An edition of the Tyne Tees Television rural affair programme Landmark presented by Eric Robson. In this edition a look at the treatment of livestock at auction marts following the release of a report by the Farm Animal Welfare Council. This followed by a report on a very unusual farm building recently uncovered at Bardon Mill near Hexham. The programme ends on Home Farm at Beamish Museum and a man who can recreate more than 100 animal sounds. Title: Landmark At The Ponteland Auction Mart...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television rural affair programme Landmark presented by Eric Robson. In this edition a look at the treatment of livestock at auction marts following the release of a report by the Farm Animal Welfare Council. This followed by a report on a very unusual farm building recently uncovered at Bardon Mill near Hexham. The programme ends on Home Farm at Beamish Museum and a man who can recreate more than 100 animal sounds. Title: Landmark At The Ponteland Auction Mart cattle and sheep being moved around from lorries to pens and into the auction, many of those moving the animals use sticks. 25 million animals are bought and sold each year generating £2.5 billion. The government has just completed a consultation and is looking to create tougher regulations. The new regulation will look at the treatment of calf's, the handling of animals, the use of the stick and the use of ear punching for sheep. Interview with Gordon Smille of the Livestock Auctioneers' Market Committee as well as dealers such as Leo Robson, drovers and farmers about the new rules. Most think they are un-necessary. Title: Landmark The second part of the programme comes from Causeway House at Bardon Mill near Hexham which is an agricultural building with a very unique feature. Interview with Albert Weir, Agricultural and Conservation Officer for the Northumberland National Park who discovered the property. Albert takes Eric on a tour inside which when he first visited it was being used for farm storage. Built in around 1770 it was designed as a family home. Upstairs Albert points out the unique feature which is the heather thatched roof with riven timbers. Albert has managed to persuade The Landmark Trust to purchase the property and renovate it. It is proving hard to find anyone with the skills to work on a heather thatch. Once restored the property will become a holiday home. The final part of the programme comes from Home Farm at Beamish Museum where Eric interview Russell Davies, an agricultural salesman from North Wales who can recreate more than 100 animal sounds which he demonstrates for the camera. The cockerel is his favourite. He believes the animals do understand him. Title: Hoi Pollio Film & Video Credit: Camera Chris Sutcliffe Credit: Sound Paul Gunn Credit: Electrician Bill Hughes Credit: Production Assistant Carole McKenzie, Pauline Grant Credit Production Secretary Coreen Harvey Credit: Research Catherine Siddall, William Moult Credit: VT Editors Sally Fryer, Peter Telford Credit: Executive Producer Chris Potter Credit Director Simon Lawson Credit: Producer Charles Bowden End credit: A Waterfront Production for Tyne Tees Television © MCMLXXXIX