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Countryfile - Season 38 - Episode 02: A Fresh Start to the Year in Northumberland
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00:00This is the new toy then, is it?
00:01Yeah, this is the headset which will transport you into a world of squirrels.
00:07Oh, I'm definitely in the woods.
00:11Oh, gosh.
00:42At this time of year, it can be tempting to hibernate away and stay as warm and cosy as possible.
00:48But who would want to miss out on a day like this?
00:51Welcome to Northumberland, a stone's throw away from home for me.
00:55It's a county that has got the lot.
00:57Wide open spaces, dramatic hills and woodland walks.
01:01Perfect place for a New Year reset.
01:07Much of this large county is open moorland and countryside
01:11and home to the 100,000 hectares of the Northumberland National Park.
01:18Where better to embrace the cold, feel invigorated and find calm and community in the countryside.
01:25Oh, look.
01:26That's happening now.
01:27That's happening now.
01:28Oh, look.
01:29Amazing.
01:31Margarita.
01:32Drop in.
01:33You're trotting now.
01:34Well done.
01:38I bet your heart starts pumping as you're getting closer and closer to the expectation of what you're going to
01:42find.
01:43I have to say, sterling effort, everyone.
01:45Honestly, fantastic.
01:47Also, Tom will be investigating calls for new access rights to our rivers and lakes.
01:53Why should the swimmers be discriminated against?
01:56There is room in the river for everybody.
02:00While Adam heads to Stirlingshire and gets to grips with the winter sport of curling.
02:07Well, that was a really atrocious start.
02:09A lot of people fall on their face.
02:11I like how you tell him that now after he's done his first slide.
02:28For me, there's nothing quite like a bracing winter walk.
02:32And in a forest like this one, you can be treated to some magical wildlife moments.
02:37Because here in Northumberland, you're in with a chance of having one of the rarest wildlife encounters in England.
02:46The red squirrel is the UK's only native squirrel.
02:50Whilst there are strongholds in Scotland and Ireland, there are only a handful of places in England and Wales where
02:57they're clinging on to survival.
02:58And Northumberland is one of them.
03:02The project Red Squirrels Northern England is dedicated to protecting the species.
03:07Today, Project Officer Abbey McQueen and Ranger Gary Jefferson are searching for signs of reds.
03:13With a little help from Bruno, the dog.
03:17So, we're on the lookout for red squirrels today.
03:20What are the best ways of increasing our chances of actually seeing them?
03:24Basically, just quietly wandering through the woodland.
03:27This time of year, they're probably up in the canopy, feeding on pine cones.
03:30And what are they sensitive to?
03:33Smells, sounds, they've got really great hearing.
03:36So, if you're walking through the woods, it's always helpful to kind of be as quiet as possible, basically.
03:40And it's also much easier to see them with less leaves on the trees and things.
03:44Well, I've been spotting a few lately down the bottom of this woodland.
03:47I'm going to have a wonder.
03:48It's a wonder.
03:49Come on, Bruno.
03:51Show us the way, mate.
03:54It's well known that the greys have decimated the red squirrel population.
03:59But why are they so dominant, Abbey?
04:01Well, there's a couple of main ways that they do impact reds.
04:05The first one being they'll out-compete them for food resources.
04:08So, greys are actually able to eat seeds before they've ripened.
04:12Reds can't, because they contain something called tannins.
04:15But the big problem is the squirrelpox virus.
04:18So, grey squirrels are asymptomatic.
04:21They don't get poorly.
04:22But they'll pass that over to red squirrels.
04:24And they will die, unfortunately, within two weeks as soon as they've got the virus.
04:28And, I mean, when you look down south, I mean, there's hardly any red squirrels at all.
04:33So, why is it so good up here?
04:35We've got many large conifer blocks, such as Kielder, hardwood forest.
04:40And it's a bit of a sanctuary for the red squirrels, because they eat the smaller seeds from the cones,
04:46where they graze after bigger food, such as beech mast, acorns, which you get from hardwood trees, you know.
04:53What are you looking out for when you're spotting them?
04:55Red squirrels are a lot smaller.
04:57Maybe it's about half the size.
04:59Usually they're red, but they can be quite grey as well.
05:02So, a good indicator is if they've got ear tufts.
05:04Grey squirrels, obviously, are a lot bigger.
05:06They'll have, like, a white halo around the outside of their tail.
05:09So, it'll be, like, two-tone almost.
05:11Red squirrels' tails will be all one colour.
05:18Have you seen them round these parts, Gary?
05:20Yeah, I was observing squirrels round here a couple of days ago.
05:23If we look hard enough, there'll be one or two cones scattered around.
05:26There's one they actually...
05:27Oh, you found one, Bruno.
05:29Look, you're sniffing around.
05:30I can see where they've been sort of stripping away.
05:33Yeah, so they'll actually rip the spines off the pine cone.
05:37If it was a mouse or something smaller, they would generally nibble quite neatly.
05:40So, that's a good way to tell it was a squirrel.
05:41You can't tell if it was red or grey, but it gives you an idea that squirrel's around, you know.
05:52So, where are they in their life cycle at the moment?
05:55So, in January is when they'll begin their mating chases.
05:59So, yeah, you might see two red squirrels running through the woodlands.
06:02Right.
06:02And then they'll have their first litter of kits around March time.
06:06Even with four pairs of eyes and a thermocam, we've not spotted anything yet.
06:11Except Bruno.
06:13But with a population here in Northumberland, I am not giving up hope of seeing a red yet.
06:18I'm on my way to meet an ex-police officer who, in his retirement, is using his surveillance skills to
06:25protect the elusive creatures.
06:29Ian Glendening runs the local Corkerdale Red Squirrel Volunteer Group.
06:35For 13 years, his project has been dedicated to conserving the reds.
06:40Ian set up a network of cameras to show the hidden lives of this endangered species.
06:49What are you busy with here, then?
06:50Well, this is going to be where I'm going to put a camera up.
06:54OK.
06:55That tree behind you there is where I'm going to put that feeder.
06:58This feeder here, do you need a hand with that?
06:59I do, yeah.
07:01Keep going, that's perfect, that's great.
07:03How many of these cameras and feeders have you got set up in the area?
07:07In the whole area that we monitor, we've got in the region of 40.
07:11And as far as the footage is concerned, then, that you're getting, where is it being viewed?
07:16On our phones.
07:17On our phones, by a simple app.
07:19OK.
07:20And anybody can see it from anywhere in the world.
07:23Can we have a look at any? Have you got some tips?
07:24Certainly can.
07:25So this is the cameras that we have.
07:29Oh, look!
07:30That's happening now!
07:31That's happening now.
07:32Oh, look!
07:34There it is.
07:36Oh, that was amazing.
07:38Oh, it's just running off.
07:40What is the grand plan with this project?
07:43The plan is to have volunteers from anywhere monitoring the cameras and recording the data
07:51on a daily basis.
07:52And it also means we can bring people into active conservation efforts who would otherwise
08:00not be able to.
08:01People who are maybe housebound or unable to access the countryside for whatever reason.
08:05And we can include them in this.
08:08Amazing what you've started, Ian.
08:09Yeah.
08:11You've got to move with the times.
08:12I haven't been fortunate enough to see them in the flesh, but this is a close second.
08:17Yeah, yeah, it's good.
08:21But this encounter is not over yet.
08:24Ian has one more high-tech trick squirreled away that he believes will bring the great
08:29outdoors inside.
08:31This is your new toy then, is it?
08:33Yeah, this is the headset which will transport you into a world of squirrels.
08:41So if you put that on, you'll adjust it.
08:44Oh, I'm definitely in the woods.
08:48Oh, gosh.
08:49Oh my goodness me, that is incredible.
08:52You can actually follow them all the way around you.
08:55Yeah.
08:55Up down.
08:56Up the tree, up the trees, up the trees, look.
08:59You almost feel like you need to back off, don't you?
09:02Yeah, yeah.
09:02So you don't want to spook it.
09:04It's right up close to you.
09:06Oh, the whiskers.
09:09You know which one I'm looking at, don't you?
09:11Yeah, I do.
09:12This is my kind of VR.
09:14How is this made available, Ian?
09:16Well, at the moment, it's in a sort of experimental stage.
09:21However, we have applied for funding to various places.
09:25And if we can get some funding, we'll roll it out and make it freely available to anybody.
09:31Because this is what it's about, isn't it?
09:32Yeah.
09:33Weirdly, it's having experiences like this that connects you to this world.
09:37And for those people that aren't able to get out and about into the wilds of Northumberland,
09:42then you take it to them.
09:44This is really impressive stuff that you're doing.
09:46What a wonderful way to start the year.
09:48Yeah, thank you so much.
09:59In the east of this breathtakingly beautiful county, volunteers are helping make sure the countryside is open for all to
10:08enjoy.
10:12At Morpeth's Riding for the Disabled Association, or RDA, getting out on horseback is more than just a day out
10:19in the saddle.
10:22Here, volunteers, riders, and a very special team of horses love to get out in nature, boosting confidence and well
10:30-being all year round.
10:32So you've got greening kits, wheelbarrows.
10:37Let's go.
10:38You all right?
10:39Yeah.
10:40Brilliant.
10:40Disabled children and adults come here to ride, with volunteers there to support the sessions and care for these beautiful
10:48animals.
10:50I think this is Thomas.
10:55Hi, Thomas.
10:56Hello.
10:57Wow, he loves you, doesn't he?
11:01Pauline, how long have you been involved?
11:03I've been involved with Riding for the Disabled for over 30 years.
11:07Oh, my goodness, Pauline, that's incredible.
11:09So did you have a passion for horses before?
11:11How did you get involved?
11:13Well, I didn't learn to ride until I was 25, and from the moment I sat on a horse, that
11:19was it, because they do take you away from everything, really.
11:23I'm getting the sense that the volunteers almost get as much out of it as the participants.
11:28We do, because I just cut off when I'm here.
11:31I leave my phone in the car, and I find it just relaxes me.
11:35Little things aren't important.
11:37To volunteer for any organisation for 30 years is incredible.
11:41What is it that makes it so special?
11:43What do you get from it?
11:45My sort of weakly bit of horsey love, and also to see what it does for everybody who rides with
11:51RDA.
11:52There was one rider that we used to have who couldn't walk.
11:55He was born with cerebral palsy, but he had the most fantastic balance when he was on a horse.
12:01He could ride a better rider than I probably ever would have been.
12:06So that sense of accomplishment that people are getting.
12:09We always say it's not what you can't do, it's what you can do.
12:15Heading out for a ride now is Derek, a long-time member rider here who brings boundless enthusiasm to every
12:23session.
12:24Which horse are you on today, do you know?
12:26Blue Bell.
12:28I do stop.
12:31Yeah.
12:32I try and do everything.
12:35For Derek, these rides aren't just a fun hobby.
12:39These moments mean freedom.
12:42And Knox, get set, go!
12:47Woo-hoo!
12:48I'm enjoying this!
12:52Whoa!
12:56One, two, three, walk on, please.
13:02Giving him all the support he needs out there is Robert, his care worker.
13:08Robert, how's he doing today?
13:10I think he's doing fabulous.
13:11He's having a great time.
13:13He's really focused when he's on the horse.
13:14He is, yeah.
13:15And I think that's what RDA's taught him, how to concentrate.
13:19It's like a light switch.
13:20He focuses and it makes him feel a part of the community.
13:24He's made some great friends here over the years.
13:26Margarita.
13:27Hi.
13:28I'm trotting.
13:30You're trotting now.
13:31Doing really well, buddy.
13:32From the look on Derek's face, he loves being out in the open, out in nature, out connected
13:36with the animals and his surroundings.
13:39Definitely.
13:39I mean, horse riding's particularly great for his hand-eye coordination and his core strength.
13:44So, yeah, I think it's a massive benefit to do outdoor activities.
13:48Doing a good trot.
13:49Doing really well.
13:50Keep it up, sonny.
13:51Having fun.
13:52You are, bud.
13:54And the riding's not just become a hobby.
13:56He's competing now as well.
13:57Yes, so recently Derek took part in the regional championship where he come first place in dressage.
14:04And then that enabled him to...
14:06I'm doing good.
14:08You're doing good.
14:09Yeah, doing fab, Derek.
14:10So that enabled him to then go to the national championships in Hartbury.
14:15And what does that mean to him to compete on a national level?
14:19He took great pride in it.
14:20He's got the pictures in his room and things.
14:23And, yes, all the staff are very proud of Derek.
14:26He's amazing.
14:27He's doing really well.
14:31That was fantastic.
14:34Well done.
14:35Well done.
14:35Well done.
14:36Well done, Bluebell.
14:38My best friend you are.
14:42Well done.
14:46Now it's my turn in the saddle, riding Derek's favourite horse, Bluebell.
14:51Perfect.
14:53I'm heading out for a ride with Andrea Foote, who sees the life-changing bond between rider
14:58and horse every day.
15:01RDA help both young and old with physical or learning disabilities, sensory differences,
15:07long-term health conditions, and neurodiversity.
15:11How many centres are like this across the country?
15:14So we're just shy of 450 now, which just equates to something like 39,000 participants.
15:24Andrea, what's so special about this as a charity?
15:27I think it's what it does for the riders.
15:31It does that for the volunteers.
15:36And it's just a little bit of community between us all.
15:42I mean, some of the riders I take down to Hartbury, which is the home of the Paralympics,
15:47and we do the championships down there.
15:49And what it does for them to get a rosette like Derek is huge.
15:53And seeing the parents is just amazing.
15:57And they give you a cuddle and they thank you.
15:59I don't like it when they make me cry.
16:01Admittedly, I don't like that bit of it.
16:03But they're crying because their child has succeeded.
16:06I would love to say it's obviously us, but it's not.
16:09It's the horses.
16:10They get on the horse and they feel enabled, happy, calm, without a doubt.
16:19I've definitely seen that today.
16:20There's been a lot of joy.
16:21A lot of joy.
16:31While we're in the most northerly national park in England, Adam's visiting a farm just outside Edinburgh to meet an
16:40Olympic star in the making.
16:43Life on the farm toughens you up without you even realising it.
16:48Early starts, mucking out, heavy lifting.
16:51And winter up here in Scotland sharpens all of that.
16:54January is about getting the job done, about routine, however you're feeling and whatever the weather.
17:01And that kind of conditioning is exactly what an elite athlete needs.
17:05And today, I'm meeting one who proves it.
17:09In a few weeks' time, Sophie Sinclair will be swapping her wellies for sliders,
17:14as she takes to the ice for her first Winter Olympics with Team GB's curling squad.
17:22And I'm here on her family's farm to see how her upbringing has forged the strength and steel driving her
17:28push for gold.
17:29Good boy.
17:30I know. You like it.
17:34Hi, Sophie.
17:35Hi.
17:36Who have you got here?
17:37This is Harris.
17:38And that one?
17:39Heather.
17:40Harris is a bit of a greedy one.
17:42Yeah, he is very greedy.
17:44He's lovely.
17:48In its early days, curling was played on frozen locks and ponds.
17:53Even now, when the weather's right, people still play outside in some places.
17:58There are no locks on the family's 100-acre farm, only fields for livestock and rows of soft fruit and
18:04vegetables.
18:05But growing up here did mean plenty of outbuildings to put to good use.
18:10I mean, one of the big exercises we do in the gym is called the Farmer Carries.
18:14And it's basically you carry two weights in each hand, a very good core building strength.
18:18It's all farming-related in some way, isn't it?
18:21And that work ethic, I know as a kid I was never allowed to sit around much.
18:24Yeah. No, we were never allowed to.
18:26I can even remember as a teenager being, like, at weekends, we were still getting up at 7am to go
18:30and make the most of the day.
18:32And definitely...
18:35In her journey to chase Olympic dreams, Sophie has drawn on the resilience and hard work she's learned from every
18:41member of the family.
18:43From her mum, Kirsteen, to her gran, Anne, known as Mrs S.
18:48And is this your job in the business now, the jam maker?
18:51Or are you just quality control, making sure Kirsteen's doing a good job?
18:55Still here every morning, though, aren't you? You're up helping out.
19:00Come on, girls.
19:02The family work ethic clearly runs through the generations.
19:06Come on, come on, come on.
19:08As Sophie's brother, George, and her dad, John, have also helped shape the mindset she now carries onto the ice.
19:17Sophie told me you'd be out with a sheep.
19:20Now, George, I sold you some Dorsets years ago, didn't I?
19:23Yes, yes, as you can see, they're coming over to say hi.
19:25Look at that, they might recognise me.
19:27How many sheep have you got now?
19:28About 200. They produce enough lamb for the shop and cafe.
19:31They're gorgeous, aren't they? So, does your sister help with the lambing and stuff?
19:34Yes, not as much as maybe she would have before she was as competitive, but she does try and obviously
19:39come and help.
19:40When you were kids, did you and your sister get involved in the farm?
19:43Yes, so we compete against each other and have completely tasked the quickest, so it was good fun.
19:47And as competitive brother and sister, who was the winner?
19:50Of course, myself.
19:52Although I wouldn't like to play her in a game of curling anymore, I think I would get beat.
19:56And the whole family curls, don't you?
19:59Yeah, different level to Sophie, but yeah, we're very, very much sociable curlers.
20:02It's quite common in the agricultural community, really.
20:05Yeah, a lot of farmers do it, don't they, up in Scotland?
20:07Yeah, it fits in with the winter time.
20:11At Scotland's National Curling Academy in Stirling, Sophie and Team GB turn that graft into world-class performance.
20:20Right, it's good.
20:23Close.
20:24Sophie's Olympic teammates are Rebecca Morrison.
20:27Yep, right.
20:28Sophie Jackson, who's also from a farming family.
20:32And Jennifer Dodds, the only one with prior Games experience.
20:37And reigning Olympic champion.
20:40That is so beautiful.
20:43Congratulations.
20:44Incredible.
20:45Sophie and the team are determined to build on that golden legacy.
20:49But before they sweep their way to more success, she's helping me brush up on my curling knowledge.
20:56So you've handed me this and this, but I don't know what they're for.
20:59So do you want to take me through a pace here, Sophie?
21:01Yeah, don't worry, we'll explain it all.
21:03So this is your hack, where you push off.
21:05And then what's that called?
21:07The lane?
21:07We call it a sheet.
21:09And the line, that's where you have to let go of your curling stone, isn't it?
21:12Has that got a name?
21:13It's called the hog line.
21:14Hog line.
21:15Don't ask me why it's called the hog line.
21:16Yeah.
21:17Why is it called the hog line?
21:20Good question.
21:22So you know why it's called a hog line?
21:24Because when they first did this on a lake, and they were using stones, a pig ran across
21:30and left its little trotters marks in the ice, and that gave them the hog line.
21:34Right.
21:35Is that true?
21:36No.
21:39The truth is that the term's original meaning has been lost in the mists of time.
21:44Ultimately, the best way to understand curling is to give it a try.
21:49We're going to slide forward with that slidey foot.
21:52Just like that.
21:53Easy.
21:54Amazing.
21:55I don't know why, but I know I feel really quite nervous.
22:00So ready?
22:01Ready.
22:02Lift the hips.
22:03Steady pull back.
22:04Okay.
22:05And then push.
22:06And then push.
22:09There we go.
22:10And then let go.
22:12Yeah.
22:12Look at that.
22:14Well, that was a really atrocious start.
22:18A lot of people fall on their face.
22:19I like how you tell him that now after he's done his first slide.
22:25Putting the curling stone down the sheet is one thing, but another very important part
22:30is the brushing.
22:31Sweeping actually just heats up the surface.
22:34So it makes the stone either run straighter, or depending on the angles you use, you can
22:38also make the stone curl more, and it can help it travel further.
22:42Oh, it's quite tiring.
22:46And it's important to never use the sweeper to stop the stone.
22:53I reckon I'd be really good at this.
22:55If only it was that easy.
23:00Do you think growing up on the farm gave you a bit of a team mentality?
23:04Yeah, definitely.
23:05I think you chip in where you can, and especially with the way the business is here now.
23:09Farming is super up and down.
23:12There's lots of highs and lows, and it's the same in sport.
23:19While the rest of us are easing into January, Sophie is flat out showing us how life growing
23:25up on the farm has set her up for the biggest stage of all, the Olympics.
23:30So much to think about, isn't there?
23:32All your balance, the speed you push off, the direction, the curl, letting it go, the pig
23:38running across the hog line.
23:39You know, that's all this stuff.
23:41I've got to think of it, yeah.
23:44Well, to actually be here and have a little bit of coaching just puts in a whole new light.
23:50Yeah.
23:52Well, best of luck in the Olympics and try and bring home that gold.
23:54Will do, yeah.
24:11You definitely don't have to be a world-class athlete to enjoy the great outdoors.
24:16Another way of getting out and enjoying the benefits of the countryside and to give back
24:21is to volunteer.
24:30Heppel Whitefield is a wild and rugged 4,000-acre site in Northumberland.
24:36A private estate within the national park, it's been sympathetically managed through the years.
24:42It's a place where curlew, red grouse and lapwing live side-by-side with ex-war ponies and longhorn cattle.
24:50Richard Thompson is the on-site ecologist who's helping oversee a wilding project aided by a team of local volunteers.
25:00Thank you very much, guys, for coming out today.
25:01I know it's not the warmest day, but hopefully we're going to be getting active and warming up.
25:09One pair wants to start with the cutters at the very top and sort of work your way down,
25:13and the other pair wants to start maybe about halfway down that bigger post there.
25:22The estate here for a long time was a more traditional farm,
25:26so lots of smaller fields segregated by old fence lines.
25:30Since 2020, we've been doing a slightly more wild approach,
25:34so we've got herds of cattle and ponies and some pigs
25:36that are moving across the landscape a bit more free will,
25:39and that involves taking out a lot of the old fence lines.
25:42So that's what these guys are doing today.
25:45They sort of create a big diversity within the landscape.
25:48There are also really important seed vectors,
25:50so whether it's getting the seeds caught in their fur
25:52or whether they're actually eating things and then pooping them out later,
25:55that means they can move around a lot more will
25:57and transport those seeds across the landscape a lot more easily
25:59if there's no more fences.
26:02We're really, really thankful for our volunteers coming out
26:04in all sorts of weather.
26:05I think a lot of people get mental health benefits out of it being outdoors.
26:09They can come here and they kind of just focus on dismantling a fence
26:11for three or four hours and they just don't think about anything else
26:14and they just really enjoy that.
26:17Phil Burns is a retired academic
26:19who's been volunteering here for almost a year.
26:23It does make you feel young.
26:25If I was at home, I'd just be falling asleep in my armchair,
26:27but just getting out here is just a fantastic exercise
26:30and fantastic for keeping the mind active.
26:34We heard about this place, which just blew our minds
26:37because this is just a piece of landscape.
26:39It's full of potential and lots of interesting species
26:43that can be brought back here and would thrive here
26:45as it gradually becomes wilder and wilder.
26:50I've worked all my life in a lab or an office
26:55and I've never had the chance to work outside with my hands
26:59doing hard physical work
27:00and that just gives you such a buzz, really does,
27:03especially when you can see the end results of your work.
27:05While this team opens access for livestock
27:08to create a wilder landscape here,
27:11another group are busy elsewhere on the Heppel-Whitefield estate.
27:15Their focus is the juniper trees.
27:18In decline across the UK, juniper is now so scarce
27:22that it may disappear entirely from lowland England without help.
27:27Lekshmi Vijay and Lies Bell
27:29are from a youth-led nature recovery organisation
27:32called Young Wilders.
27:35Me and Lekshmi are wild stewards.
27:37We are doing a project to help bring up the juniper trees
27:41because we just love juniper trees so much
27:44and they're important for many different kinds of nature.
27:48There's only three native species in Britain of conifers
27:52and one of them is juniper.
27:54It's important to grow junipers
27:56because they are very structurally strong plants
28:01to have in semi-natural habitats,
28:03especially in the uplands.
28:05I think I'm just going on the basis of colour right now.
28:08Yeah, yeah, the dark...
28:09The darker blue ones.
28:10The bluish ones are the ripe ones.
28:12And you have the green ones that are unripe.
28:14We are picking some juniper berries
28:17so that we can process them and extract the seeds
28:20and grow them into saplings
28:23that we'll eventually plant out with these lovely juniper trees.
28:27Juniper struggles to seed itself.
28:30The saplings tend to struggle with overgrazing from rabbits as well as sheep.
28:37So we're just giving them a helping hand,
28:39growing them until they are self-sustaining
28:41and hardy enough to be alone in the outdoors.
28:46I love a bit of fresh air on a nice crisp winter day.
28:50Last time when we were out here, it was snowing
28:52and it was freezing.
28:54Our toes were frozen, our fingers were frozen.
28:56But we definitely love being outside more than being inside.
29:01Honestly, if I could just sleep here, I would.
29:13This sapling here is about four years old.
29:16It's been living in our plant nursery for that time,
29:19getting big and strong.
29:21It provides shelter, food and microhabitat
29:24for quite a harsh environment.
29:29There's a higher chance of establishment,
29:31so we're really happy to have had this out there
29:34and hoping to do more of these plantings as well.
29:37With the light fading, it's a job well done
29:40for all the Heppelwyl's volunteers.
29:43Hope you guys all enjoyed it.
29:46Good bit of exercise on a cold winter's day.
30:02Now, one of the hardest decisions to make at this time of year
30:05is where to hang the Countryfile calendar
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30:11Anyway, if you haven't got yours yet,
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31:58Now, the new year is a time
32:01for taking on new challenges,
32:02and we've seen activities like wild swimming
32:05and paddle boarding
32:06increase in popularity in recent years.
32:10Yet campaigners say
32:11only a fraction of our rivers and lakes
32:14are actually legally open to the public.
32:17But is all that set to change?
32:19Tom investigates.
32:2625 years ago,
32:28the Countryside and Rights of Way Act,
32:30better known as the Crow Act,
32:32was passed,
32:32leading to greater public access
32:34to mountains, moors and common land
32:36in England and Wales.
32:38It was a landmark moment
32:40for anyone who enjoys
32:41their outdoor adventures
32:42on solid ground.
32:45But for those who love
32:47getting into the wild
32:48and out onto the water,
32:50there was a problem.
32:52The Act didn't extend
32:54the right of access
32:55to inland rivers,
32:57lakes or waterways.
32:59As a result,
33:00planning where to go
33:02for a swim or a paddle
33:03could get you
33:05into murky legal waters.
33:08Unlike Scotland,
33:10which provides a right
33:11to responsible access
33:12waterways in England and Wales,
33:14if you are in or on the water
33:16of a river, lake or reservoir
33:18without permission from the landowner,
33:20it can constitute the civil offence
33:23of trespass.
33:26The government has just announced
33:28its revised environmental
33:30improvement plan for England,
33:31and one of its focuses will be
33:33on increasing access to the countryside,
33:35including our hotly contested waterways.
33:39An organisation that has
33:41long campaigned for this
33:42is Paddle UK,
33:43the national governing body
33:45for paddle sports
33:46with 75,000 members.
33:51Ben Seal is from the group.
33:53It's very good to catch up
33:54with you out here.
33:55What a beautiful place to meet.
33:56Not bad, is it?
33:58Paddling, swimming,
33:59have all exploded
34:00within the last few years,
34:01and we want people
34:02to have the certainty
34:03and the knowledge
34:04to know that when they go
34:05on the river,
34:06on their doorstep,
34:07that they're not going
34:08to face any challenge.
34:10What challenges have you encountered?
34:12It can be anything
34:13from a sign on the bank
34:14telling you you're not welcome,
34:16that you're trespassing,
34:17to people shouting at you
34:18from the bank,
34:19or worse.
34:20Can it be quite hostile?
34:21It can be sometimes,
34:22especially when things
34:23get thrown at you,
34:24and that's uncomfortable
34:25to experience.
34:26How restricted is the access
34:27in your view?
34:28Well, what we say
34:30is there's just less than 4%
34:31rivers in England
34:32have what's called
34:33a statutory right
34:34of navigation,
34:35meaning you've got
34:35a clear right to be there
34:37and to paddle or swim
34:38or row or sail.
34:40Isn't that a bit
34:40of an exaggerated figure
34:42in a way?
34:43Because, you know,
34:43that doesn't include canals.
34:45There's the wrong canals
34:46and a lot of those
34:46have access.
34:47There's a lot of places
34:48where you can get
34:49out of the water.
34:50Yeah, I mean,
34:51that's a fair point,
34:51but the principle is
34:53a tiny percentage
34:54of our rivers
34:54have a public right,
34:56and they're not
34:57evenly spread.
34:58There are whole parts,
34:59whole regions,
34:59where there are no rights
35:01to use our waterways.
35:04In the past,
35:06the government
35:06has favoured
35:07managing access to rivers
35:08through voluntary
35:09access agreements.
35:10Typically made
35:11between paddlers,
35:12landowners and anglers,
35:14these agreements
35:14set out conditions
35:15such as which stretches
35:17of water could be used
35:18and when.
35:21But as part of the new
35:22environmental improvement plan,
35:24the government
35:25will look at the feasibility
35:26of increasing access
35:27to rivers.
35:31Why do you need
35:32a right of access
35:33rather than, you know,
35:35making deals along the way,
35:36voluntary agreements
35:37and things like that?
35:38Well, for the same reason
35:39why it's important
35:40we have public rights
35:41of way to walk on
35:42or to ride a horse on.
35:44We need that clarity
35:45in law to enable us
35:47to use those waterways
35:48so we don't get challenged
35:49and we don't get accused
35:50of trespass.
35:51Access agreed
35:51on a local basis.
35:53That has its challenges
35:55if you have to negotiate
35:56on a piece-by-piece basis,
35:58river-by-river,
35:59land-owning by land-owning.
36:00That has massive challenges
36:02and it's completely unworkable.
36:04Does that literally
36:04be a free-for-all?
36:05You can go anywhere you like,
36:06you can float anywhere?
36:07You have to start
36:08from the principle
36:08of access being available
36:11everywhere
36:11but of course
36:12there are sensitive places.
36:14There are places
36:14that we need to protect
36:15and actually that can be done
36:17on a local basis,
36:18making sure people
36:19paddle responsibly.
36:23That doesn't cut much ice
36:24with the fishing community though.
36:26Operating under a licensing system,
36:28access to rivers
36:29is far more established
36:30for anglers
36:31who can buy fishing rights
36:33from landowners.
36:35Jamie Cook is from
36:36the Angling Trust
36:37which represents
36:38over 300,000 anglers.
36:41It disputes the 4% figure
36:43used by Paddle UK
36:44and says just over 25%
36:47of our inland waterways
36:48are already accessible.
36:50The idea that 365-day access
36:54unilaterally
36:55on every piece of water
36:57across the country
36:57is the right thing,
36:59the precautionary thing
37:00to protect the ecosystem
37:02and the environment,
37:02I just don't think
37:03that's supported
37:04in science or nature.
37:05When you look at
37:06the characteristics
37:07of a river like this,
37:08it simply can't sustain
37:09for spawning species,
37:11for fish,
37:12for bird life,
37:13365-day access.
37:15Are you just trying
37:16to protect a kind
37:17of privileged position
37:18that anglers have got?
37:20They've always had
37:21this sort of power
37:22in rivers
37:22and you just want
37:23to hang on to it.
37:24I don't think
37:24we've got a power at all.
37:25We haven't got any hierarchy
37:26over any other user.
37:28The difference we've got
37:29is for many years,
37:31anglers have worked
37:32with local communities,
37:34local landowners,
37:35councils,
37:36to negotiate
37:37voluntary access agreements.
37:38We pay a licence fee.
37:40So what we've never done
37:41is gone and unilaterally said,
37:43we have a right
37:44to be able to use this water.
37:45We've worked at a community basis
37:47to work collaboratively
37:48and what we've offered
37:49to other stakeholders
37:50is the fact that we've done it
37:52over 100 years
37:54proves that the model works
37:56and we'd be happy
37:56to work with you
37:57where appropriate
37:58on voluntary access agreements
37:59that are fair and equitable
38:00to allow access to waters.
38:03What would you say
38:03to anglers or paddlers
38:05who are watching this show
38:06when they come
38:07and meet each other
38:07and maybe there's
38:08an opportunity for conflict?
38:10I don't think
38:11there's any need for conflict.
38:12I think a lot of the time
38:13when the two come
38:14into conflict
38:16at a face-to-face basis
38:18it's because of lack
38:18of understanding
38:19and a lot of times
38:21where angling clubs
38:22have got access agreements
38:23they've had for many years
38:25and it's flagged
38:26very politely to paddlers,
38:28often they just simply
38:28don't know.
38:29So when it's raised to them
38:31of this is non-navigable
38:32or there isn't
38:33an access agreement here,
38:35people simply turn round.
38:38Canoists aren't the only group
38:40wanting better access to water.
38:42Fueled by pool closures
38:43during the pandemic,
38:45wild swimming
38:45has become a flourishing
38:47activity in the UK.
38:51But it's not just access
38:53that's the issue here.
38:54There are fewer than 500
38:55officially designating
38:57bathing sites in England
38:58which are monitored
38:59for cleanliness
38:59by the Environment Agency.
39:03And most of these
39:04are along the coast
39:05where tidal waters
39:07already grant
39:07a public right of access.
39:09only 14 are rivers
39:11and in recent figures
39:13just two met
39:14the minimum standards.
39:16So if you aren't
39:18lucky enough
39:18to live by the sea
39:19or have a private lake
39:21like this nearby
39:22your options for wild swimming
39:24can be a bit limited.
39:28Tricia McCosker
39:29is a member
39:30of the Blue Tits
39:31a worldwide
39:32cold water swimming community.
39:35How important
39:36are public
39:37swimming spots to you?
39:38this is beautiful
39:39but it's a paid for lake
39:41so there are a lot of people
39:43that wouldn't be able
39:44to use this
39:45because financially
39:47and also because
39:48of the travel
39:50so I think
39:51public swimming places
39:53are really,
39:54really important.
39:55And you personally
39:55why have you got into it?
39:57What do you love about it?
39:57I retired
39:58three and a half years ago
40:00and it's just good
40:02for mind
40:03and body
40:04soul
40:05spirit.
40:06I've made
40:06a lot of
40:07swim buddies
40:08since I started
40:10with wild swimming
40:11and it's a joy
40:12it's just
40:13pure joy.
40:16one of the group's
40:17favourite spots
40:18aptly named
40:19the old bathing place
40:20in Stratford-upon-Avon
40:21has been popular
40:22since at least
40:23the 1920s.
40:26But early this year
40:28a sign was put up
40:29banning public swimming
40:30citing the dangers
40:32posed to swimmers
40:32from motor vessels.
40:35We were very angry
40:37all of us
40:37to arrive
40:38one day in May
40:39to find
40:40the sign
40:40had been erected
40:41out of the blue.
40:43Did it stop you?
40:44No it didn't.
40:44We continued to swim here.
40:46I was swimming here yesterday.
40:47Does that mean
40:48you're breaking the law?
40:48On the sign
40:49it says it's against the law
40:50and if anybody
40:51sees anybody
40:52breaking that
40:53then to phone the police
40:55and call 999.
40:56But we are going
40:57to continue to swim here.
40:59The Avon Navigation Trust
41:01told Countryfile
41:02they'd installed the signs
41:03after working
41:04with the landowner
41:05Stratford District Council
41:06and following
41:07some very worrying
41:09near-miss incidents
41:10between swimmers
41:11and motorised vessels.
41:15But the council
41:16then told us
41:17their own signs
41:18do not say
41:18no swimming
41:19and only advise
41:21that swimming
41:21is entirely
41:22at individual's
41:23own risk.
41:26Boats do come
41:27down here
41:27and there could be
41:28a risk to people
41:29like you
41:29isn't it not sensible
41:30to maybe say
41:31no swimming here?
41:32Why should the swimmers
41:33be discriminated against?
41:35There is room
41:36in the river
41:36for everybody.
41:38People just need
41:38to be aware
41:39of each other's
41:41use of the river.
41:46Countryfile has spoken
41:47to a number
41:47of groups
41:48who report
41:48similar restrictions
41:49to bathing spots
41:50that have previously
41:51been uncontested.
41:54They're calling
41:55for a legal right
41:56to swim.
41:58Imogen Radford
42:00is from the Outdoor
42:00Swimming Society
42:01which represents
42:02over 200,000 members
42:04in the UK
42:05and internationally.
42:08At the moment
42:09the situation
42:09with legislation
42:10is very muddled
42:11and unclear.
42:13People don't
42:14understand it
42:14and the general
42:15impression is given
42:16that it's not
42:17permitted to swim
42:18or to go to
42:19places by the river.
42:21And that's why
42:22we need a really
42:23clear right to swim.
42:24A clear
42:25and very
42:26understandable
42:27approach
42:28that said
42:29you have the right
42:30to access the water
42:31and of course
42:32you've got to behave
42:32responsibly while you're there
42:33and keep yourself safe
42:34but you have that
42:35clear right
42:36then people would not
42:36feel driven
42:39away from it.
42:43So how do the
42:44landowners and farmers
42:45along our rivers
42:46feel about the idea
42:47of 365 days a year
42:50access to these waters?
42:52Andrew Gillette
42:53is from the
42:53Country Land
42:54and Business Association
42:55which represents
42:56thousands of
42:57rural landowners.
42:59So what do you think
43:00about the right
43:01to roam on water
43:02right to float?
43:03There's a number
43:04of issues
43:05with the rights
43:06and it's all
43:08about balance.
43:09So firstly
43:10the environmental
43:10side.
43:12It's a really
43:12fragile ecosystem
43:13that like
43:14take for instance
43:15flagship species
43:16kingfishers,
43:16otters and
43:17waterfalls
43:17they really don't
43:18do well with
43:19disturbance.
43:20And aside from
43:21environment?
43:22Well there's the
43:23economic impact
43:23the impact that
43:24we have on the
43:24diversified businesses
43:25all up and down
43:26the river.
43:27Those include
43:29holiday lets,
43:30ecotourism
43:31and a lot
43:32of our members
43:33provide paddle
43:33services.
43:34All of that
43:35would be undermined
43:36by these new
43:36proposals.
43:38Instead the
43:39CLA is suggesting
43:40that the government
43:41could use the
43:41existing environmental
43:43land management
43:44schemes in England
43:44to reward farmers
43:46who open up land
43:47next to rivers to
43:48the public.
43:50there would be a
43:51payment, a small
43:52payment on an
43:52annual basis for
43:53the landowner.
43:54I expect government
43:55would want it fixed
43:56for a five to ten
43:57year period and
43:59that would allow
44:01new kayaking or
44:03paddling on that
44:04area of river that
44:05previously didn't
44:06have it.
44:06But the benefit and
44:08the balance there is
44:09that farmers and
44:11landowners can put
44:11that forward but
44:13without having the
44:14impact of sensitive
44:15sites or sensitive
44:17economic sites being
44:18impacted adversely.
44:20The Department for
44:22Environment, Food
44:22and Rural Affairs
44:23told us their new
44:24environmental
44:25improvement plan aims
44:26to ensure universal
44:27access to green or
44:29blue spaces in
44:30England within a 15
44:31minute walk of
44:32people's homes.
44:34There will be a
44:35consultation on
44:36measures to
44:37strengthen the
44:37public's legal right
44:38to access including
44:40exploring the
44:41feasibility of
44:42increased access to
44:43unregulated waters.
44:47And the Welsh
44:48government said it
44:49is also in favour of
44:50improving access to
44:51waterways but this
44:52needs to be done with
44:53careful consideration of
44:54all users as well as
44:56landowners.
45:00What we don't want to
45:01do is create barriers
45:02that prevent people
45:03accessing nature and
45:04enjoying the outdoors.
45:06I want everybody to
45:08have access to this
45:09place who wants it and
45:11I want families to be
45:12able to come back again
45:13and enjoy it without
45:15that hanging over them
45:16that, oh maybe I
45:17shouldn't be doing
45:18this.
45:30Well, I'm wrapped up
45:31nice and cosy for today
45:32but what's the weather
45:33bringing us in the week
45:34ahead?
45:34Here's your Countryfile
45:35forecast.
45:43Hello there.
45:44We've all had to wrap
45:45up well over the last
45:47week or more because
45:48we've had Arctic air
45:49over the UK but that
45:51got swept away today.
45:52We've seen milder air
45:54coming in from the west
45:55and in Northern Ireland
45:56temperatures reached 12
45:58degrees today and in
46:00Northern Ireland that's
46:00made it the warmest day
46:02here since the 17th of
46:04December.
46:05Now we started the day
46:06with some snow in
46:07Scotland and Northern
46:08England.
46:08It quickly turned to
46:09rain and this cloud has
46:11been coming in bringing
46:12in the milder air but
46:13bringing in some wet and
46:14windy conditions.
46:15It's pretty wet and
46:16windy this evening.
46:18It'll be turning
46:19particularly windy in the
46:20northwest of Scotland
46:21for a while overnight.
46:22We will see some
46:23clearer spells later and
46:25a few showers and it's
46:26going to be a lot
46:27milder tonight.
46:28Tonight should be the
46:28first frost-free night
46:30of the year and the
46:32week ahead is going to
46:33be a good deal milder
46:35and it's been for quite
46:36some time.
46:37That's going to limit the
46:38frost and any snow.
46:39We're more likely to have
46:41some rain from time to
46:42time.
46:42And we've got some wet and
46:43windy weather to start
46:44with on Monday in the far
46:46north of Scotland.
46:47There could be a bit of
46:47sunshine around elsewhere
46:48to start with but I think
46:50the cloud will tend to
46:51increase and in the
46:52afternoon we're more
46:53likely to blow some rain
46:54across from the west.
46:56Blustery winds but the
46:57mild air will have
46:58arrived across the eastern
46:59side of the UK so widely
47:01those temperatures on Monday
47:02are going to be in double
47:04figures.
47:04With the mild air though
47:06we're going to find some
47:07spells of rain.
47:08Another area of low
47:09pressure heading in for
47:10Tuesday.
47:10This one coming up from
47:11the southwest.
47:12Already a wet start in
47:14southwestern areas on
47:15Tuesday.
47:16The cloud will build.
47:17It's going to turn into a
47:18wet day for many places
47:19but across the mountains of
47:21Scotland there may well be
47:22a bit of snow.
47:23It's a bit colder in
47:24Scotland whereas further
47:25south we've still got those
47:27temperatures on Tuesday
47:28into double figures.
47:29All that wet weather on
47:31Tuesday will then push
47:32away during the first
47:33part of the night and
47:35before this next weather
47:36system arrives from the
47:37Atlantic we've got
47:38something a little bit
47:39colder heading into
47:41Wednesday but it should
47:42be a lot drier on
47:43Wednesday as well.
47:44Many places will have a
47:46dry day on Wednesday
47:47with some sunshine
47:48particularly across the
47:49eastern side of the UK
47:50could cloud over a bit
47:52in the west and later on
47:53we've got some rain
47:53pushing in towards
47:55northern Ireland.
47:56But a chilly start.
47:58Temperatures are going to
47:59be close to freezing I
48:00think on Wednesday
48:00morning so it points to
48:02a chillier day on the
48:04whole.
48:05And then we've got that
48:05rain in Northern Ireland
48:06on that weather front
48:07sweeping eastwards
48:09overnight.
48:09It should have cleared
48:10away by Thursday
48:11morning and following
48:12on from that there'll be
48:13some spells of
48:14sunshine.
48:15There'll be a few
48:16showers mind you
48:17particularly in the west
48:18some heavy ones in
48:19western Scotland and
48:20then later on in the
48:21day the cloud thickens
48:22in the far south of
48:23England and we start to
48:25see some rain
48:25returning here.
48:27But temperatures on
48:27Thursday pretty good for
48:28the time of year we're
48:29looking at 7 to 10
48:32Celsius.
48:32Now the details are
48:34going to change as we
48:35head towards the end of
48:36the week but heading
48:36into Friday we're
48:38dominated more by low
48:39pressure again pushing
48:40up from the south.
48:42We're going to find some
48:42rain heading its way
48:43northwards into Scotland
48:45where again we could see
48:46some snow over the
48:47mountains.
48:48Further south the rain
48:49clears we get a bit of
48:50sunshine but these
48:51showers could be heavy
48:52and blustery but we end
48:54the week with these sort
48:55temperatures and those
48:56numbers are close to
48:58average really for this
48:59time of the year.
49:00It is going to be a much
49:02milder week ahead but
49:03there is the risk of some
49:04flooding over the week
49:06ahead mainly in Scotland
49:07a result of snow melt and
49:09some rain at times.
49:22As we embrace the new year
49:24we've been enjoying winter in
49:26Northumberland.
49:28Oh look that's happening
49:30now.
49:30That's happening now.
49:31Oh look amazing.
49:33The sheer variety of
49:35landscape here coupled with
49:36its remoteness makes it a
49:38stunning place to be.
49:41But as with any adventure
49:42over rugged terrain you
49:44have to be careful.
49:49Well January may well
49:51feel like a very
49:52inspirational month.
49:53The perfect time to get
49:55out on an adventure but
49:56the weather here in the
49:57heights of Northumberland
49:59has a mind of its own and
50:01it can change in an
50:02instant.
50:051962 marked the start of
50:07the big freeze.
50:08One of the coldest winters
50:09is on record.
50:11Two shepherds working in the
50:13Northumbrian hills were
50:14caught in a fierce snowstorm.
50:16After being missing for two
50:18days their bodies were
50:19eventually discovered.
50:22Their tragic story moved
50:23local volunteers to take
50:25action and they created what
50:27is known today as the
50:28Northumberland National Park
50:30Mountain Rescue Team and it
50:32celebrates its 60th
50:34anniversary this year.
50:37Staffed by volunteers 24 hours a
50:39day they're headed by Jamie
50:41Patterson.
50:43Jamie how's it going mate?
50:45You alright?
50:46You alright?
50:46Nice to see you.
50:47Yeah really good.
50:48Really good.
50:49So Jamie obviously you're all
50:50volunteers here but what do you
50:52do then as a day job?
50:53I am a paramedic by trade and I
50:57currently work as a winch
50:58paramedic for the Coast Guard
50:59on the Coast Guard helicopter.
51:00Really?
51:01So when you're not rescuing
51:02people you're rescuing people.
51:04Oh my word.
51:05Yeah yeah.
51:06Gosh so what is it about the
51:07world of rescue then that you
51:09wanted to dedicate your life to?
51:10My mum's a nurse so I was
51:12always aware of that kind of
51:13side of stuff when I was
51:15growing up and then I got into
51:17the outdoors and I kind of just
51:19combined the two and here I am.
51:20Right gosh and so how does the
51:23mountain rescue side of things
51:24fit in with your day job then?
51:26How does it work?
51:27I manage alright.
51:28I'm quite good at segregating my
51:29time between the two and
51:29sometimes we'll get called to
51:31jobs with the team as well so
51:33it all kind of meshes together
51:34quite nicely really.
51:35How many roughly are involved?
51:37So we've got about 50 members
51:38at the minute.
51:39That's operational members who
51:40go out on the hill and do all
51:41the rescues and stuff and then
51:43we've got a group of support
51:45members as well.
51:46But I'll tell you what I mean
51:47it's such an unforgiving place
51:49isn't it?
51:49The heights of Northumberland
51:50here when you think of how
51:51different it is or can be.
51:53I mean here we are obviously
51:54winter time but when the snow
51:56comes around here it can be
51:57incredibly deep.
51:58We can get quite big drifts
52:00and the air roads and stuff
52:01will get blocked up and
52:03drifted so.
52:04During the Beats from the East
52:05I did a 24 hour stint and we
52:07went up to Carter Bar which is
52:08a big air road that goes over
52:09into Scotland and there was I
52:11think eight or nine cars stuck
52:13in drifts there and I think
52:15there was about 15 or 18 people
52:17in those cars who were trapped
52:21and we needed to extricate them.
52:22Get them to a safe place and
52:24then kind of wait it out until
52:25the road could be cleared and
52:26we can recover their vehicles.
52:28Incredible organisation isn't it?
52:29Yeah it's brilliant and it's
52:30such a fantastic thing to be a
52:32part of as well.
52:33I've grown up in the team and
52:34all through my life the team's
52:35been there for me.
52:37It's a wonderful thing to be
52:38part of.
52:43Today Jamie and his crew of
52:44mountain rescue volunteers will
52:46do one of their monthly training
52:48sessions.
52:50OK guys I'm going to give you a
52:51briefing now.
52:53A pretend casualty is hiding in
52:55the area and to make it even more
52:57challenging for the team this
52:59exercise is being done at dusk.
53:02Matt is a bit of kit for you mate?
53:03Oh don't be left out now.
53:04Can't let you miss out.
53:06That's great.
53:08Heading my search party is
53:10Nanette Edwards, professional
53:12architect by day and volunteer
53:14deputy team leader when on call.
53:17After you.
53:20So when we're searching we're not
53:23just walking.
53:24We're expecting to maybe find
53:26somebody's collapsed on the side
53:28and it's always very good to stop,
53:30turn around and look behind you
53:32because that's a different way of
53:34looking so you might spot something
53:35looking that way that you don't see
53:37looking forward.
53:38For example this heather here we
53:40can't see much at all so actually
53:43that's why we need people either
53:44side because even just down there
53:47you wouldn't necessarily see
53:48somebody lying down.
53:55Nothing up there no?
53:57No.
53:58We just keep going do we in a line?
54:01Yeah we keep on searching still quite
54:03light we can see around.
54:05Even on a practice drill like this
54:07the approach in darkness means this
54:09is a race against time.
54:11Okay we're going to head off to our
54:12next search area.
54:13Yeah cool.
54:15Careful.
54:15And as the team search dog is yet to
54:18pick up ascent a change of tack is
54:20needed.
54:21Drone pilot Carl Hamilton is waiting
54:24in the wings.
54:25Carl are you ready for take off?
54:27I'm out we're just about good to go.
54:28You're all set.
54:29Excellent.
54:32It's a big drone isn't it?
54:34It's big enough yeah.
54:36It has a thermal imaging camera
54:37which is obviously absolutely
54:40excellent and we're going to choose
54:41white hot so the background will
54:44largely be dark and anything that
54:45has a heat signature will appear
54:48white.
54:49Northumberland's known for its
54:51pristine dark skies.
54:53The best in the UK for stargazing.
54:54But this is a rescue mission and this
54:57remote rural environment is nearly
54:59pitch black.
55:00With my eyes adjusting to the light
55:02I can only make out the rough shape
55:04of the terrain in the distance and
55:06it's vast.
55:08So I'm just going to pan around now
55:10and see if I can see anything.
55:13I don't know if you can see there
55:14Matt.
55:15We can see a little white spot just
55:17appeared.
55:17Oh there.
55:18In the middle.
55:19I can zoom in on that.
55:21That is something that we'd
55:22obviously be interested in.
55:24And we've got a laser rangefinder on
55:25here as well.
55:26So if I click on that it'll give me a
55:28distance to the target so we can
55:30quite easily quickly direct people
55:31in.
55:32Wow.
55:32So I mean this technology's
55:34revolutionised.
55:34Absolutely.
55:35Hasn't it?
55:36Codew control.
55:37Codew drone.
55:38We have an exercise casualty.
55:39Find a ten figure grid reference to
55:41follow.
55:42Over.
55:42Codew drone.
55:43Codew control.
55:44Ready for a ten figure grid reference.
55:46Over.
55:48With the casualty's location
55:49discovered the next challenge is to
55:51bring them to safety.
55:54Head into the darkness.
55:56Yeah.
55:56Absolutely.
55:58So with thanks to the drone then we
55:59know that the casualty's about 200
56:02metres up ahead.
56:03Yes that's correct and we've got a
56:05grid reference for him.
56:06Yeah.
56:06But actually we can see him flashing a
56:09light as well.
56:11I bet your heart starts pumping as
56:12you're getting closer and closer.
56:14That kind of, I don't know, I guess
56:15the expectation of what you're
56:17going to find.
56:18Oh absolutely.
56:19I mean there's a huge relief that
56:20we've got this far and that we've
56:23found especially when it's so cold
56:24or weather's bad.
56:26There he is.
56:27Yeah that's fantastic.
56:28There he is.
56:29Right.
56:30Aaron, need to go in?
56:31Yeah.
56:32The drill isn't over.
56:35The team now needs to check for any
56:37injuries.
56:39Hello there my name's Aaron I'm just
56:40from the rescue.
56:41Can I just ask your name?
56:43Nigel.
56:44Nigel.
56:45Oh babe.
56:46Meanwhile the other team's setting up
56:48the stretcher.
56:49Yes.
56:50Ready, brace, lift.
56:56You alright?
57:00Now we'll just put a single rope on
57:02map.
57:03Yeah.
57:03To just what we call back rope
57:05the stretcher just to give it some
57:06protection.
57:07So am I grabbing both of these
57:09handles?
57:09Yes you're going to do that face
57:11forward and we'll give you
57:14instructions on when to lift so just
57:15wait.
57:16Is anybody not ready?
57:18On my command ready, brace, lift
57:22and forward.
57:25Okay.
57:26That's very retussock.
57:28Yeah.
57:28I think he's retussock just here.
57:30Follow the path.
57:37Nearly there.
57:38Here's the vehicle.
57:3920 metres.
57:42Fantastic.
57:44Looking towards that.
57:45That's straight on.
57:46Yeah.
57:47Much clearer now.
57:48Stop.
57:50Prepare to lower.
57:51Lower.
57:51Good luck.
57:56Brilliant.
57:57Great job.
57:58And that's it.
57:58Good luck everyone.
57:59Well I have to say sterling effort
58:01everyone.
58:02Honestly fantastic.
58:03Those folk that started this 60
58:06years ago would be incredibly proud
58:08of what you're doing here today.
58:10So huge congratulations for keeping
58:12it going.
58:20Well that has been an action-packed
58:23and very full day in beautiful
58:25Northumberland.
58:26But that's all we've got time for
58:27for this week.
58:28Next week Adam and Charlotte will be
58:30exploring on and around the X
58:32estuary.
58:33Hope you can join them then.
58:35Bye bye.
58:40Renovating a crumbling pile,
58:41banjo and raw and the dog grandpa.
58:43Grand Island Hotel,
58:45breast red for iPlayer.
58:46And with by-sized gems of advice
58:48for the new year,
58:49from knees to napping.
58:50What's up docs?
58:51Listen on sounds.
58:53I'll see you after this,
58:53forwards.
58:54Bye bye.
58:55Bye bye.
58:55Not all.
58:57Bye bye.
59:01Bye bye.
59:03Bye bye.
59:04Bye bye.
59:05Bye bye.
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