This edition of Country Calendar presented by John Noakes and dog Skip begins with John speaking with Colin Howes, Assistant Keeper of Natural Science at Doncaster Museum who is currently working on a study into cats and what they get up to when they go hunting and what they eat. Next, to North Norfolk where long distance walker John Hillaby walks part of the proposed Norfolk Long Distance path around the coast at Blakeney Point looking at plant and animal life around Stiffkey Marshes and the...

This edition of Country Calendar presented by John Noakes and dog Skip begins with John speaking with Colin Howes, Assistant Keeper of Natural Science at Doncaster Museum who is currently working on a study into cats and what they get up to when they go hunting and what they eat. Next, to North Norfolk where long distance walker John Hillaby walks part of the proposed Norfolk Long Distance path around the coast at Blakeney Point looking at plant and animal life around Stiffkey Marshes and the village of Cley. Back in the studio John speaks with Alan Barker, Northern Editor of ‘Farmers Weekly’ about how machinery has changed farming. At the Nidderdale Show at Pateley Bridge, Marylyn Webb sees some of more unusual winners in the Women’s Institute produce tent including a winning bale of hay, lump of turf as well as bread and locally produced wine. Finally, to the Balderdale farm of Hannah Hauxwell who this week talks to us about milking her cows. Title: Yorkshire Television – Colour Production Title: Country Calendar John Noakes introduces this week’s programme The first item is about domestic cats and their hunting habits. A topic which has provided studio guest Colin Howes from the Natural History Museum in Doncaster, a opportunity to do research. Colin holds one cat, while a few others are in Perspex cabinets on a nearby table. Colin’s research is attempting to find out what cats catch, Cat populations, and other information regarding breeding. Colin says the study has been a success, with information still coming in. Title: Colin Howes – Assistant Keeper, Natural Sciences, Doncaster Museum. Colin says the study was limited to domestic pet cats and farm cats. The study on cat colour, as the markings on each cat in the studio is different, was mainly done on road casualties. The dark predominantly black coloured cat is much more susceptible to being a road casualty than other colours. Asked about the origin of cat colour Colin says ginger-coloured cats are thought to have come originally from Holland. John and Colin then go on to look at a cat’s diet which includes rabbit, but it mainly depends on their environment, a country cats’ diet will differ from a town cat. John then goes to the next section of the programme, which is the pending introduction of a new coastal path in East Anglia. The Countryside Commission want to introduce an 87mile route along the North Norfolk coast and inland down a Roman road called Peddar’s Way. John Hillaby, a long-distance walker goes along one part of the coastal section, at Blakeney Point. He concentrates on Stiffkey Marshes a large area of wetland. John describes the marsh as very old, well over a thousand years. He picks a sprig of sea purslane which is found over most of the marsh. Title: John Hillaby John points to other plants, sea lavender being one and samphire an edible plant with a high nutrient content. John moves to a brackish area of marsh at Cley, a breeding ground for wildfowl. Views follow of a preserved windmill, which dominates the village skyline with views of the old granary building nearby. John describes how Cley was once a flourishing port. However, over time the river silted up and reeds flourished and now Cley -next –the- Sea, is about a mile from the sea. The view changes to small boats anchored just offshore, the location is a National Trust property at Blakeney, an area rich in marshes, sand dunes shingle ridges, and sand flats. John Hillaby is accompanied by local man Philip Green and they both climb into a boat to take tour of Blakeney Point. John asks if Philip any seals will appear. Philip explains that seals may appear but there are no guarantees they will come out on to any of the shingle ridges or sand flats. Fortunately, the film shows some seals finding refuge on a shingle or sand bank. The film shows them at sea swimming not far from the boat. Most of the seals are common seals, but John adds you may spot the occasional grey seal. John and his companion land on Blakeney Point, a large sand dune. John battles against the wind as he describes the nature of sand dunes and the marram grass which grows there, its matted roots help to stabilise the sand allowing other species of plant to grow. John points to some sea campion flowers, then willow herb followed by a wild geranium. He then spots an area of collapsed sand with evidence of rabbits tunnelling into the dune. Next John walks along a shingle ridge at Cley, artificially heightened to prevent the sea swamping the flat countryside behind it. John finishes his piece hoping that official recognition of the proposed long-distance walk will soon be forthcoming. In the studio John Noakes moves to the next section of the programme and introduces studio guest Alan Barker, northern editor of the Farmer’s Weekly. Title: Alan Barker Farmers Weekly They discuss farming’s reliance on mechanisation and whether this generally beneficial for farming. John points out the effect of modern farming methods has on the reduction in hedgerows. Alan points out that some of the machines the modern farm uses require more space to work. John also observes that farms require modern methods of management and specialist knowledge, not just passing farming methods from one family generation to the next. John is concerned about the extensive use of chemicals in farming. Alan doesn’t think any harm is being done to food using chemicals. John asks if modern farming has affected eating habits, Alan suggests that extensive freezing of vegetables has probably contributed to a change in habits. John introduces the next section of the programme, a visit to the Nidderdale show. Where Marilyn Webb reports on the contribution the Women’s Institute gives to the show. Marilyn begins with some unusual items displayed outside on a large trestle table. Marilyn talks to a Christopher, a young man who has won an award for his bale of hay. Christopher describes what the judges would look for in his winning bale. Next to the bale, a section or sward of turf is on display, the winner of his award explains the finer points that the judges look for, which includes in this case evidence of a variety of grasses and other plants but not weeds. The next exhibit is a complete fleece from a Dalesbred sheep. The exhibitor outlines the key points of a winning fleece. Marilyn moves on to another display table. A young girl has made a model, using vegetables, of Brian the Snail from the children’s television programme, ‘The Magic Roundabout.’ The next item is some baked bread, using some very refined decorative techniques, to create a sheaf of wheat. The next exhibit is a bottle of 1978 Dandelion Sweet wine, Marilyn drinks a sample. While the exhibitor lists the other wines he makes. Back in the studio John introduces Hannah Hauxwell on her remote dales farm in Baldersdale. This time she is milking some of her 13 cattle and milks them by hand. She describes the range and age of some of her cows. Back in the studio John Noakes closes the programme and outlines next week programme. Credits: Country Calendar presented by John Noakes with Marylyn Webb Editorial Assistant Mark Meysey-Thompson Director David St. David-Smith Producer John Wilford Yorkshire Television Colour Production. © Trident Television Ltd MCMLXXX