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Fletchers Family Farm - Season 4 - Episode 01
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00:00Come on Fletchers.
00:02We're heading into our fifth year of farming in the stunning Peak District.
00:07Here we go.
00:08They're coming!
00:10That's it, that's it. We've got to go.
00:12And we're making big plans from our new HQ.
00:16Being back at the farm 24-7, it just feels like the best feeling.
00:20In a caravan.
00:21It's pretty bougie.
00:23Alongside our four kids, who are each carving their own path as young farmers too.
00:28If any of my Jacobs give birth, I've got to do it.
00:33This year we introduce new breeds to the farm.
00:37I'm going to get a new flock of hens. I'm not even telling Kelvin. I'm just doing it.
00:42Come here, piggies!
00:44I forgot how much I love pigs.
00:46They're really cute.
00:48And continue our journey into arable farming.
00:51It's my wife, that.
00:53We've grown in confidence as farmers.
00:56I will not be defeated.
01:00Embracing the fun and chaos.
01:02Why could I not just have five minutes to eat?
01:05And together, we're working hard to live our life to the full.
01:09That was really good.
01:10You know what this called for?
01:11What?
01:11A brood.
01:13A brood?
01:29As autumn arrives on our farm, so does our new temporary home.
01:34Looks good, doesn't it?
01:34It looks so good.
01:36Over a year ago, we had a fire in the farmhouse, which forced us to move into rented accommodation
01:41as we waited for the insurance claim to be signed on.
01:44Dealing with the fire and everything, it takes so much longer than you could ever have imagined.
01:51And...
01:51It's a full-time job.
01:52It is a full-time job trying to go through the whole process, the surveys, everything that needs to be
01:56done.
01:58As well as then, we've not even started the point of clearing the house out and actually making a start
02:02on that building work.
02:03So, this just feels, although it's temporary, it just feels like it will help us make those steps a bit
02:11more efficiently.
02:12As we finally have the green light to start rebuilding our home, this lodge will be the new HQ until
02:18it's ready for us to all move back into.
02:20It feels like it's been so long since, like, we've lived here now.
02:27It feels like a bit of a weight is lifting, but just the thought of being back at the farm
02:3224-7 is...
02:35It just feels like the best feeling.
02:38The renovation will take months, which we can now oversee from our cosy lodge.
02:43I mean, they're just buzzing off that mountain of mud, so...
02:47So, you don't need to get your kids Christmas presents.
02:50Just get a pile of mud or sand, and away you go.
02:54This is what kids should be.
02:55I know, but I don't want them going in there like that.
02:57Well, they just won't go in there.
02:58Where are they going to live?
02:59Well, I don't know. We'll have to just get a kennel or something.
03:06And after a few days of unpacking, we do let the kids move in with us.
03:10And it doesn't take long for us to settle in.
03:12Right, who wants porridge?
03:14Me!
03:15And once the four kids are fed, there's no more commute to feed our animals either.
03:20Calvin is in his element on the farm.
03:23He never wants to come inside, so he's loving it.
03:26And now we're all back on the farm full-time, we're plotting for our biggest year yet.
03:31This year, to help us achieve our plans to expand, we've recruited a farmhand.
03:37Look at this for these two little shepherds.
03:38This is the new team!
03:41We've kind of worked out that we don't necessarily have to do every job together.
03:46So it's helping where we can kind of go off and do jobs separately, which means more gets
03:52done on the farm.
03:53And local lad Josh has quickly become part of the Fletcher family, giving us more time
03:58to grow our ever-expanding farming business.
04:02Every year is different from the weather, from the livestock we've got, so it's ever-evolving,
04:07but that's the exciting thing.
04:09Done!
04:10Oh, Getty!
04:11What a system!
04:12We've got ideas for the farm, we've got ambitions for the farm, and I think there's a lot of opportunity,
04:17and I'm really, really excited for what's to come.
04:20Who wants a hot chocolate?
04:32This week on our farm, I give Marnie an advance
04:36so she can expand her flock ahead of topping season.
04:39Right, I'll do you a deal.
04:41If any of my Jacobs give birth, I've got to do it.
04:46OK, I'm taking the responsibility of my sheep, and you're taking the responsibility of us.
04:53Deal.
04:54Hugo, the vet, is called in for a pregnancy test, but this time it's not for the cows.
04:59Here's the patient.
05:00Yeah, not my usual age today, no.
05:04But it'd be good to know, because we're all guessing, and it'd be good to just know if it's a
05:09yes or a no.
05:10And me and the boys take a break from farming to make our own dirt track.
05:15When you come onto a corner, you're a bit unsure, just ease off first,
05:17and then if you need to slow down more, then break, OK?
05:20Go, that's it, keep going.
05:22Daddy's here, keep going.
05:24Good boy.
05:35This year, we plan to expand our herd of pedigree Lincoln red cattle.
05:39Our small herd of five is soon to be six.
05:42And as we plan to grow in numbers, my first task of the day is separating the men from the
05:48boys, quite literally.
05:50We're getting the cows in today.
05:54And we've kind of let them run together as a group for the past couple of months, really,
05:59since obviously little Ezra was born.
06:02And it's just time.
06:03We've had a little bit of an issue with Sonic and with Ray.
06:07They have been seen starting to suck up Cherry, which is no good.
06:12Obviously, she's trying to raise Ezra, and all that milk is needed for Ezra, really.
06:16So if it's being taken elsewhere, it's not good.
06:19So Crowther, our bull, will remain with the two females, one of which has got a cat for four, Ezra,
06:25and either one is due in probably another four or five weeks.
06:29And then as regards to Ezra, whilst he's here, we've got the scales here, we'll actually try and get him
06:34in the way, if we can, and get him weighed.
06:37Separating the herd can be tricky.
06:39But luckily for me, I've got my two best apprentices on the job, Milo and Marnie.
06:45It's Friday day, it's Saturday, Sunday, what?
06:50We're going to get the cows in, OK?
06:53We're going to separate them.
06:53So we're going to go up there, call them in, and then we're going to walk down,
06:58and hopefully they're going to follow us into the shed.
07:02Come on, girls.
07:04Come on.
07:10Big arms.
07:13That's job number one ticked off.
07:15But before we get ahead of ourselves with celebrations,
07:18we still need to separate Ray and Sonic from the other cattle.
07:22Come on, Sonic.
07:23This way.
07:24Goodbye.
07:28Goodbye, that way.
07:29Go on.
07:30No, no, you can have some in a minute.
07:31Go on.
07:32Go on.
07:34Go on.
07:34Keep going.
07:35Goodbye.
07:39Right, one down, one to go.
07:43He's going to get an altar.
07:45I mean, he was very good on the altar, so hopefully...
07:58Is it time to celebrate?
08:01I think it is.
08:02Kids, come here.
08:03Let's sit down, because that's how excited I am.
08:06We just brought the cows down from the top field.
08:08Yeah.
08:09Just us.
08:10The hardest thing is, they're not like sheep.
08:12These cows are big animals.
08:13They can be quite scary.
08:15And not once did you two panic.
08:18You stayed calm.
08:19Milo, especially, when you stood on the corner and the bull came right next to you.
08:23And, Marnie, you just led from the back, perfectly.
08:28Absolutely brilliant.
08:29Brilliant.
08:30Well done.
08:31That was really, really good.
08:32You know what this calls for?
08:34What?
08:34Are we going to get a hot chocolate?
08:35A brew.
08:37Once again, the kids have risen to the challenge.
08:39Give it time, I'll make proper farmers out of them yet.
08:43As a parent, first and foremost, their safety is priority.
08:46But with any farm kid, you've got to just let them explore and give them that responsibility.
08:53And dare I say it, let them be a little bit daring.
08:56Let them kind of step into the unknown.
08:59We never quite give the kids the credit they deserve.
09:02They are so capable.
09:04I think since we've been living here, what has it been, four years now, it's three quarters of Milo's life.
09:11It's over half of Marnie's life.
09:14And the twins, it's almost all they've ever known.
09:16I just think they're better for it.
09:18They're better at assessing their own risk.
09:20They're better at allowing themselves to be a little bit vulnerable, but, you know, carrying out tasks.
09:27And, yeah, no, it's great to see.
09:29And I think those are great life lessons, so.
09:33Just one final job remaining.
09:35Weigh Ezra.
09:36Right, let's get a little Ezra in.
09:39He's in.
09:48So?
09:4990.
09:5090 kilo.
09:52He's heavier than Daddy.
09:54We know what he weighed when he was born and what he weighs now.
09:57So we can work out how much weight he's put on every day of his life.
10:00We've weighed in.
10:02That's the main thing.
10:04Let's weigh me at night.
10:06Shall I weigh you two?
10:07Yeah, let's weigh me.
10:10Come on.
10:11In.
10:12Dad, you think she's for that easy.
10:14Get in.
10:15Come on.
10:18Right.
10:1925.
10:22Out.
10:23Out.
10:28Next.
10:29Get it.
10:29Go on.
10:3020.
10:33Wait.
10:34I don't know if that means recalibrating.
10:36I'm sure you're more than 20 kg, Milo Fletcher.
10:39Which means you would not be ready for market.
10:41We've got to feed you up.
10:44Right, guys, job's done.
10:47You know what that means, don't you?
10:48What?
10:49It's time for a treat.
10:50It's time for a treat.
10:51Come on, because you've worked hard.
10:54Come on.
10:55You've worked hard so you can have a treat.
10:57I love you, Dad.
10:58I love you too, lad.
10:59Oh, Ginger's come for a treat as well.
11:01Oi.
11:02Ginger thinks she's having hot chocolate.
11:04Sorry, mate.
11:20Growing up on the farm has given our four kids
11:22the space and freedom to find adventure and fun
11:25around every corner.
11:30And never far from the action is Ginger,
11:32the world's most unlikely farm dog.
11:35Ginger was the first animal we ever owned.
11:38She came into our lives way before we even dreamed
11:40of owning sheep and cows.
11:42And today, we'll be finding out if it's her turn
11:45to add to our ever-growing number of livestock.
11:48We are scanning Ginger to see if she's pregnant with pups.
11:52So I've always said that I would let Ginger have one litter
11:56and she was in season.
11:57I found the perfect dog.
11:59So we've bred her with a miniature poodle
12:02and that was an experience in itself.
12:04And I said, look, if it doesn't work,
12:05I'm not doing that again.
12:07But we've got Hugo come in
12:09and we're going to find out if it has worked.
12:11But yeah, today is a big day.
12:13So scanning a different kind of animal
12:16and a little fur baby.
12:18We've taken advice from professional dog breeders
12:21and today, our vet Hugo has agreed to downsize
12:24the kitty usually brings for our herd
12:26to carry out the pregnancy test on Ginger.
12:31Hello, Hugo.
12:32Hi, Liz.
12:33If you're OK?
12:33Yeah.
12:35You good?
12:36Yes.
12:37Here's the patient.
12:38Yeah, not my usual...
12:39Not your usual farm, I will.
12:40...patient today, no.
12:41But it'd be good to know,
12:43cos we're all guessing,
12:44and it'd be good to just know if it's a yes or a no.
12:47Yeah.
12:48There's been a few symptoms or signs
12:49that I think she's been behaving differently.
12:51So what's she been doing?
12:53Eating a lot, then off the food.
12:55Very clingy.
12:56Right.
12:57I think she's getting wider.
12:58A bit wider.
12:59It does seem a bit wider.
13:00A bit of nest building, maybe.
13:02Hugo's using an ultrasound
13:04to scan Ginger's tummy
13:05to see if she's in pup.
13:07It's a slightly different scanner
13:08to the one he uses on the cows,
13:10and thankfully for Ginger,
13:12this one works on the outside.
13:15So you can see a puppy floating about.
13:17Black fluid there.
13:20Oh, my God, Ginger.
13:21So that is a cross-section through a puppy.
13:24This is just a two-dimensional picture,
13:26so it's taking a slice up through a bit.
13:28So that black is uterine fluid.
13:31And the bit in the middle is the puppy?
13:32Walls of the uterus,
13:34and that's a puppy.
13:35So you can see ribs, legs.
13:38Oh, my God, I saw that moving.
13:41I can literally see it moving.
13:44That's two separate pups on that side,
13:47at least four.
13:48That would be about right, though,
13:49an average sort of litter size is five or six.
13:53Oh, Hugo, I think that's the best news
13:55you've ever given me.
13:56Is it? Better than the cows.
13:58Well, it's a close one, but she's just...
14:01She's our baby.
14:02Oh, my God, you're having pups.
14:03Well, you thought she was.
14:05One thing we're very much accustomed to around here
14:08is positive pregnancy tests.
14:10And it's lovely to think of a litter of miniature gingers
14:13arriving on the farm.
14:15Oh, Hugo, thank you.
14:17Really appreciate you coming.
14:19Yeah, no problem.
14:20Please, it's good news.
14:22Very happy it's good news.
14:24Do you want to buy one?
14:24Stop shaking as much now.
14:26No, don't start trying to sell them to me.
14:28I get this all the time.
14:30I'll ring the wife.
14:31She'll want, Mum.
14:33No, she's the one who'll say no.
14:35It's me.
14:35I'm the one who you talk round.
14:38Wait till you see him, Hugo.
14:40You'll definitely want one.
14:41Probably, yeah.
14:43All right.
14:43Right, thank you.
14:44See you later.
14:45See you later.
14:46As if we don't already have enough on our plates,
14:49we now have an expectant dog to attend to.
14:52Oh, I'm just so excited for her.
14:56Oh, it's going to be so amazing
14:58to just have little pups running around.
15:00Oh, well done, Ginger.
15:05The kids are going to love it.
15:08Go and do what you love doing.
15:09Go on.
15:09Go on.
15:10Go on.
15:10Come on.
15:11Should we go?
15:12Let's go.
15:12Go, go, go, go, go.
15:30Of all the new ventures on our farm,
15:32our first foray into arable farming
15:34has been one of the most exciting.
15:37In the past, this farm did produce a number of crops,
15:40but for the last 20 years, nothing has grown here.
15:44Until now.
15:45With a few tons of seed, some serious kit,
15:48and help from our agronomist, Ben.
15:50We're good.
15:51We're happy.
15:52We're smiling.
15:52We're smiling.
15:53Let's get combining.
15:54We've watched this nine acres transform
15:57into a field of oats.
15:59Today, we find out if the hard graft has paid off.
16:03So now we're off to the mill, to the millers,
16:07with our oats.
16:09We've got a sample.
16:11The truck's already gone
16:12with a truckload of oats.
16:14Not quite as many as we were first hoping.
16:16So we're on there today to get the news,
16:19just to see how well they have done.
16:22So fingers crossed.
16:23You know, this is months and months of hard work,
16:28months and months of preparation.
16:30But yeah, today we'll find out
16:31whether the oats are good enough
16:33and where they will go next.
16:35Will they end up as animal feed?
16:38Or will they end up on our kitchen table as porridge?
16:43So yeah, I'm excited.
16:45The mill we're heading to is still family-owned
16:47and it's been running for more than 350 years.
16:51It's one of the only few left in the country
16:53that handles oats.
16:54And it just so happens
16:55to be right here in our doorstep.
16:58So hopefully it might even be
16:59a little bit of a science lesson for me today.
17:01Might be like being back at school,
17:03understanding how they grade it
17:04and what makes a good crop
17:07and what doesn't.
17:08There's a lot riding on this
17:09in a sense of, you know,
17:10we were bold enough
17:12to do it in the first place
17:14and then kind of even braver
17:16to think that we could get some porridge oats.
17:19It's a little nerve-wracking
17:21as to what the outcome of today is,
17:22but it goes without saying
17:24this is not,
17:25this is just the beginning
17:27of our arable journey.
17:29Regardless of the result,
17:30we will not be deterred.
17:32This sample batch of oats
17:34will be tested to see
17:35if they've made the grade
17:36for human consumption
17:37or whether they're destined
17:38for the feed troughs.
17:39Hi, James.
17:40Morning.
17:42Nice to see you.
17:43You brought me a present.
17:44I couldn't bear in gifts, yeah, yeah.
17:46Right.
17:47Let's see what you've got.
17:48Managing Director James
17:50will determine the fate
17:51of this year's crop.
17:53I didn't know how much to bring,
17:54so obviously this is...
17:56this is sun.
17:57So you should have about,
17:59I would think,
18:0020 kilos in here.
18:02Right, OK.
18:02So you've done well
18:03to carry that across the yard.
18:05Yeah.
18:06And now we have to test them.
18:07So we have to see
18:08whether inside these oats
18:10we've got enough
18:13groat,
18:13which is the bit
18:14that humans can eat,
18:15and not too much
18:16of the husk,
18:17which is the outside bit
18:18that the animals eat.
18:19And depending on the proportion,
18:21that determines
18:21whether or not
18:22we can make porridge from it
18:23or whether we'll have to make
18:24animal food from it.
18:26But either way,
18:26it'll be good for somebody.
18:28OK, good.
18:28Right then.
18:29Fingers crossed.
18:30Right, so let's take a closer look
18:32and if you scoop some
18:33into the tray
18:33then we can
18:35have a closer look.
18:37And then what we're looking for
18:38inside each of these grains
18:40is a...
18:42is the inside bit,
18:43which is the groat.
18:44This is not a terribly promising start
18:46because I can't find one in there.
18:49But here you go,
18:50this one's a bit juicier.
18:52So inside there,
18:54if you can see,
18:55these are the two components
18:56of an oat.
18:57OK.
18:57So you've got the outer husk,
18:59that's what protects it
19:00from the elements
19:00when it's growing.
19:01Yeah.
19:02And then this bit
19:02on the inside,
19:03we call that the groat,
19:04that's the really nutritious bit,
19:06that's the bit
19:06that humans can digest,
19:08that's where all
19:08the health benefits are.
19:09Right.
19:10So what we're looking for
19:10in order to make porridge
19:11is we need loads of these
19:13and not too many of these.
19:15Right.
19:16To judge the quality,
19:18weight is everything.
19:19And there's a benchmark figure
19:21we're looking for.
19:22If we fill the measuring tube
19:24and the weight reaches
19:25550 grams or above,
19:27it passes.
19:28Anything less
19:29is a fail.
19:30If we've got
19:32no groat
19:33and loads of husk,
19:34then we can only...
19:35then we can't mill it
19:36into porridge,
19:36so we have to send it
19:37to our friends down the road
19:38who will turn it
19:39into animal feed.
19:40OK.
19:42A jeopardy.
19:44OK, the nervous one.
19:45Let's do this on here then.
19:47Yeah.
19:47If you press the
19:48zero button there
19:49just to check
19:50that it's at zero.
19:56So you're almost there.
19:57Is that at the top?
20:00I'll put a little bit more in.
20:01A little bit more,
20:02just to see.
20:04Just to help.
20:06You know.
20:08Right, so...
20:09I think we're...
20:1055 or 550 grams
20:12it'll be.
20:13That's your magic number.
20:15Oh, we're way off.
20:18380.
20:19380.
20:21So that tells me
20:23these oats here
20:24have grown well
20:26in the field,
20:26they look well,
20:27but they haven't absorbed
20:28enough moisture
20:29in order to swell,
20:30so the inside of the grain
20:32hasn't swollen up
20:34to make a really
20:35meaty groat
20:36for porridge.
20:37Right.
20:37So it was a really
20:38long, hot, dry summer,
20:40wasn't it?
20:40Yeah.
20:41So, unfortunately,
20:43at the right part
20:44of that growing cycle,
20:46you just wouldn't have
20:47had enough rain
20:48up on the field.
20:49Wow.
20:49And it's the difference
20:50then between
20:51whether or not
20:51that groat forms
20:53into something
20:54that can be edible
20:55or milled
20:56or can't.
20:57So, unfortunately...
21:00It's not made great.
21:01It's not going to make
21:01the great for porridge.
21:03With rainfall down,
21:04so is quality-grade
21:05oat production,
21:06and that's an issue
21:07that's impacted
21:08many arable farmers
21:09this year.
21:10But it's not all lost
21:11because there's still
21:12nutritional value in here.
21:13It's just that
21:14the human stomach
21:16can't digest
21:17that outer husk.
21:18Yeah.
21:18But if you've got
21:19a bigger stomach
21:19or you're a rumen,
21:21so you've got multiple
21:21stomachs, like a cow,
21:23then all is not lost
21:25because you can digest it
21:26and it is nutritious.
21:27So I'm going to have
21:28the best-fed cows
21:30around then?
21:31Well, they'll be
21:31happy cows.
21:33When you think
21:34all the effort
21:34that you've put into it
21:35as well,
21:36then, you know,
21:37if we can get it back
21:37to your animals especially,
21:39then you'll get
21:41a really good feeling
21:42knowing that you've
21:43contributed to it.
21:44Well, I'll be telling
21:45them that
21:46when I'm seeing them
21:47in the shed
21:47and they're eating away.
21:48I'll be saying,
21:48listen, do you realise
21:49how well-fed you are?
21:51The time and effort
21:52I put into this.
21:53Well, the other way
21:55is up.
21:56Nothing ventured,
21:57nothing gained
21:58and, like you say,
21:59year one,
21:59hopefully the first of many.
22:01Old expression,
22:02rain makes grain.
22:04OK.
22:04Simple stuff,
22:05but if you don't have
22:06the rain,
22:06you don't get the grain.
22:09Rain makes grain.
22:11OK.
22:11And drought makes now.
22:12And drought makes now.
22:15I love it.
22:16Rain makes grain,
22:17drought makes now.
22:18Well, we've made now.
22:20However,
22:21we've got some great
22:21animal feed,
22:22so you never really
22:24make now, do you?
22:29You know what?
22:30I feel,
22:30I still feel quite,
22:32quite optimistic, really.
22:34Yeah, you know,
22:36a little bit disappointed
22:38that we didn't quite
22:39kind of make grain,
22:39but now I've got an understanding
22:40of what it takes
22:42to make grain
22:42and what it means,
22:44what it actually means
22:45when you don't make grain.
22:46We still grew a great crop,
22:48it just didn't quite have the,
22:51the oomph.
22:52I don't ever have any regrets.
22:54We took the leap
22:54and we came up
22:55a little bit short,
22:57but overall,
22:57it was a success.
22:58I can't help,
22:59I honestly can't help
23:00but look back
23:01and think,
23:02what a successful crop,
23:04what a great attempt that was.
23:06I'm already thinking ahead.
23:09Yeah, I'm not deterred.
23:25As the summer draws to a close,
23:27topping or breeding season
23:28will soon be upon us.
23:31Alongside our clins,
23:32Marnie's Jacobs are doing so well,
23:34I've decided to make
23:35a little investment
23:36in the flock's future.
23:39Big moment, Marnie.
23:40Okay.
23:41Big moment.
23:43Good Jacobs are hard to find,
23:45but I've been keeping
23:46my eye on the markets
23:47and I've got a surprise
23:49for Marnie to help her
23:50achieve her dream
23:51of expanding her flock.
23:54So, obviously,
23:55Daddy's been looking around
23:56because I wanted to get you
23:57the best Jacobs we could get.
23:58Yeah?
23:59Yeah.
24:00Well, let's make this clear.
24:01You did say I'll get you about
24:03the maximum of sheep
24:04that I could get you
24:06is about, like,
24:08five, ten more
24:09and you've gone up
24:10buying me about,
24:12I don't know.
24:12Well, I was looking...
24:13Is there about 20 in there?
24:14I was looking for some good...
24:15I was looking for some goodens.
24:17Is there some of my sheep in there?
24:19Yeah, so there...
24:20I've just spotted
24:20some of my sheep on my...
24:22I've got one you,
24:22but one of your users
24:23is in there
24:23because she was a bit poorly.
24:25So I brought her in.
24:26Yeah.
24:27And your five lambs
24:28are in there,
24:28but the rest
24:29are all your new
24:30Jacob shearlings
24:31and there's 20 of them.
24:34So, do you want to go
24:34and see them?
24:35Yeah.
24:35Yeah, are you excited?
24:37Yeah.
24:37Yeah?
24:38Yeah.
24:39The news I haven't broken
24:41to Marnie yet
24:42is that she now owes me money
24:44for buying her more stock.
24:46But I'll break that to her
24:47once she's had a good look
24:48at her new breeding use.
24:51There's another one
24:51of your little lambs,
24:52but this one,
24:53this one looks a nice one.
24:56There we go.
24:57Let's pull it out of here.
24:59Let's have a good look at her.
25:00There she is.
25:01She's got some nice markings.
25:02What you always look for
25:03in a Jacob,
25:04you want all this bit
25:05to be white.
25:06But the markings
25:07are really lovely.
25:09But she feels good,
25:10so she's got good feet.
25:11She's lovely, isn't she?
25:13Yeah, really nice.
25:15Gorgeous.
25:16Beautiful.
25:17Mm-hmm.
25:19So when you feel them here,
25:23you can feel along the back.
25:25You feel the top
25:26and then you feel
25:27the ribs of you.
25:28It's really hard
25:29because you've got
25:30to dig in with sheep
25:31because their fur,
25:32you probably look at their fur
25:33and you're like,
25:34right, that's a good one.
25:35But then you've got to feel.
25:37You've got to get your hands on.
25:38The fur makes it look.
25:39It can be deceiving.
25:41So you happy?
25:42Yeah.
25:43Flock approved.
25:44Time to get down to business.
25:47So the deal was,
25:48you had five lambs,
25:50didn't you?
25:50Yeah, I had five lambs.
25:51Plus the,
25:51I think you had one or two
25:52of the lambs from my cleanse
25:54when your viper got in early.
25:56Yeah, the mixed breed.
25:57So you were going to sell those lambs
25:58and that was going to pay
25:59some more sheep.
26:00Well, you've not done it yet.
26:01So in the meantime,
26:02Daddy said that I'd give you
26:03an advance.
26:04So what's an advance?
26:05Can you remember?
26:06An advance,
26:06I think it's kind of like,
26:09I'll give you like,
26:10some money
26:11so then I can buy you
26:13some sheep
26:14so then you can like,
26:16breed lambs off them
26:17and then sell those lambs.
26:18Yeah, so the advance means
26:19that I'll give you the money
26:20up front and then you pay the back.
26:22Yeah.
26:22Because time's ticking.
26:24We've only got
26:26we want a tup
26:27towards the end of November.
26:29Now these are sheerlings.
26:31Which means
26:33they've never had lambs before.
26:34It's their first time.
26:35Oh.
26:36Okay?
26:36So when viper meets them
26:38this year,
26:38they're going to be thinking,
26:40what's going on?
26:40God, it's so weird.
26:41How many girlfriends
26:42does viper mean?
26:43I bet,
26:43I bet the other girls are like,
26:45oh, why's viper with those girls?
26:48So with the three ewes
26:49that you've already got,
26:51you've now got...
26:51Got 23.
26:53You've got 23 females.
26:55That's smart.
26:5623 females.
26:58Right,
26:58you know when we do
26:59lambing season,
27:00I'll do you a deal.
27:02When I come back from school,
27:04I'm straight at the farm
27:05and if any of my Jacob's
27:08give birth,
27:10I've got to do it.
27:11Okay,
27:12I'm taking the responsibility
27:13of my sheep
27:15and you're taking
27:16the responsibility of yours.
27:18Deal.
27:19Deal.
27:20Thank goodness.
27:21Between us,
27:22we've got over 70 breeding ewes.
27:24So between us,
27:26we could have
27:28about 140 lambs.
27:30You've got to pay me back.
27:31I want to keep...
27:32I'm still a child, Dad.
27:34Bit by bit,
27:35you're going to pay me back,
27:35okay?
27:36Is that a deal?
27:36So you need to start
27:37thinking about
27:38your lamb shop.
27:39One pound sheep.
27:41You need to start
27:42thinking about your lamb shop
27:43and how you can pay me back.
27:44To help Marnie
27:45make the money she needs
27:46to pay me back,
27:47we've agreed to support her
27:48in setting up
27:49a pop-up shop
27:50on the farm
27:51so she can sell her lamb
27:52directly to customers.
27:54Right,
27:55you just walk these out
27:56but keep your lambs back.
27:58Keep them in the shed
27:58and get them fattened up
28:00so that Marnie can
28:00do a little pop-up shop
28:04and then put the rest
28:05out onto grass
28:07for the next few weeks,
28:08get them in as good
28:09a condition as possible
28:10and then it's tupping time.
28:11So we've got some
28:12busy few weeks coming up.
28:13You've got to get
28:13some rattle for Vipa.
28:16Got a lot of jobs
28:17but you have to...
28:17You know what,
28:17if you ever knew me
28:19at the farm,
28:20I can always miss
28:22like a week of school.
28:23Nice try, Marnie.
28:25She's a few years away
28:26from being a full-time
28:27shepherdess
28:28but with 20 more
28:29breeding ewes to care for,
28:31she's certainly
28:31on the right track.
28:33Big moment,
28:34Marnie's flock
28:36about to meet my flock
28:37for the first time.
28:39Right,
28:39I reckon that's enough time.
28:41So you stay at the back,
28:42I'll go at the front,
28:42yeah?
28:43I love being at the back.
28:49Right,
28:50walk them out,
28:50darling.
29:07Look at them!
29:09Hey,
29:09they look good.
29:11They look good,
29:11don't they?
29:12They're such a gorgeous colour.
29:14Welcome to farming
29:14in the autumn.
29:16I bet you've never
29:16seen cows before,
29:17have they?
29:17Look at them all
29:18crowding out with cows.
29:20Oh,
29:20nice.
29:21They'll be happy
29:22out there
29:22after being the pen.
29:24Right,
29:24good work.
29:25Well done.
29:27Good luck
29:27with lambing.
29:28Cool,
29:31Well done,
29:31darling.
29:34You've got
29:35a big year
29:35ahead of you.
29:48Each new season
29:49brings a new raft
29:50of jobs
29:51for us to do
29:51on the farm.
29:52And when the good weather
29:53ends,
29:54the farm maintenance
29:55begins.
29:56And after four years
29:57of living here,
29:58one of the barns
29:59is starting to look
30:00more like a salvage yard.
30:09Oh,
30:10look.
30:13Look at that.
30:14So this is from
30:15our old house.
30:16We've never got
30:17round to putting
30:17these up.
30:19That's our wedding day.
30:21Marnie was
30:22the little baby.
30:25Mateus,
30:25come and look at this.
30:26This is Mummy
30:28and Daddy
30:28getting married.
30:31What do you think?
30:33Look at Mummy there.
30:35Why were you crying
30:37so much
30:37when we got married?
30:38Because
30:39I had a good life.
30:45With the farmhouse
30:46renovations
30:46starting soon,
30:48it's time to tackle
30:49Liz's hoarding habit
30:50and decide what items
30:51are staying
30:52and what's going.
30:53A lot of this
30:55here
30:57is
30:57what's been
30:58pulled out
30:59of the cottage
30:59when we renovated
31:00that
31:00and a lot of things
31:02that has been
31:02pulled out of the fire
31:03and what we really
31:04need to do,
31:05this can't just become,
31:07these are barns,
31:08these are supposed
31:08to be working farm barns,
31:10they can't just become
31:10like a massive storage space
31:12because we need
31:12the space for the animals
31:13so we have to
31:15start a clear out.
31:16Today,
31:16we're going to mark
31:17up what's to go
31:18and then when the skip
31:19comes we can tip it,
31:20things that I will
31:22actually do something
31:24with
31:25we will put
31:26to one side.
31:27As Liz now
31:28has a workshop
31:28where she can restore
31:30and renovate pieces,
31:31it might help
31:32focus her mind
31:33on what we should keep.
31:34This is all
31:35the original wood
31:36from the cottage,
31:38the original doors,
31:39the skirting boards,
31:41things that I was like,
31:42don't get rid of that,
31:43I'll use it.
31:45Like,
31:45look at these doors.
31:47I feel like these doors
31:48are probably
31:48from the 18th century.
31:50I just can't bring
31:51myself to get rid
31:52of them.
31:54I mean,
31:54I've got a slab
31:55of granite here.
31:58The things I could
31:58do with that,
31:59I can't,
32:00I can't part with that.
32:02I could make a table
32:02with that,
32:03butcher's block,
32:04anything.
32:05I have to do that thing
32:06where you touch it
32:07and you say to yourself,
32:09how much do I love this?
32:10Am I realistically
32:11going to do anything
32:12with you
32:12or do you need to go?
32:16we'll see how far we get.
32:18Thankfully,
32:18the kids are being
32:19more decisive
32:20and are getting
32:21stuck into sorting,
32:22but Liz is,
32:23well,
32:24taking a more
32:25methodical approach.
32:26When I'm in something
32:27like this,
32:28it looks like
32:28just complete mess
32:29to Kelvin,
32:30to me,
32:30I'm like,
32:31oh,
32:31this is a,
32:32I mean,
32:33there's a table there,
32:34there's a nice feature
32:35for over a window there,
32:37there's a,
32:37you know,
32:38I could make something
32:38out of that
32:39and Kelvin's just like,
32:41Liz,
32:43you're not,
32:43though,
32:44are you?
32:45I didn't think
32:46I was a secret hoarder,
32:47but there's something
32:47about really old stuff
32:49that I love.
32:52Yeah,
32:53like a set of stairs there.
32:55Might need them.
32:59Feels wrong
33:00to throw things away
33:01that are
33:03part of the history
33:04of everything,
33:04but
33:05the reality is
33:07some of this
33:07is so rotten,
33:08like the,
33:09a lot of the wood
33:10out of the cottage
33:11had really bad woodworm
33:13and it just,
33:14like,
33:14it can't be used,
33:15so a lot of this
33:16is just not reusable.
33:21Liz,
33:21these look quite
33:22delicate and ornate.
33:24They can actually go,
33:25then.
33:26We have to keep
33:27stuff like that.
33:28To do what with it?
33:29You just never know
33:29when stuff like that
33:30could come in handy.
33:32I like it,
33:33it's cute,
33:34get that other one,
33:34save it.
33:35seems I'm just
33:36as bad as Liz
33:37for not letting go.
33:41I can be quite brutal,
33:43but at the same time,
33:44you don't want to,
33:46you know,
33:46you can look at
33:47certain things
33:47quite fondly
33:48and think,
33:48oh yeah,
33:49I could not use these
33:50for more than a six month.
33:52We've never used them.
33:53I don't know how
33:53we've come out having them,
33:54but I think they're really cute.
33:57I do recall us
33:58having some cakes
33:58on there at an event once,
34:02but I'm brutal,
34:03but I'm not that brutal.
34:05Oh, Kelvin,
34:06look,
34:06this is where
34:06all your clothes are.
34:07Oh.
34:11I'm not just saying it,
34:13but I've been looking for that.
34:16I look well in that jumper.
34:21Blimey.
34:22Could do with a wash.
34:23Why is my clothes here?
34:24There's all sorts in here.
34:27Well,
34:27looks like I won't have
34:28to keep borrowing clothes
34:29from the scarecrows anymore.
34:31And amongst my wardrobe
34:33are a few more sentimental
34:34blasts from the past.
34:36Oh,
34:37these are all
34:37your old books, Liz.
34:40Wow.
34:41Liz's parents kept
34:42books that they had
34:44in their childhood.
34:45Mr Skinny!
34:46They then read them
34:47to their children.
34:48This one,
34:49the Green Book
34:50of Bedtime Stories.
34:52I remember them as well.
34:54Look at this, Kelvin.
34:56We've had a good find there,
34:57haven't we?
34:581997.
34:59Yeah?
35:01My first professional show.
35:03Wow.
35:04It's a dog's life?
35:06No, it was a famous five.
35:08But the tile is the dog's life, yeah.
35:10Oh, right, OK.
35:11Because we had a real dog
35:11in the show.
35:12It looks like those
35:13are for the keep pile.
35:15Knick-knacks aside,
35:16we're finally making progress.
35:18Right, done.
35:20Keep pile,
35:21get rid of pile.
35:22We actually kept more
35:23than I thought
35:24we were going to keep.
35:25That's a persuade Kelvin
35:26to get rid.
35:27Job done.
35:28Well, half done.
35:31Half done.
35:32Up-a-two time.
35:48With a farmhouse to rebuild,
35:50a barn to host new events,
35:52and 120 acres to manage,
35:55Liz and I have decided
35:56it's time to bring in
35:57an extra pair of hands
35:58to help with the livestock.
36:00Right, come on, guys.
36:02We're going to do
36:04some testing on the top.
36:06So, top MLT.
36:07That's what they call it,
36:08isn't it, Josh?
36:09Yeah.
36:11Local lad Josh
36:12is joining our family farm
36:13full-time,
36:14and as an experienced farmhand,
36:16he's not afraid
36:17of getting stuck in.
36:19Kelvin's not here today.
36:20He's working elsewhere.
36:21So, it's just me and Josh today,
36:23and this is where Josh
36:24is really great around the farm
36:25because we are,
36:26we can't,
36:27me and Kelvin can't do
36:28every job together.
36:29Like, when we first
36:30started at the farm,
36:31it's now too big
36:32for us to be doing that.
36:33So, we really need
36:34to be designated
36:35on certain jobs,
36:36and that's why
36:37we've now got Josh in
36:38so that I'm on one job,
36:39Kelvin's on another,
36:40and Josh is on something else,
36:42but this is something
36:43that we,
36:43it is a three-man job.
36:45So, we'll do this
36:46together with the vet.
36:47So, Josh's job
36:48was to hold the sheep.
36:49The vet's job
36:50was to use the tool
36:52that makes him
36:55do what he needs to do,
36:56and my job
36:57was to catch it.
36:59Let's not be coy
37:00about this, Liz.
37:01Today's MOT
37:02is basically
37:03a virility test
37:04to ensure each tub
37:06is ready to serve
37:07our herd of use.
37:09Vet Dragos
37:10is tasked
37:10with collecting
37:11a sample
37:11that can be then
37:12examined
37:12under microscope.
37:15So, this,
37:16what we are doing,
37:18we are testing
37:18the tub now,
37:19so, we are checking
37:21that he is working.
37:23Sometimes, because,
37:25you know,
37:26it can be stressful,
37:27especially when you have
37:28so many people around,
37:29it might be intimidating,
37:31and they're not going
37:32to give us a sample,
37:33and sometimes,
37:36you might have to
37:37come again
37:38and do it again.
37:39But hopefully,
37:40this time,
37:41we're going to be
37:41more successful
37:42than that.
37:43This is part of
37:44getting ready for tuffing.
37:46We've got a big winter
37:47coming up this year
37:47with a lot more
37:48use than normal,
37:49and the tups
37:50need to serve them all.
37:51So, this is part of it
37:53where we basically,
37:54they use a tool
37:56that,
37:58in a polite way,
37:59hits the sheep's...
38:01..then I will do this.
38:03It's hard to say
38:04when you're a lady.
38:05Hits the sheep's
38:06gene spot,
38:08makes them ejaculate,
38:10and then we can
38:11test their semen
38:12to see if they
38:13will be good enough
38:14to serve the ewes
38:15that we've got.
38:17And it's just good to know,
38:18because if you don't
38:19get the lambs,
38:19if you do get a lot
38:20of barren sheep,
38:21if they don't,
38:22as Kelvin would say,
38:23if you can't fill a pram,
38:25you've lost your season.
38:26So, it is really important.
38:27It's a really...
38:28It's really important
38:30that we know
38:30what standard
38:32the tufts are up to.
38:33So, what happens is,
38:34once we've got
38:35their semen from them,
38:37the vet will check it
38:38there and then,
38:39and we'll be able
38:39to get instant results.
38:41You will basically
38:41see the swimmers.
38:44I used to be
38:44a fashion buyer.
38:46I often think to myself,
38:47I should just go back
38:48into it,
38:49just sit in a nice office
38:51with nice outfits on,
38:53buying clothes,
38:55instead of catching
38:56the sheep's sperm.
38:59By testing the new
39:00shearling tuft,
39:01we can see how
39:02his fertility stacks up
39:03against our more
39:04experienced spatula,
39:05Viper.
39:06That looks like
39:07it's moving quicker.
39:09Thicker, denser.
39:12Yeah.
39:14You can tell he's...
39:16He's definitely
39:16going to do the job.
39:17So, in there,
39:18you see,
39:18it's almost like,
39:19it looks like a liquid
39:20of, like, little,
39:21like, waves
39:22of swirming around,
39:24which is basically
39:25the sperm, isn't it?
39:27But in that one,
39:28the difference with him
39:29to Viper,
39:30Viper's a bit older.
39:31He is our
39:32shearling tuft,
39:34which means this will
39:34be his first time.
39:35And his sperm there
39:36is denser,
39:38there's more of it.
39:39So, if Viper had
39:40a lot of sperm,
39:41he must have
39:42even more.
39:44So, all in all,
39:46very, very successful.
39:48That was fascinating,
39:49wasn't it, Josh?
39:49Yeah.
39:50It is really fascinating.
39:52It's interesting,
39:53you're right,
39:54and it just,
39:54it's taking care
39:55of your stock,
39:56basically,
39:57and knowing
39:58where you're at
40:00and predicting
40:01the season
40:01that you've got coming.
40:03It's all really happening.
40:05I would ring Kelvin
40:06to tell him the good news,
40:07but he's on a set
40:08at the minute
40:08with the Thomas brothers
40:09playing Deal or No Deal.
40:10So, he'll be stood there
40:11with the box
40:11waiting to lift the lid.
40:13So,
40:14while he's got
40:15a nice,
40:15cushy job,
40:17we're doing
40:17the important stuff,
40:18aren't we?
40:21So, all in all,
40:22Josh,
40:22good result.
40:23Good news.
40:24Now, we've just
40:24got to get ready
40:25for topping.
40:37Thanks to a nice dry spell,
40:39I can finally get round
40:40to tidying up the verges
40:41and it's given me an idea.
40:44While Liz and Marnit
40:45are on feeding duties,
40:46I'm going to take my mower
40:48to tackle a very different job,
40:50cutting a racetrack
40:51for the boys
40:52and their bikes.
40:53Right, are we ready, guys?
40:56So,
41:00track.
41:01Track-wise.
41:03Oh, Dad,
41:03so I thought up there,
41:06down...
41:06So, I'm going to go up there.
41:07And then,
41:08go near the fence,
41:10go like that,
41:11all the way,
41:12and then,
41:13you come,
41:14when you come there,
41:15you go near the truck,
41:18and then you come around.
41:19OK, so you want
41:20some fast bits?
41:21Yeah.
41:21Some slow bits?
41:23Yeah,
41:23and some deep bits.
41:24Right.
41:25My Dad's cutting the track
41:27so we can ride our bikes,
41:30because if we didn't have a track,
41:32we'd be like,
41:32ah,
41:33oh,
41:34I'm really looking forward to it.
41:37Racing and motorbikes
41:39have always been
41:39a part of my life.
41:41so watching Milo
41:42get as excited
41:43on his mini motocross
41:45and being lucky enough
41:46to create him space
41:47to practice on the farm
41:48is a real treat.
41:51We have a track.
41:52Who's going to try it out first?
41:54Me.
41:54Milo.
41:55So, let's watch Milo first,
41:57and then we'll have a go,
41:58OK?
41:59Steady.
42:01Now,
42:02we're going to go
42:02anti-clockwise,
42:04yeah?
42:07So, go steady first.
42:08It's your first time doing it.
42:09Nice and steady, yeah?
42:10Up that way.
42:11Nice and steady.
42:12Yeah.
42:20He's doing good, isn't he?
42:21What do we think of the track, boys?
42:23Don't forget your brake,
42:24not your feet.
42:27For Milo,
42:28it's all about
42:29growing trust in himself
42:30and the bike,
42:31and he's really starting
42:32to show confidence.
42:34And the twins
42:35are keen to follow
42:36in his tracks
42:36on their own
42:37electric bikes.
42:38Well done, Milo.
42:40Right, twins,
42:40are you having to go next?
42:45Absolutely brilliant, that.
42:47You're confident,
42:48so don't forget,
42:49sometimes,
42:50when you just,
42:51when you're coming
42:51onto a corner,
42:52you're a bit unsure,
42:52just ease off first,
42:53and then if you need
42:54to slow down more,
42:55then brake, OK?
42:57Getting going on two wheels
42:58is something we've encouraged
42:59all the kids to do
43:00from a young age.
43:01It was mine,
43:02it was always
43:04the first to ride bikes,
43:05the first to have
43:06a little motorbike,
43:07she was really,
43:08really keen.
43:09Yeah, Milo was a bit
43:09reluctant initially,
43:10but I'd say this last year,
43:12we've really kind of
43:13found his confidence
43:14and his love,
43:16his love for bikes,
43:17and I just love that,
43:19because I was exactly
43:20the same.
43:20But yeah,
43:21to see him passionate
43:22and just loving
43:23to get on the bike,
43:24it's great to see.
43:25We've got no excuse now,
43:26you know,
43:27we've got literally
43:27a track in the back garden,
43:29and I just want him
43:30to ride it as much
43:31as possible
43:31and just enjoy it.
43:34Right, Mateus,
43:34you're having a go, kid?
43:35When Milo comes past
43:36and then you go.
43:41Yeah, just go steady
43:41there, kiddie, yeah?
43:42And follow the line.
43:43Go!
43:44Feet up!
43:45Feet up!
43:46Keep going!
43:46Feet up!
43:47Go!
43:47That's it,
43:48keep going!
43:48Daddy's here,
43:49keep going!
43:51Good boy!
43:53Go on, Mateus!
43:56Good lad!
43:58Oh, where's he going?
44:03Excellent, Mateus!
44:04Stick to the track, kid!
44:07Amazing!
44:08High five!
44:09High five!
44:11Go, Mateus!
44:15They might not be
44:16herding cattle yet,
44:17but give them a bike
44:18and they'll tear up
44:19a field just the same.
44:21Proving farm kids
44:22grow up knowing
44:23how to handle
44:23horsepower of every kind.
44:26Twins, they've skipped
44:28stabilisers,
44:28they've just gone straight.
44:30They've just gone
44:31from walking
44:32to straight
44:33to their little
44:33electric bikes.
44:35Good little set-up.
44:36I wish I had this
44:36when I was a kid.
44:39I'd have absolutely
44:40loved this.
44:41I'm like the big kid,
44:42aren't I?
44:43I'm just glad
44:45the kids are enjoying it
44:46because secretly
44:46it's just for me, this.
44:48Let's not
44:49let's not beat around
44:50the bush.
44:51This is my dream.
44:52I'm living out
44:53my childhood dream here
44:54that I didn't quite
44:55get to live out
44:56as a kid.
44:57And the kids
44:58are just coming along
44:58for the ride
44:59whether they like it
44:59or not.
45:00Thankfully,
45:01they actually like it.
45:02So, did you enjoy that, guys?
45:04Yeah.
45:06What was your favourite bit?
45:07Having fun.
45:18Next time on our farm,
45:20things get competitive
45:22when Liz and I
45:22try our hand
45:23at traditional ploughing.
45:25They said mine
45:26was straighter than yours.
45:27No.
45:28You said the same to me.
45:29You said you'll definitely
45:29be better than your husband.
45:30My growing sheep expertise
45:32is starting to impress.
45:34That was really interesting,
45:35Calvin.
45:36It's not like
45:37it was an audience
45:38with then.
45:39Really?
45:41I mean,
45:41I can carry on
45:42if you want.
45:42No, it's all right.
45:43Let's just get the sheep in.
45:44And a surprise arrival
45:46gets off
45:46to a shaky start.
45:48Without sounding
45:49too dramatic,
45:49it's, you know,
45:51there's a massive danger
45:52that a calf's not
45:53at the colostrum
45:53in the time frame
45:54it is.
45:54You could just
45:55nose dive
45:55and, you know,
45:56we'd lose the calf.
45:57That's how serious
45:58it is, really.
45:58It's all right.
46:29It's all right.
46:29It's all right.
46:29It's all right.
46:29It's all right.
46:29It's all right.
46:30It's all right.
46:30It's all right.
46:30It's all right.
46:30It's all right.
46:30It's all right.
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