Countryfile - West Exmoor
Countryfile - West Exmoor
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00:00We're in West Exmoor, a place shaped by generations who've farmed and managed it for thousands
00:13of years.
00:14But as wild and dramatic as this landscape seems, it's thanks to ambitious conservation
00:19projects that nature's delicate balance is maintained.
00:49Bordered by the towering cliffs and rugged coves of the Atlantic coast, and riven with
00:59wooded valleys reaching inland, are the coombs and moors of Exmoor National Park.
01:07Walking across this windswept moor with views across the sea, there's a sense of tranquillity.
01:12Yes, but behind the calm, there's a hive of activity, changes afoot on quite the scale.
01:20Wetlands are created by some surprising architects.
01:23I notice you've given me the bucket and you've backed off.
01:26Are you setting me up to fail here?
01:29Come on, crispy!
01:32What's this?
01:34Moorlands are enhanced by rootling pigs.
01:37Eventually it allows the dog violet, which is the main food source of the high brown,
01:41to thrive.
01:42Whilst woodlands are protected from devouring herbivores.
01:46So we do also have red deer and roe deer at very high numbers.
01:51They eat everything.
01:52It makes me proud as a dad to bring my boys out and be able to show them all the wildlife
01:58and trees that will be here in the future for them to see.
02:00What a good boy.
02:02And in the Cotswolds, Adam's not getting it all his own way.
02:05So this is a first for Victor.
02:08Never had his feet picked up before.
02:11Stop biting me!
02:19West Exmoor may look wild and untrammelled, but from the heathland created through woodland
02:24clearances in the Bronze Age, to the hill pastures supporting the livestock that feeds
02:29us today, this landscape has been shaped by human hands for thousands of years.
02:36And that's had a huge impact on wildlife here.
02:40In days gone by, this area would have been much more diverse, with a wide range of habitats.
02:46So an ambitious new conservation project is looking to recreate elements of the past to
02:51allow wildlife to thrive in the future.
02:58National Trust ranger Jack Ward is part of a team working to transform Tatterscombe,
03:03a former sheep farm a few miles inland from the coast.
03:07Well, Jack, this field looks very different to other parts of Exmoor.
03:12It just seems a bit messier and a bit more wild.
03:15Yeah, that's right.
03:16I thought I'd bring you in here just to show you what landscapes can look like when you
03:21just add a bit of water.
03:23So the only difference is this is wetter.
03:26Yeah, absolutely.
03:27Simple as that.
03:29Since 2019, Jack and the team have put in more than 100 ponds and scrapes across this
03:3450 hectare site.
03:36If you were to go back just, yeah, three or four years ago when we started this project,
03:40this whole area was pretty degraded in terms of nature.
03:43You'd get just a few sort of generalist species around, but it's been absolutely incredible
03:47since we started making these changes, like putting in these ponds, we've just seen an
03:51explosion of all sorts of wildlife.
03:53I think even we've been a bit surprised at how quickly nature moves back in when you
03:57just give it a little bit of space.
04:00Insects like grasshoppers and amphibians such as toads are now thriving here at Tatterscombe.
04:06In terms of biodiversity, the aim is to edge this landscape closer to how it was hundreds
04:11of years ago, before Exmoor was drained for agriculture.
04:16So this is the sort of thing we've been finding.
04:18This is a land drain.
04:20There's a network of them all over the place under basically every field that you'll see
04:24around Exmoor.
04:26So for farming, for getting drier land, these things are great, but in terms of nature and
04:31wetlands, you want to keep the water and it can actually take away quite a lot of water
04:35in that, can't you?
04:36Yeah, absolutely.
04:37And they really do when it's raining.
04:38So it's just a really important piece of work to do to actually identify where these are
04:42and then dig them up.
04:46But Tatterscombe needs to do more.
04:50We're trying to make all our work as sustainable as possible.
04:53And to do that, a lot of the time, that means just removing us from it and allowing essentially
04:58animals to drive changes.
05:00And that's what we're looking to do here, mainly using different types of livestock.
05:07So we're going to be doing a lot of work on the land.
05:09We're going to be doing a lot of work on the land.
05:11We're going to be doing a lot of work on the land.
05:13We're going to be doing a lot of work on the land.
05:15And that's what we're going to be doing, mainly using different types of livestock.
05:19Cattle, pigs and Exmoor ponies all have roles to play across Exmoor.
05:24They're rootling, grazing and trampling, creating the mosaic of landscape needed for a rich
05:30biodiversity.
05:31They'll do a much better job than we could.
05:34To maintain the wetlands created here, another helper is being enlisted, one that's more
05:40accustomed to South and Southeast Asia.
05:43All these ponds that we've put in here are about two or three years old now.
05:46They're already starting to silt up, which is great.
05:49They're trapping sediment and storing carbon.
05:51But we don't want to have to keep coming back in every few years with diggers
05:54when we can chuck a few water buffalo in and they'll do that job.
05:57Water buffalo?
05:58That's right. It's unusual.
06:00But I suppose if you were to look back, you know, further in time,
06:03basically all of the wildlife that we get in Britain
06:06evolved alongside big, wallowing animals similar to water buffalo.
06:11And those sorts of species are missing at the moment.
06:19The six water buffalo that will soon be roaming the valleys of Tatterscombe
06:23are currently being readied for their new role at Kipscombe Farm,
06:2615 miles to the east.
06:30National Trust farm manager Murray Sharp is looking after the herd.
06:37So how do they differ from cattle in terms of your aims on wetlands
06:41Cattle tend to avoid the fly areas in summer
06:45and they don't go right into the water.
06:47So these guys, what we're hoping is actually will get in the water
06:50and graze the marginal vegetation, open up some of the ponds
06:54so we get a bit of light in there, so we get a variety of plants.
06:58So we're hoping that they really will drive the sort of ecology within the wet areas.
07:02While clearing these areas of vegetation,
07:05the buffalo create new channels and stop ponds from silting up.
07:10All in all, making a good old mess for nature to flourish in.
07:15Sploshing around in water also regulates their body temperature
07:19and wards off ticks and parasites.
07:23We've had them on the drier areas, they get in the troughs.
07:26Really? Yeah.
07:27You'll quite often find them with the front legs in the trough in there.
07:30The troughs that they're drinking out of, they're getting in thinking it's a pool.
07:32Yeah, yeah.
07:34OK, we've had a broken pipe, what, this week
07:37and when we came through, the pipe's spurting out
07:39and the buffalo are all standing underneath it.
07:42As the buffalo like to roam, it's important to know where they are at all times.
07:47So today, they're getting GPS collars fitted,
07:50ready to be released onto the wetlands.
07:55So hopefully, we're going to go and get those buffalo from there.
07:58We're going to take them up to the pens and fit them with their GPS trackers
08:02so that when they go to Tatterscombe,
08:04actually, we can find them quickly when we want to do the daily check.
08:07Sounds like a straightforward job or not?
08:09We're about to find out.
08:16Wow, they look really impressive, don't they?
08:18Yeah, they're lovely, yeah, yeah.
08:19Is there anything I need to know that's, say, different to cattle?
08:23Are they going to behave differently?
08:25They might behave a little bit differently.
08:26They're very, very inquisitive.
08:27So the likelihood is, once we open the gate
08:29and you've got the bucket of feed, which I'll give you now,
08:33then they will come to you.
08:34As you come through the gate, just step back a bit.
08:37And they should just come and do that.
08:38We can get the gate shut behind them, then.
08:40I notice you've given me the bucket and you've backed off.
08:43Are you setting me up to fail here?
08:45They'll be absolutely fine. You'll be fine with them.
08:48They're very friendly. They do four or five of them like a good scratch.
08:51Andrew will open.
08:53We can both stay up here, actually, can't we?
08:54There's no need to all go.
08:55And then Andrew will go just behind and shut the gate.
08:57Give it a shake?
08:58Yeah, that's it.
09:01Come on, then. Come on, then.
09:02Oh, here we go.
09:03Up, up, up, up, up, up, up.
09:04Come on, then.
09:05I've got some treats.
09:06There you go.
09:08That's it. Just pop a little bit down.
09:10That's it, you've got it.
09:11Oh, they're big, aren't they?
09:13Are they, how old are they?
09:15They will be. These are only, these are only little ones, really.
09:17These are only youngsters.
09:18So they're about 18 months, coming up for two years.
09:20So they'll get a lot bigger than this.
09:22I think it's the forehead or whatever.
09:23Yeah, it is.
09:24That's a big bit of bone, isn't it?
09:27Yeah, yeah, it is.
09:28And that's one of the big difference with cattle.
09:30Come on, then.
09:31Up, up.
09:32Psst, psst, psst, psst, psst, psst, psst, psst, psst, psst.
09:34Oh, oh, oh, oh.
09:36Okay.
09:37Come on, then.
09:38They can move, can't they?
09:39Yeah, oh yeah.
09:39Come on.
09:40Psst, psst, psst, psst, psst, psst, psst, psst, psst, psst.
09:42Wow.
09:45They look like they're having fun.
09:46They've run ahead of us.
09:48Hopefully we'll catch up with them, sure.
09:49They run faster than us.
09:52How do these buffalo come to live in Devon?
09:55Where have you got them from?
09:56So this particular lot,
09:58they've come down from Fife in Scotland
10:01from the buffalo farm over there.
10:01I mean, that's so bizarre.
10:03I just thought you were going to say Southeast Asia
10:04or something like that.
10:05Yeah, no.
10:06Why Scotland?
10:07I think this farm is a particularly big farm.
10:08They've got a huge herd of buffalo
10:09and they wanted to concentrate on mozzarella production.
10:14And this, they had a beef sort of herd as well.
10:16So these animals were going to be sort of surplus.
10:19So we decided we'd buy them from there.
10:21Yeah, down they've come.
10:25Come on, then.
10:25Up, up.
10:26Psst, psst, psst, psst, psst, psst, psst, psst, psst, psst.
10:28That's it.
10:29Whoa, come on.
10:30Three fields later,
10:32we've managed to move the buffalo into the yard
10:35where they're ready to be fitted
10:37with their new smart collars.
10:39Just going to put her in the crush there
10:41so she's nice and secure.
10:42Yeah.
10:43How are you going to get that collar on?
10:45Okay, so I'm going to open it up like that.
10:47Then you'll reach around and just put it on the,
10:50around her neck.
10:52And of course, every neck is different.
10:54Well, the one thing I can say is that every neck is thick.
10:57Yeah, there we are.
10:58So what exactly do these do then?
11:00So we use them really as a GPS tracker.
11:03So we can keep an eye on the cattle
11:06so we know where they are.
11:07So inside here is some very, very fancy gear.
11:11And it will actually, on our phones,
11:14we can turn it on and it'll show us
11:17where each individual animal that's wearing a collar is.
11:21Without these GPS collars,
11:23it would be difficult to keep track of the buffalo
11:26in as large a site as Tatterscombe.
11:28With them on, the herd will be free
11:30to roam around the whole expanse.
11:34So that's her collar fitted.
11:36Okay, so I think we'll let her out.
11:38If you can do the handle, mate, and then, yeah.
11:41That's it.
11:46That's it, job done.
11:47Lovely.
11:48Well done.
11:50That went better than expected, actually.
11:52Really?
11:53They look very relaxed with the collars, actually.
11:56They are ready to get out.
11:58I think they prefer being out than in.
12:00Next stop is Tatterscombe.
12:02That's their new home.
12:03That's their new home.
12:04When will they go?
12:04Oh, it might be a month or two yet,
12:06but we just want to get them used to this.
12:08And then we've got a little bit of work to do at Tatterscombe
12:10and then they'll be there.
12:11Yeah, and they'll be in the water.
12:13That'll be like Christmas for them.
12:14Yeah, yeah.
12:16They're looking very relaxed with them,
12:17so that's a real bonus.
12:18Yeah, that's great.
12:20Fantastic.
12:27Concealed in the ancient woodlands
12:29and heather-clad hills of West Exmoor
12:31lies Heddon Valley, the steep slopes,
12:34home to one of the rarest butterflies in the country,
12:37the high brown fritillary.
12:41Ellie Wyatt is the project manager
12:43for butterfly conservation here in Heddon Valley.
12:48Right, Ellie, you're the butterfly expert,
12:50so tell me all about the butterfly.
12:51So, I'm going to start with the butterfly.
12:54You're the butterfly expert,
12:55so tell me all about the high brown fritillary.
12:58So, it's an iconic butterfly in the fritillary family,
13:02so orange and black.
13:04And since 1978, the distribution has decreased by 87%,
13:09which is quite a lot.
13:11So, due to habitat loss,
13:13the numbers have been going down gradually
13:15just because they need such a specific habitat.
13:19Exmoor here is one of the last four places
13:21that have colonies in the UK.
13:25This is an ideal habitat for the high brown,
13:27so they would be up on the slopes.
13:30They would need a mixture of bracken and the dog violets,
13:35and they don't want any grass,
13:36and they don't want any scrub.
13:37So, it's kind of like they need
13:39like a very specific concoction.
13:41Quite fussy, aren't they?
13:42Quite fussy.
13:44It's like Goldilocks.
13:46And they tend to fly from June to the start of August.
13:50So, we've just missed them.
13:53And how's the population doing here?
13:55Historically, they've been doing really well here.
13:57So, normally there's quite high numbers.
14:00This year has been quite a low number
14:02of high browns in my surveys.
14:04Why do you think that is?
14:05It's been the same for all butterflies this year.
14:08It's due to the warm, wet winters,
14:12then the cold and wet springs,
14:15and then again, this wet summer.
14:17So, they're just, the eggs might go mouldy without the frost,
14:21and the caterpillars need a lot of sun to be able to grow.
14:24So, it's just all these factors kind of snowball.
14:27At this time of year,
14:29Ellie is looking for seed pods from the dog violet flower,
14:32one of the high browns' favourite foods.
14:35So, along the bank here,
14:36you'll see all these love heart-shaped leaves.
14:38Oh, how pretty.
14:39So, these are the common dog violets,
14:41all these love heart shapes.
14:43So, you just kind of have a scan over,
14:46and then you'll see, oh, there's one here.
14:49So, it's kind of like a little seed pod like this.
14:51Well spotted, Hawkeye.
14:53It's really hard.
14:54Straight in there.
14:54Straight in there.
14:55So, this one's not quite ready to be collected.
14:59When the seeds are ready,
15:01Ellie takes them to a local nursery
15:03where they're propagated into small plug plants.
15:08Now, the high brown is a fussy butterfly.
15:10So, to help fashion its preferred habitat,
15:13a surprising ally is recruited.
15:17It's a mangalitza pig, known as the Hungarian hog.
15:20Livestock ranger Finley Binns
15:22is in charge of these four-legged helpers.
15:26What are mangalitzas?
15:27So, these mangalitza pigs,
15:30they're, well, we call them fluffy pigs,
15:32but they're basically,
15:33they're the closest genetically to wild boar
15:36that we can get,
15:37because they're not quite a live wild boar
15:38because, you know, they're quite dangerous.
15:40But these guys have all the same habits,
15:42and they're able to be outdoors
15:44and do really well without a lot of human interaction.
15:47I like that you call them fluffy pigs
15:49because they're curly.
15:51Yeah, yeah, they're brilliant.
15:52So, tell me, what's the purpose
15:54of having these mangalitzas here?
15:56What are they up to?
15:56So, the fluff allows them to sort of stay out during winter,
15:59which means that we don't have to put as much into them
16:02to keep good body condition.
16:04They do that completely naturally.
16:05They'll go up into these massive patches of bracken
16:08and hope to find roots and grubs,
16:10and then they'll completely break up
16:12the root system of the bracken,
16:13which is what we want here,
16:15because these runnels is where the main points
16:17of where the highbrowns used to glide through
16:19and lay their eggs.
16:20And also in these patches where there's loads of grass,
16:23they turn these turfs over,
16:25and eventually they'll all become bare ground,
16:27which allows the dog violets,
16:29which is the main food source of the highbrown, to thrive.
16:32So we want as many dog violets as we can in this place,
16:35so then we can get more highbrowns,
16:37and then it's just sort of a domino effect
16:38from there, really.
16:39So, essentially, they are doing all the gardening.
16:43Yep, everything.
16:44Everything.
16:45They're mowing, they're turning the soil,
16:47and they're prepping it for the dog violet.
16:56Hey, what's this?
16:58Ah, look at that!
16:59Come on, up you get!
17:00Once the pigs have cleared an area
17:02that the butterfly conservation team are happy with,
17:04they get moved on to start again.
17:08There we go.
17:09They're in.
17:10They're in.
17:11Well done, Finlay.
17:13Excellent.
17:16All right.
17:17All right, ready to go?
17:18Absolutely.
17:19You ready, pigs?
17:22Without the pigs, Finlay would have to use machinery
17:25to clear enough area to plant the dog violets.
17:30Pig, pig, pig, pig!
17:33Pig, pig, pig, pig, pig, pig, pig, pig!
17:35Come on, pig, pig!
17:37What's this?
17:38What is?
17:41Excellent.
17:42Well done.
17:44All right, let's get you right in here.
17:45Come on.
17:47All the way in.
17:48Yes, please.
17:49Should we do some here?
17:50Yeah, that's ideal.
17:51If you just want to put out three piles around that area,
17:53that'd be perfect.
17:54Here we go, pig, pigs.
17:55Pig, there you go.
17:57That's one.
17:57The pigs are fed once a day with compressed grass pellets,
18:01which keeps them happy and easier to handle.
18:03Here's a pile for you.
18:04Don't fight.
18:06There we go.
18:08And so how long will they stay here?
18:10So they will stay here until we're sort of happy
18:12they've done a sufficient enough job.
18:15They've been in a similar area
18:16and they've been here for like two weeks
18:18and they've done enough, which is great.
18:20And everyone's happy.
18:21And everyone's very happy.
18:26The Mangalitza pigs are creating the perfect habitats
18:29for the dog violet flowers
18:31that Ellie has grown in her nursery.
18:34But the steep valley banks can be a challenge
18:36when it comes to planting.
18:38All right, we're in.
18:39They haven't chosen the easiest habitat to live in.
18:42It's all right.
18:43They are worth it though.
18:44So we collected the seeds last year
18:46and here's a really lovely example.
18:47You can see the seed pods here.
18:49Yeah.
18:50You can see a flower.
18:51Beautiful.
18:52Beautiful flower.
18:53And then you can see here a seed pod has already burst
18:55and the seeds come out.
18:56So we've got all different stages
18:58just in this little tray here.
19:02When the high brown fritillaries are back early next year,
19:05the caterpillars will feed on the leaves
19:08and young buds of the flowers.
19:10So what will happen is the butterflies will fly in,
19:14they'll lay their eggs on some dead bracken
19:16and the caterpillars will eat the violets
19:18that are next to it.
19:19But then they'll come out and bask.
19:21They need the sunlight and that warmth,
19:23the kinetic energy to be able to grow.
19:25So we want kind of four or five in a cluster
19:28so then the caterpillars can easily get to it.
19:32The violets can sustain the caterpillars diet
19:34and the plants will return the following year.
19:38Let's see.
19:39So here you go.
19:40You can see.
19:41Are we doing all right?
19:41Yes.
19:42Just a little bit.
19:43Something like that?
19:44Perfect.
19:45Okay.
19:46Let's go.
19:46You can pop it in.
19:47Let's plug you in, pluggy.
19:48There we go.
19:49And then just pat the swill around.
19:51Around it.
19:52The thought that that is now gonna grow
19:55and provide food source for those caterpillars
19:59which will then do their thing.
20:02The population will grow, bring us joy.
20:04It will be, yes.
20:05It's all connected to all the work together.
20:08So this path here that we're sitting on
20:11was made by volunteers.
20:12In the future, maybe the pigs can do it
20:14as they're doing great work elsewhere.
20:16The violets we're planting will all create work
20:20to create this connectivity through this valley
20:22which will be amazing.
20:23And wonderful.
20:27All this efforts for one butterfly.
20:30Yes.
20:30Why?
20:32I think it'd be sad to lose the high brown from England.
20:34I think it's so beautiful, so iconic,
20:37especially for Exmoor.
20:39It's part of the greater food web.
20:40It's part of the food chains.
20:43And it would just be sad to lose
20:45such an iconic species, really.
20:47And I think they're very charismatic creatures, aren't they?
20:52You see them fly past
20:53and it does bring a smile to your face.
20:55And there's something quite magical about them
20:57and almost fairytale-like,
20:58which is probably why we love them so much
21:00and they're beautiful to look at.
21:02Wonderful.
21:05The moorland slopes of Exmoor are the ideal home
21:08for winged beauties like the high brown fritillary.
21:12But at this time of year, around our ponds, lakes and rivers,
21:15there's one small but mighty creature
21:18that if you don't look carefully, you might just miss.
21:24Dragonflies.
21:26Many are still on the wing in early September
21:30and on warm sunny days,
21:32they take centre stage.
21:41Huge compound eyes are spread across their head
21:44like aviator goggles,
21:46giving them almost 360-degree vision in ultra-multicolour.
21:54Their names allude to the extraordinary flying ability
21:57of these ferocious dragonflies.
21:59And to the extraordinary flying ability
22:01of these ferocious aerial predators,
22:03hawkers, chasers, skimmers and darters among them.
22:10Able to control each of their four wings independently,
22:14they can fly helicopter-like in any direction
22:16and at speed, hunting smaller flying insects.
22:23Having spent the majority of their lives
22:25underwater as nymphs,
22:27their transformation to adulthood
22:29is a spectacular one.
22:31Sparkling wings harden in the sunshine,
22:34ready to take flight,
22:36bringing a riot of colour to our waterways.
22:48Now, just a little further east, which is that way,
22:50is Kipscombe Farm.
22:52It's part of the West Exmoor National Trust.
22:54It's 880 acres of woodland, heathland and enclosed pastures.
22:59And as part of the conservation effort here,
23:01they want to reconnect those woodland
23:03to restore lost habitats,
23:05which on Exmoor, ain't that easy.
23:11My name's Dan Cameron.
23:13I am lead ranger here.
23:15I've been here about 15 years now.
23:17So my day-to-day is anything and everything, really.
23:20Managing our existing woodland,
23:22creating new woodland,
23:23but we do all sorts as rangers.
23:26So we planted quite a lot of trees here,
23:29about 30,000 in all now on the farm.
23:32Across the West Exmoor estate, we've now planted 66,000
23:36and a few more to come after that.
23:39And we have to look after those trees after we plant them.
23:42We've chosen not to use plastic guards.
23:45So there is a little bit of risk from rabbits and voles,
23:50but we plant a few more trees to account for that.
23:53And then we go around and mulch
23:54some of the most vulnerable ones
23:56where they might be particularly wind swept
23:58and things like that to try and give them a good start.
24:02We plant a mixture of up to 30 different tree species,
24:06depending on where it's going.
24:07Lots of scrubby stuff on the edges
24:09that's going to flower and fruit.
24:11And then you do still have the sort of things
24:14you'd normally expect to find like the oak,
24:17some sycamore, cherries, beech, lime.
24:23So this is some sheep's wool from a neighbour
24:25that we're going to use to mulch the trees.
24:27This goes on the bottom,
24:28and then we put some muck on the top.
24:31The sheep's wool provides a porous shield
24:33that helps to reduce weed growth
24:36whilst regulating soil temperatures,
24:38cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
24:41If we weren't planting the trees,
24:43the natural regen would occur in some places
24:47and we made space for that.
24:49In combination with some tree planting
24:52to create wood pasture and soften edges
24:54and create connections,
24:56we'll have some grazing in the lighter levels
25:01using our English longhorns, Exmoor ponies,
25:03just trying to create that grassland mosaic
25:06as well as having the trees,
25:08different types of grass, different flowers, a patchwork.
25:12These are our English longhorn cattle
25:14that help deliver our grazing across West Exmoor.
25:17They manage the grasslands and the woodlands.
25:20They will nibble on trees and modify bits of trees
25:23by eating them or rubbing against them.
25:26I've seen them down here before
25:28having a good old rub on a hawthorn.
25:31In the more established grazing areas,
25:33the longhorns help prevent competing vegetation,
25:37but not all nibbling is welcome.
25:40So we do also have red deer and roe deer
25:44on the estate here at very high numbers.
25:47We've just done a thermal drone survey
25:50and revealed higher numbers than we thought we had.
25:53And the landscape can't really sustain that
25:56if we want a healthy grassland, tree regeneration,
26:00both in our woodland and on the edges.
26:02They eat everything.
26:08So one of the tools for managing the deer
26:11is to fence them out of certain areas
26:14so that the bits inside can get away.
26:18As the increased deer population
26:19has been destroying the new habitats,
26:22there has to be managed culls.
26:24But there is a clever fencing method
26:26that will keep these hungry herbivores away.
26:30So 3D Deer Fence is an electric fence.
26:33So this is the bit they come to first.
26:35They might touch it.
26:36They sense that there's another fence behind it,
26:39but they don't know how big the gap is
26:41and whether they can make it,
26:42so they don't want to jump it.
26:44The long-term plan with all of this fencing
26:46and habitat creation is to have a big landscape grazing area.
26:51So the fences will come down at the end of their useful lifespan
26:54when the trees have got big enough to protect themselves,
26:57and the animals will be able to roam all across the landscape.
27:01So we're already starting to see wildlife gains from this.
27:04Where we've excluded areas and planted trees,
27:08you get lots of inverts in the grasslands,
27:11lots of butterflies, and all the things that feed on them.
27:15We also get small mammals in the long grass there,
27:18and then all the things that feed on them,
27:19so buzzards, peregrines, red kites we get,
27:23owls, things like that.
27:26I just love seeing it doing well.
27:29I've always been interested in nature and the outdoors,
27:31so growing up here,
27:34Dad taking me out down the woods and that when I was a kid,
27:37it makes me proud as a dad to bring my boys out
27:40and be able to show them all the wildlife and trees
27:42that are beginning to arrive and thrive,
27:46and that they'll be here in the future for them to see.
27:53Over in the Cotswolds,
27:55the weather is still frustrating Adam's harvest.
28:01It's been a year of delays thanks to wet weather,
28:04and although it improved in time for the barley harvest,
28:07the arable part of the farm is on hold yet again
28:10due to intermittent showers,
28:12leaving us eyeing our crops in the field
28:14and hoping for another dry spell.
28:17These sunflowers are a new crop to us,
28:19and I've just come down to check them,
28:21and they're looking absolutely magnificent.
28:23There's huge heads on them which are full of seeds,
28:26and then some of them have got lots of flower buds,
28:29so hopefully it'll be a successful crop,
28:31and we were very aware that the sunflowers
28:34come to harvest later in the year,
28:36so it'll be end of September, beginning of October,
28:39but usually at this time of year,
28:41harvest is really drawing to a close.
28:43All the wheat would be done,
28:45and the combines would be getting ready
28:47to be parked in the shed,
28:49but unfortunately because of all the wet weather,
28:51it's been a really sporadic harvest,
28:53so hopefully the weather improves
28:55and the sun comes out,
28:57but there's still plenty to be getting on with.
28:59Livestock farming goes on whatever the weather,
29:02and although it only seems like yesterday we were lambing,
29:06most of them have already been sold,
29:08and it's only the later born ones
29:10that are still on the farm.
29:12Now even the youngest ones
29:14are old enough to sell on,
29:16and today Luke,
29:18our Assistant Livestock Manager,
29:20is helping out.
29:23And today Luke,
29:25our Assistant Livestock Manager,
29:27is finding out
29:29which of the remaining lambs
29:31are ready to leave the farm.
29:33OK Luke,
29:35what sort of weights do you think we should go for?
29:37I think if we send anything above 39,
29:39we should be good at that.
29:41Alright, I'll bring them to you.
29:43So what we've got in here
29:45is about 120 lambs that were born in the spring.
29:47This is the last of our lambs to go,
29:49and what we're doing today
29:51is sorting through them, weighing them.
29:53If they're 39 kilos,
29:55and they've got a good covering of meat,
29:57they're fit and ready to go,
29:59then they'll go off to the market.
30:01The others will stay on the farm
30:03and graze the grass and just grow on
30:05until they're big enough.
30:07Have you got any that are close, Luke?
30:09Not yet, unfortunately.
30:11This one doesn't look a lot heavier.
30:13I'm hoping at least a quarter of this lot
30:15will be ready for market,
30:17but we can't send any
30:20because if they don't make the grade,
30:22the price is significantly reduced.
30:24Some of these lambs
30:26are still quite small,
30:28and that's not a problem.
30:30They were just born later in the year,
30:32towards the end of April.
30:34Ideally, you want to get your lambs
30:36gone as soon as possible
30:38so that you can get the money in the bank.
30:40It's all about cash flow.
30:42Thankfully, because of all the wet weather,
30:44we've got stacks of grass,
30:46so we're not in any rush to get rid of them.
30:49We'll let them stay on the farm,
30:51keep growing and grazing away
30:53for another month or so.
30:55How's that one looking?
30:57Good. It's 44 kilos,
30:59so that's our first one to go.
31:01What Luke does is feel its body condition
31:03along its loin, along its back,
31:05its ribs, and its dock, its tail.
31:07This one has got a good covering of meat,
31:09so it's fit and ready to go.
31:19On the ear tag, the yellow one,
31:21is an electronic chip
31:23that's talking to the scales
31:25and then onto the computer.
31:27She's now weighing 39.5 kilos,
31:29so that's about bang on.
31:31She's in good condition
31:33and ready to go.
31:39After a rocky start,
31:41we do have quite a few in good condition.
31:43So they get a red dot on their head
31:45so we know who's who.
31:47And this one is ready to go.
31:49OK?
31:51Yep.
31:53But most are going to need a little more grazing
31:55before they leave the farm.
31:57So while Luke's just finishing up those last few,
31:59this is what we've got to go.
32:01So there's 2, 4, 6, 8, 10,
32:0312, 14, 16, 18 lambs.
32:05Not as many as I was hoping for,
32:07but at the moment,
32:09the price is good for lamb.
32:11There's very little Australia and New Zealand lamb
32:13coming in, and there's a shortage
32:16of British lamb, partly because lambing was very difficult
32:18because of all the wet weather
32:20in the spring, and there was a disease
32:22called Schmallenberg,
32:24and so there's a lack of lamb in the UK
32:26so the price has stayed high,
32:28which is good for the sheep farmer
32:30if you've got lambs to sell.
32:36The majority of the farm's income
32:38comes from our arable business
32:40and our sheep and cattle, even the rare ones,
32:42still bring in some revenue
32:44and that helps us support a few animals
32:46like our horses that definitely don't.
32:48And today, they're about to cost us
32:50some more money.
32:52Next job I've got to do is catch
32:54my Suffolk Punch mare
32:56because we've got the farrier
32:58coming to trim her feet.
33:00So she's sometimes
33:02a bit naughty, so hopefully I'll be able to catch her.
33:04Her name's Lexie.
33:06Hi Lexie.
33:10Look what I've got for you.
33:13Don't be naughty.
33:19Clearly Lexie's decided today's
33:21not the day for good behaviour.
33:25So it's time for plan B.
33:27So Lexie is being quite naughty
33:29and won't let me catch her
33:31so I'm going to catch her a foal.
33:33So this is little,
33:35well I say little, he's huge,
33:37Victor
33:39who is just a couple of months old
33:42and he's a very handsome chap
33:44that's just being taught how to lead
33:46on the halter.
33:48And that moving of his mouth is a bit of a submission
33:50saying, I'm a baby, don't hurt me.
33:54Right, so hopefully Lexie will follow him
33:56into the pen.
33:58Come on then, come on with your mum.
34:00Come on.
34:02Even with Victor as a lure,
34:04Lexie's determined to go wherever she fancies.
34:06The farrier has just arrived.
34:08You can come and help
34:10Good to see you.
34:12Thanks for doing this.
34:14Sorry, she's being a bit naughty.
34:16With a bit of help,
34:18Lexie's finally persuaded
34:20into the smaller pen.
34:22Three, marvellous.
34:24Where we can get her under control
34:26and at last take a look at her hooves.
34:28So Amy, her feet
34:30as you can see are cracked
34:32and not in great shape.
34:34She hasn't been trimmed since she had her foal.
34:36Can you do your best work on those?
34:39She's usually quite good.
34:41So what are you up to to start off with?
34:43Just trimming the wool down
34:45to make it level.
34:50Because they are quite out of shape.
34:52Yes.
34:54But obviously when she has a foal
34:56there's a lot more weight going through her feet
34:58so it does cause this to happen.
35:00This year there has been
35:02a lot of cracking up of the feet
35:04just because we're going from wet dry, wet dry
35:06all the time in the weather.
35:08So obviously the feet expand
35:10and contract all the time.
35:12It can cause lameness
35:14and different issues but hopefully
35:16hers aren't too bad so she should be alright.
35:18It's all quite superficial.
35:20Yes.
35:22And with the little foal
35:24with Victor, how soon should
35:26we start looking after
35:28his feet and trimming them?
35:30I would start looking at them now because
35:32you want to make sure they are straight
35:34and he's got the right hoof passage.
35:37So is there much to worry about there?
35:39No, not at all. They've all come back really nice
35:41and the wind crack is only superficial
35:43so nothing to worry about. It will grow out.
35:45Great, thank you very much indeed.
35:47So if I just grab Victor there
35:49can you have a little look at his feet?
35:51Yes, of course.
35:53Come on, let me see your mum.
35:59Oh dear, doesn't want to stand
36:01on the concrete pad.
36:03I tell you what, if you have him for a second
36:07Go on, go and see your mum.
36:09Good lad.
36:11He's just frightened of the concrete
36:13wasn't he?
36:15Yes, I don't know why.
36:19Steady mate.
36:21So this is a first for Victor
36:23never had his feet picked up before
36:25It's quite unusual for him.
36:27Good boy.
36:29What Amy has spotted, there's just a little
36:31flare on his hoof that just needs
36:33rasping off
36:36Quite a good lesson because
36:38one day he'll be as big as his mum
36:40and then unless he learns
36:42now, we're going to have
36:44a lot of trouble. Might have trouble already.
36:46Stop biting me.
36:48Good lad,
36:50good lad.
36:52He's cornered himself now.
36:54There, is that alright?
36:56Thank you very much indeed.
36:58No problem, thank you. Fantastic, really appreciate it.
37:00We'll see you again.
37:02Unless I put you off forever.
37:04Definitely not.
37:06What a good boy.
37:08So that's his
37:10first hoof trimming
37:12lesson.
37:14Come on then.
37:16Go and see your mummy now.
37:30It's easy to see how the
37:33deep valleys and windswept hills of West Exmoor
37:35inspired poets
37:37like William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor
37:39Colleridge. But just along the coast
37:41deep in an ancient woodland
37:43work is underway to uncover
37:45how this landscape fostered
37:47one of the greatest mathematical minds
37:49in history, Ada Lovelace.
37:57My name's Lucy Shipley and I'm the
37:59Exmoor National Park Historic Environment
38:01Record Officer.
38:03So what I do
38:05is maintain a really rich
38:07database.
38:09Photographs,
38:11drawings, documents,
38:13historical sources, kind of weaving
38:15all of that together to create a record of
38:17Exmoor's history.
38:21So I'm here in
38:23Cullbone Woods today on the north coast
38:25of Exmoor. So all of this
38:27woodland used to be owned by Ada Lovelace
38:29and we're trying to recreate
38:31the vision that Ada had for this woodland.
38:33Ada Lovelace
38:35was born in 1815
38:37and she would grow up to become a really
38:39extraordinarily gifted mathematician.
38:41I think most people would
38:43know her today as the world's first
38:45computer programmer. So she
38:47worked very closely with the inventor Charles
38:49Babbage and he developed what he called his
38:51analytical engine
38:53which is really a thinking machine.
38:55Ada wrote the code
38:57to make it do the calculations that they
38:59wanted to see it perform.
39:05So Cullbone Wood is part of the estate
39:07of Ashley Combe House which Ada
39:09moved to after she married
39:11William King who later becomes
39:13Lord Lovelace.
39:15He writes to her and says that he wants to
39:17make this hermitage worthy
39:19of her. And I think for her
39:21this magnificent place,
39:23this beautiful wild slice
39:25of the Somerset coast, it just
39:27must have felt like freedom for her
39:29for the first time. Freedom to think,
39:31freedom to pursue her own interests
39:33and be her own woman.
39:35I think sometimes the best way
39:37to understand Ada is by reading her
39:39own words and she left behind the most wonderful
39:41archive of letters to all these different
39:43people she's writing to.
39:45This is a letter to a Somerset
39:47scientist who she's corresponding with
39:49and she says, all and
39:51everything is naturally related
39:53and interconnected.
39:55And when you come to a wood like this,
39:57you can just see that all around you.
39:59The interconnectedness of the
40:01wood ecosystem. I really
40:03feel like Ada's genius
40:05was in noticing that.
40:07So she's got this very
40:09rational, mathematical, hard
40:11evidence-based way of thinking
40:13but then also she has that
40:15passion for beauty and the picturesque.
40:17She can see the broader perspective.
40:19And when you can do both
40:21those two things together, that's really
40:23very special.
40:25And she immediately
40:27becomes very much involved in
40:29the management of the estate.
40:31Ada
40:33and William put through it these drives
40:35and we think there were five of them
40:37of a mile long each.
40:39The plan now is to start actively working
40:41to restore some elements of their
40:43vision.
40:45Woodland officer Graham Vitty
40:47is overseeing the restoration
40:49of Ada and William's footpaths.
40:51In the
40:531980s, there was
40:55a series of landslides further
40:57down and we quickly
40:59tried to restore this footpath
41:01but it obscured the original
41:03layout of the footpath
41:05as intended by
41:07Ada and William Lovelace.
41:09So the plan here is to try and reinstate
41:11that footpath on its original
41:13line. And peeking
41:15through the greenery are traces
41:17of masonry that would have been part
41:19of Ada and William's original
41:21landscaping design.
41:23All the features are still there.
41:25The dry stone wall is still there and it's amazing
41:27that after 200 years
41:29that's still so intact.
41:35It's quite ruffled stone.
41:37It's just the local sandstone
41:39but it's been very skillfully put
41:41together. There would have been plenty
41:43of skilled artisans around
41:45that Ada and William would have employed
41:47to do this kind of work.
41:49Pretty substantial and in pretty good condition.
41:51It's obviously holding the hillside back beautifully
41:53for us still.
41:55I'm quite optimistic that once we've
41:57removed this material we'll have a nice
41:59complete original wall there
42:01and it'll give a bit more interest
42:03to people walking along here
42:05and it'll show better how it connects in
42:07to the viewpoint just a few
42:09metres up there.
42:15And this is one of the
42:17viewpoints.
42:19This is clearly
42:21one of the focal points of Ada and
42:23William's landscape. It was
42:25a way of bringing their guests
42:27out onto this point to appreciate
42:29the ruggedness and wildness of
42:31nature and the views out
42:33across the Bristol Channel.
42:35Wow. It is extraordinary that you can see
42:37for miles it feels like.
42:39Absolutely. It's pretty spectacular
42:41but one of the really
42:43interesting aspects
42:45that we hadn't appreciated
42:47is there was a mature white
42:49beam stood right in front of us.
42:51So there are literally
42:53just a few hundred of these
42:55species within a mile or two
42:57of where we are stood now.
42:59The entire world population
43:01of these micro-species is
43:03found nowhere else. They're called endemic
43:05because this is the only place they're found.
43:07Part of their conservation
43:09is that they're becoming quite
43:11overwhelmed by surrounding vegetation.
43:13So we began a
43:15process of gradually
43:17removing vegetation.
43:19It's one of the biggest ones
43:21that we have and it's just really
43:23interesting that it's here
43:25right on this viewpoint.
43:27So do you think this is a deliberate
43:29act? Do you think Ada and William
43:31planted these white beams?
43:33OK, so we don't really know.
43:35We don't know. There are no detailed
43:37plans but I think she
43:39would have seen these as botanical
43:41curiosities.
43:43It is perfectly possible that the tree
43:45was planted at this viewpoint
43:47or the viewpoint was located
43:49because the tree was here.
43:51We're speculating but it's perfectly
43:53possible given her interest
43:55in the natural world that that's
43:57exactly what happened.
43:59We've been trying to propagate these as well
44:01so we have one of the
44:03Sorbus Margarita which is actually taken
44:05from this tree here.
44:07This exact tree and we'll be collecting
44:09more seed and trying to propagate them
44:11in future. Replant
44:13them as close to the parent trees
44:15as possible. Again, it's so speculative
44:17but I can't help but feel that Ada would approve
44:19of you continuing her and William's work.
44:21With her inquiring mind and
44:23her interest in botany, I think
44:25she would completely appreciate what
44:27we're doing.
44:37The weather seems to have suited
44:39the landscape here on Exmoor but what's it
44:41looking like for the week ahead? Here's the CountryFar
44:43forecast.
44:51Hello there, good evening.
44:53Well, what a difference a week
44:55makes. Quite a shock to the system coming up I think.
44:57It's been really wet, hasn't it, in parts this
44:59weekend but actually compare it to the summer when it
45:01was just a little drier than average
45:03but really quite average rainfall wise
45:05and temperature wise. The coolest summer
45:07for nine years but still around average.
45:09But it's been wet this weekend. We've had the flooding
45:11in South Wales. During the day
45:13today we've had a month's worth of rain in the
45:15West Midlands and it's
45:17been fuelled by this heat but that heat
45:19is easing away. Out in the harbour, 26
45:21yesterday, just 12 today so
45:23change is on the way for all of us but
45:25it doesn't mean dry weather. The change
45:27is happening behind this weather front. That low has
45:29been sat across the south for much of the weekend
45:31throwing in these thunderstorms. Still
45:33coming through the rest of today and still that wet weather
45:35as you can see stretching down the spine
45:37of the country, gradually easing eastwards
45:39overnight and starting to peter out.
45:41So under the clear skies, quite
45:43a cool night. Down into single figures
45:45that's the start of a change. We've already
45:47seen it today. Still quite warm and
45:49muggy in southern and eastern areas and perhaps a bit
45:51misty and murky and damp first thing
45:53tomorrow. In fact, that low cloud,
45:55the remnants of that weather front may just drag its
45:57heels in south-east England, east Anglia
45:59for much of the day but much drier and brighter elsewhere.
46:01Lots of sunshine around until
46:03the rain arrives in Western Scotland and Northern Ireland
46:05later but the temperatures are
46:07down and that's a trend
46:09that will continue. So feeling much
46:11cooler I think, both by day and
46:13night. There'll be plenty of showers around
46:15and it'll be quite windy at times
46:17for many. This is why, this is the
46:19area of low pressure, the second area coming in
46:21tomorrow with the rain. Then it develops into
46:23quite a nasty area of low pressure so stinging its
46:25tail by Tuesday but behind
46:27that, we open up the doors
46:29to a north-westerly wind which is a chilly direction
46:31at this time of year. In fact,
46:33at most times of year. So that weather front pushes
46:35its way southwards on Tuesday, just dragging
46:37its heels again in southern areas of
46:39England and Wales. Behind it, brighter
46:41but showery and dare I say it,
46:43some of those showers could turn wintry
46:45over the Monroes. Look at the temperatures, 11 or
46:4712 in the north of Scotland. So
46:49hail and thunder as well with those showers
46:51which will develop more widely
46:53with that north-westerly wind on Wednesday
46:55as that weather front in the south finally clears away.
46:57So there will be a rush of showers with squally
46:59winds, hail, thunder and again
47:01the tops of the mountains seeing a little bit of
47:03wintry weather. You can see those rushing their
47:05way southwards so clearly
47:07it will feel a lot chillier. We could
47:09have gales for a time Tuesday, Wednesday
47:11in the north and the east in particular but it's going
47:13to be blustery winds near those
47:15showers anyway. As I said earlier,
47:17a shock to the system, just 11 to 15,
47:19temperatures well below par, especially
47:21after it's been such a warm start
47:23to our September. By
47:25Wednesday you can see those showers are still
47:27with us but by Thursday just those isobars
47:29open out a little more which means it won't be quite
47:31as windy. So there should be fewer
47:33showers as the pressure starts to build
47:35from the south and west and fewer
47:37thunderstorms, a little bit more sunshine so probably
47:39not feeling quite as chilly as
47:41during Tuesday and Wednesday but still
47:43temperatures below average for the time of year, the wind
47:45direction still from the north and west. So a chilly
47:47start on Thursday morning
47:49and into Friday but by Friday
47:51we turn our attention to the Atlantic
47:53once again, those weather systems are moving in
47:55so the wind direction is turning around again
47:57to the south and the west. So after that chilly start
47:59it looks like most of England
48:01and Wales should stay largely dry,
48:03bright, sunniest towards the south and east but it's
48:05more rain this time coming into
48:07Scotland and Northern Ireland.
48:09Temperatures just creeping up a degree or so
48:11and it looks like that high pressure may hold on
48:13in the south at least through Saturday
48:15but that's a long way off for now. Stay tuned.
48:23We've been exploring West Exmoor
48:25where the hills and valleys are managed
48:27by interconnecting all living things
48:29from rootling pigs
48:31helping rare butterflies
48:33to water buffalo
48:35restoring wetland habitats.
48:37But there's one animal
48:39that more than any other
48:41is inextricably linked with this region
48:43the Exmoor Pony.
48:45It's a
48:47beautiful animal
48:49but it's also a
48:52It's Britain's most ancient
48:54native pony believed to have
48:56roamed on Exmoor for tens of thousands
48:58of years. At the National Trust's
49:00Kipscombe Farm, farm manager
49:02Murray Sharp helps take care
49:04of a 23 strong herd.
49:08So there they are, the Exmoor Ponies
49:10Murray and they're bigger
49:12than I thought they'd be. Yeah they're
49:14a good size and all maintained
49:16on the roughest of forage you can possibly get
49:18so they're amazingly hardy.
49:21Many people who have been to this area
49:23will be familiar with the Exmoor Pony
49:25and they'll have seen them roaming the moors.
49:27Are they out there 365 days of the year?
49:29Yeah. We do very little
49:31with these ponies at all. They are
49:33basically feral. They can mooch over
49:35about 800 acres of common
49:37moorland here. The only time
49:39we would feed them is if there was snow
49:41on the ground and then they'd
49:43get a little bit of hay. But otherwise
49:45even through the winter they'll be nibbling on gorse
49:47and heather and all sorts of things
49:49and most of the grass has gone.
49:53We're not even in the winter
49:55and the weather is horizontal rain here
49:57but they're fine with this stuff are they?
49:59Yeah they're more than happy in it.
50:01What work we can do this afternoon when we bring them in
50:03is the only time of the year unless there was a problem
50:05that they would come in.
50:07The herd is being brought
50:09into the farm today because it's the
50:11annual check-up. The day of the year
50:13when a vet gets a good look at
50:15the Exmoors to spot any health problems.
50:17Getting the ponies
50:19into the farmyard is a delicate
50:21operation overseen by Murray
50:23and stockman Andrew Leeworthy.
50:25Andrew will be
50:27in charge and we go up
50:29go around them and then
50:31push them down into the pens and if all goes
50:33well we get them first time
50:35but sometimes it's a couple of goes
50:37at it. And where do I fit into it?
50:39We literally just stand in a line behind them to try and
50:41egg them on to come in.
50:43We fit in where Andrew says we fit in
50:45but our job will literally
50:47be to drift across and keep
50:49blocking their way back out onto the big
50:51fields. If they decide they don't want to go
50:53do we just have to get out of the way?
50:55Pretty much, yeah.
50:57Will they go in straight away or do you think they might decide not to?
50:59They'll probably go around a couple of times
51:01before we get them in.
51:03Let's give it a go.
51:11I'll go around the outside.
51:13We'll stay in the middle.
51:17With our positions set
51:19we move forward to corral the ponies
51:21towards the farmyard gate.
51:23Come on girls.
51:29That's it.
51:31They've got a beautiful running style haven't they?
51:33They're lovely looking aren't they?
51:35Yep.
51:37Alright, alright, alright.
51:39With the ponies on the far side of the field
51:41the only thing left is to gently encourage them
51:43towards the gate.
51:45Alright, alright, alright.
51:47But when two of the mares decide to bolt
51:49our only option
51:51is to let the rest of the herd follow.
51:57Once one goes you've just got to get out of the way
51:59because they'll all go.
52:01If they're going to go, they're going to go.
52:03Right, doesn't matter.
52:05And just like that we're back where we started.
52:07Start again.
52:11After a couple more false starts
52:13Woah, woah, woah.
52:15Alright, alright.
52:17Hang on. That's alright.
52:21We finally get the ponies through the gate.
52:23Fourth time lucky.
52:25And local equine vet
52:27Dr Jennifer Rodliffe
52:29is ready to carry out the annual health check.
52:37Jennifer, they're about to come through.
52:39How's this all going to work?
52:41So, we've got them gathered here in the pen
52:43and they'll individually come round
52:45into the race.
52:47We can't examine them like you would a domesticated horse
52:49with the stethoscope and without my hands on.
52:51You can barely touch them
52:53so you need to look at the external
52:55signs of health really.
52:57Here's the first one coming through.
52:59Our first customer.
53:01We'll just get another one coming in behind her
53:03and then she might be more accustomed to come through.
53:05It's such a different
53:07approach isn't it? You have to just be a bit more careful.
53:09Good girl.
53:13What are you searching for there?
53:15I'm looking for her microchip
53:17so this scans so that we can identify
53:19each one so her numbers just come up there.
53:21So this ends 380.
53:23She's done very well.
53:25She's got a lot of fat through her bottom.
53:27That's good isn't it?
53:29Yeah, it means they're set up well for the winter
53:31when they'll be on poorer grazing
53:33and they'll naturally lose weight over the winter
53:35and then put it back on in the spring.
53:37So we want them looking their best now.
53:39So what other things are you looking for?
53:41Can you spot lameness in the horses?
53:43Yeah, so I'm looking at that
53:45as they move through.
53:47So you're looking at the condition of their hooves
53:49and how they're moving, so whether they're
53:51head nodding lame in front
53:53or if they're lame behind.
53:55So I can see the front of their eye,
53:57see if there's any clouding around their eye,
53:59any discharge from their eye, how open their eyes are.
54:01All of those are external signs
54:03of pain or discomfort that we can look out for.
54:11Are there particular diseases that ponies that are on the moor
54:13might have that, say, domesticated ponies
54:15wouldn't be susceptible to?
54:17They'd be more prone to carrying ticks
54:19and parasites, but for them
54:21their immune system can deal with it.
54:23So a more naive
54:25domesticated horse would be more
54:27affected by being covered
54:29in ticks, whereas these guys
54:31would have hundreds of ticks up around their
54:33legs and everything and be absolutely fine.
54:35Oh, so they just keep them?
54:37They're much hardier.
54:39So she's poorer.
54:41You can see straight away she's not
54:43carrying as much condition over her bottom.
54:45You can see the definition of her back.
54:47You can see the bones, can't you, sticking through a little bit more?
54:49Exactly. She is an older pony
54:51so she hasn't done as well
54:53over the summer and it's
54:55dropped back and you can really notice that
54:57compared with the others.
54:59She will have to keep
55:01a very close eye on her and it might be
55:03that it ends up being her
55:05last summer.
55:07Would you not just give her some food now?
55:09We can't
55:11because she would need to be fed
55:13daily over several
55:15months to build up her condition.
55:17It's not amenable to keep her separate.
55:19You can't feed the rest of them as well because
55:21then they'll get too fat and that'll run into more
55:23problems with them and there'll be a reason
55:25why she is poorer and
55:27it may well be older horses shed
55:29their teeth as they get older
55:31and it may well be that she's simply not
55:33processing her food as well as she used
55:35to do and so she's dropping back
55:37because she's an old lady, born in 1997.
55:39So 27?
55:41I mean, it's a good age, isn't it?
55:43For a wild pony?
55:45That's brilliant and even for a domesticated
55:47pony or domesticated horse that
55:49is ridden, 27 is a
55:51great age.
55:53The fact that she's been able to live like this out
55:55on the moor until 27, even if
55:57it is her last year, she's done
55:59pretty well.
56:01She'll be kept an eye on but the rest of them are doing
56:03brilliantly.
56:07Well Murray, you're smiling.
56:09It went well, didn't it?
56:11It did go really well, yeah, it really went very well.
56:13Pretty stress free, they went through
56:15the race very well. We don't really want them
56:17to stand around too long
56:19because they can get stressed.
56:21We want them through and in and out.
56:23So as we let them out onto the moorland,
56:25what sort of role do they play?
56:27Are they important in managing this landscape?
56:29They're really important.
56:31They will keep the heathlands quite open in places
56:33so they will browse gorse, keep gorse in check.
56:35They'll eat some of the heather,
56:37maintain a real mosaic of different
56:39turf heights, all sorts of things.
56:41So it's interesting when you think about
56:43we were looking at the water buffalo and how they
56:45manage the land in terms of
56:47keeping it wild and messing it up.
56:49And the ponies, they do
56:51the same sort of thing in managing the land.
56:53Which I suppose is how it would have been
56:55hundreds or thousands of years ago
56:57for so long.
56:59Yeah, I mean, we're trying to sort of
57:01allow nature to recover, get the whole
57:03thing a little bit wilder.
57:05And the ponies play a massive part in that.
57:07In these conditions. They love it, don't they?
57:09They'll be fine.
57:11I only have a hand.
57:13I'm pretty wet as well. I'm ready for a cup of tea.
57:15But before we get the kettle on,
57:17there's one more job to do.
57:19Letting the ponies out,
57:21back where they belong, on the moors.
57:23Here they come.
57:25Ah, they're beautiful.
57:27Fantastic, aren't they?
57:29Beautiful.
57:41Anita!
57:43Hello, Sean. Fancy seeing you here.
57:45Who would think in a place like this?
57:47So how's your day been?
57:49Amazing. I've been hanging out with some very industrious pigs.
57:51Ah, so you've had pigs. I've had water buffalo.
57:53We're living the dream in West Exmoor.
57:55Next week, Matt and Charlotte
57:57are on Salisbury Plain.
58:01It's not uncommon to be moving the cattle
58:03and have to stop to let the tanks roll through.
58:07You know, it all adds to the spice of life, that.
58:13And it's going to be fascinating, isn't it, to monitor this place.
58:15Yeah, it's really exciting to see how it develops.
58:17So that's a flint piercer.
58:19That's five and a half thousand years old.
58:21Wow.
58:23Am I allowed to be touching it?
58:25You are, yeah. It's a nice, stable flint.
58:29I hope you can join us then.
58:31See you. Bye.
58:33Here's water buffalo.
58:35Oh, yes, please.
58:39BBC Two's on the prowl now,
58:41watching Big Cats 24-7
58:43against a breathtaking backdrop
58:45in Botswana.
58:47Or press red now for Radio 2 in the Park
58:49in Preston, with the Pet Shop Boys
58:51headlining tonight.
58:53Or stay with us next for the Antiques Roadshow,
58:55a new episode in Essex.