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Escape To The Country S26E37
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00:01The best way to embark on an escape to the country journey is with an open mind.
00:07Well, we've been looking forward to it for a while, but we don't know what to expect.
00:12Expect the unexpected is usually the best advice I can give you.
00:16And staying true to that, I present some show-stopping properties.
00:21Well, we don't expect to live in a house like this, but now I see it. Why not?
00:26As well as some knockout gardens.
00:29Oh, beautiful. The employer gardener. A farmer.
00:32I'm a farmer.
00:57Cambridgeshire. It's the full package. There's beauty in its wide, low-lying landscape.
01:04Brawn within the ancient bricks that built its arresting architecture.
01:09And brains. Well, they can be found within its world-famous Institute of Education.
01:16Cambridgeshire has great genes. And I'm not talking about the pair that I'm wearing.
01:21I'm talking about genes as in genomes, that unique blueprint that makes all of us who we are.
01:27Because it was here in this scholarly and studious county that much of our genetic code was mapped, all three
01:35billion bits of it.
01:36And, of course, it determines everything from the colour of our skin, our eyes, our hair, even the shape and
01:43warmth of our smile.
01:44And certainly, Cambridgeshire puts a smile on my face. It's the perfect place for an escape to the country.
01:53Cambridgeshire sits in the west of East Anglia and is loved by both visitors and residents.
01:59We've moved up a few years ago. It's really picturesque. Just go for a drive around. The skies are really
02:05big.
02:06We're very, very lucky to live here. Just spoilt for choice.
02:10Attracting over seven million visitors a year is Cambridge, known for its prestigious university.
02:17Although a city it has no cathedral, the nearest is located in nearby Ely,
02:23a magnificent Norman structure affectionately known as the Ship of the Fens.
02:28I love living in Cambridgeshire. I love the open spaces. I love the old buildings, little pubs and restaurants,
02:37so you can sit and have a drink and enjoy the view. Great place for everyone.
02:43Away from the lively metropolises, the Fens cover much of the county.
02:48The fertile marshy landscape produces a fifth of the nation's grains, earning it the title Breadbasket of Britain.
02:56So whether it's history, architecture or nature you're after, Cambridgeshire's got it covered.
03:09If ever there was a county fit for a couple of scientists to escape to, then surely Cambridgeshire is it.
03:16So time now to meet them, do some old-fashioned research, find out what they're after and why.
03:23Helen and Wei have lived in Brussels for the past 38 years.
03:27We both moved from the southeast of England to live in Belgium since the late 80s because of work.
03:35We have three children, all working and living in the UK. We also have three lovely grandchildren.
03:43The chemistry was instant when Helen, a retired science technician and Wei, a retired chemical engineer,
03:50met at university in England in 1979.
03:55We actually plan to move back to the UK since about four years ago.
04:01But due to the Covid, this makes things almost impossible.
04:05Our youngest daughter lives in Cambridge, so we would like to move to Cambridge.
04:11The other two children live in London.
04:16Helen and Wei are used to globetrotting. Both born in Hong Kong, they studied in England before moving to Belgium.
04:23This is our house. We live nearby the airport and also under the flight path.
04:30So I think every ten minutes or so there will be an airplane passing by and they generate a lot
04:38of noise.
04:40They're hoping for a quieter life when they make their move.
04:44I think I like a slow pace, so it's more relaxing. I like to do a bit of voluntary work
04:52as well.
04:53Wei is happiest outdoors.
04:56Doing some watering in his vegetable plot.
05:01My humble little vegetable patch. You've got some aubergine here, got some pepper and some rocket plants.
05:10I think a village life in Cambridge is nice because it's not too remote and it's not too far from
05:19London to be near our children.
05:22We're very excited.
05:24Yeah.
05:25Helen and Wei want to downsize to a detached, bright home with a good-sized kitchen, three bedrooms, two bathrooms
05:32and a manageable garden.
05:34They'd ideally like to be within walking distance of shops and a station. And to achieve all this, their budget
05:40is £800,000.
05:45Well, in many respects, Helen and Wei's ambitions are not uncommon on Escape to the Country.
05:51A couple retiring, looking to make a move to the countryside to have an altogether quieter and slower pace of
05:59life.
05:59And why not? The difference in the lifestyle they're seeking to achieve could not be greater.
06:06But clearly wanting to be close to family, all of whom are here in the UK, is what is driving
06:12this.
06:13So there are a lot of people hoping we get it right this week.
06:22But before we head off on our house hunt, I want to welcome them back to British soil.
06:27And where better to do it than on the picturesque banks of the river camp.
06:33Wow.
06:34This seems like a good spot to welcome you to Escape to the Country, Helen and Wei.
06:39How does it feel to finally be getting this whole new adventure underway?
06:44Well, we've been looking forward to it for a while, but we don't know what to expect.
06:50Expect the unexpected is usually the best advice I can give you.
06:53We always wanted to move back to the UK because the UK is like home to us.
07:00Yeah. It's an exciting move.
07:02Clearly, your children and grandchildren are going to be very excited at the prospect that you will finally put down
07:08some long-term routes here.
07:10There's lots to see and lots to tempt you with. Shall we?
07:13Yeah. Come on, let's go. Thank you.
07:19The property launching our search is in the village of Harston, just four miles south-west of Cambridge.
07:27There's a direct bus to the city, but the more adventurous can use the cycle path.
07:33Staying local, there's a village shop, a GP surgery and a village hall.
07:41For a right royal night out, I'm told the local pub serves great Thai food.
07:46And it's just a short walk from the house we're here to see.
07:50Right, come on in then. To our first property. Come over here, Helen. There we go.
07:59Wow. It's a nice cottage, nice-looking cottage, yeah.
08:03Yeah? Interesting.
08:04Like a chocolate box.
08:05Well, yeah. At its heart, it's a 17th-century building.
08:10Oh, really?
08:11But it has recently had a complete renovation.
08:14Yes. It's really absolutely outstanding looking from the outside, yes.
08:19And in terms of location, five miles from Great Shelford, where your daughter is?
08:23Yeah. Stationed a half-hour walk away or three-minute drive.
08:27Oh, wow. That's great.
08:28It looks great. Yeah.
08:29We would never look at a property like that. We call it a villa in Belgium.
08:33A villa? Interesting.
08:35It's large, it's detached. Wow.
08:38And I think... I wasn't expecting this.
08:40Well, you won't be expecting what they've done to the inside, either.
08:43I'm dying to see it now.
08:46Come and have a look. Come and have a look.
08:51Although the bones of this period property date back 400 years, there were additions in the 1970s and 80s,
08:58and then, more recently, a new kitchen extension which combines classic with cutting edge.
09:05There we go. Wait till you have a look in here.
09:09Yeah.
09:10And where I think Helen and Wei might feel right at home.
09:13Come on in. I don't think you will have been expecting this from the outside.
09:19Oh. What do you think?
09:20It's really bright. It's very spacious.
09:22Really bright, isn't it?
09:23Yeah.
09:24Yeah.
09:25Look at this wheel. It's fantastic.
09:27And the diner end, of course.
09:29That's good, isn't it?
09:30Next door, you've got the utility room, the laundry room, all that kind of stuff.
09:35Fantastic.
09:36It's got a good feel to it.
09:37Good feel, yeah.
09:38For me, modern, nice, bright.
09:40Yeah, that's what you want, isn't it?
09:42Yeah, that's what I want.
09:42I'm not fussy.
09:46Well, we don't expect to live in a house like this, but now I see it. Why not?
09:51So, this is just half the house, is that right?
09:54Just a little bit of it.
09:56Let's have a look at the rest.
09:58Ah, more.
10:01Across the hallway are two reception rooms, so we're turning back the clock and heading into the original part of
10:08the house, to the larger one.
10:10So, here we are, then. A bit more traditional, as you can see. Got the beams, got the fireplace.
10:17Wow. It's really pretty, right?
10:20Beams, yes.
10:21Lovely.
10:22Beams is new to me.
10:24Okay.
10:24They never leave a house with beams.
10:27The low ceiling is something that's only drawback. That's all. That's all.
10:33I mean, unless you're going to jump.
10:34Yeah. Well, luckily, luckily, I'm not a tall person. Yeah, okay, yeah.
10:38I think it takes a little bit of getting used to.
10:42Yeah.
10:42That's all.
10:43It's all part of the history of the building, which is what makes it so interesting, is that you get
10:47to see, you know, that traditional build, and it adds a lot of character.
10:51I quite like it, in fact.
10:53Yeah, the beams.
10:53So far, so good.
10:55So far, so good. Right, let's continue up here.
10:59Very good.
11:00The neighbouring reception room is snugger, in both size and decor. Upstairs is just as bright as the ground floor,
11:07where all the rooms are off a sunny landing.
11:10There's a fresh family bathroom, with both a walk-in shower and modern tub, plus four bedrooms.
11:18This is the one I think you would probably have for your own, because you've got the ensuite bath through
11:23there.
11:23Yeah.
11:24Storage, etc. And waking up to the views.
11:27What a lovely view there.
11:29Yeah.
11:30Yes.
11:30The view is selling.
11:33Excellent.
11:34Helen, what do you think?
11:36It's okay. It's a bit small, because we have quite a large bedroom.
11:41Yeah.
11:42But, yeah.
11:44Oh, we have to downsize.
11:46Downsize, yes. We're downsizing.
11:47We've suggested this is the principle, because it's got the ensuite. There is another lovely large bedroom, too, you could
11:53choose if you wish.
11:54Yeah.
11:55But it's got the view here.
11:57Exactly.
11:57Yeah.
11:58Views around the whole house, I think.
12:00Yeah, yeah.
12:00It's got character as well, isn't it?
12:02That's the thing.
12:03Yeah.
12:04Bits here, bits there, you can do a lot with it.
12:09This bedroom sits above the kitchen. Bedrooms two, three and four are all along the front of the house in
12:16the older section.
12:17And they're showing their age in a good way.
12:20I like this one.
12:22The beams, character.
12:23I think this room is even slightly bigger than the master bedroom.
12:28That's the tour of Inside Complete.
12:31Outside, the garden wraps around the house, capturing those countryside views from every angle.
12:39Oh, this is nice. A little bit of sunshine.
12:42Wow, look at the view.
12:45Yeah, this is quite amazing.
12:47Wow.
12:48Well, as you can see, the back garden, almost as big as the front garden.
12:52It also comes with this summer house, which might need a little bit of attention, but you also get the
12:57garage.
12:59Let's have a think then about how much this is going to cost you.
13:01So I would say 790,000 pounds?
13:13OK, yeah. Wei?
13:14I think this must be on top of our budget.
13:16Yeah. OK.
13:17Maybe 810.
13:18I can see these scientific minds working away.
13:22This is on the market for 800,000 pounds.
13:26Oh, wow.
13:26800.
13:27OK.
13:29Right on budget, this extended 17th century detached house has a fantastic modern kitchen diner.
13:36Two reception rooms, four bedrooms and a garden with countryside views.
13:41It's perfectly placed for family and the station.
13:47It's sort of quirky and cute.
13:49And also the view from the kitchen to the outside is beautiful.
13:54Yeah, you cannot beat that.
13:55Oh, it's so near Cambridge.
13:58All the amenities are here.
14:00So I'm happy with this house.
14:02It's a lovely house.
14:17Our house hunt so far has been village-centric.
14:20But we'd like Helen and Wei to experience the heartbeat of a busy Cambridgeshire town.
14:24So we brought them to Huntingdon, famous as the birthplace of Oliver Cromwell in 1599.
14:33It's pretty.
14:34It's really pretty here.
14:35It's a nice river view, isn't it?
14:37I like the water.
14:38I like the town.
14:39Yeah, nice weather.
14:41Huntingdon is an amazing town and a great place to live.
14:44So we've got a huge rich heritage with Cromwell.
14:46We're a thriving market town.
14:48We've got a huge selection of national and independent shops and retail in the town.
14:52And a great nightlife.
14:53I'm a massive fan of Huntingdon.
14:55I'm known locally as Mr Huntingdon, which is a name that I take with pride.
15:02The restored Georgian Town Hall overlooks the historic Market Square, where market stalls
15:08still attract visitors twice a week.
15:11A popular commuter town, passengers can access the capital by train in under an hour.
15:17And there are also bus links to Cambridge as well as the neighbouring town of Godmanchester,
15:22which is Helen and Wei's next stop.
15:25Their destination is the community nursery to find out about volunteering opportunities
15:30and indulge in Wei's love of horticulture.
15:34Looks interesting.
15:35Yeah, indeed.
15:37Manager Oscar Jekings is meeting them.
15:41Hello Oscar, thank you for having us.
15:43You're very welcome.
15:44So here we're a five acre plant nursery, where we have grounds and all the greenhouses around you.
15:51So we've got about 50 volunteers that look after the community nursery.
15:55We do everything from growing plants here, we propagate seeds, grow vegetables.
16:02We've got a wonderful little cafe.
16:04The project itself is not for profit.
16:06And we also work a lot with adults with additional needs during the week as a work placement place.
16:11So who can become a volunteer?
16:13We look for everybody.
16:15If you don't have green fingers yet, that does not matter.
16:18We can either teach you how to become a gardener or there's loads of different volunteering options here.
16:26If Helen and Wei become volunteers at the nursery, they could well be put to work in its colourful heritage
16:31orchard.
16:33Here, the 60 trees bear a variety of apples from both Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire,
16:38with one named after somewhere very close to home.
16:42So this is the Huntingdon Codling, and it was bred in 1885.
16:49So would one of you guys like to try one of the fruits?
16:52Yes, I'd love to.
16:53I can pick anyone?
16:54Yeah, anyone you like.
16:55Okay.
16:55Give it a poll and a twist.
16:57Oh, sorry, sorry about that.
16:59That's all right.
16:59Don't worry, they're tasting too.
17:02Yeah, all right.
17:04Straight off the tree.
17:05Beautiful, yeah.
17:06Mmm.
17:09What do you reckon?
17:10Very nice.
17:12It's a bit sharp, but I like it.
17:15You've got so many lovely apples here, I just wonder what do you do with it?
17:18Well, every year in the middle of October, we have a massive apple day here.
17:23You can come down, you can try the apples, you can buy them.
17:26We have apple pressing for children, loads of craft stalls for everybody to enjoy.
17:33Well, we should tell Vanessa and Paul to come over.
17:38Okay, great.
17:39Thank you for having us, Oscar.
17:40You're very welcome.
17:41It's been very interesting.
17:43Yeah.
17:44However, scrumping's over, so time to get back on the road to find that elusive property
17:49that might just become the apple of Helen and Way's eye.
17:58Next stop for our house tours is the village of Stetchworth, around 12 miles east of Cambridge
18:03and under half an hour from Helen and Way's daughter.
18:06The village has an attractive range of property stock, a good choice of events and activities,
18:12and a popular local.
18:14The pub's just a minute's walk from this double-fronted home, whose handsome frontage belies its age.
18:22Right then.
18:23What do we think of this?
18:25Gorgeous house.
18:26So grand.
18:27It's got that feel, isn't it?
18:28Yes.
18:29Double garage.
18:30Yep.
18:31With an electric door.
18:32Oh my goodness.
18:33Oh my.
18:34We are trying to move down.
18:36You're trying to downsize?
18:37Well, we thought we'd spoil you.
18:39Oh dear.
18:40Wow.
18:41Now the joy of this is that it is only about 25 years old.
18:45So it's been given what I would describe as a Victorian look.
18:49And because it's designed for modern life, borrowing from the past, all the rooms are very generous,
18:55there's lots of light, and it's got this very imposing colonnaded porch.
19:02Well, my brain says, you know, downsizing, but my heart's saying, wow, the space.
19:08Yeah.
19:09So my sense is that you would like to go through the door and have a look at this, yeah?
19:13Yeah.
19:14Can't wait.
19:18It seems this property's youth has piqued Helen and Way's interest.
19:23And with this newer one come better eco-credentials.
19:27An EPC rating of C, meaning it's pretty energy efficient, which should lead to lower bills.
19:33The front entrance opens into a spacious hallway, and off it, a reception room runs the full depth of the
19:39house.
19:42What do you think?
19:44Really beautiful.
19:46Yeah.
19:47I love this.
19:48What I'm used to, actually.
19:50There you are, you see.
19:51It's really cosy here, isn't it?
19:53Very, very cosy.
19:54And then next door you've got a dedicated study as well.
19:56You've got the other reception room, currently a dining room.
19:58Really?
19:59Across the hallway.
20:00Okay.
20:00This house is actually big enough for everybody in the family.
20:04There are now 11 of us.
20:06Yeah, wow.
20:07Yes.
20:07We can, you know, join together, have lunch or Christmas time.
20:10That's great.
20:11Lovely.
20:12Yeah, really lovely.
20:13Lovely, yeah.
20:14The smiles say it all, don't they?
20:17Yeah, right.
20:18You are.
20:19Come with me then.
20:22Now, on the way to the kitchen, utility room, and door out, and then this.
20:27With an island or so.
20:29An island, yeah.
20:30What can I say?
20:32I think it's much bigger than our kitchen right now.
20:35Is it?
20:35It is, yeah.
20:36Yeah, it is.
20:37So, this idea of downsizing then, should we just get rid of that?
20:43You're very persuasive.
20:46My role really is just to reassure you that whatever you move into is going to work.
20:52And I don't think you'll find upstairs will disappoint you either, because up there you've got four bedrooms.
20:58Wow.
21:00Okay.
21:03A winding stairway takes them to the sleeping quarters.
21:07Wow.
21:07Spacious, eh?
21:09Generous lending.
21:10Up here, there's a tiled family bathroom, and their grandkids could take their pick from three guest rooms,
21:17used by the present owners for artistic hobbies.
21:21It's a lovely room.
21:23Excellent.
21:24You can do a lot with it.
21:27Finally, the fourth bedroom is the principal.
21:31Big size, eh?
21:32Oh, sweet.
21:33En suite bathroom with a bath and a shower.
21:36Lovely.
21:36It's big.
21:38It's bright.
21:39And look at that garden wheel here.
21:41It's really nice.
21:43It's beautiful.
21:46Double doors from both the kitchen and main reception room lead to a patio, giving access to the rest of
21:52the garden.
21:53It consists of a level lawn, dotted with flower beds and surrounded by trees and hedges.
21:59Plus, a veggie patch for whey.
22:04So, what do you think of upstairs then?
22:07Big.
22:07Huge.
22:08The garden space, as you can see, not massive, but you don't want massive, do you?
22:12No.
22:12Which is great.
22:12And nice and secure and private for the kids to play and all the rest of it.
22:16So, let's think about what this might cost you.
22:18Maybe I would say, conceptually, maybe £825,000.
22:23I would say £830,000.
22:27£830,000.
22:28Yes.
22:28I mean, that is £30,000 over what you would like to spend.
22:33But if it were, would you try and do it?
22:36Would you stretch to it?
22:37Probably.
22:38Probably, yeah.
22:39Yeah.
22:40OK.
22:41Well, let's make this super simple for you.
22:42It is on the market for £675.
22:48What?
22:49You're joking.
22:51£675?
22:52£6,000.
22:52Wow.
22:56Surprising us all, this detached modern house, with its period charm, has swooped in £125,000
23:03below budget.
23:05It has a spacious kitchen diner, a large reception room, four bedrooms and is less than half an
23:11hour's drive from Helen and Wei's daughter.
23:14The house is huge.
23:17My brains tell me it's too large because we wanted to downsize.
23:21But my heart, honestly, I love it.
23:25I think the children would be very happy here.
23:29Yes, beautiful house.
23:31The kitchen is fantastic.
23:33The garden is the right size for me.
23:35And the grand entrance is taking my breath away.
23:41So, I cannot afford this house, really.
23:44Yeah.
23:45Yeah.
23:45This is a great house.
24:01Cambridgeshire is quite the catch.
24:03And if it's caught your eye, here's some intel on the county's house prices.
24:08Unsurprisingly, property here does come at a bit of a premium, with the average price
24:12of a detached house around £470,000.
24:16That's some £32,000 more than the UK figure of just under £438,000.
24:25However, there are homes to be found for every price bracket.
24:29This detached house has a recent upgrade to its kitchen and comes with two well-proportioned
24:34reception rooms, three double bedrooms and a mature rear garden.
24:38It's on the market for £375,000.
24:45Or for £587,500, this Grade II listed thatch cottage has a stylish interior with a mix of
24:53period features and contemporary fittings, all set off by exposed brickwork and beams.
24:59Outside features a perfectly groomed cottage garden and orchard.
25:05And on the rental market, how about this four-bedroom period property?
25:09Its garden is split between a sheltered lawn and a courtyard set up for alfresco dining.
25:15The price?
25:15Just under £1,600 a month.
25:20Well, with one more day of house hunting ahead of us, we have, of course, one more property
25:24to show Wei and Helen.
25:26And that is our mystery house.
25:28Now, of course, famously, they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but I guarantee
25:33they will not be expecting what I'm about to show them.
25:37We're getting back on the road.
25:40And for our final option, I'm taking our buyers to the rural Cambridgeshire village of Rampton,
25:46six miles north of Cambridge, which is a direct bus ride away.
25:51There's a village hall, a book exchange, plus a recreation ground with other amenities found
25:58in the neighbouring villages.
26:00It's just a 30-minute drive to the closest train station and a half-hour car journey
26:04to Helen and Wei's daughter.
26:06Well, we have one more property to come.
26:09And, of course, that is our mystery house.
26:12But before I show it to you, I thought we'd pause here in the heart of the village of Rampton.
26:18It's a very historic village, this.
26:20A nice, small, very much kind of community-focused village.
26:23There's a great little pub.
26:25You know, lots of things are going on here.
26:26There's a horse show every September.
26:29And at the heart of it, this.
26:31Very traditional, small village green.
26:34Mm-hm.
26:35So in terms of picturing your new English country life, how does it feel?
26:41Really quiet, really peaceful.
26:43Yeah.
26:43Yeah.
26:44Very green.
26:45I'd love you to get a feel for this place and what it could offer you
26:48in terms of supporting your future life, because our mystery house is just a short walk.
26:52OK.
26:53From here.
26:54OK.
26:54Right.
26:55So I'm going to head over there, get it opened up, get it ready for you.
26:58And in the meantime, you can explore the village and I'll see you shortly.
27:02OK.
27:03OK, sounds good.
27:03My suggestion is that you head that way and have a look at the church.
27:06OK.
27:06Oh, yes.
27:07See you in a bit.
27:08OK, see you later.
27:09Enjoy.
27:13While Helen and Wei take in this unusual and rare medieval thatched church,
27:18one of only a few remaining in the east of England,
27:21I've arrived at our mystery house.
27:24And if you were to find me the polar opposite of a thatched property, this would be it.
27:29Well, here then, a sneak preview of our mystery house.
27:33Now, to be fair, from the outside, it does not give much away.
27:36But when you get inside, it's a different story.
27:42Well, this is what you get when you take a property that's been designed in Denmark and
27:48place it in the heart of Cambridgeshire.
27:52A building with genuinely European credentials, which I hope will appeal to a couple who spent
27:58most of their married and working lives living in Belgium.
28:02Fingers crossed it will work for Helen and for Wei.
28:09This bespoke Danish home was built in 1989 with green living in mind.
28:15It's triple glazed, has excellent insulation with a heat exchange system,
28:19making it energy efficient and cost effective.
28:25Well, how are you?
28:27Fine.
28:28Did you like the village?
28:29Yes, it's good.
28:30Yes, good.
28:31Glad you saw it because this is what we've been leading up to, our mystery house.
28:35What do you reckon?
28:37Wow, shaped like a rocket.
28:40Well...
28:40Very futuristic.
28:41I'm not sure anybody could really make sense of it or judge it from here.
28:45So I suggest we pop into the back garden and hopefully it will start to reveal itself to you.
28:51OK.
28:52Come and follow me.
28:57Come into this extraordinary garden.
29:01Oh, wow.
29:02So different, isn't it?
29:04The whole thing designed to frame this, which is quite unique.
29:09Yeah, absolutely.
29:10Now, students of architecture may recognise this as a Hosby house, designed in Denmark.
29:17Ah.
29:18Not quite a kit house, but certainly one, when this was built, represented real avant-garde design.
29:26Lots of timber in it, but it's a whopper.
29:32Is it your thing?
29:33It can be, yes.
29:35Well, I did wonder, Wei, whether or not this would feel quite familiar to what you've been used to in
29:41Brussels.
29:42Well, we'll find out more when you go in, but from the look here, yes, it does feel a little
29:47bit similar.
29:48Well, let's have a look. Come on.
29:49OK.
29:52The crisp edges and clean lines of the property may be a contrast to the softness of the surrounding trees,
29:58but it still manages to blend beautifully into the setting.
30:01And if Helen and Wei want a home filled with light, well, they've got it here.
30:07So come in through this little glazed garden room into this.
30:14Very bright, nice and sunny.
30:17Yeah.
30:17Look at the bookcase.
30:19It's like a library, isn't it?
30:21It's so inviting.
30:21So you've got your wish come true, right? All the light.
30:26This is exactly the same as our sitting room.
30:29Effectively, it's a big box that they've subdivided in the most minimal way, really, to create these different zones.
30:37So you've got, as you say, sort of library, living room.
30:41You've got the dining end.
30:43Open area.
30:44Open plan kitchen.
30:45Yeah.
30:45It couldn't be more social.
30:47Really nice.
30:48I like open plan.
30:49I would be very comfortable here.
30:50Right, let's go upstairs.
30:52There's a few surprises there.
30:53Yeah.
30:56The current owners have made use of every inch of space.
31:00A home office sits under the stairs.
31:02And just behind the kitchen, keeping white goods tucked out of sight, is the utility.
31:08There's also a handy downstairs bedroom with a shower room next door.
31:13Right then, let's unwrap the first floor.
31:16So here you've got the family bathroom.
31:18There are four bedrooms up here in total.
31:21But this one is the principal, because it's got the en suite, plus also, uniquely, a sauna.
31:28Yes, I should have guessed.
31:30Because the Danes designed it, exactly.
31:32But as you can see, this cavernous space.
31:35They've got these...
31:36Ah, I see.
31:38...plywood shutters.
31:39Yeah.
31:39Which is a first.
31:41I've never seen that before.
31:41I've been wondering what that is, yeah.
31:43I mean, this is designated as the main bedroom, because it's got the en suite and the sauna.
31:47But, come and have a look at the other end of the house.
31:55Sandwiched between are two smaller rooms, both doubles, and then beyond them is this, the biggest of the bunch.
32:04So they've got this one set up as more of a sort of living space, because you've got the balcony
32:10out there that overlooks the garden.
32:14But if it was me, I think I'd be tempted to convert that smaller bedroom there off the hallway and
32:20make that an en suite to this is my principal bedroom.
32:23Yeah.
32:24This is much more spacious and open.
32:27With the balcony outside.
32:29With the balcony, yeah.
32:29Yeah.
32:30Absolutely.
32:31I'm not getting the sense, if I'm honest, that you're loving it.
32:35It's a house that we can live in, yes.
32:38You could live in it, but would you love it?
32:40I'd like to see how much it costs.
32:42Yeah, OK.
32:45And to do that, we're going back out to the garden.
32:48But first, a sneak peek from up here.
32:51Well, I don't think you can buy this view anywhere.
32:55No.
32:56The gardens have been beautifully landscaped, with pathways dissecting areas of lawn.
33:02There's a pond, fruit trees, two glass houses, a garden room, and views.
33:08And the cherry on top...
33:11You see?
33:14Wei, this is all for you.
33:16Oh, my goodness, my goodness, yes.
33:21Wow.
33:23Oh, I will be really busy.
33:24Oh, yay.
33:26That's good, that's good.
33:27Ready made for you.
33:29That's good.
33:30Oh, beautiful.
33:31The employer gardener, a farmer.
33:34So now we've seen this, and how it complements the property.
33:39Well, let's get into it, and find out how much it's going to cost you.
33:44790,000 pounds.
33:46Helen?
33:46I would say exactly 800,000.
33:50You are right, madam.
33:53You are right.
33:55Yes, Mystery House is on the market for 800,000 pounds.
33:59However, in speaking to the owner, I do know she would be happy to consider a sensible offer.
34:09Oh, I see.
34:09Okay.
34:11Hitting all the right eco-friendly notes, this Scandinavian timber home celebrates open-plan living.
34:18It has four bedrooms, landscape gardens, plus a super-sized veggie patch.
34:23It's priced right on budget at 800,000 pounds.
34:30Nice space for doing your yoga.
34:33Yeah, yeah.
34:34Lovely room.
34:35I think the Mystery House is a good house.
34:38It's a great house, and the garden is fantastic.
34:42You don't need to go anywhere in the park anywhere.
34:44You can just stay in your house and enjoy the nature.
34:46Something that wowed me is the view from the balcony, and also the house has a sauna.
35:05The majority of Cambridgeshire's low-level terrain is covered by the fens.
35:10Once nature-rich, before the area was drained in the 17th century to create farmland, destroying much of the wild
35:18habitat.
35:19Lorna Parker is manager of the Wildlife Trust's Great Fen project, which aims to return 3,700 hectares of land
35:27to its former glory.
35:31This ambitious restoration project, which will span 50 to 100 years, has just celebrated its 25-year anniversary.
35:41Well, Lorna, it's a few years since you and I last caught up here, but the great project here to
35:47restore this landscape goes on.
35:49Clearly, a lot of machinery, a lot of activity. What are you up to?
35:53Oh, this is our new exciting phase of the project, where we're creating a bit of wetland where people can
35:57get really close to the action and see the wildlife.
36:00And that's at the core, isn't it, of the Wildlife Trust's mission here, to restore this to wetlands.
36:06Absolutely, and to save this fantastic peat soil that we're stood on today.
36:10How important is peat?
36:11I think it's amazing. It's like this sink of carbon that's been trapped in the ground for thousands of years.
36:17But as we use the land and it dries out, we can accidentally release that into the atmosphere as a
36:22carbon dioxide.
36:23And actually, the land here has more carbon trapped in the soil per square metre than a tropical rainforest does.
36:30That is astonishing.
36:31It really is.
36:32That's astonishing.
36:35Escaped carbon dioxide is harmful because it traps heat in the atmosphere, leading to global warming and climate change.
36:42But when land is re-wetted, the water locks carbon into the peat, safely below the surface.
36:49So, what's going on, then, with these great big excavators?
36:53They're creating some new ditches to bring water into the soil and some storage pools, which will then be really
36:58fantastic for wildlife.
36:59The peat is a brilliant preserver, isn't it, of past human activity?
37:05It's amazing. It preserves all sorts of things, right from historic to, indeed, a spitfire that we excavated a few
37:10years ago,
37:11where the pilot's flying helmet was preserved. But actually, it's a really good soil for farming as well.
37:16I mean, it's so rich and dark, isn't it? And thousands of years in the making.
37:21Thousands. So, it takes about a millimetre a year to grow, but at the moment we're losing two centimetres a
37:27year from the way we farm.
37:29But now it's all about bringing the water back in.
37:33Absolutely. I mean, this whole landscape was wetland. It's been drained by the power of man's ingenuity.
37:39But really, that's damaging our peat, so that's what we're trying to undo again.
37:44Well, there's no evidence of buried aircraft here today, but Lorna does want to show me some other treasure that's
37:50been dug up.
37:52Wow. So, has all this come out of your recent excavations?
37:57Oh, all this and more. So, this bog oak, which isn't all oak, actually, is thousands of years old.
38:03So, it grew here as a forest, the sea levels rose, the trees drowned and fell over and were preserved
38:08in the peat.
38:09Two thousand years old, yep.
38:10Two thousand-year-old timbers. Can I try and pick that up?
38:14If you're careful.
38:16Oh, my goodness. It's a solid, and I imagine almost as strong as the day when it fell down.
38:23Indeed. This one's probably pine.
38:27I'm really blown away by that. I mean, that's a testament to the peat, isn't it?
38:30Yeah, the peat's fantastic at preserving things for thousands and thousands of years. That's why it's so important.
38:35I'm just staggered by that. I really am.
38:39It's absolutely incredible what the diggers discover beneath the surface, and once they've done their job, this is what's left.
38:46I'm really excited. It's our newest mere, and it's going to be absolutely fantastic.
38:50So, what have we stood on here, then?
38:52Well, it looks a bit lewd in the landscape, doesn't it?
38:54Yeah.
38:54But the bluest clay that we're stood on here, Jurassic times, it was...
38:58Is it?
38:59It was formed, so dinosaur times.
39:01And then over the top, we've got a mixture of silt, which would have come in and out with the
39:06sea and the rivers, and gravel left behind by ice ages.
39:09So, this will naturally retain water as this starts to fill?
39:13That's right.
39:13And how will it fill? Will it just be rainfall through...?
39:16Hopefully, it will rain again, and we're all about holding onto the water.
39:21So, how long would it take, then, for this to fill this with water?
39:26It can take up to two years for that peak to suck the rain back in like a sponge that's
39:31dried out.
39:32But the wildlife moves back in straight away.
39:35It might take a while, but this barren land will be transformed.
39:40And as if by magic, here's one Lorna and the team prepared earlier.
39:44This lush spot is 15 years down the line into its regeneration story.
39:51So, 2010, picture an empty field, and then we re-landscaped it with mirrors just like what we've just seen,
39:58and then left nature to take its course.
40:01Wow.
40:02And I can just see in the distance there some cattle grazing. Are they all part and parcel of the
40:06broader management plan you have for the fen?
40:09Yes. So, it's again about natural processes and putting those large herbivores back in.
40:13Wow. It does go to prove how you can bring beauty back into this landscape.
40:19And it brings hope that if you give nature space and you put those processes back in, that it can
40:23recover.
40:24Well, it's really fascinating to see it. Nice to be back. Hopefully, it won't be another ten years before I
40:30get to return.
40:30You have to come again.
40:43Well, as ever, at the end of a house search, we have, I hope, given our buyers plenty to think
40:49about.
40:49Wei and Helen are, I think, still weighing up the options, but have they reached a decision?
40:54Have they agreed on a property that may suit them for the future? Well, let's go and ask them.
41:04Well, you two, how are we?
41:07We're good, yes.
41:08I think the last few days has been really fantastic.
41:12Thank you for you introducing us to different types of houses.
41:16But is there a favourite amongst them that you both agree on?
41:19I'm having second thought, actually.
41:22Oh.
41:22And I like the charming English cottage.
41:27The first one?
41:28The very first one, yes.
41:29So you say you're having second thoughts. Does that mean that there was another contender?
41:34Well, yes, the second one.
41:37Yes. Do you have a favourite way?
41:39I think my favourite is the Victorian new build.
41:41Interesting.
41:42Yeah.
41:42So if I had to twist your arms, property one, property two?
41:47Okay, I would choose property two because of the size of the house, yes.
41:52Okay.
41:53Property two.
41:53There you go.
41:55It's been great fun having the opportunity to be part of this great return that you're making to the UK.
42:01And hopefully we can come back when you finally do move and see how country life is treating you here.
42:08Yes, yes.
42:08Definitely, yeah.
42:09Best of luck.
42:10Thanks a lot for the last few days.
42:13Pleasure.
42:13Thanks a lot.
42:14Thank you.
42:17You know, I'm always fascinated at the many and varied reasons our buyers have for wanting to escape to the
42:24country.
42:24And as for Helen and Wei, a couple born on the other side of the world who spent their working
42:30lives in mainland Europe, I think one thing is crucial.
42:34As Helen said when I first met them, it's Britain that feels like home.
42:39And now hopefully, with our help, they can look forward to enjoying the rest of their lives here in glorious
42:45Cambridgeshire close to those they love.
42:48Fingers crossed.
42:50I'll move very soon.
42:51I'll see you next time.
42:55If you would like to escape to the country in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales and need our help,
43:01why not apply online at bbc.co.uk forward slash take part.
43:19mimicry
43:39Gracias por ver el video.
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