An edition of the Tyne Tees Television rural affair programme Landmark presented by Eric Robson. In this programme a report on the efforts been made to protect Barnacle geese at Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve in Scotland followed by a report on the introduction of the Poll Tax or Community Charge in Scotland the effects on rural workers and Church of Scotland. Title: Landmark The first report begins from 'an urban wildlife haven' at the Washington Wetland Centre run by the...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television rural affair programme Landmark presented by Eric Robson. In this programme a report on the efforts been made to protect Barnacle geese at Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve in Scotland followed by a report on the introduction of the Poll Tax or Community Charge in Scotland the effects on rural workers and Church of Scotland. Title: Landmark The first report begins from 'an urban wildlife haven' at the Washington Wetland Centre run by the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust, but the report itself is about another reserve run by the Wildfowl Trust; Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve part of the Solway Firth south of Dumfries, in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Many species of bird's winter on the site on including Whooper swans, Greylag geese and Potchard. However, their greatest success is with Barnacle geese who after breeding at Spitsbergen in northern Norway come to winter on East Park Farm which is part of the reserve. Interview John Doherty from the Wildfowl Trust who says that after World War Two there were less than 300 Barnacle left. They are now a protected species with 12,000 resting on the reserve each year. The farm is semi-intensely farmed in order to attract the geese. Barnacle geese cause a lot of agricultural damage to farmland, so this farm is specially designed to be attractive to the geese so that they damage only their land rather than neighbouring farm fields. 10,000 people visited the reserve in 1988 and they have specially constructed hides for visitors to get exceptionally close to the birds. Title: Landmark In the second part of the programme a report on the introduction of the Poll Tax or Community Charge in Scotland and the effects on farm workers and Ministers in the Church of Scotland living in tithed properties. Before the Community Charge rates for farm workers living in tithed properties by the farmer or owner of the property. However, they will need to pay the new rates themselves. Interview with Hugh Wilson from the Transport and General Workers Union (T&GWU) who believes this will have a disastrous effect on farm employees who work on low wages. Interview with farmer John McMyn from the Scottish National Farmers Union whose members are not happy with the situation. As the rate will vary from county to county, it is difficult to come to a joint decision about what, if any, additional wages should be paid to farm workers. A voluntary code has been introduced which the T&GWU is not happy about as many workers will probably lose out. The new Community Charge will also affect the 1200 Ministers in the Church of Scotland living in tithes properties as they will also need to pay the charge from their own wages, rather than from the congregation who traditional paid the rates. Interview with Revd. Gordon Savage who says that the Church of Scotland has come with an average rate which they now pay as an additional wage to Ministers. However, the Church has also been hit with an additional issues as the congregation will also need to pay for properties that are left empty. Title: Hoi Polloi Film and Video Credit: Camera Chris Sutcliffe Credit: Sound Paul Gunn Credit: Electrician Bill Hughes Credit: Production Secretary Coreen Harvey Credit: Production Assistant Caroline McKenzie Credit: Research Crispin Sadler Credit: VT Editors Sally Fryer, Peter Telford Credit: Executive Producer Chris Potter Credit: Director Simon Lawson Credit: Producer Charles Bowden End Credit: Waterfront Productions for Tyne Tees Television © MCMLXXXIX