- 9 minutes ago
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00And we've fallen for this way of life, hook, line and sinker.
00:07Can we 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.
00:35Ready?
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've created some sort of farm musical?
00:57Kevin, we've got enough to do, we're not creating a farm phantom.
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, with the Royal Cheshire Show just around the corner,
01:24I'm starting to feel a few training jitters.
01:27We're kind of up against it, really.
01:29We're not going to give up yet.
01:30We'll have to just see.
01:31We'll have to just get the altar on him every day and just do what we can
01:34and see where we end up in two weeks.
01:36With the rain in short supply, Liz and the twins decide it's time
01:41to shake things up, literally.
01:43Show the sheep!
01:47Go to the rain!
01:49And I find myself trying to explain the romantic escapades of sheep.
01:56This year, in November, when you send Viper out...
02:00Yeah.
02:01..he's not just got three girlfriends,
02:04he might have ten girlfriends.
02:08Animals are weird.
02:09Yeah.
02:10Like, cringey.
02:11They're looking well, aren't they?
02:25Yeah.
02:26Do you compare your lambs to mine?
02:29Cos that's what I do.
02:30I look at your...
02:31I look at my lambs.
02:32Mine's better.
02:33Mine's better.
02:34It's obvious.
02:35Last year, Marnie bought Jacob Ram Viper.
02:39And this spring, his lambs have arrived on the farm.
02:43Number 17's probably my best lamb.
02:46Yeah, that is a good one.
02:47That's a good one.
02:48So that's your shearling, you.
02:50That's her first lamb.
02:51Yeah.
02:52So your triplets are there.
02:54She's doing well with them, isn't she?
02:56Yeah.
02:57Obviously, your triplets are not going to be as big, are they?
02:59Cos she's having to feed three lambs,
03:00as opposed to maybe feeding one or two.
03:02They do look God's size.
03:04Yeah.
03:05They look, like, equal.
03:06How do you think they're looking?
03:08Good.
03:09Marnie's impressed with how her Jacobs are coming along.
03:12And she's got big plans to grow the flock even further.
03:18So my plans are, I'll sell the lambs that I've got this year, cos...
03:23You didn't have any new lambs, did you?
03:25They're all boys, your lambs.
03:26They're all boys, yeah.
03:27So you're going to sell them all?
03:28Yeah, cos they're boys.
03:30So you've got three mummy sheep.
03:32Yeah.
03:33And they've given you five lambs.
03:35You're going to sell those five lambs cos they're all boys.
03:38Yeah?
03:39OK.
03:40And the money we get from those five lambs,
03:43you're going to use to buy more mummy sheep.
03:46OK.
03:47So that this year, in November, when you send Viper out...
03:51Yeah.
03:52..he's not just got three girlfriends,
03:55he might have ten girlfriends.
03:59How does he, like...
04:02I don't understand.
04:03Like, with sheep, it's so different.
04:05It's different too.
04:06Like, with humans, you wouldn't just...
04:07A boy wouldn't go with a woman and then go with...
04:09OK.
04:10..and then got, like, 20 more.
04:11Animals are weird.
04:12Yeah.
04:13Like, cringey.
04:14I know, I know.
04:15That's what they do.
04:16You get one boy sheep and lots of girl sheep,
04:20but that's just the way it works, darling.
04:22Oh, my God.
04:23That's just the way it works.
04:25Sheep's polyamorous tendencies are a topic for another time.
04:30Right now, we need a solid plan
04:32to turn Marnie's dream flock into reality.
04:35The Jacob Society are having a sheep sale.
04:38So we could go there.
04:40You know where we bought Viper from?
04:42Yeah.
04:43We could go this time and you'd be buying some females,
04:46some breeding ewes.
04:48So, timing-wise, now, we have to think about timing, don't we?
04:51The sale is before these lambs will get fat.
04:55You might have to just borrow some money off somebody
04:59and then pay them back.
05:00I've got a note.
05:01I know where to borrow some money.
05:03Where?
05:04You.
05:05So I've got to give you an advance?
05:07Yeah.
05:08And then when you sell your lambs, you'll give it me back.
05:10Deal?
05:11Yeah.
05:12So, let's shake on it and then you're going to pay me back?
05:15We'll see what we can do.
05:18Listen.
05:19I've shook hands with you before.
05:22The last time I shook hands with you, I lost some fields.
05:25I love that Marnie is so invested in her flock of Jacobs.
05:29It's great to be able to teach her about how farming works,
05:34along with managing money.
05:36These are the skills Marnie will need to become a successful Shepherdess.
05:40So you're happy with your plan?
05:42Yeah?
05:43Yeah.
05:44Jobs are good then.
05:46They're looking well though.
05:48Yeah.
05:49They are looking well.
05:50Good shot.
05:51We're just over two weeks away from the Cheshire shore.
06:14And now is the time to be prepping the animals.
06:18Getting them really keen on the halter.
06:21And yeah, just strengthening that bond.
06:24We'll get the halter on them again today.
06:26And we'll just have ten minutes with each one,
06:28just to kind of get them used to that process.
06:31Our young calves are a handful and both need to have time on the halter.
06:36With my arms still recovering from the knock I took at the rugby tournament,
06:39this isn't going to be easy.
06:42First up is Ray.
06:45Come on then.
06:47I don't know which way this goes.
06:50Ray.
06:51It's your lucky day mate.
06:52Come on.
06:57There we go.
06:58There we go.
07:00There we go.
07:01I think last year Cherry was so good on the halter.
07:05I was really, really confident going into the show that she would kind of walk well and behave.
07:14Whereas with these two, they just seem like they've got a man of their own really.
07:23He's not quite as receptive today.
07:27He's having a bit of an off day today, yeah.
07:30Come on Sonic.
07:31There we go.
07:32There we go.
07:33Come this way.
07:34Come on.
07:35Good boy.
07:36Hey.
07:37Come on.
07:38Come on.
07:39Come on.
07:40Come on.
07:41Come on.
07:42Come on.
07:43Come on.
07:44Come on.
07:45Come on.
07:46Come on.
07:47At some point as well we're going to have to possibly introduce a nose ring to Sonic.
07:53Not too sure about Ray but certainly to Sonic.
07:57A nose ring helps to control our cattle and reduces the risk for both me and them.
08:03Maybe this is the cow equivalent of terrible twos.
08:11Which I know all too well.
08:14They are pretty feisty.
08:16We've not really had this before.
08:19Testosterone is certainly kicking in.
08:23And that is a bit of a worry.
08:26I mean we've got to get to a stage where when they're on the halter they can be walked.
08:32You know they can hold their head up and they can walk on command and stop on command really.
08:38What we can't have is them just pulling away.
08:41We're kind of up against it really.
08:43Especially if the kids are going to be in the show ring themselves you know in the young handlers sections.
08:48We don't want them pulling the kids around.
08:50When it's the kids it does make me a little bit nervous.
08:53You've got a responsibility as an adult, as a parent to work out how much you're pushing them out of the comfort zone.
09:01Last year we didn't even own cows until six weeks before the show.
09:05And we came home as rosette winners.
09:07So I'm not throwing in the towel yet.
09:10But there's no way that these young calves are ready to be led by the kids.
09:15So I'm going to keep training and experimenting with a few new tricks to get them walking well.
09:21I've left the halter on him.
09:23And what happens is that when it's trailing on the floor they stand on it and it immediately stops them.
09:29So they associate the halter stopping them and the minute it gets tight it stops them.
09:35So they almost kind of self train.
09:38That's what I've heard anyway.
09:40That's apparently a little trick that I've heard.
09:42So we'll give it a go.
09:47We're not going to give up yet.
09:49We'll have to just see.
09:50We'll have to just get the halter on him everyday and just do what we can.
09:54To add to our worries, my rugby injury is playing up.
09:59A scan has shown that I've torn my bicep.
10:02So not only do we need to train the calves,
10:05I need to find a potential understudy.
10:08You feeling confident?
10:13Mmm, well...
10:15My arm's killing me still.
10:18My arm's really sore and I'm just thinking
10:21whether or not it's best you taking him in.
10:32You'll be fine.
10:33Oh, Kelvin.
10:34You'll be fine.
10:36Let's just see.
10:37But just on standby.
10:42How do you feel about that?
10:43Well, not great, I'm honest.
10:45And it's when you're in that ring with other cows,
10:48it's the...
10:49It's the distraction of the other cows.
10:51We're jumping at the deep end, aren't we?
10:54But we're determined,
10:55despite the adversity, despite the hiccups,
10:58we're still going to go.
11:00Where I thought I was just going to be having a lovely day
11:02at Cheshire's show with the kids and, you know...
11:06No pressure.
11:08No worries.
11:09I'm now told that I'm going to have to step it up
11:11and potentially be the one that's in the ring with the cow
11:14because of Kelvin's injury.
11:17I feel underprepared more than last year.
11:20Although he is a beautiful and calm temperament,
11:23it's just...
11:25When you're with other bulls in the ring,
11:27it's how does he respond to those other bulls?
11:30But, er...
11:32We're in it now.
11:33What can we do?
11:35We're going.
11:37And I can't get Marnie to cover for me
11:39because she's too small.
11:42So when there's a man down,
11:45we're all in the trenches together.
11:46I'm going to have to step it up, aren't I?
11:49It's hard to me, angels.
11:50I've just got a paper cut.
11:51Oh, for God's sake.
11:52Shall we just get you a stretcher and wheel you off?
11:55You're such...
11:56I know you're a farmer and you're very good at it,
11:58but you're a delicate flower, aren't you?
12:00All I do know is that when the chips are down,
12:05Liz and I always come together
12:07and pull it out of the bag.
12:10So, with my understudy reluctantly recruited,
12:12we can spend our time getting the calves show ready too.
12:27Training cattle isn't our only challenge on the farm.
12:29After a short settling in period,
12:31Albie, our brand new cockerel,
12:34is about to meet the flock.
12:36Liz and the kids are ready.
12:38But are the unruly hens?
12:41We're going to let the cockerel out today.
12:43He's been in the pen for a week.
12:48He's been eyeing up the hens that roost in the trees above him.
12:52And, er, today's the day we're going to let him out.
12:56Right, now I want you to shout,
12:57Come on, Chuck-Chuck!
12:59Come on, Chuck-Chuck!
13:01Chuck-Chuck!
13:02That's it!
13:03Come on, Chuck-Chuck!
13:06Right, we want him to come out here,
13:07so really, we want the food to be put down here.
13:11Come on, Albie!
13:12So can you put a little bit of food here?
13:14Get a handful and just sprinkle it and say,
13:16Come on, Chuck-Chuck!
13:18And then he'll know that's his feeding car.
13:21Albie's mission is simple.
13:24Rule the roost, restore order in the henhouse,
13:27and, fingers crossed, provide us with our next generation of chickens.
13:31There we go!
13:35He's going, he's going!
13:36Oh, you're so close!
13:37Yay!
13:39He's out!
13:41He's out!
13:42It would have been ideal if the hens were here,
13:45because, really, I would have preferred the hens eating here,
13:48and he came straight out to them.
13:50But they are nowhere to be seen.
13:51I don't know what those hens get up to in the day.
13:54So, all I know is that they come back at night and roost in the trees.
13:57Sometimes you see them, sometimes you don't.
13:58So, he's going to have to find them.
14:01He's going to have to hunt them down and find them.
14:04From the woods to the muckheap,
14:06our hens are some of the most free-range birds in Cheshire.
14:09But we've been assured that, in time,
14:11Albie will entice them back to the coop.
14:14This is Albie's chance now to have a look round,
14:18work out where he lives, know that this is his safe place,
14:22and we'll see how he gets on with the girls.
14:29I just hope it doesn't run off.
14:32I'll be getting messages on the old Facebook group saying,
14:35Has anyone lost a cockerel?
14:38You've got to do that embarrassing thing,
14:39and you're like, oh, it's mine.
14:42There's his call.
14:47Cock-a-doo-doo-doo-doo!
14:50That's what cockerels do.
14:53He's having a good look around.
14:54He seems, you know, he's just weighing the place up.
14:57He looks royal-esque.
14:59He's just so handsome.
15:00I guess it's just a waiting game now to see if he does what he's supposed to,
15:07and that's round the girls up and fertilise the eggs.
15:11Like a couple of anxious parents,
15:13all Liz and I can do is wait and see how he gets on.
15:17It's probably like letting your teenage kids out for the first time, isn't it?
15:21And you just hope that they work it out and they remember how to get home.
15:24After the farmhouse fire, we're left waiting for the rebuild to begin.
15:44But while the house is on pause, the rest of the farm certainly isn't.
15:48And today, the spotlight's on the barn as it moves one step closer to its debut
15:53as a wedding venue.
15:55The big paw, we're calling this.
15:57All the messy work is done, so concrete's going in now.
16:01And then we'll have a level floor.
16:09Yeah, one step closer to the wedding barn.
16:12When Liz was pregnant, she had this weird craving for concrete.
16:18The weirdest... What is it you're craving for concrete?
16:20It was like petrol and chalk and concrete really weird.
16:25I've still got it a little bit.
16:28Not to eat, the actual section, the noise of it and the...
16:31Just the feel of it, I could probably eat it.
16:33Put your hands in, feel it.
16:34I know, I know.
16:36It has to be dry and crumbly.
16:38The barn makeover has been gaining serious momentum lately
16:40and the closer we get to the end, the more I see Liz totally in her creative zone.
16:46Now this is going in.
16:47I'm starting to feel like we're there with the transformation.
16:51And I really did think that this was never going to happen
16:54because it felt like there was so much to do and now I feel like
16:58it's that little bit of light at the end of the tunnel.
17:00This is where I work my magic.
17:02When I've got an empty room, that's when I put my little sprinkle of decorations to it.
17:10And that's what I can't wait.
17:11I'm so excited for what events can be this year
17:14and how different each one is going to be.
17:16To think that this was once a stables and now it's going to become an event space,
17:22a supper club, a wedding, a music event, anything.
17:27How exciting is that?
17:29And just to be able to do that is an absolute privilege.
17:32True to form, we're not ones just to sit back and watch the action.
17:37We like to get stuck in.
17:39Do you mind if I do a little bit and you tell me what to do and I'll just do it then?
17:43Perfect.
17:44So basically, if you like, rub it like that, that'll get it to go in all the gaps.
17:51Yeah.
17:54And then just trowel it, just trowel it in nice and flat.
17:59And just hover over the top and lift the side that you're going on.
18:05Oh, it's not like that.
18:06Like that.
18:07Yeah.
18:10They're going to like shake it to burn it out, that's it.
18:20Oh.
18:24That's good.
18:25Done it before.
18:26Is that good?
18:27Yeah.
18:28That is therapeutic.
18:29Oh, messed it up.
18:30That is therapeutic.
18:32Shall we put our initials in here?
18:34Shall we?
18:35Yeah.
18:37Is that good there?
18:38To be honest.
18:40Perfect!
18:42Turns out, Liz is a natural.
18:45And there's something about watching the guys work that's got us both intrigued.
18:50I've always wanted to know how they do concrete.
18:52How they kind of lay it.
18:54Fascinating process.
18:56It's still an agricultural barn, so it's got to be thick enough to allow us to have a chapter in here and trailer and farm machinery and various stuff.
19:06So the depth of your concrete is quite important, really.
19:10This feels like real progress and something we're determined to savour.
19:15But with the wedding just around the corner, the to-do list is still going strong.
19:19This is actually a real moment.
19:22Because we've thought about this, we've talked about this for years.
19:27So the fact that we've got this far, it may not seem like a big deal to people.
19:30We're laying a bit of concrete.
19:31But it's actually a massive moment and I feel so happy that we're here.
19:37And it's one of those things that has been on my mind and we've thought about for so long.
19:42And now it's happening.
19:43We're kicking off another beautiful spring day in full sunshine.
20:05And while this hot dry spell isn't perfect for our crop, our livestock are enjoying basking in the warm weather.
20:13Especially our two pregnant cows, Ruby and Cherry.
20:17This is Cherry.
20:19The vet said that she was probably due to expect the end of May.
20:25And it's now the end of the first week of June, so we're a week overdue in that instance.
20:32We sent a picture to our friend Chris and a couple of other people and they've all said it looks like she's a good two or three weeks away.
20:38So we're a little bit out on the test.
20:42But what it does mean is that, unfortunately, we're not going to be able to take her to the Royal Cheshire Show to defend the title.
20:51She's a supreme champion.
20:54She had a calf at foot last time.
20:55We were hoping that this time she could arrive to defend the title with a brand new calf at foot.
21:00Well, that's not happened. The category is open for cow in calf.
21:06So we could, in theory, take her and show her as a cow in calf.
21:09But because she's so late on in her pregnancy, I don't really feel comfortable taking her so late in calf, really.
21:15So I'm a little bit gutty because that was the plan from last year.
21:22As a family, we thought, let's come back next year with two more kids in tow.
21:28And would it be great if all six of us are showing the animals?
21:32Well, sadly, it's not worked out.
21:34Such is life.
21:35And when she calves is not really in our control, so not to worry.
21:41So Cherry will stay at home with Ruby, who's also expecting.
21:47Even though I'm disappointed Cherry won't be joining us, she can always return to reclaim her title next year.
21:54Oh, there she is, still full of life.
21:58Look at that. How good does that look?
22:00There's no better side than seeing animals outside just...
22:06Look how happy they look.
22:08Aw.
22:12As the concrete begins to dry in the barn, Liz is taking the opportunity to leave her mark.
22:33Quite literally.
22:34I shouldn't do this without carving.
22:37But he's gone, and this is going to dry.
22:40And I need to put my stamp on it.
22:43So, we said we were going to sign it together.
22:48He's gone.
22:50So I'm going to sign it for him.
22:53And I'm going to do it in this little corner here that's quite discreet.
22:57Before it dries, I'm just going to put...
23:03Oh!
23:05It's E.
23:10Do that one for him.
23:12Okay.
23:14There.
23:16They know who's the boss there.
23:18In fact, I'm going to put a little love hat.
23:25So that's going to dry.
23:28And we've officially stamped it.
23:32It's one of those moments where it's so perfect I didn't want to ruin it.
23:35But that, every house here has got someone's initials on that they've done on it.
23:41First time ever, at this farm, we've officially put our initials on something.
23:48That feels good.
23:50Kelvin's going to kill me.
23:51Kelvin's going to kill me.
24:13It's one of the hottest springs we've had since records began.
24:17And while that's been good news for some worshippers,
24:19it's not been great news for farmers.
24:28The hot weather is not only affecting our crop of oats,
24:31it's too hot for our flock of sheep as well.
24:35I'm thinking of putting the sheep in this paddock next door
24:38where there's just no shelter, in a sense, of any shade.
24:42And I've just had a look at the forecast.
24:44The next couple of days are going to be sweltering.
24:47It's like a summer.
24:49So, with that in mind,
24:51yeah, I'm going to put them next door so they can get some shade.
24:54A break in the sunshine would give the flock rest by it from the heat.
24:57But they seem a little reluctant to move anywhere.
25:07It's a bit of a mess, this really.
25:09There's certain jobs that can take two minutes and then it can be quickly two hours.
25:18So, I've just got to try and move these sheep in the next five minutes.
25:22Five minutes.
25:23While our flock give me the runaround.
25:32Well, let's get these out and then we'll come back for the rest.
25:34Liz and the twins are in a mission set by Ben the agronomist to conjure up some rain that will help save our sizzling oak crop.
25:51I'll get your bike.
25:55Oh, strong boy.
25:56You go on the side and I'll carry your car.
25:59Oh, good boy.
26:01We're going to call to the sky and see if it'll rain.
26:04Shall I play some music to see if it gets us going?
26:08Let me play this then.
26:09I want to see serious moves.
26:12OK.
26:16Keep your hands up.
26:19Charge your hips.
26:24Go to the rain.
26:28Go on, down to the grass.
26:30Go for it.
26:32So, we've had weeks without rain now and I hate to say it because it has been glorious.
26:38But we need a little bit of rain just to give the oats that little bit of extra boof.
26:45I may need water.
26:47A little bit of rain would just do us a big favour right now.
26:50There's a nice cloud there that looks hopeful.
26:54So, maybe we could just encourage it a little bit more to actually rain a little bit.
27:08Oh, they've actually got some good moves, the twins.
27:16They take after Kelvin when it comes to that.
27:19See if their strictly moves come in handy and bring down the rain.
27:23Come on, rain. Yeah!
27:27Go for it.
27:29Come on, rain!
27:31Right, if that doesn't work then I don't know what will.
27:35That was great dancing, guys.
27:39Time will tell if the twins have done enough to entice the rain gods to start pouring on our crops.
27:44Go, go, go, go, go, go!
27:56And I finally entice the sheep into the shaded field.
28:00Should have been a simple move but sheep are not the smartest.
28:03Oh, just nothing ever.
28:07I mean, it is what it is.
28:08If you've got sheep you know exactly how that feels.
28:12From an animal welfare perspective they're much better somewhere where they can get a bit of shade.
28:17So, he was worth it.
28:21Right, school run.
28:22Right, school run.
28:36The Holiday Cottage is one of Liz's passion projects.
28:39And today it's getting a little leafy makeover with a helping hand, or two, from some green-fingered Fletchers.
28:45So, we're going to plant some beautiful plants in here.
28:49So, we can bring a bit of colour.
28:51Look at them.
28:53And what we're going to do is...
28:55Eat them!
28:56We're not going to eat them.
29:02With patience of a saint, Liz has a way of letting the kids have fun while still getting the job done.
29:08So, this is the garden to the Holiday Cottage.
29:10The Holiday Cottage.
29:11The Holiday Cottage has gone really well for us and I am slightly obsessed with it.
29:16Slightly?
29:18Well, yeah.
29:19I'm very obsessed with the Holiday Cottage.
29:22I want it to just be...
29:23Perfect.
29:24Yeah, basically.
29:25I want it to be perfect.
29:27One part of it is the garden, the feel of the garden.
29:31And I'm not a gardener, by any stretch.
29:33I am.
29:34We've got these gorgeous troughs that have probably been here years and years and years.
29:39Like, this is 18th century.
29:41These troughs always look so pretty when they've got plants in them.
29:45So, we've just got some little plants in the troughs just to grind it up.
29:51That's a good one.
29:56I'm going to use a hole with this pot and wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.
30:00Can you make that deeper?
30:01Watch, watch what I'm doing.
30:03I don't want it.
30:04If you spin round like that.
30:06Look.
30:07There's a nice hole and then guess what I'm going to do?
30:10I'm going to put that in there and then can you cover it up?
30:15Look at that!
30:17It's very rare I get my nails done.
30:19And then when I start doing a job I think, oh, forgot to have my nails done.
30:22You can see the girls in the salon when I walk in like, oh no, she's here.
30:30So, you've got red off.
30:34Let me show you.
30:35So, you have to squeeze.
30:37Hold the bottom of the plant so you don't break it.
30:41Push it out.
30:43Right, thank you.
30:45There you go.
30:46It looks like Liz's little helpers feel they've done their bit, leaving her to finish the job.
30:53Now, my little secret weapon, because we've got loads of it, is manure.
31:00Now, I've had my nails done so I'm not going to use my hands, but this stuff, I mean, look at that.
31:07Fresh from the gals.
31:08Now, I was going to let the kids get involved in this, but I think it's safer for my own personal hygiene to not.
31:15Because this would be definitely chucked at somebody.
31:21Nothing goes to waste, this is fresh from the muck heap.
31:24And that will help them grow and give them loads of nourishment.
31:31Right.
31:33Done.
31:34Let them grow.
31:36Hope for a little bit of rain.
31:38It looks really pretty.
31:39I mean, I've seen better, but it's a start.
31:43I don't think Alan Titchman actually needs to worry about his job.
31:46I'm not going to be taking over.
31:48But it looks good.
31:49Nice and colourful.
31:50After weeks of halter training, our young calves, Sonic and Ray, still aren't quite getting the hang of it.
32:10And with the Royal Cheshire Show fast approaching, we've got a decision to make.
32:16Do we take them into the ring, or call it quits?
32:20But I've got one last trick up my sleeve.
32:23I just hope it works.
32:24Have we got any other socks, babe?
32:31Have we got any other socks?
32:32It's quite a sexy job that, but I didn't realise you were wearing this shirt that we were going to put on the scarecrow.
32:37I told you when I was...
32:39I thought it's too good for the scarecrow, I love it.
32:41Look around it though, don't I?
32:45It's your colour, that.
32:51I've been told that by attaching a large piece of wood to a tractor, it'll trick the calves into thinking they're being pulled by the halter.
32:59When in reality, it's the tractor doing all the work.
33:02Which also means my arm injury gets a rest too.
33:05Big moment really, because...
33:08If this doesn't work, I'm just...
33:11There's a genuine chance we might have to pull out the show.
33:19The idea is that the tractor gently pulls the calf as we walk next to them.
33:24Come on.
33:26Oh, you just pooed on all the...
33:31Pull in.
33:32Right, keep pulling.
33:34Yeah.
33:35Keep pulling.
33:36That'll do.
33:37Wait, wait.
33:38Yeah, that'll be doing like that, that's fine.
33:40And then...
33:43Quick release.
33:44Yeah.
33:46You just keep a good arm's length away from him.
33:48Yeah.
33:49And just keep reassuring him.
33:50Keep talking to him.
33:51So first of all, I'm just going to start it and just see how he is.
33:53Okay.
33:54So you stand back whilst I start it.
33:57Come on.
34:00Good.
34:01You all right?
34:02Yeah.
34:03Goodbye.
34:05Are you ready?
34:06Yeah.
34:10Goodbye.
34:11Goodbye.
34:12The rope can be released quickly if Ray shows any sign of distress.
34:16Yeah.
34:17Goodbye.
34:19Goodbye.
34:20Come on, Ray.
34:21Good boy.
34:22But so far, he seems to be getting the hang of it.
34:26Goodbye.
34:27Very good.
34:30With a pace set, Liz gets behind the wheel so I can give Ray a bit of a confidence boost.
34:38Hey, hey, hey.
34:39Come on.
34:40Good boy.
34:41Good boy.
34:42Yeah, it's going all right.
34:43He's, you know, he's...
34:44He's a little bit agitated, I think.
34:45Come on, Ray lad.
34:46Come on.
34:47Come on.
34:48Good boy.
34:49That's it.
34:50Good lad.
34:51Good boy.
34:52Good boy.
34:53Good boy, Ray.
34:54You've done brilliant, lads.
34:55Well done.
34:56After a loop around the field, this old farming method has certainly given us both a boost in confidence.
34:59You're a good lad.
35:00Well done, lads.
35:01And then clutch in.
35:02Stop there.
35:03Stop there.
35:04Oh, come on.
35:06Oh, come on.
35:07Oh.
35:08Come on.
35:09Come on.
35:10Come on.
35:11Come on.
35:12Come on.
35:13Come on.
35:14Good boy.
35:15That's it.
35:16Good lad.
35:17Good boy, Ray.
35:18You've done brilliant, lads.
35:19Well done.
35:20After a loop around the field, this old farming method has certainly given us both a boost in confidence.
35:25Good lad.
35:26Good lad!
35:28How good was that?
35:30He's made a massive, massive improvement there.
35:33A massive improvement.
35:35The moment of truth. Can me and Ray walk the walk?
35:39See what it's like now with me. Come on.
35:41Come on.
35:43Good lad.
35:45Good lad.
35:47Come on.
35:49Come on.
35:51Come on.
35:53Come on.
35:55Come on.
35:57Stand.
35:58We're going.
35:59We're going to Cheshire Show.
36:00It's as simple as that.
36:02We're taking him.
36:03He's passed the test.
36:05Look how good he walks for me now.
36:08Come on.
36:09Oh my God, he does actually.
36:10Come on.
36:12Come on.
36:14He actually does.
36:16He actually does, doesn't he? Look at him.
36:18That's unbelievable.
36:21That's amazing.
36:22Come on.
36:23Well done lad.
36:24Head up and everything.
36:25Well done.
36:26You good lads.
36:27The only you could do that with children.
36:37I'd be confident in the ring with him.
36:42Yeah.
36:43I think he's a great animal and I would like to show him off.
36:46The idea was to take the kids with newborn calves.
36:49Yeah.
36:50And we've not got newborn calves.
36:51Yeah.
36:52And they're too big for the kids.
36:55I feel like Marnie's, you know, capable.
36:57I don't want to put her in that position when it's a bit risky.
37:00So, we will support you showing them all calves.
37:07How do you feel about that?
37:09Royal Cheshire Show is back on.
37:11Oh, it's back on.
37:12Done well there.
37:13I enjoyed that.
37:14I enjoy it.
37:15I honestly, Liz, I like it.
37:16Every time I do, I think, yeah, I do actually like this.
37:19Oh, do you?
37:20Honestly, I do.
37:22So, that's settled.
37:24Ray is going to the Cheshire Show.
37:27But we still have a decision to make on Sonic.
37:30And whether or not it will be both our homegrown calves appearing in the show ring this year.
37:46As farmers, we've always kept a close eye on the weather.
37:49But lately, it's felt more like a full-blown obsession.
37:53We're in the middle of one of the driest springs on record.
37:57Which isn't exactly ideal when you're trying to grow your very first oak crop.
38:06Thankfully, it seems the twins' rain dance actually worked.
38:10The heavens have opened and our fields have just got the soaking they desperately needed.
38:15We've had quite a bit of rain this week.
38:18Which has been great.
38:19Much needed.
38:20And the good thing as well is that we were worried there was going to be a huge downpour.
38:24And because it had been so dry and the ground was so hard,
38:28the last thing you want is a massive downpour.
38:30A lot of rain in a short amount of time.
38:32And there's nowhere for it to go.
38:34And it just doesn't saturate.
38:36And it just, you know, that's when you can get floods and everything.
38:38So we didn't have that.
38:40What we did have was just kind of moderate to light rain just consistently.
38:44Good old British weather.
38:46There was obviously a bit of a worry because we'd had so many weeks of no rain.
38:51And then the agronomist was getting a little bit worried about how the crop could be,
38:55you know, was in dire need of some rain really.
38:58Farming has certainly thrown up its challenges.
39:01But one thing I've learned from our first foray into growing arable crops
39:05is that there is only so much you can do.
39:07And the rest is up to Mother Nature.
39:10There's so much out of your control.
39:12There's so much that can go wrong.
39:14It's just like lottery.
39:15It's, you know, you're just literally spending your money,
39:19working hard in the hope that it comes off.
39:23As ever, I'm the optimist and I thought it'll be all right.
39:26It's turned out good so far.
39:28But we're not there yet.
39:30Let's not forget we've still got to grow the crop and then harvest it as well.
39:34And the machinery and how we harvest it and what is it being taken.
39:37What does the crop look like when we come to harvest?
39:39Is it tall? Is it still green?
39:41That's the little bit that I don't really know yet that I'm excited to see.
39:45Although we're not there yet,
39:47the idea of being able to enjoy our very own homegrown oats
39:52appears to be creeping ever closer.
39:54I actually had a bowl of porridge in the morning
39:56and as I'm eating it, as I'm squirting my honey in it, I'm thinking,
39:59this winter I could be sat here eating Fletcher's porridge.
40:03Like that could actually be a thing.
40:05I mean, that for me is, we've had our own lamb before.
40:09We've had our own pork.
40:11That was a moment and of real pride and real genuine appreciation for what we do.
40:20To have your own porridge that'll have been grown on our little family farm.
40:26Yeah, that would be mega.
40:28The day we've been preparing for over the last few weeks
40:47is just around the corner.
40:49Tomorrow is the Royal Cheshire Show.
40:51It's only our second ever show as native breed farmers,
40:55with both nerves and excitement running high.
40:58And with limited time to hold to train,
41:00we've made a last minute change to the line-up this year.
41:04We were originally going to take Sonic and Ray,
41:06but we're not taking Sonic because Sonic was taking a little longer to train
41:10and Ray was just taking to it.
41:12So while we're already short of time,
41:15already under a bit of pressure just taking Ray,
41:18we thought, you know what, let's just make lives a little easier.
41:20We're just going to take Ray and not Sonic.
41:23And we were hoping to have the calves by now for the twins to lead round
41:27and they've not given birth yet.
41:29So, Ray is the man.
41:32Ray is going to hopefully win us a rosette.
41:36Come on.
41:37Good boy.
41:39Good boy.
41:42Good lad.
41:47My arm is feeling much better too,
41:49so I'm going ahead with Ray.
41:51Liz and the kids will be joining us tomorrow.
41:55Ray and I need to get settled in the exhibitor's tent
41:58where it's my job to get in fluff, fed
42:01and as comfy as a bull calf can be ahead of the competition.
42:05Come on.
42:06Shh, shh, shh, shh.
42:07Come on.
42:08Good boy.
42:13The Royal Cheshire Show attracts some of the best farmers
42:16from around the country.
42:17All vying for rosettes to help boost their reputation
42:22and get their farm's name on the map.
42:30Last year, this incredible farming community welcomed us newbies
42:34with open arms and it's great to be back and seeing some familiar faces.
42:39I feel like we were actually better prepped last year than we are this year.
42:48How we'll fare, I don't know.
42:50But as ever, you know, we'll show up, we'll give it a go
42:55and what we'll be, we'll be.
42:57It looks quite relaxing at the minute, does Ray?
42:59He's taking it all on his stride, bless him.
43:02So the plan now is get set up.
43:05I might even take Ray and give him a bit of a wash
43:07while it's nice and quiet.
43:08And then we'll have less to do tomorrow, you see.
43:10Tomorrow we can just focus on getting the kids ready,
43:12which in itself is a bit of a task.
43:14But as I start unpacking our kit,
43:17a couple of fellow farmers notice Ray's breathing has altered.
43:22He's not right.
43:25No, you'll have to get, you'll have to get on call there.
43:28But just when everything seemed to be going perfectly,
43:31Faye decided to throw a spanner in the works.
43:34A few observations have said that it doesn't quite look all right.
43:37You know, he looks, he's not really settled in the way he's breathing.
43:42The reason for me are not his ribs,
43:44so it's something he diaphragm up and down instead of his bed scum.
43:47So, yeah, he's struggling with his breathing.
43:49Which could...
43:51Pneumonia could be one.
43:52Anything else it could be, or...?
43:54No, it's most likely just a touch of him.
43:57Hello, it's Kelvin here.
43:59We're at a Cheshire show.
44:00We just had a little bull calf here that's looking a bit uncomfortable.
44:03Just wanted to see if there's an old call vet here.
44:05All right, thank you.
44:07Bye-bye.
44:08Bye-bye.
44:09Oh, that was a slight turn of events.
44:12I was just about to go and check the water situation
44:14just to see what tap fittings I might need.
44:17And there's a couple of chaps there who are obviously very experienced,
44:21and they were here last year.
44:22They just politely said,
44:23Kelvin, your bull doesn't look right.
44:26We've been watching him and he just...
44:29Normally, after a card, the cows will come in and they'll just tend to settle,
44:32but he just doesn't look very settled.
44:33And the way he's breathing, he's breathing pretty much from his back, really,
44:37as opposed to from his ribs.
44:38So he said he might have a touch of pneumonia,
44:40which obviously doesn't sound great.
44:43So I've just rang the vets, let them come and check his temperature
44:47and see how he is.
44:49So we'll see.
44:50See what the vet says when they get here.
44:52Next time on Our Farm.
44:58It's our annual trip to the Royal Cheshire Show.
45:02Right, let me get a little picture of you guys.
45:04Are you ready?
45:05One, two, three, ice cream!
45:06Ice cream!
45:08A farming friend gives Marnie an opportunity to show his sheep.
45:12You look like you show sheep all the time.
45:14Your position, you kept looking at the judge,
45:16you were smart, you were smart at the judge trying
45:18and we impressed the judge, weren't you?
45:20And Ray gives me a decision to make.
45:23Go get me kit and just see where his temperature's at.
45:25Yeah, I'm in two minds whether to show him or not.
45:50Go get me treatment.
45:52You're written by Johnny Cope you know old lady.
45:54You want to keep that måste and wrong,
45:56to decide where you are at home.
45:57I'm going to take him out and will stop force.
45:59I will find more weapons for money.
46:00Go get me kit and come,
46:03begin ride coming back.
46:05I 크� ayyy.
Be the first to comment