An edition of the Tyne Tees Television rural affair programme Landmark presented by Eric Robson. In this programme a report on a rural employer who work with people with learning difficult and the problems faced following government changes. This is followed by a report on a farmer from the Scottish Borders who has diversified his business into property development. The programme ends with a report on the work done by a Northumberland Taxidermist. Title: Landmark The first report looks at...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television rural affair programme Landmark presented by Eric Robson. In this programme a report on a rural employer who work with people with learning difficult and the problems faced following government changes. This is followed by a report on a farmer from the Scottish Borders who has diversified his business into property development. The programme ends with a report on the work done by a Northumberland Taxidermist. Title: Landmark The first report looks at Forest and Gardens Ltd a landscaping company set up by parents of children with learning difficulties. A 'squads' of workers travel across Northumberland in a minibus to do labour intensive work watched over by a 'supervisor'. Interview with George Robinson General Manger of Forest and Gardens Ltd who says the disabled are gaining experience in work. Disabled workers cut back conifer trees on the Northumberland Estates. Interview with Bob Harrison, Head Forester for Northumberland Estates who says it's cost effective in getting Forest and Gardens to do this kind of work. At Fontburn Reservoir near Morpeth the group clear the banks for fly-fishermen. Funding for staff use to come from the government's Community Programme, but this has changed to the new Employment Training. Interview with Mary Tucknott, Chairman of Forest and Garden Ltd who says that this government change now means they have to find the money to pay salaries which were once paid for through the Community Programme. It is difficult to find any charitable grants that will pay for salaries. There is a possibility that the company will have to shrink. A number of the workers and asked about what they liked about working for Forest and Gardens. Title: Landmark The second part of the programme comes from the village of Cardrona near Peebles in the Scottish Borders where local landowner Tom Renwick of Cardrona Mains Farm has diversified from agriculture to property development and plans to build a golf course, hotel and 200 houses. There are local objections to the scheme, but Alan Fay of the Countryside Commission for Scotland thinks it will meet current leisure demands. He has some reservation with regards the housing as it will create a new 'village complex' with its own facilities. Interview with Dr Lysebeth Duncan who owns a house which will overlook the new complex who doesn't want the valley to be spoiled and will probably price local people out. The final report comes from the workshop of Northumberland Taxidermist Ralph Robson who shows Eric how he is stuffing a pheasant. He can stuff any animal as long as it was killed legally. A lot of his work comes from people who find dead animals on the road. The final part of the programme givens details of a 'Scarecrow' competition in which views can win a pair of field binoculars if they send in photographs of the most smartly dressed or hard-working scarecrow. Title: Hoi Pollio Film & Video Credit: Camera Chris Sutcliffe Credit: Scarecrow Paul Gunn Credit: Electrician Bill Hughes Credit: Production Assistant Carole McKenzie 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