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00:02Sometimes our escapees just can't contain their excitement.
00:06Oh, wow.
00:07Are you twitching?
00:08I'm twitching.
00:09Let's get in, let's get in.
00:10Let's go.
00:11Our houses make them run wild.
00:14We'll do a few laps and David and I will watch.
00:16Oh, wow.
00:18It is fantastic.
00:19It's fantastic.
00:20That was amazing.
00:22No matter what feelings are evoked...
00:26Oh, a walking pantry.
00:27Oh, yeah.
00:28Yeah.
00:29It's a bit of creativity.
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.
00:42Yeah, I love it.
00:43I love it.
00:44Oh.
00:45Oh.
01:08East Sussex.
01:09A 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.
01:18Among the county's most cherished residents is, of course, Winnie the Pooh, closely followed,
01:25naturally, by me.
01:29When I moved from London to the countryside 12 years ago, I did so because I wanted to
01:35leave the hectic life of the city and find some peace, which I did, and to connect to
01:41nature, which I have, and also just to generally become more content, which I am.
01:46And I am very grateful to this wonderful county of East Sussex for facilitating that.
01:58The 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
02:11and 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.
02:27Yeah, there's lots of little places that we've been to.
02:32The village of Alfriston in the Cooknir 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.
02:54I think the changing of seasons is really lovely. So like in particularly now, like we see lambs, calves, bluebells,
03:02although it's like buttercup season now as well. And even going into autumn, the changing of the leaves and the
03:07colours.
03:09And there's just loads of different things that you see along the way.
03:15escaping to the country doesn't have to mean moving hundreds of miles.
03:20For example, our couple today are just hopping across the county border.
03:25that they are bringing five fun sized friends.
03:32Here comes Maggie and our five beautiful sausage dogs.
03:37Tuffers, Willow, Toby, Piper and Ozzie.
03:42Hi, I'm Maggie.
03:44Hi, I'm David.
03:45We've been married for 21 years this June.
03:48We have four kids, five grandkids, five sausage dogs, and we live in Epsom Downs in Surrey.
03:58Maggie, a keen triathlete, retired from her head of operations role several years ago,
04:04and David took early retirement from his job as a finance director.
04:09They've lived in this substantial four bedroom detached home for the past 18 years,
04:14but 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.
04:28Mainly pigs and chickens.
04:30So, for all that, we need more space.
04:33We need room for the animals.
04:35We need outbuildings.
04:37And we just can't...
04:38We need land.
04:39We can't achieve that here.
04:40So, 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.
05:14Oh, 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.
05:20But it seems like Maggie and David love it too,
05:22because they've actually been thinking of coming here also for a long time,
05:25and the time is right.
05:27Although I do have to consider not just them, but also five little Dachshunds.
05:34Actually, not to mention some rescue pigs, some chickens,
05:38and who knows what else they decide to rescue.
05:41But I think it is the first time on Escape to the Country
05:44that I've had to bear in mind five little sausage dogs when we go round the houses.
05:52Before we kick off our search, I'm meeting Maggie and David
05:56to chat more about the menagerie that is such an important part of this move.
06:04Welcome to East Sussex, guys.
06:06Although I'm absolutely gutted that we haven't got five sausage dogs to do.
06:10That would have made my day.
06:12It probably 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,
06:22because 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 the land is really important,
06:38as well as a beautiful house that you're going to find us.
06:42I am.
06:44Pretty confident I am.
06:45But how much land are we talking?
06:47I think we'll need a minimum of two,
06:50but that, if we got ten acres, I think...
06:53Maggie will go for a really big maximum,
06:56and I know that if she gets the maximum, whatever it is,
06:59she will fill it with pigs.
07:00So, I'd say minimum of two.
07:02And chickens.
07:03But probably five will do.
07:05Limited.
07:06Limited.
07:06As a top.
07:06Well, we do have lovely houses to look at.
07:09So, shall we get cracking?
07:11Let's get going.
07:15Our East Sussex escapade begins in the village of Northeham,
07:19close to the Kent border.
07:23This is Northeham.
07:24This is the nearest village.
07:25This 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
07:35or the white clapperboard houses.
07:38And then you've got an old Victorian pump.
07:41It's very peaceful here.
07:42I think it's also these sort of villages
07:45have much more of a community feel
07:47where everybody sort of knows one another
07:50and 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?
08:00Yeah.
08:01I think that would be nice and sort of calm.
08:05Well, Northeham Bowls Club is just around the corner
08:08and the village also boasts a bakery in Delhi,
08:12a garden centre with DIY store,
08:15a GP surgery and a dentist.
08:18A quarter of a mile from the village centre,
08:21the rear of our first offering peaks over the top of this hedge
08:24onto the quiet country lane.
08:29So we're kind of coming in the back of our first property
08:33because I wanted to show you this.
08:35Wow.
08:36Oh, look at that.
08:37So you've got seven stables in two blocks
08:39and then a sand school and then a lot more land as well.
08:43Oh, David, look at that.
08:45That is.
08:45Oh, it's fantastic.
08:47Oh, yeah, the piece will just come out there.
08:48Don't worry about us.
08:49And walk nicely into there.
08:53There are just under two acres of land here
08:56set up to provide equestrian facilities,
08:58but with a few tweaks, it could be perfect for piggies.
09:03And then here we have your lovely cottage.
09:09This detached grade two listed farmhouse is thought to be 400 years old.
09:16Oh, my word.
09:18Oh, wow.
09:20Oh, goodness.
09:21This is beautiful.
09:21Look at the trees.
09:22Oh, it's just really lovely.
09:25I wouldn't have chosen to come and look at this property,
09:27but 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,
09:34with an obvious upstairs, and I don't know, but I'd really like it.
09:39Shall we go and look in the actual house?
09:41Yeah, please.
09:42I really can't wait to get in there.
09:43OK, you wanted period.
09:44Remember, you said you wanted period.
09:46OK, OK.
09:51The front door is situated at the side of the property
09:53and leads into this semi-open-plan kitchen diner.
10:00Oh, wow, look at the floor, David.
10:02Wow.
10:03This is beautiful, isn't it?
10:04Yes.
10:05The family would have to stay in there while I was cooking,
10:08but I can definitely see what we can do with this.
10:12Absolutely.
10:13It is a beautiful kitchen.
10:14The stone sink would definitely stay.
10:16I mean, that is fantastic.
10:18Really, really quirky and lovely.
10:20Take a look at the dining space.
10:23The views are just beautiful.
10:25There'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.
10:34Higgledy-piggledy is definitely us.
10:34It's definitely us.
10:36Excellent.
10:37Let's go through into the sitting room.
10:41Oh, this is nice.
10:42Oh, look at the fireplace.
10:43Oh, this place is incredible.
10:45I like this space.
10:47I really do like this space.
10:48And I love the fact that the floor goes...
10:51Well, the whole grand floor is all of these beautiful flagstones.
10:54What is that?
10:57That is a...
10:58It's actually a blacksmith's bellows.
11:00Oh, OK.
11:02The owners salvaged it from a local blacksmith.
11:06When it comes to personality, this property packs a punch,
11:10and it continues on the first floor.
11:16So there are actually four bedrooms in this house.
11:20This is the biggest one.
11:22Oh, this is all right, isn't it?
11:23Yeah, it's a good room.
11:24Yeah.
11:25This is a good-sized room.
11:27It's like they're concerned about storage.
11:30Yeah.
11:30But, I mean, it's so much character.
11:33Yeah.
11:33Oh, yeah.
11:37Also on this floor is a family bathroom and a second double bedroom.
11:42Oh, wow.
11:44Look at this.
11:45The chimney breast.
11:46I like that.
11:48It's nice, it's quirky, but I fear it's a little bit too small for us.
11:55On the second floor, up in the eaves, there are two further bedrooms.
12:03Outside, there's a separate barn on the opposite side of the lane
12:06that could, subject to planning, be converted into a visitor centre
12:10or extra living space.
12:13Oh, wow.
12:15Wow.
12:16Oh, I wasn't expecting this.
12:18Oh, no.
12:19It's not a big barn.
12:20Could we convert this?
12:23I suppose it all depends on how much it all costs.
12:28And to discuss that small matter,
12:31we'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?
12:42I'm going to say 850.
12:47I'll go 875.
12:48Ah, so 875,000 pounds, 850,000 pounds.
12:54Well, David, you are spot on.
12:56It's on the market for 875,000 pounds.
12:59That is the biggest surprise of the day for me.
13:05This historic Grade II listed farmhouse provides a semi-open-plan kitchen diner,
13:11a sitting room and four bedrooms.
13:14It sits on a plot of just under two acres with working stable blocks
13:18and a separate detached barn, ripe for conversion.
13:22It's on the market with a guide price of 875,000 pounds.
13:28I wouldn't have chosen this house, but I'm glad we came to see it.
13:32Love the downstairs.
13:33Upstairs doesn't work for us.
13:35Too small.
13:36It'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.
13:45We've got more houses to see, but let's have a quick sip of water.
13:49And maybe we could press on.
14:05The historic town of Battle.
14:07It's the site of the major conflict of 1066.
14:12Oh, wow, look at that.
14:14It looks 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.
14:29Harold.
14:30Didn't he get an arrow in the eye?
14:32Something like that.
14:33Did he?
14:33Or did he burn the cakes?
14:35No, that's Alfred burnt the cakes.
14:40Battle'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.
15:11There's some amazing events.
15:13We run our own arts and music festival every July, and every November we have a spectacular bonfire night.
15:25This fierce-sounding town is really very welcoming, as 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, but also with the countryside
15:49all around us.
15:50You can walk for 30 seconds in any direction and be in the fields and be able to walk for
15:55hours.
15:57Tam and her husband came from just outside the neighbouring town of Hailsham to this Tudor cottage with a small
16:04shop attached.
16:06Today, Tam runs it as a coffee shop and homeware store.
16:11I used to run a cafe, and 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.
16:21My favourite thing is when people who don't know each other pop in for a coffee and then they get
16:26chatting.
16:27It's really lovely.
16:30I know from experience that finding a community to settle into is the key to a successful escape.
16:36So, tomorrow, our search for Maggie and David's new neighbourhood and Dream Home will continue.
16:55Day two of our property search here in East Sussex with the wonderful David and Maggie.
16:59And yesterday I think I focused a little too much on finding space for the sausage dogs and the pigs
17:04and the chickens.
17:05I forgot that there are five grandchildren as well and lots of people coming to stay.
17:10So, even though they love the period, today I'm going to bear in mind space for the humans as well.
17:16We've got a great character property, but also the mystery house, which is offering them something a little more modern.
17:25First up today, we're hitting the village of Staple Cross, five miles west of Northam.
17:31The 800 or so residents enjoy a local pub, a village hall, a social club, a small shop and buses
17:39to the coast at Hastings.
17:42In the mid-19th century, this area was the centre of the country's hop-growing industry, dotted with oast houses
17:49designed for drying hops for brewing.
17:51Many have been converted into distinctive homes, including our next property, standing 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 and not show you an oast house.
18:11Oh, this is so beautiful.
18:13Oh, you're welling up.
18:15Yeah, I love it.
18:16Very calm.
18:16I love it.
18:17Oh.
18:18Yeah, and I'm sort of a little bit speechless because we have wanted to buy an oast house and didn't
18:24get the opportunity.
18:25The roof and everything just looks fantastic.
18:28Yeah, I can't wait to see inside.
18:30Will you go in?
18:31Yes.
18:31Let's see.
18:34This double roundel oast house dates back to 1845 and was converted into a home in the 1980s.
18:41It's been recently modernised by the present owners.
18:46So we're going in here first.
18:50Oh, look at this.
18:51This is just, I just love it.
18:57Oh, you want to run around with your energy.
18:59Oh, 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 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.
19:16Do a few laps.
19:18David and I will watch.
19:19Yeah.
19:19She's literally running.
19:21She's off.
19:23Oh, my God.
19:25Oh, wow.
19:25Oh, wow.
19:26It is fantastic.
19:27It's fantastic.
19:28That was amazing.
19:32Well, if you like quirky, let's go and see the kitchen.
19:34Because this is, I've done this show for a long time.
19:36I've never seen a kitchen like this.
19:39Wow.
19:45In all my years, I've never seen a circular kitchen.
19:50Oh, my word.
19:53Oh, it's just stunning, isn't it?
19:55Isn't that amazing?
19:56It is amazing.
19:57And the colour is so, it's just so us, isn't it?
20:00Yeah, I like the worktop as well.
20:01We love, yeah.
20:01Oh, the worktop's really nice.
20:03Yes.
20:03This is absolutely, it'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 plan, but it's not closed off either.
20:24I think it's beautiful.
20:30The upstairs of the two original hop kilns now house bedrooms.
20:39Oh, my goodness.
20:40It just keeps coming, doesn'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.
20:51A round bedroom.
20:54Wall job fits nicely.
20:57Next door, another circular bedroom, also a double,
21:01has an ensuite shower room.
21:03A landing leads to a family bathroom,
21:06a good-sized single,
21:08and a very roomy fourth and final bedroom.
21:13Oh, wow.
21:15So...
21:16Now you don't know which room is the main room.
21:18No, 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.
21:24I think I'd choose this room.
21:26Well...
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.
21:40Maggie and David could find their groove in the garden,
21:43spend time with the piggies in the paddocks,
21:46and wander through the woodland.
21:49Look at this, just outside the property.
21:52Don'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.
22:00That is going to tire out even the most energetic quintet of sausage dogs.
22:11I think it's safe to say that 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.
22:26Oh, this is nice.
22:28Look at this.
22:28David, look at this.
22:30So how much do you think this little package of paradise is going to cost you?
22:35I am going to say...
22:38925.
22:40I'm going to say 975.
22:44OK, so you're going 925,000 pounds to 975,000 pounds.
22:49Yes.
22:50It is much closer to you again, David.
22:53It's just a little over.
22:54It's 930,000 pounds.
22:56This is on the market.
22:57What do you think about that?
22:58All right, dynamite.
23:00You got it.
23:02I thought that would make you happy.
23:03I can't believe that.
23:04What?
23:059...
23:06930.
23:07930,000, yeah.
23:09Wow.
23:09That 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.
23:21This detached, double-roundle host house offers a sizeable living room, a high-spec contemporary
23:27kitchen opening into a circular dining room, and four bedrooms.
23:32On a plot of just under three acres, it's on the market for offers in excess of 930,000 pounds.
23:44Your wife is a force of nature.
23:46Yes.
23:47Tell me about it.
23:48You want to try controlling it.
23:56This house is something special.
23:58It is so beautiful.
24:00I feel I'm suddenly full of energy since we come here.
24:04That's good.
24:09We'd seen host houses before, but this one does everything that we'd ask for, we want, and we're looking for
24:19the future.
24:24Right, well, I'm going to have to drag you away, I'm afraid, because we've got one more house to go.
24:29OK.
24:30OK.
24:30Let's go.
24:42Eager 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 pounds.
24:54That's around 132,000 pounds higher than the UK average of just over 438,000.
25:02It's definitely a buyer's market at the moment, especially now it's spring and we're coming into the summer, and this
25:07is traditionally the time that everyone puts their house on the market.
25:10I'd say in the last 12 to 18 months, price points in properties have definitely come down across the board,
25:17but the South East will always stay a really popular area.
25:20We're not far from London, we're not far from the sea, we've got good schools down here, so I think
25:26there's something for everyone.
25:30Take a look at this selection of properties also on the market right now.
25:36With a price tag of £250,000, this Grade II listed terraced cottage has a lounge, a compact country kitchen,
25:44two bedrooms and a rear garden.
25:50This substantial semi-detached home boasts a stylish modern kitchen, two receptions and three bedrooms.
25:58Above the carport there's a guest suite, and outside, a generous rear garden with a patio large enough to house
26:05a 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.
26:19Installed just last year, it's fully insulated, so it can be used all year round.
26:34It's Mystery House time, and our final destination is the Hamlet of Maynard's Green, on the south-westerly edge of
26:41the high-wheeled national landscape.
26:44It's half a mile from the village of Horham, which has a small supermarket, a hairdresser's for him and her,
26:51a veterinary surgery, and regular buses to the towns of Heathfield, Hailsham and Tunbridge Wells.
26:58Our final offering, this 1950s detached property, is a 20-minute walk or three-minute drive from the village centre.
27:08It's been beautifully refurbished by the present owners and fulfils a key wish for Maggie and David that has, so
27:15far, been missing in our search.
27:18A big, entertaining kitchen.
27:20And that sort of drifted off Maggie and David's list, because they've been thinking about the land and the bedrooms,
27:26but actually this was right at the top of their list.
27:28A big kitchen for all their family to come.
27:32And 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 and those sausages
27:45will be able to run amok.
27:48And, what's more...
27:50Come, come, come.
27:52There's a further three and a bit acres of grazing meadow and ancient woodland for the rescue pigs and chickens.
28:01Wow.
28:02So gorgeous.
28:04Lovely mature trees.
28:06And actually this is their woodland too.
28:08I mean, what's not to love about all this?
28:12Absolutely nothing, I'd say.
28:15But they are going to have to rethink their idea of a period property.
28:19I reckon they can.
28:23Here it is.
28:24The 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.
28:37This 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 in to
28:57the...
28:57Oh, wow.
28:58Yes.
29:00Let us see.
29:01I'm moving again.
29:02Are you twitching?
29:03I'm twitching.
29:04Let's get in, let's get in.
29:05Let's go.
29:07This property was once the lodge house to a large country estate that was divided up in the 1980s.
29:14The front door opens into an entrance hall, at the end of which is the living room.
29:20So I'm easing you into it here. So it's a very clean, modern interior.
29:24It's very white, but it is a nice space. It's nice and square.
29:31Proportions-wise, it's a good sized room.
29:33Yeah.
29:34Do you remember your initial wish list? You wanted land and you wanted some outbuildings, but inside the house, what
29:39was the top thing?
29:40Kitchen. Big kitchen.
29:41Big, sociable, open-plan kitchen.
29:45Absolutely, yes.
29:46Bring it on.
29:47Come with me.
29:49Ta-da!
29:52Oh, wow.
29:53Oh, this is a big, sociable kitchen.
29:57It's a big, sociable kitchen.
29:58Oh, look at this.
29:59Where have you got off to?
30:00Ah.
30:01This is nice.
30:03Uh, you know, a sucker for a butler sink.
30:07Oh, what is in there? Is that a pantry?
30:09That's a little pantry.
30:10Oh, a walking pantry.
30:12Oh, yeah.
30:13Yeah.
30:14Nice, 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,
30:36and next door, a double.
30:39Oh, wow, this is nice.
30:42It's really light, isn't it?
30:44Big double aspect.
30:45Nice floors.
30:46Consistent throughout, isn't it?
30:48Yeah, yeah, it is.
30:51Upstairs, a shower room serves a single bedroom,
30:55a double with a fireplace.
30:57Oh, this is nice.
30:59Yeah.
31:00I love this fire.
31:01Look at that.
31:03And a fifth and final bedroom, another double.
31:07This is a good room.
31:08Yeah, more good storage.
31:10Nice views out of the window.
31:12Did you see the sheep?
31:13Is there sheep out there?
31:14Oh, is there sheep out there?
31:16Oh, wow.
31:17Oh, look at them.
31:18Really something.
31:19And all the countryside.
31:20This is quite spectacular, isn't it?
31:24The kitchen roof is designed to support a second story
31:28for additional bedrooms,
31:29and Maggie and David could reapply
31:31for the lapsed planning permission
31:33if they desire a principal suite.
31:42I love chickens.
31:46Yeah, they love it here.
31:48They love living here,
31:50and they think that Maggie and David should buy it.
31:53I agree.
31:57There'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
32:10since 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,
32:28but you could easily reinstate it as a driveway.
32:30So, you could actually drive down into this area.
32:34If 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...
32:45And 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 a home park one.
32:54I suspect there is no end to Maggie's ambitions.
32:58But their budget, well, that does have a limit,
33:01albeit one million pounds.
33:05But what do you think all of this will cost you?
33:08Oh...
33:119...
33:129.5.
33:14995,000 pounds?
33:15Yes.
33:16And I will go 950.
33:18950.
33:19Well, I'm sorry to say, Maggie, but he's really good.
33:23He's been pretty much spot on each time.
33:26This is actually on the market for 945,000 pounds.
33:32Wow!
33:36This detached 1950s home provides a large reception,
33:41a modern stylish family kitchen
33:43and five bedrooms with potential to extend.
33:47Outside 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.
33:59It's just beyond our wildest dreams.
34:03It's fantastic.
34:08This is absolutely something we would never have looked at.
34:11But the land is just perfect.
34:15It's just absolutely perfect.
34:17Perfect land and potential of house.
34:20And that's a pretty good combo.
34:23Yeah, absolutely.
34:25And there's sheep next door.
34:26What fantastic neighbours.
34:28I like those sheep a lot.
34:35Ah!
34:36All done?
34:37All done.
34:38Great, just pull the door behind
34:39because now we're going to have a cup of tea.
34:41Oh, that sounded good.
34:42Long needed, right?
34:43Yes, it is.
34:57The need to maintain and indeed improve biodiversity on this planet
35:02is becoming painfully evident.
35:04But luckily there are passionate people who are doing something about it,
35:07like Sinead.
35:09She left London five years ago to come down here and live,
35:13well, in a field.
35:18Hello, I am Sinead and this is my flower farm.
35:24Sinead acquired this five-acre plot through the Ecological Land Co-operative,
35:30who 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
35:48and colourful plot filled with wildlife.
35:52Flowers 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.
36:05And 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
36:14and runs a viable and blossoming edible flower business,
36:17providing restaurants and bakeries with organic native blooms.
36:22This is my packing shed.
36:24So it's where, when I'm picking the flowers for the orders,
36:27I bring them into here, get them into their boxes.
36:29I 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.
36:46Hi Sinead.
36:47Hello, hi.
36:48I'm Alistair.
36:48Lovely to meet you.
36:50Good to meet you.
36:50What an amazing place.
36:54Sinead not only works this land, she lives on it, off-grid, in this static caravan.
37:01How is it here in the winter?
37:02Because I also live off-grid and we struggle a bit in the winter.
37:05Is it tough here?
37:06Yeah, it's pretty gruelling.
37:08So because I just live in a static caravan, the walls or the tin is a thickness of a can
37:14of beans.
37:16So it's not warm.
37:18I think there was nine days this winter where the water was just frozen.
37:22I went back to my mum's at that point and said, there's no reason to be here.
37:26But what are the joys of living here? Because it's a beautiful spot.
37:30Yeah, it really is incredible.
37:32This feels like real life.
37:36Yeah, 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.
37:48Sometimes I am bullied by the natural system here.
37:52But I do love it.
37:53It's hard, it'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
38:05or that aren't commonly grown for the mass market food 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 here,
38:21because they can get everything they need.
38:23And it's blue. Bees can see blue really easily.
38:26Blue and purple, so it's why you'll often see bees on borage and chives.
38:32Not all flowers are edible, so it's always best to be led by an expert like Sinead.
38:38What else have we got? This is a nasturtium.
38:40Yes.
38:40You've got nasturtiums here, so these are really watercressy.
38:43The flowers are good, aren't they?
38:44Because they're more punchy.
38:45So beautiful.
38:46Yeah.
38:47Really gorgeous.
38:47So these must be a big seller.
38:48Yeah.
38:49But nasturtiums are great because you can use every bit of the plant.
38:52It's so good.
38:53Yeah.
38:54Peppery.
38:54It's really peppery.
38:55It really punches you.
38:56It's spicy.
38:57Yeah.
38:57Wow.
38:57It's a very distinct flavour.
38:59What about these chaps?
39:00This.
39:00This is a favourite.
39:02So this is called Mexican marigold.
39:04What do they taste like?
39:05These taste like fruit salads.
39:08Really fruity, sweet.
39:10The little sweets we had as kids.
39:11The little sweets that we had as kids.
39:15Oh, yeah, they do.
39:16Yep.
39:17So, super popular.
39:19That's wild.
39:21The UK has one of the lowest levels of biodiversity in Europe.
39:26Almost half of our wildlife and natural habitats have been lost due to factors such as land use changes and
39:33unsustainable farming practices.
39:36But Sinead is amongst a growing number of people at the forefront of rural regeneration.
39:43Sinead, you're very inspiring.
39:45I mean, hats off to you to live off grid and to manage four acres all on your own.
39:49And also turn a profit and think about all, I mean, it's just wonderful.
39:52So I really wish it goes from strength to strength.
39:56Thank you so much.
39:57No, thank you for coming.
39:58It's been really nice having you here.
40:07What a positive week.
40:09And the Mystery House did its job of shaking everything up.
40:12So let's find out what they're thinking.
40:19Hello.
40:20Hey.
40:21So, how are you two doing at the end of our week's house hunting?
40:25We are doing good.
40:27We have, you've put us in a complete tis.
40:29And now we don't know what to do.
40:32Because we love the Oast House.
40:35Absolutely love that house.
40:37Yeah, I would say that's our favourite house.
40:38But the land.
40:39The land.
40:40The mystery.
40:41It's our favourite land.
40:42So how do you blend the two when you can't?
40:45So then you're stuck in the...
40:48Tis.
40:48Yeah.
40:49We're in the tis.
40:50Well, yes and no.
40:52I 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.
40:59Yeah.
40:59You could look into both of them.
41:00You don't have to make a decision right now at this table.
41:03Because you could follow them out and then one of them might cancel itself out
41:06because it's in the wrong place or you don't like this, you don't like that.
41:09But it's good to have more than one option.
41:11It is.
41:12We're going to second view both of them.
41:14Excellent.
41:14I think the one thing that we've learnt through this process is what sort of land is going
41:19to be necessary to achieve all the things that we want to achieve.
41:23And 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.
41:29And Alastair, you were so right about that little road down the side of everybody coming
41:34to visit us.
41:35Well, if you make a decision and you choose one of our houses, then do let us know
41:39because we would love to come and revisit you or wherever you end up in East Sussex.
41:43But I do hope you come down because it's a beautiful place and you two deserve something
41:47beautiful.
41:48Thank you so much.
41:49Thank you very much, yeah.
41:49And thank you for the last few days.
41:51It's been a brilliant experience.
41:53It'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,
42:05hopefully 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.
42:28And 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.
42:37After much consideration, Maggie and David decided against our properties.
42:41However, their search continued and they found a period farmhouse with eight acres of land.
42:48Significantly under budget, it leaves plenty of cash for the pig sanctuary.
42:52And they hope to be in their new home very, very soon.
42:57If you would like to escape to the country in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales,
43:02and need our help, why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.