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00:03Spring is finally here and that means that farmers are in the middle of their busiest time of year.
00:08They certainly are, and as always we are back here at Cannibal Farm in South Yorkshire,
00:12home to farming royalty, Rob and Dave Nicholson and their team,
00:16and this season they really are putting us to work.
00:19Normally we stand around, chat a bit, cuddle some cute animals,
00:21but this year they want us to muck in and help out wherever needed.
00:26And of course JB Gill will be joining in on the action as well,
00:29plus we'll be ranging across the UK, finding out what other farmers are doing at this time of year.
00:34Shall we get started? Shall we? Here's what's coming up.
00:37I'll be rolling up my sleeves, popping on a pair of gloves... Let's go.
00:41..and helping to welcome the first of hundreds of lambs
00:44that are due here on the farm in the coming weeks.
00:47When everything goes right, it's a great feeling.
00:50Rob and Dave visit Jimmy Doherty's Wildlife Park in Suffolk.
00:54Hey guys, how are you? Good to see you.
00:56Making pals with the polar bears...
00:58I thought we'd be chucking lumps of meat over.
01:00I never dreamt they'd eat this much men.
01:02Before bringing an exotic animal or two back to Barnsley.
01:06But it's definitely not one of those.
01:08No barbering macaques for Cannonall Farm. No.
01:10And after four months away, a firm farm favourite
01:13makes a welcome return to South Yorkshire.
01:16Ruby's been like a breath of fresh air.
01:19Everyone loves her.
01:19It's great to have her back on the farm, and she's looking really well.
01:23Welcome to Springtime on the Farm.
01:46It's great to be back, isn't it?
01:48It really is.
01:49And we're not the only ones who put in an appearance here
01:51at the Nicholson Family Farm every spring.
01:53That's right.
01:54Every year Rob and Dave welcome some 500 new lambs to the farm,
01:57and this year is no exception.
01:59I'm a bit of a sucker for a newborn, especially a baby lamb,
02:02so given the opportunity, I couldn't resist the chance to get involved.
02:07The Roundhouse here at Cannonall is the beating heart of the farm
02:11during springtime, when the lambing season is in full flow.
02:16This year is no exception.
02:18It's packed with pregnant sheep, all due any time from now.
02:24Most of these expectant ewes will give birth without any problems,
02:27but every now and then, one gets into difficulties.
02:32Right.
02:33There you go, small ones.
02:34What's the situation?
02:36A ewes had a lamb.
02:37Mm-hm.
02:37Now the lamb's up, it's dry.
02:39Yeah.
02:40It should have had the second one.
02:42It's been scanned for two,
02:43so we're just going to make sure everything's OK and they're in an issue.
02:46Let's go.
02:48The first-born lamb looks full of beans, but Mum, not so much.
02:54I feel like that ew looks a bit on edge.
02:56She's not comfortable, is she?
02:57No.
02:58I mean, her eyes are saying, get me an epidural.
03:03Right.
03:03OK.
03:05Let's have a little feel.
03:07There's a lamb there.
03:08It's in the right position.
03:09Have a little feel.
03:11So what we should be feeling is...
03:13Right, you tell me what you can feel.
03:14What we should be feeling is, oh, I can feel feet.
03:16Two feet.
03:17Two feet.
03:17Two feet.
03:18And?
03:18Point in the right direction.
03:19And a nose.
03:20Right then, let's have it.
03:20And a head.
03:22So, if you want to do the honours, one foot at a time.
03:26The feet are really slippery.
03:28Yeah.
03:29I've got two feet.
03:30Right.
03:30Is the nose following?
03:32Yeah.
03:33Downhill.
03:34Pull downhill.
03:35As hard as you can.
03:37The nose is there.
03:38Come on.
03:40That's it.
03:40Keep it coming.
03:41Come on.
03:41Come on.
03:42Come on.
03:43There we go.
03:46Come on.
03:47It's not exactly lifting its head up and bouncing around, is it?
03:49No, I want a shake of a head.
03:52A shake of the head tells us the lamb is alert.
03:55Its airways are clear and there are positive signs of life.
04:00Come on.
04:01So, get a little bit of water.
04:03We'll open the ear up.
04:04Chuck it in.
04:05Hey!
04:06Shake of the head.
04:08That's what we want.
04:10I know you don't like to intervene.
04:12Why did you think that was the right time?
04:13Well, she just didn't seem to be getting down and pushing.
04:17And the clock's ticking.
04:19You know, if that lamb's paused at that point for too long, you can lose him.
04:24Should we get it to Mum?
04:26You alright then?
04:27Hello, baby.
04:28You see, the first lamb's a little bit smaller.
04:30And that was the issue.
04:32It's just a little bit bigger.
04:34And she just got tired.
04:35It is a nice feeling, isn't it?
04:37When you have a little helping hand and then you see them there together and you kind of think,
04:40oh, just played a teeny tiny part in helping that mum.
04:50Well done, Helen.
04:51That won't be the last new lamb we see born this season.
04:54Now, throughout the week we're going to see farmers Rob and Dave busy carving, kidding and foaling.
05:00But they're also keen to add a brand new breed to their ever-growing family of animals.
05:05And for this one, well, it all started with a bit of a road trip.
05:11It might have been a foggy spring day when Rob and Dave set off on their journey south, but they
05:16had a clear mission.
05:18To visit farmer and TV presenter Jimmy Doherty and his wildlife park in Ipswich to adopt an animal from him
05:25and expand their brood back up north.
05:29And with over 100 different species to choose from, this will be an unforgettable expedition for two Yorkshire farmers who
05:37are just as passionate as Jimmy about animal conservation.
05:41So are you excited, Dave?
05:43I am.
05:45Jimmy's farm is always a place I wanted to go.
05:48He's a super nice guy and very generous with his time, so to see us and to make time to
05:54explain all about our new creature, I think he's very good of him.
05:59Being in rapid decline, the new addition will be a great way for people to learn more about endangered species.
06:06But Dave's in the dark about what animal they're signing up for.
06:11Is it a farm animal?
06:12I'm not prepared to answer that question.
06:15How many legs has it got?
06:16It's got four legs.
06:18Is it a meat-eater?
06:20I'm not going to say any more now.
06:22You're going to have to wait and see, and we'll be there in two minutes, so, yeah.
06:26Just be patient.
06:28Is it a bird?
06:30It can't be a bird because you've got four legs.
06:31The old four-legged bird, Dave, yeah.
06:36Started 25 years ago as a rare breed livestock farm, Jimmy's farm and wildlife park has grown into a 280
06:44-acre nature reserve.
06:46I'll tell you what, this is some place, Dave, isn't it?
06:48It's vast.
06:49There's a real expanse.
06:50There's outdoor pigs up there, there's Cameroon sheep, there's Barbary macaques.
06:54We haven't even seen any wolves.
06:56Yeah.
06:56I think this is a day that we're going to enjoy, hopefully take back some good ideas, and hopefully take
07:02back a really interesting creature.
07:04Yeah.
07:04Or two.
07:04But it's definitely not one of those.
07:06No Barbary macaques for cannon off that.
07:08No.
07:11Now, this could be it.
07:13I love camels.
07:15Is it a camel?
07:16Would you be pleased if it was?
07:18Yeah, I would, yeah.
07:19Well, you're going to be disappointed then, it's not.
07:21But that might be one for the future.
07:23You know, possibly.
07:25But thinking about it, I think I'd rather have a zebra.
07:26If I got camels, you'd get the ump.
07:29I certainly would.
07:30I think when you see what we're getting, you'll be even more pleased than camels.
07:34All of the animals here live in conditions that echo their natural environment.
07:40Like the polar bears, who have a space that mimics northern Canada's Arctic tundra in spring and summer.
07:47And Jimmy's keen to tell the lads more about them.
07:51Hiya, Jimmy.
07:52Hey, guys, how are you?
07:53Good to see you.
07:54Yeah.
07:55Down in our little world in Suffolk.
07:56Yeah, well, thank you for having us.
07:57What a great place you've got.
07:59And what do you think about the bears, polar bears?
08:01Oh, fantastic.
08:02They're just entertaining, aren't they?
08:03Yeah, they're like three puppies.
08:06Would you like to go and feed them?
08:07That'd be great.
08:08Yeah?
08:09Absolutely.
08:09Come on then, let's go.
08:12Polar bear Eva was rescued from a zoo in Sweden, while Flocka and her six-year-old daughter,
08:18Tala, are staying here as part of a European conservation agreement.
08:24We've developed the six acres of woodland, and they're free to roam and sleep wherever
08:28they want.
08:28Free-range polar bears.
08:30Exactly.
08:31They are the world's largest land carnivore, but they also do eat a lot of veg as well.
08:36And it's really important they have a varied diet.
08:39Let's try an egg.
08:40OK.
08:41Here we go.
08:43I thought we'd be chucking lumps of meat over.
08:45I never dreamt they'd eat this much.
08:47And these are all females, Jimmy?
08:49All females, yes.
08:50That one's having a tinkle.
08:51Is she marking her territory?
08:52Well, I think she's just had too much tea this morning.
08:56But with their own farm so busy with lambing, Rob and Dave don't have time to simply admire
09:02other people's animals.
09:04It's time to focus on the real reason for their trip.
09:08OK, boys, in you come.
09:10Bit warmer in here.
09:11Right.
09:11I'll just shut that door after you.
09:15Meerkats.
09:16Meerkats.
09:17Afraid not.
09:18Well, we've already got them, haven't we?
09:19I know.
09:19You've got meerkats.
09:20But the good news is what you're getting could live with your meerkats.
09:24And it's these lovely fellas.
09:26Oh, wow.
09:26Well, they're girls, actually.
09:27Sulkata tortoises.
09:30They're big, aren't they?
09:31Are they outstanding, then?
09:32They are beautiful.
09:34This species of tortoise is the largest species of tortoise in mainland Africa.
09:38It's the third largest in the world.
09:41So, how old are these two?
09:43These two girls, they're about 20 years old.
09:47So, is she heavy?
09:48She's quite a weight.
09:48Adult males could be up to 80 kilos.
09:51Try and give her a little lift up, not too high.
09:53Doesn't feel the weight of it.
09:54Let's have a feel.
09:56Oh, yeah.
09:58Is your truck going to be up to it?
10:00Well, let's up the suspension that holds out.
10:03It's a good job we're not taking three or four.
10:05I was expecting a mongoose or something like that, but tortoises,
10:10it's something we could do with it, actually, in the reptile house.
10:13So, they're going to be a win-win for everybody.
10:16Rob and Dave have agreed an exciting new adoption,
10:19but they can't take the two gentle giants home with them today.
10:24You've got somewhere for them to live?
10:25We've got an enclosure that needs adapting very, very quickly,
10:29and we'll be back in a couple of weeks.
10:31So, you've got to build them home?
10:32We have.
10:33OK, well, I'll look after them till then, and I'll see you soon.
10:36That's all right.
10:36All right, I'll see you later.
10:37Thank you very much.
10:38Cheers, guys.
10:49Coming up, two stablemates are forced to part ways.
10:54Oh!
10:55Oh, Molly!
10:56Flipping ache, that's making me feel worse now.
10:59Making way for a new neighbour.
11:01But will the new friendship find its stride?
11:04Oh!
11:05Oh, OK.
11:06I was telling him he's boss.
11:08Yorkshire vet Rowan is looking down in the mouth
11:11when he treats a miniature American horse.
11:14At the moment, there's lots of food around my upper cheek area.
11:17So, our first job, really, is just to flush that all out.
11:20And two heavyweight shell mitts move into their swish new set-up in Yorkshire.
11:26The whole of the team are excited to welcome these,
11:29and there'll be no tasks not performed to give these the best possible life.
11:47Welcome back to Springtime on the Farm.
11:50Now, we have seen some baby lambs.
11:51We've met two giant tortoises at Jimmy Doherty's farm in Suffolk.
11:55Do you want some, do you?
11:56Feel free to get involved.
11:58Those tortoises will be arriving here in Barnsley very soon.
12:01But not every new arrival here at the farm in Spring is necessarily a new face.
12:06It is time to be reintroduced to a friend from the past,
12:09and when Rob asked Jules to tag along,
12:12let's just say wild horses could not keep him away.
12:21I'm hitting the road with Rob to collect Ruby, the shire horse,
12:25who is due to give birth to a very special foal in about eight weeks' time,
12:30one that was sired by Hercules.
12:35Hercules was a prize stallion, a firm favourite.
12:41So, it sent shockwaves through the farm
12:44when he suddenly died from colic last summer at just three years old.
12:49Hercules has lost, hit us hard.
12:51We shed tears over him,
12:53and I just think heavy horses just hit you that bit harder.
12:57They hit you there.
12:58It's been very emotional, very upsetting,
13:01and this foal means a lot.
13:04Eight-year-old Ruby has lived at Cannon Hall since 2019,
13:07but spent this winter at a farm near St Albans.
13:12She was loaned out to help a little Shetland pony called Molly
13:15overcome the loss of her best friend.
13:19Farm worker Sophie has watched their friendship blossom.
13:23There was a few bickers to start with, but that's to be expected.
13:26But they really settled on well, and they've got on well while they've been here.
13:29The pair are now firm friends, but Ruby needs to be on her home turf
13:34where Rob can keep an eye on her in the critical final weeks of her pregnancy.
13:39Excuse me, Ruby, can we come in here?
13:42Good girl.
13:43Well, she looks really well, doesn't she?
13:45She's been well behaved?
13:46Yeah, she's been really good while she's been with us.
13:48They've really got on well even with the size difference,
13:51and sometimes you can't tell who's boss with them.
13:53Although Ruby does tell her off when she needs to,
13:56but I think they've been a real good match together.
13:58But that sense of companionship is really important.
14:01We shouldn't understate it, should we?
14:02Yeah, they're very much a herd species that love to be amongst other company,
14:07so definitely important for them to have friends.
14:10Ruby may be going home, but Molly won't be going friendless.
14:14We've got the perfect new companion, one who's more her level.
14:20Well, I hope Molly approves of who we've brought down.
14:24It's rock star material, this.
14:26Right, Sophie, ready?
14:27Yeah.
14:28Meet John Bonpony.
14:31The rock star.
14:32Hello.
14:33I've had a lot of things about you.
14:36I feel a bit bad about this.
14:37The sun's on her back.
14:38She's having a nice time.
14:39Yeah, and I feel a bit bad for Molly, but Ruby needs to be home.
14:42She'll be falling in a not-too-distant future,
14:44and we need to make sure it goes well.
14:47Right.
14:47Back to Barnsley for us.
14:49Molly is determined to say one last goodbye.
14:53Oh.
14:53Oh, Molly.
14:54Flipping heck, that's making me feel worse now.
14:57Just when you thought you couldn't get more emotional.
14:58As soon as John Bonpony gets in here with her, hopefully Ruby will become a distant memory and there'll be
15:05a marriage made in heaven.
15:07Good girl.
15:09Good girl.
15:10That's it.
15:11Look at that.
15:13Oh, there we go.
15:14That's a well-trained horse.
15:16With Ruby ready to go, it's time for Molly to meet her new chum, another Shetland.
15:22So who knows where this could lead?
15:25Well, this is interesting, isn't it?
15:26Bit of eyeballing going on.
15:28It's tense.
15:29It's tense.
15:29Yeah.
15:30It's like one of those westerns.
15:32If Jules counts down from five, at the point of one, we'll let him go and step back.
15:38Okay.
15:39In five then.
15:40Here we go.
15:42Five, four, three, two, one.
15:48Release your ponies.
15:50Hey.
15:51Oh.
15:53Oh, look at that.
15:54Oh.
15:55Oh.
15:57Oh.
15:58Oh.
15:58Oh.
15:59That's telling him he's boss.
16:01Well, that's just Molly saying, this is my field.
16:04I'm in charge.
16:04But he's taking it like a gentleman.
16:09That's really sweet.
16:10Look at them.
16:11They're almost kissing.
16:15I think Molly and John Bond, with the sun setting behind them, this could be a love story
16:20that could linger on.
16:22He is a bit of a poet.
16:23Should have warned you.
16:25They lived happily ever after.
16:27Yeah.
16:28Anyway, we will have to live happily ever after, back to Barnsley.
16:32Thanks, Sophie.
16:33We will let you know how it goes with Ruby.
16:35And I can't wait to see some more pictures and updates on how John Bond and Molly get along.
16:52Meanwhile, while Rob's being tied up in Hertfordshire, back in Barnsley, his brother Dave hasn't been idle.
16:59He's been overseeing the build of a brand new giant tortoise enclosure.
17:04The residents will include a cosy lounge inside and outside, a rugged garden walled with boulders that the builders are
17:12currently constructing from scratch.
17:15We've started with the framework.
17:17So we've got a flexible wire mesh that goes round it.
17:21They're tying it all together.
17:23Then they're going to do three coats of render onto this.
17:27It's going to look like fake rocks.
17:29So if you've ever wondered, how do they make fake rocks?
17:30Well, this is it.
17:32We're going to put some substrate on the floor, build it up so the tortoises can dig, and then there's
17:38going to be a ramp that goes into the building so the tortoises can get in and out quite easily,
17:43get the natural sunlight that they need.
17:45And on nice days, we'll feed them outside as well.
17:48I think it's going to look really special.
17:55It's another beautiful spring morning in South Yorkshire, and back from her travels is farm favourite Ruby.
18:02After a winter away, the heavily pregnant Shire is settling back into the Barnsley way of life.
18:09How's she getting on? Are you happy to have her back, obviously?
18:12Ruby's been like a breath of fresh air. Everyone loves her.
18:15It's great to have her back on the farm, and she's looking really well.
18:19And looking a bit bigger, Rob.
18:21Yeah, we're marching on towards the due date.
18:23We're obviously nervous because there's a lot at stake.
18:26Shire falls are so rare, you know, that they're critically endangered.
18:30We've got to make sure that Ruby's fall has got the very best chance of survival.
18:35The last few weeks of Ruby's pregnancy are critical,
18:38so Rob has called in Yorkshire vet Shona to give her a health check.
18:43Hello. Hello, hello. How are you?
18:45Hello, hello, hello.
18:46Now then, Ruby, how's she doing?
18:48Well, I think a million dollars don't do her justice.
18:51So what are you going to be checking for then, Shona?
18:53So we'll have a check on the heart and everything.
18:54You know, it's quite a lot of strain on the cardiovascular system,
18:57having another animal inside you.
18:59It's just worth keeping an eye that there's no heat, pain or swelling in the udder.
19:05Question is, will she let you touch your udder, Shona?
19:07I don't think she's going to.
19:08She's kicking you and biting me, so I think we should just have a look from a distance.
19:12I mean, what I can see from here is there's two teeth,
19:14and they're both the same size.
19:16And the skin looks fine, doesn't it?
19:17You know, there's no evidence of any oozing or anything on the skin.
19:20She looks in really good, Nick.
19:23It's a clean bill of health for Ruby, but the unborn foal is still vulnerable.
19:28Now then, Jules. How are you, mate? Come on in.
19:30Shona, I've got some wormer for Rob.
19:33Oh, you've come prepared.
19:35Right, Rob, open up.
19:36I've been a bit under the weather. I've opened it.
19:39So, simple squirt in the corner of the mouth?
19:41Yeah, it's just a bit of paste, and hopefully it should not spit it out.
19:47Put it in the side of her mouth, like that.
19:49This worming paste will kill any bugs that could cause the unborn foal harm.
19:56I wish Rob took his medicine as well.
19:59His cowpaw.
20:02I take my medicine off you every day.
20:07Tomorrow's row to Jules, you're down to muck her out.
20:09So, can you tell us if there's any worms any more?
20:11Thank you, thank you. I knew something was coming my way.
20:13But it's great to see her looking so well, primed and ready for what we hope will be a successful
20:19foal.
20:19In the weeks to come, yeah.
20:21Definitely.
20:25Coming up, I unwind with Willowcraft, destined for Tortoise Towers.
20:31There's a bashi till, so you use it to keep the weave nice and tight.
20:35That is therapeutic.
20:37But will the build be ready in time for its new tenants?
20:41And one of Rob and Dave's star shires is spruced up.
20:44Look at them all coming out of her.
20:46Ready for her first ever indoor show.
20:48We've got really high hopes for, obviously, at Nationals and beyond, really.
21:06Welcome back to springtime on the farm.
21:08Hello.
21:09I don't know what you're looking for, but I don't think I've got it.
21:11We are only just getting started for the week.
21:13We've already seen fluffy lambs, and welcome back.
21:16The long-awaited return of Ruby the Shire Horse.
21:19Ruby is one of eight...
21:21This goat's pushing me down the platform.
21:22Ruby is one of eight Shire Horses here at Cannon Hall Farm.
21:25They are a registered centre of excellence for the breed.
21:28And understandably, Rob, Dave and the team are keen to show them off at any opportunity.
21:35It doesn't get bigger than the National Spring Show in Cheshire,
21:39the largest gathering of Pedigree Shire Horses in the world.
21:43It's Yorkshire Roses' first ever indoor show, and she's keen to impress the judges.
21:50You could do with a good wash, couldn't you?
21:52Come on.
21:53Farmer Phillip is here to help get her ship-shape and show-ready.
21:58Unfortunately, because she's grey, you see all the muck and all the dirt in,
22:01it's very easy to see.
22:02If she was black or bay, you'd be well hid, but she's not,
22:05so we need to get her washed up and get her well cleaned.
22:10One of the things the judges will be paying particular attention to
22:14is Yorkshire Roses' feet.
22:17So it is vital.
22:18They're kept in tip-top condition.
22:21Farrier Liam Berkenshaw is here to make sure she steps out in styling.
22:30So we're just cleaning the foot out at the minute,
22:32getting rid of the naturally exfoliating sole.
22:35Just make sure nothing gets trapped in there,
22:37so we don't end up with any abscesses or anything like that.
22:42Now we're just trimming off the excess length.
22:46This won't hurt Yorkshire Roses.
22:48It's just like us clipping our finger or toenails.
22:51Easy now, settle.
22:53And then just get it all rasped nice and flat.
22:59If anything goes wrong with the leg, it's bad news.
23:01If they could do their own feet, they would do their own feet,
23:03but they can't, so we have to do that for them.
23:08With her feet done, it is time for a scrub down.
23:15Next job is to get our wife to try and get some of these stains out.
23:18Grey should be grey, not yellow.
23:20Equally as keen to get Yorkshire Rose looking at her best
23:23is Shire Horse aficionado Farmer Ruth.
23:27Phillip's just going to hose her down
23:29and then we're going to put some shampoo on
23:30and see how much of this muck we can get out.
23:32Hopefully she'll be grey at the end of it.
23:38Yorkshire Rose is still quite a young horse,
23:40but we've got really high hopes for her, obviously, at the Nationals
23:44and beyond, really.
23:46She's a very good stamp of a horse.
23:51Look at the muck coming out of her.
23:54Grey's lovely when they're clean, but...
23:55Keeping them clean is a problem, isn't it?
23:58It's been threatening to blow up a storm all day.
24:03And now, here comes the rain.
24:06We didn't pick the best time to be washing a horse.
24:08I think she's getting wider.
24:11No need to rinse her now.
24:13Drowned and rat look!
24:15Yorkshire Rose is taking the whole day in her stride.
24:18Oh, it's so tight. Let's get me in.
24:21Let's go.
24:22But the National Spring Show will be a much greater test
24:25for this young horse.
24:29Well, we'll find out how Yorkshire Rose gets on
24:32at the National Spring Show soon,
24:34but now it's back to the giant tortoises.
24:37As we saw earlier, the builders have been hard at work
24:39preparing their new enclosure.
24:42But, as is often said, many hands make light work.
24:44So, Helen dropped by to lend a hand.
24:48It's been a week since Rob and Dave took a road trip
24:51to meet up with Jimmy Doherty at his farm and wildlife park.
24:54A journey that had a surprise at the end of it for Dave
24:58when Rob told him they were taking back a couple of giant tortoises
25:02to add to their own animal family back in Barnsley.
25:06Is your truck going to be up to it?
25:07Let's hope the suspension holds out.
25:11Since then, it's been all hands on deck
25:13to build the two new reptile residents' specially designed house
25:17with an indoor retreat for warmth,
25:18a rocky garden to soak up the rays.
25:21And now, with just two days to go until they arrive,
25:25they're getting a rustic canopy for their sanctuary's entrance,
25:29courtesy of Leila Viner,
25:31who's a willow artist from North Yorkshire.
25:36Leila, I've come to try and help and not be a hindrance.
25:39Hi, come on in.
25:41I just hope I don't unravel all the lovely work she's done already.
25:46So it's nice and easy.
25:47So all we're going to do is add two pieces in at a time.
25:50Right.
25:51Every time you go behind a sail, so a sail's net bright,
25:55put one of them in on top of this.
25:56Yeah. And then you're going to take this
25:59and you're going to go in and out.
26:02OK? So have a go at that.
26:03This looks a lot like sewing.
26:06Even I can manage that, right?
26:09OK.
26:10There's a bit of resistance in there, isn't there?
26:12Yeah, you've just got to be firm, be firm, bash.
26:15So grab another two, put the thick ends in behind this one
26:18and then you're going to grab all of this
26:20and you're going to come around, we'll lift it up,
26:23come around and we're going to take it back.
26:26Just be grrr with it.
26:28Go on. Grrr!
26:30Yeah.
26:31Not quite as easy as Leila makes it look,
26:33but thankfully she has something to hand
26:36that could help my efforts look as professional as hers.
26:39So we use a couple of traditional tools.
26:42This is called a wrapping iron and it's just a bit of metal really.
26:46It's a bashi tool so you use it to keep the weave nice and tight
26:50so you don't get gaps and just give the sides a bit of a knock as well
26:53to keep them nice and...
26:55That is their beauty!
27:00I feel like this must be a traditional old craft.
27:03It's one of the oldest crafts.
27:05People would have made baskets for gathering stuff years and years ago
27:08and they'd have used whatever was native to where they lived
27:11but because it is biodegradable there's not much evidence of it.
27:16Right.
27:17But it would have been used in enclosures, fencing.
27:20It is a working material today, same as metal, same as wood.
27:25With the panel trimmed, it's a matter now of screwing it to a wooden frame.
27:30Put your body weight over it.
27:33To make sure it doesn't lift off during any wild Yorkshire weather.
27:38And then all we need is a bit of extra brawn to help get it into place.
27:43Now, where are we going to find that?
27:54Alright gents, we've made the roof.
27:56Very, very impressive.
27:58Could you please put it up?
27:59Alright then.
28:01Right, which way around is it?
28:02So that bit goes on the wall.
28:05Right.
28:05Oh, it's heavy.
28:07A willow canopy like this should last around three to five years.
28:12That's it.
28:13And it will give a bit of shelter for the tortoises,
28:16who are due to arrive in just two days' time.
28:20So we were thinking now if you guys stand underneath it
28:23we'll take buckets of water on to test the water.
28:26Joking aside, you must be grateful of the addition.
28:30The whole thing is going to be a des rest for tortoises.
28:33They'll be queuing up to come.
28:35Are you happy, Leila, because this is your work?
28:37I'm happy with it, yeah.
28:39And I'm sure the tortoises will, so thank you.
28:41Hopefully.
28:42That looks good. We've done our bit.
28:44There is quite a bit to do before the tortoises arrive.
28:46It's the last push now, isn't it?
28:48I think they might be working through the night.
28:50OK. Should we get out of their way, then?
28:57Well, from keeping a traditional craft alive
28:59with a beautiful bit of willow weaving
29:01to another way of working with nature next.
29:04While Helen has been creating something really special by hand elsewhere,
29:07it's all about sustainability, transforming an unlikely space
29:12into a thriving green habitat.
29:18We're used to seeing fields full of lambs in spring.
29:22But these fields at a farm on the outskirts of York are full of sedum.
29:29Springtime is when this evergreen plant starts to flourish.
29:33But these ones aren't heading for your back garden.
29:36They're being grown to cover roofs.
29:38And it's something Stephen Fell and his team
29:41have been doing for the past 16 years.
29:44Sedum is a succulent plant ideal for green roofs.
29:48It doesn't grow very tall.
29:49It will survive very dry periods.
29:52It produces lovely flowers
29:54and will attract biodiversity and wildlife.
30:01At Tattonhall Marina in Chester,
30:04there's a roof with a difference waiting to be brought to life.
30:08You knew she'd go in between the two.
30:10Boat Services Manager Graham Lewis and his colleague Paul Charles
30:14are transforming this historic wide-beam canal boat
30:18into a sales office and crowning it with a sedum roof.
30:24So this is the Mill Hotel boat.
30:26And in her day, she would carry, you know, 50, 60 patrons
30:30up and down the Shropshire Union Canal.
30:32And she came to us about a year and a half ago
30:35and we felt, let's give it a new lease of life with a new purpose.
30:41This, as far as we know, is the first professionally installed sedum roof
30:46on a wide-beam canal boat.
30:47The man in charge of the installation is green roof expert Jake Oldham.
30:52Morning, Jake. Morning, Jake.
30:54Good morning, fellas. How are you doing?
30:55Good, good. So this is it.
30:57Yeah, so this is a sedum blanket.
30:59There's 18 different varieties of sedum in here.
31:01One of the main reasons we wanted this was to see in the summertime
31:04if it detracts the heat away from the interior of the boat
31:07and in the winter if it keeps and holds the heat.
31:11That's predominantly why a lot of people choose to go with the sedum roofs.
31:14They will expel UV rays during summer months
31:17but obviously they are a natural insulator as well for the winter months.
31:20Perfect.
31:21OK, we can't wait to see it on the boat, Jay.
31:24More acclimatised to working at heights,
31:27a job on the water is a first for Jake and his team
31:30and it's straight down to work.
31:32Just give me a little bit of slack here, OK?
31:35Before the sedum itself can be laid,
31:37a number of base layers need to be installed.
31:41Once it rains, these little pockets will fill up with water
31:44which will provide moisture for the plants to access
31:47because the last thing you want, you know, on days like this
31:49you don't want the roof drying out.
31:51Next is a layer of mineral wool.
31:54This also absorbs loads of water for the plants.
31:56It also enables the roots to grow into it
31:58and it's a bit reducing weed growth.
32:02Finally is the sedum blankets.
32:09Well, it's quite a hot day
32:11so there's every chance we might be going for a dip after we've finished.
32:13Hoping the boat's new roof is already making a splash,
32:17Graham has taken the opportunity to admire the progress from afar.
32:21I just took a quick view from across the canal
32:24and I could see how it blends the boat in already.
32:27So, super excited.
32:28I think it's been quite a success.
32:30Yeah?
32:31A lot of growing to do now.
32:32Give it a couple of months and if that's when it's really going to be looking great.
32:35A fairly established roof will grow to around 8 inches tall
32:39and create a patchwork of beautiful colours.
32:43It's something that Graham thinks will be a great addition to the waterways of Great Britain.
32:48I think instead of seeing narrow boats now with bags of coal and wood and bikes on top,
32:52you're going to see this as an option.
32:54I just think it looks absolutely brilliant.
32:57That's the first day as well.
32:58You know, it's only going to get better from here.
33:06Coming up, Yorkshire vet Rowan is chomping at the bit as he gives his tiny patient a big dental clean.
33:13The offending food.
33:15Steady.
33:16Oh, steady, steady, steady, steady.
33:20And the new shelter is finally ready.
33:23It's got UV lighting, it's got its temperature control, everything they need.
33:28For the two vits, very important tortoises, moving onto the farm.
33:33To think we'd ever have an animal like this here, it blows me mind.
33:54Welcome back to Barnsley, where Farrow in Action is in full swing.
33:57There are lambs, calves, goat kids arriving daily.
34:01This is definitely Bob and Dave's busiest time of year.
34:04But as well as tending to new arrivals, they've got existing animals to look after as well.
34:13Springtime isn't just a busy time for farmers, but also vets.
34:18And it's not just newborns they have to deal with.
34:21Older animals too still need their care and attention.
34:25Today, your Chevette Rowan is paying a visit to the farm to see a horse with a particular problem.
34:31What's the issue?
34:32Havana is heavily pregnant, right?
34:35So we're looking forward very much to meeting the fall, probably in the next couple of weeks.
34:38But she's developed this lump on the side of her face.
34:42It appears to be sort of stored food, but you remove it and then it comes straight back.
34:47So I think there must be a problem with the teeth.
34:50Here he is, bang on time.
34:51Hello, mate.
34:52Hello, guys.
34:53We've got Havana, isn't it?
34:54Yeah, come and say hello.
34:57She's got some food up there, hasn't she?
34:59They call it quidding, don't they, when they get partially chewed balls of food.
35:04Yeah.
35:04Stuck in the mouth or often they'll end up dropping it on the floor.
35:07We can have a good look, try not to stretch her out too much and then at least we'll know
35:10what we're doing with it.
35:11We'll get the gag in place and see if we can get her sorted out.
35:14OK.
35:15The gag won't hurt Havana, but it will allow Rowan to get a good look inside her mouth.
35:23So we can see her incisors are sitting on that nicely now.
35:27And we're just going to start opening that up.
35:29Just little bit by bit.
35:30Little bit by little bit.
35:31Good girl.
35:32See if we can get one more click on that.
35:34There we go.
35:34OK.
35:35At the moment there's lots of food just impacted around that upper cheek area.
35:39So our first job really is just to flush that all out and then we can have a feel.
35:44You can certainly see it.
35:44I bet you can feel it now, can you?
35:45Yeah, so that's what we're doing.
35:46Oh my goodness.
35:47That's the...
35:48The offending food.
35:49That's what we refer to as quidding.
35:50It's all right.
35:51Steady.
35:52Steady.
35:52That's it.
35:54Nice and slow.
35:54There you go.
35:55That's it.
35:55I can feel a bit of a sharp edge along the side at the top there.
36:01So on the edge of those molars, there's little, almost like hooks that just catch the cheek
36:05and make things sore.
36:08Having identified the problem, Rowan now needs to file down the sharp molars using a fearsome-looking
36:15bit of kit.
36:16It looks brutal, but you see it doesn't stand with the soft tissue at all.
36:21What an amazing tool though, that respects the soft tissue.
36:24Yeah, it is.
36:26It's great what modern science has got.
36:28It sounds quite brutal, doesn't it?
36:30But as you say, it's kinder than it looks.
36:32That sound you're hearing is the sound of those sharp edges just being taken down.
36:37What we're grinding down is not a sensitive tissue.
36:40She won't be feeling any pain.
36:42She'll probably just be thinking, what the hell's going on?
36:44What I'm liking is the fact she's just taken it in a stride.
36:47Yeah.
36:48Rowan's managed to grind down the sharp edges, but to reach further back calls for more
36:54traditional methods.
36:55I think with this one, it's such a small space we're getting into.
36:59Yeah.
36:59I just want to finish it off with this hand rasp at the very best.
37:04This is going back to Heriot, Rob.
37:06Yeah.
37:06This is exactly the tool he would have had.
37:08Yeah.
37:08I bet you've been away to ring Peter Wright and ask for some tips.
37:11Yeah.
37:11And I suppose because this is a repetitive problem over the last few weeks, you'll know
37:15very quickly whether this has worked.
37:17If this reoccurs tomorrow, I'll be ringing Rowan straight.
37:30Visually, it's obvious, isn't it, that that huge lump of food that you pulled out is
37:34made a difference.
37:35And it's interesting, just having a little bit of a chew there, hopefully feeling that
37:38everything's a little more comfortable and a little less sharp.
37:41Yeah.
37:42That's the goal, that if she can chew, make that grinding motion, that side-to-side motion
37:46without those sharp bits catching on her cheek, then it's a job well done, isn't it?
37:51Well, it seems to have done the trick.
37:54Havana's clearly not feeling any discomfort any longer.
38:01Great work, Rowan.
38:03And a timely reminder of just how important vets are to farmers like Rob and Dave.
38:07Now, the American miniature horses are a relatively new addition to the farm, but they are not
38:13the newest kids on the block.
38:15After weeks of waiting and careful preparation, it is now time to welcome the giant tortoises
38:21to South Yorkshire.
38:22And having had a hand in preparing their enclosure, there was no way that Helen was going to miss
38:27out on their arrival.
38:35Well, this is very impressive.
38:38Good, isn't it?
38:39It's our little bit of African.
38:41What do you need for a tortoise enclosure?
38:43It sounds a bit daft, but it's been designed so they can climb, they're exercising all the muscles.
38:48The little bridge is lovely, I'm excited to see the pond.
38:52The star of the show, Helen.
38:54That roof that you made.
38:56I think this is quite a good little...
38:58It's the finishing touch for me.
39:00Solid addition.
39:01It just sets it up.
39:03We're used to seeing new arrivals at springtime on the farm, but it's normally lambs, goats,
39:07calves, foals even.
39:09It's quite random to have a tortoise, why?
39:11We've got all sorts of the farm.
39:13We've got reptiles, we've got little mammals, we've got all the farm animals, so it's just
39:18all about education for me.
39:20It blows my mind that these tortoises are going to outlive us, right?
39:24They're such interesting creatures.
39:25Listen, they've got a new chapter, a fantastic new home, shall we let them in?
39:29Yeah.
39:29Let's get them.
39:31This is the first glimpse Rob and Dave's newest additions are getting of South Yorkshire.
39:37Look at this one, it's facing this way.
39:40Following a comfortable journey in their crates from Jimmy's farm in Suffolk.
39:45Do you know if they're boys or girls?
39:47They're girls.
39:47Two girls.
39:48Oh.
39:48And we need names.
39:50So what's this one?
39:52Er, I mean we could call one Helen, can't we?
39:54We could call one Helen, yeah.
39:55It's old and crusty.
39:56I'm with it.
39:59Oh dear.
40:00Don't appreciate the way you laugh there.
40:01Just a young tortoise in the prime.
40:03Tipping the scales at 45 kilos each, these ladies don't travel light.
40:09Are you good?
40:10Yeah.
40:10Oh!
40:13So moving in is going to be a slow and steady team effort.
40:19Oh my word.
40:21It is warm in here isn't it?
40:23It's alright isn't it?
40:24Which should also help ease these reptilian roommates into their posh new digs.
40:31Presumably you've had this specially designed for tortoises like this.
40:34Yeah, it's got UV lighting, it's got its temperature control, everything they need.
40:39We've got different managers to deal with different types of animals.
40:42So we've not just got shepherds and shepherdesses, we've got zookeepers as well.
40:49And now this scaly double act has tasted freedom, there seems to be no stopping them.
40:57I know what you mean about the personality.
40:59You do look at them and you think, what do you know?
41:02It's that prehistoric element isn't it?
41:04Yeah, it's just having a right good look round isn't it?
41:06It's exploring its new environment and hopefully it's going to be happier.
41:10And even the way that it moves its feet is really interesting.
41:13When it warms up and they can go outside, they love natural sunlight.
41:17It does the shells a lot of good.
41:18I think they really enjoy that outside area.
41:21What we want to do is create lovely environments for different animals.
41:24The whole of the team are excited to welcome these.
41:27They've got the diet sheets, they've got everything they need to know
41:30and there'll be no tasks not performed to give these the best possible life.
41:35Giant tortoises, like a high fibre, low protein diet.
41:40Oh she's going for dinner!
41:43Which can help them live past 100 years old and in some cases even to 150.
41:50I've got to say Rob, it's a big thank you to Jimmy for letting us have these tortoises.
41:54You know we keep talking about these animals as being prehistoric,
41:57but this is quite an evolution for the farm isn't it?
41:59Well 50 years ago when we were scrubbing about collecting bantam eggs out of the barn,
42:04to think we'd ever have an animal like this here, it blows me mind.
42:08Do you know what? It's testament to what you guys do, it's testament to what you're about,
42:13and I think you're going to have a great time with these two.
42:15I do think you're right, thank you.
42:21Right, come on guys, you're moving out.
42:24Next time on Springtime on the Frog.
42:26Leave them onto the trailer and then move them over.
42:29No, we're going to walk them across the field, it's going to be a lot easier.
42:32The traditional way.
42:36There, piece of cake.
42:37What's all that with the hips there?
42:39I had to give you some pressure, didn't I?
42:41That's a technique I've never seen before.
42:43I'm going to break the seal on the teats, get some colostrum out of the mare.
42:47Without that colostrum, that fall will probably die.
42:50So a lift will do it, it's life is in your hands.
42:59Bye.
43:22Bye.
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