This edition of Country Calendar presented by John Noakes and dog Skip begins with John meeting two rabbit expert; George Scott from the British Rabbit Council who breeds rabbits for show and David Blyth, Chairman of the Commercial Rabbit Association who breeds rabbits commercially for food. Next to a field near the village of Riby in Lincolnshire where survival expert Eddie McGee points out the many foods available to eat and survive on. In his local Yorkshire pub, Marylyn Webb chats with...

This edition of Country Calendar presented by John Noakes and dog Skip begins with John meeting two rabbit expert; George Scott from the British Rabbit Council who breeds rabbits for show and David Blyth, Chairman of the Commercial Rabbit Association who breeds rabbits commercially for food. Next to a field near the village of Riby in Lincolnshire where survival expert Eddie McGee points out the many foods available to eat and survive on. In his local Yorkshire pub, Marylyn Webb chats with English character actor Lord Bernard Miles about is love of both the area and accent. At the Nidderdale Show at Pateley Bridge, Marylyn Webb is shown some of the many breeds of sheep on show by Dales farmer Barry Liddle. Back in the studio John chats with naturalist Michael Clegg about what is happening in the countryside now that autumn has given way to winter. Finally, to the Balderdale farm of Hannah Hauxwell who introduces her companion for the coming winter months, her dog Chip. Title: Yorkshire Television Colour Production Title: Country Calendar John Noakes along with his dog Skip open the programme from the studio sofa. Title: John Noakes John outlines the content for this week’s programme. A view follows of couple of rabbits on a studio chair. John introduces studio guest, George Scott of the British Rabbit Council who sits on the couch with some different breeds at his feet and at either side of him. George says that there are about fifty breeds of rabbit with lots of different colours amongst them. One of the rabbits next to him is an English Lop, a large rabbit with long floppy ears. If he was judging rabbits, he outlines what he would look for as a good example. When questioned by John George explains that rabbits were possibly brought over by the Romans during occupation as they were a good source of food but in George’s opinion they probably appeared in the natural landscape before that. He speaks about the Council and the number of members. John leaves the sofa and goes towards a cage where there are some white rabbits, standing next to the cage is farmer David Blyth of the Commercial Rabbit Association. Title: David Blyth – Chmn. Commercial Rabbit Association David outlines his business and how he got started. He goes on to talk about nutritional benefits of rabbit. John introduces the next item. In the Lincolnshire village of Riby, survival expert Eddie McGee shows how foraging could help you survive in the countryside. Eddie walks towards the camera as he introduces this section of the programme. Eddie enters a churchyard where a 500-year-old church stands. He enters the church. He explains that the church yard has buried casualties of the civil war, mainly Roundheads. Inside, tattered remains of flags from both sides of the conflict hang on the church walls. A view follows of a nearby avenue of lime trees. Title: Eddie McGee Eddie takes a leaf from one of the limes and chews it, in times past the oil from the leaf was used to ease skin lesions caused by scurvy. After boiling the leaves, they could be used as a cooling balm. Eddie points out the tell-tale signs of a rabbit hide or safe, a place marked by a rabbit which it will visit daily. Eddie then finds some nettles from which you can make tea. the stems can be stripped and used for making rope. Dye can be made from the leaves. Next, he moves on to a thistle, he explains that the whole plant is edible. The head of a thistle also contains a nut, which has a flavour similar to coconut. He then examines a dandelion, from which the root can be cleaned and dried then chopped to make wild dandelion coffee. As he approaches the camera through long grass, Eddie explains that every species of grass is edible. He also comes across a cow pat these can be mixed with sticks and grass then dried to make fuel for fire. The film shows a view of a sign which reads ‘Please Keep Off The Grass’. Underneath some trees next to a hedge where he shelters from the rain he warns that many plants with shiny leaves should be avoided as a source of food. He holds some ivy for the camera; however, it is growing over some hawthorn. He says the young leaves and young shoots of hawthorn are delicious. Haw buds appear on the hawthorn during the season and they also can be eaten. He then moves on to a willow tree, and points out some second-year growth. Stems and leaves from these have curative properties. He finishes by encouraging people to go out in the countryside to “learn something new.” John introduces the next item which features distinguished actor Lord Bernard Miles. Marilyn Webb talks to Bernard in his favourite pub, as he also has a home in the dales. Title: Lord Bernard Miles C.B.E. He talks of the differences that he sees in dales way of life compared those in the south. Marilyn asks about his agricultural background, he says he’s not rejected his background despite the best efforts of his father, who insisted he develop a ‘cultured’ accent, which he did by being sent to Oxford. Personally, he loves the variety of accents within Britain, especially Welsh with its gentle lilt. Marilyn asks Lord Bernard to tell a story in his native Chilterns accent. After finishing his tale, he admits that his favourite accent is from Yorkshire. He plans to retire to Yorkshire and has already ordered the wood, which is Yorkshire beech, for his coffin! Back in the studio, John introduces the next item about sheep. Marilyn Webb reports from the Nidderdale Show and talks to dales farmer Barry Liddle. View follow of crowds at the show, then a sheep being held for Barry as he describes the breed. Title: Barry Liddle He describes the animal as a mountain horned sheep, the basis of the country’s sheep industry. The sheep on camera is of a local breed known as the Dalesbred sheep. Barry describes the main features of the sheep. They then go on to the next breed a Teeswater ram, again Barry describes the sheep’s main attributes. They then look at the Masham or Teeswater half-bred sheep, again Barry describes the main things to look for in this breed of sheep. They then move on to the Suffolk ram, which is used in breeding to produce the Suffolk cross lamb, which the main source of the Sunday joint. Again Barry describes the main attributes of the lamb which is mainly quality of its meat. They go on to look at the Swaledale breed and its breeding potential. In the studio John turns to guest Michael Clegg to talk about wildlife in the autumn into winter months. Title: Michael Clegg Michael agrees with John that it is a quiet time, with animals hibernating and migrants having gone elsewhere. However, there are still native bird and winter visitors to look out for. Rabbits, seen earlier the programme tend to stay below ground but are at risk from disease from mosquitoes and fleas who also live below ground during the winter. Tawny owls can often be heard at this time of year as they establish territories. Squirrels are building up stores of nuts for the winter but Michael suggests putting out food for garden birds. John introduces another visit to Hannah Hauxwell at home on her farm in Baldersdale. To counter her lonely life during the winter months, her dog Chip is her constant companion. Chip helps with the cattle from time to time and she greatly appreciates his presence. Back in the studio, John outlines a feature in the next edition, then closes the programme. Credits: Country Calendar presented by John Noakes with Marylyn Webb, Michael Clegg Editorial Assistant Mark Meysey-Thompson Director David St. David-Smith Producer John Wilford Yorkshire Television Colour Production. © Trident Television Ltd MCMLXXX