The first of four programmes produced by CBTV Media productions for ITV Tyne Tees about the shepherds of the Coquet Valley in Northumberland. Title: The Last Shepherds In this first episode it is lambing season for Dave Baxter on the three-thousand-acre Angryhaugh Farm which is in the Coquet Valley, Northumberland. He has been a shepherd since he was 16. Interview with Andrew Miller of the Northumberland National Park about the amazing changes that have taken place in the past 5-10 years....

The first of four programmes produced by CBTV Media productions for ITV Tyne Tees about the shepherds of the Coquet Valley in Northumberland. Title: The Last Shepherds In this first episode it is lambing season for Dave Baxter on the three-thousand-acre Angryhaugh Farm which is in the Coquet Valley, Northumberland. He has been a shepherd since he was 16. Interview with Andrew Miller of the Northumberland National Park about the amazing changes that have taken place in the past 5-10 years. Where once there were 20 shepherds working in the Coquet Valley with one shepherd working 30 ewes, today the economic drive is for bigger farms with fewer shepherds. One shepherd is now expected to look after 1000-2000 ewes. The programme introduced husband and wife team Stewart and Gwen Wallace of Blindburn Farm. Gwen is originally from Anglesey in North Wales and doesn't come from a farming family. She has been a shepherdess for 15 years and is the youngest, at 36, shepherd in the valley. Stewart talks about lambing season being his favourite time of the year and about how he met Gwen (she moved in next door). Gwen says that they work well together and get the work done. Stewart remarks that there are plenty of shepherding jobs about, but young people aren't interested. Back on Angryhaugh Farm Dave and his dogs capture a ewe which is having problems milking. He uses the skin of a dead lamb placing it over one that has been rejected in the hope the other ewe will accept it. This is called 'setting on'. Lambing time is the most stressful period for both shepherd and sheep. Title: The Last Shepherds In the second part of the programme Dave Baxter talks about why he likes the spring as he watches two male Black Grouse fighting in the heather. Along with a friend Robert McKay, another young shepherd from a nearby farm, Dave works to worm his new lambs. He talks about the dangers of ticks which are basically blood suckers. At his kitchen table he talks about his interest in dogs which he has since he was 12. He also talks about the dog's he has had in his lifetime and what makes them special. In a field he works with one of his dogs with both verbal commands and a tin whistle which he made himself. He talks about how to train a sheepdog. At Village Farm near Seahouses Dave and his grand-daughter Natalie pick a new sheepdog from breeder Scott Smith. The decide upon a bitch as Dave is looking for a female to breed off. Interview with Scott Smith who talks about Jess, the mother of the new puppy and how even though she is young she is a good mother. Dave and Natalie decide to call the bitch Meg and the programme ends with them leaving for home. Title: With Thanks to Mary Carruthers, Judith Ridley, Buccleugh Estates Credit: Archive Beamish Museum, Peter Dawson, Edgar Charlton Credit: Narrator Andy Kluz Credit: Camera Lee Sutterby Credit: Dubbing Mixer Andy Ludbrook Credit: Editor Dave Hindmarsh Credit: Executive Producer Jane Bolesworth Credit: Producer Charles Bowden (c) ITV 2004 End Credit: A CBTV production in association for ITV