An edition of the Tyne Tees Television rural affairs programme Landmark presented by Eric Robson. In this edition a report on training in dry stone walling in Northumberland near to Hadrian Wall run by the National Trust. The second report from Blakeback Farm near Keswick in the Lake District on how farmers are converting old farm buildings into holiday let. The programme returns to Causeway Farm House near Bardon Mill where renovated work is ongoing by the Landmark Trust and a new heather...

An edition of the Tyne Tees Television rural affairs programme Landmark presented by Eric Robson. In this edition a report on training in dry stone walling in Northumberland near to Hadrian Wall run by the National Trust. The second report from Blakeback Farm near Keswick in the Lake District on how farmers are converting old farm buildings into holiday let. The programme returns to Causeway Farm House near Bardon Mill where renovated work is ongoing by the Landmark Trust and a new heather roof is installed. In the second part of the programme a report with Mary MacIver on how the home can become more environmentally friendly. The final report from Cumbria on the Ecological Building Society which provides mortgages to ecological farm businesses. Title: Landmark Eric Robson introduces the week’s episode, which looks at the maintenance and conservation of the rural landscape. It also looks at how farmers might utilise some of their redundant buildings such as converting old barns. Heather roof thatching is also featured as are ideas for the home to make them more environmentally friendly. Also repairing and utilising old buildings for green enterprises. Eric introduces the topic of field boundaries and the stone that goes to make many of them. One famous boundary is featured at the beginning of this section: Hadrian’s Wall. Wall makers and menders must often meet the challenge of building these boundary walls in the rugged landscape. In the 18th century when farmers began to enclose land, stone walls were built to protect stock. Building of stone walls continued on a large scale until the 1850s. Over the last century many stone walls have disappeared, and those craftsmen who had the skills to maintain and build walls have diminished in number however, there has been a recent revival. On camera Dougie Bell instructor in wall maintenance oversees several people working on a National Trust employment training project. They are working on a section of the Roman wall and while on the scheme participants will also learn other rural skills. Dougie Bell talks on camera about choosing the right type of stone when building a wall, and how it fits into the wall. Stone can vary considerably, as Dougie explains whereas they are working with sandstone on the current project, half mile further on the stone will be predominantly whinstone. Those working with the National Trust talk favourably about the scheme. Bill Hopper the employment training manager for the National Trust thinks that following on the trainees have a good chance of finding permanent work. In Cumbria old stone barns are being brought back into good repair for a new enterprise. At Blakebeck farm near Keswick a barn has been converted into accommodation for visitors to the area. The camping barn has very basic amenities, visitors must bring their own cooking stoves, but there are tables where they can eat meals, and it’s available to visitors all year round. Ken Ostle, who has developed the barn, plans to make available other camping barns in Cumbria. Cost of restoration of rural buildings is beyond the budget of many individuals, but organisations have been set up to help with finance. Causeway farmhouse, an 18th century building near Bardon Mill in Northumberland, is now owned by the Landmark trust. Clips from a previous programme show the roof covered with corrugated sheet metal, which had been laid on top of heather thatch. In this episode the tin roof has been stripped and new heather thatch is being laid. Special craftsmen are employed to ensure all remedial building work in is keeping with the original. John Warner the thatcher, has more experience with thatch in the Midlands which is far different from the heather thatch. The heather was sourced with help from the Forestry Commission and gathered from Thrunton in Northumberland. The two thatcher’s work in ideal conditions and they complete the work in eight weeks. When one side of the roof is being completed turf is rolled out on the other side before the heather is laid. John Warner explains that this first turf layer can be seen from inside the house. Heather thatched building were quite common in the north of England and Scotland a century ago but now less so as John Warner only gets a heather thatching job once every five years. He believes the new thatch will be waterproof, although he concedes it is well known for leaking especially those built with heather thatch in Scotland. Title: Landmark From a bed Mairi MacIver begins her survey of items in the home which are now available with added ‘green’ credentials. The mattress she’s lying on she explains is made from natural fibres with layers of coconut, cotton and wool. The wooden frame of the bed is from wood taken from managed forests. Pillows are filled with lambswool, and the quilt covering uses vegetable dyes to provide the colour. Mairi demonstrates that chemical cleaners in the bathroom can be replaced by buying biodegradable products. The toilet uses two types of flush to conserve water. Toilet paper is recycled and sanitary towels are unbleached which prevents the use of the chemical dioxin in the bleaching process. In the kitchen she finds organic food such as honey. Pots and pans are preferably made of cast iron, stainless steel or enamelled. Glass for drinking vessels is made from recycled glass, and a water filter is used to remove impurities. Washing powder and washing up liquid are both biodegradable. These rooms have been presented as part of a touring exhibition called the Green Home organised by the Women’s Environmental Network. Mairi talks with one of the organisers Jude Park in the green living room. Mairi points out the air ioniser which Jude explains helps improve air quality in the room. The light bulbs use less energy and last longer. Mairi asks Jude to outline what everyone should do to help their home to be ‘greener’ The Green Ark company manufactures whole food rations and supplements for pets. They tried to get financial backing to open in Alston in Cumbria but could not raise the money to convert an old building. Bob Lowman general manager of the Ecology Building Society was able to help. Bob helps people renovate old properties using environmentally friendly materials to return a property to its former state. Bob explains that those wanting a mortgage have to present a good case for their project with ecological considerations paramount. They will only lend for three main purposes; saving energy, self-sufficiency in the property that is running a business and living in the property, and efficient and ecological use of land. As a building society their interest rates are slightly higher than most, but Bob Lowman hopes to bring that down once targets for reserves have been met. Sue Warwick of Green Ark outlines the acquisition of the building at Alston including the negotiation of a mortgage. She then talks of how the business will progress now that they have adequate premises. Title: Hoi Polloi Film and Video Credits: Camera Chris Sutcliffe, Richard Edwards Sound Paul Gunn, Ron Gunn, Steve Phillips, John Myers Electrician Bill Hughes, Alan Fish Production Assistant Pauline Grant, Carole McKenzie Production Secretary Coreen Harvey Sound Postproduction George Joisce VT Editors Amanda Baxter, Howard Beebe, Kevin Tait VT Assistant Editor Claire Storey Research William Mount Executive Producer Chris Potter Director Simon Lawson Producer Charles Bowden Waterfront Productions for Tyne Tees Television© MCMLXXXIX