it could be our story.
37:58Two actors decide to get a farm.
38:01Kevin, we've got enough to do.
38:03We're not creating a farm panto.
38:05No, it's not a pantomite.
38:06It's a musical.
38:09We could get someone into it.
38:10Oh, God.
38:12Babe, do you not think that could be a good idea?
38:13Oh, it is, but just one step at a time, okay?
38:16Let's get through the wedding.
38:18The farm musical.
38:20Is that the scent of a Tony Award or just manure?
38:24Either way, the barn refurb just took a major leap towards showtime.
38:41This year's lambing season is almost done.
38:44We currently have over 60 strong, healthy lambs bounding around our fields.
38:48And the last of our expectant mums is finally showing signs of going into labour.
38:54She's doing good.
38:56She'll be all right for a minute.
38:57Let's do this.
38:59Three, four years ago.
39:01That would have been a big, not panic, but we'd have been like,
39:04that's lambing.
39:05We've got to move them.
39:07Whereas now we're a bit like, oh, yeah, that's having a lamb
39:10and we're going to move these cows.
39:12We know what we're doing a tiny bit more now.
39:14Most of the ewes have managed to birth naturally, but it's always good
39:19to keep an eye on them just in case they need a helping hand.
39:25What's it like to have a contraction?
39:27What does it feel like?
39:28It's like...
39:30It's so hard.
39:31It's like...
39:32Do you know if you're like...
39:33It's one of them feelings.
39:34And what tenses?
39:35Just like your stomach?
39:36It's like pins and needles, like all tensing, yeah.
39:39What, and then it's on, then it goes off?
39:41Then it goes and you're like...
39:42And then it comes again and you're like...
39:46It's...
39:47It's hard.
39:48The hardest thing that you'll ever do.
39:50I sometimes forget that you've actually had kids, haven't you?
39:54Well, I don't forget that, but I mean, you've...
39:56Thinking back to you having contractions and that.
39:58You were really strong.
40:0030 hours I was having contractions for.
40:02You step in after half an hour with the sheep.
40:0430 hours I was having contractions for.
40:07The things I've done.
40:09As this ewe is clearly struggling,
40:12with only the lamb's head and one of the legs out,
40:15it's time to jump in and give her a hand.
40:18You push her in and I'll just pull the lamb out.
40:21Oh, God.
40:23Oh, yeah, the foot's stuck.
40:25She's dead tight.
40:27I can't find the foot.
40:29She's coming.
40:30She's coming.
40:31She's coming.
40:32Pick it up.
40:33Pick it up.
40:34It's a big lamb.
40:35Yeah, babe.
40:36Just move on.
40:37Oh!
40:38Oh!
40:39Oh!
40:40Oh!
40:41Oh!
40:42Oh!
40:43Oh!
40:44Oh!
40:45Oh!
40:46Oh!
40:47Oh!
40:48Oh!
40:49Oh!
40:50Oh!
40:51Oh!
40:52Oh!
40:53Oh!
40:54Oh!
40:55Oh!
40:56Oh!
40:57Oh!
40:58Oh!
40:59Oh!
41:00Oh!
41:01Oh!
41:02Oh!
41:03We've had a couple of lambs like that, though, eh?
41:04Just one leg is out and the other one is stuck.
41:06It's almost like you go over to help
41:08and then mums tighten up.
41:10You just have to get in there and pull them out
41:12cos you think it would push them out a bit tricky.
41:15But she did it.
41:17With the lamb born safely and the cows clear of TB,
41:21we can get them all out of the barn
41:23to enjoy the fresh grass and spring sunshine.
41:27Managing the animals has definitely become a lot easier over the past year, which is
41:42more than I can say for our other herd.
41:46They make more mess than any other animal on this farm.
41:51We're kids, actual animals. The biggest animals of the farm are our kids, without a doubt.
41:58They're the hardest to control, they're the hardest to keep clean, they're the hardest to move.
42:05Farming's a breeze compared to having four kids.
42:10There's a reason I look so disheveled all the time, and it's because I've got four kids and a farm.
42:17Somehow, we are still managing to run the farm and raise kids, whilst dealing with the upheaval
42:23of still not living in the farmhouse after the fire.
42:26Look! It's ugly, Daddy!
42:31And while Marnie and Milo are now old enough to understand we'll be back on the farm in time,
42:37I can't help but think how this situation is affecting Maximus and Mateus.
42:42For the last six months of their lives, it's been, you know, they've been living in hotels
42:47and Airbnbs and it's all been, you know, a lot of disruption.
42:53Yeah, they just see it as a place where we come and do jobs and, for them, just have fun.
42:59It's like a day out.
43:01They are still quite confused because they don't really see this as their home at the minute.
43:10They don't actually realise that this is where we live and our house, their bedroom, is not their bedroom
43:17because we've had a fire. But it will be, hopefully, again soon.
43:22I wonder if they remember this when they get older.
43:25Kids just take it in their stride, but you can see it's a pretty confused blessing.
43:32Although we're still not living in the farmhouse, we bring the kids up to the farm every single day.
43:38As Liz and I have always known that since moving here, this is where our family is meant to be.
43:48It's not just about farming, it's not just about that, it's such a lifestyle.
43:55And a lifestyle that has suited us, having four kids, it's been a real blessing.
44:01Cos I think it's given them so much purpose and so much adventure to their life that I just...
44:10I can't imagine them any other way.
44:12Put your head down that way for five seconds.
44:16Like, they're filthy, they mess, they cause absolute destruction wherever they go.
44:22And I think...
44:25You're only fit for a farm, really.
44:28I don't know if we'd be welcome on the street anymore.
44:30Next time on our farm, training for the Royal Cheshire Show gets underway.
44:46And it's no walk in the park for me and Sonic.
44:49And next up is...
44:51The Lincoln Reds!
44:52Hey, hey, hey, hey.
44:55Hey, he's off, you OK?
44:57The twins lend a hand with our new-born lambs.
45:00Did you like that?
45:02Yes.
45:03Did she say yes?
45:04A friendly game of rugby throws a spanner in the works.
45:08It feels like I've torn my bicep.
45:13And our sheep give us the runaround.
45:17Just as a thought, sheep just do whatever they want.
45:20Yay, mum!
45:50Woo-hoo!
45:52Woo-hoo!
45:53Woo-hoo!
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