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Escape To The Country - Season 26 Episode 24 - East Sussex
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00:00Sometimes our escapees just can't contain their excitement.
00:06Oh, wow.
00:07Are you twitching?
00:08I'm twitching.
00:09Let's get in.
00:10Let's get in.
00:11Let's go.
00:12Our houses make them run wild.
00:14Do a few laps and David and I will watch.
00:17Oh, wow.
00:18It is fantastic.
00:19It's fantastic.
00:20That was amazing.
00:22No matter what feelings are evoked...
00:25Oh, a walking pantry.
00:28Oh, yeah.
00:29Yeah.
00:30Nice, nice, nice.
00:32Trust us, the Escape to the Country team, to support any rural adventure.
00:38Oh, this is so beautiful.
00:41Oh, you're welling up.
00:43Yeah, I love it.
00:44I love it.
00:45Oh.
00:58East Sussex.
00:59A vast swathe of the high-wheeled national landscape lies within the county's borders,
01:15as does a stretch of the South Downs National Park.
01:19Among the county's most cherished residents is, of course, Winnie the Pooh, closely followed,
01:26naturally, by me.
01:29When I moved from London to the countryside 12 years ago, I did so because I wanted to leave
01:36the hectic life of the city and find some peace, which I did, and to connect to nature,
01:42which I have, and also just to generally become more content, which I am.
01:47And I am very grateful to this wonderful county of East Sussex for facilitating that.
01:57The county of East Sussex sits in South East England and boasts more English heritage properties,
02:05a longer coastline with more blue flag beaches, and more miles of footpaths than its neighbour
02:12and rival, West Sussex.
02:15I think everyone loves the walks around East Sussex.
02:18There's so many little villages that we've been to that we would never have heard of if
02:22it wasn't for our walking page and searching for maps of walks and where there's a footpath,
02:26that links up to a pub.
02:28Yeah, there's lots of little places that we've been to.
02:33The village of Alfriston in the Cooknear Valley boasts three pubs all housed in the Tudor buildings
02:38that line the narrow streets.
02:41While the market town of Wadhurst consistently ranks among the best places to live in the UK,
02:47thanks to the community spirit fostered by local fundraisers such as the Wadhurst Warriors.
02:55I think the changing of seasons is really lovely.
02:58So like in particularly now, like we see lambs, calves, bluebells, although it's like buttercup season now as well.
03:05And even going into autumn, the changing of the leaves and the colours.
03:09And there's just loads of different things that you see along the way.
03:12Skipping to the country doesn't have to mean moving hundreds of miles.
03:21For example, our couple today are just hopping across the county border,
03:26although they are bringing five fun-sized friends.
03:30Here comes Maggie and our five beautiful sausage dogs.
03:37Tuffers, Willow, Toby, Piper and Ozzie.
03:42Hi, I'm Maggie.
03:44And I'm David.
03:45We've been married for 21 years this June.
03:49We have four kids, five grandkids, five sausage dogs, and we live in Epsom Downs in Surrey.
03:59Maggie, a keen triathlete, retired from her head of operations role several years ago,
04:05and David took early retirement from his job as a finance director.
04:10They've lived in this substantial four-bedroom detached home for the past 18 years,
04:15but it no longer suits their needs.
04:19We're now on a new journey to rescue animals.
04:23Pigs.
04:24And chickens.
04:25Donkeys.
04:26Goats.
04:27Sheep.
04:28We need pigs and chickens.
04:30So, for all that, we need more space, we need room for the animals, we need outbuildings,
04:37and we just can't...
04:38We need land.
04:39We can't achieve that here, so we need to escape to the country.
04:45Maggie and David want a detached period property with bags of character,
04:50a large kitchen for entertaining, and at least three bedrooms.
04:54Outside, they require upwards of two acres, plus outbuildings for the animals.
05:00Pending the sale of their current home, they have a £1 million budget.
05:06Oh, this is going to be lovely this week, although I have to say I'm already biased,
05:18because I live here in East Sussex.
05:21But it seems like Maggie and David love it too,
05:23because they've actually been thinking of coming here also for a long time,
05:26and the time is right.
05:28Although I do have to consider not just them, but also five little Dachshunds.
05:34Actually, not to mention some rescue pigs, some chickens, and who knows what else they decide to rescue.
05:41But I think it is the first time on Escape to the Country that I've had to bear in mind
05:46five little sausage dogs when we go round the houses.
05:49Before we kick off our search, I'm meeting Maggie and David to chat more about the menagerie
05:58that is such an important part of this move.
06:01Welcome to East Sussex, guys.
06:06Although I'm absolutely gutted that we haven't got five sausage dogs.
06:10That would have made my day.
06:13Probably would have made filming quite difficult, but...
06:15It would have created a reasonable amount of chaos.
06:17Yes, they are quite noisy.
06:19Now, animals are super important for this move, because you want to have a sort of animal sanctuary, right?
06:26Yeah, that's what we're focused on trying to achieve.
06:30We're predominantly looking at trying to rescue some pigs,
06:35so land is really important, as well as a beautiful house that you're going to find us.
06:42I am.
06:45Pretty confident I am.
06:46But how much land are we talking?
06:48I think we'll need a minimum of two, but that...
06:52If we got ten acres, I think...
06:54Maggie will go for a really big maximum.
06:56And I know that if she gets the maximum, whatever it is, she will fill it with pigs.
07:01So, I'd say minimum two, but probably five will do.
07:05Limited.
07:06As a top.
07:07Well, we do have lovely houses to look at, so shall we get cracking?
07:12Let's do it.
07:13Let's get going.
07:15Our East Sussex escapade begins in the village of Northeham, close to the Kent border.
07:24This is Northeham. This is the nearest village.
07:26This is the old village square.
07:28Beautiful cross up there.
07:30It's a quintessential Sussex village.
07:33You've got lots of the mathematical tiled houses, or the white clapperboard houses.
07:38And then you've got an old Victorian pump.
07:41It's very peaceful here.
07:43I think it's also these sort of villages have much more of a community feel, where everybody
07:48sort of knows one another, and I get the feeling that that's more what village life is about.
07:57We'd like to do bowling.
07:59Yeah.
08:00Is it?
08:01Yeah.
08:02I think that would be nice and sort of calm.
08:04Well, Northeham Bowls Club is just around the corner, and the village also boasts a bakery
08:11and deli, a garden centre with DIY store, a GP surgery and a dentist.
08:18A quarter of a mile from the village centre, the rear of our first offering peaks over the
08:23top of this hedge onto the quiet country lane.
08:27So we're kind of coming in the back of our first property, because I wanted to show you
08:34this.
08:35Wow.
08:36Oh, look at that.
08:37So you've got seven stables in two blocks, and then a sand school, and then a lot more
08:43land as well.
08:44Oh, David, look at that.
08:45That is.
08:46Oh, it's fantastic.
08:47Oh yeah, the pigs will just come out there, and walk nicely into there.
08:54There are just under two acres of land here, set up to provide equestrian facilities, but
08:59with a few tweaks, it could be perfect for piggies.
09:04And then here we have your lovely cottage.
09:09This detached grade two listed farmhouse is thought to be 400 years old.
09:15Oh, my word.
09:18Oh, wow.
09:20Oh, goodness, this is beautiful.
09:22Look at the trees.
09:23Oh, beautiful.
09:24It's just really lovely.
09:25I wouldn't have chosen to come and look at this property, but I really like it.
09:30Why wouldn't you come and look at it?
09:31Well, I would choose something most probably sort of like with an obvious upstairs, and
09:37I don't know, but I really like it.
09:39Shall we go and look in the actual house?
09:41Yeah, please.
09:42Really can't wait to get in there.
09:44OK, you wanted period.
09:45Remember, you said you wanted period.
09:46OK.
09:47Fair no mind.
09:48The front door is situated at the side of the property, and leads into this semi-open-plan
09:56kitchen diner.
09:57Oh, wow.
09:58Look at the floor, David.
09:59Wow.
10:00It's beautiful, isn't it?
10:01Yes.
10:02The family would have to stay in there while I was cooking, but I can definitely see what
10:11we can do with this.
10:12Absolutely.
10:13It is a beautiful kitchen.
10:14The stone sink would definitely stay.
10:15I mean, that is fantastic.
10:18Really, really quirky and lovely.
10:20Take a look at the dining space.
10:23The views are just beautiful.
10:26There's windows everywhere.
10:27I love all of this as well.
10:29Yeah, yeah.
10:30I mean, it's higgledy-piggledy.
10:31It's not to everyone's taste.
10:32No, we like higgledy-piggledy.
10:33Higgledy-piggledy.
10:34It's definitely us.
10:35Excellent.
10:36Yeah.
10:37Let's go through into the sitting room.
10:40Oh, this is nice.
10:42Oh, look at the fireplace.
10:43Oh, this place is incredible.
10:45I like this space.
10:46I really do like this space.
10:48And I love the fact that the floor goes, well, the whole grand floor is all of these beautiful
10:55flagstones.
10:56What is that?
10:57That is a, it's actually a blacksmith's bellows.
11:00Oh, OK.
11:01The owners salvaged it from a local blacksmith.
11:06When it comes to personality, this property packs a punch, and it continues on the first
11:12floor.
11:13So there are actually four bedrooms in this house.
11:16This is the biggest one.
11:17Oh, this is all right, isn't it?
11:18Yeah, it's a good room.
11:19Yeah.
11:20This is a good-sized room.
11:21Don't notice this.
11:22It's slightly concerned about storage.
11:23Yeah.
11:24But I mean, it's so much character.
11:25Yeah.
11:26Oh, yeah.
11:27Also on this floor is a family bathroom and a second double bedroom.
11:29Oh, wow.
11:30Look at this chimney breast.
11:31I like that.
11:32It's nice, it's quirky, but I fear it's a little bit too small for us.
11:37On the second floor up in the eaves, there are two further bedrooms.
11:38Outside, there's a separate barn on the opposite side of the lane that could, sort of,
11:41a little bit too small for us.
11:43Subject to planning, be converted into a visitor centre, or extra living space.
11:44It's a little bit too small for us.
11:45Oh, wow.
11:46Look at this.
11:47Look at this.
11:48A chimney breast.
11:49I like that.
11:50It's nice, it's quirky, but I fear it's a little bit too small for us.
11:54Oh, wow.
11:55Wow.
11:56Oh, wow.
11:57Oh, I wasn't expecting this.
11:58Yeah, I know.
11:59It's not a big barn.
12:00Could we convert this?
12:01No.
12:02No.
12:03No.
12:04No.
12:05No.
12:06No.
12:07No.
12:08No.
12:09No.
12:10No.
12:11No.
12:12No.
12:13No.
12:14No.
12:15No.
12:16No.
12:17No.
12:18No.
12:19No.
12:20No.
12:21No.
12:22No.
12:23No.
12:24No.
12:25No, it depends on how much it all costs.
12:27But to discuss that small matter, we're taking the weight off in the gorgeous garden.
12:36What do you think it's on the market for?
12:37What price do you think you'd pay for all of this?
12:39Um, I'm going to say £850.
12:47I'll go £875.
12:49Ah, so £875,000.
12:51£875,000, £850,000.
12:53Well, David, you are spot on.
12:56It's on the market for £875,000.
12:59That is the biggest surprise of the day for me.
13:05This historic Grade II listed farmhouse
13:08provides a semi-open-plan kitchen diner,
13:11a sitting room and four bedrooms.
13:14It sits on a plot of just under two acres
13:16with working stable blocks and a separate detached barn
13:20ripe for conversion.
13:23It's on the market with a guide price of £875,000.
13:28I wouldn't have chosen this house, but I'm glad we came to see it.
13:32Love the downstairs. Upstairs doesn't work for us.
13:35Too small. It's too small.
13:37Yeah, the two little rooms in the loft,
13:40we need bedrooms and I don't see those as bedrooms.
13:44That's fine. We've got more houses to see,
13:46but let's have a quick sip of water.
13:49And maybe we could press on.
13:50The historic town of Battle.
14:07It's the site of the major conflict of 1066.
14:12Oh, wow, look at that.
14:14Isn't it? It's beautiful.
14:16When William the Conqueror overthrew King Harold to take the English throne.
14:22We need to study the Battle of Hastings, I think.
14:26I did it in history at school, but I can't...
14:281066. Harold.
14:30Didn't he get an arrow in the eye?
14:32Something like that.
14:33Did he? Or did he burn the cakes?
14:35No, that's Alfred burnt the cakes.
14:37LAUGHTER
14:37Battle's in a prime position for the coast and capital.
14:44It's just a 20-minute drive to the seaside towns of Hastings and Bexhill-on-Sea,
14:49and there are direct train services to London with 90-minute journey times.
14:56Battle has a beautiful high street with medieval buildings,
15:01wonderful independent shops and lots of places to eat and drink.
15:06We have lots of clubs, societies, opportunities to volunteer.
15:12There's some amazing events.
15:13We run our own arts and music festival every July,
15:18and every November we have a spectacular bonfire night.
15:22This fierce-sounding town is really very welcoming,
15:29as Tam Dickey, who moved here six years ago, can vouch for.
15:35What do you like most about living and working in Battle?
15:38It's really friendly.
15:40I think it's the thing that stands out the most to me, the community.
15:44But I also love the fact that we're right in the centre of a town,
15:48but also with the countryside all around us.
15:50You can walk for 30 seconds in any direction and be in the fields
15:54and be able to walk for hours.
15:58Tam and her husband came from just outside the neighbouring town of Hailsham
16:02to this Tudor cottage with a small shop attached.
16:06Today, Tam runs it as a coffee shop and homeware store.
16:11I used to run a cafe,
16:13and I loved the sense of community that we had in the old place,
16:17and I wanted to try and build that here as well.
16:22My favourite thing is when people who don't know each other
16:24pop in for a coffee and then they get chatting.
16:27It's really lovely.
16:30I know from experience that finding a community to settle into
16:34is the key to a successful escape.
16:36So tomorrow, our search for Maggie and David's new neighbourhood
16:40and dream home will continue.
16:55Day two of our property search here in East Sussex
16:57with the wonderful David and Maggie.
16:59And yesterday, I think I focused a little too much
17:01on finding space for the sausage dogs and the pigs and the chickens
17:05and forgot that there are five grandchildren as well
17:08and lots of people coming to stay.
17:10So even though they love the period,
17:13today I'm going to bear in mind space for the humans as well.
17:16We've got a great character property,
17:19but also the mystery house,
17:20which is offering them something a little more modern.
17:25First up today, we're hitting the village of Staplecross,
17:28five miles west of Northam.
17:31The 800 or so residents enjoy a local pub,
17:35a village hall, a social club, a small shop
17:39and buses to the coast at Hastings.
17:42In the mid-19th century,
17:44this area was the centre of the country's hop-growing industry,
17:48dotted with oast houses designed for drying hops for brewing.
17:52Many have been converted into distinctive homes,
17:55including our next property,
17:57standing proud with its double oast kiln.
18:01Wow.
18:02Come in, come in, come in.
18:05It's an oast house.
18:06This is impressive.
18:07We couldn't bring you to East Sussex
18:09and not show you an oast house.
18:11Oh, this is so beautiful.
18:13Oh, you're welling up.
18:15Yeah, I love it.
18:16I love it.
18:18Yeah, and I'm sort of a little bit speechless
18:20because we have wanted to buy an oast house
18:23and didn't get the opportunity.
18:25The roof and everything just looks fantastic.
18:28Yeah, I can't wait to see inside.
18:30Are you going to go in?
18:31Yes.
18:31Let's see.
18:31This double roundel oast house dates back to 1845
18:38and was converted into a home in the 1980s.
18:42It's been recently modernised by the present owners.
18:46So we're going in here first.
18:48Oh, look at this.
18:52This is just...
18:53I just love it.
18:56Oh.
18:57Oh, you want to run around with your energy.
19:00Oh, it's just stunning, isn't it?
19:02Yeah.
19:03I love that fireplace.
19:04Love the fireplace, yeah.
19:05The bricks and the wood and...
19:08Oh, it's just really nice.
19:09I like it a lot.
19:10Maggie, you're bouncing.
19:11You're like a whippet.
19:12I know.
19:12I want to run.
19:14I want to run.
19:15I want to get around.
19:16I want to see it all.
19:17Go and do a few laps.
19:18David and I will watch.
19:19Yeah.
19:20She's literally running.
19:22She's off.
19:23Oh, my God.
19:25Oh, wow.
19:26Oh, wow.
19:26It is fantastic.
19:28It's fantastic.
19:28That was amazing.
19:31Well, if you like quirky, let's go and see the kitchen
19:34because this is...
19:35I've done this show for a long time.
19:36I've never seen a kitchen like this.
19:39Wow.
19:40In all my years, I've never seen a circular kitchen.
19:50Oh, my word.
19:54It's just stunning, isn't it?
19:55Isn't that amazing?
19:56It is amazing.
19:57And the colour is so...
19:59It's just so us, isn't it?
20:00Yeah, I like the worktop as well.
20:01Oh, yeah.
20:02Oh, the worktop's really nice.
20:04This is absolutely...
20:06It's gorgeous.
20:07So it's only 18 months old, so it's brand new.
20:10Yeah.
20:10Really high spec.
20:12And what's nice is it does link in through to a dining room.
20:16So you've got the two hosts, so obviously there's two circular rooms.
20:18Oh, yes, of course.
20:19So you could have all your family here.
20:21You're not completely open-planned, but it's not closed off either.
20:25I think it's beautiful.
20:30The upstairs of the two original hop kilns now house bedrooms.
20:39Oh, my goodness.
20:40The key's coming, isn't it?
20:42Oh, my goodness.
20:44Oh, happy days.
20:46It's a lovely room, isn't it?
20:47Yeah.
20:48And look at the window.
20:49Oh, it's really nice.
20:52A round bedroom.
20:54Wall job fits nicely.
20:57Next door, another circular bedroom.
21:00Also a double has an ensuite shower room.
21:03A landing leads to a family bathroom, a good-sized single,
21:08and a very roomy fourth and final bedroom.
21:12Oh, wow.
21:15So...
21:16Now you don't know which room is the main room.
21:17No, I don't know which room is the main room.
21:20Which room would you choose?
21:22Oh, my goodness.
21:23I think I'd choose this room.
21:25I think I'd choose this room.
21:26Yeah, well...
21:27I like this room.
21:28Choices, choices.
21:32There are plenty more choices outside on the plot of land,
21:36which extends to just under three acres.
21:39Maggie and David could find their groove in the garden,
21:43spend time with the piggies in the paddocks,
21:46and wander through the woodland.
21:50Look at this.
21:50Just outside the property,
21:52you don't even have to cross the road as a footpath,
21:54and that takes you all the way to nearby Bodium Castle.
21:57It's a 45-minute walk there, 45 minutes back.
22:01That is going to tire out
22:02even the most energetic quintet of sausage dogs.
22:06I think it's safe to say
22:12that both humans and animals
22:14could all be very content here.
22:17Come join me on the lawn.
22:19We can't stop looking.
22:20I know you can't stop looking.
22:23Come and look at your host house from this angle.
22:27Oh, this is nice.
22:28Look at this.
22:28David, look at this.
22:30So how much do you think
22:31this little package of paradise is going to cost you?
22:34I am going to say £925,000.
22:41I'm going to say £975,000.
22:44OK, so you're going £925,000 to £975,000.
22:49Yes.
22:50It is much closer to you again, David.
22:53It's just a little over.
22:54It's £930,000.
22:56This is on the market.
22:57What do you think about that?
22:58All right, Dan and Mike.
22:59You got it.
23:02I thought that would make you happy.
23:03I can't believe that.
23:04What?
23:05£930,000.
23:06£930,000.
23:07£930,000, yeah.
23:09Wow.
23:10That leaves change to do pig houses.
23:14Yes, yes, yes.
23:16Can I go for a run now?
23:17OK.
23:17I need to run to the bottom of there.
23:18This detached, double-roundle oast house offers a sizeable living room,
23:26a high-spec contemporary kitchen opening into a circular dining room,
23:31and four bedrooms.
23:33On a plot of just under three acres,
23:36it's on the market for offers in excess of £930,000.
23:44Your wife is a force of nature.
23:47Yes, tell me about it.
23:48You want to try controlling it.
23:56This house is something special.
23:58It is so beautiful.
24:01I feel I'm suddenly full of energy since you come here.
24:04That's good.
24:10We'd seen our houses before,
24:12but this one does everything that we'd ask for, we want.
24:18And we're looking for the future.
24:24Right, well, I'm going to have to drag you away, I'm afraid.
24:27So we've got one more house to go.
24:29OK.
24:30Let's go.
24:31Eager to escape to East Sussex?
24:44Let us give you the lowdown on property prices.
24:47The average cost of a detached home here is a smidge above £571,000.
24:54That's around £132,000 higher than the UK average of just over £438,000.
25:01It's definitely a buyer's market at the moment, especially now it's spring and we're coming
25:06into the summer, and this is traditionally the time that everyone puts their house on
25:10the market.
25:11I'd say in the last 12 to 18 months, price points in properties have definitely come
25:15down across the board.
25:17But the South East will always stay a really popular area, we're not far from London, we're
25:22not far from the sea, we've got good schools down here, so I think there's something for
25:27everyone.
25:30Take a look at this selection of properties also on the market right now.
25:35With a price tag of £250,000, this Grade II listed terraced cottage has a lounge, a compact
25:43country kitchen, two bedrooms and a rear garden.
25:50This substantial semi-detached home boasts a stylish modern kitchen, two receptions and
25:56three bedrooms.
25:58Above the carport, there's a guest suite and outside, a generous rear garden with a patio
26:04large enough to house a hot tub.
26:07It's on the market for £640,000.
26:12Now, offers in the region of a cool £35,000 could land you this beach hut at Bexhill.
26:20Installed just last year, it's fully insulated, so it can be used all year round.
26:25It's Mystery House time, and our final destination is the Hamlet of Maynard's Green, on the south-westerly
26:40edge of the high-wheeled national landscape.
26:43It's half a mile from the village of Horem, which has a small supermarket, a hairdresser for him
26:50and her, a veterinary surgery, and regular buses to the towns of Heathfield, Hailsham and Tunbridge
26:57Wells.
26:57Our final offering, this 1950s detached property, is a 20-minute walk or three-minute drive from
27:06the village centre.
27:08It's been beautifully refurbished by the present owners and fulfils a key wish for Maggie and
27:14David that has, so far, been missing in our search.
27:17A big, entertaining kitchen, and that's sort of drifted off Maggie and David's list, because
27:24they've been thinking about the land and the bedrooms, but actually this was right at the
27:28top of their list, a big kitchen for all their family to come.
27:33And when they do come, what a party they could have.
27:38French doors open onto a terrace which leads to an enormous garden, in which the five grandchildren
27:44and those sausages will be able to run amok, and, what's more, come, come, come, there's
27:53a further three-and-a-bit acres of grazing meadow and ancient woodland for the rescue pigs and
27:59chickens.
28:01Wow, so gorgeous, lovely mature trees, and actually this is their woodland too, I mean,
28:09what's not to love about all this?
28:12Absolutely nothing, I'd say, but they are going to have to rethink their idea of a period
28:18property.
28:20I reckon they can.
28:23Here it is, the mystery house.
28:27Oh, wow!
28:29Well, I didn't expect this.
28:32So, I know this is not your initial brief.
28:35You wanted a sort of period property.
28:37No.
28:38This is 1950s, so it's technically a period.
28:40It wouldn't be a house we would have looked at.
28:44I actually quite like the look of it.
28:46Yeah, I think there's something about it, I quite like that door round the side.
28:51What I would say about this property is that it gives more and more and more the further
28:56in to the...
28:57Oh, wow.
28:58Yes.
28:59Let us see.
29:00I'm moving again.
29:01Are you twitching?
29:02I'm twitching.
29:03Let's get in, let's get in.
29:04Let's go.
29:05This property was once the lodge house to a large country estate that was divided up
29:13in the 1980s.
29:15The front door opens into an entrance hall, at the end of which is the living room.
29:19So, I'm easing you into it here.
29:21So, it's a very clean, modern interior.
29:24It's very white, but it is a nice space.
29:29It's nice and square.
29:30Yeah, proportions-wise, it's a good-sized room.
29:33Yeah.
29:34What was your initial wish list?
29:35You wanted land, you wanted some outbuildings, but inside the house, what was the top thing?
29:40Kitchen.
29:41Big kitchen.
29:42Big, sociable, open-plan kitchen.
29:45Absolutely, yes.
29:46Bring it on.
29:47Come with me.
29:49Ta-da!
29:50Oh, wow.
29:53Oh, this is a big, sociable kitchen.
29:56It's a big, sociable kitchen.
29:57Oh, look at this.
29:58Where have you got off to?
30:00Yeah.
30:01This is nice.
30:02Sucker for a butler sink.
30:04Oh, yes.
30:05Sucker for a butler sink.
30:06Oh, what is in there?
30:07Is that a pantry?
30:08That's a little pantry.
30:09Oh, a walking pantry.
30:10Oh, a walking pantry.
30:11Oh, yeah.
30:12Yeah.
30:13Nice, nice, nice.
30:15This is...
30:16Oh, this is really good.
30:17Yeah, I like this kitchen.
30:19This is the best kitchen.
30:21Absolutely.
30:22Yeah, definitely.
30:24Hooray!
30:25The kitchen delivers.
30:26Let's hope the rest of the accommodation does too.
30:30Also on the ground floor is a family bathroom,
30:34which serves a single bedroom and, next door, a double.
30:39Oh, wow.
30:40This is nice.
30:41It's really light, isn't it?
30:44Big, double aspect.
30:45Nice floors.
30:46Consistent throughout, isn't it?
30:47Yeah.
30:48Yeah, it is.
30:50Upstairs, a shower room serves a single bedroom,
30:54a double with a fireplace...
30:56Oh, this is nice.
30:58Yeah.
31:00I love this fire.
31:01Look at that.
31:03And a fifth and final bedroom, another double.
31:06This is a good room.
31:08A little more good storage.
31:10Nice views out of the window.
31:12Did you see the sheep?
31:13Is there sheep out there?
31:14Is there sheep out there?
31:15Oh, wow.
31:17Oh, look at them.
31:18Really something.
31:19And all the countryside.
31:20This is quite spectacular, isn't it?
31:25The kitchen roof is designed to support a second story
31:28for additional bedrooms and Maggie and David could reapply
31:31for the lapsed planning permission
31:33if they desire a principal suite.
31:43I love chickens.
31:44Yeah, they love it here.
31:48They love living here and they think that Maggie and David
31:52should buy it.
31:53I agree.
31:54There's certainly room for more chickens and pigs here.
32:00The entire plot measures just under four acres.
32:06So, this is the land portion.
32:09I've been looking forward to showing this since I saw the property.
32:12It's being marketed as a hobby smallholding
32:16and is perfectly set up to accommodate Maggie and David's dream
32:20to start an animal rescue centre.
32:23It is really, really stunning.
32:25And you have access down this.
32:27It's not instated now, but you could easily reinstate it
32:29as a driveway.
32:30So, you could actually drive down into this area.
32:33If you wanted to have your visitor centre,
32:35you could have this as your private garden
32:37and have that as a whole kind of piggery rescue animals.
32:41It is the best and most usable land you've given.
32:44And it's just...
32:45It's just...
32:46And the chickens are already here.
32:47Work out how many laps you need to do
32:49with the bottom one for a 5k.
32:51Oh, yeah.
32:52Start our own park one.
32:55I suspect there is no end to Maggie's ambitions.
32:58But their budget, well, that does have a limit,
33:01albeit one million pounds.
33:03But what do you think all of this will cost you?
33:07Oh...
33:089...
33:119.5.
33:12995,000 pounds?
33:14Yes.
33:15And I will go 9.50.
33:179.50.
33:18Well, I'm sorry to say, Maggie, but he's really good.
33:22He's been pretty much spot on each time.
33:25This is actually on the market for 945,000 pounds.
33:28Wow!
33:33This detached 1950s home provides a large reception,
33:41a modern stylish family kitchen
33:43and five bedrooms with potential to extend.
33:46Outside offers just under four acres of meadow and woodland
33:51and it's on the market with a guide price of 945,000 pounds.
33:56This is unbelievable.
33:58It's just beyond our wildest dreams.
34:02It's fantastic.
34:07This is absolutely something we would never have looked at.
34:10But the land is just perfect.
34:13It's just absolutely perfect.
34:16Perfect land and potential of house
34:19and that's a pretty good combo.
34:22Yeah, absolutely.
34:23And there's sheep next door.
34:25What fantastic neighbours.
34:28I like those sheep a lot.
34:35Ah, all done?
34:37All done.
34:38Great.
34:38Just pull the door behind because now we're going to have a cup of tea.
34:41Oh, that sounded good.
34:42Long needed, right?
34:43Yes, it is.
34:44The need to maintain and indeed improve biodiversity on this planet is becoming painfully evident.
35:04But luckily there are passionate people who are doing something about it.
35:07Like Sinead.
35:08She left London five years ago to come down here and live, well, in a field.
35:15Hello, I am Sinead and this is my flower farm.
35:24Sinead acquired this five-acre plot through the Ecological Land Cooperative
35:29who help young entrepreneurs access land on which to establish businesses.
35:34The idea is that if you keep picking flowers, generally they keep producing more.
35:38Decades of intensive single crop farming had ruined the soil here.
35:43But using regenerative farming techniques, Sinead has turned it into a thriving and colourful
35:49plot filled with wildlife.
35:51Flowers are essential that if we don't have more flowers that we don't have food.
35:56Not just for us, but we don't have food for wildlife.
36:00Sinead's edible flowers attract more than 15 different species of bee.
36:04And numbers of most other species have also doubled or trebled since setting up the farm.
36:10What's more, she's made the land profitable and runs a viable and blossoming edible flower business
36:17providing restaurants and bakeries with organic native blooms.
36:22This is my packing shed, so it's where when I'm picking the flowers for the orders
36:27I bring them into here, get them into their boxes and get collected by a wholesaler later.
36:35So five years into her flower power project, I'm swinging by to see how things are going and growing.
36:44Hi Sinead.
36:46Hello, hi.
36:47I'm Alistair.
36:48Lovely to meet you.
36:49Good to meet you.
36:50What an amazing place.
36:53Sinead not only works this land, she lives on it, off-grid, in this static caravan.
37:00How is it here in the winter?
37:01Because I also live off-grid and we struggle a bit in the winter.
37:04Is it tough here?
37:05Yeah, it's pretty gruelling.
37:07So because I just live in a static caravan, the walls or the tin is a thickness of a can of beans.
37:15So it's not warm.
37:17I think there was nine days this winter where the water was just frozen.
37:22I went back to my mum's at that point.
37:24There's no reason to be here.
37:26But what are the joys of living here?
37:28Because it's a beautiful spot.
37:29Yeah, it really is incredible.
37:31Big and quiet.
37:32This feels like real life.
37:34It feels, yeah, it feels real.
37:37Everything that I put into it is what I see and get to enjoy and to be part of.
37:43And it just, it feels like I'm really part of the natural system here.
37:47Sometimes I am bullied by the natural system here.
37:50But I do love it.
37:53It's hard.
37:54It's tough.
37:55But I find it really rewarding and I couldn't really imagine living any other way.
38:02Sinead grows flowers that are at risk of extinction or that aren't commonly grown for the mass-market
38:08food system.
38:09And I can't wait to taste some of her top sellers.
38:15Borage refills its nectar really quickly, which is why you often see bees just hanging out
38:20here, because they can get everything they need.
38:22And it's blue.
38:23Bees can see blue really easily.
38:25Blue and purple.
38:26So it's why you'll often see bees on borage and chives.
38:30Not all flowers are edible, so it's always best to be led by an expert like Sinead.
38:36What else have we got?
38:38This is a nasturtium.
38:39Yes.
38:40You've got nasturtiums here.
38:41So these are really water-cressy.
38:42The flowers are good, aren't they?
38:43Yes.
38:44They're more punchy.
38:45They're so beautiful.
38:46Yeah.
38:47Really gorgeous.
38:48So these must be a big seller.
38:49Yeah.
38:50But nasturtiums are great because you can use every bit of the plant.
38:52It's so good.
38:53Yeah.
38:54Peppery.
38:55It's really peppery.
38:56It really punches you.
38:57It's spicy.
38:58Yeah.
38:59It's a very distinct flavour.
39:00What about these chaps?
39:01This.
39:02This is a favourite.
39:03So this is called Mexican marigold.
39:04What are they tasting?
39:05These taste like fruit salads.
39:07Really fruity, sweet.
39:09The little sweets we had as kids.
39:10The little sweets that we had as kids.
39:12Oh, here they do.
39:13Yeah.
39:14So super popular.
39:15That's wild.
39:16The UK has one of the lowest levels of biodiversity in Europe.
39:17Almost half of our wildlife and natural habitats have been lost due to factors such as land
39:31use changes and unsustainable farming practices.
39:35But Sinead is amongst a growing number of people at the forefront of rural regeneration.
39:42Sinead, you're very inspiring.
39:44I mean, hats off to you to live off grid and to manage four acres all on your own.
39:48And also turn a profit and think about all.
39:51I mean, it's just wonderful.
39:52So I really wish it goes from strength to strength.
39:55Thank you so much for taking the time.
39:56No, thank you for coming.
39:57It's been really nice having you here.
40:07What a positive week.
40:08And the Mystery House did its job of shaking everything up.
40:11So let's find out what they're thinking.
40:13Hello.
40:14Hello.
40:15Hey.
40:16So, how are you two doing at the end of our week's house hunting?
40:25We are doing good.
40:27You've put us in a complete ease.
40:29And now we don't know what to do.
40:32Because we love the Oast House.
40:35Absolutely love that house.
40:36Yeah, I would say that's our favourite house.
40:38But the land.
40:39The land.
40:40The Mystery is our favourite land.
40:42So how do you blend the two when you can't?
40:45So then you're stuck in the...
40:47Tis.
40:48Yeah.
40:49We're in the tis.
40:50Well, yes and no.
40:51I think there's something good and creative about confusion.
40:54And sometimes you have to kind of just sit with the confusion and things come into focus.
40:58Yeah.
40:59You could look into both of them.
41:00You don't have to make a decision right now at this table.
41:02Because you could follow them out and then one of them might cancel itself out
41:05because it's in the wrong place or you don't like this, you don't like that.
41:08But it's good to have more than one option.
41:10It is.
41:11It is.
41:12We're going to second view both of them.
41:13Excellent.
41:14I think the one thing that we've learnt through this process is what sort of land is going
41:18to be necessary to achieve all the things that we want to achieve.
41:22And definitely the Mystery House, that land was amazing for everything.
41:25Oh, our life would be so different there.
41:27It would be really good.
41:28And Alistair, you were so right about that little road down the side and everybody coming
41:33to visit us.
41:34Well, if you make a decision and you choose one of our houses, then do let us know because
41:39we would love to come and revisit you or wherever you end up in East Sussex.
41:42But I do hope you come down because it's a beautiful place and you two deserve something beautiful.
41:47Thank you so much.
41:48Thank you very much.
41:49And thank you for the last few days.
41:51It's been a brilliant experience.
41:52It's been great.
41:53You've been great company.
41:59It has been such an honour showing Maggie and David around my home county of East Sussex,
42:04hopefully making it their home county of East Sussex because it's a great place to live.
42:10And it's a great place, I think, to open their dream animal sanctuary.
42:15And I'm not at all sorry that the Mystery House shook things up because sometimes I think
42:20you need to shake things up in order to see things more clearly.
42:23And I think those two, with their combined vision, will make it happen.
42:27And I'm really looking forward to going to see it.
42:30And I'm looking forward to seeing you again on another episode of Escape to the Country.
42:36After much consideration, Maggie and David decided against our properties.
42:40However, their search continued and they found a period farmhouse with eight acres of land.
42:47Significantly under budget, it leaves plenty of cash for the pig sanctuary
42:51and they hope to be in their new home very, very soon.
42:56If you would like to escape to the country in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales
43:01and need our help, why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.
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